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Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 170, 18 July 1907, Page 4

The following is Captain Edwin's weather forecast for twenty-four hours from 9 a.m. this day:—"Strong easterly winds." Chinese competition received some attention at a sitting of the Arbitration Court, in Christchureh, yesterday. Mr. George Simpson, a builder, in giving evidence as an expert in the matter of mantelpieces, said the majority -were manufacLurd by specialists, but there was always a large supply available at the ironmongers'. These were marbled and grained, and were made by Chinamen in Australia. He added that the kauri rubbish of New Zealarfd was sent over there, worked up by Chinese, ana sent back to compete against the colony's work. Mr. R. Glendining, who has interested himself in the proposal of the Dunedin City Council to provide a winter garden for the citizens, has generously decided to undertake the entire cost of the structure, and present it to the city. The building will be divided into three parts, namely, tropical, sub-tropical, and cool house. Cheerful stories about the non-pay-ment of rates on native lands were multiplied by the Taranaki representatives at the Counties' Conference at Wellington last week. One of them, the chairman of the Taranaki county, told the Native Minister that on seven thousand acres of native land lying chiefly between New Plymouth and Okehu, the Council last year collected 16/6 in rates. This year it has collected nothing. The Bgmont Council should derive £422 from native lands within its borders, but it has only been able to recover £106, of which £60 was paid by the Public Trustee, and only £46 by the natives.

The members of the St. Patrick's Operatic Society, which gave so successful a production of the opexa "Maritana" last week, were entertainea at dinner at St. Patrick's Convent School last night by the promoter, the Rev. Ft. Farthing. There was a large attendance, some 120 members being present, and the gathering passed off very successfully. Songs were rendered by Misses Coles and Little, and Messrs. McElwain, O. Pritchard, T. Guscott, ELonergon, and Archer. The promoter announced that about £250 had been realised by their initial effort, which would be placed to the credit of the cathedral building fund. It was unanimously decided to produce another opera. The piece chosen was Verdi's "II Trovatore," which will be presented at His Majesty's Theatre from October 28th to November 2nd inclusive. During the evening Mrs. de Clive Lowe, whose husband conducted the opera, was presented with a crescent ruby and pearl brooch by the Rev. Fr. Holbrook, on behalf of the management.

A most xmusual import here, says the "Dunedin. Star," is vegetables—especially cabbages and cauliflowers —from Victoria. A shipment of these arrived, for Messrs. T. Paterson and Co. by the Moeraki, and a representative of that firm states that he cannot remember such a thing ever having happened here ■before. The cause of the shortage of local vegetables is attributed to the ravages of "blue blight," consequent on the dry summer.

According to recent statistics, Greymouth contains more Chinamen in proportion to the white population than any other town in the colony. From all accounts (says the "Hokitika Guardian"), a great business in illicit gaming is done in the Chinese quarters, there being no fewer than sis lottery banks in full swing there, with drawings thrice a week, and emissaries from there are regularly doing the Ooast towns seeking patronage.

A couple of days ago (says out Waihi correspondent) Mr. E. N. Davis wrote to the Minister for Lands, regarding the lands held under the Mining Act coming under the operation of the Advances to Settlers Act, so far as advances are concerned, and Mr- Davies has now received a letter from Dr. Flndlay, At-torney-General, stating that, as promised by the Eight Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, it was intended to include these lands for the purposes of the Advances to Workers Act. They were actually provided for in the Act, but, owing to an oversight on the part of the law draughtsman, the provision was ultra vires, and no advances could, therefore, be made. The Government was fully alive to the interests of the workers en goldfields, and it was intended to amend the Act this session to enable the advances to be made on such mining lands.

Some two score young ■women accustomed to domestic service are coming out to the colony by the lonic. Most of them are coining out to fill situations for which they .were engaged, in the Old Cotmtjj.

The members of the Otahuhu Road Board made a further inspection of the Tamaki bridge on Monday last, and the condition of things was found to be worse than was supposed; so much of the stonework having fallen in, as to leave the girders of the bridge in a precarious position. It is understood that the East Tamaki Road Board', who have charge of this portion of tie bridge, have communicated with the Roads and Bridges Department, and the latter has promised to put men on in a few days, when the masonry will be thoroughly restored. In the meantime temporary supports have been put in.

The Railway Department were approached by the Otahuhu Road Board some time ago in reference to ttie frequent blocking of the crossing at the station, by both tip and down trains. It was a common thing for passengers to have to scramble across the carriage platforms or make a long detour round the end of the trains. The authorities decided to erect an overhead bridge to relieve this difficulty, and this structure is now ■well on towards completion, the foundations being laid and the body o? the bridge stretched across the line. When the approaches are made, and the finishing touches added, the public will have safe access to the station at all hours. The fact that the New Zealand team had won its first match a couple of days after landing from a rough trip led to the general belief that the second match would result in a comfortable victory for the "All Blacks," and the news of their downfall was received with no small surprise. That the better team won is evident, and the New South Welshmen deserve hearty congratulation on the evident improvement in their game, the result of which cannot fail to do good to the game. Thrice before have the New Zealanders been beaten by New South Wales. In 1893 they lost one match by 25 to 3, in 1894, at Chrlstehureh, they lost by 8 to 6, in 1397 they lost by 22 to 8, and in 1905 they played a draw with the All Blacks prior to their departure for home.

Residents of Ponsonby who may be interested in the formation of a Congregational Church in their district, are requested by advertisement to meet in the Bowling Club's pavilion at 7.30 tonight.

On ' Thursday evening last the employees of Messrs Sargood, Son and Ewen, and Messrs Smith and Caughey, Ltd., met in the Federal Hall Club Rooms to enjoy a social evening. The attraction of the evening affording special interest was a tournament in billiards, euchre, cribbage, and bridge, the representatives of Messrs Smith and Caughey proving victorious in the billiards, and of Messrs Sargood, Son and Ewen in the cards. During the evening a splendid musical programme was submitted, and was well received, and at the <;lose refreshments were Handed round.

To-morrow evening a lecture entitled TThe Humours of Clerical Life" will be delivered at the Leys Institute, Ponsonby, by the Rev. A. C. Wedderspoon. The lecturer has been very popular as locum tenens for the Rev. Gray Dixon for some months, and his forthcoming lecture i≤ looked forward to with keen interest.

The Journal of the Department of Labour of July 5 contains the following report on. the conditions of employment and trade in Auckland: — The ■building trade is still busy, all branches! of the; trade being fully maurc&d'; no man idle. Engineering trade-, Tnere is an improvement in the condition of the trade during the month. Boot trade is busy. Manufacturers express satisfaction with the condition of ■ trade, but say there is still difficulty in getting machinists. Clothing trade: Factories are busy. Occupiers in tMs trade also complain of tie difSculty in getting girl-labour. The manager of one firm says he could employ a hundred additional hands. Another firm is opening a factory in the suburbs in the hope that they -will be more successful there than in town in getting workers. Order tailoring trade is quite busy, and apparently will continue so during the winter season. Saddle and harness trade: All hands fully employed; trade in a normal condition. Carriage builders: Fairly busy, full time being worked! condition normal. Timber industry: All mills in the district are working full time. Brickmakers are busy. Furniture trade is in normal condition. Retail trade: Apparently good business is being done in all branches of trade. No complaints are made or dissatisfaction expressed the matter. Those ap--proached express satisfaction with the condition of trade, and say it compares favourablj' with previous years. Unskilled labour: The market is in a normal condition. 'There is room on the North Island Main Trunk Railway for all applicants, but considerable difSculty is being experienced in getting suitable men for the work. Even after selection some of the men do not turn up at the works. During the month 197 men have been assisted to Government and private work.

The "Like Wakatipu Mail" state? that an industry which may in the near future assume large dimensions is being carried on by an Arrowtown firm. A soil formation, containing a large percentage of lime, exists at Lake Hayes, and an experimental shipment was forwarded some weeks ago, with a view to ascertaining its suitability for manuring farm lands. As a result, an order for 500 tons was received, and is bein°executed. °