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Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 78, 31 March 1908, Page 4

At a meeting of the Crown Lands Board yesterday afternoon, a report was received from __nbe_-Measurer Campbell, accompanied by a sketch showing part of the Kaitara State forest reserve, which he recommended should be thrown open for settlement. This, he stated, would not affect the streams for water conservation purposes, and there was no marketable timber on the area. It was decided to refer the matter back to him to ascertain whether the "kauri on the main bank of the Mangere stream was sufficiently marketable to make it worth while withholding the land from settlement.

The Crown Lands Board was occupied the major portion of yesterday in considering the 500 applications for various areas aggregating 17,000 acres, which have been thrown open for settlement with a view to ascertaining winch were the "landless" who are eligible to participate in the ballot. A number of ______ were struck oat, and tU_. final selections will be __ade.--«H_sy^

The "Minister for Agriculture (the Hon. R. ____Tab), replying to criticisms of the Government __,pe_i__en_al station at Waerenga, said: 'Some people think that in carrying out experiments there should be no such thing as failure. From the sample of Waerenga fruits sent to mc, I should say that many of them will be a notable sucess. Whether they can be grown with success from a commercial point of view is a part of the experiment that time alone will show. I believe that a great change has come about in the North Island during the past 18 months or two years. We have requests for stations from Canterbury, Motueka, and Otago. The man who makes a living by it, and the man who wants the cultivation of fruit to he a thing that he can learn without becoming a professional fruiterer or florist, are in different positions, and naturally the professional man feels that he has some grounds for objection." Interviewed regarding the proposal to establish an experimental farm in Canterbury, the Hon. R McNab said: "We have not come to a decision yet.' My own idea is that to have the scheme complete -we require one for Canterbury and one for Otago. The fruitgrowers are very anxious that we should have something experimental in their line. An error of judgment has been made in Auckland in scattering small stations in different parts of the country."

During the past four months quite a number of Punjabis have left Fiji in the mail steamers for Canada. The voyage cost them £32, this including a deposit required by the Canadian Government prior to their admission to the Dominion. Now, however, a law has been passed prohibiting them landing there, and it has been made retrospective. Three Indians left Suva in the PuM.s. Aorangi in January last, but the law had been passed prior to their arrival, so they had to return in the steamer, paying their passages both ways. The other men, who landed previously, will also have to return at their own expense.

Mr. T. Ling, a Chinese Manadarin of the fifth class, passed through Suva recently on the s.s. Navua on his way to Samoa, wher» he has been appointed Commissioner of Chinese Immigrants. While in Suva he paid visits of courtesy to his Excellency the Governor and the Colonial Secretary. The object of his visit to the Pacific is entirely confined to the drawing up of a report for his Government as to the labour conditions of Chinese coolies in Samoa.

Up to the present 248 burnt-out settlers in the Wellington land district have been furnished by the State with grass seed of a total value of £9955. Applications for assistance close to-day. The Wellington district appears to have suffered most from the fires, judging by the applications for assistance. About 20 settler- in Hawke's Bay have been relieved. Up to March 19 there had been 40 cases (representing £1500) dealt with in Auckland, 93 in Taranaki (involving £1300), 16 in Ma.lborough (£1400). and 31 in Nelson (£800). These totals will be considerably increased by the additional applications which have since been received.

It was proposed to' place on the memorial to Captain Cook, in Ship Cove, Queen Charlotte Sound, a cannon of the period to which Cook belonged, and arrangements have been made to adopt this proposal. The Hon. R. McNab, however, has pointed out to a reporter in Christchurch that the cannon might not be considered altogether appropriate. Cook was in the navy, but he is remembered not by anything he did as a naval officer, but by his humanity, and the peaceable manner in which he conducted his great mission. He presented the Maoris with grain and animals for food, and Mr. McNab thinks that it would be' better to work into the design symbols of peace and progress rather than-a symbol of war.

A property owner in the Remuera Road District waited on the local board last evening to request that drains be laid through his land to carry off the storm water accumulating in a depression, which, he •was particular to explain, was in no wise a water course. He with others interested would contribute over one-third of the required amount. The deputation also complained that the odour of sewage from several of the surrounding houses, even with the septic tanks, was distinctly noticeable in the depression during periods of dry weather The members of the Board expressed their doubt as to the advisability of creating such a precedent, whereupon the applicant remarked: "If I had only taken Dr. Purdy there at those times, I would not have been required to pa y anything " Why did you not do so?" queried a member. "I did not do it," was the answer, ",n order to keep u P the reputation of Remuera, which has the name of beins a high-class district." The Board decided to visit the land in question.

A cablegram has ji__t been received from the general manager of the Ocean Accident and Guarantee Corporation Ltd. m London, giving the figures of the Corporation for the past year. Tlvese compare with those of 1906 as follows ■ —Income 1907, £1,481,715; 1906, £1178,385----mcrease £302,330. Reserves 1907 £1,651,412; 1906, £1,353,397; increase Total assets 1907, £2 343 7*7----1906, £2,072,671; increase £271,056.' "_n the face of the serious fires and loss of life caused by the recent earthquakes at Mexico and San Francisco. New Zealand policy holders in the Ocean Accident Corporation will note with gratification the large reserves held by the Corporation against similar disaster contingencies, more especially so seeing that earthquakes have repeatedly warned us that this Dominion may not be exempt from a similar calamity.

There are a good many public service officials who contemplate retiring from the State's service who are now regretting that they were not more constant in the past. Many of them who broke their bonds at some time in the mistaken hope of doing better for themselves, and afterwards returned to Government eniplov, must now forfeit large amounts of superannuation on account of the temporary separation. Others whose services were dispensed with in times of depression, and who were taken on again after, are lamenting the same loss under the Superannuation Act. Broken service does not count for the retiring allowance, so that a man wlo has been 30 years in the service, but whose connection was temporarily broken 10 years ago, can only claim his pension on 10 years' service; that is to. say, can only get one-third of what would otherwise have been hjs due. It is understood that several hundreds in the service will suffer from this cause. If the privilege of superannuation had been extended to include broken time- the benefits of the scheme -would have been greatly increased to pa__K_pa_.ts, but a dangerous, etaain -would have been placed on the' solvKuey of tha fund.

is the subject of Mr. Al--s___g-_ lecture to-morrow evening at W*st-_t_.et Church.

' 'Mr. George E. Read, of the firm o. Messrs. Read Bros., __ara.ng_i__pe-road, notifies that he is offering himself for election to the seat on' the City Council rendered vacant by the resignation of Dr. Stopford.

Band of Hope members are reminded of the Biograph entertainment in St. James's Hall to-night.

A sad drowning fatality is reported from Dlina, TaHevu (says the "Fiji Times," of March 21). Mr. Lionel Coward, second eon of Mr. "W. I__ve_on Coward, was fixing up some small repairs on a cutter, and not answering to his sister. call, she Tvent to the river and found he had disappeared. His hat was floating in the -water, and some I.awaki natives found -his body, and the burial, which was largely attended, took place on Sunday morning. Deceased was 27 years of age, and was a favourite with both the white and native population. ■Being an epileptic subject, it is supposed Mr. Coward dropped into the river while suffering from a seizure of this j disease.

Motorists in Christchurch—and probably in the Dominion generally—have serious cause for complaint in the severe shortage of petrol -at present existing. Several owners of cars in Christchnrch who do not keep a plentiful supply of " spirit" on hand have found the shortage very inconvenient. A dealer in Christchurch told a " Star " reporter that his firm could not get any petrol at all at present. The' explanation given is that the market in New Zealand is absolutely controlled by an American trust, which has been limiting the supply to the colony in order to keep up the price, and the demand has outrun the supply. The Council of the Evangelical Churches in Wellington resolved to wait on the Ministers and protest against fhe needless amount of drill v done in volunteer camps on Sunday, and to urge that no canteens be allowed in connection with forthcoming Easter manoeuvres. ' The •Council also decided to protest against non-totalisator clubs being allowed to hold as many race meetings as they choose, and to urge that race days for each district be fixed on a population basis.

As spiritualistic science is now attracting some attention in Auckland, it may ■be of interest to students to know that some of our departed New Zealand politicians are in the habit of bringing messages from " the other shore." Mr. W. C. Nation, of Levin, tells in " The Message of Life," how the spirits of the late _lr. Ballance and of a former member for

Wellington visited him, thus:—" John Ballance, once Prime Minister, is a close friend; so also is , once M.H.B. Ah, he has risen out of the old aandrtions. He and I used to work side fay side, away back in the sixties, and I often thought of him after he had passed away. One evening I spoke to friend Ballance about him. I was told that he needed help. 1 said, "Bring him; he will come to mc, for we were friends." A fortnight later a strange control came to the medium; it wa_ . He seized my hand and held mc, as though clinging for help. When he got the power of speech, he thanked mc for the invitation to come, and added, " Oh, Ration, I have been in hell! " We talked with hands clasped and I told him the time of deliverance had come; that eternal progress was the

lot of every souL How he thanked mc for giving him he had thought there was none. My friend is amongst our constant visitors now—reaching oux to a, higher life and helping those who are in darkness.

The Minister for Agriculture has dealt with a complaint made to him by 60 or 70 dairymen, when he was in a few weeks ago, and has deaaeu f_at no dairyman shall be asked to carry out the " one hail, one cow," proposal. In accordance with suggestions made at the conference, the new regulations will provide for a modified appeal against the decisions of the stock inspector to a superior officer.

The sum of £50 was quickly earned in Timaru on Saturday as the outcome of a practical joke (Bays the Christchurch "Press"). Mr. G. H. Rhodes, who is selling out prior to leaving for England, had his household furniture removed to a local auction room there to be sold, and in conversation with one of his old friends, Mr. Thomas Teschemafcer, he offered the latter a cheque for a substantial amount if he would undertake the office of auctioneer's boy and display the various articles during the progress of the sale. Mr. Teschemaker accepted the challenge, and having discharged the duties admirably, the auctioneer, acting under instructions from Mr. Rhodes, handed Mr. Teschemaker a cheque for £50. The South Canterbury rnnholder mounted the rostrum at the close of the sale, and after

letting those present into the secret announced his intention of devoting these, his first earnings as an auctioneer's assistant, to some deserving charity.

The electrocution fatality at Island Bay was the occasion of a short discussion by the Wellington City Council, when it was suggested that, as trees in proximity to the wire were supposed to be the cause of its fall to the ground during a gale, an inspector should be sent to warn people who had trees near the wires. The Mayor said the matter had already received attention. It was also asserted that in some places trees chafing the wires had destroyed the insulation. This complaint was noted for further inquiry.

A resident of New South Wales, who is deaf and dumb, recently endeavoured to enter New Zealand in order to take up a situation as a slaughterman, at £5 per week, but was refused admittance to the Dominion because of his physical misfortune. The members of the Australasian Deaf and Dumb Association have addressed a petition to Sir Joseph Ward, in which the restrictions laid down under the Imbecile Passenger Act, 1882, are characterised as unjust. It is pointed out that deaf and dumb people resent being classed with lunatics, idiots, and undesirables. The average educated deaf mute is mentally and physically sound, and the loss of hearing is a burden sufficiently hard to bear, without being further handicapped by that section of the community which should make easy, not more difficult, their way through life. A memorial bearing on this matter was presented by this Association at the last Premiers' Conference held in Sydney in April, 1906, and, as a result, the Premiers of Victoria and New South Wales came to an agreement between themselves that in future they would look upon the deaf as entitled to the same opportunities as, the community at large, and in June, 1906, on the- occasion of his visit to' Melbourne, a similar memorial was presented to the Right Hon. Richard Seddon. He promised to give the matter serious consideration.

Ladies' pure Irish linen hemstitched handkerchiefs, 4 or 1 inch hems, 6Jd each, 5/11 doz. Special value. Smith and Caughey, Ltd.—(Ad.)

Large size Holland and print cooking aprons, 1/3, 1/6, 1/9, sound value. Snath and\Ca_ghef_ I__r__>-=(AcU>:

! Mr. Perry, Minister .or Agriculture, , _Sew Sonth Wales, has informed the Hon. R. M_Nab, Minister for Agriculture, thafc the new fruit regulations for the Dominion will practically stop importations of fruit from jfew South Wales. In regard to grapes, Mr. Perry (who sent a fine sample of the fruit for the Minister's inspection) points out that they will not be attacked by the fruit fly, which the New Zealand Government is anxious to keep but, and there was ahsotutely no danger of importing this pest with grapes. The New Zealand regulations, however, prohibit importations of fruit from vineyards wrthm one mile of a fly-infested district, but the New South Wales Government cannot comply with this regulation, and state that the fruit shipped was from more than a mile from places where the fruit fly exists. It was hoped that New Zealand would come into line with the Australian States' regulations based upon a recent conference of agricultural mmisters. Mr. Perry hoped the NewZealand Government would reconsider its decision with regard to the regulations and render reprisals -unnecessary. The polling for the election of a member of the City Council, in place of Dr. Stopford, resigned, takes place on Thursday next. In our advertising columns will be found addresses to the electors from Messrs. George Gregory, John Patterson, Geo. E. Reid, and S. White, who are candidates for the seat. We are quested to state that a report which had' heen circulated to the effect that Mr. Gregory was likely to retire is absolutely unfounded, that gentleman declaring his intention to go to the poll. The No. 2 Native Rifles are holding a ballot for the election of captain at the Drill Hall on Thursday evening. An evidence of the successful operations of the Weir line in connection with their recently organised cargo service "between San Francisco and Australasia is afforded "by a circular just received by the local agent, Mr. J. C. Spedding, stating that two steamers of over 6000 tons each are to be placed in the trade at an early date. These are the Suveric (6__s tons) and the Inveric (7489 tons). The Suveric replaces the Foreric, which left Auckland for American ports yesterday, and will leave San Erancisco for Auckland, via island ports, on April 10. The Suveric leaves the Californian port a month later. On her present voyage the Foreric is carrying 745 tons of general cargo from Sydney and Auckland, and 3487 tons of coal from Newcastle. The freighting from Auckland alone amountto about 300 tons, and it would have been considerably larger had island orders been received in time.

Mr. John Patterson was nominated for the vacant seat in the City Council by the following electors:— Charles Grey, P. J. Nerheny, Hon. W_ Beehan, F. E. Baume, Alfred Eodd, A. E. Glover, T. Harle Giles, D. Elynn, George Higgins, M. J. Sheahan, E. W. Page, James Magee, C. Wheeler W Hunter.—(Ad.)

Special Dress Week at George Court and Sons', Limited, Karangahape-road. Dress tweeds at lOJd.' Dress tweeds at 1/1. Dress tweeds at 1/4}. Dress tweeds at 1/65. Dress tweeds at 1/1 li. New tweed stripes, l/6i, 2/6. George Court and Sons'," limited, Ka-rangahape-road.— (Ad.)

See the Colour Windows at George Court and Sons', limited, Karangahaperoad! A brown window done in brown Amazons. A green window done in green -_mazon_. Millinery models in similar colours at George Court and' Sons', Limited:, Karangahape-road.— Ad. The best climatic coat for Auckland is the reversible rubber coat. Very attractive and just a nice weight. Our price 12/ G. Geo. Fowlds.—(Ad.) '

This is the special dress week at George Court and: Sons', limited, Ka-rangahape-road. Amazons, all shades, l/4j. Big window and door display. George Court and Sons', Limited, Ka-raugaiape-road.—(Ad.)

A perfect-fitting double-collar for gents, Irish linen. Ask for "Glengariff." Obtaiuahle only from Smith and Caugbey, Ltd.—(Ad.)

This is the special , dress week at George Court and; Sons', limited, Ka-rangahape-road, All wool Amazons, 1/11.; all the new shades: wines, browns, fawns, greens, navys, greys, creams, purples, violets, also _la_k; 44----inch, wide, and all wool, only 1/11., 1/11$, 1/11* yard. George Court and Sons', Limited, Karangahape-road.—Ad.

Little items that are mighty useful at times. Anything you need in studs, links, braces, belts, brushes, towels, etc., we have it.—Geo. Fowlds.—(Ad.)

Dress week at George Court and Sons', Limited, Karangahape-road. Special prices in Nun's Veilings, in pinks, creams, blues, navys, or sky shades, heliotrope and blade. Clearing at 6Jd., 6|d., 6j<L, 6|d., -3d. per yard. George Court and Sorts', Limited, Karangahape-road.—-(Ad.)