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Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 146, 19 June 1908, Page 4

Following is Captain Edwin's weather forecast for 24 hours from 9 a.m. this day:—" Southerly moderate to strong winds; glass rise slowly." After having discharged the onerous and strenuous duties attached to the position of commander of the Salvation Army forces in the South Island for two and a-'half years, Colonel Ivnight is leaving for the North Island to take up a similar position. During the time Col. Knight has been keeping the flag flying in the South, the provincial system has •been inaugurated, constituting the North and South Islands separate provincial districts. In bhe South there are two sub-districts—one at Dunedin and the other at Invercargill, and both are under control of divisional officers, responsible to the provincial commander. An example of the process by which emigration had benefited the people of Sweden as a whole is furnished.to a reporter by the Swedish Sociologist, Mr. Johann Hanssen, who is now on a pilgrimage through New Zealand. Up to 1820 or 1830 the vast forest tracts in the north and centre of the country belonged to the State, and then they were divided among the peasants or small farmers. Presently came free-trade in England, and improvements in transport facilities. Rich men saw an opportunity to make themselves richer, companies and syndicates bought from the peasants huge tracts of forest for practically nothing, because the holders did not realise the value of the land, and thus during the last 40 or 50 years most of the forest areas in the north; and centre have been monopolised by great sawmill companies a.nd other combines. The sequel was that Parliament passed a law p»-oni biting companies from bujing up any more of the lands unless they secured the Government's consent. A lever which moved the Conservative plutocratic Upper House to agree to this.-bill was emigration. The members were dismayed by the number of departures, and were prepared to make any sacrifice to keep good Swedes in their native land. The same factor had assisted to get other good legislation for the people. In 1005 came in the Advances to Settlers Act, by which working men who hoped to establish themselves on the land could get loans up to about £320. During a discussion on the question of introducing big game into the Dominion at a meeting of the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, Dr. Moorhouse stated tEat he recently received a letter from Oapt. Mallet, of India. When Captain Mallet was in New Zealand some time ago he had a talk with him about importing game from India, and from the tenor of his letter it is quite possible that the negotiations which were entered into with another gentleman in •regard to game for New Zealand, and subsequently fell through, may be reopened. The letter, the speaker said, was most encouraging, and probably they would be able to obtain some ibex, etc., before long. The £200 which had been set aside for the importation of such game, he advised the Council to keep for that purpose, as he and Mr. Sloman would guarantee the money for the purchase and transport of the deer from Sussex.

The Auckland Ministers' Association wrote to the City Council recently asking if the Council would contribute £60 per annum for services of a chaplain to conduct burial services at Waikumete Cemetery. The Council has decided to reply, regretting that it cannot see its way to comply with the request.

A letter has been received by the City Council from Mr Jno. Marshall, stating that he has purchased from the Auckland Society of Arts an oil painting representing the departure of the Maoris from the South Sea Islands for New Zealand. Thinking that it would make a good companion to the picture in the Auckland gallery depicting the arrival of the Maoris, he is desirous of presenting it to the City. At the meeting of the Council last night it was decided to accept the picture wSh thanks.

Referring to the claim for £2000. which had been made by Mr H. H. L. 'JAiiler against the iClity Council for land taken under the Public Works Actin connection with the construction of the Grafton Bridge, Mr Myers remarked at the meeting of the City Council last night that before the matter was taken to Court he had, on behalf of the Council, offered Mr Fuller £1200. The amount given by the Court was —1200, and each party had to pay their own costs, so Mr Fuller would have been well advised to have accepted the offer.

Quite a scare has been caused l in town, especially amongst nervous people, by the extraordinary behaviour of one or more mysterious individuals (says the "Westport Star"). He or they appear to devote the hours of darkness to prowlino about residences in stealthy style and looking through windows. On Wednesday night a stalwart young man got a start by the appearance through his bedroom window of an individual who seized the sleeper by a leg. A masked man called at another residence during daylight and gibbered about a funeral. Two gentlemen whose business takes them out late at night were assailed with missiles. Various stories are current of the doings of the fellow, who must at least be a semi-lunatic. There may be a good deal of exaggeration in the reports current, but there is enough solid information to prove that some individual is amusin" himself in a dangerous fashion—dangerous to himself and probably to others, for persons living in the back parts of the town now carry revolvers, and in several households loaded guns are kept handy.

In connection with the election of three members to the Public Service Superannuation Board, the executive of the New Zealand Civil Service Association resolved to recommend Messrs. G. Airport (Wellington!, H. W. Bishop, S.M. (Christchurch), and li. R. Spence (Auckland) for the support of the asaociation'B members throughout the Dominion.

According to the " Labour; Journal" for June, 1908, the number of men employed on the railways in the Auckland Province -.are as. follows: —Kawakawa-Gra-hamtown, 157; Helensville Northwards, 281; Gisborne-Rotorua, 76; North Island Main Trunk, 1128.

A seaman named Leonard Watson appeared before Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M., yesterday afternoon, charged with having, while on the high seas, been guilty of wilful disobedience of lawful commands of the chief officer of the steamer Atua, H. H Williams. Mr. Skelton. appeared for thvs accused, and pleaded not guilty. He asked for a remand until Saturday morning, and also that accused be let out on bail on his own recognisances. In support of this application Mr. Skelton stated that although the offence was alleged to have been committed on the Bth of June, the man had been kept to work until that morning, when he was summarily arrested, when he could have been dealt with by ordinary summons. Mr. Ziman, who appeared for the Union Company, consented* to the adjournment, which was r/xordingly granted. The first of the national endowments in Poverty Bay district set aside by last year's legislation was disposed of by ballot yesterday. It comprised section 06, Hikurangi survey district, 5820 acres, situated about 38 miles inland from Waipiro Bay. There -were five applicants, and Colin Dunlop Gray, of Makaraka, was declared successful. The steamer Corinthic brought to Wellington a carved oak pulpit, which has been presented to St. Paul's Pro-Cathe-dral by Mrs. R. J. Seddon, in memory of the late Premier. The pulpit bears the inscription: " To the glory of God, and in memory of Richard John Seddon. Born, 1845; died, 1906." At the four angles are the figures of St. Paul, St. Mark, St. Peter and St. Barnabas. On the pedestal is the brass plate with the inscription, and) around the parapet is a wreath of oak leaves and acorns carved in oak. The pulpit will be dedicated at special service at St. Paul's on Monday by Bishop Julius. The Wellington Harbour Board is promoting an empowering bill to be submitted to Parliament during the coming session. Its objects are to enable the Board to purchase or take compulsorily the patent slip, and to purchase or take compulsorily land at Evans Bay for reclamation purposes, and to enable the Board* to borrow _ 1,000,000 for the above purposes, equipment of patent slip, installation of workshops, plant, and machinery in connection with graving docks and slips, construction of quays, extension of wharves, purchase of cranes, etc. The training ship Amokura was not a happy home for the man behind the steam during her last trip (says the "New Zealand Times"). Once or twice she shipped so much water that the engine room was all awash and the bunkers full of sea. Great difficulty was experienced in righting matters, for the gunboat engines are much confined. The reason why the boat ships water is that there is too much of her above the water line, the removal of much gear having unduly lightened her. She will have two or three feet added to the height of the engine-room skylights before going to sea again. This, it is thought, will prevent the. seas from filling the engine room in rough weather. The Hon. George Fowlds (Minister for Education) was at the Government Buildings this morning attending to Departmental business.- This afternoon, the Minister paid, a visit to the Instii tute for the Blind, Parnell. The Education Committee of the LonI don County Council has issued an order I that New Zealand white pine shall be kept in stock and supplied to the woodcarving classes when requisitioned, and a report of its suitableness shall be obtained at tho end of the year. The Stores Committee of the Council states that I the wood is used by some of the largest ! wood-carving firms in the country, and : that it is cheaper than yellow pine. j According to the " Sydney Morning Herald," Mr. H. J. W. Crummer, horZ secretary to the British Antarctic Expedition of 1907, has received a letter from the manager (Mr. Alfred Reid), announcing his arrival in London after a splendid passage. Mr. Eeid adds:—" lam sending out twelve months' supplies of provisions for 3S men, to be taken by the Nimrod, which sails for the ice in December next. Although Lieutenant SEackleton has two years' supplies with him, we want to make things doubly secure, in case the Nimrod gets frozen in. I am really delighted to learn that Professor David has decided to stay on, and this is a most valuable thing tor the expedition, as he will be able to bring all his valuable knowledge to bear upon all scientific matters, especially geology."

A correspondent of the Taranaki "Herald" writes: "I have just been for a trip through Waikato, after being away from there for four months, and I am more than ever struck with the enormous possibilities of that district. When I went through there in February last everything was dried up. On all sides people were wondering what was going to be their position by spring. Mo grass, no turnips, no feed of any description! It certainly was a dismal outlook for a farmer with a lot of sheep or cattle on his hands to feed, for there was no sale for anything, and any man who was bright and cheerful had to be brimful of hope. To-day things are very different. Everywhere you go you see bright, cheerful people who are only too pleased to show you round their places, for everything is looking well. Cattle and sheep are in tip-top conation, and have an abundance of grass, and where the turnips did not miss they have very good crops, and in several places I saw heavy crops of white turnips which were sown after the rain came, and, brought on by mild weather, have made wonderful growth. The feed is growing fast there now, and though they have had a good deal of rain the last two months, yet it is warm, and there have been no frosts. Taking all things into consideration, I am sure the Waikato people will come- out all right m the spring. Comparing the land values there with prices paid in Taranaki, I believe it is cheaper there. Yet the land has risen a good deal the last two years.

The house occupied by the late Mr Seddon in Molesworth-street, Wellington, will be a sort of Government Houfe during the session of Parliament. Quarters have been prepared there for the Governor, the whole of the front of the house being given up to his Excellence A saloon has been furnished for Lady Plunket's use when she is in Wellington. The "viaduct" connecting the new Parliament House with the Library, a long -wood and corrugated iron structure spanning Sydney-street, is nearing completion. It has now been found necessary, somewhat late in the day, to get some rooms in tho old building in order for sessional purposes.

The Kingsland Methodist schoolroom was discovered to be on fire about <_ o'clock this morning. -.'.-It —.supposed that sparks from the train were the cause of the conflagration. Alarm was given, and the. Mt. Albert Brigade were promptly on the scene. I_ a, "short time the brigade had subdued the flames. Very little damage was done. The roof of the building, which was the portion ablaze, is partly of iron, and partly or shingle. At a meeting of "the Ohinemuri Licensing Committee yesterday, an application to remove the license of the Waiorongomai Hotel to new premises a 6hort distance from the old premises, which were destroyed by fire a short time ago, was granted. Dr. Te Rangi Hiroa (Dr. P. H. Buck)" will recite some Maori incantations in tSe course of his lecture on the Maori race, their origin, migrations, and fut. •ure, at the Leys Institute, Ponsonbv to-night, Jf Business men find Zymole Trokeys a ; great convenience. A box is easily carried and there's nothing so good fop hoarseness and coughs.— (Ad.) ■-' Ladies' and children's hosiery, vests, combinations and bloomers; best makes, lowest prices, at Rushbrook and Bridg-: man's, just above the Grey Statue.— (Ad.) Special line white fur sets, 6/11, at Rushbrook and Bridgman's; open till 9 pjn. Saturday.— (Ad.) Our readers are reminded of the great winter sale which is now in full swing at the Alf. Moore Clothing Company, Karangahape-road. Genuine reductions in every department.—(Ad.) Warm underwear, sweaters, JerseysCardigans.—Special value at Rushbrook and Bridgman's.—(Ad.) It costs less money, it needs less labour, it gives more satisfaction to us* Tan-01, for cleaning and polishing lino., leum and furniture, than any other preparation. This statement has been verified in thousands of homes where -it is in constant use. If you have airy, doubt about it, try it yourself. -" if you want the best results, then get' the best article, which is the cheapest, vizi, Tan-01.. It is sold in bottles every, where. —(Ad.) You will need that umbrella right soon. Why not get it now and here? Geo. Fowlds.—(Ad.) Rugs, blankets, flannels, best makes, lowest prices, at Rushbrook and Bridgman's, Queen-street.—(Ad.) The best boy's suit to be had. The Norfolk is the most reliable Bait for all I round wear on all occasions. 10/6 here. 1 Geo. Fowlds.—(Ad.)