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Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 270, 12 November 1909, Page 4

"It is too big a thing to talk about just now," is the almost invariable reply of members on both sides of the House, when asked to express their views on the Budget. Some confess with a candour that may be perfectly honest, or may be a trifle disingenuous, that they have not even read the financial statement through yet. It is perfectly plain that the Statement contained a great deal more than members on either side of the House, ever dreamt of. Staunch leaseholders are understood to have been not a little surprised, and perhaps even alarmed, as they heard the Prime Minister unfolding proposals for further concessions of the freehold. Closer examination of the details of the proposals has, in some cases at least, tended to allay the feelings of alarm. One Government member- admitted that his first impression of the Budget was decidedly unsatisfactory, but the more he examined the terms in which the offer of the freehold is wrapped the more reconciled he became to them. The leaseholders admit that they are in a minority in the House, and on this account they are looking with apprehension, not so much to the form in which the land legislation will enter the House as the form in which it will leave the House. One or two of them, and prominent men in the House, at that, are said to profess that they would welcome a dissolution and an appeal to the country on the question rather than concede even the semblance of the freehold, but as far as authorised interviews to the Press go, members are " not taking any." The debate promises to be one of the most interesting on record of late years.

The following resolution, relative to the construction of the East Coast railway, via Waihi, has been passed by the Tauranga Railway League, and has been forwarded to the Waihi Borough Council by the former body for endorsement:

" That this League, having carefully considered the replies given by the Prime Minister and the Minister for Public Works to a large deputation which waited on thorn on October 16 at .Wellington re the East Coast railway, is of opinion that the Government does not fully recognise the immediate importance of the construction of this line, nor the injustice of further delaying railway connection between Waihi and Ohinemuri and the Thames goldflelds, and the great food-producing areas of the Bay of Plenty and thus on to Gisborne. Speaking with a due sense of responsibility, this league views with alarm and resentment the Minister for Public Works' statement that he considers it advisable to confine construction for the present to the Gisborne end until the same has reached Motu. This league, therefore, again, and more forcibly than ever, desires to urge upon the Government the necessity, justice, and expediency of carrying forward the construction of the East Coast railway from both ends, and of pushing Vt rapidly onward from Waihi into the productive districts of the Bay of Plenty, which, when fully tapped, will ensure remunerative results both to the Dominion as a whole, as well as to immense areas immediately concerned."

At the meeting of the committee of the New Zealand Shipowners' Federation, held yesterday afternoon, the Shipping and Seamen Amendment Act, now before Parliament, was discussed, and objection was taken to a number of clauses, and a deputation was appointed to wait on the Minister for Marine at Wellington in relation thereto. The Chairman (Mr. T. White) expressed a desire to retire from tlta office aJter an occurxtney of three years, but at the earnest request of members he consented to accept tho position for another term.

The Chief Postmaster informs us that from Sunday, the 14th inst., the charges for express delivery and special messenger service on Sundays will be double the ordinary rates.

A telegram from Durban to London, dated September 12, said:—Experiments are about to be made with a view to establishing a direct wireless telegraphic service between England and South Africa. It is proposed to elevate kites a thousand feet to collect the Hertzian waves from Bolt Head, in Devon, or Toldhu, Cornwall. If this is not successful, a station will ultimately be erected at Gibraltar at , a cost of £50.000. The tariff for the general commercial service is to be a shilling a word. But each subvention of £1,000 a year from the South African Union Government will cheapen the cost by a penny a word. A grant of £ 10.000 would- make possible a uniform rate of a. penny a word. The cost of land and the local facilities offered will determine the choice of the South African site. This is the outcome of successful Imperial negotiations towards an "Empire wireless system."

The following is Mr D. C. Bates' weather forecast for 24 hours from 9 a.m. this day:—"Westerly moderate to strong winds, freshening. Expect warm and humid conditions. Rain probable. Glass fall. There are indications for a change of weather soon." It has been brought under the notice of the Collector of Customs that yachts for the purposes of fishing are in the habit of making fast to the buoys placed round the coast to mark dangerous localities. As the buoys are not adapted for mooring purposes, this practice must be discontinued, otherwise the buoys may be dislodged, and disastrous results may follow. Under Section 291 of "The Shipping and Seamen's Act, 1905," any person so offending is liable to a penalty of fifty pounds.

An accident occurred in Aro-streei, Wellington, on Wednesday, resulting in considerable damage to a tram-car. An express, owned and driven by D. Reidy, -was marking its i,ray along that street, laden with a couple of stout ironbark poles. The horse was inclined to be nervous and restive, and on that account the driver had blindfolded it. When about fifty yards from the tramway terminus in Aro-street, a doubledecked car, bound citywards, came along. The motornian, noticing the blindfolded horse, slewed down, and was just taking- the loop when the horse in the played up, evidently startled by the approaching car. It see-sawed about the road, then turning its head towards the far footpath, backed rapidly, and before anything could be done to prevent it, the two ironbark poles had pierced the car, smashing and rending everything in the way with the weight of the thrust. The side pillar and four window-frames (on each side of the car) were smashed, a couple of door-styles were broken, and minor damage was done inside. The driver of the express was thrown from hi 3 seat, and sustained a severe shaking, and the express had a wheel broken, and was otherwise knocked' about. Fortunately there were no passengers inside the car. There were five riding on top, but they were clear of all danger there! The total damage to both car and express should be covered by a £20 note. Mr Louis Lewis desires to announce a sale of unredeemed pledges will be held at his rooms, Victoria-street East on Monday next at 11 o'clock.— (Ad.) Smith and Caughey, Ltd., are showing a very large selection of ladies' and children's sunshades, in new and attractive styles. Inspection invited.— (Ad.) New embroideries at greatly reduced prices.—D.S.C. Sale.— (Ad.) A chance for the boys to be -well dressed —at Grey and Ford's imperative 'sale. Juvenile clothing will be simply slaughtered.—(Ad.) To-morrow (Saturday) is the opening day of Grey and Ford's (Limited) in? perative sale in tie "Old Beehive," Newton.—(Ad.) All showroom goods reduced from 10 to 25 per cent, off usual fine prices at Grey and Ford's imperative sale in the "Old Beehive," Newton.—.(Ad.)

The Federal Minister for External Affairs. (Mr. L. E. Groom) lias granted the application of the Chinese residents of Sydney for a teacher of their language to enter the Commonwealth and remain there for three years. An undertaking has been given that at the end of the period he will return. The Chinese Reform Association, which interested itself in the matter, has written a letter to Senator Pulsford, thanking him on behalf of the association and other Chinese for the active part he had taken to bring the matter before the Government and secure an alteration of its first decision.

Some alarm has been caused in one of the country districts in Tonga (writes the Nukualofa correspondent of the Sydney " Daily* Telegraph ") owing to the antics of "a wild man of the woods," who lives in the bush alone. He is a Solomon Islander, and for over ten years he has lived alone, far from the native villages. His hair and beard have assumed the Robinson Crusoe length and wildness, and the natives are afraid of him. A few weeks ago a native woman was chased by him through the bush, and frightened out of her wits by the chase When he caught her she expected nothing less than instant death, but he deprived her cf all her clothes, and she returned to the village in the state of Eve before the Fall. The Tongan police have received instructions to capture the man, but he is very fleet of foot, and his outdoor life has rendered him familiar with hiding-places in the bush, so that the generally corpulent and altogether " restful" Tongan policeman does not stand much of a chance in a race.

Mr. Will Crooks, M.P., of Woolwich, who is at present on a visit to Australasia, in the course of a brief interview with the representative of the Sydney " Daily Telegraph," said the objects of his visit to Australia were to recover his health, which had not been of the best for some time, to meet some relations, and to study the conditions under which Australians live. Speaking of the birth and growth of the British Labour party, he said it was forced into being by the callousness of the masters. They had in the old days relied upon petitions respectfully worded, and ending with the usual prayer, and upon deputations which always and only produced fair promises, without any improvement in the condition of the working classes, so that at last the workers were driven to the conclusion that the best petitions they could send to Parliament would be petitions in boots. Having arrived at that conclusion the next thing was to find men to represent them —men who would fight well and to a finish. They found some of those men, and the Labour party in Parliament was born. The position of the Labour party in England at the present time was exceedingly healthy, and the prospects were never so bright as at the present moment. He felt that the party would continue to grow and flourish and do good work in the interests of the people whom it was created to serve.

H.M.S. Terrible will leave England at the end of November with a relief crew for the flagship Powerful. They will join at Colombo. The Powerful will probably get away for Colombo early in December, and meanwhile the work of fittng the new shaft is being pushed on rapidly. A very narrow escape from death by drowning was experienced by Messrs. G. Huddlestone, W. Schierning, F. Apperlev, A. Ford, and Adams (coxswain), of the Napier Rowing Club, on Sunday. Their boat was swamped as they were returning from a spin across the bay, aiid they were soon struggling in the water. With the exception of Ford, all (says the "Daily Telegraph") are good swimmers, and they all exerted themselves to keep the latter member of the crew afloat. They were rescued by yachtsmen after being an hour in the water. The whole five were much exhausted, and two collapsed when hauled aboard the yacht. Huddlestone dissuaded his crew from attempting to swim ashore, and when hope was at the lowest cheered them by encouraging words and put new life into them to continue the fight.

A letter from a signalman serving on H.M.s. Challenger, who wishes to take his discharge, was before the Wanganui Harbour Board recently. The writer sought employment, preferably as a signalman, but failing that, was willing to turn his hand to anything. Before he could secure his discharge, however, it was necessary to satisfy the naval authorities that he had employment to go to which would return him more than his present pay. This, he thought, should not be a difficult matter, as, after eight years' service without a black mark against him, he was only getting 2/5 a day. This, and the fact that further promotion seemed impossible, bad caused him to form the wish to give up a life on the ocean wave in favour of a shore-going billet. The Board was not sure whether a vacancy could be found for the applicant, but passed the letter on to the harbour-master to see what could be done.

A frightful fatality occurred at the Commonwealth Cement Works, at Portland, on the 4th inst. A German fitter, Francis Bierbaum, whilst engaged in fixing some belting in the coal mill, was in some way caught by the hands' and whirled round until both arms were torn out and the body thrown to the floor, a distance of 20 feet, the arms being left in the machinery. Both, legs were also broken. Death was instantaneous.

All interested in cheap drapery and clothing should visit Grey and Ford's Imperative Sale in the "Old Beehive," JSewton. See advertisement on page S. (Ad.) Wonderful bargains in -wicker furniture at the D.S.C. Closing Sale.—(Ad.) It is time to put the hard hat away and take up the straw boater. It conforms to demands of ease and good looks We have them.—Geo. Fowlds.—(Ad.) Our all-wool New Zealand tweed suits a.t 21/ are big value. Tweed trousers 4/11, 5/11, 6/11; eaddle-tweed, 7/11, 9/11 pair. Knshbrook and Bridgman, opposite the Town Hail; open -till 0 Saturday night.—(Ad.) The D.S.C. premises -will close to-night at 6 p.m., and remain open to-morrow (Saturday) until 9 p.m.—(Ad.) Ladies' and girls' stockings, children's sox, strong hose for boys' wear, best makes, special value, at Rusftbrook and Bridgnran's, opposite the Town. Hall, Queen-street; open on Saturdays till 9 p,m.—(Ad.) " Special bargains for Saturday till 9 p.m. at the I).S.C. Liquidation Sale.— (Ad.) Light underwear, neglige and tennis shirts, hats and caps, collars and ties, new styles, special value, at Rushbrook and Bridgman's, opposite tie Town Hall; open till 9 Saturday night.—(Ad.) Imperative sale at Grey and Ford's (Limited), "The Old Beehive," Xewton. Stock must be sold.—(Ad.) Great bargains in all-cotton dress goods, at Grey and Ford'a imperative eale in the "Old Beehive," Newton, •tarting: to-jaorxow lSa.turd»y) ;— (Ad.)