SOUTHERN NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 136, 11 June 1910, Page 8

SOUTHERN NEWS.

I ■ I (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) •' " CHEISTCHXTECH, this day. The Eangiora Municipal Gasworks are proving a boon to the borough and extensions are contemplated. The present storage capacity at the works is only 12,500 feet, and the consumption is 15,000 feet a day, so that if a breakdown occurred the town would soon be in darkness. A new holder, with 200,000 feet capacity, will probably be erected. A new fire alarm system will be brought into operation in Christchureh next week. Under the present system -alarms are recorded in dots and dashes on a tape- machine. The new apparatus Has lettered shutters corresponding to the .particular streets, the actual number of the box from which the alarm is given being shown on the dial. I LIBEL ACTION DISCONTINUED. ! PALMEESTON NOItTH, this day. In view of the verdict for defendant in the Braund-Hoben libel action, the case Braund v. Warner has been discontinued, being based on the same words. : EEPLT TO PRIME MINISTEE. HOK_TIKA, Friday. At Hokitika this evening Mr. J. Allen, M.E., addressed a very large meeting when he replied to the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward). Mr. Allen said the cry that the Opposition never helped the Government was quite untrue. For instance, they did so in land settlement, finance, workers' homes, amendment to the old age pensions, ectucation, social legislation, and defence; but no credit was ever given to the Opposition for this, or for finding a policy for the Government, and thus keeping them in office. No credit was given to the Opposition for having urged the transfer of the improper charges of the Public Works Fund to revenue; for assistance in making superannuation schemes sound; for finding a policy for the Government in respect ■>. sinking fund.

Mr. Alk. said the late Mr. Seddon had said that a previous Continuous Ministry bad been kept in office by a lavish expenditure of borrowed money. This was more true of the present Continuous Ministry. They were like limpets, obstructing the ship of State. They had-backed down on the Land 8i11,., on s_perar_rnation, the Knyvett case, the r -~...;;