THE WEEK.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 293, 10 December 1910, Page 8

THE WEEK.

1 . I IMPERIAL. The United Kingdom ia now in tne thick of the election flgbt, and the latest returns will be found in our cable columns. The Liberals promise to emerge from ihe ordeal with as large a majority as after the January elections. Mr. Asquith »akl, if returned, the Liberals would grant Ireland a mca- , sure of Home Rule in accordance with |the general character outlined In his Albert Hall speech. Tho "Irish Independent" is satisfied with what it calls i Mr. Asquith's unambiguous pledge regarding Home Rule. The "Montreal Gazette" states that Sir Wilfrid Laurier will probably resign in the autumn, and make a subsequent educational tour on the navy question .through Quebec, Ontario, and other provinces. As a result of the navy debate, contracts have been hastened "for four cruisers of the Bristol class, and six torpedo-boat destroyers of the river class. The completion of the programme will cost £2,000,000. At a farewell banquet in Capetown to Messrs. Fisher and Fowlds, who left on their homeward journey yesterday, Mt. Fisher, responding to the toast of his health, commended South Africa's unitary Constitution. He dwelt on the urgency of Australian defence, and paid a tribute to South Africa's earnestness to make the Union successful. Mr. Fowlds suggested the possibility of a great Southern Confederation ■with a single naval plan. ' There is now a good prospect of ending the boilermakers' lockout, the basis of 'the proposed agreement being the establishment of a tribunal of. three employers and three members of the allied trades as a standing committee to meet within 24 hours of a breach of agreement for the purpose of adjudicating. In the event of their failing to agree, a chairman -shall be selected whose decision shall be final.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS. The revolt in Mexico continues, and it is reported that Guerrero, the largest city in the Chihuahua State, has beert captured by the revolutionists, £.nd that the Federal troops surrendered. The village at San Andreas is also in the hands of the rebels. Speaking in the French Senate, the Premier (M. Briand) said that the Government were determined to combat alcoholism. The situation, he added, was terrible, and the very life of the nation was at stake. jM. Briand has promised that Government measures dealing with the liquor question will be introduced within a few days. The French troops in the Soudan came into conflict with the natives during the week, and in a fight nearly fifty of the French force were killed, while 600 of their attackers were killed. It is reported that slavery is prevalent in the district. An Italian army engineer named Cammarota and a soldier named Oantellance were killed while bi-planing at Centovalli. The machine was dashed to 'the ground, owing to the collapse of the motor. THE COMMONWEALTH. Mr. Deakin has issued an appeal to the men and women of Australia relative to the referendum to be taken in April on the subject of altering the Constitution. He declares that tho people's rights and liberties, labour and property are at stake. The amendments would authorise the caucus to precipitate a political, social and industrial revolution, affecting the whole Commonwealth and its continent.

The New South Wales Budget disclosed that the estimated revenue for the past year was £14,279,927, and the actual receipts £15,197,750. The expenditure was £14,230,386, or £130,513 in excess of that estimated. The estimated revenue for the current year was £14,393,621, artd the expenditure £14,300,180, leaving a surplus of £ 93,440. The Premier proposed no additional taxation for the present, but during the recess would seriously consider the new taxation which would ue necessary to 'balance the accounts.

Owing to the adverse reports from tho Great Chaffinch Mine, Westralia, there has been a heavy slump in shares. A Stock Exchange meeting discussed the situation, and sent an urgent cable to the Wcstralian Minister of Mines, asking, for the good reputation of mining, that a strict investigation should be made into the conflicting Chaffinch reports.

Mr. Hughes, acting-Federal Premier, in reply to a deputation on the Vancouver mail service, said 'that New Zealand had a very satisfying fiscal arrangement with Canada. Australia had not, and it would be an exceedingly shortsighted policy to place New Zealand in a much more favourable position than Australia. She would be able, because of conditions with which Australia could not compete, to supply Canada's wants. The ships would be loaded with practically the same class of goods from both countries; their origin would not be distinguishable, but they would hear their different charges, and that would be a very serious bar to Australian exports. The new service, unless it was very much' accelerated, could not include Auckland, and would have to be something more than a 22 days' service.

The South African cricketers drew their game with an eleven of Australia at Brisbane, and are now playing the first Test match at Sydney. In the Brisbane match they scored 343 and 197 for eight wickets, the home team scoring 2G5 and 205 for five wickets.

THE DOMINION. A conference of "delegates from i-be! Auckland Harbour Board and various! local bodies from Onehunga to the Kiug, Country was held in the Town Hall at Hamilton on Wednesday afternoon when proposals for uniting the Waitemata, the, Manukau, and the Waikato by means of. canals were discussed very fully. The conference made out a very strong prima facie case for the projects. The following motion was carried unanimously:—"That in the opinion of this conference the construction of the Aucklaii.'- , -Manukau canal and the Waiuku-Waikato canal should be undertaken 'by the Auei - land Harbour Board, being the only foe-1 authority competent to carry out ilia work, and that this conference requests the Auckland Harbour Board to obtain statutory authority for the purpose < £ (a) acquiring the necessary land f, r canal construction, ('b) constructing ti'd a-foresaid canals, and (c) exercising control over the waterways between Auckland and the Waikato River." Dr. J. H. Hooper died suddenly at h s • home on Tuesday- morning from a heat; attack. lie was 70 yearn of age, aid , has resided in Auckland since 18G1. 1 At the Auckland Police Court on Wed- ' nesday J. Hanson, master of the stcami r Brisbane, was fined £50 lor having liar* '

boured, concealed and disposed ot »__•, X BarUey, the *■&£ the steamer, was fined £25 for h ■ concealed uncustomed goods Mr. James Henry Edward Archil,.,)! Myers, one of Messrs. Sharif /'* Company's travellers, a married m, .bout 35 years of age, di ed fe his residence, Cheltenham-road rw, port, on Wedn**day, md<;r •which point to poisoning. ilr . g« being unwell took what was presuS a Seidl.tz powder, but which from subsequent symptoms is believed to in™ contained strychnine. The inq Uest ? a 'been deferred till the result of 1 analysis is made known.

The annual meeting of the New Zea. land Shipping Company and Union Steam' ship Company were held during the week The former showed a credit balance of £56,605 on profit and loss account and the latter a credit balance of £75 850 The former pays a dividend of 10/ share a_nd a bonus of 2/6 per share an d the latter Did per share on 800 000 shares, making a total of 1/7 pe r for the year. -

The inquest touching the death of motonnan Thomas Albert Thompson who met his death in Hobson-street on Tuesday evening last week, as the result of a tram collision, resulted in a verdict that they considered the cause of deceased's death was through car 58* driven 'by motonnan Ernest Dawfl, bump! ing: into car 70, and causing- it to jam deceased 'between cars 70 and 74. From the evidence 'before them, they comiJn. Ed that motonnan Dawe did not exercise due care in carrying out his duty. jQ> the conclusion of the inquest Motonnan Dawe was formally charged at the Police Court, before Mr. J. S. Dickson J.P_, wit>h manslaughter. The case \.-as then adjourned till JYiday, Dawe be'raw allowed bail on his own recognisanea of £100, and two sureties of £100 each. Messrs. Robert Pateraon and Arthur Bossier -were the •bondsmen.

Speaking at the half-yearly meetinw of the Bank of New Zealand, the chairman of directors (Mr. Beauchamp) was able to show that the rate of profit is being satisfeictorily maintained and that the outlook is altogether favourable. Taking the financial position of the country as a whole as evidenced by the bank returns, money seems to be plentiful, there has been but a slight increase in advances and discounts, and a considera-ble expansion of fixed and free deposits. These indications show that Mr. Beauchamp'B conviction as to our complete recovery from the financial depression that prevailed eighteen montlu ago was thoroughly well founded, and he sees no reason at present to doubt that this satisfactory condition of things will continue for some time to come. There is still evident a tendency to let money accumulate in the hanks, which suggests a lack of legitimate outlets for investment, but this at all events proves that we have taken to heart the warnings preached so eloquently two years ago by the hanks against extravagance and reckless speculation. The growth of our export trade is itself enough to account for the rapid increase of the ibank deposits which we have not yet been able 'to work off into the ordinary channels of trade. As to the position in the world's markets of our staple exports, which Mr. Beauchamp rapidly reviewed, theTe can he no doubt that prospects are distinctly, encouraging. Wool has declined slightly, but no more than might be expected from variations in the American demand; butter has not advanced quite so rapidly as was predicted, 'but it has left a handsome margin of profit; frozen meat is holding its own, though the competition of Australia and the Argentine, with their unlimited sources of supply, should make us wary about the future; and, on the whole, the outlook is for the moment 'bright enough to satisfy even the most optimistic believer in the potentialities of New-Zea-land. Aii interim dividend of 6 per cent was declared.