The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 1911. THE EXHIBITION QUESTION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 140, 14 June 1911, Page 4

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 1911. THE EXHIBITION QUESTION.

Vor the caurr tltai lack* assistance, for the wrong tluit needs reditions*, Por the futurt io the distance, And this good that tcv can Co.

Taking all the arguments for and against an International Exhibition into

account, we believe that public opinion here will endorse the decision arrived at by the Citizens' Committee yesterday to be. content vvi'.h a local exhibition on I a smaller scale. Such an undertaking as the Chamber of Commerce originally I proposed should not be entered upon I without very careful preliminary consideration, more especially on tho financial side; and no doubt the magnitude of the outlay required and tire improbability of getting anything nack in tho form of profits were tho decisive arguments yesterday. The figures laid before the meeting by Mr. H. Brett showed conclusively that, taking the experience of Christchurch as a guide, to start an International Exhibition here I would mean an initial outlay of more than £100,000; and all this money would J have to be paid out before there could ■be any chance of securing the problematical profits. An indispensable prolimiirary would be a guarantee fund; and before we thought of asking for a Government subsidy, we would ; have to make 6ure that the citizens of

' Auckland are prepared to put down fifty or sixty thousand pounds for this j purpose, with the practical certainty that they will get nothing of it back in ihard cash. We must, of course, make I allowance for the indirect advantages that would be secured for the city and th. - : country 'by holding such an exhibition; and we are prepared to admit thai under favourable circumstances these might prove to lie of very considerable value. But looking .if the question, as we should, strietiv from the business point of view. it. is entirely a matter of comparative gains and los?e.= , and the other advantages that would accrue to us would certainly need to be of a very substantial character to justify this outlay without a reasonable prospect of getting some part of our money back again. But quite apart from this purely financial difficulty, the promoters of the International Jixhihition scheme were faced with opposition from several other quarters. There is a great deal of force in Mr. Kosser's argument that it would be a grave mistake to establish a precedent for holding such exhibitions in each of our larger cities in rotation. We may expect that after Christchurch and Auckland have secured subsidies from Government for this purpose, Wellington and Dunedin w'll want them too; and the drain upon the country's resources would soon, become, intolerable. Further, what we may term the "local industry" argument against international exhibitions was put vigorously before the meeting yesterday; and so far as it goes there is no denying its claim to consideration. To whatever extent such exhibitions encourage foreign competition and facilitate the encroachment of outside rivals upon oiii- home market, in that sense they are a clear disadvantage to tile local producer and the country as a whole. We do not think so much of Mr Kosser's contention that the workers would suffer from the "slump" that, in his opinion, must incvita'bly follow the temporary inflation that exhibitions on a large scale generally produce. Auckland City and Auckland district are so clearly "on the up grade" just now that we do not believe any reaction of n dangerous character could possibly ensue here. B;-t there is certainly something in the plea put forward by the Mayor and .Mr. Reiser that the city ought to complete its -solf-imposed task of road-making and "cleaning up" before it decides to

spend large sums of money on such a purpose, and invites tho outside world to admire the beauties of our "last, loneliest, loveliest" abode. We are inclined to think that yesterday's meeting rather overlooked the advantages to be gained from such a splendid advertisement for

New Zealand as an appeal for foreign exhibits would supply. But there could be no mistake about the feeling of the

meeting, which appears to represent public opinion on the question accurately enough; and the promotcis of the sjhtnie may console themselves with the reflection that an exhibition of local industries such as the meeting finally do* cided should be held here in two years' time will be well within our financial powers, it will have some reasonable prospect of pecuniary success, and it, will secure for Auckland most of the benefits of the larger undertaking with but few of its attendant disadvantages.

Following is Mr. D. C. Bates' weather forecast for 24 nolirs "from 9 a.in. this day:—'Strong to- gale southerly winds; weather probacy cool and changeable, with rain, and very cold night; glass rise and expect very high pressure."

-At last night's meeting of the Devonport Borough Council the pumping engineer reported that 19,379;000 gallons of water had been pumped from 20th April until 31st -May, being an arverage of 67 gallons per head per day for the 41 days. The quantity required, had' fallen off slightly, but it was sfcfll up into high figures. The _ayoT and Messrs. ConsVdine, Garrnon, Allen, and Craneh were appointed a committee to investigate the matter of the large water consumption, and to ascertain if there is any leakage.

At a sitting of the Juveniles' Court this morning, a -well-built and -welldressed boy of 15 years wa3 charged WU-fca having been tfound steeping in Albert Park. The boy came fTom Wellington yesterday, having left his parents without permission. TVTien he arrived hero be was without money ot friends, and after fruitless efforts to find work, had to go to the park for rest. The boy was remanded until Friday in the care of the Salvation Army, the police, in 'the meantime, undertaking to communicate with the lad's parents.

An innovation in this year's Diploma Day procession of Canterbury College students will be a. "student king" and his suite, who will lead the cavalrnde .jn its journeying-, and will speak from the balcony of the United Sen-ire Hotel ut 10.20 o'clock. Other '■features" will be tho '* Sherrield Choir," whose chief anthem lias the pleasing title "Father Loft Mother This Morning." A "Club" will sell goods at T«marka ; My /leap rates, end genuine " sack suits" will be made in siglrt of the public and sold at ekflitecnpewe the pair. "Synchronisation " mochar.isri will ho shown in action, and the .lapanese expedition will bo on view in all its peaceful simplicity. Mothers will be given (in opportunity of wat"hing " Plunket nurses" in action, and the public vill be called upon to watch how Auckland took its census. As n final scene the " -pampered sons of the rich will hang " John Truth " in fffigy.

The Mayor of Hastings (Mr. J. Garnett) has received through Mr. A. Dillon, M.P., the following communication from the Minister for Puiilways:—"With reference to your representations regarding the removal of the Railway Workshops from Xapi-cr to Hastings, 1 have the honour to inform you that at the present moment the Department has not definitely decided to make an alteration. Owing, however, to the fact that the railway workshops have, within recent years, been flooded on two or three occasions, the Department lias found it necessary to consider the position, and is now waiting- to see the proposals of the Xapier Borough Council in respect to improved drainage. In the event of the drainage scheme being satisfactory, nothing further will be done. Should the si-heme, however, not be regarded as efficient, the Department may then be compelled to consider the question of removing tho workshops to another site outside Napier.

The Post and Telegraph Department has imported one of T. Kendall and Sons' ( London) Post Office Savings Bank deposit acknowledgment form-holders, a most ingenious machine, and one which has for years done pood work in t-he London Post Office. All depositors in the Post Office Savings Rank in Xcw Zealand arc aware that for all deposits over £1 an acknowledgment is made out and forwarded to them from the head office (accountant's branch). This is tho check the head office has on all its branches, inasmuch as if the blue receipt or acknowledgment form does not arrive within a reasonable time, the depositor should at once institute inquiries as to the cause of its non-receipt. The Knjrlish machine's capabilities boffin with feeding i I self from a pile of filled-in forms. This form is lifted to the folders by a steel plunger, which pirns the form as it picks it up by the adhesive it supplies. The form then passes through the machine, diminishing in size as it receives the attention of half a dozen pairs of folders, and finally emersfes neatly folded and gummed down. The machine is able to fold twenty-five per minute, as compared with the three a minute by the hand system of folding no v.- i:i vogue.

Spoken to this morning by a "Star" representative on the subject of the electraol boundaries and the possibilites in tho way of revision as tho result of the present distribution of population revealed by the recent census returns, the Hon. D. Buddo stated that it was' impossible for anyone to say what redistribution of seats would take place, as a mimfcr of factors had 'to bo taken into consideration by the Electoral Boundaries Commission. "As a matter of fact." said (He Minister, "until the Commission have first made their Tccmnnrendatioiis, it would be improper for any comment <o !>o made bearing- on such adjustments, as the Commission may find necessary for the purpose of oommnnitv of interests. and in compliance with the Legislature Act."

At the meeting of the Auckland Presbytery last night, the following resolution ™ adopted:—"That this Presbytery, while strongly objecting to sectarian regiments, and'while holding that it is no part of the function of tho Christian Church to enrol or drill cadet companies, sympathises with the Government in its evident desire to exercise moral supervision, and is of opinion that the system of appointing chaplains should prevail us in the permanent so 'in the territorials and senior eadcrts, and is prepared to assist the Government to tho utmost. i n this direction."

The dis-u.ssion in the Christchurch Presbyter-- yesterday in regard to tho Rev. It. Wood's lengthy and emphatic motion on the subject of the Reformatio,, was bn'ef (telegraphs our correspondent). I'iie n-.ovev quoted from newspaper reports, letters and books to show that quite prominent representatives of the Roman Catholic Church in New Zealand have published and ere publishing very gross misrepresentations with regard tn the principles of the Reformation and the personal character of its lenders from the pulpit platform and Pre.-?. He quoted a number of passages, including one user] in St. Patrick's College, which stated that Luther hnd said he was induced to become a Protestant through the wiles of (he devil, who hail frequently eaten. slept and dwelt with him. Such' a book was issued by nn educated Englishman. The tswk of moving the overture was no pleasant, nr.e. and in the present materialistic age it behoved all followers of God to rally together, but the Roman Catholic Church was simply firing that shell into the Protestant churches, and the amount of i-jnoranco regarding the history of the past was appalling. If the young people were made to know of the heroes who had formed, '.he Church they would grow up to be proud of a Church that had been formed under God and had a glorious history. (Applause.) The Rev. .T. Wilson seconded tho overture, which was passed unanimously, and it was moved that the mover and the Rev. D. R. Erwin should .sujrport it in the assemble

The veU-known trotter, Prince Warbeck, owned by J. C. Paget, has been stolen from H. Haskett's farm at Yaldhurst, ivhere he had been turned out. Haske'tt saw the horse at seven p.m. on Monday, but half-an-hour later, when he went to bring him in for the night, th.3 animal wa-s not to be found. Prince Warbeck has a record of 4m. 445. agarnst him, and is valued at about £300. It is thought possible that the horse may have been taken by three Burnham boys who escaped from the institution on Monday morning.

Mr. Arthur M. Myers, M.P., has been advised by cable that the clock which he is presenting to the city for erection in the tower of the new Town Hall will be ready for shipment in about two months. It should arrive in time to be installed before the opening of the building, which is expected to take place about the ■end of the year. The clock will be of the tnrret pattern, with four dials each lift, in diameter. A full set of chimes is to he provided, the bells ranging in weight from 7cwt. to lOcwt., and the clock will strike the quarters. There will, however, lie an attachment whereby the striking may be prevented if necessary, as when concerts and other functions are in progress in the build ing.

Under the auspices of the Aero Club of New Zealand, an interesting lecture on " Man's Conquest of the Air" was given by Mr. C. Senior at the V.M.C.A. last evening. The. lecturer traced the history of flying from its earliest betrinnings, and his discourse was illustrated by a number of excellent limelight views showing,,,the various types of air craft in existence. Mr. Senior n]rn gave an exhaustive description of all the known flying models, and showed the gradual stages by which the present day improvements fliad been hrotvrht about. Tlie most interesting part of the lecture was the story of the aeroplane, and a number of splendid photographs were thrown on the. screen, depicting various noted airmen in actual flight.

Mnjor-General Godley, accompanied by one of his staff officers, paid an official vhiit to Cambridge on Monday, and gave an addres.i in the Council Chambers in the evening on defence matters. There wns n good attendance of representative citizpns, the Mayor (Mr. G. Dickinson) presiding. The Commandant said that it was hoped as fn- as possible to bring the Maoris under the operation of the defence scheme, and he had not the slightest doubt from what he had already seen that the members of the native race would make excellent soldiers. The work of organisation, working out the innumerable details, etc.. was proving so vast that although all were working at high pressure, training would not commence before September. Tho new field guns would be out by the end of the year, they were fretting Maxim guns for the cavalry and infantry, and extra batteries were being raised in various centres.

In connection with the Cfty Council's action in erecting a reservoir on the summit of Mount Eden, the following letter has been forwarded by Mr. Potter (a member of the Mount Eden Council) to the Mayor of Auckland (Mr. C. J. Parr): —"My a-t'tention having been attracted by the work now being carried on in connection with the new reservoir on Mount Eden, I personally inspected same. J was greatly surprised and astonished, and I am sure that the public had no idea that the works contemplated would interfere with the contour of the Mount. Since notice lias been drawn to the work being done much indignation has been, and is i>eing, expressed. 1 thin:c everyone -thought the Council was going to extend the reservoir at its present site, and to this little exception would have been made. In any case the matter has been irregnlarly entered upon. Although the City has a right to place a reservoir on the Mount, the Domain Boanl ought, by legal right, to have been consulted in what was to be done. I do, as a citizen, trust that you will, at any rate, look into the matter immediately, and have little doubt that you will fake some steps to prevent what bids fair to lie a sad spoliation of one of the finest "ites in our ci-tv and surroundings. — (Signed) E. H. TOTTER."

A deputation recently waited on MrArthur M. Myers, M.P., and asked him to get the hours of attendance extended at the South Central Post Office at the corner of Wellesley and Elliottstreets. There are now a large number of important warehouses in the immediate neighbourhood—such as those of Messrs. Arch. Clarke and Sons, Ross and Glendining. Macky. Logan and Co., and Sargood, Son and Ewen—and the usefulness of the office to these firms has been seriously discounted by its closing, as hitherto, at 5 p.m. Mr. Myers communicated with the Hon. T. Mackenzie, Acting-Fostmaster in General, who has intimated that he intends to make the alteration asked for. This will be a great convenience to business men and others in the neighbourhood.

An inquest was held at Karangahake yesterday (telegraphs our correspondent) by .Tos. Xathan (Coroner) and a jury ox six inquiring into the circumstances leading to the death of an old man named .las. Muir, who was until the time of his death employed by the Ohinemuri County Council as foreman of works at Karangahakp. The evidence given showed that deceased was a heavy drinker, and that on Saturday last he drunk himself into an unconscious state, from which he never recovered, ard died on Monday evening. Dr. Swanston, who made a post-mortem examination of the body, gave evidence to the effect that death was caused from hemorrhage of the brain caused by excessive drinking. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.

Since his election to the Wellington City Council, Councillor John Fuller, jun., has given particular attention to the problem of municipal tramways. Ho is at, present advocating a system or general concession tickets of sixteen rides for a shilling, and has given notice of motion to that effect lin order that '.he matter may be fully discussed by the council. He also contends that there is something seriously wrong with thi management of the tramways in We'.lington, and has made investigations to discover the particular location of the trouble. The conclusion he draws from inquiries made, both in Wellington and in Dunedin. i 3 that too much money gops in management expenses in Wellington, and he maintains they do things much better in Dunedin. The proper method of comparing tramway concerns, Councilor Fuller says, is by th eworking expenses per car miie. These 'include power expenses, traffic expenses, general expenses, and repairs and maintenance expenses. The total amobtint of these divided by the car mileage run gives the working expenses per car mile, as follow:—Wellington, D.Sid per cur mile; Dunedin, 7.55 d per ear mile. This showed a differcTJee of 2.2Gd per car mile in favour of Dunediin.

Mr. W. T. Sharp is announced to give his fourth organ recital in St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, to-morrow evening, when he will be assisted by Signorina Dornenico Martrncngo, who is to contribute the vocal ii-or/i«. ,