THE WEEK.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 149, 24 June 1911, Page 11

THE WEEK.

; • THE DOMINION. The Coronation celebrations in Auckland were favoured with very good leather, considering the time of the r f or , though rain threatened all day,'it Mid oir tiU even;n fc r - Die formal part of the day's celebration» included thanksgiving "services in the various places of worship, a military church parade, followed by a review gad inarch past in the Domain, and at soon a royal salute of 101 guns was fired from the Albert Park by the "A" Battery. After the military review in the Domain the Mayor and City Council entertained the veterans at luncheon, while the cadets and boy scouts, who participated in the review, were marched to the camping ground, where luncheon was'served out to them before the disperse. In the evening the city was brilliantly illuminated.

Tahi Kaka, for the murder of John Freeman at Whakopara on the sth April, •waP hanged at Mt. Eden gaol on Wednesday, death being instantaneous. Kata walked firmly between two warders and ascended the thirteen steps to the gcaffold, and took his stand on the drop without any assistance or the slightest tremor. When asked by the sheriff if lie had anything to say before the sentence of the court was passed on him, Kaka replied firmly: "I hope I am the last man to be hanged anyhow," and as'the hangman pinioned his feet, said fc Tou are pretty smart at your work." and then just before the lever was pulled said "A-u-e ,, (farewell). The bolts ■w6te then withdrawn, and Kaka had paid the full penalty of his crime. The whole proceedings were carried out without, a hitch. Tho condemned man, from the time of his sentence was resigned to his fate, and ate and slept well, putting on just ■ n stone in weight, and at the time of his execution was 1601bs. During the past few dnys he showed signs of recklessness, aud spont moat of. his time in writing. The resigned manner in which he took his sentence was attributed by the Rev. Hawkins to Kaka's belief that he had made his peace with his Maker, and would be forgjyen in the next world.

The Racing Commissioners appointed toi give effect to the decision of Parliament to reduce the number of days' horse racing in New Zealand was presented, to his Excellency the Governor on Wednesday. Under the recommendation made, racing in the metropolitan area has been curtailed by 14 days. [Auckland loses nix days of its previous 25—viz., Auckland K.C. two, Takaptma J.C. three, and Avondale J.C. one. Hawke's Bay loses two days of its previoue 14—viz., Hawke's Bay J.C one, Napier Park R..C. one. Wellington loses one day of its previous 10—viz., Wellington R.C. one. Christchurch loses three days of its previous 14—viz., Christchurch R.C. three. Dunedin loses two days of it's previous 11—viz., Taieri 1A.T.0. two. Christchurch alone, it should be noted, loses three clays' galloping and six days' trotting—a reduction of nine days; while Auckland loses six days galloping and two days' trotting— a reduction of eight days. The Auckland B.C. and Canterbury J.C. will now each have 11 days' racing, and Wellington R..C. and Dunedin J.C. nine days eaah. Thite distribution is far more equitable fcian that hitherto in force— ■viz., 13 days at EHerslie, 11 at EiccarVm, 10 at Trentham, and nine at Win- :. gate. It is assumed that the Auckland

R.O. -will surrender Easter Saturday, thus

coming into line with Canterbury J.C. in regard to the dates for the autumn meeting, and that the Wellington R.C. ■will be content with a two-days' steeplechase fixture. The need for totalisator clubs in the King Country and in the Bay of Plenty was recognised, and one day has been allocated to the Te Kuiti E.C. at Te Kuiti, and one to the Bay of Plenty J.C. at Tauranga.

The dispute between the Waihi Miners' Union and the mine owners, which threatened to result in the closing down of the principal mines in Ohinemur), was settled at a conference between the mine owners and representatives of the New Zealand Federation of Labour. (Some concessions were made to the Miners' Union in the matter of wages and preference 'to unionists, but many of the Union demands were not conceded. At a mass meeting of miners held subsequently, tho agreement arrived at by the conference was adopted.

THE COMMONWEALTH. The Board of Inquiry into the loss of the Yongala found that after becoming lost to view by the lightkeeper at Dent Island, the fate of tha Yongala passes Beyond human ken into the realms of conjecture, to add one more to the long 101 lof mysteriee of the sea. The M.C.C. has dsEnitelv decided to eend a team to Australia Tiext autumn. The choice of the captain will be decided later. ■ Talk in Government circles in Sydney indicates the probability of the naval headquarters being removed to Auckand to about a year's time. Admiralty House_ will then revert to the State. Thia is considered a suitable residence lor the Governor-General, and possibly matters will be so arranged.

IMP£K.IaX. The Coronation of Their Majesties the! King and Queen was celebrated on Thursday with much pomp and circumstance, the procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey being a strikingly brilliant spectacle. An im- I jressire service was conducted in the Abbey, where the King was -crowned by j the Archbishop of York. The day was | marked by great rejoicings throughout the Empire. A number of Nevr Zealanders -were ncmoured in the Coronation list, Sir Joseph Ward being created a baronet, while Mr. Jas. Carroll and Dr. Findtay were ?nade K.C.M.G's; Judge Williams and .Mr. A. R. Guinness, Speaker of the •α-ouse of Representatives, K.B's.; Col. K. J. Collins, Auditor-General, and Mr. Fred Pitchett, Public Trustee, OM-G's.; and Messrs. H. J. H. Blow and E. Tregear received the 1.5.0. Ten new peers were created, and Earldoms of the United Kingdom were •conferred upon | Lord.Loreburn, Lord High Chancellor;! Lord Bosebery; Field-Marshal General | Baron Methuen, Governor of Natal; i General Sir Wm. Nicholson, Chief of tho General Staff. The Imperial Conference concluded its labours on Wednesday, a number of im- i Portant matters l»Jng discussed. A i resolution moved by Sir Joseph Ward Was adopted: That the Dominions | • Mould bo entrusted with wider powers I »n- respect of Britush and foreign slilo-! ' .Jwg. The All Red mail route was dis"Wßjecl, but It was considered that tho , practical difficulties were as yet too 6Wat, and tho Conference waa' content WKtt affirming tho desirability of eonneet- , WS WOftt Brltniln through Canada with "WWWd.ia, tmd New JCeatand by the best »Ml Wrviee available. The Australian prepwal i« a uniform eyatem. of weights,

measures, and coins was dropped, on the ground that its introduction would seriously disorganise trade. Speaking of the results of the Conference, Mr. Asquith said that the dominant note was an attempt to promote, and develop closer co-operation, through free and frank discussion. The value of the Conference and its permanent results must not be judged entirely by the actual proposals adopted, but even in that respect the present Conference need not fear comparisons wit,h dts predecessors. They had cleared the air and cleared the ground; they had got a better mutual understanding, and a truer perspective of Imperial problems. The Conference was significant, in respect of the admission of the Dominions to the innermost part of the Imperial Household. Secrets had been laid bare without reserve. He believed that after Sir Edward Grey's exposition all the delegates had a more intimate sense of the international position, and of its bearings upon problems Of Government throughout the Empire.

FOREIGN APFAISS. The entire eastern coast of JapaTi was on Tuesday swept by a typhoon, which devastated the whole of the country bordering upon the sea coast. The destruction of ho.uses is enormous, and many thousands of people are homeless. Shipping also suffered severely, and many wrecks are reported. The Reciprocity Bill is passing through a strenuous struggle in the Utfted States, many of the Republicans being strongly against it, while in Canada it is believed that a general election will be necessary to force it through.