NOTES FROM OTHER CENTRES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 33, 2 November 1907, Page 3

NOTES FROM OTHER CENTRES.

CHRISTCHURCH. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORKESfONDENT.'] November 1. Mr. Richard Collier, a clerk in tho Railway Stores Department at Addington, who (lied a day or two .Igo, was born in Wcllingto.i :is long ago as Lso4, but came to Lyttelton whilo yet a child. He had studied law. held a position in a- merchant's office, and farmed for a few years before he finally took the position in the railuay .service which he hi l<l for .'HI years, tie was a Master Mason and a prominent member of the Methodist Church. Carnival Week, Christchurch has been unusually quiet for the past week or two, owing probably to the lull before the festivities of carnival week. The town is already fast fillingiwith visitors, and though tho week will suffer in compar-ison-with the same week last year, which saw the opening of the Exhibition, it promises to be quite as cheerful as the average. A little rain would bo welcomed by gardeners and farmers, and woi\ld do a vast amount of good by laying tho dust which, this owing to the increase in the number of motor cars, seems worse than ever. Several new cars for Christchurch residents- aro ; on tho Rimutaka and may be seen during Cup week. The ranks of cars at the racecourse remind one of the days when '/the quality" drove out to tho course and tfhe carriages along the rails were the centre ot gaiety and fashion. Amonn the new cars is a Rolls Royce, imported by a well-known sportsman, and a (_':•].tcrbnry M.H.B. has a new Humber. Fc.-ty Years' Service. ' Mr. J. W. Piper, ■ the station master at Christchurch, has been granted permission to retire on superannuation after forty years' soivice. He has been granted three months' leave of absence prior to his retirement. Tho official notification sots forth his long and faithfiil- service. Mr. Piper firsi made the acquaintance of Christchurch fifty years ago and means to remain hero when ho finally leaves the service. Empire Rifle Matcii, The "Times" commenting on 'tho Empire Rifle match in Sydney says tho-Now Zealandcrs shot better than was expected of them'." The team is by no moans the host the Dominion could put in tho field, and though its members arc all well-known shots, they had had little recent practice in actual competition. As a matter of fact there are not ■many districts in Now Zealand which marks.'t.en inn' ':ct practice at the long ranges. Tho Trcnthnni ground has a thousandly-ards range and there is one available' for Christchurch marksmen, but elsewhere we believe no such facilities exist. If our marksmen nrn to hoVl.tl-c'ir own with Australians, Canadians, and Englishmen they should be afforded more frequent opportunities of shootii.', at the longer ranges." Auckland; ■.' ', : ' ' ' . November 1. An Auckland syndicate, formed for the purpose of exploiting anu producing comic opera, musical comedy, and musical plays by Australasian writers and composers', is rapidly maturing its plans. It has definitely decided to call for comnetitive works to be sent in by August 12, 17JS. A prize of £50 is to be offered for the bcst : work scut in, together with a percentage or the.gross profits for the production of tlie same. that the successful opera or musical piece will remain the sole property of the author and composer, it is .thought .that these terms should induce several competitors. to conic forward.' There is no telling what latent talent tho scheme may unearth. I shall :uo in a position shortly .to.announce the names of the judges selected to choose ".tlie'winning work. In the meantime, intending competitors should make a start. The competition is open to Australasians, or those who have resided in Australia, New Zealand," or any of tlie islands of the Polynesian group under British rule for the past seven years. Wteat and Flour: , Referring to tho statement of Mr. Ho™, M.H.R., in the House that the present price of wheat and flour was higher now than at any period of tlie country's history, an Auckland merchant gives . refuting testimony. "This," he says, "is far from being true. In the sixties, during the war, flour ruled once as high as £30 per ton, and stood- for some time at from £20 to £25 per ton. Tho writer has sold scores of tons at these figures. On ono occasion Messrs. Tliorndon, S:uith and Firth were the only holders of wheat in any quantity in tlie city. The old mill was running night and day to keep the people from starving.- It is just as well that those who are crying out about comparatively trivial things should learn something of the troubles the early settlers had to contend with A I notice that now it is tlie fashion to advance flour at the rate of and 20s. per ton,, so there may be half' a dozen advances'before the baker puts the half-penny on tho 21b loaf, and as many petty falls before he takes it off. A reference to the files of the early days will show that we boldly advanced or, reduced the prices at the rate of £2 per ton, so the bakers had a legitimate ground for a rise at once, and in case of a fall the public demanded an instant reduction. I think tho present custom is no improvement on the old. Again, as long as the world stands the markets will he ruled by .tho seasons and the great natural law of supply and demand, and not , by any artificial Acts of [ Parliament manufactured by men down at Wellington. The removal of the duty will not benefit the general public and will take away part of the incentive to our farmers to grow wheat also.' I think it is class legislation, with' a vongosnee.. We all eat bread, and most of us wear boots, If protection is to bo taken from the farmer,, who runs more risks with unfavourable sea-' sons than almost any other class, why not act fairly and remove all protective duties •from all our local industries ? It will serve the Government right if our farmers protest by not growing. a single acre of wheat and leave the country at the mercy of outsiders." New Post Offices. Commenting upon the Government's proposal to provide new post ■ office buildings for Wellington and Auckland, the "Star" says, as to - the share of this joint grait that will fall to Auckland: —It seems that the Wellington post office will cost about £SO,OOO. Tho site for the building there has been already secured, and this leaves about £120,000 for cost of land and building' in Auckland. It is certainly a large sum, but considering the urgent need, for better a< - cominodatiou for public business hero, it will bo. necessary for -our representatives to make sure'that Auckland gets at least this proportion of the grant. No doubt the Government will have to nay heavily for tlie land, for even if the site is taken under tiio Public Works Act, past experience has shown that arbitrators usually take a generous view of tho financial resources of the State. However, tho reasonable requirements' of this prosperous and-rapidly-growing city.will justify tlio Government in paying » good price for a large block'of land for such a purpose >s this. Comparing present needs and facilities .in Wellington and Auckland, we certainly have a better claim than the Empire City for public expenditure on this account, til::! a now post oflicj, big enough for tho work of the Department and handsome chough to do credit to the.city, .will bo a welcome'addition to our by no means imposing display of public offices. . . DUNEDIN. i ■ ' . November 1. A' consignment of' St. Michael's oranges, shipped from Whangarci, realised the record price to-day. of IGs. od. per case. Sii' James Mills is expected to reach punodin by tlie Marama on Monday. He is to bo entertained by tho Union Company's staff, by the citizens, and by the Queen's Drive Boating Club.