HON. DR. FINDLAY IN THE SOUTH.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 89, 8 January 1908, Page 6

HON. DR. FINDLAY IN THE SOUTH.

INTERVIEW. AT CHRISTOHURCH. 9

NEW HERMITAGE AT MOUNT COOK* (bt TELEOBArn— association .) Christohuroh, January 7. The Hon. .Dr. Findlay (accompanied by Mrs.. Findlay) arrived; from Wellington by. the Maori this, morning and proceeded South by the second express. Tlie AttorneyrGeneral is to' reach Mount Cook j to-morrow, evening, and ! will 'make a careful:examination of. sites for a new Hermitage. .■' . "We hope to have the new.budding ready for nest .tourist' season;" the Minister stated to a reporter this morning, " and we'purpose spending £8000 or £9000 upon it, so that wo should have a ; . place worthy of. the scenery, and' one that;'will in some degree, cope with the enormous tourist traffio. ThU season's';; returns' will; anything we have yet knowp." ■' v-p': •, ' ', | . His Excellenoy; Admiral, Fawkes and party are :to arrive.at Mount Cook; on Saturday} and remain two 1 or ; three, days. Dr. Findlay: will join*' them there;«'and probably return to-ChristdHurch wMi-the-party about January 15. k . THE ANTARCTIC POST OFFICE. , Dr. Findlay was asked by what .authority the New Zealand. Government had sanctioned the opening of a:?brunch New Zealand post offico at lung EdwanJ Vlll Land, appointed a postmaster (Lieutenant Shackleton), .issued special stamps, and whether an infringement of the rights of Great was not'involved by the action. ; ' "Ah 1 ," said the. Attorney-General, wanly, "that is a legal question; upon_ which I am! not prepared to express >n opinion; just now. I have not considered the qxiostion at'all, but it is quite probable that' the Premier took the opinion of, , the ' Solicitor-General uponithe matter. I had no to the step being taken. The expeditioii, was worthy of our best assistance, and the opening of a post offico down there was rithbr a complimont to Lieutenant Shackletori. afld his brave companions. I don't think the, question of rights will over bo raised.'; If it..is, I should be prepared to give my opinion PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS. "As you know," the speaker'wfenb' on,, "wei have suspended - the contract.' foK additions to the Parliamentary Buildings at Wellington in the meantime, with a view to' ftaking further arrangements with tlib ■ contractor. The contract is not determined,' 1 and v lilay bo varied. We have yet to find a' temporary house for His Excellency tlio"i Governor. Lord Plunket's thoughtfulness 'in'' givHhg; up ' Government House for the lioxt sittihg of Parliament is much appreciated,''and- will save the country a good many tholis^nds'.'of pOU?dS * OTHER MATTERS? "' rv \.

Tho Hon., Dr. Findlay that Mr. Hall-Jones, wliose health is greatly; improved, will return to New. Zealand m fha" course of a few weeks, and will resume,dti tyre at once. 1 ' v./* "So .far as it is humanly possible to 1 stato.' with certainty," said tho Attorney-General, <i "the North Island Trunk Railway will lia . open for through communication by tho end of tho year. When that is done, the ernment will proceed to ascertain the amount of compensation to be paid for the Manawatu Company's private line." 1 Dr. Findlay also mentioned that tho Civil Service superannuation . scheme camo into force on January 1, and the Board of Control will bo sot up somo time this month. "A considerable majority of civil servants have notified their intention of coming in, and I believe ovcntually the whole service will cxerciso that option. There is nil idea abroad among many civil servants that if they do not comb until Juiio they will be liable for back payments as from Jmniary. This is erroneous. Tho Act provides that' deductions will bo made onlv from the timo that- thoy elect to take advantage of the provisions of the scheme.' 1 -