NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 110, 1 February 1908, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(BY TEr.EGllArilv-i'HESS ASSOCIATION.) : ~. ' " -' PREDICTED EARTHQUAKES. , THE MOON'S 'INFLUENCE.' V - i , ' - Auchland, January. 31. -. ' .-A newspaper representative had, a. cohvor- ?. sat ion (Inn nioriiing Mr. Stevenson, . I''.R.A.S., regarding. the pubi fished Irom Wellington of hurricanes, eartli- ; quakes,'; and tidal waves for, Sunday.- "" It > 'is true,.said Mr. Steyerison, "that the moon 1 will on that day; iiiako ifs closest' approach to the ..earth, but: it has beonquito as near ; 'on forn\er occasions without all these disi 'asters resulting.. To my - mind, tho only part of'these'predictions likely to: eventuate 1 is that earthquakes may occur .about this time." . ' . ' '' Is tliero any method, of indicating the possible locality likely to ho affccted by the carthquako?'' "It is hardly possiblo to indicate at what spot. earthquakes may manifest .themselves. . I-cannot seo why,. As the earth is totating rapidly,' Now Zealand should come under tho moon's influence mora particularly than other, places; but I do think that if earthquakes'do 'occur,, they will probably be in the .Southern'hemisphere. 1 may add that, presumably;'high-tides will occur during tho -next few'days.' l " ■ , . THE PREMIER IK AUCKLAND. ■ '? Auckland, January 31. Sir Joseph Ward attended a social given to. Mr. Kidd, M.P., by the latter's Electoral Committee this evening. The Prime Minister delivered a short address,-but, he refrained froin touching on any political questions, stating that he intended to deliver a policy in Auckland at an early date.' -.Tho', Premier -returns to Wellington on Sunday.. - "THE LIQ'UOR LAW. , . ,v Dunedin, January 31. I. A ease of ;some. interest:: to Jrewers . will bo heard'at tho 'Wanganui Court on February 26, wjion a Dune,din brewer : will be charged with exposing beer iri- bulky for salo at that place, i,t' boing alleged that- the licenso does not- authorise- him to do so. AL'CKLAND RUGBY UNION. Auckland,-January 3L .At a special meeting or.jiicmbnrs of the Auckland ,Rugby- Union, held this' evening, to-consider amendments.--to;.the- rules, as proposed. by. the.Maiiagcmpnt' Committee, it was : decided , to admit,:..'tlio Auckland--University Cpllogo as'/a senior' team. ' It wasT:resolyed that junior teams-could he. formed fronv any .district, thus doilig away with tho: district schemo :in .-junior .football, - but: each ' senior, olub,. which is' still ;bound by tho .district. ;sfchcmo,',,shall control .all, junior, clubs ! in iits-.-district'.;-; Players -who. have represented tlio Auckland provinco for- live years will in - futuro hp given free passes, to .'all- matches. The -meeting' ivas 'adjourned, till next'Fridajv '/ ' ' MR. M'CAR-nn S M , InvercarGlll, January 31. \ A gathering of about fifty reprcsent-ativo 'citizens-' farewclled''Mr. M'Carthy,- S.M.^. "today. ' Tho Mayor,' y,'ith whom was associated Mr.',J. Turnbul) '(senior'-.j.P; -iviiU h former magistrate),.presided. -..Tho.sjieakers referred .to Mr. M'.Qarthy's: desiro trf- improvo . tlio '• social conditiqns of' tho city.-Mr. W-atson : (chairman'of the Harbour Board) said all ' fair-minded people would ailmit that ho did his duty--according to his coiisciehce, and had dono his best-for, tho advaiicement of good living and the suppression of;crime, and disorder. Inclosing. Mr. M'C-arthy, : those who had these, things at heart..lost .a, friend. A presentation of silverware was lhado to Mr. M'Carthy and a., gold':bauglo ■ for Mrs.M'C'arthy. '' -,'... '. PROPOSED COALING DEPOT' AT'i. ; ' AUCKLAND:

~ /• Auckland, January 31. • At a meeting of tho Auckland Harbour Board this afternoon it \;-as' decided' to forward a letter, to' the* Commander-in-Chief of the : Australasian Naval -Squadron to ascertain 1 the views of the Admiralty in regard to establishing a coaling depot for the use? of the Navy at Auckland. . EAT EXTERMINATION., Auckland, January 31., .A': ..policy- of'. rat, oxtprhiiiiatibn has' been, decided 'upon by the city authorities, unci nil property owners in -tho vicinity of (he wharves arc to .bo' requested to 'rnako their premises rat "proof. • The' policy is also to bo carried lout .in Queen-Street as far as ! BOSiible^.-fogether' with -a regular-'inspection Lower Queen Street every three "nionUis' : ifird.il.ie'laying of,poison. This step is being, tgkeli as the;result..of ..some.' sug- • gostions; made-'' by-' flio"' District Health;' Officer. r ;.u. 'V : PRICK OF MILK. ' " /;■, Auckland; January 31. . So,'far,.thero: has' wit -.boon anv incrraso- in the price; o'f milk in 'Auckland; oil Wednesday next a.' meeting of thti Dairymen's Association -will bo held,'.--'at Awhich will :]jo discussed tho advisability of raising tho pi-ice. Tho falling off, in the supply- : bas been considerable- consequent on the dry-weather experienced 1 during*' January-!'"' For the last 111110 .months tho retail price'has been 3-id per quart. '" - . • IjANI ! SETTLEMENT IN AUCKLAND. ~ . Auckland, Januarv 31." / Inclusive of areas gazetted, particulars of which wero announced recently, about' '42 869 acres of Crown Land iii the Auckland province have been, surveyed will, in all probability;; cofiic into - the market during tho next threo, months.. The lands in courso or survey for settlement, and expected to be opened during tho,current year, total 77 211 acres; and lands opened* li'ncler tho Land Act'ot; 1892, and now in course of reopening under l the amonding Act 'of 1007 amount to 436,916 acres. Thus 'tho totai area ava'ilablo for solcction'diirinc tlin 'nnv rent year will be 557,026. acres;' ' ' CLAIM FOR £2000. ' . : falmerston Worth, Januarv 31.-. .toe Horseshoo Drainage Board; at the instance of Mr. Hopping, has been served with a writ claiming £2000 for alleged negligence in ■ niauitaiiiihg a drain. ' ° CHARGE OF FORGERY. 1 ... , T , Chrlstohuroh, Januarv 31. Samuel Bennett and William Morn's were to-day committed -for'sentence 'to the Supremo Court, .having pleaded . guiltv to charges; of forgery- and uttrfring cheques. Bennett broke into his employer's office and stole blank cheques, which wero made use or in tho .forgery. ' ,

IN'VERCARGILI, HARBOUR. BOARD! Invoroargijl, Jrinuarv 3L o At-to-days meeting: of the Bluff liarbour Board, the Chairman stated that -the total revenue for.the year amounted, to' £22 304: an mcreaso of £1500\ oVer .last year. From this.,.£Bsoo was-, expended on harbour, improvemonts; for which '£11,000"a:year would be available in future without incurring. n penny of- debt. -/Against the. Board's loan of £uO.OOO there is accrued a sinking fund of £30,000, and the entire amount would 'bp extinguished in five yeani. The shipping tonnage entered .totalled 523,000;t0n5,; an increase of 50,000 tons over the previous year. Direct imports'.totalled-27,400.t0n5. Works Contemplated or in hand include anew wharf of 350 feet. (£9000), freezing .works wharf (£ls,ooo),"'and dry dock (£8000);* ''