IN OTHER CENTRES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 172, 14 April 1908, Page 5

IN OTHER CENTRES.

(BI TELIGEirU— SPECIAL COEKEf.PO.N'DEMTS.) ■ —4 — . ■/' AUCKLAND. . April 13.' The JJev.,TCnowles Kempton, thonov; pastor. of; the Auckland Baptist Tabernacle, who succeeds the Rev.' J. .Clark; during n brief interview with a. " Herald " representative, said, ho' thought . Now. Zealand was a wonderful land in ' more senses : than . one. "What has impressed mo most at first sight," he/said,- is the fact that hero you have many, of tho most cherished ideals'of' the freo churchman. ' For instance, you liavo .free schools,. and your universities .aro practically op'en'to' all. Then there is. the Dominion's attitudo regarding tho drink question.', In England .t-hey . liavo iust introduced ;a Bill dealing'with the drink problem, which is considered drastic legislation, but tho New Zealand people would regard it as an insult in its scope.' You have a 'systerii-of education that is practically free,'.unsectarian, and national, and .in regard to licensing matters 'you havo. .legislation which-has been .striven for in vain in England! " Questioned with regard to the probable fate of tho! latter movement in the' Old Country, Mr.Kompton said'that it was understood when he left England that' tho brewery shareholders had met; but''that they would not consider anything that the Government called a ; compromise. ' " They'will not have, anything to do with tho Bill," he continued/ " Of. course, v/ej know tho • fato of tho proposed measure. Tho House of Lords will throw' it out' without a 'doubt. When I left, the temperanco question was greatly interesting the people; apd ;*was runping high. Tho Archbishop of Canterbury, amongst .'others, was fighting for no-license, and .occupying the samo platform with the Free Church representatives in dealing with this great problem. The general . feeling is that it is a matter of national importance, and that, it is no longer one that can ;bo dealt .with by faddists (as they ball us) alone. I am of tho opinion' that if' the House of Lords ' rejects the Bill, tho Government -would bo juite safe in going to- the country on that issuo' alone."

American Fleet.' 1 Commenting favourably upon the London "Globe's" suggestion that on tho occasion of tho visit .of-.tho. American .fleet-to. Auck-land-a British squadron should be sent out to' join in the.welcome, tho " Herald says: —"Tho American armada is coming into Australasian ports'to a welcom'o warmer than has ever beforo been given by British people to another flag—a welcomo so general, and universal that our southern fellow colonists' are making suggestions, for the greeting of the fleet, in Auckland which wo should ha*Hlly ;Venture to make hero lest our motivo should' be misconstrued. Under all' these conditions it would be not only unwise and 'impolite, but an unnecessary -parade ,of indifference jfor" the Imperial Government, not to liavo a respectable , squadron'in these waters to meot and greet' tho Americans with', all{he good will in. the 'world:. The Americans, ought to be shown that our welcome to # them, is not due .to the inability: of the-, British navy to take adequate measures for the holding of these waters or to, our expectation of'finding a protection' from them which: we cannot obtain, from our, own Imperial Government." North Island Railways. Mr. R. .W.'Holmos, Engineer in Chief of tho. Public Works Department, .'who ha a just completed a. tour of of, tho north. of Auckland, railways, told an interviewer that -he anticipated that the section from ;Taiihoa to Wayby, on tho, Helensvillo line, would be completed and handed oyer.to the Railway .Department ..in about, three 'weeks''-. timoT Tho.-oompletion of Jihe next "section ,from' Wayby ..to Wellsford would bo considerably delayed, owing to, extensive slips in cuttings and embankments,, and for this ( reason it would probftbly be sir months before it was finished. Works were'in -hand to; To' Haua, about; thrco < miles .'from i Wells-' ford. : Mr. i-Holmes, stated [that- ho had ' a look into,tho question >'of • routes-through ! the district around Maungaturoto, and gavo instructions . regarding somo trial' surveys', to bo- ttado'before the final. decision as ! to tho r'ouS <,was arrived' at:,' Thq- Engineer in - Chief went, piif.from.-thcto .to' Capo Brett; for'the purposp ' ofi ; 'satisfying himself 'as . Marine Engineer 'of' the'stability of tho sito chosen for- 'tho new ; lighthouse. Tho site was selected;', by. Mr. A. Wilson, District Engineer, and his action met with the approval of: Mr. .Holmes. After leaving Cape. Brett Mr.-Holmes looked into several'matters-in connection 1 with- - the railway lines .between Grahamtown ' and Kawakawa, particularly .with' reference to. tho completion of the lino to Grahamtown and tho wharf there. , On his' way up -from - Wellington he looked over the'.works of tlio Main Trunk .linej; and. was well-satisfied with tfce progress being made. Every - effort was • being' put "forth ; to'' have the rails' connected through oarly in.' the onsuing spring. - " This,' •of - courses" said Mr. Holmes; "will entirely depend on tho weather during the- winter. . Although tho rails', $11' bo 'connected it'".will take some-time longer to 'finally complete; tho line ,to enable tho oxpress. service;to be commenced. Tho. Maka- ; toke'Y-iaduct'wil] -be completed within;about three.'.months! . The. rail head will reach the viaduct-from -the -north about the"'end of - tho current - month. ,• The: rail head at the South is also advancing! and it is anticipated that, about' the. end, of the month the gap,will be roduccd to about nine'miles.". 7

Thirteen Chinamen. ;• By. the. Manuka, which. arrived yesterday, thirteen natives of tho Flowery Land arrived, .but only one on this occasion,intends remaining in the Dominion, and -adding £100 to the 'revenue! ' The others intend proceeding to Tahiti: by'the Manapouri'to-morrow. r';,i DUNEDIN. ,i;/ .... ; : April 13. Farmors have, forwarded large' quantities of-grain: to Duriediri! recently, and "'there is Van. abnormal accumulation awaiting shipment to ' Northern. -ports.' .". Merchants clamor for cargo, spacej .and the Union Company lias, mado; arrangements ,to ease the pressure "this woek. Cutting Prices., As a result-of . the cutting prices, it. is reported 'that a . master baker carrying on business' in: the city! has de'eided to it impossible to >-ork his' men at Union hours,- pay. them the Union rate of wages,' and make a- profit.; ' • . RONA BAY FERRY' SERVICE. - - ... '/'!; COMPLAINTS OF RESIDENTS. ' V Deficiencies in the Rona Bayferry service were brought under tho notico of Mr. F! G. Bolton, Mayor of Eastbourne, and. a member of the Harbour Board, by a, deputation, of Eastbourno residents, which .waited, on ..him yesterday. ..... • Mr. Bert Shortt said that an extra ..boat to:-Wellington, to leave Day's Bay first .and. Rona Bay-at 8.15 a.m.; ,was - urgently required. ,If the Ka'raka Bay service was abandoned,. an extra! boat.should'be put on the Rona Bay servico. It was complained that sometimes; boats did 'not; call at the .wharf, but .went straight out to tow a vessel. -If the! wharf was unsafe 1 , tho Ferry-Comi>any should say what: ,was . Required, and tho Harbour! Board should'romedy the matter. lifeboat,fully' equipped; and liung from. davits, should bo (swung out over' the stem; of teach ferry boat. - ,Morp disoiplirio .was needed ! oil- the Saturday night 'lato - boat, arid in 'summer' boatsshould run- every ' night.'. Cargo addressed .to llona Bay should not b-o left; on tin* Da.v's Bay -wharf, and: fish should, only bo..' carricd on tho boats under' a suitable cover. ' ' - Mr! Bolton stated that tho entire population of Rona Bay was inconveriienoed for the sake, of Day's Bay. ;

. Mr.: Bolton said that, ho strongly sympathised with tho dopu-tation, arid thought'that tho present Harbour Board would , probably be moro considerate than they miglit havo found previous Boards. The Board had, liowover, no power over the Ferry Company, which was only the lessee, of a wharf. Ho suggested that someone might find it worth while to run a boat servico. Wharfage on tho samo goods should not be charged at Rona Bay as well as at Wellington. ■ The deputation dccidcd to bring their grievances before the Ferry Company.