. in, other; centres.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 183, 28 April 1908, Page 8

. in, other; centres.

(BT TEL2GRAPH —SPECIAL CORREBPON'DENTS.] ■ ■—— « ; AUCKLAND. ; April 27. The lack of an up-to-dato morgue in Auckland renders it necessary for inquests to bo frequently held at hotels. When it is necessary to hold those inquiries on a Sunday, recourse has.in the usual, way to be had to an hotel, notwithstanding the fact that all hotels are required by law to ■bo rigidly- closed on that day. In this connection, a sarcastic, note was appended by the City Coroner, Mr. Grcsham, to tho verdict returned at an inquest held yesterday at tho Rob Roy Hotel. The incongruity of a Government official setting an'example: in lawbreaking to mere civilians appears to have struck Mr. Gresham forcibly, for attached to tho verdict; is tho following comment:—"lt was remarked, as a result of the inaction of the City Council in providing ! a suitable morgue, that the coroner, the jury, the two learned counsel, and the witnesses were all committing a breach of the Licensing Act by being in an hotel on a Sunday." American Tourists and steamship Lines. . The Attorney r General (the Hon.- Dr. Findlay) having expressed the opinion that, tho visit of the American fleet sliould be taken advantage of to advertise the Dominion by letting tne officers and men see our thermal regions, the . "Herald" remarks"And it goes without saying that the advertising of the Dominion should be pushed upon a cpntinent where nearly ninety per cent, of tho people speak English, and a very.-consider-able' percentage of 'this vast , number have time, money, and inclination to take such a pleasurable journey as a tourist trip to New Zealand ought to be. But one great, difficulty in the development of this traffic lies in the absence of direct communication by suitable liners with the Western Coast of North America. The long-established San Francisco mail has been shorn of its glory, and the improved Vancouver service still exists only in-the brains-of its projectors. What are wanted, as wo have frequently urged, arc modern liners to both San Francisco arid Vancouver, so that tourists could cross the Pacific to Auckland from cither of the North American terminal ports with ease,, safety, and despatch. It is, therefore, much to be hoped that. the Washington Congress will authoriso an amended Shipping Subsidies Bill which will enable great American passenger vessels to take the searoad across the Pacific; We have everything to gain and nothing to lose by such subsidising, which ought to have the keen approval of all' New Zealanders. If the British States would maintain among them a fast and comfortable Sydney-Auckland-Van-couver_ service, 'and the American . States maintain through their Congress ail equally fast and comfortable Sydney-Auckland-San Francisco line, our Tourist Department would have little- difficulty, in working up by judicious advertising the tourist traffic spoken of by Dr. Findlay.; but until American'tourists can,travel to New.Zealand comfortably anil by direct steamers,' we cannot expect the traffic to be...a largo, one." CHRISTCHURCH. ,- mi ' m* - April 27; The Timaru Harbour . Board ;-had their charges brought l -very forcibly under- their notico at .'their last meeting by.Mr. J. P. Nownian, chairman of' the 'South CanterburyChamber of Commerce, who asked that tho charges' niado' for- hawsors -'arid' fpndcrs and moorings should bo reduced. He "said that tho were out of all reason. Tho' Eaikoura-cost a'maximum of £105 at Port Chalmers and £146 4s. 10d. at Lyt-te-lton, but £2/0.45.- 4d; at Timaru, tho amount of cargo'loaded being 3630 tons at Port .Chalmers, 3410 at Timaru, and 900 at Lyttclton; but sho could have' loaded - 3000 ' tons 'at Lyttclton at a. cost of £150. The Chamber of. Commerce had, been warned that unless the charges, referred to were, reduced Timaru would ilo'so .the advantage it now possessed in having• the, saino freights las other 'parts for direct,.inward.cargo, es.' The: Chamber- suggested .that a,,maxinium: charge of £15 a trip" for ..berthago 'and; !£lO 'for muring and fenders should, l>e made. Tho proposed reductions might ■ mean some ■ loss of revenue, but that would'probably bo equalised by an increased number of vessols.,' ■ ■ Several members opposed', a proposal to reduce the charges, but it vras decided'that tho charge for moorings andi fenders 'should not oxceed £15: per trip. The Olyrapio Games. . v In connection with ■ the" movomeEnt to raise funds for'sending H: St.-A. Murray to London to represent Now Zealand at'the OlympicUames nr July, several persons. have\ stated that, tho Canterbury Centre,of'tho New Zealand Amateur •. Athletic Association has displayed- a, niggardly -spirit. , Mh 'J. H. Aitk&i: R'ho was one of the prime movers in tire'col-cot-ioir of -funds,: told" a- "-Times-""'rdiwrfer that: thos advorso ; criticism-- levelled -at' the -was - most .unjustifiable/ , When 'G smith .and'. W; Simpson' were sent .to :Londoii -'£95 .each, /and: - already b 110 had been, collected towards Murray's jxpenses. Arrangements' had been made for mm .to board cheaply-with? a 'friend "of- a nomberof the local council wkile in London' ind the siim provided should provo ample-for lis. needs. As representative of New Zealand Murray would receive hospitality on all iaiids l— and his expenses would thereby bo jonsiderablr lightened.- : ' Wellington boasted ;he: most influential Centre in the Dominion, ind -yet £40 only had • been collected .there ipwards, the sum required: to send - Kerr >to rfeat . Britain. It. could hardly be. said, jhorefore,; that • Canterbury/had'-been closeistod towards Murray;-'as the whole project' iad been-taken up-at short .'notice, and ; Mr.' Yitken- said''that ,the runner-ought-to- be ibje to meet all;legitimate expenses from the ram subscribed. " ■ ■ , HASTINGS. ' - ' .1 ■ April 27. Iho Secretary of the School Committee has Received'.-' a v telegram', from 1 -tho''.-Hon: Geo. ?owlds stating"that,'ho" will ; formally opcri' ;hp "High School :on May 6 ?or : 'B.~ Farmers', Fire, Insurance.. ' ■ " At'.th.e annual general meeting-of )f the Hawke's^ -Bay Farmers'" Mutual Firo nsurahce Association the Chairman's report stated'"-No 'loss- has been sustained. '■ There las been a steady increase, of business,' and .he expenses of' management'have been kept it a very low figure.'During'the year* ending March 31, 1908, 'insuraucos to the: amount if' £26,363 have been effected, which; added o policies in force from a previous period, mounting to £43,998, give a total amount if ; insurance effected-of £70,361. Of this imount, £9650 is re-insured, leaving-the net lability of the Association on policies, in orce at £60,711. -, The number of policies is .28) covering 271.' risks, giving: an average if £256 . per risk. Of the risks, ; 217 are irst-class, and represent £60,768, giving an tverage of £280: odd per risk; 64 risks are econd-classj and represent £9593, giving an .verage of £177 odd per risk. The cost of Forking per £100 has been 2s. 9d. Your Soard decided that, on and after April 1,. tho ariff rates be reduced to: ss. ;per cent: for .11 policy-holders of first-class risks up. to 21000. On . all sums over that amount nsurers will: bo charged the ruling rates.": "lie balance-sheet shows a credit balance of !224 16s. Id., and the surplus of assets over iabilitics is £3533 4s. 6d.' ■ .