NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 191, 7 May 1908, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

[BY TELEGEAPH.—rBESS ASSOCIATION.] <} THE AMERICAN FLEET. TO REACH AUCKLAND ON AUGUST -9. Auckland, May 6. Tho Mayor (Mr. A. M. Myers) has received tho following telegram from Sir Joseph Ward, dated from Groy.mouth:—"For your information I am advised that the. American .fleet will arrive in Auckland on August 9, ana remain until August . 15." In reply, Mr. Myers has telegraphed to tho Prime Minister as follows: —"Many thanks for information . ro American fleet. Should bo glad if you would kindly furnish mo with particulars or , Government's intended action, as soon as possible so that Citizens Committee can make arrangements accordingly." The American Consul-General (Mr. W. A. Prickitt) has not so far received any confirmation of this information concerning tho fleet's arrival. MUNICIPAL REFORM. SUGGESTED LEGISLATION. Dunsdln, May 6. Speaking at the Mayoral installation to* day, the retiring Mayor, Mr. Loudon, expressed the opinion that tho < law compelling the whole of the councillors to vacate office at once was totally wrong. Councillors really. occupied the position of a board of directors, and it seemed altogether unreasonable' that thcjre should not bo a certain continuity of office, It might happen, owing to a wave of public feeling that the whole councillors be turned out at one time with: disastrous results to city affairs. He would like to sea councillors elected for three years, and a percentage retire each year. He was also "• of opinion.that municipal accountancy had not advanced in proportion to the trading undertakings by different corporations throughout tho Dominion, and considerable improvement might be effected. He felt certain if Parliament were approached legislatiou covering both points he had raised could bo easily obtained. N STRUGGLE WITH A BURGLAR. SENSATIONAL -INCIDENT. AT AUCKLAND. . ■ Auckland, May 6. : Recent burglaries in Auckland would, seem' . to indicate that a gangis at work.. On Tuesday night Mr. Gerald Bell; hatter, carrying on business in Karanjjaliapc Road, had a sensational encounter with a man in his bedroom. He-was awakened by tlio, flashing of a . bull's-eye lantern,. and immediately ' grappled with the burglar. In a . pocketbook on tho dressing ta.ljo was £27 ,in note: and some gold in a coatjpocket and] a quan-: >. tity of silver in a vest.. \fhe : man had taket the_ £27 in the pocket-batik,', and after ai ~ exciting, struggle escaped'through the win* d°W. ' ; ■ 'AN ELECTION. Napier, May 6i The Mayoral election for Waipawa resulted • in tho return of-Mr. W. I. Limbrick.V The polling was-as followsLimbrick, 225: H. M. Rathbone, 125. ' ' ' COAL SEAMS. '/ ' Creymouth, May 6. Tho Paparoa Company's main .tunnel has just cut through the lowest, seam of anthracious coal, 14ft. thick. The No. 2 seam. of the same coal,- 12ft. thick, is already opened ~ out, so that the company,will, be in a posi-; tion to work the field on completion -of the • tunnel. The No. 3 seam, ,6ft.-, thick,.is also heing opened out. ' PARKS AND RESERVES. - : > Auckland, May 6. In speaking on the question of parks and reserves, tho Mayor. (Mr.. A:-M. .Myers) to- ] day stated'that. tho Council had ■ lately de-< cided to engago a landscape gardener. Tho expenditure on- parks and reserves during; the year was £2520, and ; ,on the.Domain £1250,., . making a total of £3770.' ; AUCKLAND BATHS. 1 Auckland, May G. "Exclusive of , ticket-holders," said the Mayor at his inauguration for a fourth term of office to-day, "no less than 44,365 persons havo passed the turnstiles at-the Albert'" Street Baths,.and 22,267 persons at tho Customs .Street Baths, constituting a record for recent years. New baths are under con- : sideration in other parts of the city, and dressing-sheds are to be erected upon the' beaches." . •••/ \ . .. ... AUCKLAND TRAMWAY SERVICE. Auckland, May 6. Speaking at the installation gathering t( day,. tho Mayor (Mr.. A.. M. lilyers), in- ro» ferring to tho inadequate tramway sei-vice, said the Council had served on the Compauy a domand for £480, as damages for insuffi- ■ ciency of cars, which would bo heard at the next Civil sittings of tho Supreme Court, and the; Company had further been notified that as they nad failed to provide sufficient ■ plant and materials, and neglected, to keep , ■ and maintain in good order and condition the wholo of tho premises, plant, and machinery , for the purposes of. the tramway, the Coun- : oil intends to avail itself of its powers:and ; remedies under the de-ed of. delegation.; THE SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP. ' ' Glsbcrno, May 6. Webb returns to Wanganui on Sunday, i Ho has 'received a communication from the , backer of Whelch, asking whether in the event' of Arnst's challenge for tho championi ship .beiiijn declared off, would Webb'meet him. ; Webb has;replied, advising .Whelch to lodge his deposit, and a challenge can. I ' follow should Arnst withdraw. CLASSIFICATION AT BURNHAM. | Christchurch, May 6. [ A sum of £2500 has been voted ,by Cabinet . for tho Burnham Industrial School, to enable departments to be established for .in--1 corrigibles, and for a receiving place where ' classification can be undertaken. ; .. NEWS IN BRIEF. » Dargaviilo, May 6. ' ) The Minister for Internal Affairs has in- < formed the Dargaville County chairman that , tho elections in connection with the Borough i of Dargaville and Mangawhare will take place s on July 2. 'The-message is interpreted to • mean that the : borough is about' to bo • gazetted. ' . 1 Soljak, proprietor of the Croat-ion' news- ' 1 paper "Glas Istine,". was charged with pub--1 lishing an unregistered newspaper. The case . ' was dismissed on the ground that tho penal. 1 clauses of tho Act contained the word "wil- '' fully," and that defendant had not acted 1 with criminal intent. • Duncdin, May 6. At a meeting of, the City Council to-night . [ Mr. Wm. Barber M'SJwan, -formerly of Scotland, now of Wostland, was appointed librarian of the Carnegie Free Public Library. Thoro wore 69 applicants for the position. Christchurch, May 6. The .Committee of tho Industrial Associa-; tion havo progressed so far with the work of preparation for " local industries week " that . they will meet this, week to allot tho shops in which the goods will bo displayed to tho various manufacturers.; Mr. T. Ronayne, General Manager of Rail-! ways, is at present on a visit to Canterbury for the purpose of inspecting tho railways in tho province. The General Manager. IB accompanied by tho. heads of branches, viz., Messrs. A. L. Beattio (chief. mechanical engineer), H. Buxton (chief traffic manager), and J. Burnett (chief engineer for .the maintenance branch). Yesterday the party visited Little River and district. Tho municipal baths will bo opened by tho Mayor on May 14, at 7.30/ p.m.' , A swimming programmo or six events for prizes has been arranged.' The Christchurch Amateur ' Operatic Society, which has been moribund for some timo, is likely to bo resuscitated, and pro-; duco "The Mikado" shortly. _ . . Tho Christchurch-'municipal; tepid baths, just completed, in Manchester; Street, will be formally opened by tho Mayor on May' .14.