IN OTHER CENTRES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 195, 12 May 1908, Page 3

IN OTHER CENTRES.

(BY TELZOEArH—SPECIAL COBBESFONDENT3.) * — AUCKLAND. May 11. The "Herald" states: —Wo hope that Mr. Millar will invito pressingly to Now Zealand those representatives of Scottish fishermen who are now visiting Australia. There is 110 coast on the neighbouring continent which offers better prospects for the establishment of fisheries than does our own, and thoro are • many parts where it would bo easy to open ooastwiso land for fisher settlements, and thus to unite agricultural with the fishing industry. It is one of the incongruities of colonial life that, while the seas swarm wit]i fish, and our population have a high purchasing power, it is practically impossible to obtain constant and varied supplies of this good and wholesome food. What is wanted is tho placing of our local fishing industry upon tho relation to other industries that it occupies at Home. To do this, trawling ought not only to be allowed, but to be encouraged in all open waters outsido a reasonable coast drawn limit, and tho immigration of tho true British fishiug folk should be systematically encouraged. There appears to be at present a unique opportunity for getting in touch with desirable Scottish fishermen who contemplate immigration, and it is much to bo hoped that Mr. Millar will not miss it. Society of Arts. The expectation of tho Auckland Society of Arts that it would be able to hang all tho pictures that have been'forwarded for tho forthcoming exhibition has not been realised, owing to tho very largo number of exhibits that have come to hand. _ Many artists have sent fairly largo collections of canvases, and it is quite impossible that they can all be displayed. The committee havo most unselfishly commenced with themselves, and each member_ has voluntarily withdrawn a portion of his own work in order to permit of moro space being available for the other exhibitors, but this generous action still leaves the wall space far short of requirements, so other exhibiting artista are asked not to feel aggrieved when they find that the whole of their pictures have not been displayed, but to remember that the committee have had an exceedingly arduous and delicato task in apportioning tlie" space, and have dono tho best tlioy could in tho circumstances. The opening ceremony is to be performed by His Excellency the Governor on May 20. Tho Rcoont Burglaries. Iu a special article on tho subject of tho recent burglaries,' the "Herald" says: —It would appear as if both Auckland and Wellington arc being exploited at tho present time by an organised gang of criminals. Indications seem to point to the presence in tho Dominion of some experienced cracks ( - men, and it is thought ill. several quarters that these "undesirables" havo come from Sydney. It does not tend. to alleviate tho anxiety of tho public to find that tho police aro apparently unable to lay haiids on these parties. ' . Aldermen. \ ' ' Approva.l was expressed by several city men yesterday at tho suggestion made by. tho J lay or (Mr. A. M'. Myers) at tho City Council mooting oil Thursday night that ex-Mayors of the city should bo appointed aldermen • under the greater ■ Auckland schemo, so that their knowledge and experience of-municipal lifo could still bo availed of for the benefit of the city. Tho Mayor, in tho' coursc of conversation with a tress representative, said that when a city in its early history mado mistakes they were easily rectified, but when'a city grew .it was only by proceeding 011 broad, progressive, sound lines that justice could bo dono to tho great heritage that wa'r> undoubtedly ours. If, under tho greater Auckland schema, all tho members 'of tho greater Auckland Council were' to retire en bloc, as ■ might possibly happen, the aldermen', would always bo a;. ana would bo able to givo the city tho benefit of their long association with city matters. The appointment of aldermen from tho ,ranks .of' tho ex-Mayors would also bo an inducement to men of. tho right stamp to seek tho highest position in municipal life that tho citizens had to bestow. Oysters. - A moderate supply of oysters is now coming'' forward for the requirements of the local market, and on SaturSay morning tho Government'oyster depot was particularly busy. Since tho season opened a week ago, 955 hags of oysters have been picked and sold., Of this number 34 bags wero sold locally at tho Bay of Islands, 65 bags havo supplied inland orders, and. the'balanco havo been sold in Auckland. Busy Time at the Wharves. ( Shipping business has been oxceodingly brisk at Auckland during the past few days, and the harbour master and his deputies have had their hands full in attending to tho steamers and providing -them with berths. Oh Saturday tho Manapouri arrived from tho Islands, and the Hauroto from Dunedin. Yesterday four large steamers put in an .appearance, besides tho usual fleofe'of coastal steamers. Tho vessels wero tho Moana from Sydney, the Inveric from San Francisco and tho Islands, the Aeon from; Sydney, and tho Mokoia from the South; . To-day the African Monarch is due from New York and Australia. , ' Mining Matters. 111 speaking of mining matters in conversation with a " Herald " reporter on Saturday evening, tho Hon. J. M'Gowan, Minister for Mines, stated that he had heard nothing of the reported desire to havo certain Native lauds in the vicinity of. Maungatautari (near Cambridge) opened as a goldfield. Everything he said was in readiness for tho opening of tho Urewora country to prospectors as soon as tho negotiations with tho Nativo owners v.'ero completed. Speaking of his first visit to the Tairua District last week Mr. M'Gowan stated that ho was very favourably impressed with tho possibilities of this portion of the goldfields as a future gold-producing area. In his opinion tho country would well ropay exploration on .1 thorough and systematic scale, and it should be heard of as a valuable gold producer before very long.

CHRISTCHURCH.

May 11. Mail coach passengers who-wore returning to Cheviot from Kaikoura 011 Friday had some comment to make concerning tho conduct of the ferryman at tho Waiau ferry. - It appears that when tho mail coach arrived the ferryman informed the passengers that he could not take passengers or mails across that day, despite the fact that the Cheviot coach was waiting on the other side. There were four passengers 011 tho coach, including a lady, and accommodation was found for her in a hut. Tho ferryman left a little later to bring somo person across from tho opposite side,- and two of the male passengers went with him, -and, so reached the other side. The coach had gono by this time, and they wero forced to walk to Cheviot (about eight miles distant),] which they succeeded in reaching at midnight. They wore drenched to the skin, tho result of having to wado through several- streams, and as they had had nothing to eat since 5 a.m., their oxperienco was anything but cheorful. Unusual Weather. During tho past few weeks, the weather in South Canterbury lias been peculiarly mild for this season of tho year. As a result, strawberries growing outside have produced ripo berries. Acetylene Lamp Explodes. " Tho acetyleno head lamp on the locomotive drawing tho train from Culvordcn 011 Saturday evening oxploded with a loud report, when 0110 of tho onginonicn wiis lighting it at tho Sefton station. Tho glass was shattered, and the top of the lamp was blown ofl\ The explosion was no doubt due to a small leak having filled the lamp with gas. Tho man who was lighting it was fortunate in escaping without injury.