IN OTHER CENTRES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 237, 30 June 1908, Page 8

IN OTHER CENTRES.

(BY TEI.EG RATH—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS.) AUCKLAND. • Juno 29. On Thursday last there was a phenomenal fall of hail at' Te Arolva. Tho fall continued for fifteen or twenty minutes, and the ground was carpeted in wiiite. Most of tho stones were almost perfectly round, and of the sizo of sparrows' eggs, while a considerable number were of the size of pigeons' eggs. Three stones that were actually weighed and nfcasured were each about an inch and a quarter in length, and each weighed a few grains over a quarter of an ounce. The noiso of the bombardment on iron roofs was deafening. In some cases damage was done to the glass of hothouses and nursery frames. Gold Storage. It is a curious thing to think of what the power of reduction of temperature in freezing chambers is doing for New Zealand, said an expert in cold storage when speaking to a " Herald " 'representative yesterday. If the freezing process had not been discovered probably hundreds of thousands of acres now in profitable occupation would still bo bush jungle. Railways and roads, now an accomplished fact, might not even be thought of, and the bulk of the population might have migrated elsewhere. To-day you see a Shropshire sheep feeding in a padcek. Six months hence it might have travelled to London and be forming part of a meal oil board the Cunard liner Jlauretaiiia. A nice young hen preening her feathers in the sunlight in an Avondale poultry run this week may voyage to London, and be served up in'a restaurant in Paris, or on a passenger liner going to Japan, and tho eggs she laid beforo she departed, and which her motherly instinct no doubt taught her to look forward to hatching, will perhaps bo taken out of cold store in Auckland two' years afterwards and be praised in Dunedin as those beautiful fresh eggs from Auckland.

A Payablo Reef. It is stated on good authority, that a party of prospectors have struck a payable reef at Maungatautari, near Cambridge, and'are still working opening up. They sent two tons to the Waihi Company, which returned a good assay. The reef, it is stated* is situated upon European land, which some time ago was purchased by the Government. It is reported that tho Government will shortly proclaim the area as a goldfield. In view o* tho discovery of gold on the eastern portion of Mount Maungatautari, and tho probability of a new goldfield being proclaimed there, it is understood that the natives on the western sido are now desirous of having the whole area of Maungatautari included therein. " King" Mahuta, acting, oil behalf of tlio Nativo Department, approached tho natives with the object of obtaining their consent to the purchase of their land, in order that it might be proclaimed a goldfield. A majority expressed their willingness to sell. As gold has been found on their, land at various times and its payable nature has been proved on tho other side, there does not appear any reason to suppose that it will not be found equally payable on the native lands on the Cambridge side of Mount Maungatautari. Arbitration Act. The Hon.. J. A. Millar, Minister for Labour, in acknowledging a resolution of tho Trades, and Labour Council, protesting against any amendment to tho Arbitration Act which would exclude farm labourers from the operation of that Act, stated that it was not tho intention of the Government to exclude any branch of labour from the advantages of tho Act. A letter was also read from Mr. Hall-Jones, Minister for Railways, denying that tho men in charge of trains on tho Nov/ Zealand railways worked long hours, their hours ""being kept, he stated, to reasonable limits. . . i

CHRISTCHURCH. June 29. i On June 10 the "Press" published a statement from Timaru regarding tlTe case of a blind man named M'Carthy' whose -misfortunes had excited a good deal of local sympathy. The "Timaru Post" opened a subscription list on his behalf, and the Mayor of Timaru consented to receive donations. The "Press" was invited by local sympathisers to acknowledge subscriptions for the man, and did so, tho fund haying now reached tho sum of £136. Within tho last day- or two some further facts have come to light, which the "Press" to-day places before those who havo subscribed to the fund. It appears that M'Carthy applied to tho South Canterbury Charitable Aid Board for assistance, and the secretary, being dissatisfied with tho small amount of information he was able to get from the applicant regarding his antecedents, etc., wrote to'the North Canterbury Charitable Aid Board to inquire if anything was known ,of him in this district. Mr. Norris, tho secretary of the local Board, went, to Timaru and visited M'Carthy. Ho at once identified the latter as' a man-"who in, February applied for relief ill. Christchurch and was" granted temporary ■ assistance. He then .gave the name, of George Maihrr, 41 years of age, born at Tarahaki, and by trade a wood carver. Ho also stated that for four years lie had lived in Christchiircli and that he had three children living. Temporary assistance was granted to him on a Saturday. The man on tho following Monday returned and withdrew his application, stating that his wife had got a situation, and that ho himself : was going to Auckland to gain admission iin the. Blind Institute. There is only one child, an infant, at present living with M'Carthy and his wife, and it is allegedthat he declines to say where the'other two children are. In reply to a police officer, M'Carthy said that he had applied to the North Canterbury Board for relief, but' denied that he had done so under any other namo but that of M'Carthy. To other questions ho failed to give. direct replies. At last he said that the appeal made on his behalf had not been set on foot by him, that ho did not want the money, and would not accept it if it wore given to him. " There is no question," • remarks the "Press," " as to the man's being blind, although lie. has failed to give any corrobora-tion-of his ; statement as to how his blindness was caused. There seems also no doubt that at the present time ho is dependent on his wife's earnings as a dressmaker and tho assistance, which has been given him by charitable persons. It is, however, a matte;: for - serious consideration whether a person who refuses to answer reasonablo questions regarding the origin of his affliction and his previous history is a suitable object for the very liberal sympathy shown by tho public, especially as he • himself now says that ho does not want their money, and will not take it." In view of this new development, the Mayor of Timaru intends to make a statement to the South Canterbury Charitable Aid Board on Tuesday. Pending the result of that meeting, the " Press states that it. shall keep in hand the money it has received.

DUNEDIN. June 29. The 1 " Star," referring to the fact that this is the first year that the printing of the main electoral rolls has been undertaken by the Government Printing Office in Wellington, says of tho Duncdin roll: "Wo have no- hesitation in saying that it fairly, bristles with errors; not only are the names of persons who have left tho electorate for good been retained, but we have stumbled across the names of those who have journeyed to tho great beyond. Of course, these blemishes can and will be rectified, but if all the unblushing mistakes are corrected, it is safo to say that the newly-printed roll will bo reduced by quite a third of its matter. It will bo understood that we are not laying the blame for this waste of money and labour on the shoulders of any of tlio registrars of electors, who have simply to faithfully carry out their instructions. The fault rests witb ■ headquarters, which has been seized with a desire to equalise all the electoral work regardless of what tho charge will cost or of tho public convenience.

Lord Eosebery, presenting flags to Edinburgh schools, told tno pupils wh&'.-ever they were tempted to do anything baso to look up to _Uio flag. .Would jt romiid thorn of tifl stupes?