NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 276, 14 August 1908, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(nv TELEcnArn —riiEss association.! o . OVERDUE STEAMER AEON. ENGINES MAY HAVE BROKEN DOWN. Auckland, August 13. Thore is still 110 tidings of the steamer Aeon, bound from San Francisco to Auckland, and now 37 days out from the Californian port. It is thought possible that tho steamer's engines have broken down, or that she has lest her propeller. Tho Aeon has about a million feet of timber for Wellington, and a couple of hundred tons of general cargo for Auckland; also a considerable freighting for Australia. She is owned by the Howard Smith Company, of Melbourne, and is a steel vessel, 4221 tons, built in 1895. She has only ono propeller.

COAL MINING MACHINERY. Westport, August 13. A largo number of people availed themselves to-day of au invitation to inspect the Westport-Stockton ' Company's power-house at Ngqkawau and witness the setting in motion of the main generating machinery. Tho trial run was very successful, the machinery working without a hitch. To-mor-row the laying down 'of tho raih to Mangatiua, the outer boundary of the company's property, will be completed, so 1 that the internal work of the bins, the machinery in which is all to be worked by electricity, and the finishing touches to - the electric installation are practically all tliatr is required to bring • the property up to the coalproducing ■ FRIENDLY SOCIETIES ACT. Timai'u, August 13. At Court' this morning, the Secretary to the Timaru Friendly Societies' Dispensary was chargedi'under section 12 of the Friendly Societies Act, 18S2, with failing to send in propor returns of receipts and expenditure to the Department in the years 1906 and 1907. Defendant admitted the offence, and said he had been unable to get tho- accounts passed by the board of management ill time to allow him to make the return to tho Department within the prescribed time; He was fined £3, and costs £2 lis.

HASTINGS STREET ROW. Hastings, August 13. As a result of incidents occurring during a hostilo street demonstration against Fearhley, a polico agent; after judgment/had been given sn recent betting cases, L. Fowler (a Borough Councillor), M. Johnson ' (draper), and W. Stack (a consumptive invalid) 'nave each been served with a summons to appear at the Nanier Court to answer a charge that' they did oebavo in a manner which might have caused a breach of the peace., It is understood that Stack will take proceedings against Inspector Macdonell on a charge of rouglily handling him 'in the street -without cause. ' :

HOTEL BURNED DOWN. Reafton, August 13. • The Southern Cross Hotel (Mr. Findlay, licensee) was gutted by fire at 3 a.m. .The licensee ajid His wife were away: at- Greymouth. Tho building was insured .in tne Commercial Union for- £700, tho stock for £50, and tho furniture for £150. The'property was. owned by the licensee. , 'A CHILD'S DEATH. Wairoa, August 13. At . the inquest on. the child Listen, who died as the result of eating matches at Tiniroto, a .verdict was returned that death- was due to misadventure. MANGATEWAINUI VIADUCT. . Auckland, August 13. Messrs. Massey Bros. have received an intimation from Mr. Ronaync. general .manager ~6f J that I thblr' tender of £5692 has been accepted for tho steel piers and superstructure or the.Mangatowainui Viaduct contract. _ : ARBITRATION COURT. Invercargill, August 13. The Arbitration Court was occupied all day hearing the' employers' evidence in the snwmillers' case. Tho Court,expects,to conclude to-morrow in time to catch tho afternoon express for tho north. CARE OF CHILDREN. Invercargill, August 13. The Hospital and Charitable Aid Board to-day received a report, forwarded by the Inspector-General of . Hospitals, in lfiiich Miss Petrimant, Inspector under the Infant Life Protection Act, 1907, made' a strong criticism of the care of children at tho Board's Lome' Farm Home, and recommended the appointment of a trained nurse. Reports were also received from two doctors and the matron disposing of the'lnspector's allegations, and, in a legal opinion, Messrs. Hall, Stout, and Lillicrap, that the • Home was not within the scope of tho Act of last year. It was decided to-for-ward these reports and the opinion to Dr. Valintinc, . ■ ,' ■ ' : ■'

Through improved education, improved industrial and social conditions, and the-spread-of snort and amusement, real temperance ro-' form is coming, and will come, "tem-.. peranco" legislation oh' restrictive , lines; —■ "Westminster Review." Wo differ by a whole heaven from the "Times" idea about the average sis-shilling novel. The " Times"_wants t-o make it- far cheaper and -to sell it consequently in far larger numbers. , 'Vo aria strongly of opinion that it ought to bo kept as dear as possiblo. : —" Saturday Review." •' We feel that tho Americans are our kinsmen. They belong to the same old stock as ourselves. They are. our blood-', relations, and we realise our kinship in tho days of trouble.' Though we quarrel with our own —as brothers and sisters often do yet, when a stranger interferes, wo'ro up in arms together.—" Stock and Station Journal," Sydney, -y' The London "Times," referring to the debate on "The Church and Literature attha Pan-Anglican Congress, states"lt is a small matter whether what is called comment is anonymous, provided that it represents the best.views of tho best;men. : Public opinion needs to bo influenced, as Plato wanted his ideal Stato to bo governed, by 'genuine philosophers,' whom he defined as 'those who lovo to see truth' and 'set their ■ affections on that which in each case really exists.' But besides comment there is news; besides public opinion thero aro the facts and tho happenings about which men want to bo informed daily. Hero there was a tendency ■ in the course'of tho discussion to grumble at the exiguous character of tho religious news provided by tho daily Press, and to point to the Congress as an occasion which had mado the newspapers bestir themselves. No doubt there aro public prints which lend somo colour to tho complaint, as there are others in regard to which it sounds a rather ludicrous injustice. But hero, again, the Congress is : bringing against tho Press an accusation which really lies at the door of the ; Church , which it represents. At the -head of EngliLh ecclesiastical affairs there'are a few men who undorst-and quito well the need of supplyingthe newspapers with accurate information, arid who act accordingly. They.see to it that Church doings which are really of public interest aro communicated in proper form. They report an appointment to an important benefice or tho inauguration ,of some farroaching scheme as regularly n? the Admiralty draws up its list of prnr--i(ions or divulges the laying down of n new. battleship, But there is 110 method in ecclesiastical publicity. The result is that much of what (a oxpocted to do-duty as Church news verges on what Mr. Strachoy calls the trivial. It ia rejected by those who feel a senso. of respon. sibility, and is printed by the rest. Happily, tho Pan-Anglican Congress has shown in how many useful and oven momentous direction# tho forces of tho Church aro at work.- Lot those only bo given their full effect, and thoro , will bo 110 need to complain of a want of .recognition," H