AUCKLAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 320, 6 October 1908, Page 7

AUCKLAND NEWS.

(UI TELEQEAPa.—arECIAL COEKEgrOSDINT.) Octobor 5. The heavy downpour of rain which occurred on Friday night and Saturday morning has had a most beneficial effect on the country, which now looks beautifully fresh and green, and should afford excellent pasture for the ensuing dairy season. Horticulturists in the cjty and suburbs have also reason to be thankful for tho rain, as many of their orchards were badly in want of it, and as a result are how wearing a refreshing appearance. In view of the recent dry weather, the municipal authorities have had occasion to fear that _ unless the weather broke there might, possibly have been a shortage of water in the summer months, as in order to onsure sufficient supply it is necessary that tho. winter rains'should como in due season and soak into the ground. The fall, came as a somewhat welcome rolief to the minds of tho officials. ' Rain is again falling to-day. Tho total fall measured for the 24 hours up till 9.30 a.m. on Saturday morning was .55m.

Cooks and Waiters. Tho proposal to form a union among thoso employed in the local hotels, restaurants, boardinghouses, oyster saloons, clubs,, and tearooms has now assumed concrete form. A meoting for the purpose was held in Palmorston Buildings, Lower Quoon Street, about forty being present, and after the situation had boen discussed it was unanimously resolved to form a union. The statement was made that in a few months' timo the union would probably consist of a thousand members. Tho* unions in Dunedin and Christchurch already had that number each, whilo in Wellington the numerical strength ran into fully 1500. It was also stated that, if possible, tho local union would enter into an agreement with tho employers, but if the employers refused to meet them they would fight the matter out in open Court. Tourist Season. The tourist season is apparently going to commence earlier" this year than last. Already a number of oversea visitors have arrived and are "doing" Rotorua, To Aroha, and other thermal resorts, while several aro en route to Wanganui' River. Tho attention directed to tho Dominion by tho-visit 'of tho American Fleot is expected to.mean an extra influx of visitors to Auckland this year, and there are indications that tho coming summer and autumn months will see a record tourist traffio to tho thermal and scoiiio centres of tho Auckland province. An American gentleman, at present in tho city, stated to a reporter that in many of tho largo cities of America tho wealthy residents wore looking up New Zealand guide books as they had never boen looked up before, and while the absence of tho former San Francisco mail service would militate against the tourist traffic, still ho expected to soo more Americans coming to New Zealand thin year than in any previous year.