Untitled

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 333, 21 October 1908, Page 6

WESTLAND RAILWAYS. INQUIRY ASKED FOR. ( Greymouth, October 2i). A well-attended and representative meet* ing of sawmillers and citizens was held tonight to protest against the way railway matters aro administered on.tho Westland section. After several speakers: had spoken of the numerous grievances to whichv thfiy were subjected by . the Railway Department, the following resolutions were', carried unanimously:—"That this meeting protests, to the Minister for, Railways at the widespread; dissatisfaction existing throughout this district in connection with the working of its railways ; that this meeting respectfully requests the Minister for Railways to cause a publio inquiry into the administration of railways on the Westland section; that'.in the opinion of:this:meeting it is desirable'that the Byßtem of carrying sawn timber by measurement be discontinued; and that in future timber should be carried by weight, the same as other products l ; that this meeting^would ask .the public :'of. Hokitika, Kumara, 1 Reefton, ; and. surrounding districts to co-operate in urging upon the Minister of Railways the necessity of a public inquiry." The Town Clo.-Jt was instructed to convey the foregoing resolutions to the Minister for Railways. NORTH AUCKLAND RAILWAY. MEETING OF THE LEAGUE. Auckland, October 20. A meeting of the Auckland Railway League was held this afternoon. The chairman (Mr. Peacocke), in reporting upon the results of >the recent deputation, which waited,upon the ; Ministor for Railways in Wellington,' stated that they had been well received by the-Hon, W. Hall-Jones, who had stated that .hd : realised that there was no line of. greater importance in the North Island now that:the Main Trunk had been completed than th« Helensville_ northwards.- This line the Minister promised should'henceforth be known as the North Auckland Main Trunk; The- sura placed upon the Estimates was £80,000, which was very satisfactory. What the league now had to do was to urge the'expenditure of that money, and he . hoped that there would-be no'delay: in the outlay of- the sum voted. ... .i, Some discussion.' took .place upon the best .course to follow-to. enable, members of the league and others interested.to visit Makac tote on the occasion of the official opening of the Main Trunk line, and the driving of .the last spike at that spot. A- sub-committee ..was appointed to confer with the Chamber, of Commerce-to complete .details in..connection :witli the ceremony;! , ,

NATIVE LAND COMMISSION^ . October'2o.

• A sitting of the Native Land Com'missioi' '• was held to-day. Thelkaroa Maori Land -- v Board had .refused to accept surrenders of certain leases, in order to allow holders to ; .apply for'fresh leases under new valuations. The' Natives petitioned' Parliament for ret dress, and the . commission has now held its investigation, and will report the result to the Government. " COMPENSATION AWARDED. "rAu'dkland, October. 20. The Arbitration Court m the 'case'''.'Ellea Fergusson against the Union Colleries Com' .' pany, awarded'-£2OO to claimant'as coinpensai tion for the death of her son, while in de* 1 fondant's employ. . V; INCENDIARISM AT 'RANCIORA. ■■■■•• Jo k'!.: October 20.' ' .! .There tfi's r :ih6^ffla^ l ,attempt':S4- r 5* Rahgiora lasfi'riight, but it' was: unsuccessful; •- as .the outbreak was discovered ; iri time':for' the fire brigade to "cope Vith it/ • Th& 'fire -took- I '- : ■ ; place in' a 1 old and 1 dilapidated, 1 and; 1 :■» unoccupied."" This is'the : ninth,attempt r , (rfthiii 1 ' " eighteen months, and the.third'-within: tlir'ea ' •- months. I 'The'fact is noticeable that each of-' H the suspected incendiary fires occurred exactly ' ; at 11 o'clock at night. WORKERS AND NO-LICENSE. Foxtorii October 20. At a meeting of the Manawatu Flaxmilll ■- Employees' Union.on Saturday night the following motion- was■ carried unanimously:—''' ■ "That this union endorses the action of the •; Trades Councils' Conference in urging ' tha v workers- of .the Dominion to vote No-License, and considers.that'in'the.event'of restoration vi being carried •in va No-License; .distriot the State should have .the power, to: establish wine - and beer depots, thereby eliminating the factor of private profit." ; .' STEAMER STRANDED." . ! ..' Walroa, October 20. .<"• The Tuatu has been stranded on Mohak» bar since: Sunday. The Tangaroa is'endear- ;t buring to get hei-off to-day. FINED FOR WORKINGS ON SUNDAY. V; ;l Cambridge, . October :20. At Court to-day several members of ' the ; Seventh Day Adventists, who have got a large farm and training school here, were charged ■ with working on the farm on a Sunday. ■ The case attracted a great deal of interest. After a lot of evidence, the Magistrate, Mr. Cut- • ten, convicted and-fined each, of the defendants ss. and costs. Ho advised the Advent- . ists not to work in view of the road or other public place likely to cause annoyance.

; • COAL. • : Westport, October 20. The first consignment of Westport-Stock-ton coal of 400 tons was shipped by the Raka< 110 a for Wellington to-night. It is for.bunk, ering .use, being taken direct from the mino without any special picking process, and is a very good sample of coal. ' \ HANMER. Chrlstohiiroh, October.2o. Tho Hanmor correspondent of the _ "Press" reports that great surprise was exhibited by tho residents of Hanmor when , it. becama known that Tho Spa was to be> transformed into a sanatorium, with" a resident doctor and nursing staff. It is rumoured that the change is to bo made very shortly,' but the exact "dato is not definitely decided. ' ■

NEWS IN BRIEF. Clsborne, October 20. : Tho local Y.M.O.A. has decided to engage * : general secretary and secure suitable roomS| •' in pursuance of tho forward movement. ' 1 Clsborne, October 20. ' Thomas Taylor, arrested at Auckland, \vai sentenced to six months' imprisonment for the theft of a watch and chain. "On a charga . of wife dosortion lie was remanded, to Auck- , land. . ' . . ■ Auckland, October, 20. Tho Auckland Rowing Association lias do oiiled to hold , a championship regatta on ths , Waitoinata Harbour, oil a dutc not 'fixed, but winch wiU probably bo about the middla . of February. Dunedln, October 20. Information against Messrs. Aston Adams and Percy Ehvorthy, of. driving motor cars at an alleged excessive speed through Princes < Street, were, dismissed, Mr. Widdowson, S.M., saying ho was not satisfied that.it had been proved that the speed was dangerous to ths public. Dunedin, October 20. Tho Caledonian Society to-night agreed to accept tho championships offered by tho Athlotic Union. ■ Tliis will increase the prizemoney by a sum of £35; Tho • I'ipers' an/ Dancers' Association have agreed to suspend tho operation' of their rules till after - the ■ meeting of tho. Athletic Union m January.