NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 341, 30 October 1908, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(BV TELEGRAPH—PKISR.. A.SSXUTION.) « —-r - . SLACK TIME FOR SHIPPING. Chrlstchurch, October 29. In common with mgst ports of-the Do minion, Lyttelton is experiencing a verj slack time just now in the shipping busi« ness: Beyond the, time-table passenger an<? coastal cargo boats, and a stray collier and oversea vessel or two, the cargo handling' business has been at a low ebb this week, and the waterside workers are feeling the depression somwhat keenly. There are approii- . mately 400 members of the Lyttelton Stevedores' TJnioii, and a "Press" reporter was informed yesterday that the total amount of wages earned by them during the week ended ' yesterday, in work on the wharves, was only about £400. Thero is always a slacknoss in the cargo handling business at this time of the year, and this year is certainly no exception to the rule. A number of big cargo steamers have been lying idle for weeks, but as one shipping man remarked, the slackness this month is the "calm before the storm," and when the wool and other products commence to come forward next month thero will doubtless be busy times on the wharves. The end <of this week should prov6 a fairly good time for the Lyttelton waterside workers, as four or live oversea cargo boats and several colliers and coastal bbats are due to arrive during the next few days. A FROST "NIP." Mastorton, October' 29. On Monday night' six degrees of frost wer« registered 'in Ma'sterton, 'on .Tuesday' night eight degrees, and on Wednesday night six degrees—an almost unprecedented consecutive record for the end of October' in tho Wairarapa. Tuesday night's visitation proved disastrous to garden crops, and Chinese gardeners sustained heavy losses. Considerable areas of potatoes and beans will require ploughing up to-day and replanting. Hastings, October 29.. Three degrees of frost were registered last night. The frost damaged grapes and cut • down potatoes and tender plants. Peach and other fruits wero not damaged. A PROFITABLE CONCERN. • Palmerston North, October 29. The Rongotea 'Dairy Company, at its an-; nual meeting yesterday, declared a dividend of 6 per cent., gave a farthing per pound bonus for butter fat, and wrote off £255 for depreciation. The company made a profit last year of £868, Manufacturing 410,6691b. of butter, and paying to the suppliers during the season £16,773. The company's expenditure during the year was £20,540. ; TIMARU SHOW. _ ' Timaru, October 29. . : The annual show at Timaru was highly successful on.both days.. In most of the classes the prizes .went to local exhibitors. In sheep a fair number went north and ■ south,"' arid tho most important in horses went to Ashburton and Oamaru. A feature °l* con tests were those for hunters, in which some exceptionally fine form was' seen. The judges highly praised the light horse classes, and Mr. Massey, M.P., who was. a guest to-day, said he had never seen a better class of roadsters and harness horses. Tho weather was fine both dajs, and the show fcas quite a record.