AUCKLAND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 490, 24 April 1909, Page 15

AUCKLAND NOTES.

(BY TEUIGUATO.—BTECIU. rotltl!8PONDIt)IJ Auckland, April 22. An opinion regarding some of the recent immigrants of tho artisan class was expressed by Mr. W. J. Cousins in Riving evidence st tho Arbitration Court in connection with the dispute m tho Auckland coachbuildmg trade. Dα stated that' during the past cightcui months or two years ho had employed probably 25 or perhaps a few more of these immigrants. "I think I can conscientiously say," added Mi\ Cousins, ''that not two .po'i cent, of them, when they started vith vs, \iOto worth more than tho presont iiiiniminn wage." Those workmen, he said, were inefficient in many respects when the.? started, as they were not accustomed tu colonial material or methods of woiking. In most cases they wero specialists, and vera thus . at a disadvantage when placed on general I work. Tho Thornycroft - motor wagon, imported I to tho order of tho Auckland Fha Board, v.as submitted to a trial yesterday after- ] uoon in tho presence of tho members of the i board. Tho latter woro very pleased with the trial and especially \\ ith the speed which wa3 attained when making tho steep aßcent of C'ojlogo Hill. Ie view of tho satisfactory tost tho purchase v. ill bo completed forthwith. Tins class of motor wagon is the very latest production from tho Old World. It is a 50 hoiso-power Thornycroft, tho engine being fitted with six cylinders and speeded up to 30 miles an hour at 1000 revolutions per minuto. This is its ep<?cd,under normal conditions, hut a higher rats can he attained i when nccPSS&Ty, and tho outstanding fcr.ture I of tho machine is that it can negotiate a I hill almost as quickly as level country. The i advantage of such in a hilly city like Auckland is apparent. Tho wagon has a carrying capacity of two tons gross, and i 3 equipped in such a way as to take a complete outlit of hose, hydrants, ladders, etc., together with 16 firemen, and although tho machine is of, great length_ it can bo turned completely round in a circle of 45ft. During tho hearing of a case in the S.M. Court this, morning, Mr. Kottle, S.M., told Mr. Pullen , that ■ his dofonco of a case-was absolutely hopeless, that time was being wasted, r.nd'thnt his Worship's patience , was almost exlmisted. i Mr. Pullen made some reply, and persisted in continuing with th*> evidence for his die it. "My friend should know that it is not within his province to question tho remarks of tho Bench," observed ,Mr. A. B. Skelton, who appeared for tho other sido. Mr. Pullen objected to such an observation. "Let's get on with the business,"' interjected Mr. Kettle. "I will sit horo for hours in tho interests of justice, but I don't like to have my time wasted." Mr. Pnllen 'protested that -ho 'never wasted the timo of tho Court, and declared that his Worship made thr.t remark too often. Later Mr. Pullon complained that his Worship was always taking the matter out of his hands. "I would very much sooner conduct it myself," ho sail. He did not like his Worship cross-examining his witnesses. Tho presence of gold in tho Maungatautari ranges, ten miles from Cambridge was referred to by tho Mayor (Mr. W. F. Buckland) at the laying of the Town nail foundationstono yesterday. Mr. Buckland said a ton of stone had been sent from this locality to tho Thames and gavo an assay value of £4 10s. An embargo has been placed on prospecting for tho present, but they would got it just as they/had got a town hall for Cambridge. -