LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 714, 13 January 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tho' sale of the Governor's, horse's,' carriages, etc., took place at the Government House stables yesterday, under" instructions from his .Excellency, who will shortly return to tho Old Country.' The landau was sold, for ,£l4O, to Sir. Carey, of Wei-, lingfon; the victoria for •£&); and. the wagonette for .£35.. One of the carriage', horses realised ,£33, and the other, was', passed in at A polo pony brought ■.£lO 10s. Good: prices were obtained for the harness, etc. Mr.Jl. C. Waterfield, pri va te secretary, represented: his Excellency at tho sale. Messrs. Barraud, York and Co. were the • auctioneers. 1 • "I lcnow nothing at all about it," was the Hon. J. Carroll's reply yesterday, when a Dominion reporter; showed him a paragraph from a Napior newspaper in which it was suggested that the Nativo Minister might probably contest '■ tha Hawke's Bay seat at next election, in view of Mr. Dillon, tho , sitting , member, having decided not to become, a candidate again...'; Seaside bathers have good cause to bowaro of tho perils of; the seashore during the* hot weather. A ..juvenile resident of Island Bay had a. somewhat unusual oxporienco on Monday when on tho local beach. It appears that a little two-year-old child was paddling in shallow 'water when it stopped to enjoy, the sonsa'tion of drawing its foot over a slimy, object on the bottom of the sen. The child's parents were attracted by the apparent abstraction of. the infant, and investigation showed that the baby was toyih" with an octopus. ; Tho child was, sn'atcfied out of its dangerous : position, and subsequently the octopus was poked ashore. It measured four. feet ." across,,! with tentacles outstretched. . . ;' ■

The city authorities have, so far done nothing in the direction of arranging a welcome to Field-Jlarshal Lord Kitchener. Tho opinion of tho corporation, officers appears to be that the first ! advance■ in this direction should be made by the Government.. 1

Tho list of changes in the police force consequent upon the retirement of Mr. Dinnio from, tho position of commis-, sioner will not be made public for another week. ..

Twonty-six persons attended the first mooting ;of -. parishioners of;> .the - newlyformbd parochial district of St.. Hilda, Island Bay. Tho vicar (the ltcv. W. Fancourt, M.A.) :.presided. The balancesheet showed that the last instalment of debt on the church property had been paid, and a credit balance, of over £7 carricd forward. The ? following ■ officers were elected to act until.the annual meeting in April:—Vicar's warden, Mr..., T. Proctor; parishioners' warden, Mr. :B. Wood; vestrymen,' Messrs. Colley, Griffiths, Hull, Levy,. M'Ewan, Jlurrell, and Wilkening; auditor, Mr. Maltby...

Two Russians and two Italians, who intend to settle-in-New Zealand, landed from the: Jlarama yesterday,, after, passing the language test satisfactorily. -

To-morrow evening, at half-past seven, the Wellington Navals'(Captain Sommcrville), .and the Electric \ Light, Corps(Captain 'Hume) -trill, embark ; on- tne Janie Seddon.i, en'route, to, Mahanga Bay,' for their annual 16 days' course of training in- ; fort-manning, . and •. . service shooting. The first week will bo devoted mainly, to instructional;,work.'. Shooting is expected to .commence on, Monday week, when instructional practice under service conditions -'will 1 ' bo- 'carried out. by the 8-inch, , 6-inch, ; and .'.quick-firing guns., Battle. practice .with: quick-firing guns, is' to,be carried out at night. Fort Dorset, tho new v fortified ■■ position , commanding the-seaward side of the entrance to the harbour, will not. be manned just yet. It is,understood that if. all,the arrangements. are ■ completed' the Australian cricket team to. tour-New -Zealand will leave-Sydney before, the end. of the present month. . "; ; v

At,. the • meeting'. held •" at' Christchurch to discuss the iprm of reception which should bo accorded, Lord Kitcnener there, tho Mayor, Mr. 0. Allison/ said that it had been . suggested that' a banquet should be tendered to' Lord Kitchener, but' ,this . .proposal .had.'objectionable features in ; that it,"woWd restrict tho num/ ber -. of, people -'who- couldbe.' present to about; fifty,' 'and. would, involve a: request to Lord Kitchener, that he should make 'a';-speech".}Another'; suggestion:was that a public meeting should be held at which an address of welcomo-' ishould: be presented,-; to-the distinguished soldier, but again,:- the . difficultyregarding , speechmaking cropped tip. A . third proposal was ; that.; 4, musical eveningshould .be held. That would enable a good many pooplo' ■to ■ meet him, and a number, 'of■ speeches could be made :by. public, men of- Christchurch. On the: other hana, there wore'many people who ..would like, to' havo; an ; opportunity ;of meeting -so distinguished 'a inan/ : who :was regarded as a maker of history/ arid it. was thought .that some, means should- be adopted]-by which the- people .of r,Christchurch would be enabled to. give • expression to . their recognition' of V tho'' services, that ho had rendered ;to tho Ultimately it was resolved' to send, - a cablegram to Lord Kitchener on tho subject. -

'■ .The Harbouivßoard. elections take-place next month'.:- Ini-connection- with .-, the; election of. the two: members', to, represent 'the: Wellington - city, ratepayers/.-the. board hasi decided: that-'.-the -roll.'to. be .used .shall: be the- existing- municipal roll and ' supplementaries,': -if any 1 . ': The> ■" present, city representatives-.-are ;;,Messrs.'i. K/ Fletcher;, and F.;. G:- Bolton. ; V,,' ■

• The iriorease.of'lato years in;'the'ratio of working! expenses to gross earnings in regard: to the 1 ; New: Zealand, railways was recently, 'emphasisedin "a' 3 return compiled by the "Australasian Insurance. and Banking. Record."Eeferrings .to; the return ia question-yesterdays the' Hon. J. A. Millar (Mjnister . 'for '.Railways). remarked to', a jDominion . reporterVthat-it .was i quite - true that i the -working' expenses rose Inst year. to :-72;19 pe'r-:.centi"■ That . was. to be "explained (he continued), firstly,.-by .'the; fact; that under , th« : lastclassification' the,;! wages;-had'increased.'by." secondly, : -that ■ coal -suffi■cieiitiffor!', four'-, mdnths l .was,- purchased 3 in- 1 ' .-stead: of : the. usual;'stock of 'eight weeks;, in ' view of' the \ possibility: of ai- strike." Mr; -.Millar, (wont:.oil; to . say. - that 'this year .it", would' be; found that' the.; workingexpenses. would be 'very much '.lower/;and that ■ the earnings .'of-: the railways ' would 1 be/-much higher. If New Zealand liked' to''-charge tho. some rates for 1 passengers -and.:.freights' as -were charged 'in.-Austra-lia a .return, of nearly. 5 ;.per cent.' could be ; 'seoured''on the turnover.-He was' having compiled; a comparative'state.ment giving: the . 'passenger / rates and : freight charges . in; New "Zealand,: South Australia, v ictoria/ New;. South: , Wales,; .Queensland, and."West ■ Australia;,' arid ' he' would, forecast that it would' be found that exoept- in the. case. of a few odds 'and -ends here and there ;the' rates were , much ■ higlier in Australia than, in New Zealand. ;v-> '

;. . Replying :,t<) an "inquiry, by.;,a Dojunion ; reporter.' yesterday, the Hon.; J: ■' A.': Mil-; •lir'- (Minister, for . Railways) stated; that, ;aS| far., as he was. awarej,. there: was no; foundation for ,the report ;that: two railway,, carriages ' we're beinj specially. fitted :up l at the re tone..W orksnops. for the .use; of his Excellency the Governor and staff, in connection' with,., a 'proposed!: fishing expedition;' Mr.-, .Millar: added: that-:.ho ;was; investigating:, tho matter. : Although', the Otaki Sanatorium has accommodation for 19 female :' patients -and! 15 males, tho' institution'is not. full at-present. :The: men's; side,is fully occupied,. but .onCtho female sido... there'', ara six vacant beds. ' The, last quarter's . levies on local bodios towards : the' upkeep of the. 'Wellington Hospital?,and' Charitable Aid Board' were made by : the'secretary,: on January, 1. . A'-:special,' appeal has Seen mado,. to •have the "'levy ■ paid .as, soon as -possible before March 31, the : end .of ' the, financial, year,' in order to facilitate the- winding-; 'up . of.- the : affairs. r of the' old ' HospitalBoard, which-' is to be' -superseded", on April' 1 as a - result of tho passing of the new; 'Hospitals Act of last session. . .The successful movement for the. crea-. tion- of k- Greater liiver'cargill is''one that, in . the opinioii , ot" tho' l'rime: Minister, will beneficially : affect.; both ;.,the, town, and; tho important district 'or. which In. vercargill is the capital.' : Referring; fur-, ther to the; union,. Sir Joseph; recently remarked that ho trusts that,under wise, progressive, "and prudent 'local .government, Greater'. Invercargill ,; will: attain to tliat; position, which its.'-impprt-iiuce-, and recognised geographical positioh," must.sooner or later, bring /about.:: 7 The passenger, traffic on 'the Auckland tranis' during the holiday season'was ex-' ceptionally .heavy,, more:especially from Boxing' Day- to the end of December. No; fewer'. -thari;. were carred'on the cars, as against 723,238 for the corresponding period of. 190S, this giving an increase in .favour of the .' last Christmas holidays of 60,834. The heaviest traffio for any one day was on Boxing Day. . v ' No . figures have been . made up since the 'New Year.' commenced:', In speaking.: of ; the newly-installed Mate cars, which.., raff .'for the . first; time on Monday: night,' the ".'traffic'/' manager of tho : Tramways Company said that he thought thoy'wonld, prove a very groat public' convenience. So far,-'a ; great many; people had travelled; by. them,: the midnight cars to Ponsonby and' Epsom haying: been especially well patronised. / During a thunderstorm near. St.. Arnaud .(Victoria), .recently, ; .. lightning struck a tree, in, Mr. : W. Jl'Dohald's paddoek, and set fire to "> a standing crop of wheat, ■ 40 acres of which was destroyed. The'progress, of the fire, was . arrested by an area of fallow land and a timely, fall of rain. . ■

' A very ' interesting exhibition of Bri-tish-bottled' fruits and fruits grown 'over--.sensi held under the auspices of tho. Eoyal Horticultural-Society,' has been opened at the 60ci«ty's hall in Vincent' Square by Princess Louise,, Duchess of Argyll. Canada, Now. Zealand, South Africa, ; Victoria, and the West Indies aro all excellently represented. One of tho most interesting exhibits in tho display- mado by the New Zealand Government was a quantity of apples which havo been kept in cold storage for twelve months. The first consignment of apples from Manitoba was among tho exhibits; and a noteworthy fcaturo was an excellent display of crystallised' fruit, the first prepared .in tho United Kingdom. Visitors to; the exhibition will also, bo interested in the apple exhibit of tho British Columbia' Government.—"Standard of Empire"

Bowlers'.Hats, Shoos, nnd Trousers at Bowlers' Prices,'at Kirkcaldie and ; Stains, Ltd.—Advt, : " ' ' '

: A citizen of: a, Melbourne' suburb.: received a few days ago a;post-card which had been posted to hini just upon ' 21 yeara ago. The card, wiis from a person bearing the not inappropriate name, "A, Gamble," of Buln Buln, a Victorian country town, and it conveyed ,an order for a case of -kerosene. '.'Same brand 'as the last" It was' fully:,'addressed- in a legible hand. The-card bears Buln Buln postmark of. March 26, 1889.: It apparently reached .Melbonrne ; the next day. as it bears the Melbourne stamp of that day. What , happened during the next 21 years is a mystery. - •

Notwithstanding the Tecent lengthy, spell of dry, weather experenced in Auckland, and the consequent greater demands for water, the, city water supply has not been by any means unduly affected. The dam at Waitakerei, containing G0,000,000 gallons of. water, still maintains-its nor-' . mal i height, and shows : no ■ signs. of getting lower.; The inflow also remains as strong as ever. Under these circumstances : citizens are. in. the happy portion of having no foar for their water supply should another long spell of dry .weather ensue. In six or eight" months', time the big 6borage dam, to hold 180,000.600 gallons will have been completed; arid when this is dono and tlie dam is 'filled,; it is estimated ; there will bi: an abundance of water, always available; even at the driest periods ,of the'. year. Good prograss is being mado withrtho City' Coun-. .cU's new reservoir at Arcli Hill.:. It is now practically complete;so;:far as the construction work : is concerned. :. The work in connection ,with .the Ivhyber Pais Reservoir is also well:. under way, the excavation being , practiially, complete. An early start will bo made,..with'::the; concreting. , ■

'Mr. George Murrell, farmer, at tho .Bluff,' nine-.miles from-Casterton '(Victoria), was. gored by a "bull recently. He had driven a bull from, a bush paddock to the homestead, and on dismounting ' from . his: horse,' he; attempted''to, drive the : animal through ' the ■ gateway of one paddock into another: The bull charged-him;' and tossed .Him-several feet in the air. Murrell's son- ran up with dogs, and drove off . the bull. One horn penetrated; Mr.; Murrell's body at • the ,groin, : inflicting a wound> Oin.; long- and Sin. deep. -

!' The usual monthly meeting.' of tho Yorkshire Society':was .held in Godher's Rooms,, Cuba Street/ last night; The Rev. Mr;. Sykes .presided oveir.ii"large -gather-' ing., During the evening a budget of Yorkshire riews; was . given' by - Mr- Bedford.Songs -were .contributed by Messrs. Coltman, Taylor, and Sarroway, and a reading by Mr. Sykes. '■ : ■:.: :,:

It is understood that tho*. Government is about to take,: as;'a.;:scenery;:and-'his-toric reserve^ -the great iPukerangiorii pa," on ; the: cliffs , overlooking? the Waitara Eiver, inland of, Iluirangi ;(says the Tara- • naki "Herald").- : The..Teiierve, -irill.'embrace not only the, old; P,ikerangibra' pa, but also tlio Te -Area,' thfi site lield and occupied" by, Hapurona ■ i iPukerimii : ; in. 1860-1. This is one;of th'ri most historic, spots in' riiiddle. Taranaki,'[;aiid its' panoramio'view.is acknowledgett to be.'one'.of' the finest,in the district!;

During! his - recent northward trip,: Mr.; C. 11. C. Hobieson, Director of tho .Tourist, Division,,.visited a newly-opened grotto at the Waitomo.Cavesi.'MCe describes:it as "a beautiful and marvellous sight—quite unlike anything:else.. .The: grotto; which' : is .a' , spacious : chamber, injitlie'. limiestoue roeks. 'himg, with. massiyej stalactities, 'entered; from V ; the , : 'river: aM 7 traversed' throughout: by! boat.:, The <roof' arid .'sides ' are ■ thickly. studded ' -with' brilliant glow,worms; .which' femit" a' reddish'.light, - tlio effect'being. as. brilliant.,as|'it is '.strange; Without them. !the grotto'would be absolutely. dark; but their united rays: are strong enough to enablejvisitors in -a ;bOat;,to.distoguish. cach;:;other's;. faces.': ..The;recent : . WangariuiVSculling -.Handi-; '.cm "says the "Manaivatu -Evening: Stand-, ' ara," : resulted, in a'financial'loss of about ,£2OO. ■). i,;':;..;'v

■ Tho Baptist. Union recently asked the'. Victorian' Government,to.' appoint a • prison; chaplain _ within . (the v.; metropolitan '"area:. Inquiries, revealed that' there was' '; only one Baptist: in .Melbourne gaols,' arid : :that:".lie.has;-placed;; himselfu under,' .the ispirituai. guidance of ; the: chaplain .'representing, tho Methodists.-In: thc circumistan'cds";' I t'h6"'Cfiief: Secretary,,-has that, no Baptist chaplain is necessary. \ iDuring; " ; a discussion' at",the-.Auckland Hospital arid.Charitable''Ai(li Board -meet-, :irig (; on Monday on' the procedure, to -be observed in; admitting; persons to the ; Costly' Home;: Mr,; I/. J. Bognall startled his' fellow members by interjecting: "You .needn't .talk"of., rules. TheroHis-.:scarcely., .a':;thing',done 'by the board; according .to: : its-Tules." 'fWnat. nonsense,;', name something rejoined. Mr. 'G.. Knight. ; : i .Mr.; Bagnall"'replied that- 1 rules'J!were : :not. ob-. served at the hospital.The j rules, : for. in-' istarice,' prescribed "..that,'.certain.'things should Vbo' done by the ."house', manager,' and only by him, but-therepwas'no house, -manager. Mr. J. Coyle said his opinf ion was that.the ; hospital;w'as one of the-best-managed. in'stitutioris , ihiAucklarid. Mr.; P. M. Mackay jiointed out ..that: the. rules: were ,beirig : revised at- the time,- 'and expressed;, surprise that Mr. ■BagnaU should-' make sucli a. wild-cat as;sertion', which; he-said, could riot-bo'sabr stantiated.'.' v.---, v. ; ; ■ ;: \ ;. i ;

I During tho last few days 1 several;, fires have ■ occurred, ; near ■ the railway line',, at; Buckland(Auckland) .; One, which,. is. supposed to have. ..originatedin sparks Jailing on dry noxious :weedg lying,by, theline,, started after..the', passing of the;-1.45 train, on Saturday,-and ; kilted;so trees in ; a fine belt; on; the, seed. farm.. Only tho efforts of the employees; prevented the'fire' going : through tho. grass paddock.A -fire a few days previously destroyed. 50 young trees on the farm, nhdi-flainaged'; albeitplanted by Messrs.; Yates along .the rail-' Wayyboundary.y^yoo.^yy.y;^ As the train from; Auckland ;was drawing (into-Buckland onV Saturday, afternoon the assista'nt-guardi;/ (Jaclvs(in)' ; 'received, painful- facial , through; being ' struck by the tablet,; receiver.Ho was descending from ; the; train-at; the time, and .the; violence of tho; blow, which.; was inflicted by,the receiver' in swinging back,' hurled himiclear. of the post, s jand inflicted severe wounds on tho noso and head,'but there: Was no fracture.; dered' by P.orter. Leighton. and Mr.;'Munns,' storekeeper, and the, injured many was removed to Tuakau, and subsequently to the Auckland-Hospital, where no; is .progressing favourably.; y-y: y The Mayor of Onslow, Mr. J. G.' Harkness, has been appointed to .represent the borough at the conference'to, be -helifcon January 25 to consider on: whioh-'day the weekly, half-holiday -is to be held. It has been decided' that 'thoj.counoirs -'delegate: will urge that: Saturday is ' preferable to Wednesday'. for; thehalf-holidhj-.y

'•'.A- violent thunderstorm,' : i-accompauiod by vivid, lightning, ; ;.passed. ! o'yer Bathur'st (N.S.W.).a-few days 'ago.s. damage was done by lightning.in,various parts of the district; and there were several .narrow- escapes. At Alloway Bank a big almond tree ;wds : splintered, and a man in. the cowyard, Andrew: M'Pherson,; was rendered- insensible for:)inif an hour.' Another . employee, Barney,.Jt'Eugh, 1 was leading- 1 a; horse • to'the: stable- when a. •fowl, crossing in .front; of-him, 'was; killed/ and M'Hugli was .temporarily: stunned.:A; little damage :was, also'dono!in tho:town,, some shingle's,being struck- off the. 1 belfry; of 'All Saints' Anglican Cathedral; and: a few chimneys of ■ dwellings:knocked down., •llaiiv poured down.'in- torrents-while ,the storm lastc<J,, and '..although'!: the: fall in the ,town ; did : not "exceed :30-ipbints, half an inch' was recorded , in parts of the district. ' , --i. ; Councillor Plimmer, of : the Onslow Borough: Council, has- been .appointed to: represent, the borough, at thii-election: of a member of the Wellington'.'Harbour; Board. _ '. 1 , In'a will of :88 words the lato Lord' Tweedmouth,, wlio held the posts of First lord of tho Admiralty, Lord: Privy Seal, and, Lord President of tho ; Council,; in Liberal Cabinets,, disposed of estate worth £201,975. .'The'.text of the,will.is as follows;—" This is tho .will of me, the.Right 'Honourable':Edward Baron' Tweedmouth, ofEdiiigton, in .• tlioY county ;of Berwick, whereby 'I appoint my .wife, Lady Tweedmouth, solo . exocutrix, • and doviso, r and bequeath all my property ?. whatsoever and wheresoever, to her, but■.'in the .event of- her death: duriug my lifetime 1 devisa and bequeath all.my property what : soever, and, 'wheresoever.' to; my - son 'the Honourablo. Dudley Mnjoribanks..•. In witness whereof T havo "herounto set- my hand this seventh day of April, oiio thousand . eight' . hundred-:and 'ninety-four.— Tweedmouth." l'ho" late peer's Wife died ill 1904, so that the whole estate goes to his son, the present; baron.:;!.

Shampooing, Clipping Hiirdressing, Manicuring, Face Massage,; Treatment of Falling Hair and Dandruff, Combings made up.. Natural Hair-pads. . Mrs. Rolleston (over': .Carroll's),ill;;Willis Street. . 'Phone 1589.—Advt,.

Australia and New Zealand are . fede-" rated for the purposes of: the administration of the Salvation Army, the whole of the territories, being governed from Melbourne.' It was anticipated that as" Now Zealand is particularly; vigorous .in the cause, it might be made ' into ' a separate command. This, however, will not be done, at present, and. Melbourne .will continue to' do tho headquarters for Australasia. • '•

Mr.'. Walter Lucas, manager of the island department of Burns, Philp and Co., Ltd., and also of the Solomon - Islands'De- '" velopment Co., returned to Sydney Mast week,, after a tour of the islands. He gives encouraging reports of the progress of both Papua arid the Solomon: Islands, In-Now-.Guinea large areas of . country, lie said, were being taken up and converted into rubber, fibiej 'and; cocoauut plantations..- There was great: excitement . in Papua while' Mr.,-Lucas.; was' there,..caused by the finding by ;a-prospecting ' party,' under. Government patronage,' of a payable alluvial goldfield on the. Wil- -', hams River, about-120 miles to ?the westward _of. Port: Moresby. Papua,remarked .Mr. Lucas,-is a country, presenting'.' is-. pecial .difficulties ;.to'' the pioneer. : miner, ■ botli.as to climate and in the fact that ' transport, except by water, is impractic-' able. without sufficient funds to provide; transport, and'.. provisions : for" several months, a man , would • almost- ;certainly find-, himself; stranded at the port' o'l landing."

pf ten million ballot papers mil be distributed amongst the six or , ! Seven thousand polling places, ' in: the ■"•.'! ; Commonwealth for the next/Federal elec.tions. : There, are about-2,300,000 men and '- i .women Selectors in Australia,. and; each voter will receive .four, ballot papers—one-;i :for the Senate, one -for - this-, Representa-. ' tives, ana one for each-.referendum.'De- ; ' claration. and; other forms for : electors who 1 ' majr.be voting at the polling places for . which they are not enrolled will increase. t°,fifteen million:: the) total number of' pnnted : .doouments lin-.the: conduct' l ' ' or the elections.; ■ ■. Front.' 12,000: to 15,000 " ; officials will.be employed.- At each of the six or - seven thousand palling'; places ■' 'i' copies -of the; proposed !■ laws for tho all :' -'Ration ,of the. on;; which': ■- the' referendums are to: be takenwillto ' exhibited. , A very old resident' of : Auckland, lb, •' -William Bertram mite, died at hisiesj. : :: " denoo, Parncll, •on Sunday, at tho ad- . vanoed ofß9 years- Deceased was the son of Captain Mark White, E.N.; ood- : .was, born at; St: Sorvon, I'Vaiice/ in. 1821, He. came out.to'-New Zealand-in the early : - days, landing at Wellington as far back'' as* 1842.- Like;, most •; of: the "pioneer.' set-. i :H i tiers,; H.r'.:-White"saw: service during''the Maori War, and was present.at.the cab- '- Jure by:: tho British or.the famous chief Eaupiraha; ;;In. 184S- Mj. White, received .-' orders to proceed to llaDgonui; where he;held tho positions 'of K-esident ;Magistrate: ■ v', and Government Commissioner;for-many.'!*»■ years, and > wassubsequently, appointed a-i - judge of thoNativo Lands Court, a posi- . tion; for which ho was peculiarly well ' 1 fitted, 'as. ho: was an-;accomplished Maori/' • scholar,•; and:' had; great'personal iihflnenbe.' ; with - the Natives. v Whit© remained 1 , at' Hangbriui'-'until'.failing eyesight: com->:f'im-pelled 'him'to resign- his.position..ln the early . 'days; /.wheii Captain. T. Beckham resigned the position of R.M; : at Auckland, tho place was offered : to! Mr. White, •. -who,, however,- preferred ■ to' remain in' tho :far. north.; As far. : l>ack',aii' 184ij.Mr.'-White, in company with • Mr. • Ligar, tlio i.then '' V, Surveyor-General, performed the 'journey. i from-Auiklahd: to;.Wellingtoh. on; foot;"via.7:-'"'. the West 'Coast.- They nad r a party of. • four Maoris-to; ; cari7:;tieiT:Uugeage.:v;Tlie';V.C;:; : old. gentleman Was wonderfully hearty' un-1; til. quite, recently, - and used' to; tell some - most interesting stories of life in the . north.'.'in the early days. He,.unfortu--.-nately, became blind a year'or two ago. , Deceased .leaves two sons and eight daugh- . ters; -; Four - daughters . «re : . married,' ■namely, - Mrs.;; John; KendeMine^,Mrs./ W. Nichol, Mrs. J. P.' Stevenson, - and Mrs. ;Martin: Lush!;- The 'sons, Messrs. I". C. White' and-'tt?'. B.: mito,.are,ni4-liolders in the.Hawke's' Bay;'district.H-Auckland; ;A "Star." .. V-^fc:'. V 'V:V;'.,

Although the hew compulsory training scheme': authorised ; by- ;the' I3o9;:Defenoe : - Act: wUI/not;, come into .ioperation;-for,- at '. (leastV.anqther? trcelve.i'months,«:the> rifles, aud ,«thef equipment ifor>'thef. 1 expanded ' .senior ■ cadet : corps are -. to ;bo.qrdered . at; once./(says- I thei"Age'o. ; ;./.For',the; first to 'wait forthe; produot-off, the; Govern-: ■. inent-factory at Lithgow; so the weapons . will be.ordcred;by.'cablein England.-The Lithgow- factory. -v machinery v . being; ,' • pressedon- .with ;.;id .'America'}as fast>:asf-i. : possible., i. The/: contractors, Messrs'. 'Pratt' s and. .'Whitney, Jiavo sent one. of . their■ 'smartest' esperfs to Australia. . This; gen-,;. . . -tteman is':now : in tliei.Commonwealthi and 1 'will proMed-to. Lithgow; after.a.cqnsulta-/; ' tion with {the' Minister, .to' prepare for., the. :.. j reception of' t lie' first instalment. of, plait. ;■ i .sitting; of . the- Native Land ; Court was/ held; at : „Wellingt"o'i ibeforay: Judge;';•Rawson on Tuesday. The object was • 'tojconsider an ;.application,by; tha.'Publio;' Trustee for the ascertainment o'i the owner-' £ : ship,: and';) determinationofthe' ; 'relatiye ;';. interests. in ; ' a block .of land ■ situatedat ■PUmmertbnV'.'Jlt-appeared';-that, the, block,: ■ wlucli contains ten acres, . was -originally-, set'• aside as a burial.:;gi6und-. : for'.the. . Ngatitoa ' tribe.: Subseqnently,:; hoyrever/-' ;. : it was; proclaimed- a'. 1 scenic reserve.' It;. ." is now vested in-.the Public. Trustee as a reserve ;to : ' be - administered on behalf;.' df;-whoever might be" deemed 1 :by : "the Native Land Court to be/entitled; to; it. ,SeycralVpoints of law-were 'raised, and ,; the hearing, will .'.be continued; on'Mori-'.;; day. l ' The; several, 'hapus :of ■■ the tribe., v. who claim :■ to be entitled to : .the • block were 'represented respectively ..by ' Mr. J. M'Grathv:(solicitor),iMr:: ; E.;'C...'Sim'.;-. (Native agent), Mr. Upha'm (for Messrs.i ' 33c11;' Gully,' Bell, and Myers),. Mr. Hni : ■ Parata 'the: successors, of, Mr. : Wi l'arata), and Mr. Wi 'Nccra. . .'

: Tho troubles of-la general-labourer were ,v : told '■ before 1 v the ,'vUnskilled'.; : Labourers'/.". Board at Sydney, on January 6. Charks' ,- Daniel. Merlon ' described himself as a' • practical ,powder; monkey. ■ Ashis ' required 5 a' certain amountyof.iskill he" f, thoughtls: Gd;,'an- hour was,reasonable'V; .. pay .for' it. • He was ,tho father of '20 children, and.-now that tho• -price.'of' . living ; had' increased: lifi - f6uud' ; ;it,- : llard; ".. to make,ends meet. The .coat'he'was;? vMaring. was his best' on?, and .was , ;,:V bought'- out; of a "pop" shop for Is. 6d. i 'He'smoked.a plug of ; tobacco a ,week, and.. : this,' with' tho'necessary, matches,' ; cost- 6d. y.; To' save. payingi tTa'm : fares;he .walked . , -two penny" tram: : ssotions when going,to ; work.'~; ; Asked ;if^his; ohildMn'.^assisted;,; : him. when he was bringing' up his family, ; Merto'n .' replied; }' Yes, ' ■ until.> the ..girls , ,y,; 'ivaiit a--husband,' and UheyboyS igrow .a.: ' r t moustache.' ; - Then the boys want to ■ , bring . home a wife." The only skill . required for pick And < shovel ■ work,said; - ! Merton,' was a weak, brain/ and a strong > back. (Laughter.) It Is anticipated,that ,the ferroconcrete; wharf at Clyde/.-. Quay- will; beyout.of y tho contractors', hands m about a .month. ;. 'All : that- now 'requires -to be cone is tho. y completion of tho - fenders and -..the ..crane track. ' ; Xt is'. understood track (which is-' also. of. ferrq-concreteiy.--. y is the- first of tho kind.-in.:3New-.Zealand,.:-and'thatf traversing cranes, ;tb;be operated-V; y by- , ;electricity,;';.will bey. instead.- ■• A ; Dominion reporter,who.visited 1 the. wharf yesterday" was authoritatively v informed. . that tho 'structuro:was;all;thatyhad been expectcd of it. Eosting upon. ' a solid foundation, tho wlinrf ; (it was stated) ■ ■ had not subsided' to the slightest: extent, y ' ; and; further,- that"such;a contingency was; y y : quite out-- of . .tho - question.' Wooden buildings: recently.; erected, on .the wharf ;.y : include a weigh-bridge office, nolls -oftce, ; y -\ wharfinger's office, harbourmaster s othee, trimmers'. rooms,- etc. :yyyy, Myy.,

'Among-.recent .visitors „to the "colonies.-' few ivill l)e .better remembered than;Pr6-'.: fessbr Manes', 1 professor ofiipoliticilveeo-,': noriiy in the- Berlin!,\Conunercial Univerrity. - In.conjunction' with' his',travels, lis. ! has justh'contributed /an-:intefesting iir-; : tide: to' a -' leading - German' jouriial. J To residents, J .of this part of the' world;, the following 'extract will • prove of. interest r—.: "A sure danger-..threatens' the advancing social' politics, of.' ths Australasian; States,':; the 'moro ;th«y increasetheir. 1 ;: .interna-.;!.' tipnal : trade;. : and '-.are; thrown. back': upon.;. growing ' exports. Tliey ivill feol more andmore the comnotition of 'lands, which liavo,- nosocial-political loads io carry, ; and,- therefore, can prodnei and export more cheaply., Above ;nll, 'thorei.is " the ;. Argentine, whoso wool, nieai, butter, and : cheese - give the I Australian reproducers';:, much to 'think"about.''-, Wero ' Australia ' and Neivi ZeaUind.-surrounded-b5 ; -.a,wall: .. —if. they.-produced their, own-. whole;, consuinption; and consumed what, they-joint- •: ly prailuciH-they could go; as, far in 'socialisation' as they ; wished;; But' they' will never rcaoli the position of . really, independent, .isolated States,', and so v the laws; of; tho world's, markets - 'will - neces^;" sarily call a halt, within a calculable time, to tho' all-too-wideextensionof social politics." ; : ■ - --•...