NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1118, 4 May 1911, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(By Tclccraph.-Prcss Association.) STATE MINES-USUAL POSITION, Greymouth, May 3, A mass meeting of residents at tlief Stale collieries nt ltuiianga and Dunolly passed the following resolutions, proposed by tho Miners' Unions:—"(l) 'i'liat this meeting of Coal Creek State Miners' Union enters a most emphatic protest against tho slack timo worked by tho Stale mino in tho Inst five months, when wo consider that Diamine is Ihe people's concern, and tho Government is acting us agent of (he whole people. Wo consider (lint an inquiry into matlers relating to the working of the same should lie. made forthwith, with a view to having tho people's mines worked in the interests of (he whole people. (2) That this meeting of the Stale Miners' Union enters its most omphalic prolest ngainst tho accommodation conditions of workers employed at the Point Elizabeth Xo. 2 branch, mine, and call upon the Government to at once erect suitable huts, etc., for the workmen employed there." A number of members spoke in support of the resolutions, and pointed out that there were at present one hundred men working at the top mine, employed at development work without suitable accommodation.

CHRISTCHURCH BUILDING PERMITS.

.Christchurcli, Mar 3., During the year ended March 31 lasl tho building permits issued by the muni. cipality of Christchurch numbered 576 in respect to buildings valued at .£2GS,3(KL

A YOUNG HERO. ' Invcisargill, May 3. The story published in the Southland "Times" of April 21, nn'd rcpublifthed ii Dunediii, C'bristchurch, nnd Wellington, concerning the heroic death of Fraiiß Smith, who gave his life in (ryiug to sav« that of his mate, Joseph Bates, in a flood, ins shaft nt Konndhill, lias caused considerable feeling in the community, and o fund 'h'j.s' been opened by the Southland "Times" to provide a memorial for th< young hero, who died aY nobly as a man may die.

HASTINGS.-A TOWN EN MARCHE, Hastings, Slav 3. • Unchecked returns givo the population' of Hawko's Bay as 27,762. Of this num. bet , about 13,145 includes persons livinj in (or in) the immediate neighbourhood of Hastings, and 14,617 in and around rmpier. In the outlying portions'of the district, surrounding the two towns, there is a majority of about 3000 in favour, o/ Hastings.

■ PROPOSED LOAN. Auckland, Mav 3. The new Mayor of. Auckland (Mr. C, J. l'nrr) intends to submit for the City Council's consideration a proposal Iα raise a loan of £250,0.00 for improving the streets of the city, interest and sinking fund to, be defrayed out of tramway profits, and the loan to be paid off in 27 years. The expenditure is to ba spread over six or seven years.

FIRE AT ASHBURTON. Ashburton, May 3. A fairly old seven-roomed house, owned by Mr. , Frank 11. Choat, and occupied by Mr, and Mrs. Choat, sen., was gutted by firo and water shortly after IC. o clock last night. The occupants wen all at , tho theatro and nothing was saved. The house was insured for .£350 and the furniture for .£l5O.

FINED: NO TAX RETURN. Hawera, May 3. At the Magistrate's Court, Manaia» Andrew John Uastio was fined .£lO and costs for failure to make a return of hie land and mortgages.