Page 4 Advertisements Column 6

Evening Post, Volume LXIII, Issue 97, 24 April 1902, Page 4

On Saturday week Mr. W. Ferguson, Engineer to the Harbour Board, wjL %tart on hia trip to Australia to make investigations on behalf of tha Board into the working of dredging plants there, so as to enable the Board to deal more satisfactorily with the matter in considering tenders for dredges to work in the haibour. A meeting of the Wellington branch or the New Zealand Socialist Party was held last night at the Booms, Mannern* street, Mr. J. Brown in the chair. A paper was read setting forth the mam arguments advanced by Rae, Schaefer, and Spencer against socialism, and was followed by a counter proposition favouring socialism. One argument jused waa that the competitive system was necessary to the success and progress of a people, but against this it was pointed out that the tendency of the age was to eliminate all competition by the formation of trusts and syndicates, especially in the ndvano* ed countries of the world. A vote of thanks to contributors of- papers was passed. At the next meeting the subject for discussion flvill be "Socialism— How far it can be carried into effect under present conditions." The Old Men's Home at New Elymouth had a narrow shave from destruction last Saturday. An inmate named Jordan lighted a candle, which felj against one of the pillow* of hit bed, and ignited it. Jordan, who is a cripple, threw the pillow on die floor and called for help. It was Eome time before he could get assistance, but finally some of the other inmates turned out and put all the water handy on the flames. The fire was soon got under. Speaking at Sheffield, Canterbury, Mr. G. W. Leadley eaid he had been in communication with the President of the Wellington Provincial Council of the Farmers' Union regarding the question of placing the frozen meat trade on a more satisfactory footing, and it had been arranged that representatives of the various frozen meat companies in the colony should be invited to meet the General Conference of the New Zealand Farmer*' Union, to be held in Wellington in June next. The question would be discussed, and it would be seen if some better scheme could not be devised for disposing of their frozen meat at Home, and thus securing better prices for the producer. At the annual meeting of parishioners of St. James's, Low,er Hutt, the financial statement for the year showed a consider* able increase of liabilities, and the report pointed out the necessity of some immediate action towards curtailment of . expenditure. Votes of thanks were " passed to the retiring churchwardens and vestrymen, the auditor, tho lay readers, the organists and members of the choir, and the superintendent and teachers of the Sunday-school. The vicar reappointed Mr. H. Jackson as clergyman's arid Mr. W. A. Fitzherbert was elected parishioners' churchwarden. Dr. Purdy, Messrs. Cake, Clere, Balls, M. Welch, Truebritige, and Russell were elected vestrymen and the retiring Auditors (Messrs. Barraud and Price) were re-elected. At the close ot the annual meeting Dr. Purdy and Mr. W. A. Fitzherbert were elected as Synodsmen for the parish. The facts as to the police changes at Nelson, so far as they can be gathered from private sources, are (says the. Evening Mail) that come time ago two constables among those who have been transferred axe said to have either laid certain charge* against their comrades* or furnished the chief evidence against them. An investigation was made by Inspector Macdonnel in , February, and the Commissioner held a- private enquiry a few weeks later. The gist of the accusations against . the constables is — Giving ttwo girls a cup ■of cocoa at the police barracks on one occasion at might ; drinking in a publichouse after hours ; leaving the beat to get a cup of tea at. the barracks, and similar breaches of the regulations. The transfers are believed to be as follows : — Sergeant Mackay goes to Christchurch ; Constable Bird is sent to Blenheim; Constables Williams and Kemp to the North Island (probably Wellington). Constables Durbidge and Burrell have not yet heard their fate, but as it is stated that a full relief complement of constables is coming from Wellington, it is feared that they have been more severely dealt with -than the rest. It is stated that Sergeant Duigan, of Christchurch, has been apponted to succeed Sergeant Mackay. The Otago Daily Times has the following: — The Railway Department is at present experiencing considerable difficulties in connection with the working of the Otago Central railway owing to the uncertain and unstable nature of a belt of country in the vicinity of Wedderburn. After the recent rains in Centra! Otago the whole of this belt of country seems to have been shifting, and heavy slips occurred' at several places along tlie lines. These were cleared away immediately, but the work was by no means ended then, for it has become necessary to" enter into extensive strengthening works. A gang of about 30 men is now engaged building up embankments and sideiar.d cuttings, and a.) ballast train is also employed. Duriug these operations the traffic is continued, but the ordinary engines have been replaced by light ballast locomotives. Though the goods traffic is continued, it will probably be somo days before heavy •consignments, such as dredge machinery, can be conveyed through. This belt of unstable country seems to extend across to the sea near Windsor and Toka-rahi, as slips along the north ' line have occurred frequently near these places. It is probable that some extensive strengthening works Trill be carried out on several of the Otago lines before next year. From a reliable source (says yesterday's Manawatu Standard) «c learn that it is a fact that the Government contemplate the construction of the" railway line from Bunnythorpe to A^hhurst, the idea of course being to divert the traffic from the Manawatu line to the Rimutaka line, a chimerical proposal as was ever entertained. Of course the original, scheme for tho construction of the section from Ashhurst was that this route should be adopted, and a railway reserve was set aside along the centre o c the roads between the points named, and has remained intact ever since. The estimate of the cost of the branch line is about £28,000, and with the necessary buildings, will total something like £35,000. We believe, as a local ■\enture, that the line should be constructed ; but that its construction will injure the Manawatu Company or tempt passengers to travel on the Wairarapa line to Wellington, is too ridiculous to entertain for* a moment. Certainly there will be a saving of half-an-hour at the outside in the time occupied between Wanganui and Woodville, but it must be remembered that already the Government are carrying passengers and goods for 60 miles for nothing by that route, and even . that great inducement has not resulted in injuring the R'anawatu Company's business. The sooner the Government are told by the people of the colony that they are not going to be allowed to ride foujrhshod over a private company for the purpose of depreciating the v«ltl« of that concert, when they have the right to purchase it at a fair prise, the better it' v,ill be for the good name of the. colony. Special value in dress goods at Kirkcaldio and. Stains, Limited ; right colour*, right styles, and tight prices.-^Adrt.