TELEGRAMS. ITEMS FROM VARIOUS CENTRES

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 27, 1 February 1908, Page 9

TELEGRAMS.

ITEMS FROM VARIOUS CENTRES

[BT T.ELKGHAPH. — SPECIAL TO THE POST J THE EXHIBITION ORGAN. CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. The Exhibition organ, which was presented to tho city in order that it might be placed in His Majesty's Theatre, is still in process of erection. The expert in charge is making some alterations, and states that the work will not be completed before Easter. Several new stops are being put in, and the r.olo organ is being placed in a swellbox. The vox humana is being revoked at Home, and when finished is expected to bo tho finest in the Dominion. DUNEDIN NEWS. [Br Telegbaph.— Special to The Post.] . THE DEMAND FOR LABOUR. DUNEDLN", This Day. Mr. J. F. Arnold, M.P., who has just returned from Wellington, is of opinion that Parliament will have to meet in the Governor's residence for at least two if not three sessions. New Zealand and its legislation is seemingly attracting attention in America. A lady journalist. (Mrs. Devin), representing newspapers' in New York, .Chicago, and Boston, is a,t present in Dunedin on' her way north, collecting information with the object of writing articles on our labour laws and legislation generally. The demand for most classes of labour exceeds the local supply at present. A leading registry officer informed a Star reporter that he required over thirty farm hands and ploughmen, to whom he could offer 30s per week, but he saw no prospect of filling more than a few vacancies. The supply of harvesters just about equalled the demand, but all availablo labour was going North for the shilling per hour offered there, and leaving farmers, who will not pay more than ninepence, vainly crying out for men. Labourers, it seems, wherevei possible, refuse to go out of the town, and for these more work is offering than can he disposed of. '"I advertised for labourers for the town for three consecutive days, offering 95," remarked the speaker, "and I did not get a single reply. As for domestic servants," he continued, "I absolutely refuse to take applications. I have now dtl my books fourteen enquiries from the country for servants, aijd see no hope of filling any during January. I suppose I had between fifty and sixty applications for servants from townspeople, and I could consider none. They are not to bo had at from 10s to £1 per week. Tho factories are asking for girls just now, and are willing to pay them fronii 15s to £1 per week. From factories girls get a higher wage, regular hours, and holidays,- and less arduous work than if they engaged thqmselves as servants. In- the latter case their work is never finished." He thought, however, that when shearing and harvesting were finished thcrw would be more labour available, and that the present tightness would be succeeded by more than a sufficiency of men. Mr; Ja v mes Monaghan (trainer), who died in, Sydney on Friday last, resided • in Christchurch in the early sixties. He I later settled in Sydney, and bought ' Gipsy Grand for the firm of Stephenson and Haz'ett. Ho also purchased Graf ion Loch, Hidalgo, Sombrero, and Graft on Laddie for Mr. L. C. Harzlett. During his lengthy career Mr. Monaghan was employed by some of the best owners on the turf. He Was identified with many eq'uino celebrities during the past thirty ysaas, among whom were Le Grand, Sardonyx, Marvel, Paris, and Rapid -Bay. CITIES' STRUGGLE FOR SUPREMACY. "AUCKLAND BOUND TO COME TO THE 1-KONT." [Bt Telegraph. — Speci.vl to The Post.] ACCKLAXC, Tllis E>a..^. The announcement by the chairman' of tho Wellington Harbour Boai'd as^ to the proposal to borrow a million of money in anticipation of the completion ot tho Main Trunk fcailwiiv was referred to by Mr. Kidd, M".P., at a ■\soqal" .tendered to him ibis evening, fie said' that when the Alain Trnrik Line was finishad at the end of the year the two great cities. of the North Island would be linked together and then would the, struggle for supremacy. Auckland, ho said, was bound to come to tho front in that struggle. Ho hoped that the energy ni-cessary to bring about such a. result would not be found to bb lacking, but the announcement as to the policy of the Wellington Harbour Board showed that Auckland must be up and doing. A YOUNG MAN'S PLIGHT. The danger of coming to a strange country in ill healthy and with limited capital was exemplified in the case of James Keen, a young man, who appeared br-fore Messrs. J. E. Canlan and J. Walton, Justices of the Peace, at tho Police Court to-day, to answer a charge of, being an idle and disorderly person having no visible means 'of support. Sub-Inspector Gordon stated that Keen had only, been in New Zealand eight weeks, six pi which had been spent in the Aiicklarid Hospital. Defendant had been discharged frpm that institution a few days ago, and was found by the police on Thursday evening ,in a starving condition. Dr. Purdy, who had made a hasty examination of him, suggested that he should, be remanded for a week to allow of * medical observance. The police offered to, take care of the man, and the remand, was> granted. THE WOOL SEASON. This year Messrs. Harding Bros., of Maugawharo (Northern Wairda), are agan shipping their wool clip direct t<> .London. Last season the Kaipara breeders realised ■ very big prices, on the Londo"n market, and their lambs' wool achieved a world's record, selling at, Is 2d per lb. The general complaint this ''season amongst sheepbJeeders is, that the clip has been light. - Mr. A. Harding, es-M.P., assured a Star representative this week that tho wool clip at -Mangawhare this season was one of the best they had ever had. His brother hag received 4000 lbs more wool this season than last from practically the same number of sheep. Mr. HarUing's clip has shown an equally satisfactory return, and tho quality is oven better than in previous years. A good deal of culling has been clone, with the result that Harding Bros, now possess one of tho largest anc' best flocks of Homney Marshes in the North. This season's shipment Home comprises 200 balc6, and tho consignors are confident of receiving a good price on' the London market. [press association.] A £2000 CLAIM. P4LMERSTON N., 31st January. The Horseshoe Drainage Board, tit the instance of Mr. Hopping, has been served with a 'writ claiming £2000 for alleged negligence in maintaining a drain. ALLEGED FORGERY. CHRISTCHURCH, 31st January. Samuel Bennett and William Morris \*ere to-day committed for sentence to the Supreme Courtj having pleaded 2uil-

ty to charges of forgery and uttering cheques. Bennett broke into his employer's office and stole blank cheques, which were made of in the forgery. A HARBOUR BOARD'S STATISTICS " INVERCARGILL, 31st January. At to-day's meeting of- the Bluff Harbour Board, the chairman stated that the total revenue for the year amounted to £22,304, an increase of £1500 over last year. From this £8500 was expended on harbour improvements, for which £11,000 a year would be available in future without incurring a penny of debt. Against the board's loan of £50,000 there is accrued a sinking fund of £30,000, and the entire amount would be extinguished in five years. The shipping tonnage entered totalled 523,000 tons, an increase of 50,000 tons over the previous year. Direct, imports totalled 27,400 tons. Works contemplated or in hand include a new wharf of 350 feet (£9GOO), freezing works wharf (£15,000), and dry dock (£8000). THE LICENSING LAW. DUNEDIN, 31st January. A case of some iuterest to brewers will be heard at the Wanganui Court on 26th February, when a Dunedin brewer will be charged with exposing beer in bulk for sale at that place, it being alleged that the license does npt authorise him to do so. FOOTBALL IN AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, 31st January. At a special meeting of members of the Auckland Rugby Union, held this evening, to consider amendments to the rules, as proposed by the management committee, it was decided to admit the Auckland University College as a senior team. It was;resolved that junior teams could be formed from any district, thus doing away with the district scheme in junior football, but each senior club, which is still bound by the district scheme, shall control all junior clubs in its district. Players who have represented the Auckland province for five years will i» future be given free passes to all matches. The meeting was adjourned till next Friday. PROPOSED COALING DEPOT. AUCKLAND, 31st January. At a, meeting of the Auckland 'Harbour Board this afternoon it was de cided to forward a letter to the Com-mander-in-Chief of the Australasian Naval Squadron to _ ascertain Lhe views of the Admiralty in regard to establishing a coaling depot for the use of the Navy at Auckland. EXTERMINATION OF RATS. AUCKLAND, 31st January. A policy of rot extermination has been decidfid upou by the city authorities, and all property owners in the vicinity of the wharves are to be requested to make their premises rat proof. The policy is also to be carried out in Queen-street as far as possible, together with a regular inspection of cellars in Lowor Queen-street every three months and 'the laying of poison. This step is being taken as the result of some suggestions recently made by the District Health Officer. PRICE OF MILK IN AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, 31st January. So far there has not been any increase in the price of mijk in Auckland, but on Wednesday ne-<t a meeting of the Dairymen's Association will be held, at which will be discussed the advisability of raising the price. The falling oft in the supply has been considerable, consequent on the dry weather experienced during January. For tho last nine months the ''etail price has beon 3jd per quart. LAND FOR SETTLEMENT. AUCKLAND, 31 s& January. Exclusive of areas gazetted, particulars of which were announced recently, about 42,869 acres of Crown land in tho AuYkland provinco havo been surveyed and will, m all probability, como into the market during the' next three months. The lands in course of survey fbr settlement, and expected to be opened during the current year, total 77,241 acres, ai^d lands formerly opened under the Land Act of 1892, and' now in course oi reopening under the Amending Act oi 1007, amount to 436,916 acres. Thus the' total area available for selection darinp. the current • year will bo 557,026 acres. ONEHTJNGA'S DRAINAGE. AUCKLAND, 31st January. The chief recommendation of Mr, Midgley Taylor for the drainage of Onehunga is the carrying of the outfall to a distance of 2400 ft below Gedde's Basin. The whole scheme is estimated at £39,568." MORE CARE WANTED. INVERCARGILL, 31st January. At the X annual meeting of the members of the South Island branch of the National Dairy , Association to-night, it was resolved that the subscription be on the basis of tonnage without limit ; that all matters for discussion"at the annual conference bo put in .the hands of the secretary thirty- cleav days before- the confereuce,- and be forwarded at once to. the ( , various directorates for consideration ; that it be recommended to the Minister for Agriculture to include the cooling of milk in the Dairy Inspector's duties, and that inspectors instruct and assist farmers as to the cheapest and best mode. The motions carried are recommendations to the annual conference. Mr. Sawers, the Government instructor, gave ap address , on cheesegrading, and stated that though this was going on as usual he was -unable to detect any great impr6vement in cheeso, though, it was slightly better in. flavour. Mr. Singleton, Acting Dairy Commissioner; spoke on dairying generally, and expressed the opinion that New Zealand had little to learn in what they were trying to do They wanted not more knowledge, but more care.