STATE-SUPPLIED OYSTERS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 144, 17 December 1908, Page 7

STATE-SUPPLIED OYSTERS.

THE MINISTER'S SATISFACTION. In the course of an interview with a Post reporter to-day, the Hon. Mr. Millar, Minister for Marine, stated that the results of tho picking and sale of rock oysters by the Government during the recent open season had been very satisfactory. The beds picked were those. on Waiheke, Pomvi, Sandspit and Great Barrier Islands, in the Auckland District, and those in the Kerikeri portion of the Bay of Islands. The number of sacks sold was 11,005, giving a weekly average of 423. The receipts from sales have exceeded the expenditure by a fair sum. The men employed were men who had had experience in picking in previous years, and the work had been carried out without any trouble, tho men being satisfied -with the rate paid, which enabled them to make good wages. The retail dealers have expressed satisfaction with the way in which they have been served, as they have been able to get regulai supplies at a reasonable price, which has not varied, and the public have benefited by tho regular supply, and by being able to purchase at a reasonable price either direct from the Government depot or from the dealers. The Minister further stated that the care with which thu picking had been carried out under the oversight of the Inspector of Fisheries would enable the beds to be picked again next year. Formerly, when the picking was done by licensed pickers, the picking was, in many cases, so carelessly done that the beds, had to be closed for three or four years to enable them to recuperate.

Mr. Justice Cooper to-day granted a decree nisi in the case in which Ada Lucy March applied for a dissolution of her marriage with Geo. Francis Murch, electrician. " Desertion was the ground of the petition. His Honour directed that the decree nisi should be made absolute at the expiration of three -months, and awarded costs on the lowest scale. Mr. Young appeared for the petitioner. Either Mr. R. C. Kirk, treasurer, or Mr. G. Willis, secretary of the Wellington District Hospital Board, will be pleased to receive donations towards the "Christinas Cheer" for ihe patients at the Otaki Sanatorium. West .coasters are evidently not very enthusiastic on defence matters. An inspection parade of the various volunteer corps on the West Coast was summoned to take place at Greymouth one day last week. So small was the muster that Colonel Davies described it as the poorest in point of numbers that he has ever known in the Dominion. Messrs. Levien, ShaJlcrass and Co. advertiso an auction ealo of electro-plate ware, watches, and loacher goods, biutablo for Christmas presents, to be hold at tho Central Auction Rooms, Willis-street, to-mor-row and on Saturday, at 2 p.m. Messrs. T. Kennedy Macdonald, Ltd., ad- , vertiso particulars in our auction columns . of a Bale of household furniture, Chesterfield lounges, leather suite, and effects ; also a complote wire mattress manufacturing plant, i-h.p. motor, etc., in their rooms to-morrow, at 2 o'clock sharp. The firm 1 alao insert particulars of a Ealo of 20 oil ■ paintings by W. G. Baker, in their rooms on Monday next, at 2 o'clock. Ladies' Tailors. — The oldest and best firm in Australasia. Eton Gowns and Costumes from £5 ss, Skirts from £1 10s. Nodino and Co. t 30. Wellington-terraca. — A.dvt