MAKESHIFT, WITH AN ULTERIOR DESIGN.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 73, 27 March 1909, Page 9

MAKESHIFT, WITH AN ULTERIOR DESIGN.

NEW MAIL SERVICE. AUCKLAND, 26th March. The announcement that arrangements had been made for a regular mail service from London to Wellington, via San Francisco and Papeete, was the subject of considerable discussion in commercial circles to-day. The general opinion which prevailed was that so far as the new service was concerned it was of absolutely no use to Auckland. "I look upon this matter as a very serious one indeed for Auckland and for the Dominion as a whole," said Mr. Bart Kent, president of the Chamber of Commerce, "and I think it is very much to be regretted that the Government has not made greater efforts to get the old San Francisco service re-established via Auckland. All such routes as that from San Francisco to Tahiti and then on to Wellington can only be regarded in the j light of makeshifts. The Mariposa, which is to carry the. mails to Papeete, must certainly be regarded as a slow and out-of-date boat, whilst the Union Company's boats from the Islands to Wellington are cargo boats of a very moderate speed indeed. It is nothing but a makeshift, with an ulterior design." THE MILLERTON MINE FIRE. WESTPORT, 26th March. The first really heavy downpour of rain for the last two months is occurring to-night. It should be of good service at Millerton in extinguishing the fire in the Westport Coal Company's Mine Creek mine, if the fire is still unextinguished. The real position cannot be ascertained until the dam is removed and the water allowed to escape. Probably something definite will be known next week. OPENING SCHOOL WITH PRAYER. AUCKLAND, 26th March, i There was a long discussion afc a meeting of the Grammar (School Board regarding a protest by a number of prominent citizens against the opening of the school with prayer and the reading of a passage from Scripture. It was stated that the attendance at prayer was not compulsory. A resolution was passed directing the attention of the memorialists to this fact, and pointing out that in the South the day's work in the Grammar School commenced with prayer. SAMOAN DISAFFECTION. AUCKLAND, 26th March. Captain Allen, who arrived from Samoa (where he resides) a few day:> ago, was interviewed this afternoon regarding the native unrest there which has resulted in the German Government sending out warships. He remarked : "The trouble is that there are a lot of people down there who, like your pakeha Maoris in the old days, try to stir up trouble between the natives and the Government. They lead the natives to believe that if trouble was started England and America would interfere, and the natives would get back the island again. To my mind, what Samua requires is a stirring up similar to that done by Sir Arthur Gordon, who made a clean sweep of a lot of people of that kind from another place. The natives of Samoa are always talking about how much cheaper it would be if they were like Tonga, thinking they would have smaller taxes to pay, but as far as I can find out the difference is as between 36s at Tonga and 12s at Samoa." NEWSPAPER PARTNERSHIP DISSOLVED. NAPIER, 26th March. In the Supreme Court to-day Mr. Justice Edwards heard argument in the case J. A. Connell v. Edward' A. Slack, regarding partneiship in the Wairoa Guardian newspaper. His Honour said h© would reserve judgment on the question of damages in respect of which the claim was made by plaintiff. He had already held that a partnership existed, and would 1 now declare the partnership dissolved as from the date of the said of the property by Slack. Plaintiff would be allowed costs of establishing the partnership as on a sum of £500. Costs of winding up would be charged the partnership accounts. OTAGO'S NEW DOCK. DUNEDIN, 26th March. When the new dock was pumped dTy this afternoon the caisson was found to fit well. The leakage was very small, and the officials connected with the work consider that a little usage will make the fittings watertight. The Dock Trust's inspector was pleased, and said that finality was now in sight. SHIPWRECK RELIEF SOCIETY. DUNEDIN, 26th March. A letter fiom the Shipwreck Relief Society came before the Otago Harbour Board containing an intimation that it was desired by the society that the sympathy and assistance of the board should be enlisted towards the objects ot the society. Harbour boards, it was stated, were identified with maritime affairs, and the executive expressed the hope that the board would be good enough to vote yearly a sum towards its support until the funds had accumulated to an adequate amount. The board considered the letter and decided to make an annual grant of ten guineas OWLS, ' STOATS, AND WEASELS. DUNEDIN, 26th March. Mr. Iversen, a fruit grower in Central Otago, told the Acclimatisation Society this afternoon that the little owls imported had completely obviated the small bird pest. Before their arrival he had given up all hope of coping with the birds, and his orchard was going to ruin. The council of the Acclimatisation Society gave some very emphatic advice to-day concerning the importation of stoats, weasels, and vermin of a like nature. The following motion was unanimoufilx approved;. "In the opinion

of this council the introduction of ferrets, stoats and weasels in°to New Zealandi was a disastrous mistake, these 1 vermin having almost exterminated a most, interesting native fauna and inflicted incalculable loss and damage on imported game and domestic birds, while the rabbits, which stoats and weasels were intended to destroy, show little sign of lessening in number. This council entirely sympathises with the efforts now being made to keep such a pest out of the country." THE SANSON-TREMBATH ]NIATCH. DUNEDIN, 26th March. Afo a meeting of the Otago Centre of the New Zealand Athletic Union tonight it was decided to grant permission for the Sanson-Trembath match on 17th April, all officials to be appointed by the centie.