THAMES DEEP LEVELS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 8, 9 July 1909, Page 8

THAMES DEEP LEVELS.

SUBSIDY FROM THE GOVERNMENT. The Government has agreed to grant a subsidy of pound for pound up to five thousand pounds towards the driving of the deep levels crosscut at the Thames between the 1000 feet level in the Hauraki shafts, which is owned by the Government, and the Kuranui Caledonian phaft. The subsidy is subject to ratification of the neressary vote by Parliament, and to conditions that, are now being drafted providing for utilisation of the crosscut by future companies on the payment of an adequate contribution towards the cost, and generally to secure the interests of the public in the crosscut in return for the Government contribution.

The postal authorities advise that the Victoria, which lett Sydney on Wednesday last for Auckland, has on board an English and Australian mail, which is due here on Monday evening next by the express train irom Auckland. New quarters for the Touriht Bureau have been found in the Civil Service Club, Stout-street, and the bureau is now open. lt> is most attractively iurni.shed, and there is a tine collection of pictures on the walls, illustrating New Zealand scenery. The office ib well-lighted and centrally situated. In company with Mr. J. Godber, the chairman of tho Wellington District ■Hospital Board (Mr. J. P. Luke) lately paid a visit of inspection to tlie Olaki Sanatorium. Things appeared to be going on satisfactorily. After consultation with the matron and the doctor, a piece of land adjacent to the men's ward was chosen. >by the visitors as a suitable place for tho treatment of male patients in the open-air cure, the necessity for further provision in this respect having bec-n pointed out. A f-pecial meeting of the board will be asked to give llie necessary authority to put up tho building, and it is understood that the woik will be cariicd out under the .<-upurvision of iMr. Bassctt, engineer of the boaid at Otaki. The fact of Xew Zealand fish arriving in .Sydney in large quantities moved Mr. E. H. Montgomery, Government Tourist Agent, Sydney, to look well into the matter. He found that the trade was considerable and lucrative. The fish sold quickly and at a high price ; but the handling of it impressed Air. Montgomery more than anything, and he sent over to head office full particulars of the specially constructed ice-boxes and general means of transport adopted in Sydney for conveying fresh sea fish into the country. Exceptional value is being offered at Winder's Corner just now. Blankets., carpets, rugs, lablo covers, bedsteads, fenders are all being greatly le-ducod, and arc undoubtedly splendid value.—Advt. To-morrow, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., Messrs. Levian, Shallcrass and Co. will sell, unreserved, a quantity of hardwaro lines and general goods. Mr. W. P. Healy advertises an auction sale in his room?, 95, Cuba-ttroet, to-mor-row aJtaiTwoii, at Z o'clock of fuvnielv ing drapery, lace curtains, o.p. >vajr«, etc,

EBB AND FLOW. POPULATION MOVEMENTS. It having been frequently said of laic that there is a large exodus of New Zealanders to Australia, enquiries have been made by the Tourist Department to ascertain what the true statistical position is. It cannot be deaied that the steerage accommodation of steamers trading to Sydney has been fairly well taxed of late. However, the figures as between Sydney and New Zealand for the period Ist January to 31ht March are as follow :—: — From New Zealand ... 6223 ■ To New Zealand 5147 Gain to New South Wales 1076 It was pointed out that the figurer, do Jiot necessarily show a gain to New South Wales, because the passengei? would include returning tourists and shearers who had completed a slay in New Zejtland. Again, Sydney is the port of embarkation for London and other distant ports for a large number of people. They arrive in Sydney, it is true, but they are no gain to New South Wales population, inasmuch as they do not remain longer than two or three days. On the other hand, comparatively few people arrive here from other part's of Australia to take ship for foreign ports. The Commonwealth figures, however, show a state of affairs altogether different from those as between New Zealand and New South Wales. For the quarter ending 31st March last the following is the position :—: — Arrivals in New Zealand from Australia ... 31,361 Departures from New Zealand to Australia 26,988 Gain to New Zealand ... 4373 It. will be thus be seen that for the first three months of the year, at any rate, New Zealand has been a gainer lather than a loser, of population, and there has been nothing, so far as the Tourist Department is aware, to fchow that the quarter ended 30th June will disclose any more than the normal ebb and flow of population.