Page 6 Advertisements Column 5

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19, 24 January 1911, Page 6

The Finance Committee of the City Council is dealing this afternoon with the application of the General Laboureis' Union for better conditions of work for coiporation labourers. Claims made by residents of the Benalla (Vie.) district against t.be Victorian Railway Department for loss of pioperty through d fire caused by a spark Irani a locomotive in December, 1909, have just been settled for a total of £9721. The orieinal claim was for £15,000. The residents secured many witnesses who saw- the firo originate after the passage of tho train along tho track Hanked with knee deep dried grass. Gisborne files report thai the lcarine fungus whicii has hampered the local fi&hing o&erations for some months haa^ practically disappeared, and the fish are beginning to find their way back into the bay. The trawlers, however, aro now meeting with difficulties from other sources. The Maui's dredging spoil, which is deposited at sea, is spreading over the harbour, and the trawlers frequently get a large quantity of tfc iv their nets. Last Monday the Gosford got such a load of papa rock that the net was broken beyond/ repair. In the course of some explanations given by Mr. F. W. Lang, M.P., to tiie Auckland Fanners' Union executive regarding recent legislation, Mr. Lang; was asked whether there was any prospect of a Land Bill coming beforo the House next session. He replied that there was not much likelihood of tho ImII ever coming down in its present torm. It was certain -thai no Land Bill would be brought in during ne\l session ; and no man could say what land legislation would be proposed aftei fche elections. The Boy Scout field day yesterday moved a very successful outing, tire lads benefiting by very useful experiences. Assembling at Newtown, a portion took up a position at Vogeltown, the remainder attempting to pieroe their lines by way of Duppa-street. After lunch, practice iv finding ;i lost person was undertaken. Mr. Elsdon Best, instructed the boys how to cook with a native oven, and also gave them lessons in lanat-throwing. The lads were addressed by Major Moorhouse. who presented Sergeant-Major Frank Rutherford with the King's Scout Badge, which i» the first won in the North Island. _ A party of Wellington residents, consisting of Messrs. \V. H. Field, M.P., B. C. Aston, and H. Hamilton, made the ascent of Mount Dundas, one of the beauty-spots of the Tararuas, during the recent holiday. The weather was beautiful, and the paity had an excellent opportunity of witnessing all the grandeur ot the scenery. On the summit they met a survey party { under Mr. Girdlestone, whose hospitality was greatly appreciated. Some day, it is hoped, this route will form a connecting link between Mauriceville and Levin, and, to that end, the erection of a shelter hut on the summit would be a great convenience. About fifty years ago (writes tho London Correspondent of The Post, under date 16th December) a well-known pioneer of tho Auckland province, Mr. G. Graham, a Scot by birth, returned to the Old Country in possession of a fortune and leaving also large interests in New Zealand, where he gave the name to "Grahamstown." Mr. Graham decided to settlo in Richmond, and lie built for_ himself, in Kings-road, Richmond Hill, a fine residence which he called " Abercorn." The house, which stands in four acres of ground, ' cost £25,000 to build, all the wood used in the interior being kauri, totara, puriri, and other varieties brought from New Zeaiand. There is a fine entrance hall and a large winter garden, and the reception-rooms are exceptionally 10%. After Mr. Graham's death it passed into other hands, and a year or two ago it was purchased, for about a-quaiter of its original cost, by Kaid Sir Harry M'Lean, who went to reside there on retiring from tho service of the Sultan of Morocco. The selection of an English residence for Queen Ameli© of Portugal and King Manoel was entrusted to the Marquis de Several, who was for so many years the Portuguese Ambassador in England., and the close friend of King Edward. Owing to the long association of the Bourbons with Kew, Twickenham, and Kingston, where many of the present generation of the French Pretenders were born, Queen Amelia naturally had a predilection for the locality, and the Marquis de Sovera! fixed on " Abercorn " as a likely residence. The lease has been practically settled, and the Royal family will probably go into residence early in the New Year. , Farming in the vicinity of Taumarunui is making headway, and land in that locality whicii in its virgin state appeared light and unprofitable owing to the pumicerous nature of the soil is proving better than expected. A few months ago Mr. F. T. Moore, of Johnsonville, took up the grazing rights of "Willowdale, a farm on the south bank of the Wanganui River opposite Taumarunui, anil is meeting with. 'really good results. Many years ago the natives, under the direction of the early missionaries, planted a portion of the alluvial flat oa this land with fine varieties of willows, plums, quinces, etc., to which plantation Mr. 0 Shea, the owner of the property, more recently added grape vines, apples, nectarines, and other fruit trees, all of which are now making a splendid show. Ihe grapes, whicii are growing in the open, are bearing a heavy crop, and present a most attractive appearance. Somo of the weeping willows are forty feet high, and very wide spread — one fino tree completely envelops the creamery. Crops of oats, maize, carrotsj and cowgrass are doing excellently. The clover grasses on the alluvial Rats are keeping the dairy herd in uniformly full milk, and the rye and cocksfoot on the hills are feeding two and a quarter sheep per acre, beside^ supporting one liundred head of cattle and horses in splendid condition. As there are hundreds of thousands of acres of land with these capabilities on both sides of the Wanganui Paver, extending from Taumarunui towards Lake Taupo, extensive and prosperous settlement "will follow rapidly as the country becomes occupied, and Taumarunui must develop into a very important centre in the early future. The extensive tramways that sawmillers have made through this country will prove valuable factors in opening'up the land. The Taringamutu Totara Company has already traversed some eighteen miles iv one direction, and the Jines of Messrs. Ellis and Burnand and Moore Bros, have opened up a similar length of country in other directions. The members of the Wellington Land Board, now on tour afc Taumarunui, wei«c invited by Mr. F. T. Moore to traverse these railways and sco the country and timber opened up, but their previously-arranged itinerary prevented them from accepting the invitation. Why fetter yourself with baggage when we check it free to your destination ? You've no bother. Baggage arrives soon as you, and you pay only fcnflo for express. New Zealand Express Company, Ltd.— Advt. For the ne\t few weeks two rival interests will occupy practically ovory household in tho Empire City, viz., 'Summer Holidays and bummer Sales. Even the more man will be more or less affected theroby, while tho ladies, of course, are deeply ooncornod with both. The Sale that stands out above all others for the valup and variety available- will bo found at the establishment of C. Smith, Ltd , Cuba-street. This houso has a groat and veil-earned reputation for value, and two bpecml Lines of Sunshades now on offer at <Js lid and 4s lid will enhance tho prestige- of the storo. These goods cannot bo described, and they aro selling too fast for ans' list to remain accurate. See them without delay.— Advt.