BY TELEGRAPH.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 30, 5 February 1912, Page 8

BY TELEGRAPH.

\ _ „ . NEW PLYMOUTH, 6th February Sailed— Cormna (12.20 p.m.), for Wellington' . , , . KAItAMEA, sth February. Arrived— Defender (U a.m.), from Wellington.

Speaking of Mr. Hislop's promotion to the position of Secretary of tho Department of Internal Affaire, Sir Joseph Ward said to a Post reporter on Saturday: "The position is one calling for a varied and wide experience, and in that respect Mr. Hislop; s qualifications fully | fit him for the post. I can say from my personal knowledge of Mr. Hislop, from his association with me as private secretary for twelve yea-rs, that the Internal Affairs Department secures an officer of the highest integrity, an indefatigable worker, and a gentleman who has had an all-round experience in the office he has filled with me, apart altogether from his prior services— that hae given him a wide knowledge of public questions of all kind. I feel confident that he will have v successful career, and his unfailing } courtly will help to smooth away difficulties that must of necussity arise from time to time in the carrying on of the business of a department whoso work is so varied." The monthly meeting of tho Wellington Operative Bakers' Union was held on Saturday night. Mr. J. Doyle, delegate from Lithgow, New South Wales, addressee! the meeting in reference to the labour trouble, at that place. Tho Wei- , lington Union to-day despatched the following letter to the aecretary of tho combined unions, Lithgow : "Dear Sir, — Please find enclosed post office order for the sum of £10, donation from the union, ot Wellington Operative Bakers Industrial Union of Workers towards the support of the wives and families of thosq comrades who have been locked . out in connection with tho dispute in Lithgow. I might say that your delegate, Mr. J. Doyle, addressed our meeting on Saturday night last, and nothing but admiration was expressed for the magnificent fight being put up by your members in defence of the rights of Labour. We feel great iympath)' ior the innocent ones, who have had to suffer, but their consolation must be tho knowledge that no great reiorm has been secured without the self-sacrifice and suffering of the workers throughout the world. We | are sorry that the v amouut being sent ia not larger, but I might say that wo are just recovering from a strike ourselves, j whilst you will know by tho time you receive this that there is a great upheavaj. in this town at the pflesent moment with the prospect of a general j strike throughout the city. In conclu- [ sion, I ' forward fraternal greetings and best wishes for a successful termination to your fight.— (Signed) Andrew Collins, General Secretary." "When I left my editorial chair in Oamaru to go up t6 Wellington to take my sent in Parliament," said Sir W. J. Steward at a social gathering in lib honour, "there was only one mile of metalh?d road in the whole of North Otago. That was the piece from Oamaru to Mr. Matthew Hplmes's gate." Ho stated that he then got the North Otago Public Works Bill passed, empowering the borrowing of £70,000 for necessary locai work*. Growing reminiscent, Sir William said he hoped he had been more than a roads and bridges man. Some people would tell- them ■ that lie had' been known as "tho terrible | man with a Bill." Indeed, ono Minister ot the Crown had dubbed him the ornithorhynchus, meaning "a Least with a bill." T.here was a poem written about it; and ho replied in another giving in return as good as was sent. The Commonwealth census classifies tho coloured streaks within its capacious borders in this- way: — Chinese, 25,772; Hindus, 3698; Japanese, 3570; Syrians, 2423 Malay*, 1161; Filipinos, 563; Javanese, 453; Cingalese, 408; Afghans anil Baluchi*, 326; Timorese, 185; Arabs, 42; Asiatic Turks 26; Persians, 21; Asiatic Jows, 17; Siamese, 9; Asiatics (so described), 5 j Arnieniaus, 3 ; Burmese, 1 ; Negroes, 662; Egyptians., 25; Abyssinians, 5 ; Madcran, 1 ; American Indians, 51 ; West Indians, 35; Maoris, 134; Fijians, 45 coloured (so \ described), 4 ; non- i European (so dotc/ibod), 2; and Gipsy, 1. Tho Chinese' streak is a smaller streak by 7393 than it was in 1901 ; on tho other hand (remarks the Bulletin) tho Japanese* blob is a bigger blob ihan it appeared ton years ago. Tho Commonwealth's half-caslo population officially total* 14,554— with probably a few thousand more that didn't admit tho bard impeachment. Tho quartorly report of the National Amalgamated Union of Labour, issued from tlin headquarters ut Newcastle, Mf' land, . Ktate^ that tho returns as to membership are Iho most wmarkablc bincu the enmmuncomunt of the union. The year began with a membership of 16,017. At tho end of September the momborfchii> wiia 40,852, n gain in liiuo months of 24,835. Tho greatest increase is ill .the London, Thumos, and Medway districts, whoi'is the memboislups ut tho end ot Juno stood ut 201, wiulo at tho end of September it was 8673, but tho progress is not by any moons couuuod to any one district. "It is, extremely difficult, says i\w report, "to account for this extraordinary movatuont, which hat, ail'octod. moro or lew nearly every industrial area in the country, and has raised tho nionibcrshJl) of nian* other u,nignfc" '