NEAR AND FAR

Evening Star, Issue 14308, 5 March 1910, Page 8

NEAR AND FAR

The treasurer of the Free Kindergarten Association acknowledges the following (subscriptions;— Mrs L. Harris, Dr Colqu houn, Messrs Reid and Gray, Haggitt, Brent, and Williams. Fcrgusson and Mitchell, .1. Wilkie, 0. 11. Greonslade, A. ('. Hanlon, and Judge Williams, £1 Is each ; Mrs Hannah Cohen, Rev. Mr Hcwitson, Messrs 0. Bernstein. IS tat ham, C. W. Rattray, 10s 6d each; Mesdames Fisher, Blakeley, Mr A. S. Adams, Dr Roberts, 10s each ; and minor amounts. A conference of delegates from the principal centres of the .St. John Ambulance Association in New Zealand will bo held in Christchurch on the 26th inst. All the centres have signified their intention of sending representatives. William Wiggins, formerly of the Royal Artillery, who died at the Veterans’ Home, Auckland, yesterday, in his seventy-fifth year, was a, native of Louth. Ireland. As a youth he was employed for two years on the estate of Mr H. 11. Kitchener (father of Lord Kitchener). He enlisted in the Fast India Company’s service, embarking for India when the Mutiny broke out, and took part in twenty-six engagements. He was present at the storming and taking of Delhi, and at the capture of the palace. He was wounded in the right (high at the siege, the wound afterwards affecting his nervous system. He was awarded tho Imperial and colonial pensions, and the Mutiny medal, with clasp for Delhi. The deceased was proud of relating how ho had frequently carried 1/ord Kitchener about in his arms when the Field-marshal was a- child,’ and arrangements had Irecn made for the introduction of the veteran to Lord Kitchener, but, unfortunately. deceased’s mind became so clouded tfiat, he could not have recognised the son of his former employer. The remains are to ho interred with military honors. The tender (£18,071) of Messrs Taylor and Hodges, of Maslcrton, for the erection of the. buildings for the freezing works of (ho Wellington Fanners’ Meat Company has been, accepted. The works will be situated at Waingawa, about three miles from Maslcrton. Home time ago a deadlock occurred at the Southdown works of the Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Company through the refusal of the floor hands assisting the slaughtermen to go on with their work unless paid higher wages. The dispute was referred to a conference of representatives from the men and the employers, with the Commissioner (Mr T. Earle Giles) in tho chair. This conference, has been unable to adjust- the trouble. Tho point of difference upon which the parties failed to agree, was that relating to preference to unionists. Tho men went on strike yesterday. Their demands pro for more wages and preference to unionists. The strike has occurred at a most inopportune time for the company and for graziers. The freezing season is now at its height, and farmers and export buyers have booked space in the freezing chambers for stock - to bo killed and exported. If tho strike continues all those arrangements will be upset, and the seriousness of the position can be. readily realised. Most of the West Coast local bodies have extended a cordial invitation to Ixnd Kitchener to visit the district prior to his departure from the Dominion. The Government have decided to make a start with an important, irrigation scheme in North Otago, and tenders are, to he called for the carrying out of tho first section of the work. The area- to benefit will be tho Steward Settlement. It is expected that this portion of the scheme will cost £5,000. Tho Harbor Board's estimates for the year’s work were formally considered at a special meeting last night. The only additional itemjirovidcd in the estimates was a sum of £6,000. to go towards the cost of a. new tug. The meeting also considered tho salaries paid to the various members of tho staff, and some alterations were made. Royal Arch Masons all over the world will be interested in a silent messenger , of good-will—a, "travelling triangle”—sent out by St. Patrick’s Chapter of Toronto (Canada). It. was recently received with much ceremony hy a Chicago chapter, and was then sent, on its way to the. Pacific Coast. Every chapter has its triangle, but t the members of St. Patrick's have a gold one. on which they set much store. They decided to send it on a fraternal mission around the worjd as a token of good-will and a greeting to <jhe brethren throughout the universe. It. will reach Dunedin in due course.