VARIOUS NEW ZEALAND ITEMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 February 1910, Page 4

VARIOUS NEW ZEALAND ITEMS

[BT TEUSOBA^p—EER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] LORD ROBERTS'S CONGRATULATIONS. WELLINGTON, This Day.—Field Marshall Lord Roberts cables as follows to the Press Association :—I have watched with profound satisfaction the adoption by the people of New Zealand of the principle of universal manhood service in the defence of the dominion. I heartily congratulate New Zealand which has thus followed up her generous support of the Imperial Navy by an example of the democracy realising her responsibilities in the defence of the privileges which British citizenship confers.—Roberts. MUNICIPAL "PICKINGS." NAPIER, February 3.—What is known as the "pickings" question in connection with the Napier Borough Council continues to be much discussed. One feature of the matter discussed at last night's meeting of the Council is that some of the Councillors who have supplied goods to the Council have apparently received payment by cheques drawn in favor of persons in their employ. Roth the local papers comment on this, and one says it indicates that the councillors in question knew they wore breaking tho law, and the point is raised whether more of the councillors should not follow the example of one who has already resigned.

POPULATION OF THE DOMINION. WELLINGTON, February 3.—The Gazette to-night states that the population of New Zealand at December 3Ut (exelusive of Maoris) was P 82.923; Maoris 47,731; Cook ami other islands bring the gross total to 1,042,994. The males numbered 552.165 and females 400.829. There are 2824 Chinese (67 females) in the Dome j nion. Luring the venr 1909 the population increased by 22,281. or 2.32 per cent. The excess of births over deaf lis coutri- j billed 17.562 to the increase, and the ex j cess of arrivals over departures 4719. The j Dominion birth rate .luring tho last year i was 27.29 per 1000 and the death rate 9.22 j compared with 27.45 and 9.57 rospoe- ; lively. A LATA!, ACCIDENT. NEW PLYMOUTH. Februarv 3. - A man named 'The-;. Burke, aged 33. be Moved to be married with a wife in Ballai if. was fatally injured at Loppcrlon yes tor.lav while working in the river bed curt in'" out boulders for crushing purposes when the tip-dray capsized, lb- fell in front of the drav and the wheels passed over the lower part of his body. He was removed to the hospital where an opera lion was performed, but the extensive in tenia! injuries which he received resulted in his death this evening. AN ACTIVE CHAMBER. WANOANFL February 3.—At a meet ing of the Chamber of "Commerce this evening strong exception was taken to the present railway time-table between Wellington and Vvanganni and Now Ply mouth. A resolution expressinu a protest was carried. Ti was decided to hold a public meeting to disetrss this and other unsatisfactory matters. Tee question of r.iilwav freight rates wa* discussed, and jl was resolved to bring the matter under the notice of the Minister of Railways, with a view to the rates being framed on a m. re equitable bads. V WELL-MERITED SENTENCE. WLLLTXCTOX. February 3.--At Lee Supreme Court today William MoMahon. a youth, was sentonced to four years' im prisonmenl with hard labor for indecent assault on a little girl. LIQFOR SELLING ''ASK DISMISSED. OHAKFXE, Fchrmnv 3—This morning Mr Kerr. S.M., dismissed a charge against MeAiueh for selling liquor without a license. This was a reserved judgment. McAinch is a traveller for tho Taihape brewery and resides at Ohaknne. RXFORT OF \!T! FS. NELSON.'. This Day. Tim Minister of \grieulluro has arranged with Mr llallam. local Inspector of Orchards. to visit 'Tasmania ami gam informa ti.-n in r egard to the e.xpoit - f tipples with a \i. v, to the Nelson .list i jet d- spatehing a thousand cases of apples |o London subsidised by the I beernmeiil ai the rate of a penny per pound for a direct shipment.