YESTERDAY’S TELEGRAMS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2221, 26 October 1907, Page 1

YESTERDAY’S TELEGRAMS.

Press Association. AUCKLAND

Tlio Arbitration Court was occupied all yesterday with tho claim of tlio Auckland Engineers’ Union for increased wages. Tlie men’s demands included an advance in wage from Is 3d to Is 4|d per hour for first-class engineers, further limitation of apprentices, and the usual preference clause, in support of tlio men’s demands, evidence was given that the minimum wage of Is 4jd an hour was not excessive, and was warranted by tlio increased cost of living and the wages paid to other s'killed labor. It was also stated that one apprentice to three journeymen was a fair proportion, and that a greater number militated against a boy learning the trade. Mr. Masefield, in putting tho claim of the masters before the Court, considered 10s a clay ample for a minimum wage. They objected to the preference to unionists’ clause, considering it unfair that non-unionists should bo ' debarred from obtaining work. After much evidence on both sides, tho Court reserved its decision. In a case brought by tlio Inspector of Factories against Webster, in which husband and wife carried on promises as fruiterer and florist respectively, tho husband being charged with failing to close on the statutory half-holiday, tlie Bench dismissed the charge, holding that it was competent for two businesses to bo carried on in the same premises, when the florist observed a holiday the fruiterer being exempt under the Act 1 . CHRISTCHURCH. There is a marked increase in tho number of motor cars in Christchurch. The City Council has on.,the register 440 cars and motor cycles, and the Selwyn County Council 124. Importers have many orders on hand, a feature of tho trade being the increasing number of British cars ordered, though Continental and American liavo patrons. Feed is uoWplentiful in North Canterbury, anil the season’s prospects are encouraging. DUNEDIN. The s.s. Waiwcra, from London direct, arrived at Port Chalmers last evening. Sho brought some pedigree stock consigned to Wright, Stephenson and Co. and the N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., and including tho five-year-old stallion Silver Crest, four Clydesdale colts rising three years, also fivo stud Border Leicestr ranis. Tho vessel was delayed for a. day after leaving London owing to a fireman attempting to commit suicide, tho captain returning to Plymouth and putting tlio man ashore INVERCARGILL.

A side-light lias boon thrown oil tho purchase of tho ship Stofano Razotto. A case was hoard in which Captain Sabolino, who brought the ship to tlie Blufl, claims £23 10s in wages and expenses from W. S. AVatorston, who bought the ship when it was sold by Lloyds’ at.tho Bluff recently. Tho case hinged on whether or not Waterston bought for liis own use and benefit or as agent for Razetto, tho former owner. Since tlie sale Sabolino had been in charge of tlie ship at the Blufl, and ho alleges that ho was specifically engaged by Waterston. Tho defence was that Waterdston acted throughout as agent for Alarteno Razetto. Watorston’s evidence was to tlie effect that on tho day of tho sale he went to tho Bluff without tho slightest intention of purchasing, but that Razetto showed him a cable intimating that £IOOO was being sent from Genoa as a deposit, and asked him to buy as agent and deposit tlie money. Waterston did so, and sinco then had received no money from Razetto. Razetto. in his evidence, confirmed

tho ngreomoiit, but said that although £IOOO had arrived from Genoa lie had not paid Waterston lie could not got tlio ship insured. Ho also statod that lie told Captain Sabolino that if lio got tlio ship ho would appoint him (Sabolino) captain for the voyngo. He denied that lie engaged him to take'charge nt the Bluff The Magistrate reserved his decision. NELSON. Tlio Anglican Synod opened yesterday. Bishop Mules announced that ho would attend tho Lambeth Conference next year. A proposal made to constitute a new parish beyond Spooner’s Range was referred to the Bishop and Standing Committeo. NAPIER. At a meeting of the Napier branch of tlio Amalgamated Socioty of Railway Servants, tho following resolution was carried: That tho Government bo urged to give all members of tlio civil and railway services full civil and political rights. TIMARU. At a public meeting at Temuka last night, Mr. McCullough addressed about 150 people on tho same lines as his Christchurch speech. A resolution was passed condemning tlip Government for xumcceKssfryt brutality in dismissing 'Mr. McCullough, anil demanding removal of tlio regulation for a breach of which ho was dismissed. WESTPORT. At tho Magistrate’s Court to-day three men were charged with stealing two cases of wine from the railway goods sliods. One was discharged, and tho two, G. W.. Thompson and John Larson, convicted and fined £5, or a month’s imprisonment. Norali Mary Elannigan and Nelson Campbell Hodges, on a cliargo of fraudulently obtaining from the Bank of New Zealand £l9 Is Id and £l7 10s respectively by the salo of gold, in which copper and brass were concealed, wero committed for trial at tho Supremo Court at Nelson WANGANUI. The election of Mayor and Councillors of tlio now borough of Eastbrook takes place on December Ist. There will bo eight Councillors. Tho influenza epidemic is still severe here, and there are still a largo number of cases. After a fow days of sunny weather, heavy showers and boisterous winds are again prevailing, but with every promiso of a favorablo turn. WELLINGTON. This afternoon tlio Turakina Enquiry Commission visited the vessel. Two bales with similar brands to tlioso transhipped ta the s.s. Ruapehu were examined and found to bo hot. The Court considered it advisable to inform the captain of the Ruapehu of the condition of tho hales so that he could keep a- watch on them during tlio voyage to England. At the enquiry tho president (Dr. McArthur) stated that to try to get at tlie bottom of tlie whole matter it would bo necessary to bring graders from Auckland anil Bluff to Wellington to give evifttence. Dr. McArthur also stated that * some of tlio bales stored in ?so. 5 liold lind sinco the previous sitting beeii opened and found to be heated.

Mr. J. C. Williamson has leased the Wellington Opera House for ten years. Tho building will be lot to companies other than Mr. AVilliamson’s, and will bo generally run much on the present lines. Particulars are given in the Gazette of tho treaties of extradition recently ratified between Great Britain and Sweden. , Mr. W. J. Salmon, a well-known commercial traveller, died suddenly whilst in tho smoking room of tlio Club Hotel this morning of heart failure Deceased liad been in town all the - week, and was apparently in his usual health this morning.. He had breakfast as usual, and went to the sample rooms, returning to Ms hotel, where he died m a few minutes. •V matter of considerable interest and importance camo before tlio Education Board. Air. Erslcme, assistant teacher at the Terrace school, Wellington, resigned the captaincj of tho school cadets. _ Ho said lie was prepared to continue drilling the boys and supervising their shooting, but objected to having to attend ceremonial parades. Mr. MoAlorr.lll, head-master, wrote to the Board, supporting Air. Erskino’s application to be relieved of the captaincy. The question arose as to what jurisdiction the Board had in such a matter. The general opinion was that the Board had power to insist upon an assistant master carrying out the duties of captain of cadets, including tho charge of cadets ,at parades. It was decided to write a carefully studied letter to Air. ISrskine, pointing out the view' taken by the Board.

The Education Board considered the Department’s offer of a subsidy towards miniature rifle ranges. _lt was decided to suggest the advisability of importing sub-target machines in lieu of instruction by miniature rifle ranges.

At the recent boxing competition doubts wero cast upon the eligibility of Elliott, of Timaru, who won tlio feather-weigh-t. championship of Australasia. Captain • Horiieman, of Sydney, asked the local Amateur Association to inquire into tlio matter. They liavo lioiv done so, and returned an answer that they aro of opinion that there were no grounds to support tho rumors.

. Two Chinese wore to-day filled £25 oacli for selling pak-a-poo tickets. A peculiar position occurred at the sitting of tho Conciliation Board to-day with reference to tlio drivers’ dispute. Tho employers did not appear, and tho chairman gave wliat he termed a judgment by default, eo that the claims of tho Union became the recommendation of tlio Conciliation Board. _ Tho chairman depreoated tho action of the employers, /and said their object presumably had been to discredit tlio Board, and also to avoid tho necessity of taking the c-aso before the Arbitration Court.