Telegraphic.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9722, 3 July 1894, Page 3

Telegraphic.

(PEB UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.! Auckland, Monday. In the Supreme Court to day Alex. Heany, a bankrupt, formerly of the Lichfield Hotel, a storekeeper, had his discharge suspended for twelve months. The inhabitants of Rotorua were aroused at 4.51 o’clock this morning by a sharp shock, which was succeeded by nine others at Intervals of half an hour. The tenth shock was felt at 10.29. No damage was done. No unusual thermal activity is felt, and the shocks appear to be purely local, not having been felt at Tanpo or on the coast. Later. Mr Northcroft, S.M., gave judgment to day in the case? against the bakers. Five of them were fined 10s each for not having proper cart scales, In 13 Informations as to alleged light weight the magistrate upheld the contention of counsel for the defence, and dismissed the cases, as the informations had not been laid within 72 hours after the offences were alleged to have been committed.

Rutherford’s floor mill at Bombay was burned down on Saturday night. The origin of the fire is unknown. The building and plant were insured for £440 iu the South British.

Telegrams were sent out on Saturday from the Auckland office of the Bank of New Zealand to all the branches throughout the colony, and the answers from all quarters were to the effect that the passlog of the Bank Act was received with satisfaction, and that no disposition was shown to withdraw any deposits. Mr Henry Reynolds, of the firm of Reynolds and Co., Limited, has just returned after a six weeks’ tour of the colony, during which he visited most of the leading butter and cheese factories in New Zealand. All those spoken to have agreed to join and form a dairy association for both the Narth and South Islands, with a secretary at Wellington, whence fortnightly shipments of produce are to be regularly made. “I am fully satisfied,” says Mr Reynolds, “that we shall have all the help we asked for from the Government at the Wellington agricultural conference and the dairy confer, ence at Dunedin in connection with insn lated trucks, cold storage, grading, &c. An amendment to the Dairy Bill is now being printed to effect these, and a grant Is being provided for them, if the grant is passed by Parliament, and seeing that the dairy industry is now the backbone of the colony we don’t expect anyone to vote aga’ttsf it. We can rely upon what we want being carried ont. The Secretary for Agiicnllure had this matter in hand before my arrival in the colony, tnt as conferences were to he held In Wellington and Dunedin it was held back to see whether we weald all move in the same direction. As I have told you, we are all in accord, and if the suggestions be but carried out, as we confidently expect, next session will see a very marked improvement in the quality of New Zealand butter when landed in London, and so obviate the great complaints that have hsen made regarding the quality of the produce lately exported. lam more than ever satisfied that the dairy industry is going to he one of great importance to the colony, and that within a very short time it will. I am pretty well sure that the Government will do all that lies in their power to farther it, as dairying is the best means of making a living ont of the land on which the Government are anxious to settle the people.” Welling rox, Monday. The woman Parker, who was badly burned on Thursday, has died in the hospital. The tender of Mr G. Scott, of Christchurch (£SS67), has been accepted for the Mangatainoko railway bridge; Mr A. Grandison, of Auckland (£2823), for the station buildings at Rotorna; and M. Fallon, of Auckland (£6232), for laying a permanent way to Rotorna. Nathaniel Nathan, a well-known book maker, appeared to day as plaintiff in a libel suit, claim £6OO, against the IFafrarapa Star. Nathan had honght seats for a performance In the Opera House in February, which were wrongly given to others, and be complained la rather load language about it. The Star published two telegrams on the su'jret, which Nathan claims accused him oi dishonesty, immorality, and using obscene language. Hence the action. The Treasurer Is suffering from influenza, and he will not be able to take bis place in the House until the end ot the week. He is, however, much better today. The delivery of the Budget will be delayed. Later.

It is stated that an attempt was made some days ago to damage the English Taugye engine in use in the Government Printing Office. The engineer on starting the erglue discovered that the “crosshead " had been unscrewed in such a way that bad he not fortunately noticed it the instant he started the engine the machinery would have been smashed to piece l . Some one acquainted with the machinery bad evidently been at work, and a heavy spanner must have been used to effect the displacement. George Chandler, licensee of the Pro vincial Holel, for which the renewal ol the license was refused, has been declared bankrupt on Us own petition. Mr Murray has received numbers of telegrams from various parts cf the colony stating that the action of the Government in respect to tho Bank ot New Zealand has met with general apprcr.il. At none of the hank's branches has the business been more than noimal.

There was a clip on the Eketahuna line on Saturday, and the train was nnable to get through tc-day. Sufficient ol the slip was, however, removed on the Manawatu Company’s line to enable through traffic to he resumed.

In the case of Nathan v. Cargill (the Wairarapa Star) lire jary returned a verdict for £SO, with costs according to scale.

Oa the appearance of the weights several horses were backed for the New Z’aland Cup to-day, the principal wagers being laid against An Hevoir a l ' 100 to 6. Pinross at 100 to 5, and Magazine at 100 to 4. Pinroso was supported to win £IOOO at the price named. The Government sterner Hinc-moa returned from nn insprctlon of the Cook Strait lighthouses this afternoon. As bad weather interfered with her operations the steamer ran into Queen Charlotte Sound on Saturday morning, and remained there until last night, when experiments wt re made in placing red shades over the Brothers’ lieht where it shows over the passages off Jacksrn’s Head. The result, however, was unsatisfactory,ns the powerful 11 ash ot the white light almost obliterated the red one.

At the inquest on the body of Helena Parker, who died at the hospital, the evidence threw no light on how the unfortunate woman received the severs burning which caused her death. There was evidence that she had been out of bed to a fire composed of wood and coal, as some soup In a pot had gone, and there was a plate and spoon on a chair be( ids the bed. The witnesses who were the first to assist the woman on hearing her screams deposed that deceased conld nob account for her bed being on fire. The husband said that be had ne.ver had an angry word with his wife, and he contra dieted the witnesses who deposed otherwise. He said his wife had fallen into the fire some years ago In a fit, to which she was subject, A verdict ei accidental death was returned.

Lyttelton, Monday. The body of s young man named Percy Clement Olten, who died at Lyttelton on Saturday, was bnrled at aea this morning. Deceased, aged 25, was a nephew of Mr H. Williams, builder, cf Lyttelton, and came to New Zealand from Barbadoes seven months ago, hoping to shake off an attack of malarial fever, which had been clinging to him for three years. Medical skill was nnavalllng, and he dhd on Saturday, He htd expressed a wish to be buried at sea. This morning about 5 o'clock the steamer John Anderson, with the body on board, left the wharf for the open roadstead. She went ont about five miles, and while it was yet dark the body was dropped overboard. The ccflin, previously weighted, sank immedlate'y, and the steamer returned to the wharf. Dunedin, Monday. The general manager of the National Bank has received cable advice that the directors declare a 5 prr cent dividend and carry forward £ls 000. John Merz'es was killed at Bannockburn tbronph falling over a deep face in a claim. Edward Clark, an elderly man in receipt of charitable eid, was found dead in bed at Clalha yesterday. Later, The general mansper of the National Bunk has received cable advice that.the r directors in London, while paying a (dividend at the rate of 5 per cent per annum, will carry forward £15,000. The i annual meeting is to be held on the lOib • of July,

The executive committee of the Stuart memorial fund bavo declined to bold i-nother meeting to consider the form which the memorial should take, as the supporters of a Lee public library have requested. MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE, \V ELLINGTON, Monday. The Municipal Confcieoce opened this morning. About 25 delegates were present. Mr Brandon, Mayor of Wellington, who piesided, welcomed the delegates to Wellington, ami congratnlati d the Conference an meeting for its second session. The retiring president’s report, which gave a review of the work of last session, was read and adopted. The balance-sheet, which showed a credit balance, was also read, but not adopted, pending the audit. Mr Trask, Mayor of Nelson, asked leave to move lira following resolution : “ That the delegates at this Conference, on behalf of their different constituencies, do sympathise with the Premier and Colonial Treasurer for the arduous and trying duties they had to perform during the past week, and do heartily congratulate the Government for their bold stroke of policy in reference to the Bank of New Zealand, by which they have averted one of the greatest calamities that might have befallen this onr adopted country, and to assure the Government that the people of the colony and those interested would feel ever grateful for the business tact and foresight displayed.” Mr Fish, Mayor of Dunedin, very strongly opposed Mr Trask being allowed to introduce such a motion. Ibwas obvious

that the resolution partook of a political character, and he contended that the Conference had not met to discuss political problems or political views, The delegates had met in the interests of the local bodies, and be thought it would be an evil day for this association when it allowed the discussion of political subjects. Besides, the delegates were not in a position to discuss the matter, and the situation was one that required very careful consideration. He did not wish in any shape or form to criticise the action of the Government over this matter. The step they had taken might be a wise one, bat still the position was one that would engender considerable discussion. The delegates passing such a resolution would make themselves the laughing-stock of the colony. Mr Carson, Wanganui, suggested that, it the resolution was introduced at all, it should be when the other business of the Conference was finished.

Mr Gray, oi Christchurch, observed that perhaps the delegates would then be in a better position to discuss tho matter, and tbc resolution would receive more generous support than it would get this morning, Mr Trask accepted the position, and withdrew the motion for the time being. Mr Brandon moved a resolution expressing the sense of the Conferences gratefulntss for the assistance it had always been afforded by the late Mr Ballance. In doing so he spoke of the great assistance the late Premier had rendered in the formation of the astoela-

Mr Fish, io seconding the resolution, expressed the opinion that if Mr Balance had lived the Municipal Corporations Bill prepared by the Conference wou’d have been passed.

The resolution was carried, and a copy was ordered to be forwarded to Mrs Ballance.

Later, A deputation from the Conference, consisting of the Mayors of Wellington, Nelson, Dunedin, and Wanganui, Messrs Crowthet and Lawry, M.H.K.’s, Councillor Harcourt, of Wellington, and Mr Martin, city solicitor of Wellington, waited on the Premier at 7 30 to-night.--Me Crowther asked whether it was the intention of the Government to proceed with the Municipal Corporations Aet Amendment Bill, which had been held over for the last two years, as if not, the Conference were wasting time In dicussing any am ndments? The general opinion was that to proceed without , Government assistance would he useless. —Mr Brandon, the president of the Conference, stated that on the Parliamentary ( order paper there were a number of pro- . posals relating to the amendment of the municipal law, and the question could not be discussed until the intentions of . the Government were known. The matter, be said, was a momentous one, affecting as It did all the local , governing bodies from the North Cape to the southernmost point in the colony. He also asked what was the Govern- | msnt’s intention with regard to the Fire , Brigades Bill. He understood last year , that a bill had been drafted in a general , way dealing with the question, and in , which it was proposed that the cost of the , mainienance of the brigades should ha ! divided between the municipalities, the fire insurance companies, and the Govern- , ment. Was it intended to re-introduca , the measure this session !—Mr Fish said ! that the Municipal Corporations Bill \ which the Conference wished to become ( law was the same as was printed for the Conference two years ago after receiving the assent of the late Mr Ballauco, and Mr Fish declared that if Mr Ballance had lived the measure would ere this have been passed into law. The hill as adopted by the Conference was a valuable one, because it possessed the aggregated l knowledge of all the municipal bodies. , He was confident that the time occupied in passing the hill through both Chambers would be brief, —Mr Carson pointed out that there was no attempt to bring pressure on the Government. All the Conference wanted to know was the Government’s intention in order to avoid waste of time if possible. —The Premier In reply said that last year’s intention was to pass an amending bill and leave the con o'idating bill until (his year. The Government now considered that the proper course would he to get the consolidated bill through this year, and that was the course it was proposed to adopt. He thought it advisable that the Conference should take the bill wb’qh the Government intended shou’d nss last session, and also the consolidated dll drafted two years ago, and after discusdon (o give the Government the benefit of the Conference's advice. Tho Government would then endeavor to have the bill passed.—Mr Fish asked what was proposed to be done with regard to the municipal franchise? Did the Government propose to extend or restrict it ? Mr Seddon said he thought there would be nn extension, but whether they would go to the length that some suggested he was unab'e to say. Last session the proposal was to reduce the maximum of votes from five tolhree, and the others in proportion. This he thought was necessary (o meet (he altered circumstances of the country, and to give greater fr.cilllles tor merging, as be was strongly of opinion that there were at present too many local bodies in the colony. He pointed out that the members of Parliament were the first back from the. people, npd as the Government would shortly introduce a Land Rating Act Amendment Bill they would have the voice oi the people on if, and such voice would become law,—Mr Fish said they had not possession of the bill before them. Therefore they could not bring combative argument Io bear, but must content themselves with making recommendations. What they did ohj"< fc to was the levelling process. The Premier, replying to a question to the fire brigades, said that the Government had not considered the matter. If the new st ndiag orders passed he thought they would facilitate business, and the Government would be enabled to legislate on all matters that the country demanded. He admitted that fire brigades and fire prevention ought to ba put on a better basts than they were at present. The Government, however, cou'd not bear any more expense in that direction. The hill drafted last session was one tapping at the Treasury door for assistance, and if the local bodies left out that provision be thought there would be very little difficulty in the way cf obtaining the desired legislation this session. He said that the Government did not insure their buildings, hat £330 was voted tor fire brigade purposes. He would consult Ids colleagues, and see what could be done in the way of fixing tho amount of insurance on public bul'dinge. The Government conld not pay out of the consolidated fund for any proportion of the cost of maintenance for lire prevention. He thought the fire insurance companies should be made to contribute Being further pressed re the municipal franchise. Mr Seddon said the matter had been only formally discussed, i and the views ol Ministers obtained. The Government, however, would not go back on what was proposed Inst session, and ; would probably go forward. They hod i never gona back yet.—The interview then ! ended.