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Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IV, Issue 237, 21 September 1914, Page 4

There has been a gain of seven millions in the population of the United States during the last four years. The total on July 1. 1914, is given as 109,921,822. Two jurors (Thomas Turner and 11. F. Butcher) were each fined -Khat the Napier Supreme Court this morning for failing to answer their names. John Stevenson, clerk, of Auckland. has furnished to the Official Assignee in Bankruptcy a statement giving his total liabilities at £4OBO la-. The only a<set is an interest under a will, the value of which is slated not to be tangible. “Star.” As Mr. W. Smith, taxi-driver, wits returning to Hastings on Saturday evening from Tc Ante, lie had the misfortune to capsize near the Kemelas. Fortunately no serious rt suits occurred, with the exception of a damaged mudguard. The car was extricated on Sunday morning, ami Mr. Smith resinned his journey. Tli(‘ marked increase in the volume of telegraphic business in New Zealand oi late years lias rendered it necessary to make frequent additions i-> the departmental staff. In order to keep up a supply- of officers, the authorities hat e 1 for a considerable time past been training lads to become operators, and (says an exchaiig< ) a hatch of about 25 is being turm-d out of the cadet gallery in the General Post. Office in Wellington every three months.

In the House on Friday, m replying to ouestions. the Prime Minister reJcrred to the use of railway motor vehicles. Ile staled that there was only one of these carriages at present in the possession of the department. and. though it had been fairly successful, it had not sufficient engine )>(>«■ r. Another motor carriage had been ordered. and yvas probably on its yv.-iy out; the department had not. made up its mind where this carriage would be placed. Mr. Daniels. United States Secretary for the Navy, says that. President Wilson will depart to open the Panama Canal on sth March next. The date- of the opening ceremony is not yet determined. The plan is that rhe President ami the Cabinet <hall traverse the canal on board the old battleship Oregon, and then proceed to San Francisco to participate in the opening of the Coinmenmrr.tive Exposition. On tne occasion of the opening ot the Panama Canal, President Wilson will proceed from Hamjiton Roads to Colon with a great international fleet. Nine oilier countries have signified their intention cf taking part, and probably other nations v ill be represented. ' The ( tnn c American Atlantic fleet will also lie present. After the opening of the canal, the fleet will go to San Franci-wo. H iestimated that this armada will lake four days to complete tlie passage of the canal.

The safety of the Southern Pacific does not appear to be causing the amount of concern to passenger and cargo steamers as yvas the case two or ihiec weeks auu. Passengers who arrived at Auckland by the Navua from Suva cm Thursday (says the “St.-.r”) st,(ted that the vovage was accomplished without incident, and eyen without apparent precautions. Win reas the Navua had gone down to the iJands with masked lights, she retained tilth ordinary lights. The only vessel sighted on the backward tup was one which etas going into »Suva r.s the Navua was coming out. An Island passenger, when asked if tlie war was causing much concern in the Fijian Group, replied in the negative. “The people would not Lc mi rpri'-ed to sec Gemrm warships turn up anv day." he said, “but they are really taking matters y( ry calmly.” }n reply to a further question tlie visitor remarked that there did not seem to be any marked scarcity of food. The Navua s cargo to Auckland consists chiefly ol bananas. She has brought a few crates cf cocoanut. but no copra.