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Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8771, 12 January 1909, Page 4

Some of the Government papers are very wrath the Premier for going back on them over the mining dispute. When the Government announced that it could do nothing, and would not undertake the liability for th© payment of compensation, the Ministerial press praised the decision as being eminently statesmanlike and entirely satisfactory. Next day, however, the Government surrendered completely to the miners, and great was the chagrin of the party's journalistic supporters. "Whereas before tliey could not find enough extravagant phrases to commend Ministers, now they had equal difficulty in discovering language that went to the other extreme. The New Zealand Times is especially vigorous in " beating joss." It says: "On arrival at Chnstchurch from Wellington on Saturday morning, the Prime Minister had an opportunity of making an explanation of the Government's action in indemnifying the Insurance JJepartment against the risk of affording cover for pneumoconiosis under the Workers' Compensation Act. • . . W© cannot .believe that the country will accept this as an explanation at all. The circumstances are or a statement of why the G-overnment, after saying I over and over again that medical exanimation was necessary before insurance could be granted against disease, suddenly decided to shoulder the risk that the Insurance Department would not accept and grant it mdemarty for any loss. . Sir Joseph statement represents official evasion reduced to a meaningless minimum. There is not one word in iU-L l V i° ® attributed to him that throws any light on what the public .wants to know; there is nothing in"/:his "utterance. All that bir Joseph did was to say with bland inconsequence what everybody knew was the case. The Prime Minister, at Chnstchurch said ' there had been no climb down.' He may be able to justify that assertion. In fact, that | is what has been expected of him. He has not done so up to the present. The term may not be accurate, but that there has been a bewildering change of front is obvious. Now what a. great many people want to know is—Why? If the Prime Minister is prepared to say that the cost to the country of the step he has taken will be infinitesimal compared with the loss and misery a great strike would cause, then he would at least b>e saying something that deserved intention . _ The weak-kneed attitude of the Ministry on this occasion will be a bad precedent for the future,"

On page 2: Cables, telegrams. On page 3: General reading. On page 6: Sporting notes -by "Geraint." On page 7: Commercial, bowling.

Cows in milk must be , scarce in- the ■Palmeraton district. A gentleman having two 'for sale advertised them in last night's issue of the "Standard," and before 8.45 this morning had 20 wouldbe purchasers call to inspcct them.

It is stated 'that a favourable fruit season is being experienced in the Nelson province, and that the conditions for the jam-making industry are much better than those of last year,- when raspberries had to bo imported from Tasmania.

Mr C. O. Saunders, Awahuri, has sold his farm—the original homestead of the late Mr Joseph Saunders—to Mr W. A.' Flynn, who takes possession early this month. It is Mr Saunders' intention to take an extended and well-earned holiday before looking for another farm. "■

At a ; meeting of the Pohangina Sports Club on Saturday evening it was unanimously decided to hold a sports gathering on March 17. Another meeting is to be held in the course of about two weeks, when details will be arranged. Mr J. J. Lynch presided.

Some time ago a rabbiter from Omarama, named William Johnston, left the district hurriedly, leaving behind him a number of lamenting tradespeople, mainly in Kurow. These gentlemen issued a warrant for the arrest of their quondam customer, who has been apprehended iri Hobart, and a constable 'will be sent over to convey him back to the Dominion.

Mr McNab says there is no truth in the rumour that ho intends to sell his Knapdale estate and purchase land in the North Island. When asked by a Dominion reporter if he was likely to be a candidate for the Thames seat. Mr McNab replied that he knew nothing about the matter, except what he had read in the newspapers. It had not been suggested to him by the Thames people that he should stand. In "answer to a further question, Mr McNab stated that he would stand for an early vacancy if he received the opportunity. ,

Mr Ross, of Wanganui, who was to have judged carriage and harness horses at the Feilding ~A. and P. Show, to be held on February 2 and 3, has notified the Association that, through sickness, he will be unable to undertake the duties. Mr H. E. Hocken, Menzie's Bridge. Colyton, has accepted the position, and with such a competent judge exhibitors should have every confidence that the awards will be satisfactory to all." Entries for all classes of stock, dairy pro-, duce, vegetables, home industries, etc., close -with' the secretary at 9 p.m. on Friday next, the 15th inst.

In connection with the blocks' of land which have been opened up for settlement at Piri Piri and Tamaki. near Dannevirke, it has been decided by the Department, in response to a request from Mr C. Hall, member for the district, to open up still larger areas. The surveyors are to commence the work of surveying the remainder of the Tamaki block in February, and it is stated there is. a probability of the land (about' 8000 acres) being ready, for-selection in: July next. When the timber leases for the Piri Piri block expire at the end of the year the remainder of this block will also be offered for settlement, and the surveyors will commence work in October. The Department has also promised the member for the district to introduce a Bill during the coming session, to throw open the Norsewood Forest Reserve and subdivide it for closer settlement. These lands, including the Makaretu... Forest Reserve, comprise about 25,000 acres. _

The following from yesterday's N.Z. Times wil be endorsed by our readers: — "Programmes thruppence each," is becoming a far too familiar cry at public performances by visiting companies. The practice belongs to the commercial subtlety of the box office, and although it is common enough to the London and Continental theatres, its. introduction, to New Zealand is to be resented. The public in New Zealand pay handsomely enough as it is for. their recreations, and innovations of this sort are petty enough,' but none the lees irritating. To charge the public three-pence or sixpence for a sheet of paper that contains the bare details of the performance, wedged in as is often the case amongst a mass "of irrelevant advertisements, has no justification whatever. What the public pay at the doors is the limit of demand. Anything over and above that_ in Order •that the audience may have some guide to the performance they have already paid to hear, is nothing short of commercial immorality.

Writing in tho Otago Daily Times, Mr David K. Pritchard, who was a conspicuous figure in the Blackball strike, and who is at present in Dunedin, deals with the present, coal-mining difficulty. In the courso of his communication,. fie. says:—"When one bears, in mind th© fact that the mining laws of the Transvaal provide for two. shafts,. whereas iu the Dominion our laws only provide for one, there is not much doubt as to the certainty of a mine becoming speedily contaminated with phthisis in New Zealand.. The miners become affected with this disease through inhaling the smoke of the powerful explosives used to rend rocks and fine quartz dust, which is al- [ most continually circulating through, the mine. Once this dust gets settled internally no medical power can remove it. I have already said it is non-preventible, but 6till a great deal could be done to lengthen the lives of those already slightly affected with it, and to mitigate its evil influence amongst those young fellows just entering on mining life. How ? By the installation of artificial ventilation, the same as is required by the law in every coal mine. This, •of course, would mean increased expenditure, but sweat runs easier than fans, and human souls are cheap." v

_ There is (say 6 the Observer) a neat little story, extant about the Governor and a wheel tapper at Franktoii Junction. Lord Plunket tells the yarn himself. It appears that the other day, when his Excellency was compelled to make "the usual long wait at Frankton, his attention was arrested by the gentleman ■with the long slender-hammer who skip 3 along the train and plays" brisk tunes on the railway carriage wheels. The Governor is of an inquiring turn of mind. He wants to be:of use to the Dominion long after his_ term of office has expired, and so he hailed the musician witn : "I say, my good man, how do you Snowwhen the wheel ia sound or when it is cracked?" The instrumentalist paid no heed, and skipped on. The Governor followed just as nimbly and repeated the query at the next carriage. Again, he was ignored; the artist hopped on, the viceroy followed, and the question was reiterated, with the same old result. The Governor still persisted, but when he was putting the momentous question for the seventh time, a passing porter checked him. "I don't know who you are, sir," said the man in the bright" buttoned waistcoat, "but you won't get an answer out o' him 'e'a deaf." And now: his Excellency is still more perplexed than ever, for ho wants to know how" a deaf man can hear any tap at all.

Preparations .. for' a big; '.clearance of summer drapery is now" proceeding at the Bon Marche, due notice -of which will be given when same. is completed. Fashionable millinery ie being marked down to half price and. drastic reductions in all other departments.—Advt.

Prompt Delivery.—lmporters requiring immediate delivery'of their goods cannot do botter than entrust their Custom' house and. Forwarding work to J. J. Curtis and Co., Ltd., Customhouse Quay,Wellington. 1 Efficient service and moderate charge* RRflijred.—Advt.

Large selection and newest designs in lady's "Peggy" bags, gents:' ; gold and silver mounted pocketbooks, letter cases, purees, dressing cases, writing desks, folios, etc.; gold-mounted "Swan" fountain pens for presentations, afc Park's Bazaar—Advt.

• A gift; of happiness tor your wife la an extra high-grade carpet sweeper ■ Practical. pleasing; 14 varieties, 10s 6d to 30s ,9d each.-Ccllinaon and Son, 'Cbeapside, for ' pleasing gifts.—

Results of the matriculation examina tion will probably bo published on January 20.

An inquest concerning the death of Annie Florence Lloyd .was held at Ashhurst to-day by the Coroner (Captain Moivlem), and a verdict was returned of death from natural causes. The funeral will take place at the AshhurSt Cemetery to-morrow.

At a meeting of the Cheltenham Dairv Company yesterday the directors decided to take individual action in reference to forming a co-operative bacon-curing companv. The first step will be the gatherang of information concerning the working of similar factories in other parts of New Zealand. Pig-breeders throudiout the district heartily support the notion of tho directors. r x{ rs J- ? our P e > wife of the engineer of the Kiwitea County Council, attempted to commit suicide yesterday at Kimbolton by cutting an artery in one of her wrists. The unfortunate woman bud very much before; Dr. Becdie was called in. and is at present in a very we:\li condition. She is, however, expected to recover. Much sympathv is felt for Mr Bourne right through the Kiwitea district at the sad occurrence. No reason is given fcfr the rash deed, except that Mrs Bourne was in an exceedingly low state of health at the time. During the past week tho barometer has .been rising steadily, and vcsterc'hiv reached the highest point touched for over a month, the instrument recording 30.051. The registered rainfall for the week was 2.73 inches, it having rained on four days. The thermometer fluctuated between 61 and 66. the cold easterlv winds of the last few days having kept the temperature down to a very low level for midsummer. The figures "are taken from the records kept by Dr. Martin at the local meteorological" station. At the last-meeting of the Taranaki County Council the foreman feporfed in reference to the motor-car traffic. Sometimes, he said, there were as many as ten motor-cars chasing each other alontr the road, and complaints had been made about- the speed they travelled. In the discussion which ensued it was agreed that every car owner shculd pav insubstantial yearly license instead of a trifling registration fee for all time as was the case now. It was eventually decided to forwa-d a remit to the next Coumie-s' Corf.;ience on the matter.

Some miscreants were responsible for serious damage to a consignment of cheese from the Rongokokako cheese factory that was stowed in the goods shed at the Ekctahuna railway station on Wednesday night, ready to be sent to Wellington for export. The following morning a number of the cheeses were found to have had pieces cut our of them, and the remaining portions were cunningly turned round so that the thei'ts could not, at once be detected. It- is feared that the consignment has boon spoilt, but it was despatched to Wellington for examination. The executive of the Choral Sociefv held a meeting in All Saints' Schoolroom last night to draw up a report for submission to a general meeting of member* and intending members, to bo held in the Empire Hall on January 25. A committee comprising Messrs Cohen. Park. Drew, Graham and Swallow were appointed to frame a set of rules to.meet the requirements of the Society. Thanks to the generosity of Mr Dcvine, the Empire Hall will again be at the disposal ; of the Society for practices. The question as to the oratorio to be performed will be decided at the general meeting. Mr Bragato, Government viticulturist. on being interviewed by a reporter, spoke in highly optimistic terms of the prospects of the grape season. Last year's yield, it will be remembered, constituted a record, but this season's output Mr Bragato expects to eclipse all- previous records. Large additional areas of outdoor vines will bear this season, and a splendid supply is assured. There is. Mr Bragato explains, a general freedom from pests and disease. Provided favourable weather continues, the Government viticulturist anticipates that the quantity of grapes available for market purposes will be quite equal to last year's, and that the out-door varieties will be procurable at a rate within the vicinity of 6d per lb. * •

8 Recent floods in the Makcvua swamp I have considerably damaged the pasture I land. The flat carries about 1000 bul- | locks at the present time, and owners | have had to remove them to high ground i owing to the flood water during last [ week being on an average a foot deep, j . Now that the water is subsiding, the L gra6S is half black and unfit for feed. | and it looks as if stock-owners will have f, to sell through not having enough feed t- for the winter months. The Mtikorua l swamp is such splendid pasture land that . it is common to see cattle knee-deep in grass. It is to be hoped, says the Levin paper, that the evidence taken by the recent Commission will lead to something being done'to relieve the flats of flood water and carry it out to sea. but the settlers are not united as to who should • bear .the rate,' and «o the matter rests

at present. The Government should in stitute a scheme and fix the rate accord ing to benefits received.

The Referee to hand by yesterday's mail indicates that there is evet;y probability of another meeting between Johnson and Burns for the world's boxing ■championship. "Amateur" writes as follows: —"I am in a position to etate that--everything is in order for another match between Burns and Johnson, and. if nothing occurs to affect arrangements already made, the contest will take place an London next August. Mr 'H. D. Mcintosh, who left by the Melbourne express last night to caLch, at Adelaide, -the R.M.S. India for '.England, had a long chat with Jack Johnson's manager, Sam Fitzpatrick, on Saturday afternoon, and it is understood a definito agreement was arrived at." Burns is willing to make the trip and will afterwards return to Sydney and settle down there. He is confident of his ability to defeat Johnson. It is interesting to notice the re;mark of an eye-witness of the .recent battle to a Post reporter. "Byriis \v;is not,half so badly beaten as people think." tofcsaid. "The white man got a severe rllffaiing in. the first and second rounds and had his ankle twisted, when Johneon fell on him in the fifth, but his wind was holding'out far better than the "black's. At the fourteenth round when •the police stepped in, Johnson was panting hard, while Burns still kept his wind comfprtably."

Cricket material from.the best makers: Wisden's, Sugg's, Dark's patent cork handles, "Union's Driver," "Crawford's Exceller," etc., stumps, gloves, balls, legguards, etc.. at Park's Bazaar. —Advr.

Mr A. Bailey, Picton, N.Z., says: "I have used Chamberlain's Colic, Cholera and Diarrhoea Remedy a number of times and have never known it fail to effect a ,cure. My late father always kept a bottle of Chamberlain's Colic, Cholera and Diarrhoea Rejriedy in his house, and I have often heard him recommend it to his friends." For sa'.e bv .all chemists, and storekeepers.—Advt.

According to Dr. Findlajv the whole question of the appointment of junior magistrates will come before the Cabinet . at one of its earliest meetings. About 100 artillerymen are to go into camp at Pigeon Bush, Fcathcrsron. on Anniversary Day. A, staff officer was up during the week to arrange for a suitable camping ground. The C and D teachers' certificates and civil service examinations are proceeding at Devine's Empire Hall, under the supervision of Mr Grant, of the Wansranui Education Board. They will conclude on Monday next. Cabinet has decided to increase to £3500 the grant for rebuilding the Wtuiganui District High School, which was partially destroyed by fire, subj-ect to the new building being of brick and providing increased accommodation. VipA. start was made to-day with the erecfon of the new brick Courthouse at Feilding. The present wooden building lias been shifted to the back of the section. and tho new structure will have two frontages, the main entrances being from Kimbolton road.'

Mr James Allen's election expenses at Bruce are returned at £156.

Captain Edwin wired 'to-day: Southerly moderate to strong winds; glass rise slowly.

At a sitting of the Magistrate's Court, at 1 ahiatua, James Groves, on remand from Palmerston North, was charged with deserting his wife and five children at Pahiatua. With the consent of acCI ( SC ni S Wl^e an oi'dor for the payment °*' , l Jor y 1 " as maintenance was made, the wife to have the custody of the children

The .scheme for establishing a school for Maori girls at Ohoka. 20 miles from Lhristohurch, has gradually taken more definite form, and the New Zealand Crunch News is able to announco that 'n u ln tcntion to start tho school in February. It is proposed to maintain tlio school partly by fees and partly by tree scholarships.

Mr J. C. Lane- is in receipt of details i , recen t theory examinations" conducted, in November under the auspices oi the Associated Board of Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music, London. They are as follows :— Local centre, intermediate grade of harn\°ny, .J. U. _ Whitehead (teacher,' Miss Munro); Rudiments of music, A; Trevor D'Along. Margaret Fleetwood,lda H. Carey (Mrs Redwood). J. S. Mcßean, E. S. Mcßean, J. A. Greig, W. H. Burgess and.Rubina D. Ncale (Mrs Hawson).

The submarine explosion was again the chief attraction of the Lyttelton regatta on New "1 ear's Day ,and was carried out with every success. The victim of tho explosion was the battered hull cf the trading ketch Ada, which, after being dismantled, was towed outside tho .moles, and moored in the usual position for the event. A fire was started in the hull, and • the woodwork was burning fiercely when tho signal was given and the shot fired. An immense body of water was lifted to a great height, and after remaining poised in the air for a second or two fell again with a sounding clap back to the sea. - Timber and j<agments of the hull were likewise hurled aloft, and in their, descent fell in all . directions.