SOUTHERN ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10417, 15 April 1897, Page 1 (Supplement)

SOUTHERN ITEMS.

A deputation from the Wellington Industrial Association waited on the Premier on March 23 urging him to bring the question of the construction of a dock at Wellington before the Secretary for the Colonies, with a view to gottine the Imperial authorities to assist, wholly or in part, in carrying out the work. The Premier, in reply, said he thought the Harbour Board was the proper authority to deal with the matter, and that the time was not yet ripo for the construction of a dock. This time would inevitably come soon. Aβ for placing the matter under the notice of the Secretary for the Colonies, he hoped the deputation would not place him in a position which he could scarcely defend. Ho was quito willing to put out a feoler when defenco questions wero under discussion, bub he was nob prepared to prefer a request. Mr. Seddon, referring to the article in cue Pall Mall Gazette about tho defenceless condition of Now Zealand, said the Admiralty should frankly recognise it was an error to send to those wators such vessels as the Rapid, Royalist, etc. They should substitute with the least possible delay six lighb fast vessels, not to be withdrawn from New Zealand but to form part of the Australian squadron. It is stated that ib has been estimated that new buildings to the value of £100,000 are now under contract in Wellington. At the Education Board, Wellington, theref was a diecussion on the Duncdiu Women's League's resolution demanding equal pay for women. Tho chairman said to do this they must reduco the men's salaries, or get an increased grant from the Government. They had applied to the Department and been told that no provision for teacher's salaries could be made except from the capitation grant. Several members considered the maie teachers were entitled to higher salaries than women, but Mr. Young warmly protested against this. His experience was that women were: usb as good as men, and entitled to be paid accordingly, bub ho admitted it was a question of finance, and the Board hud no monoy to do it with. The communication was noted is received, bub no resolution was passed. The expenditure of the Board during the year was £49,324, of which £34,998 went in teacbW salaries, aud £6322 in buildings. The libel action, Mrs. Felton v. the Now Zealand Times, a claim for £505. has been sottled out of Court, defendants agreeing to pay costs, withdraw a claim for £100 against Mrs. Felton, and also withdraw all imputations cast- upon plaintiff. The sum of £4480 has been promised to the Wellington Cathedral Fund, of which £3991 has been received. The total increase In t.lie value of the Dunedin borough properties as compared with the rateable value last year is put at over £6000, an increase of 20 per cent. A laree and representative meeting was held at Nelson on Monday, April 12, tho Mayor presiding, when it was decided to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee with four days' events, including a thanksgiving service. The City Council will forward a congratulatory address to the Queen. At tho Danedin City Council meeting a letter was read from tho executors of Samuel Henry Andrew, deceased, giving notice of a bequest, after certain life interests, of £300 per annum, derived from real estate in Dunedin and Waihola. One half of this is to bo devoted to tho volunteers of the city, and the other half is to be expended as the Mayor and Council may direcb for the benefit of the city. In event of the voluntoors ceasing to exist the whole is to go to the City Council. The bequesb, ib is stated, is niado as some return for success in New Zealand, and as a token of appreciation for many kindnesses received from the " dear Scotch people." A man named John Knox Purvis, who was formerly a barrister and solicitor in Edinburgh, but now reduced to gathering and selling bottles, fell down in a state of collapse at Wellington on April 5.

The award of the Christchurch Conciliation Board in the dispute between the masters and the Carpenters and Joiners' Society recommends that 103 a day be tho minimum wage for competenb hands; that the wages of those unable to' earn the minimum is to be decided by a committee of the employers and workmen; that tho hours of labour from August to May inclusive are to be 8 o'clock a.m. to 5 p.m., and from May to July inclusive 8 o'clock a.m. to '4.30 p.m.; overtime to be paid at the rate of time and α-quarter for the first four hours, and time and α-half afterwards; that men sent to a country job are to be conveyed or have their expenses and 10 per cent, added to their wages, where the distance necessitates lodgings; that the suburban limit for Christchurch for walking is to be one mile from Town-street to the nearest place at which work is being carried on; that conditions being equal, Uuonists be employed in preference to non-members, bub that where the latter are employed, no distinction is to be made, and equal pay be given for equal work; that any dispute which tho committee cannob settle be decided by the Board of Conciliation. Provision is made for sanitary convenience and the safety of men's tools. The increase of wages comes into force on May 24 next. Each side haa to accept ot refuse the award , by Tuesday, April 13.