WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, 12 March 1901, Page 5

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

[ST TELEGBATK— coßßESroxnsxT.J Wslukgiox, Monday THE FIJI WESLEYAN MISSION. The state of this mission was referred to at the Saturday meeting of the conference by the Rev. Dr. Morley in a manner which cannot Ml to awaken general interest. The " Slade. incident"* ■ was mentioned as" 1 » " manly stand against an act- of oppression by a Government official." The whole passage contains much information ■. us . to ■ the. social condition of the islands. Dr. Moriey says that the development of independent character among the,native Christians was too slow at present to allow of the withdrawal of any of the missionaries. The number of white workers should be increased rather than reduced. The native population of Fiji amounted to 90.000. In addition to this there were 20,000 coolies imported from China and India, who, by their degraded characters, constituted a serious menace to the welfare of the mission field. Although the coolies formed bub one-fifth of the native population, they were responsible for four-fifths of the crime. The necessity for increased vigour in the Church's work under these circumstances was pointed out. That more enthusiasm, should be imparted into the work was essential at the present time. The Conference passed a resolution expressing thankfulness at the nature of the work being done in the South Seas, where the prospects of the mission had never looked happier. FIRE ALARMS. The Wellington Fire Brigade equipment is nearly complete. The new electric alarms only require the glass facing to bo broken and the " button pressed" when the following series of alarms follow:—The pressed button rings an alarm gong in the enginehouse, and a series of alarm bells in every room at the station where the firemen sleep. The current runs down the rods and the stable and station doors are thrown open, and the same influence is brought to bear on a clock at the station, which stops its ticking precisely at the moment an alarm is sounded. The man in charge at the station switches on the lights in the various compartments the moment the bell is rung, and the horses are trained to trot out of their stalls and stand at the poles of the engines, so that the harness may be thrown upon them and their traces coupled to the engines. THE STATE COAL MINE. It was thought, here that the Premier, in this matter, had tapped a new measure of socialism, but the scheme, it is said, simply involves a, redevelopment of one o. two mines of which the workings have collapsed 01 the tenure has fallen in. The high price of coals in Wellington is the constant theme of protest. Mr. Seddon said he would have the support of his colleagues in the step he now proposed, and he believed he would have the support of all, because this question touched not only (ho workers, but all consumers. When he could get Westport coal for the railways at from 19s to 21s a ton, and yet had to pay cash for household purposes £1 18s or £2 a ton, the whole thing pointed to a condition of things which ought to be met. Having observed that the mineowners at the present time could not supply the demand, Mr. Seddon went on to suggest. that they no doubt thought it was easier for them to hand it over to certain vendors throughout the large, centres, and in view of the agreement probably existing between them, to supply only to this combination, they no doubt thought they could fix tip the miners, and then no one could interfere. But if they thought they could set things into that condition in New Zealand they made a very great mistake.