GENERAL TELEGRAPHIC NEWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13488, 15 May 1907, Page 8

GENERAL TELEGRAPHIC NEWS

[BY TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION.]/•' ; : -.-_ ■-.-■-". : " - Christchuech,' Tuesday. The grocers of Christchurch have decided not to observe Empire Day as a holiday. Mr. Laurenson, M.H.R., gave a precessional address to va ; fair attendance , this evening. He did not think Imperial preference would work to the advantage "of the colony, as it would raise the ; price of produce here, as well as at Home, and, therefore, cause the price of land to increase in New Zealand. He protested against the, statement that the Land Bill was an attack on . freehold. To declare that Crown lands should not be sold in the future was not to attack existing freeholders. In the railway service, he would like to see men in the lower divisions- given more opportunity to rise to ' the upper divisions. •.-.«-. ',<:-.-■ -', '■• ; GiSBpRNE," Tuesday. ( So far £150 has been raised in this district for the China famine relief fund, and about £90 for the Russian famine fund/ The Haroour Board's new wharf /tariff was to have come into operation to-mor-row, but owing , to Ministerial assent not having been given through the absence of tiie Hon. J. Millar, its enforcement has had to be postponed. . ; ... , Westport, Tuesday. At a public meeting to-night, it was decided to hold the West Coast band contest on November 8 arid 9. : '.Wellington, Tuesday.' 7 ' A motor service will shortly be started to the borough of Lower Hutt. ' ■ ,' The work of repairing the broken city water-main was completed at two- o'clock this morning, and the r water from theVWai-nui-Omata reservoir. was turned .on at . one o'clock this afternoon. 7 \ . ; ' ■:■<:.■■ : . ';;:,;;. ■ Dunedin, Tuesday. So far no students have been enrolled for the veterinary' class in the Ofcago University, though, a number of inquiries have been made by • farmers' sons and others concerning the course. ~, * The Outlook's famine relief fund; now amounts to £1178, and in addition to this advice has been received to the effect that Sunday's collections at Gisborne in aid; of the • fund were £84, which will make a total of £1262. The sum of £900 has already been remitted to China. V- -:■- Owing to the' dry weather, the turnip crops have failed pretty well throughout Otago, and many of the farmers are consequently, endeavouring; to get rid of their surplus 'stock. - - .' • Wanganui, Tuesday. ; The Harbour Board has adopted an extensive scheme for harbour improvements, and operations will begin ;in the morning, when.; the engineers will proceed to lay oft' work in connection with the northern mole.