LATEST TELEGRAPHIC.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1265, 28 May 1896, Page 19

LATEST TELEGRAPHIC.

Auckland, (May 25. At a special meeting of tho Auckland Trades and Labour Council for the purpose of considering matters in connection with the coming eduction, the delegates tools exception to a statement made at the last meeting of the Liberal Association “ that t in! Trades and Labour Council did not represent but a very small portion of organised labour in Auckland,” when as a matter of fact, out of all the labour organisations in the city there are only two unaliiliated, they being in negotiation for affiliation at the present: time. The meeting' tlnm piv< ded to select a candidate to be brought forward b.v them at the next elect ion for Auckland I'ity in the interest of labour, waeti Mr John Fa wens, who was n il lid; a a by his part y in favour of Mr Thoms Tl:omp-:on at the last by-cloc-t ion, was i!i.:ini.-.,-m-dy chosen to he nominated by 1 1. - ’• iI. A mx i. \ xi), May 2b. The Governor gave a ball to-night in honour of the Queen’s Birthday, it was the most brilliant function for years past. Over (500 invitations were issued. Among the guests were Admiral Bridge and the principal officers of the squadron. A handsome marble monument has been erected in Rangiriri cemetery in memory of the officers and men of Mercer’s battery 12th, 14th, 40th and Goth Regiments who fell there. It has been erected to the order of Major Elliot, who is of tho 40th RoUmerit, from funds subscribed by the various regiments. Captain Huntor-Blair originated the movement.

A Temperance Conference, attended by delegates from the Auckland Province, yesterday formed a divisional Pro--1 liibition Council, representing all the \ electorates. The Convention expressed I satisfaction with the provision in the last liquor Bill for taking the local option poll on the general election days, and appealed to Parliament to resist any attempt to get this provision altered. It was alio resolved to urge that the provisions of the Act for enforcing the law in 1 future in Prohibition districts should ho made immediately applicable to the King Country, tho Uerwera Country, and to all boroughs and ridings in which no licenses exist. Dunedin, Flay 2(3. The Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society’s farm competition for Sir John Bennett Law’s shields resulted this year in the executors of the late Mr William Secular, Southland, securing the shield for the best managed farm of over 100 acres, and Mr 0. 11. Gilroy Stirling taking that for farms under 400 acres. The winners in each case are tiie present holders. Representatives from the Students’ Christian Unions at Canterbury College and Otago University have left in the Mararoa to attend the conference in (Melbourne of delegates from all the Australasian universities. The first eight-oared race held in the Colony took place yesterday, the competing crews being from the Dunedin Amateur Boating Club. A public meeting to-night decided to form a branch of the Navy League. Westport, May 2(3. The first sitting of tho Conciliation Board to consider the disputes between the Westport Coal Company, tho Cardiff Company, and tho Mokihinui Coal Company and the miners took place to-day. After discussing the questions at length, some were agreed to, and others struck out, and evidence will he taken on the others at Mokihinui and Denuiston. Christchurch, May 2(3. The New Brighton 'Tramway Company has declared a dividend of 7 per cent, and carried £ 1-31 forward. Hubert Medley, 66 years of age, died suddenly this afternoon, it is supposed from heart disease. Invercargill, May 2(3. The Southland 'Temperance Convention, which has been holding a series of meetings since Saturday night, closed its sittings this afternoon. Tho resolutions carried were mainly identical with those adopted by other recent conventions. About 50 delegates were present. Tho close of the session was celebrated by a procession and public meeting to-night, which was only moderately attended, tho weather being cold and unsettled. Palmkrston North, May 20. At tho third annual meeting of the Prohibition Council for Wellington, Taranaki and Hawke’s Bay, resolutions woro carried (1) requesting tho Government to amend the Licensing Act so that the issue of Prohibition he decided by a hare majority of tho votes polled ; (2) renewing tho demand for a State poll oil the question of colonial option at the next licensing election, a majority to decide; fit) demanding (hat clubs he placed on the same footing in regard to Sunday observance, limitation of hours, police supervision and popular control as publichouses, and that no new charters lie issued ; ( !■) t hat public-house license fees should ho paid to the Public Treasury, instead of the local bodies ; (5) that conditional licenses and packet licenses to steamers trading on rivers and within harbours ho abolished.