INTERPROVINCIAL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1536, 7 August 1901, Page 48

INTERPROVINCIAL.

WANGANUI (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) Sunday, 5.15 p.m. Mr Hugh Neil, an old and respected resident, passed away this morning, • after a somewhat lengthy illness.' De« ceased-was a prominent member of the Wesleyan Church, and highly esteemed by all who knew him. "The Rev Arthur Dewdney preached for the first time at the Baptist Church to-day. He is t©, be formally welcomed by the Baptist community to-morrow evening. The work of rebuilding the wharf, which has been slowly proceeding during the past two or three years, is to be expedited. In 1899 the sum of £449 was expended on it; in 1900 about £900; and for seven months of this year £ll2O. Originally the idea was to ex« tend the work over, five years, but it will now b© completed as soon as possible, as the Harbour Board has the necessary funds. MASTERTON (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) Thursday, 7.25 p.m. At the inquest on the body of the late J. W. Jackson, it transpired that deceased had been brooding over the death of his wife. No other cause could be assigned for the suicide. The jury returned a verdict of suicide whilst temporarily insane. The owners of stallions in this dis* fcriet are dissatisfied with the proposal of the Masterton A. and P. Association to have horses examined by a Government veterinary surgeon before the annual horse parade. A petition has been signed for presentation to the associaition on the subject. About eighty couples were present at the annual ball of the Wairarapa Caledonian Society on Wednesday night. Visitors were present from all parts of Wellington province. k An assertion has been made by a local paper that the Masterton Borough Council has neglected its duty, and that Borough Councillors do not know the position of affairs. The Mayor has publicly challenged the assertion, and has been replied to. There is a special meeting of the Council this evening, and further developments are expected. • Sunday, 5 p.m. A member of the local School Com" mittee has given notice to move at next meeting, “That the Education Board b e requested to convert the main school in this town into a District High School.” At a meeting yesterday of the Wairarapa Caledonian Society, it was to hold the next sports gs-thcring on the sho-w ground, and to bring all * the bicycle events under the control of the society. . , ... A meeting of owners of stallions is to be held on Wednesday to protest against the proposal to have horses examined by a Government ‘ vet. prior to the annual horse parad©. GREYTOWN NORTH (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) Wednesday, 4.15 p.m. A well-known enthusiast has invited the members of the Greytown Football Club and old-time footballers .to a banquet next week in honour of Greytown winning the championship banner after five seasons* playing. . . . The Land Purchase Commissioners have been requested by the Premier to report upon land suitable for close settlement •n the eastern side of the Ruamahanga river, near Greytown, as requested by the Wairarapa people. The annual ball of the Greytown Football Club has been arranged for the 23rd of August. , The farmers of the district are responding heartily to the request made by the proposed jam and pickle factory committee to plant more fruit trees and vegetables, and a co-operative company will shortly be established. . The opera “Trial by. Jury” is to be staged here shortly by Greytown Ama. teurs for the memorial town clock fund. LEVIN. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) •Friday, 4.30 p.m. The proprietor of the Levin Hotel is erecting the necessary buildings for installing electric light in his premises. Machinery for the manufacture of aerated waters has been ordered from England, and Mr Hannan expects to have the plant in working order in October. The County Council has let the contract for oil lamps for lighting the township. Leading townspeople are subscribing an amount to erect a handsome lamp on a pedestal at the junction of Oxford and Cambridge streets.

The Levin Dairy Goinpany is going io build a cool room at the factory and to add to the plant and buildings at the Kereru creamery at a total cost of £6OO, A representative of a large auctioneering company made a visit to Levin recently with a view of securing a suitable site for a stock saleyard. Farmers are cf opinion * that fortnightly • instead of monthly saies should be hold this summer.

One runholder has sent ten. thousand fat wethers to the freezing works this season.

Messrs Rose (Postal Department) and Logan (Superintendent of Electric Lines) are inspecting sections to-day for a site for the new post office. They were interviewed by a deputation of townspeople. Without committing themselve s to any decision, they seem to favour the section next to Clark’s drapery establishment.

Saturday, 7 p.m. A case of assault brought by T. Hudson against C. Williams before Mr Greenfield, S.M., occupied all the afternoon, but was dismissed on a technical point. Williams forcibly ejected Hudson from a section when the latter was taking possession for a client. Williams had tried to buy the same section, but was too late. He, however, gained possession of the key of the premises. The magistrate held that this gave Williams the right to forcibly eject and dismissed the information. A successful ball was given by the Levin Tennis Club last night.. There were visitors Foxton, Shannon and Otaki.

Great attention is now being given to poultry rearing in Levin. A local con ■ tractor has imported birds from the best breeds in England, and is giving full attention to egg producing strains. Complaints are rife about the delay in calling tenders for the central school. Saturday, 4 p.m. Trouble is likely to arise from the Taratahi water race scheme. During th e late heavy rains the overflow from the races caused floods on a number of set. tiers’ properties, to the great detriment of tho stock. One settler threatens a Supreme Court action if the nuisance is not abated. It is a serious matter, as to d®al with the overflow will be very expensive.

.At the meeting of the Taratahi-Car-terton Road Board this afternoon important business was transacted. The construction of the Tauerau bridge was being delayed through the owner or the land through which the bridge approach will pass having refused to allow the contractor to enter upon the land until compensation was paid. The chairman drew up an agreement with the landowner fixing the amount of compensation and other details. The Board to-day confirmed the agreement. This important work can now proceed. Masterton people are much interested, as the bridge is a new link between the East Coast and that town, and had been objurgating the Board for delay. The chairman was given a free hand to insur© employees of the Board under the Workmen’s Compensation for Accidents Act. In respect to the difficulty of Carterton Borough over the maintenance of the boundary roads the Board desires evidence to be taken, so that an Order-in-Council can be obtained fixing the liability of the two bodiesMr Maunsell gave notice- of motion that the present ward system is illegal, and should be abolished in future, revenue and expenditure to be kept in one general account. It was decided not to appoint an engineer until it is seen how the Featherston Road Board's petition to becom * a county affects the position, of th© Board. DANNEVIRKE (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) Thursday, 7.30 p.m. Mr Turnbull, S.M., gave judgment to-day in a case under the Employers’ Liability Act, 1882, reserved from a previous sitting. J- O’Donnell sued Bisher Bros, for £3B expenses for in.* juries received while helping to lift timber at a mill at Matamau. The Magistrate decided that the plant was in proper working order, and the miahap was purely accidental. There was no negligence on the part of the defendants. Plaintiff was nonsuited. Dr Valintine, District Health Officer, reporting on the sanitary state of the town to the Borough Council, poiujts out the necessity for draining the central and portions of the north and south wards, and advises that the scheme proposed by Mr L. Reynolds in 1895 should he carried out. Friday, 7.45 p.m: At a meeting of the Borough Council it was decided to carry oufc a system of drainage, and Mr L. Reynolds is to be asked to state what his charge would be for preparing plans and supervising the execution of the scheme. The question was raised of whether the two Councillors who interviewed the Minister of Railways at Wellington re a half, chain road at the back of the station had any standing. Great regret is felt at the death of Mrs Monk, at Maharahara. Three weeks ago her house was burned down in the night. Mrs Monk got her baby out, and returned and saved the other two children from a burning bed. She was terribly injured about the face and body, and though she received constant attention the burns resulted fatally. PALMERSTON NORTH (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) Thursday, 7 p.m. The Commission appointed to apportion the cost of th© road work proposed to be carried out at Ngawhakarau open, ed this morning, before Mr W. S. Short, Commissioner. The Manawatu Road Board, Manawatu County Council and

Palmerston and Foxton Borough Councils were represented. All the morning was taken up in hearing argument by counsel for Palmerston and Foxton Boroughs that they were not properly before the Commission, having been cited to appear by the County Council instead of the Manawatu Road Board, the constructing body. Th e Commissioner upheld the contention, but expressed the opinion that the boroughs should be legally cited. This the Manawatu Road Board did not desire, on the ground that it did not consider the boroughs liable to contribute to the cost of the work. Eventually, acting on th e suggestion of the Commissioner, the Road Board decided to cite the boroughs, and the Com. mission accordingly adjourned till the 7th October to allow of the necessary notice being given. Friday, 7 p.m. The Government having intimated that it will accept the services of the senior cadet corps proposed to be formed in town as a link between the school cadet, corps and Volunteers, enrolling lhas commenced with satisfactory results. A meeting of the Citizens’ Committee will be held shortly to arrange ag to a supply of uniforms and the eelctiou of officers. The average age of the boys joining is fifteen years. At a meeting of tlie College street School Committee last evening, it was stated that the medals struck by the Government in commemoration of the Royal visit to New Zealand would be distributed among the s chool children during next week. The committee decided to ask the Education Board to establish cookery classes at the school. Saturday, 7 p.m. There was a large attendance at the second annual dinner of the Stoney Creek milk suppliers to the New Zealand Farmers’ Dairy Union, held last evening. Visitors were present from all parts of this and adjacent districts. During the evening it was stated that the present liability of the union was £10,116. There wa s a credit balance of £1247, and the profit now stood at £23,358, as against £IB,OOO six a ears ago. Mr R. Humphries, of the Sash and Door Company, was presented by the employees to-day with several silver mounted smoker’s requisites. Mr Humphries is leaving the company to enter into business on bis own account. EKETAHUNA. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) Wednesay, 4.5 p.m. Rain has fallen here incessantly since Tuesday morning last, with the result that all the rivers are in heavy flood. Owing to the absence of metal, the Pongaroa roads are at present in a disgraceful condition. With a view to getting assistance from those who are responsible, Mr Holmes Warren, of Atfredton, has forwarded a petition to Par. liament, signed by a hundred settlers, praying that a further grant of £loou be placed on the estimates for metalling the roads. Rabbit poisoning in the Tiraumea and East Goast districts is about completed, and excellent work has been done. Although the department has made numerous promises that the telephone exchange would be proceeded with at once, nothing has yet been done. Friday, 4 p.m. In the Junior Cup match yesterday Konini defeated Hamua by nine points to nil. . , The members of the Anglican Church at Alfredton have decided to build a church, and tenders are invited. The Eketahuna County Council is applying for an amendment of the heavy traffic by-law, which was decided by the Chief Justice to be bad, and pending its amendment all the roads in the county, with the exception of the main roads, will be closed for heavy traffic. Snow fell on the low-lying ranges this morning, and the weather is bitterly cold. Saturday, 4-15 p.m. A violent gale sprang up last evening, and continued throughout to-day. Tree s were uprooted in all directions. Messrs Lowes and lorns have decided to hold fortnightly sales her e at the commencement of the summer. At a meeting of the vestry of St. Outhbert’s Church the resignation of Mr F. Potts, the secretary, was received with regret, and Mr Dempsey was elect, ed to fill the vacancy. The s ettlers at Pongaroa are continually complaining, ana very rightly, at the disgraceful state of the roads. Egress and ingress are alike impossible, and they consider it about time Parliament shelved city legislation, and attended to their pressing wants. CARTERTON. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) Friday, 4.25 p.m. The football match between representatives from the Wellington and Wairarapa Schools will take place here on the 10th. inst. The Wellington boys will arrive on Friday, and will stay till Monday morning. Arrangements have been made to billet them amongst the householders. Instances have occurred lately of trav. ellers on the East Coast roads getting lost through the absence of finger-posts at various junctions. The department is now erecting thes© necessaries at all crossr-roads which junction with +he main road leading to Flat Point. To-day the telephone construction party started operaions. They expect that in a fortnight the work will be completed.

Regarding the burglary at Mrs Nine* wha’s at Greytown, it is stated that a family feud was the cause of the trouble. In Mrs Ninewha’s bed was found the half-severed head of a newly-killed pig. This is a native custom of showing especial disgust by an aggrieved party.

BULLS (Own Correspondent.) Mr J. Saunders is getting on well with his bridge contract, but Mr Boyle has not yet started the formation for the tram from Sandon to Bulls. “lolanthe” is being practised by the Operatic and Musical Society, and bids fair to be as great a success as their “Mikado” was. Some s ma ll part of Heaton Park having been let a creamery will start next month. The annual meeting of the Rangitikei Racing Club was held on the 31st July, when a very satisfactory balance sheet was adopted' and stewards and officers appointed and programmes proposed. AUCKLAND Special to the “Times.” AUCKLAND, August 1. The feature of yesterday’s luncheon in connection with, breaking th® first ground of th© electric tramways was the enthusiasm with which all references to a greater Auckland were received. Mr Arthur Myers first spoke on the subject, and was followed by Mr Hugh Campbell, both gentlemen being loudly applauded when they urged that all efforts should be mad© to sweep away the suburban boroughs and make Auck» land one great municipality. The func_ tion was a most successful one, and the announcement of Mr Hansen, of the Tramways Company, that the opening of the tramways would take place in seven or eight months was received with great satisfaction. The question of rating on unimproved values is being vigorously agitated here in anticipation of the poll on Tuesday. Mr Fowlds, M.H.R., who is leading the movement, believes that the result of the Auckland poll will affect the passage of th© Unimproved Values Bill now befor© Parliament. The ratepayers are displaying great interest in the subJ ° ot ' DUNEDIN Special to the “Times.” DUNEDIN, August 1. Mr Samuel Mirams, on retiring from th© City Surveyorship, was to-day pre« eented with a gold watch by the Corporation. staff. \Vhen Mr Mirams took office over thirty years ago Dunedin was practically in a state of nature, and there is no doubt he has done a lot of good work. Though th© weather is not unusually severe for winter, there is an extraor* dinary lot of sickness about, especially, amongst infants, old folk and men who are subjected to exposure. The grocers’ assistants came before the Conciliation Board with a demand for improved conditions of employment. The employers asked for an adjournment, on the ground that they wanted to complete the organisation of their union and try to bring the small shopkeepers into line, and in the meantime making sure of the postponement, they were unprepared to go on. The applri cation was granted, the case being set down for the 28th August. Mr C. H. Campbell, on behalf of the Agricultural Hall Company, is writing to Mr Millar and other Dunedin members, pointing out that if anything is done in the way of providing a market for this town the Agricultural Hall annexe would b© a suitable place. It is quite possible that M. Jean Gerardy may visit New Zealand again in about a year’s time. He had a crowded house last night, the people cheering and crying “Bravo.” At a representative meeting of auc« tioneers, the amending Auctioneers Bill now before the House wats condemned as unnecessary and totally unworkable. Dr Delautour informs me that Long and Bell are improving, and all the Ta»gus soldiers' are doing well except He©, nan, whose case is still serious. DUNEDIN, August 2.

Mr Justice Williams was able to attend at the Court to-day, and held a sitting in Chambers. One of the motions befor© him was to authorise payment for extra clerical assistance in th© Ward Farmers’ Association liquidation and. to authorise the expenses of the liquidator. His Honor decided to ask for an affidavit showing the items of travelling expenses charged. Captain Chatfield, before leaving the Royal yacht Ophir at Adelaide, thanked by the Duke of Cornwall for his services as pilot, and_ presented with a silver card-tray bearing medallion portraits of the Duke and Duchess, and a suitable inscription. A consignment of 2300 tons of oats for th© Cape is lying in a warehouse afc Port Chalmers awaiting a steamer. At th® annual meeting of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, Mr D. E. Theomin, the president, said : —The go Harbour Board is now doing yeoman’s servic© in the. interest of th© province, although its efforts are not sufficiently appreciated outside of the city. Its gross increase of revenue for th®

year 1900 is £4072, with an increase of i expenditure on works of £2046, the ! Board showing the substantial total ere- | dit balance of £13,639. It received dues j on 9000 more tons of general imports ; than in 1899, an advance of 8j- per I cent., and on an additional two and a ; quarter million feet of timber, an increase of 27£"per cent. The most notice- ! able increases in the exports are: I Grain, 1700 tons, and cheese and but-t ter 5400 tons, an advance by the latter I from 4500 t 0 9900 tons. Frozen meat j shows a falling-off of 25,480 carcases. { This, however, is probably accounted for 1 byq the drain on our flocks in the interests of “ prime Canterbury. 5 ’ The Board has not been neglectful of the demand for more accommodation. The entrance to th e harbour now give s 34ft at low water spring tides. Vessels come in to Port on a draught of 24ft to 25ft, and up to Dunedin wharves on a draught of 21ft. Great improvements in berthing and shed accommodation are being made at the cross and tongue wharves,, and. there is really no valid reason against all but the largest ocean steamers coining up to town,' and thus doing away with 3s 7d per ton of the total import dues, bringing us into line with Christchurch. Most of you will remember th e time when, although Wellington was called the Empire City, Dunedin was admitted to he the commercial metropolis, but the big ocean steamers have changed all that, and now we see with regret that whilst our northern rivals are steadily forging ahead, wo here can barely maintain our position. In my opinion, the port charges are largely responsible for this. Whilst Dunedin importers have to pay 10s 7d per ton measurement against 3s in Wellington and 6s lid in Christchurch on goods from the steamer’s side to the warehouse, there can be no doubt their j interprovincial trade must be most seri_ I ously handicapped. Before the Conciliation Board began . business to-day, Mr J. A. Park said : j “As a member of the Otago and Southland Conciliation Board, I deem it my duty to call your attention to the re- j marks of the Premier at Wellington, i They are as follows :— ‘ In respect to Conciliation Boards, he thought there Was too. much sitting, they Were riding the thing to death. He thought there ought to he more Court and less Board.” This statement, Mr Chairman, I consider a reflection on us as members of this Board, and on our management, and therefore a reflection on individual members. A further statement made by a well-known Government member that j they are frequently kept going by the 1 .hangers-on, the guinea a-day men, I j regard as a positive insult to the Board. , Personally, I conscientiously give an I immense amount of my time to the business of this Board, and I know j other members do also, and as the vcl- j ume of business is steadily increasing instead of diminishing, this, together j with the fact that, in the opinion of somi parties,' we are not giving satisfaction, causes m e to consider the advisability of tendering my resignation.” Messrs" Ferguson, Hally and Farquhar_son also spoke to somewhat similar effect, hut it was agreed to postpone the question of resigning in a body till the return of Mr Chapman, th e chairman, from Wellington.

CHRISTCHUCH

- Special to the ‘'Times.” CHRISTCHURCH, August 1. The Employers’ Association acre appears to be a very live body, and is making a vigorous effort just now to increase its strength by adding to its membership. At its annual meeting last evening, while members did not take up an attitude antagonistic to labour, they were by no means over sympathetic with the labour movement. One speaker suggested, as a means towards meeting the labour organisations on an equal footing, the federation,of the Employers’ Association throughout the colony. This federation would be strong enough to oppose'labour legislation anu, the demands of tfre unions effectively. Possibly it might mean that employers would require to put their hands deeper in their pockets, but the necessity of such action was very clear. The president, Mr J. A. Frostick, agreed that if the association was to be more successful employers would have to contribute a little more than in the past. The minimum contribution to the association was only about one-third of th e ordinary contribution by a workman - to his union. If employers were asked to pay five times as much as at present it would be a very little amount compared with the benefits that would be derived. If th© associations were to be federated they must have the services of a thoroughly competent man—a man with the ability of a Supreme Court Judge. A very small payment per head of th e membership would raise sufficient money to enable them to pay £ISOO per annum for the services of an organising ’ secretary to look after the interests of employers. The necessity for their interests being watched was shown by the fact that under the Workers’ Compensa- ; tion for Accidents Act the liability of the " employer was £4OO : but in the Factories 1 .Bill it was proposed to slap on ail addi- . tional £IOO to the employer’s liability. The butchers have put * up the price of meat, . and the usual cry of protest has gone up. Beef is raised Id per lb, and mutton onp halfpenny. The customary reason is advanced for 'the increase—the price of cattle has gone up ■M«aia<Maiaaaifii3i-—.amL-it... has been necessary

Sheep also ar e at a high figure, and if : the butchers are to be believed, they have ; been losing money for some time past. ! The householder does not accept all this »s gospel, but he knows that the prices of stock are high, and although he raises his protest, fie still accepts the inevitable. It is perhaps worthy of note that on© of the pleas advanced for the increase is the decision of the Arbitration : Court, which recently went in favour of . the working butchers as against the em* ' ployers, and gave the men higher wages. ! During his recent travels through the 1 colony with the Teachers’ Salaries Commission, Mr T. S. Weston says he was much struck with the generally fine stamp of men and women engaged in the teaching profession, and the enthusiastic interest they take in the important work of educating the young colonial. He also speaks highly of the generally excellent buildings used for schools, anH of the high state of maintenance in which they but he is convinced that the Christchurch schools are second to none in the colony. CHRISTCHURCH, August 2. Several leading school teachers here have been interviewed as to their opinion of the findings of the School Teachers’ Salaries Commission. Mr J. G. L. Scott, headmaster of the East Christchurch school, probably the largest school in the district, stated that he had not had time to consider the report very attentively. __ He had expected it would benefit teachers in sparsely populated districts at the expense ot those in the large towns. At the same time those whose salaries were reduced would benefit in the long run, as there would be no more of the yearly reductions to which the Boards had been forced. Teachers in Christchurch had not exj pected to benefit very greatly themselves, | but they would be satisfied with the rej port as applying to all schools. The salary for the East Christchurch school had been reduced about four times since it was first fixed by the Board. He thought sonjething should be paid to I teachers for instructing pupil teachers, j An assistant master, of recognised | stated that according to the report the Normal School was placed upon i the same footing as any other ordinary ! school, although with its training dei partment, the Normal School endeavourj ed always to obtain the best teachers in order that good teachers might he turned ! out. Under these circumstances the Nor- ! mal School should have been placed in | a better position than the ordinary city | schools, but this had not been done. The | best' teachers should be attracted to the 1 Normal School, but absolutely no provi- ' si on was" mad? for this. Speaking for j himself, he said that he would be worse off now under the new scale than he was | when he first started. He started at j £250 a year, but this amount was gradu- ; ally reduced to £227 10s. Now he was to j receive £240. Other city assistant teach--1 ers were not so fortunate, for their sal- ! aries would he reduced. The suburban ! assistant masters were specially favourj ed, the increases in their salaries ranging i from £6O to £7O. ] Mr T. Foster thought that the report ! was a great advance, and would be of ' very real benefit to country teachers. . The ballot system of electing members | to the Boards of Education under the new Act was brought forward at the executive meeting of the School Committees’ Association recently. Seeing that the Auckland City and Suburban committees and also some of the Dunedin committees have complained of the system, and that the former has decided to ask tho Minister of Education to amend the Act this session, it was agreed to postpone the matter until the next quarterly meeting of the association. The secretary (Mr Ivesteven) of the League of New Zealand Wheelmen, in reply to a telegram urging the overnment to make the Cycle Boards Bill a Government measure, has received replies from the Premier and Sir Joseph Ward stating that the matter would receive the consideration of the Cabinet.