FROM OUR CORRESPONDENTS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 9, 1 November 1907, Page 49

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENTS.

AUCKLAND

The attention of Correspondents is specially directed to the following:— Don't write in pencil. Don’t roll your copy. Don’t spell names obscurely. DON’T write “last Tuesday” and “next Friday/’ instead of dates. By the time letters containing “last Tuesday” and “next Friday” aro published ’“last Tuesday” is often the. Tuesday before last; and “next Friday’ has slid down the scale from “next” to “last.” Therefore, leave names of days out, and write ‘Sept.. 17." “Sept. 20,” and so on- To peksist in doing otherwise is stupid.

Tim session of the Anglican Diocesan Synod passed off very _ quietly last weeh. nothing very exciting occurring. Tea haps chief interest was attached to discussion on the Government's Separate Endowed Schools Bill, which raised a strong protest. The matter of the Bishop’s salary, which it was anticipated would lead to debate, never even came before the House. Presumably it will be dealt with by the Standing Committee. Iji connection with the local Stock Exchange, there has been some stir over a case of alleged over-selling of shares in a certain mining company. It is stated that a broker who oversold was cornered by another firm of brokers, and that to get square on the transaction it cost him about £IOOO Bather an expensive flutter. Your correspondent had a chat with Mr Slater, workers’ representative on the Arbitration Court bench, anu learnt that he is pretty confident of success at the coming election. Mr Slater Elated that he expects a big majority (,*i votes in the Auckland district, whilst Ids chances in the South against it'v McCullough are, lie considers, rosy, notwithstanding the voice, of unionist sympathy, which Ins opponents dismissal by the .Government has aroused for him. -Mr Slater was not worrying enough to bring on headache, anyhow."

The miserably dirty state of Newmarket, already more than hinted at by Dr Purdy (District Health Officer!, was. confirmed recently by a newspaper man who did a little inspection on his own account. He saw several things, smelt some more, and then wrote things. The result was a blaze of indignation from the Mayor and councillors of the stagnant borough. They arose in their wrath and quoted figures to show how they had been draining the place, and so on; but denials did not mend matters. It transpired that the works committee of the council had not met for weeks, and apparently could not be induced to meet. However, the publicity given to their insanitary condition—or rather that of their district- —has at last roused them to do something. Now they are awaking from their lethargy, and are trying to clear tilings up a bit It is becoming daily more and more expensive to live in Auckland, and whereas at one time one could exist here a good deal cheaper than in the city where the “Mail” flourishes, it is a very small margin that marks the d fference now. Probably the only respect in which Wellington is more expensive than Auckland now is houserent. _ Even that item, however, is creeping- upwards. With bread and potatoes—The two staple articles of food— so expensive as to he almost luxuries, the outlook for people with small wages is anything but cheerful. It really does seem a pity that our farmers could not be given a strong inducement to grow more wheat and sow more “spuds.” Until the internal supply of the Dominion vastly exceeds me Dominion’s own needs, we must have the eternal dependency upon outside countries. Local flourmillers see a danger in the proposal to take the duty off flour. They say that to do so will disgust the farmers and induce tbr-m to grow less wheat. So there you are The problem is a weighty one.

Has it ever occurred, I wonder, to any of the powers that he that prison labour might very well he turned to Hie country’s permanent advantage by applying it to the growing of national fO'am. It needs no “beg-parckfti” to the .armor to go in for such an underhiking. Wheat will always find a macrKet,mid to increase onr supply by the means I suggest could scarcely cause

competition severe enough to injure our agricultural industry. There are thousands and thousands of acres in the Auckland district alone which could quite easily be thrown into gramraising areas, and this might be a step towards guarding against dear bread. Ben Tillet and his fiery speeches have been circumstances to reckon with of late. The little orator with the sad, pale face, gave a very striking address at the O'pera House on Sunday, 20th inst. His ideals are undoubtedly high, but his methods give rise to controversy. He made a strong point of the ability of motherhood, declaring that any girl who became a mother ought to be worshipped—no matter who she was or where she came from. Tillet would command more respect from thinking men and women if he would discard abuse. Unfortunately, the capitalist and parson appeal to him as being deserving of nothing else. To the extent, however, of believing that poverty could be eradicated if everybody did his.duty, there are many who agree with the Londoner. Under present conditions our chief centres in the Dominion are breeding a crop of poverty for the future Carelessness and selfishness prevent the uprooting of the evil, and it is growing surely. In Auckland there is a lot of poverty that is not even .suspected, a point upon which I shall have more to say i*» a future communication.

It has not been a “newsy” week. Beyond the usual local topics little lias occurred to lend itself to graphic recapitulation in ink. Even the straphanging by-law has corr.e into force without any desperate fuss. The lordly persons who deign to be called conductors have been good enough to condescend to permit the by-law to be observed, and citizens are duly and humbly grateful. This may. however, prove to he the lull before the storm. Tt is likely that in a few weeks I lie Supreme Court will have decided •’-bother or no the by-law is legal. T bere will be some fun whichever way the decision goes.

beautifully fine. Lieut. White, on ' whom fell the bulk of the work of pre- | paring the arrangements, well deserved the praise awarded him. In the Oddfellows’ Hall there was a good meeting of farmers and others interested in the formation of freezing works somewhere near Nelson, many coining from Wangapeka and the Sherry, although a heavy rain was falling. Mr Ivo Tunnicliffe, president of the local branch of the Farmers’ Union, occupied the chair. The principal speakers were Messrs Corrigan, Rouse, S. Hoult, H. Phillips, McCarthy, W. Lock, H. Atmore, 1. Wilkinson, and the chairman. The meeting was strongly in favour of freezing works being established, and felt that the right time had come for such works. Not a voice was raised against the scheme, and a committee of nine was appointed to make preliminary arrangements. Messrs Bisley Brothers wrote stating that they were prepared to buy all the sheep the district could produce. This letter only tended to strengthen the opinion that freezing works would pay in Nelson. Another letter was received from Mr W. Cable, of Dunedin, offering to erect freezing works and all necessary plant for dealing with offal, etc., for the sum of £14,000. This offer was deemed satisfactory. Votes of thanks to chairman and Mr Atmore, of the Inland Communication League, closed the meeting.

WAKEFIELD

The butter factory at Brightwater will be open shortly, the new manager, Mr Dinwi ldie, from near Feikling. arrived on Monday. The farmers around here are agitating for freezing works or a freezing hulk in Nelson. They are to hold a meeting in the Oddfellows’ Hall to discuss the matter. A concert in aid of the bazaar fund for the benefit of the parochial district of Wakefield, was held in the Foxhill Schoolroom last Tuesday night, the place being packed. A very long programme was gone through, and the audience were delighted with it, encores being demanded in very many instances.

The district generally is looking very pretty. Hedges, orchards, fields and forest are draped in green. The fruit is setting well, and if no frost or hail storm damages it, there should be some “record” yields. The season is late, and hop growers Me anxious to get on with their gardens, !ut they are mum hinder* d by i lie unusually wet spring. The weather, which has been bitterly cold has be uiree warmer, and we have been favoured with a fewsunny days. Mr Samuel Irvine, of the Gorge, near Brightwater, was married to Miss Mary Mead second daughter of Mr and Mrs John Mead, of Foxhill, in St. Luke’s Church, Foxhill, on the 21st (Monday) Miss Linda Mead, sister of the bride, was the bridesmaid, and Mr Robert Irvine, brother of the bridegroom, was rye -m-inan Tin’ Rev. 0. R. Hewlett officiated. The bride and bridegroom sUleci the sumo evening for fUsbonis tlu’ir future borne.

The anual concern bold by the Warmen rifle volunteers was »i great success it took place on Friday, 18th inst., in their drillshed. The Nelson Garrison Band came up by motor bus and enlivened things considerably. Songs, pianoforte pieces, violin selections, recitations, cornet solos, followed each other in rapid succession. The shed was tastefully decorated with flags of many nations, and the shields won by tlie corps. Adjutant Styles was in the chair. Major Bryant, Capt. Arnold and all the officers of the company were present, together with a good 'muster of the men. The concert was kept up till nearly 11 p.m., after which there was a dance in the school room adjoining. The night was

TAKAKA

An accident which resulted fatally happened on October 16, on the Factory road, to the six-year-old daughter of Mr Robert McFarlane. Mr Archie Hitchcock was driving a timber waggon leaded with hay and passed several ehiidiwi on the read. It appears thu:. lh:-; unfortunate child must have hung on to the boards projecting from the end of the waggon, and the wheels going into a deep rut, the child was violently si-ruck on top of her head with the board. Her head was badly hurt, and she was almost dead before any' person reached her. The driver of the waggon did not know that an accident had occurred till some after, it being ini possible for him either to see or to hear anything behind the waggon. The companions of the unfortunate little one were all very young, and. conic! not explain how the accident happened. An inquest was held next day, when the verdict was “Accidental death, there being no blame attachable to anyone.” At the annual meeting of the Golden Bay A. and P- Association, the following officers were elected:—President, Mr W. J. Reilly; vice-presidents, Messrs T. Hyland, J. Sigley, and A. Haldane; lion treas., Mr A. Sinclair (re-elected); lion, sec., Mr T. Hume (re-elected); auditors, T. Symes and W. C. Baigent (both re-elected); committee, Messrs E. Vv indie, R. Hyland, J. G. Page, D. Adams, Hugh Page, Jas. Page, A. Whelham, Jas. Manson, A. G. Kemp, W. Campion, F. Page, A. Hcdgkinson, R. Haldane, F. Reilly, R. Berisotnann, W. H. Johnston, J. F. Rose, J. Newport, P. Baigent, H. Sparrow, C. Page, D. Barnett, Ralph Sparrow and IV. Mockett. On October 25th the golden wedding of Mr and Airs Jacob Stent was celebrated, and was very largely attended by a large number of friends and relatives. Mr and Mrs Stent have resided in this district for upwards of thirty-three vtars, and have gained the esteem of a very large circle of their fellow-settlers. There were present at liie breakfast three generations of their offspring. The number that sat down to tho spread was not taken but there must have been some forty oi more, and all had a thoroughly agreeable time. It is hoped that the genial old oouple will be snared to enjoy more years of their friends’ and children’s society. On October 26 th the Takaka Mounted Rifles went into camp for their annual training, which is to extend for ten days this y?wr, instead of the usual week. No doubt tho members of tne corps will derive great benefit from the drill which they have to go through daily, and will have a real good time all round as well. The weather appears to have settled at last, and r>ot before time, for the stock were beginning ter -offer from he want of grass, for ’the Jong wet spell wo have had prevented any material growth A few fine weeks are badly ivanoted here now, so as to allow crops to grow.

IvIW AKA.

’’o Oddfellows have decided to build a new hail, which will supply a longfelt want in the district. Tho old imll is to bo demolished and the new juo buib in its place. It is to be oped the contract will be carried out with exiled it ion.

A bazaar, the object of which is to liquidate the. debt on tho manse, will be held on Wednesday next. The ladies of the congregation have been busy for some time preparing saleable articles, and all that is required to ensure success is the liberal patronage of the public. A number of attractions have been devised, and altogether a pleasant evening should be spent. '.Hie weather up to about a weefc age can only be described as execrable—rain, rain, rain, with an occasional glint of sunshine between to tarn.a I iso Panning operations have been seriously retarded, and it is to be hoped hat the welcome sunshine of die past tew days has come to stay. A concert in aid of the school garc>*ll iV nr.'vement fund was given m .he Ravaka schoolroom. The night ’en g favourable, the building was packed to the doors. The bulk of the items was given by the children, the programme being a lengthy and varied * no. .Everything passed off success,u ly, and the financial results were very goo-l

OTAKI

The Ohau Ladies’ Hockey Club held their annual social when there was a large attendance, and a most enjoyable time was spent. Mr T. Drake supplied the music, and was assisted by Miss r raser. During the evening Mrs Whitley vyas presented with a handsome cake dish (uiscrioed). This club have the record of winning -six matches during the season, one being drawn and none lost r ,, T h Club and the Otaki Tennis k! U V lek l tkeir firsfc annual dance, when the a own Hall presented a very pretty and attractive appearance, the stage in particular being tastefully decorated. I he supper arrangements were perfect and the floor in veal good order. The music, unfortunately, was very mediocre. Messrs. Byron, Brown and G. Poivles were M’s.C., while Mr P. Simcox carried out efficiently the onerous duties ot secretary. The dresses worn by the ladies aroused considerable interest, those worn by Mesdaraes Hartmann and ioivles being especially noticeable. Four lads, whose ages ranges from 11 to 13i years lately escaped from the Weraroa Industrial School. They wandered as far as Manakua and there camped till early next morning when they went on to Te Horo, where they were captured by a native, and handed over to the police. The lads were sent back to the school.

Mr Dixon, of Te Horo, has lost quite a number of young lambs recently, and after post mortem examinations the cause of death 6eems to be due to a contraction of the covering membranes of the heart.

The local bank is closing on Friday next, on acount of the Palmerston Show. So-far the business people have made no more.

Mr Weightmann, of Awaruri, has been apointed judge of pot plants and cut blooms at the coming horticultural show, Mr Mayo, judge of vegetables and fruit, Mrs Everard, of Wellington, judge of bouquets and decoration. Other positions are yet to be filled. Messrs Leighton and Cathy, officers of the Te Horo Cricket Club," have each made a donation of .£1 Is.

Mr W. James, of Bahui, Otaki, was operated on for appendicitus, at the Palmerston N., Hospital. The patient is in rather a weak state.

The Paraparussu school is to be closed for three weeks owing to the prevalence of measles.

Otaki will he, as usual, practically dead for the coming King’s birthday, and not oven the usual picnic, etc., has been aranrged. The Tennis Club, may* however, arrange a junior match with Paraparumu.