TELEGRAPHIC.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4311, 21 March 1901, Page 5

TELEGRAPHIC.

SESSSS ASSOCIATION. PALMERSTON. March 20. The Borough Council decided last evening to convene a meeting of the local bodies between the jßangitikoi and Otaki rivers for the purpose of discussing The charges made by the Valuation Department for alterations to the rolls. GISBORNE, March 20. Mr R. L. Mestayor has not yet completed Ills report on the water and drainage, but in an interview with the Borough Council stated that he favoured the WaiUirere Creek, eight miles from town, as the source of supply. It would provide 50 gallons a head per day for a population of from 12,000 to 18,000. NAPIER. March 20. John McClusky was committed for trial at Hastings on a charge of assault with intent. At a meeting of the Borough Council tonight it was stated that the plans of the proposed abattoirs had been referred back to Mr Hislop, of Dunedin, for slight modification, but the work of building would be proceeded with shortly. The recent reductions in the Harbour Board’s tariff were to have been adopted at yesterday’s meeting, but owing to informality the question was deferred. The country members of the Board, who are strongly opposed toi reductions, declare the whole proceedings informal, and will fight it out when the question comes up again. The Board decided to erect a cargo shed at the root of the breakwater, which will obviate the necessity of everything being taken to the Spit, and will greatly lessen the cost. Complaints were made that the Government had not done justice to the port, for although they drew between £70,000 and £IOO,OOO in duty, they refused to give attendance at the Customs office at the breakwater. AUCKLAND, March 20. ;

The ‘‘Star’s” Tongan correspondent states that on February 18tli ,the treaty made between Mr Basil Thompson for the Imperial Government, .end -King George for the Tongan Government, was formally ratified on behalf of both Governments. Mr Hamilton Hunter, who, has been for many years in H.M. service at Fiji, was installed ns Consul by Sir Geo. T. M. O’Brien, Commissioner of the Western Pacific.

j For some time dissatisfaction has been felt at the hours of operative bricklayers. :At the Conciliation Court the hours of carpenters were reduced from 47 to 44 per week, but bricklayers continued to work 47 hours, and were paid as for 48 at Is 4{d per hour. Recently the bricklayers demanded an increase in wages to Is 6d per hour, working the same number of hours per week. To this the Master Builders’ Union refused to agree, but proposed to raise the wages to Is 6d per hour; at the same timo reducing the hours to 44 per week. At a meeting of operative bricklayers—there being no bricklayers’ union—it was decided to accept the terms of the master builders. This means that the bricklayers will receive the same weekly wages as heretofore, hut will work three hours less per week. Tli© Governor and Captain Alexander arrived at Katikati on Saturday night. Oti Monday morning his Excellency started for Paeroa, which place was reached last evening. The party left by train for To Kuiti en rent© to New Plymouth and Wellington. . TIMARU, March 20.

A widow named Ryan, attempted suicide last evening by cutting' her throat with a razor. She was taken to the hospital, and will probably recover. She has been melancholy, moping over the sudden death of hereon, four years of age. PATEA, March 20. At tho adjourned annual meeting of the Harbour Board, the chairman, in his annual report, ..indicated that a scheme for borrowing £13,000 or £20,000 for further harbour improvements would be presented shortly. The report also stated that the volume of imports for 1900 was tho largest in the history of the port, and the number of steamers in and out considerably, in excess of the previous year. INVERCARGILL. March 20. The steamer St. Mary, under charter to the German Government, has arrived at the Bluff to load. 23,000 sacks of grain for China. DUNEDIN, March. 20. In considering applications affecting teachers’ residences, the chairman of the Education Board stated that if he had power he would sell every teachers’ residence possessed by the Board 1 and allow teachers to build houses to suit themselves. It was imposssible to give satisfaction, under present conditions. It was resolved to recommend the Minister to permit the Board to use a portion of the building fund to pay rent for teachers’ residences, when in tho opinion of the Board such a course is desirable. The City Council to-night adopted the report of the Tramways Committee, asking the general manager, with a view to favourably considering tho matter of increasing the wages of tramway employees, to report on the hours and wages of all employees in the service. A motion to rescind the appointment of Mr Eunson as general manager of the tramways at £6OO a year was lost by seven votes to five.