NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 8028, 6 February 1912, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Wireless reports received last night state that the Rotorua, from London, should reach Wellington,at 3 p.m. to-day qnd the Ulimaroa. from Sydney, at G a.m. to-morrow.

Two persons summoned to servo on, tho common jury during tho criminal session of tho Supremo Court were yesterday excused from service by Mr Justice Chapman. One of,the men was over the ago limit, being in his sixty-fifth year.

Tho fancy fair which was held during tho past • four days in aid of the Marist Bros.’ school, Ereached a successful conclusion last evening. It is anticipated that when all the receipts are in the total will reach about JE2OO.

Patriotism of the proper kind -does not seem to reign in every part of 'Wanganui. The Wanganui East Borough Council accepted a tender for pipes from Germany, although the Wanganui Spiral Pipe Company's tender was .£IOO lower. —Pcilding “Star." It is understood that, with a view to the city of Christchurch not being put to the expense of a licensing committee election, it is tho intention of the Licensed Victuallers’ Association to approach the Christchurch ■ Prohibition League, with a view to the association being given two representatives on the licensing committee. Sheep are coming forward very freely in the Hawke’s Bay district at present, and in order to take them to southern markets, tho Union Company is sending the Taviuni to Napier to load sheep tor Lyttelton. Tho Taviuni will probably remain in the Napier-Southern trade tor some time.

A new union has been formed by those employees of the Gear Meat Company who hitherto had not belonged to the Slaughtermen's Union, or any other union. Demands for an increase of wage© and improvement of working conditions have been formulated, and are now the subject of conference between representatives of both parties. It is understood on good authority that Mr Skerrett, K.C., bas been retained in connection with the effort that is being made to test the validity of the recent Maori licensing poll, by which It was decided that liquor is not to be sold to natives in the Horouta district. Unless upset, this decision takes effect a month from the date of declaration, ■ which was made on the 16th ult. At the monthly meeting of the Wellington Operative Bakers' Union on Saturday night an address was given by Mr J. Doyle, delegate from Idthgow, New South Wales, relative to , the labour troubles there. The union yesterday dispatched .£lO towards the support of, the wives and families of these comrades who had been locked out in connection with the depute. The Federal Minister for Defence (Senator Pearce) has delivered judgment on the vexed question of kilts lor Highland regiments. “My ruling some time back," ho said, “Iras that kilts ma'y ho worn, but the department cannot supply them. We have a characteristic uniform which is very suitable for the Australian forces. As military service is to be universal and compulsory there is no need for fancy uniforms to attract volunteers." "The facts disclosed are enough to cause the Home angler’s hair to stand on end, or make his two eyes start from their spheres. Wore it not that we have actually soon photographs of the baskets made, we could hardly believe such talcs as ore told. . . Would that it were our fortune to enjoy but one short week of this glorious sport I Wo should all die happy, runs on article on “New Zealand Angling Extraordinary” that appears in the December number of “The Scottish Field."

Mr E. W. Smith, M.P. for Waimaxino, in reply to a letter to the Minister for Public Works, urging the immediate construction of the Main Trunk-Eaetihl-Wanganul branch line, has received a communication to the eiicct that the preliminary survey has already been made, and the completion of the survey undertakings will be prosecuted immediately. It is presumed that the intention to immediately complete the survey foreruns an early commencement of tho actual construction of the line. Tho point of contact with the Main Trunk Uno is not yet settled.

Says Taranaki “News” s—To judge from the number of shooting men with abrasions on their noses at the Waiwaikaiho range the other day tho uninitiated would think that tho championship belt and teams match were decided by fisticuffs. Such, however, was not tho case. All the competitors use the new B.S.A. aperture sight, and they get the eight right up to their nasal organ so as to get a better shot. The recoil of the gun gives the competitor a knock, and this happening, say, forty times a day, soon removes any superfluous epidermis.

'T am glad to soe in Australia that tho working man is getting a chance to wield the club," said Mr Dorsey, of the editorial stail of the Chicago “Tribune," ito a Sydney "Sun" reporter. ”1 do not know whether he will wield ’it rightly or not. He might become a despot, and the despotism of mediocrity is terrible; but I am pleased to see that he has the chance. Labour iu America is disorganised, and is still more or less subject to tho man who commands the troops. The firing on labour in Pittsburg many years ago at lie time of tho great strikes, when Andrew Carnegie had enough influence to call out the Federal troops, was. in my opinion, one of the blackest things in tho history of American legislation.”

Present pupils of tho Wellington Girls College must attend to-morrow or send notico of intention to return, otherwise their places may bo filled. According to figures issued by the British Postmaster-General tho number of letters and parcels dispatched to Australia and New Zealand during Christmas week was 1.670,000. Tho following vessels should be within wireless range of 'Wellington to-day : Ulimaroa (Sydney to Wellington), Aorangi (Sydney to Wellington), Wimmera (Auckland to Gisborne), Victoria (Auckland to Gisborne). A young man named Albert Skinner was drowned at Bowentown Estuary, near Waihi, last Sunday. Ho was swimming out to an anchored boat, and when close to th©' boat was seen to throw up his arms and sink. The body was recovered an hour later. New Zealanders will be edified to learn that tho '‘Birmingham Daily Post" in its review of Mr W. 11. Koebel's new book, "In Maoriland Bush," that °Mr Koebel has* done better work than this. There is, however, little variety in New Zealand, and • this subject did not give him much scope" (1) During the early hours of Saturday morning tho grocer's store of Air S. W. Cope, Hataitai, was entered and about 601 b of tobacco, a quantity of cigarettes, j and £7 IQs in cash was stolen. From tho postal department attached to the premises about 30s cash was also taken. Tho police have tho matter in hand.

An inebriate was disagreeably surprised when sentence of forty-eight nours' imprisonment in default of payment of a line was imposed upon him at th© Magistrate’s Court yesterday. "How does that count, your Honor?" he inquired of Dr A. McArthur, S.M. "I've been in since Saturday night." "Oh, it's all right," replied the magistrate, "it starts from now."

A question as to who is the best swimmer in the General Post Office was decided at T© Are baths last Saturday, when thirteen competitors faced tho starter, Th© distance was 50 yards. Much interest was taken in the contest. C. Joseph Gamble (15sec) won by a touch from W. Gilbert (9sec), with R. Pullar (15sec) a foot behind. Time, 45sec.

"In labour and land legislation New Zealand shows herself again more advanced than, this country, but prosperity comes to her assistance, and if wo follow her example the lesson will bo more hardly learnt/' reads a review in "The Western Morning News,” of Sir Robert Stout’s "New Zealand,” brought nut recently by tho Cambridge University press. Whilst tendering the Mokoia at Gisborne on Sunday evening during a heavy swell a lighter carried away her mast and the derrick, which fell overboard. Tho vessel was drifting on to tho Tuatea, the Union Company’s passenger tender, and the latter went astern to avoid tho impact. Her mast caught in a steel rope hanging from the Mokoia's derrick and tho top halt of the mast was snaiiped off.

Some of tho fatly clerks employed oa tho Auckland wharves declined to start work yesterday morning under the present pay—ls 3d iper hour—considering tho work worth as much as that paid tho waterside workers, who, under the new award, will receive Is 5d per hour from Thursday next. Tho companies have promised to consider the position. The places of tho men who ceased -work were promptly filled.

At the annual general meeting of the Wellington Jewish Social Club the following officers were elected:—President, Mr D. J. Nathan; vice-presidents, Messrs W. I. Nathan, J. Manuel, M. Caselberg, G. Goldstein, P. Cohen and P. J. Nathan; chairman, Mr J. Zaohariah; treasurer, Mr W. Harris; secretary, Mr E. Cane; committee, Messrs J. Semeloff, I/. Morris, F. Goldberg, H. Zucker, S. Gordon, J. Cane, A. Bosse and M. Schnicdeman. The chairman, .Mr J. Zaohariah, was elected a life member in recognition of past services. Late entries for tho Mastcrton A. and P. Show at Solway on February 20th and 21st will be received up till next Saturday. Those already to hand indicate that all previous gatherings will bo eclipsed. The arrangements are well forward, and. the equipment of the grounds will show ofi the fat stock to advantage. Show stock, consigned to Paurakau, is landed right at the grounds. There is plenty of holding ground, and no danger of animals suffering in transit or after arrival. Breeders who have not yet entered should communicate with the secretary (Sir J. B. Emmett). The ram and ewe fair is to bo held on February 22nd and 23rd. A well-attended meeting of farmers at Blenheim on Saturday last passed a intion protesting against the proposal,or machine-owners to raise the chatt'cntting rate from 7s to 10s 6d per ton, and binding themselves to do their own cutting if the advance- is persisted in, thus taking their patronage out of the hands of buyers. It was stated that the increase was due to pressure being brought by local merchants .with a view to the exclusion of outside dealers, the arrangements being that only farmers, selling to merchants in -the district should have the benefit of the lower rate of cutting. .etter was received from tho Machineowners’ Union stating its intention to revert to the old rates..

The employees of Gordon and Goicli, Ltd., held their fifth annual picnic on Saturday last at tho Hutt Park racecourse. The weather was fine and employees and friends spent an enjoyable time. Sports were held, trophies being donated by Messrs W. 1.. Jackson, Pratt, il. Price, T. L. Mills, Cadbury, B. and Ei Tingey, Whitcombs and Tombs, Collins Bros., and the Dresden. Besults:— Gordon and Gotch handicap, P. JDaley; single ladies' handicap. Miss E. Dalton; married ladies' race, Mrs Farnall,; married men's race, A. B. Ballard; thread-the-needle, A. M. Parnail and Mrs Ballard; egg-and-epoon race, Mrs Jackson; three-legged race, Farnall and McGill; consolation race (ladies), Miss Drury; 100yds (youths), J. Davies; consolation race (men's), N. Stevens.

The “Wanganui Herald" is strongly in favour of State enterprise, and says:— “There ia absolutely no reason why the State and the municipalities should not give satisfaction in the production and supply of the necessaries of life. State farms, fisheries, and forests, established on n commercial basis and put under capable management, would ensure primary production, State factories and mills would ensure their manufacture, and State and municipal warehouses, shops,' markets, and distributing agencies would ensure their supply. And if their supply bo accompanied as they can be accompanied by prices satisfactory alike to producer, manufacturer, distributer, and consumer, the commercial combines and monopolies which now exist would simply have to come into line or lose their businesses. The Eev. C. E. Boecroft, a well-known Wesleyan clergyman, who has been recently on a world tour, has been giving some of his impressions to the Feilding “Star." Speaking of his visit to Jerusalem, Mr Beecroft said that what annoyed him most was a large gap made in the city wall to enable Kaiser William and hie retinue to pass through. The Emperor of Germany was not content to go through the gate, but must needs use his great influence with the Saltan of Turkey to have the wall broken through. Such an act of vandalism filled the lover of the city with disgust. The whole land is a desolation. It is not flowing with milk and honey now. Between Jerusalem and Jaffa there are some beautiful groves of olive trees and vineyards, but in other places the land is denuded. The people live just the same simple life as they did in Scriptural days. Mr Beecroft saw the women grinding at the mill, men ploughing with the ancient implement, drawn in the old way, the shepherd leading his little flock, calling them by name. The sheep and goats may bo seen browsing together. The sheep were the ugliest he had over Been. • —■- w- (