NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8129, 24 May 1912, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

The UHmaroa, Victoria, Moana, Tahiti and Wimmera are expected to be within wireless range of ■ Wellington this evening. ;

In all probability the Federation of Labour conference now sitting in : Wellington will discuss the' Waihi trouble to-day. ;

Yesterday a deputation representing the Wellington Junior Cricket Association waited on the reserves committee of the city council with a request for a refund of certain'ground fees in connection with the association’s use of Anderson Park last season. After hearing a statement by Mr Bennett the committee decided to obtain further information, in regard to the facts before coming to a decision.

According to Mr G. Gillett, organiser for the New Zealand Rugby League, there are over 1000 league players in Auckland. Alt last evening’s meeting of the Wellington Provincial Rugby League he said 'that shortly there would be the same number in Wellington. He was sure,the game was going to stay here. In connection with Rugby football there was in New Zealand to-day a system ot veiled professionalism. Most prominent Rugby players were receiving, had received, and would continue receiving money "underneath the table.” The Minister of Railways intends inquiring into the possibility of making Levin a stopping place for the Main Trunk express. A Levin deputation yesterday reminded him that both the Hon, J A. Millar (late Minister of Railways) and Sir Joseph Ward had promised favourable consideration to the matter. Mr Millar had assured them that once they got the high-water pressure at Levin the express would stop there. The deputation pointed'out that there was no other instance in the Dominion where the train'went for 84 miles without a stop. Levin served a large neighbouring district, including settlers at Foxton, Manakau and Shannon. A petition signed by 600 settlers had been pnt in urging that this request be acceded to, but nothing more was ever heard of the matter.

The following industrial unions have given notice of cancellation of registration under the Conciliation and Arbitration Act s—Auckland Provincial Farriers and Blacksmiths’ Union of Employers; Mitcbeleon Timber Company Industrial Union of Employers. Christchurch; Christchurch Boot Repairers and Retailers’ Industrial Union of Employers; Dunedin Master Slaughtermen s Industrial Union of Employers; Otago Plasterers’ Industrial Union of, Employers; Manawatu Freezing-works. Employees' Industrial Union of Workers, Longburn; Wanganui Branch of the Amalfamated Society of Engineers’ Industrial Jnion of Workers; Wellington Branch of the Federated Seamen's Industrial Union of New Zealand of Workers; Marlborough Labourers’lndustrial Union of Workers; Timaru Operative Butchers' Industrial Union of Workers; punedin Wool and Grain Storemen’s Industrial Union of Workers; Otago Rattan and Wicker Workers’ Industrial Union of Workers.

At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday Mr D. Carmody, Inspector of Awards, proceeded. against the Gear Meat Company for employing, on Good Friday, Robert R-eay, without paying him the award rates for- such work. The inspector stated that Eeay was brought back at the instance of the shopman, who did not notify the management of the matter Mr Carmody desired it >o be known that somebody should be responsible in cases of this kind. A fine of JE2 was imposed. Beay was fined 10s for accepting less than the award rates.- The inspector also sought to enforce a penalty against Frederick W. Meyer, baker, of Brooklyn, for employing during April a carter named Percy Meyer fn his bakehouse in connection ♦ with the manufacture of bread. It was stated by the inspector that defendant was employing two half-time mpn, and it was .contended that by allowing a carter to work in the bakehouse one of the two men mentioned was being deprived of, the employment •he was legitimately entitled to. defendant was fined JE3. Later in the morning 'Mr A. L. Herdman appeared and said that he was acting for defendant, but he did not hear the case called. He made an application that the matter be reinstated.. This was granted, and the hearing will come on next Tuesday.

The plebiscite of Petone ratepayers ou the question of municipal or syndicate trams resulted in favour of the latter by 273 to 117. Entries for the Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Club’s annual show, to be held on June 12th, 13th and 14th close to-mor-row at 9.30 p.m.

Master bakers and master pastrycooks from all parts of New Zealand met in conference in Wellington yesterday. About thirty delegates were present. The conference sat in private all day discussing the demands of the Federated Bakers’ Union, and,. particularly, the proposal for a Dominion award for the trade. The deliberations will be continued to-day.

Legal argument in the taxing case, the King v. Walter Leopold Buller_ and others, was concluded before Mr Justice Cooper yesterday, when his Honor reserved his decision. The Grown, for whom the Solicitor-General (Mr J. .»>* Salmond) appeared, claims J&400, being .£2OO alleged to be due as gift duty on a transfer of land made by the late Sir Walter Buller, together with a fine of 100 per cent. Mr C. P. Skerrett, K-C----with him Mr H. E. Anderson, appeared for the defendants.

An amusing inquiry has just been re* ceived from a Yokohama merchant by the secretary of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. The merchant, who say* he is interested in all kinds of natural' history specimens, writes: "The humming birds in your district command a great demand in our country, and I . have now many inquiries for same in hand.” He asks to be referred to dealers in natural history specimens in Wellington from whom he might possibly secure a supply of the humming birds! It was represented to the Minister of Railways yesterday by Mr Nash (Palmerston North) that alarm bells should be placed at several points at Palmerston—Cook street, the Square, and os the Foxton crossing—in the interest of public safety. The Hon. Mr Myers, aftei' consultation with Mr Ronayne (General Manager), said they would be able t* meet the deputation with respect to two of the bells. Mr Nash : We will, expect the third later on. The position or Queen street crossing, Levin, where .Mr Gardener told the Minister three lives had been lost, is to be inquired into. Caustic paragraph from Auckland “Observer”: —On the whole, it' doesn’t seem to matter a bit whether trout that is left on the bank to rot has influenza, housemaid's knee, cancer or sore throat. Also, gentlemen like General Dorward,' who appraise the value of the Dominion by the size of the fish they throw away. . don’t really matter to us. They would be better employed teaching the goosestep. -Even Tom Burrows, who is engaged ini hurling lumps of wood round his head for numberless hours at a stretch, isn’t as useless a person as the tourist who pulls three tons of trout out of the water to throw away. ' ” The Kotuku (according to Monday’s Greymonth "Star") has now settled firmly down on the rocks, and there is a gaping rent in the stern, where some of the jagged rocks pierced her. The main mast (already broken in part) shows signs of going in its entirety., and th* foremast is also in a parlous plight. The * timber cargo is being washed ashore, and the beach is strewn with planks for ths distance of a mile or so. Several of the hatches have also been- displaced and have been washed ashore. If a heavy sea springs up there will soon be very little of the vessel left. Some of the crew made their way on board on Sunday to try and secure 'some of their belongings. They found the forecastle all stacked over with timber, and they bad to remove this before they . could enter. They, however, succeeded in getting the most of their , belongings ashora. There is a considerable improvement ia the condition of - Captain Christian, wha will be able to leave the hospital in tht course of a day or so.