NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8192, 6 August 1912, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

The following vessels are expected to be within wireless range of Wellington, to-night: —Maungauui, Ulimaroa, Victoria, Wimmera, aud Tofua. The Maunganui is expected to arrive from Sydney at 7 a.m. tc-morrow.

The General Post Office advises that the mails which left Wellington on Juno 23th per s.s. Moana and connected at Sydney with the Brindisi mail per Marmora arrived in London on the 3rd inst.

A sharp earthquake was felt at. Greymouth at half-past 3 o'clock yesterday morning, and two sharp shocks at Christchurch at 3.36.

The Eangitikei County Council on Satprday unanimously protested against any reversion to the former system of rating small grazing lands. Lambing has commenced in earnest in the Saudon district, and on© farmer estimates a return of 150 per cent, if the same success continues.

The annual meeting of the Employers Association will be hold in the rooms. Woodward street, this evening. Mr Pryor and others will speak.

Woolcombe street, from Ghuznee stredi to Abel Smith street, will bo closed for a few days on account of work in connection with the laying of a watermain.

Owing to an outbreak of German measles amongst tho crew, iI.M.S. Pioneer had to out her visit to Napier shorty and left yesterday for Lyttelton, where she goes into quarantine. A meeting of all workers and sympathisers in connection with the forthcoming kindergarten ball will be held in St John's schoolroom, Dixon street, to-mor-row afternoon. A hearty invitation le extended to everybody interested.

Good progress is being made with the construction of hookey grounds on the Hutt Park. It is now anticipated that there will be ample room for tho construction of fourteen grounds, instead or ten, as originally ' proposed.

Very heavy rain fell in Auckland yesterday, which considerably _ hampered outside work. Cargo loading on the wharf was abandoned in some cases, but tho indications last night pointed to an improvement in conditions. —Press Association.

At a meeting of the Wellington Plumbers' Union a resolution was carried that in the event of the fares on the trams being increased and the sections shortened the members of the union pledge themselves to boycott the cars running over the lines on which, this is done.

Stewart Leckie, butcher, residing at No. 65, Hopper street, was attempting to mount his horse yesterday morning, when he fell heavily, striking his head on the ground. He sustained concussion of the brain, and was removed to the hospital. At a late hour last evening ho was reported to be in a critical condition.

Applications to attend the entrance examination for the Royal Military College of Australia will be received by the officers commanding Auckland, Wei*, lington, Canterbury, and Otago military districts not later than October Ist. The various defence offices. will furnish Particulars as to the conditions nnder which candidates will be accepted.

James MoKeegan and Phillip Greenfield, two common jurors, failed to answer their names at the Supremo Court terday, and were each fined 40s. Kis Honor Sir Robert Stout inquired of tho constables who served tho summonses concerning the station of tho absentees, remarking that he would impose a heavier fine upon man of means. who did not attend than upon a laboring man. "Tho wretched lighting of the suburban trains" was commented upon by t several members of tbe Chamber of Commerce Council yesterday afternoon. It was mentioned that the carnages on both the Hutt and Manawatu lines were so .badly lit that great difficulty was experienced in reading a newspaper. The Council decided to write to the district manager of railways asking him to have some improvement made. A question was asked by the engineer at the Rangitikei County Council meeting on Saturday whether tho council’s employees should bo paid during the time lost while away at military training. It was pointed out that the Government made an allowance for the time they were off their ordinary duty, and under the circumstances the council considered they were not entitled to theil ordinkry pay.

A considerable amount of work will In in progress within the next month or two in and around Petone. The Petone council is preparing and metalling streets in readiness for asphalting during the summer, and the city corporation, which, has almost completed the laying of the water main as far as the new bridge, contemplates the construction of a bridge over the \Vaxwotu stream, and the making of the eastern approach to the bridge, as well as other road formation. Efforts were made by Mr H. G. Ell, M-P., while a member of the late Ministry to have passed an amendment to tho Old Age Pensions Act whereby tho possession of a private income not exceeding .£3O a year should not disqualify a widow from the pension. Mr Ell s Bill was to allow an income of .£3O from other sources than the pension. It being considered rather a hardship that a widow who happened to draw .£3O a year rent should be totally debarred from the pension.

Twenty prominent members of the native race were introduced to the Hon, W E. Massey (Prime Minister) by JL>r Pomare yesterday afternoon. The donutation was representative of all the tribes in New Zealand and came to extend their heartiest congratulations to the Prime Minister and to wish him every success in his new sphere. They hoped he would not show favor to one race more than to the other, and trusted that justice would be done. _ In reply, Mr Massey said he appreciated their cordial congratulations and the fact that they had oomo in person to tender them. The deputation could depend upon it that no injustice would be done to the Maori race; ho wanted to encourage them in settling their land and assist them in. working it. If they had land to ha sold, they should have the market value; if their land was for letting, then tha highest rental possible would be paid. He would deal equitably and justly with the Maoris, so that there should from the point of view of justice be only one race in the Dominion. Ladies are notified that Mrs Eolleston has just received a large supply of Human Hair, direct from the leading hair merchants, Paris. Switches from fS Gd upwards; pin curls, 2s 3d; “Xedra” hair nets (special), 9d; r tc., English prices. 255, Laiabton quay. 'Phone 1599.—Advt.