INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10041, 8 January 1909, Page 1

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

(Pes Pbess Association.) WELLINGTON. January 7. Through his Excellency the Governor, the Prime Minister conveyed to the King the hope of his subjects. in New Zealand that the coming year would be one of peace and progress to the Empire. The following reply has been received by the Governor: "His Majesty the King gratefully acknowledges the New Year greetings of his loyal subjects in New Zealand."

The Hon. G. Fowlds and Mrs Fowlds left Wellington for the South to-night. They intend visiting Dunedin and Invercargill. The Hon. D. Buddo, Minister of Internal Affairs, leaves for his home in the South on Saturday evening, and will return to Wellington next week. Sir Joseph Ward, .Lady Ward, and family will leave Weilihgton. to-morrow night. They will visit Elderslie for a tew days, and then go to Mount Cook for a week. The Hon. A. T. Ngata and the Hon. T. Mackenzie were sworn in at Palmerston North to-day, the Hons. J. A. Millar and J. Carroll being in attendance. The Hon. A. W. Hogg will go on Saturday to Masterton, where he will be fittingly entertained by his friends. The surveyors of the Lands Department are pushing on with the surveys of Crown iands, about 80 riieri being engaged on this work in various parts of the Dominion. At the present time the land purchase officers of the Government have lately purchased considerable areas of native land in .the' Clifton, Ohura, and Whangamorfloria districts (Tsrahaki)j Waitomp (Auckland), and Tatipo West. The surveys of these lands, which will be offered under the optional system, are being proceeded with. The Kauroo Estate (acquired from the Teschemaker family) of 19,000 acres, near Oamaru, which is to be put on the market shortly, comprises 33 holdings, ranging from 300 acres to 3000 acres. Only half the number of sections offered in the Tautiri block, Auckland, which was opened on December 21st, were taken up at the iinie, but ftom inquiries which have been made 6ince, it is expected that the whole of the sections will be disposed of in the 'course of the next f*w weeks. As showing the feeling in regard to the freehold, it may be mentioned that the majority of the sections in the Pipiripiri block, Hawkes Bay, offered the other day, were secured under the occupation with right of purchase system.

AUCKLAND. January 7. The annual conference of the Primitive Methodist Church was opened at the Eden Terrace Church, Auckland, this afternoon. Seventy-six delegates attended and were welcomed by the retiring President, the Rev. John Olphert. The selection of a new President fell on the Rev. Robert Raine, of Invercargill, who defeated the Rev. John Dawson, of Wellington, in a second ballot by a single vote. The Rev. G. H. Mann was the only other candidate nominated. The Rev. Mr Holland was unanimously elected VicePresident and the Rev. John Suthern Secretary. The remainder of the afternoon wa6 occupied in the election of minor officials and committees. The conference will continue till Wednesday. There will be a total of 15,600 boxes of butter shipped by the Corinna on Saturday for transhipment to the Rimutaka leaving Wellington on January 14. The Morayshire has just taken 684 tons for West of England ports, so the shipments Home for the fortnight total 16,283 boxes, or 407 tons, valued at £42,000, The second wool sale of the Auckland season will be open on Wednesday, when a catalogue of 6500 bales will be submitted for competition. This is the largest catalogue ever offered in Auckland, and is an increase of no less than 1445 bales on the January sale of last year. Messrs A. Burns (Mayor of Thames> and E. Deeble (who stood at the last -eneral election) are said to be already in the field for the Thames seat. Others mentioned as probable candidates are Messrs R. T. Douglas (a former Mayor of Thames), H. H. Adams (a well-known mining man), F. H. Haselden (one of the Ohinemnri candidates at the last election), and William M'Cullough (of the Thames Star).

wANGANUL January 7. tn connection with the Caledonian Society's forthcoming meeting, a conference with delegates of the New Zealand Athletic Union was held on Wednesday night. It was decided that no competitor at the meeting shall be liable to disqualification. The League of Wheelmen have also granted a permit for the meeting.

NAPIER, January 7. The Hon. A. T. Ngata passed through Napier to-day by thealokoia., en route for Wellington. In conversation with a Daily Telegraph reporter, Mr Ngata said: "You see, I cannot exactly Bay anything because the position of affairs is new to me. The other Ministers have been in Wellington, and probably know what was expected'. I have been up in Gisbome, andthe first intimation that I received of my appointment was by telegram yesterday. I understood that I was to receive the position formerly held in the Cabinet by the Hon. Mr Carroll, but I did not know that other departments were to be given to me. That I should be given charge of the Public Trust and Government and Accident Insurance Departments came, as a complete surprise, and I do not care to express an opinion on my posit : on until I know exactly where I stand." On being asked if his appointment might not be taken as a tribute to the Young Maori Party, Mr Ngata said he was exceedingly gratified that he had 1 been appointed to the charge of the Maori Councils, as the formation of those bodies was the result of the efforts made by the To" Ante Students' Association, of which he was a member. The Students' Association had urged the formation of councils in the interests of sanitation and to protect the health of the Maoris, and their desires ultimately found expression in the desired legislation.