SOCIAL AND GENERAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13545, 19 March 1906, Page 1 (Supplement)

SOCIAL AND GENERAL.

PERSONAL. It js understood that at the end of Mr J. W. Mai-chant's leave of absence there will be a rearrangement of the administration of the Lands a.nd Survey Department, The staff will be modelled on the lines followed in the Australian States, tho Undersecretary for Lands being chief executive officer, and the Surveyor-general merely head of tho technical branch. Mr W. C. Kensington, the present under-secretary, will probably remain in office with extended powers. The Rev. J. G. M'Leod, late of Weston, was inducted into the Cromwell charge on the 20th ult., and at the conclusion of tho ceremony was entertained to a welcome social by the residents.

, About 300 people, many being of other denominations, attended a farewell social to Father Tubman, who has been parish priest at Timaru for 15 years, and who left for a holiday in Europe on March 3.- The Mayor (Mr Craigie) was chairman and chief speaker, and, on behalf of the congregation and other townspeople, presented Father Tubman with a purse of 150 sovereigns and an illuminated address. Tho proceedings were marked by cordiality and enthusiasm.

A Wellington telegram states that Mr Arthur Aiincs, chief accountant of the A.M.P. Society in New Zealand, has been appointed resident secretary to the society in Great Britain.

A Wellington message states that Mr Himtly Elliot, who lately retired from the position of Under-secretary of Mines after 47 years' service, was presented with a purse of sovereigns subscribed by the principal civil servants in the colony. The Premier made the presentation at Otaki

The members of the Church Committee of Holy Innocents' Church, Leith Valley, and a few friends called on Miss Cox (who is shortly leaving on a visit to England) at Bishopsgrove on March 1, when tho Rev. Mr AVoodthorpe, on, behalf of the subscriber's" presented her with a Roslyn travelling rug aud straps and a ladies' hand-bag. Mr Woodthorpe referred to the many valuable services Miss Cox had rendered to the church for a number of years, and expressed the regret of himself and committee at losing her. The Primate also spoke in terms of warm approbation of Miss Cox's work in connection with the church.

Tho Bev. D. Sinclair Mason, who has had charge of the JJorth-East Valley Baptist Church for the past two years, has received rtnd accepted a very hearty invitation to become its pastor.

Mr and Mrs T. Smith, of Willow Brook, Kaiwaiwai (Wellington), celebrated the sixty-fifth anniversary of their wedding on Friday, 2nd inst. Thoy came to New Zealand by tho Duke, of Roxburgh, arriving off Petono Beach on Februray 9, 1840. Tho parties were born in 1821 and 1820 respectively, and both hail from Cornwall.

It. having become known that the Primate (Bishop Nevill) is about to visit England, ke has received cables both from Tonga and from Fiji requesting him, if possible, to visit those countries en route. It is desired that the Primate should meet, the church people in those islands with reference to their ecclesiastical position.

A Climtchf.rch telegram stales that Mr H. G. Denhair, of Canterbury College, Las been awarded an 1851 science exhibition.

Sir John Uall has consented to accede to the request of a representative deputation which waited on hiui to become a candidate for the Christclmrch mayoralty. The Westland Law Society passed the following resolution on Friday, flih inst:-"This society places on record its high appreciation of the eminent services rendered by Judge Ward during the last half-century, ant] 'on his retirement expresses the hope that he will have long liie and enjoy good health and happiness." The society also passed a resolution congratulating tlie Hon. M. L. Moss a former member of the society, on the honour conferred on him by the Government of Westralia in offering h'mi the judgeship of that State. It was also agreed to urge on the Government the desirability of having the District Court rules of procedure and scale of professional charges revised and amended, the same having been formed as fur back as 1858.

Captain Gisborne (son of the late Hon. W. Gisborne) and Mrs Gisborne, who havo been on a visit to New Zealand, left Dunedin on their return to England, by the Maheno on the nth inst. They proceed Home by the Vancouver route.

The golden wedding of Mr and Mrs W. Wright -was celebrated on tlie 6th, and in the ti'ternooii a laige number of ladies and gentlemen, the mere immediate friends of "the Jicmired couple, gathered at Mr Wright's residence in Union street to express their congratulations. Mr John Kyley acted as chairman, and aft.ir some appropriately humorous and fitting, remarks, called upon Dr Conghtrey to propose the health of Mr and Mrs Wright, which the latter did in the most felicitous of terms, tho toast being honoured with enthusiasm. Messrs John Roberts C.M.G., D. B. White, Waiter Hislop, A. Stewart, H. Harraway, J. Edgar. T. G. Young. T. S. Graham, W. Wood, J. Laurcnsoß, and others also meted out their congratulations in unstinted vein as from old friends, and Mr L. W. Wilson and Mr J. A. for the younger generation, and Mr H. S. White on behalt of the employees, also rose to the occasion. Other appropriate toasts were not neglected. Mr and Mrs Wright were tho recipients of a number of handsome presents, and the function was as happy as good wishes and cheer could make it.

Miss A. and Miss M. A. JTGlashan, of Balmace«*n, lift for Sydney on Thursday. Stli inst,, where fhey will join the lloaua for a trip to Vancourerj through Canada and the United States, to Scotland, returning to the colony via Suez.

Dr Wilkin, of Dunedin, was appointed assistant house surgeon to the Cbristchurch Hospital at i>. meeting of the board on Febniary 28.

An ordination service was held in St. Paul's Cathedral, on Sunday, llt.h inst.. when the Primate ordained Dr Hubert Bedford and the Rev. James Morland as priests, and admitted Mr Gerald Sanson to tho office of deacon. The candidates were presented by Archdeacon Robinson, and the ordination sermon was preached by the Primate, whose text was 1 St. John, v. 4. " This is the victory that hath overcome the world, even our faith." There was a large congregation, and tho Primote, in the course of his sermon, alluded to his approaching departure, and bestowed his farewell benediction upon the worshippers in the cathedral. At evensong an able and thoughtful sermon was preached by the Rev. D. Jamieson, of Stewart Island, from psalm 615, "Thou hast given an heritage unto those that fear Thy Name." The Rev. Gerald Nanson, of Selwyn College, receivod his title to orders from Archdeacon Stocker, and is to be licensed to the curacy of St. John's, Invercargill.

The Primate (Dr Nevill) left for (he north by the expicss yesterday morning on his •way to catch the Vancouver boat for the O'd Country. The clergy mid a large number of representatives of the Dunedin and suburban churches were on the Railway Station to wish him Gud-speed, The Bishop has appointed the Very Rev. Dean Fitchett as his commissary during his absence. Tho Rev. C. S. Bowden has resigned the charge of St. Maiy's (Anglican) .Church, Moijiington. The resignation is occasioned by private reasons,

At a. mcety.? of the Dunedin District Drainage Board on the 6th inst, a letter was read from the board's ■engineer resigning his position. Mr Anderson stated that as there was now no real engineering difficulty about the main works, aud as the policy of the hoard seemed to be. to hold over the outlet works and to reduce tho salary _ attached to his office, he did not feel .justified in remaining longer than May 9. in. accordance with the terms of his orisina! agreement.

Mr D. Reid, jun., M.H.R., who was reelected as the representative of the Taieri at tho general election, was entertaind by the members of his Election Committee at Mosgiel on March 2, on the occasion of his approaching marriage. Mr R. Charters presided, and the attendance numbered between 30 and 40, «amongst those present being Messrs Jas. Alien and T. Mackenzie, M.H.R.'s, and the Hon. T. Fergus. During the evening the toast of the guest of the evening was heartily honoured, and Mr Rcid was presented with a very handsome marble clock, suitably inscribed, as a. marriage gift from his Mosgiel committee. Several speeches were delivered tin the course of the proceedings, the speakers referring in terms of high praise to Mr Reid's worth and honesty as a member of Parliament, and also to his personal popularity.

CASUALTIES AND OFFENCES. Reginald Walker, aged IS years, son of a farmer of Richmond, took his gun on the. 1 3th to go shooting. Not returning, search parties were out on the hills all night. Next morning his hat was found in tho reservoir which supplies the borough. Tho water was run off, and his body was found in the evening where there had been 20ft of water. ■ It is supposed that his hat blow off as ho was passing, tho reservoir, aud in trying to recover it ho fell in. I-le was not able to swim.

The police received advice from Akaroa on the 14th that Sydney Wolfrcys put his ]<-ft hand through the window of his-house on tho previous evening, when under the influence of liquor, cutting his wrist badly, and was some hours later found dead in the kitchen.

A young man named George Hassetr, aged 19 years, was arrested at Auckland on a, charge of the attempted murder of Us father, Charles Hassett, an Imperial and old-ago pensioner, 75 years of age. It is alleged that during a quarrel between Hassett and lu's wife, the son rushed into tho room and discharged a pistol at his father. The bullet entered the side of the head, just below the temple, and the father is now in the hospital. His condition is uncertain.

An inquest wa 3 held at. Christchurch touching tho death of Violet Muriel Owens, a single girl, 17 years old, who died suddenly after a medical operation. There was nothing in tho medical evidence to show any improper treatment, and the jury returned a verdict that death was due to shock following tho operation.

Catherine Deegan, aged 17, a domestic servant, died in Invcrcargill Hospital after a brief illness. At the inquest the evidence showed that the case was very unusual. The girl took ill suddenly, and collapsed rapidly. The attending; doctors cannot account for her death, and a post mortem ftxamiuation vevealo.l no sufficient cause nor was there anything io show violence or foul play. The inquest wa3 adjourned to allow of an analysis of the cont«nts of the stomach.

A. .T. Stockman, aged 23. was crushed between two railway I nicks at Pduierston North on tho _161.1 i in.?!., sustaining fatal injuries. He died within n quarter of an hour. He was a casual employee at the slat ion, and had only been thevo three, months. AVhen the accident happened he was enraged shifting eases of fruit from the station to the goods shed while shunting was in progress. His parents live at New Plymouth.

Two of the daughters of Henry Currie were drowned in the Waimata River, N.T., on (he 27th nil. A number of children were bathing, when Dulcic Currie. aged 11. got into difficulties, and her sister, aged 15. "wont to the rescue, with the result that both lost their lives. A youth who came to the scene could not swim, and oilier help arrived too late. The body of the younger girl ba.s been recovered. A verdict of accidentally drowned while bathing was returned at tho inquest and the jury added an expression of sympathy with the parents. The evidence showed that the children had been bathing at a place that was quite safe aud very much used each summer, but the younger girl had gradually got above the usual place and into a deep spot. The elder sister made a splendid struggle to save her. and got. Duicie on her back. They got; within a few yards of the bank, and, though help was soon at hand, it was too late.

George Pollard, aired 22, was driving a milk cart from the Eliham factory on the 27th. when the vehicle was upset while passing a waggon loaded with limber. The young man sustained a fractured skull. Pollard died before reaching tho Eltham (Taranaki) Hospital.

Charles Field, aged 22 years, a second class passenger by the Corinthtc from London, was missed from the vessel on the 25.Ui ult during the run from Hobstrt to Wellington. It, is supposed he fell overboard and was drowned. Dr Stevens, medical offioer on flip Corinthie, stated that Field had .suffered from neurasthenia, and was making tho voyage for his health's sake. There was nothing in his general behaviour to show that, he required any supervision. He .had complained of sleeplessness. At the inquest Captain David explained that ho had warned Field in a friendly way that he should braco up in order to pass the medical examination at Wellington. Ho did not make any sort of threat, and Field, who at lirst appeared to have misunderstood him. afterwards wrote apologising and thanking him. Evidence was given by the ship's officers to show that there was no reason to suspect Field would commit suicide. The coroner said tho evidence showed that Field was lost at sea, but how he got into the water there was nothing to show.. Robert Alexander Williamson, a single man, aged 26, and brother of tho manager, was killed on tlio Lone -Star dredge, Cardrona, on Tuesday, 23rd ult., owing to a wheel breaking and falling on him. At the inquest the jury returned a verdict that deceased was " Accidentally killed while attending to his duties as winchman. and that there was no blame attachable to anyone." The evidence showed that the wheels and pinions had been frequently oxaminod, and that no flaw could have existed in the wheel. Tlie dredgemuster, a brother of deceased, was in the habit of examining the machinery every 24 hours. Deceased was a fine young man of about 25 years of age. He went to South Africa with the Eighth Contingent, and subsequently served in the Police Force. His parents live at Waifcahr.na.

The body of a ship's fireman, Oscar Wilson, was found on Olaki beach. Wellington. Ho had been employed on tho steamer Oreti. and his clothes had been found previously on the beach at the mouth of the rivov. The deceased, who was about 48 years of age, leaves a wife and two children. His wifo was unaware that he had left tho steamer. He was. a steady and sober man.

An accident occurred at New Plymouth on March 2. an elderly widow named Jo/instonc being run over b;' a truck during shunting oiieratkms. Ho.- left foot will probably have to ho amputated.

The Rov. Mr Eounsell, Methodist minister at. Gisborne, died very suddenly on March 3. He was cycling, and fell to tfie. ground, bat when picked up life was found fo be extinct. Heart disease is supposed to have been the. cause of death. Deeca.'wl was one of the oldest members of the Weslcyan clerical body. The news of the death caused a wave of deep emotion to pass over tho Methodist Conference, then sitting in Dunedin. when the President (Row T. G. Brooke) announced the sad tidings. A motion of sympathy with the widow was agreed to, and the Conference at once adjourned as a mark of respect to the memory of the deceased gentleman. At the next session several members made reference to Mr Hounsell's kindly disposition and marked Christion character, and spoke very highly of his work. Some years ago Mr Hounsell was in charge of tho Milton station for three years. The ministerial representatives at the Conference forwarded a wreath for the grave of their deoarted brother.

Tlie North Otago Times states that word reached Oamaru on February 25 that a man named Kennedy, employed by Mrs Wallace, of Windsor, had accidentally shot himself with a pea-rifle, and had' died almost immediately. It appears that several boys were shooting at a post with pea rifles, when Konncdy, who had orossed an adjacent field, asked to be allowed to have a shot. He fired at the post while sitting down, and missed it. Ho had apparently reloaded the rifle, and while still sitting the rifle exploded unobserved by the boys, the bullet going in at the right temple, and causing Kennedy's death within a minute

and a-half. As the boys were not looking at Kennedy they are not aware how the affair happened, but it is supposed that he accidentally touched the trigger with his hand. Two of the boys immediately rode on to Ngapava to inform the police, and obtain the services of Dr Aitken. Kennedy had two or throe days' more work to do before he returned south. Ho was 59 years of age, and had a wife and family at Waikaka, in Southland. ■ At the. inquest a verdict of accidental death was returned.

Tho body of Charles Rawlinson, a Tokatoka settler, was found at Whakapara, Auckland, on the 10th inst., with an empty revolved beside it. Search parties had been out all the week after the missing man.

The Waikaia correspondent of the Ensign reports a painful and fatal accident on March 2, when a 22-months-old son of Mr Joseph Ferris got hold of a cup containing a solution of caustio soda and swallowed a portion of its contents. The little fellow was in great agony, and though speedily cared for, he died the following evening.

Captain Hillier, of the barque Ganymede, which arrived at Lyttelton on the 7th inst. from Edithburg, South Australia, reports that an ordinary seaman named Richard Lambert was swept overboard during heavy westerly gales and drowned. Two other men were washed along the deck by a heavy 6ca which cam© aboard, but managed to secure a hold. A lifebuoy was thrown to Lambert, but he was not seen again after being washed overboard.

MISCELLANEOUS. City people are apt to believe that all or nearly all the wealth of New Zealand is to be found within their municipal boundaries, but tho wealth jof all tho boroughs in New Zealand is only estimated at £65,755,397, while the country districts— principally the farm lands of the colonyare valued at £131.929,028.

William Smith and Alice Simeon were committed for trial at Auckland on the 14th inst., charged with breaking and entering a shot olid stealing a small quantity of goods. Smith was al=o committed for trial for attempting to murder Constable Coppell, who said that when chased after leaving the shop Smith fired twice, shouting, "Keep back!" When arrested, tho revolver taken from him was loaded in all but two chambers. The female accused mado a statement to the effect that Smith opened the shop door with a skeleton key. A witness who took part in the ohase said the first bullet passed within two feet of the officer.

A remarkable surgical operation was recently performed a* Wellington Hospital on a young man named Harold Williams. He was employed at a. foundry in the city, and attempted to remove an electric wire, which was in his way whilo working on top of a toiler. By some accident this wire was carrying very heavy voltage, and Williams received the full charge, with terrible result. His right arm was so badly burned that it had to lso removed, and the bottom of tho right foot, then in contact with the boiler plate, was burned away. After admission to the hospital the soleless foot was strapped closely to the inside of tho left thigh, to which it gradually grew. Then another operation was necessary to cut away tho skin from the leg that' was to sole the injured foot. Tho skin adhered to the foot, with the exception of a email patoh, which was subsequently mended by grafting. The cause of tho aecident should never have existed, and Williams has rewived £1750 compensation' from tho New Zealand Electrical Syndicate. Amoetingof thoLytlelton Harbour Board was held on Ihe 14th to consider tho engineer's alternative schemes for the canal to Cliristchtiroh. Mr A. Kayo moved that Messrs Grade, Son, and Watthew, harbour engineers, Westminster, London, should be asked to state terms for reviewing tho proposals after a personal visit of inspection. To this amendments were proposed re<ommending the Harbour Improvement Committee to obtain the best expert advice and report on tho financial aspect to the board, attd requesting the High Commissioner to select a. firm of independent engineers, to whom alternative schemes w'ould be referred. After a long discussion amendments were withdrawn in favour of the following motion, which was carried, with one dissentient:—"That without in any way committing the board to any of the schemes in the •engineorV. report, the board resolves that, the H&rlfcnir Improvement Committee l>e instructed to communicate with the High Commissioner, with the object of procuring the best possible expert advice on the possibility and practicability of the schemes set out in the and also upon any other scheme for competing Ohristchureh with the sea. that may t'ommend itself to them after inspection of the surrounding country, and tho (onus on which such report would 6o obtained, and that the committee be authorised to forward all necessary papers in connection with the matter." It was also decided to refer the report to the Harbour Improvement Committee, to obtain information as to the financial aspect of tho question, particularly in reference to the canal to Wilson's road, and to supply a comparative cost in connection with the present railway rates. Mr Kaye's original motion was not put.

A rather gruesome discovery was a few days ago made by a party of men engaged on the construction of the Lawrence-Rox-burgh railway line almost immediately at (lie rear of tho now practically demolished Chinese Camp near Lawrence. While excavating, a largo tea tin, containing the decomposed body of \an infant child, was corno upon. The (in and its gruesome contents had been buried a few feet below the surface, and its discovery naturally afforded ample scope for speculation as to the probability of a one-time tragedy. Tho unearthed package was quietly and unceremoniously restored to its former resting-place.

At the social tendered to the Premier at Northcoto on tho 7th he announced ihe state of tho Consolidated Revenue for the 11 months ended February 28. as follows: Customs, £2,363.130; stamps, £381,973; past and telegraph cash receipts, £107.282; land tax, £383.635; income tax. £234.440: beer duty, £86,941; railways, £2,030.060; registration and other fees, £88.657; marine. £32,307; miscellaneous, £170,079; cash land sales, £28.415; deferred payment land sales, £4574; pastoral rents, etc., £163.651;— total, £6,575.128.— as against £6.305,620 for tho corresponding period last. year.

The plucky action of a young woman who, single-handed, was responsible for tho arrest, of a ma.n for indecently exposing himself was reported to Mr 11. W. Dyer, S.M., in the Auckland Police Court on the Bth inst. James Donald pleaded guilty to the charge. Sergeant Hendry stated that on Wednesday afternoon accused followed some little girls in Victoria Park. The young woman noticed tho matter, and saw that tho man was behaving improperly. She promptly held him with a view to ensuring hie arrcsl, but. he struggled violently, and dragged her some distance. When he seemed likely to escape, she struck him in the face with some stones, so the man submitted. He was held for 20 minutes until Constable Cox came. Tho latter t gave evidence that a. number of men saw the incident, but refused to assist the young woman. Sergeant Hendry said the young woman deserved a medal. Tho Magistrate: "And tho men ought to bo ashamed of themselves." Dona'd suggested that he would never have committed such an offence but for his drunken condition. Tho Magistrate: "I certainly shall not accept that excuse. You are sentenced to three months' hard labour."

At a special meeting of the Dunedin and Suburban Presbyterian Office-bearers' Association, held last evening, to consider the question of the tenure of the pastorate, an animated discussion ensued, and the following important resolutions unanimously adopted :— (1) " That Rev. J. Chisholm, convener of the Synod Business Arrangements Committee, be requested to arrange for a conference on the question of the tenure of the pastorate at the forthcoming sitting of the Synod of Otego and Southland." (2) "That this meeting affirms the principle of a limited tenure of the pastorate, and that the question be remitted to the executive to take what action it deems necessary in the matter."

Tho vital statistics for Dunedin for February are as follow:—Births 107, deaths 52, marriages 55. For the corresponding month of last year the figures were:— Births 107, deaths 47, marriages 49.

Out of 226 districts in which the halfholiday has been fixed under the Shops anf! Offices Act> tlie majority favour Wednesday and Thursday. None of tho boroughs of the South Islarid have chosen Saturday, although some of them have been requesting the Minister of Labour to make it the general half-holiday. Twenty-five South Island boroughs have selected Wednesday and 17 Thursday, Two town boards and only one road district in the South Island chose Saturday. In the North Island the County of Rodney, and one town district adopted 'Saturday. In 293 instances wheTe the- local authorities failed to fix on what working day of the week the half-holiday should be hold, the Minister of Labour hrjJ done so. In two places in the Manu-

kau County he has chosen Saturday, and in the remaining eases Wednesday and Thursday. The Mangonui County is singular in having its holiday on Friday, and two places in the Rodney County have selected Tuesday. '

As regards the alleged lock-out of miners by the Consolidated Uoklficlds Company (Limited), we learn from Mr Mackay that (he Labour Department intends to take action, the circumstances being totally different from the tailoresses' dispute in Dunedin. The Solicitor-general has advised that, in his opinion, a breach of section 15 of "The Conciliation and Arbitration Act Amendment Act, 1905," has been committed by the Consolidated Goldfields Com. pany.

The Outlook says;-"The kind friend who for some years sent to the Rev. D. Borrie a cheque for £25 to help a theological student, in his course, and who last year sent two sums of £25 each for the same purpose, as he found that giving did him no harm, has this year gone a step further, and has sent Mr Borrie a cheque for £75, making three bursaries for the year."

The work in connection with the Sailors' Rest in Dunedin is carried on with so litlle ostentation that many people are probably unaware of the magnitude of the efforts mado to brighten the lives of the seafaring men who visit the port and make their lot as comfortable as possible. Those who are acquainted with the inner workings of tho organisation, however, are fully cognisant of the excellence of the work done and tho surprisingly good results achieved by the seamen's missionary (Mr A. R. Falconer). In alleviating the numerous cases of hardship which come under his notice Mr Falconer is called upon to make many sacrifices, and the inroads upon his pocket are greater than a man possessed of less practical Christianity than the seamen's missionary would -care to face. Mr Axokcn spoke very truly at the anniversary gathering in connection with the Rest on AVodneoday when he stated that Mr Falconer should have at least £100 per annum at his disposal for rendering assistance in necessitous cases. The work dono by Mr Falconer is of such a nature that it must commend itself to the public, and if some mean 6 could lie devised whereby Mr Axclsen's suggestion could he carried into effect a boon would bo conferred on a class of men whose calling is beset with, hardship, and whose pleasures in life are comparatively few.

Steady progress is being made with the work of cutting the new channel at the Heads. Mr J. Blair Mason, tho harbour' engineer, visits tho work frequently, and under his superintendence no special difficulties are being encountered. Under fair weather conditions the channel should be put through within three or four weeks from now, but naturally a great deal depends on the weather.

At a, sitting of the District Court at Invercargill on Tuesday, 13th, occasion was taken by counsel present to show their appreciation of the courtesy and consideration shown (luring his long period of service by Judge Ward, who will shortly retire. It will be interesting to learn (remarks the Southland News) that Judge Ward, who was a barrister at Home, came to New Zealand in 1854, and, having then been only a short time in the colony, was elected to the General Assembly, and shortly afterwards was appointed Chairman of the Court of Sessions of the Peace and Judge of the Magistrate's Courts of Wanganui, Wairarapa, and Hawke's Bay. From 1864 to 1866 his Honor was Resident Magistrate at Wellington, and was then raised to the position of Judge of the District Court. He is 79 years of age, and has served Die colony for over 50 years.

Tho hoy who was recently arrested in connection with the placing of an obstruction on the railway line at Wa-iwera some time a,go was brought before Mr Oruickshank, S.M., at Balclutha on Wednesday. Ho pleaded guilty, and an order was made that he bo chastised by the father. The boy is only seven and a-half years of age. Detective Hill preseeuted. and Mr Crisp appeared for the defendant.

In reply to a question concerning the state of tho labour market generally throughout the colony, Mr Maekay, of the head office, AYellington, staled that there was abundant employment for everybody able and willing to do tho class of work required, and that there is no occasion for anyone lo he out of employment for any length of time if anxious to accept the work offered. With the exception of tho Otago Central railway, which is rapidly Hearing completion, the railway works at present in couree of construction throughout tho colony are capable of absorbing all the labour available and, taking the colony as a whole, the labour outlook is extremely bright Tho domestic servant problem, on the other hand, is still very acute, and Mr Maekay _states that his department, is besieged with inquiries whenever a Home steamer was reported on which there was a possibility of some domestics being included in the passongcr list. Whenever it did happen that there were any on board they were snapped up before they had timo lo get on shore.