WELLINGTON,

Otago Witness, 5 December 1900, Page 44

WELLINGTON,

The coopers^ of Wellington have formed an industrial union. Hariy Parata, the commissioner appointed by the Government to inquire into the sanitary arrangements of Maoris/ has just returned from a visit to the South Island. 'He reports that the general condition of Jthe Natives in the south is far better than fchat of the North Island tribes, the South Island Maoris being located on smaller foldings and having lately engaged in farming and sawinilling, etc. At Coiac Bay, a 'large Maori settlement, the Natives are ■vigorous, soberly inclined, healthy, and -prosperous, and contemplate adding dairy •farming to their list of industries in the - jmear future. To this end they are felling * "a large area of bush, where the' soil is Richest, and will presently .burn and grass ;the area. Mr Parata gave the Maoris much advice, and persuaded them to effect ■a number. of sanitary improvements. He .■will proceed to Poverty Bay on a similar Vnission in a few days. f Some months ago Miss Burnett, a well known resident, offered to present a peal »f chiming bells to the town as a memorial i k>f the part played by Wanganui in the teouth African campaign. The conditions (attached to, the gift were that the townspeople should provide a tower for the bells, and that Miss Burnett should have a voice in the selection of the site. A great deal of trouble has occurred ~in regard to this latter .matter, the Borough Council refusing two sites selected by Miss Burnett, ■and she herself declining to agree to any one of different sites offered by the council. l As a result of the deadlock Miss Burnett 'lias now withdrawn her offer. i The employers- of the wharf labourers liave filed a counter demand to the case of jlhe union now before the Conciliation jßoard. They ask that the ordinary hours be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the wage pom Is to Is 6d per hour; the latter rate co bs for men carrying coal or trimming bunkers, and for carrying and stowing meat; the rate of overtime to be 2s 3d jper hour. : ' Captain Richard Kelly, commander of ]lhe Shaw-Savill ship Westland, died during )the passage from Liverpool three weeks £»fter leaving port. He was buried at sea jthe following day. The A*essel was navifgated out by Mr Samuel, chief mate. Capjtain Kelly, who was 43 years of age, had Jbeen with the company for 25 years — seven jpears as master of the Westland. He was talso in command of the Lutterworth, Hal'cione, and other vessels. ■' Latest reports from Shag Point tell of /the continued progress of the Hon. John "M'Kenzie towards recovery He talks of ..visiting Cheviot and other settlements at an early date. ; The Government have decided to place the Department of Industries in charge of a man of commercial training, and will invite applications for the position.