WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES. SUGGESTED EARLY SESSION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2499, 5 February 1902, Page 14

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES. SUGGESTED EARLY SESSION.

THE PUBLIC WORKS POLICY.

(Fb9U Oue Own Couresfoxdent.)

WELLINGTON, January 16

Tenders are to be called for extensive repairs to the Hinemoa. Heretofore all the repairs and alterations to the Government steamers have been made in Wellington, but in order to give each of the principal firms of the colony an opportunity of securing the work it has been decided to invite tenders in the four chief centres. The vessel is to be sent to the port where the work can be most cheaply and expeditiously done.

The matter of suitable nominees to fil! vacancies in the Upper House is supposed to have been referred to members of Parliament in certain districts for their advica. The Otaki correspondent of the Post sta'es that Mr Field, the member for the district, was present at the sports, and was heard to say that "he would make his M.L.C. appointment when all the applications were in. He had only received 30 as yet."

One of the speakers at the publio meeting in connection with the Primitive Methodist Conference last night remarked that the Chief Justice, who had made a capital speech at the laying of the foundation stone of the new Webb street Church, would have proved a great ornament to any church. Sir Robert Stout, he went on to say, was a gentleman whoso impartiality and integrity were undoubted, and any remarks which he made always carried weight. This reference to Sir Robert's character and talents was received with applause.

January 19.

The reefpt e\pr*rienre of -ome Wpllinjrton anglers with the rainbow trout at Rotorun, lias led to a demand for the conservation of these magnificent fish. Fi'h weighing up tr> 121b have boon caught in the river between Lakes Rotorua and Rotoiti Some of the-e took fully half an hour to land. At prpsent the Maoris are permitted to net Lakps Rotorua and Rotoiti for a license of £1 per annum They take large quantities of trout, and sell them. Europeans pay £3 per annum for the same privilege. The Rotoma people are beginning to realise that if the netting goes on the supply will presently become exhausted. A t l ep-'i'p.tion of lochl anglers intend to wait on Mf Donne, th^ superintendent of the tourist and health resorts, with a 'view of ascertaining if influences cannot be brought to bear to get this netting stopped.

The German boycott has already commenced here. In several instances travellers soliciting orders for German firms nave been told they can po elsewhere, while irany Btttgle state that they will not now purchase

German-made articles if they can possibly avoid doing so.

Private letters received from Mr E. M. Smith, M.H.R., by the San Francisco mail state that he was hopeful of the ultimate buccess of the Ironsand Company. When Messrs Cadman and Smith arrive in New Zealand they will endeavour to arrange with the Government for certain concessions. Most people here are not sanguine of the success of the venture, which they think is fully a generation ahead of the necessities of the colony.

January 20.

It is understood that Major Owen (who, in the event of Colonel Davies not going back to the war, was anxious to lead the eighth contingent) has been promoted to a colonelcy by the New Zealand Defence Minister. As Major Owen is a very capable and popular officer, he will no doubt be very generally congratulated on his well-deserved promotion.

The balance of £21 which remained in the hands of the Christmas Comforts Committee after the despatch of the hampers to the members of the sixth and (seventh New Zealand contingents in South Africa, has been expended in the purchase of tobacco and cake for the troopers of the same contingents.

The following resolution was carried at Saturday's meeting of the Wellington Typographical Union-. — "That this union has no sympathy with any disloyal sentiments in connection with the Boer war, and expresses its high appreciation of the Trades and Labour Council in rescinding at ita last meeting the anti-war resolution carried at a preiious gathering of that body." The only delegate of the union who bad advocated anti-war sentiments at the recent meeting of the Trades Council dropped out of the ballot for re-election on Saturday night.

In hi& address to his constituents, Mr Hogg will criticise the borrowing and other extravagancies of the Government. It is understood that the Government is at prcsont far from popular in hi 3 distnet, and that a good Opposition candidate could easily wm an election, so radical has the change m political opinion been amongst farmers and others.

January 26.

A gathering of tlie Heretaunpra Mounted Rifles as a " send-off " to some of their comrades who are going to the war, was productive of a number of incidents that may be worthy of passing notice. To begin with, the Premier made one of those- dramatic entrances in the middle of the proceedings for which he is nnw sn justly famous. It was shortly after 10 o'clock, while Major Loveday was in the act of proposing a toast, that somebody rushed hurriedly into the room with a scared face, and in a stage whisper annonnced the Premier. The distinguished \isitor came clo=e ution the roared one's heels. The ilajpr called " Tioa."

The men stood erect, and, taking their cue from the pianist, Eang unitedly " For he's a jolly good fellow." It is thus described by a modest pressman who was present. Then there came a good deal of the "Blarney stone " eloquence. Major Loveday praised the Premier, and the Premier praised Major Loveday, while Mr Witheford, who appears to have come down from Auckland on his special mission of dispensing hospitality, joined in the chorus. Mr Sedclon told the Heretaungas they were the finest mounted force in the colony. Major Loveday told them what a fine Defence Minister they had in Mr Seddon. Two instances in proof of the latter statement resulted. Major Loveday gave one instance some time ago. The Major thought the capitation grant was too low, so he went to the Premier and asked, " Will you raise our capitation?" "Yes," was the reply; "how much do you want?" "One pound." "Right," said the controller of the colony, and it was done at a later stage. The disappointment of a young trooper who had been rejected by the selectors of the eighth contingent because he was half an inch under the standard height was mentioned to the Premier. The lad stood up while the story was being told, and at its conclusion the Premier said : " Major Loveday, that young man has grown half an inch while you were speaking." Turning to the lad, he said: "Come to me to-morrow, and I will enrol you myself." The Premier's words were received with a great clapping of hands, thus showing that under some circumstances and in certain quarters political influence is occasionally appreciated. After all this, it was not surprising that Mr Witheford should go one better by describing Mr Seddon as " the greatest political warrior who has ever lived ; a man whom Joseph Chamberlain must feel jealous of." Of course it then became the duty of the assembled company to drink Mr Witheford's health. They did so, and this enabled Mr Witheford to get his light from under the bushel, and he proceeded to enumerate the several things he had done for the various contingents and sections of contingents, and he promised to continue to dispense good things as opportunity offered. By this time it was getting late, and what further extravagances the Auckland member indulged in are not chronicled, for the pressman, in sheer desperation, gathered up his notes and fled into the night.

The Premier said last night that contingencies might occur in South Africa at any time, and if a call came for a tenth New Zealand contingent it would be sent as cheerfully as the first one. The Premier, however, thinks that New Zealand is quite safe. He says: "The chance of a foreign foe landing a force on New Zealand's shores is practically an impossibility. There is no nation extant who could land a body of men who would not be wiped out with 24hours."

The independence of the working man is having a damaging effect upon the trade, of the port of Wellington. The Harbour Board, in its annual report, complains that it does not get as much work from its labourers as formerly, and once again the shipping companies aro being worried owing to their inability to secure labour to work cargo on vessels. In port on Saturday the Shaw, Saville, and Albion Company required three gangs of men to labour on the Aotea, but was only able to procure one gang. Yesterday work on the Union Steam Ship Company's vessel Rotoiti was hindered from the same caiwe, and the agents of the Charles Edwnrd were also shorthanded on Saturday. Employers of labour state emphatically that although there are numbers of idle men on the wharves, they will only work at their own convenience, and even when they do work they will put on their coats at the slightest provocation and leave at a. moment's notice.

The Government has notified the Wel-lington-Manawatu Railway Company of its intention to inspect the line in terms of the Public Works Act, which is taken to mean another step towards the ultimate acquisition of the property by the Government. It is stated that when the line is taken over an expenditure amounting to probably between £15.000 and £20,000 will be necessary at the Palmerston North railway' station, ns very great alterations will then be rpquircd to cope with the increased goods traffic.

Tom Mann has already got under weigh in Wellington, and has been orating at various meetings. He holds optimistic views as to Great Britain's future. He says that no one need have serious concern for the Old Country's welfare in regard to industrial matters, or as to Britain going under. The workers have inherently all the qualities which will enable them to »york out successfully their own social and industrial salvation. Even in industrial competition the Old Country will not go under.

The recent freight reductions seem to be stimulating trade to Sydney. The Talune took away 160 tons of produce and general caruro on Saturday.

3Mr M'Kay, f-Jovernment geologist, ia of opinion that the detonations heard at Cheviot while the earthquakes were in progress, were of electrical origin and not consequent upon the tiomors. As to the extensive slips on the Port Robinson road, he is of opinion that they were proof of the> instability of the groxmd rather than the force of the shocks.

January 27.

Some members of the eighth contingent bid fair to sully the good name of the NewZealand troops who have volunteered for service in South Africa. Some time ago I mentioned a case in. which a man was insulted and assaulted in a suburban train. The great majority of the men are well behaved, and feel a pride in wearing the King's uniform, but the few camp roughs who have been misbehaving- themselves lately are likely seemingly to give the eighth contingent a bad name. To-night the evening naper mentions two more instances of rowdines3. on the strength of the testimony of corrp'-ponclent*. One correspondent write-, • "On Wednesday, the 22nd inst-,' 1 was a passenger from Te Aro station by thr> 11.5 p.m. train, and them were sevoral ladies in the carriage in which I =>at, and which was not a «mokin<i carriage. At Thorndon station thU carriage was ru»hed by a howling horde of yelling yahoos in yellow, returning to Trentham, many smoking, and most more or less drunk. One diunkard fell across the knees of two of the latfios, and, of course the ladies and 1 wctp obliged to leare ro avoid certainin»ult and possible personal violence." Another correspondent writes - " Whil'? passing un Taranaki street on Saturday I witnessed a moat brutal and cowardly attack upon a Chinaman, three troopers m uniform, one a non-com., being the chief actors." He adds: "I hope for the sake of the good name of our boys at the front that the«c threr> men will be identified and dnrmmpd out of the lines." In connection wirli the latter complaint Bn<yFer Leonard \oLv Jacobs* gf Nelson, hab been arrested.

and charged with assault. It is alleged tha-fi late on Saturday afternoon a member of ' the eighth contingent walked through Haining street and came to blows with. a. China-_ man. Later on he returned with, fcwo other{ troopers and a civilian, and, it is further, alleged, one of them tripped up another, Chinaman, and seizing bis pig-tail, dragged him along the ground. This Chinaman, Lent Shing, was found to have been seriously, *-: injured, and he was removed to the hos-» pital, where a scalp wound, skull deep and about a quarter of an inch long, was found above his ear. The most serious injury was to his chest, it being feared at first thai; the spleen was injured. The Chinaman is still in the hospital. Jacobs, who is accused of the assault, was remanded till to-morrow, bail being allowed in his own recognisance* of £100, and Captain Poison's security of - £100. The Kawatiri crew, from Westport,- \rfro* ' won the Championship Fours at Saturday's 1 regatta, are the heroes of the hour, and they certainly are fully deserving of the/ success which has attended their effbrtsv The men are all wharf carpenters. Last year they won the Maiden Fours and Junior Fours, and at a banquet given to them,, on their return to Westport, a sum of money; was subscribed, sufficient to purchase a best-and-best boat for racing purposes, and an order was serft to* Melbourne accordingly, but when it .was almost completed the -boat was destroyed by a hailstorm, which carried off the roof of the building. In such a' dilemma the club almost decided to give up the idea of training for this year's race, but finally the Star Boating Club authori- . ties were telegraphed to*, and they at one©.' generously agreed to lend the Kawatiri crew a best-and-best four-oared boat, built by Clasper, of London. The crew came to Wellington from Westport 10 days ago, and from, that t-ime, until the day of the race, worked steadily at practice, going out morning and night and rowing three miles each time. They are hardy, strapping fellows, and their" fine physique and excellent training enabled them to win comfortably. Dr MacGregor, the able head of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Department, will probably leave for the Old Country shortly on a well-earned holiday. Lord Ran fur ly has again secured a number of birds from the Southern Islands for the British Museum, two further specimens' of 'the somewhat rare ' Merganser Australia being obtained , -at the Auckland . Islands, while two whifo nellies were secured at Macquarie Island. There is quite a plethora of fruil in ' thef Wellington market this season, and immensesupplies are still coming to hand from the Wellington district and from Nelson. Auckland, and Hawke's Bay also supply large quantities. From Auckland alone there are four steamers a week arriving, each bringing .in 1500 cases of fruit. The growers are having a bad time just now, owing to the low prices, but the fall in "prices, on the other . hand, has led to an enormous demand. Auckland plums, 201b boxes, are selling at from Is to Is 6d, and those from Hawke's Bay, 241b to 251b boxes, of a better kind of plum, are realising 2s and 2e 3d, and Nelson from Is 6d to 2s. There is also, a tre; meodous glut of tomatoes this year. Foe the last two seasons the Nelson producers made such- a big thing out of the tomato, crop that the Wood, and Maitai Valleys", formerly used for the cultivation of hopsy have now been turned into tomato houses. The result has been that that the market isfairly flooded, and while tomatoes in the early part of the year were fetching Ms a ease, they are now down to 3s, and will possibly go lower. Tomatoes are also coming from the Auckland and Hawke's Bay districts in large quantities. This glut naturally affects other varieties which are not in such volume, such as hothouse grapes. At this time last year they were realising Is 6d per Ib, and now they are down to 9a and Ib. All descriptions of Sydney fruit are practically neglected, owing to the tremendous volume of local stone fruit. January 30. Miss Flanagan, a young singer with a rich contralto voice, and daughter of Mr F. W. Flanagan, draughtsman in the Lands andi Survey Office, proceeds to Melbourne to enter upon an extensive course of study. In reply to ;i telegram from Mr John Stevens, M H.R., the Minister of Publio Works replied: — "Cannot say definitely whsn the purchase of the Manawatu railway will be completed. In terms of the act of last session it must be before the Ist May next." January 31. The New Zealand Times revives the suggestion for an early session of Parliament for several weighty reasons. First of all it saya : — "Without the leader of the House the popular Chamber would be unable t<j do any effpetive business during the months; of June, July, and August. This is so well recognised that the statement requires no elaboration. Assuming that the House sat during his absence, Mr Seddon would find* on his return that the temporary leadjjr had committed the Government to various points of policy of the details of which he would be in total ignorance, and thero would probably be a game of cross purposes carried on for some weeks, to the further waste of public time and money." This is somewhat se\ere on Sir Joseph Ward, and almost seems as if it were inspired. The Times goes on to give, as another reason, the Premier's announcement in regard to preferential trade with Great Britain. This is a matter on which it thinks Parliament should be consulted. The third and probably the most weighty, reason has refeience to the financial necessities of the Government; and the necessity for another loan af an early date. The Times says in this connection: — "There is a very general impression, gathered from,' the somewhat conflicting statements o£ Ministers, that the parliamentary appropriations for various works, notably for the North Island Trunk railway construction, are nearly exhausted, and that they will certainly be exhausted long before Parliament would in the ordinary course be called! together, and coincidently with the partial stoppage of Government works all over thi£, country there has been an outcry from th© workers, the politicians, _ and the press whenever further reductions have taken place, and dismissal is still the order of the day. That cry will become irresistible, and - despite the easing of the- labour marketf caused by the despatch of 200^ to South Africa, people who look ahead are. declaring that it will be necessary to have* an early session of Parliament in orderto make provision for the uninterrupted prosecution, of public works."