WELLINGTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2622, 15 June 1904, Page 24

WELLINGTON.

The rainfall for th:s month ha* been 4-.sßin for 15 wet days, against 8.95 in on id days last year. The average rainfall for May since 1870 is 4iin. The hemp-brokers have formed an association for the purpose of establishing a scale cf charges, which it is expected will be mutually satisfactory to grower* and brokers. Speaking to the Railway Society's deputation, the Minister of Railways remarked , upon the large number of applicants for j employment in the rail-nay service. On the j 30th he. had received from all parts of ll>3 colony 80 letters asking for positions. The Wellington Picsbytc-ry have, by 13 votes to 3, adopted a resolution in favour of continuing negotiations for union with the Methodist and Congregational Churches. The directors Of Reuter's Telegram Company (Limited) have declared the usual dividend at the rate of 5 per cent, per annum for the half-year ending 31st.December, 1903. The cash balance in hand on that date was £82,245, and the company's reserve fund now stands at £35,000. The junior civil service examinations in future aro to be held in December of each year. An action was commenced on the 2nd in which Wm. Cook, of Lytt<4ton, the owner of the Jessie Niccol (the schooner which was run down in Wellington Harbour by the , Rotomahana), claims £1532 damages from | the Union Steam Ship Company for alleged neglect of their servants. Defendants contend that the neglect was on the part of the ! captain of the Jessie Niccol. Owing to tho , sudden indisposition of Mr Justice Cooper, '< the hearing of the case was not resumed in the afternoon. Two Chinamen arrested at Wanganui were brought before the S.M. on the 2nd. One ; was nr.pcl £10 fcr -smoking opium and £25 j for having it in his possession. The other : was fined £10 for smoking opium. ! The Nowtown Licensing Committee on the 4th granted renewals of all licenses for ' the ensuing year. No objection thereto ■ was raised. , Mr William Stuart, District Land Regis- j trar ac Wellington, retires from tho public service at the ■end of the present month, and Mr J. M. Batham, at present judge of the Native Land Court, who formerly held the position, will be his successor. The Attorney-general states that a scheme is being considered by which teachers may ' be trained in New Zealand for woik at j Raratonga and Niue. The proposal is that ' native boys and girls should be brought to j New Zealand and trained for the work of \ teaching — the girls at Victoria College, Auckland, and tho boys at Te Aufre, Hawke's Bay. . j The conference of country sawmillers was held at Wellington on the 2nd, when regulations were framed dealing with the internal working of the trade. No increase in the price of timber is contemplated. A nia'i named George Watson is reported missing at Prpiriki. He vi as seen crossing the

river in a canoe on >the 2nd, and shortly afterwards his cano<j was found some dis-t-Mice down the nver, but there was no sign of Watson. It is feared he has beea drowned. He has relatives at Palmerston North. Henry Wisdom, living by himself r.t j Ohingaiti, has been missing since Sunday, i sth inst. It is feared he has committed suicide. Dr Pidgeon, of the Pacific cable steamer | Iris, has been appointed Government mecucaJ officer at tho Chathams. It is probable that he will also act as stipendiary magistrate. A meeting of the Police Provident Fund Board was hold on Thursday. Pensions were granted as follows: — Ex-Chief Detective Grace, Auckland., £14-0 19s; ex-Constable Farmer, Poverty Bay, £98 11s. Retiring allowances of £146 each were granted to ex- , Constables C. Stanyer (Aukl&nd) and G. ' Nicholls (Napier). i The Premier has been, advised by cable that the Secretary of State for the Colonies admitted in the House of Commons on Thursday that the Chinese- miners employed in the Rand mines would work under Chinese gangers. ■ The coal output last week was 10,279 tons 12cwt. of which 9*96 tons Bcwt was from 'the Wesfrporfc Coal Company's mines, and 783 tons 4owt from the Seddonville State ■ mine. An apparent attempt at suicide was mado at Newtown on Monday. Agnes Rhodes, wife of a steward on the steamer Penguin, was found by the caretaker of Newtown Park, apparently asleep. Beside her were notes indicating she ho-d taken ohlorodyne owing io domestic troubles. She is now in the hospital, and likely to recover. ; With regard to the case of Lieutenant i Townley, who was supposed to be a New Zealand officer, the following is supported by General Babingoon: — Lieutenant W. "V. Townley did not belong to any New Zealand contingent, but to one from Queensland. His decoration was not sent, to this co'oiiy for presentation, and his name was included among the New Zealand awards by a clerical error of the Imperial authorities.