WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Volume 14, Issue 2648, 14 December 1904, Page 33

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

(Feom Otjb Own Correspondent..} WELLINGTON, December 7. There is a glut in the local labour market. The secretary of the Wharf Labourers' Union states that lately there have been many applicants for work on the wharves. A large number of the applicants come from Auckland, Australia, and Westland, the Westlanders being mostly miners out of work. Mr M'Laren recognises that the volume of trade and resultant demands for labour are steadily increasing, but the seekers after work have increased out of all proportion. He adds that what is wanted is a* special wharf labour bureau, and this Mr M'Laren says would disclose a sorry state of things. The prospects are gloomy on account ot the excessive number of men seeking employment. The Post gives an instance of how a shop girl scored against the Premier. At yesterday's deputation the relations between the Shops Act and the marriage rate were referred to by the deputation, and a pastrycook and confectioner pointed out that engaged couples often came in the evening to his shop to choose the wedding cake, and that if the shop had to be closed at 6 p.m. they would be deprived of that pleasure, as they could not come in the day time. In that way the marriage rate might be injuriously affected. "" Do they pop the question in the shops?" asked Mr Seddon. The deputationist didn't know about that, but he added they might possibly meet their 'divinity when they came in for some evening refreshment. A young lady assistant, who was one of the speakers, was asked by the Premier if she had seen any indication of what was mentioned 6y Mr Godber that the keeping of these shops open at night was conducive to matrimony. " That's not fair, Mr Seddon," replied the lady. "I don't worry much about that as long as I have a good billet, but," she added, with a merry twinkle, " I might have to think about it when the shops close at 6. That would mean a lot of us being dismissed, and then I might not get a husband." The sally was greeted with loud laughter. Mr Jaques, the Government fruit-canning expert, who has made^a tour of part of the North Island, has great hopes of the fruitcanning industry assuming very considerable dimensions, and that it will make the most vigorous start in the South Island. During the next month or two he will visit the Frimley Orchard, Hawke's Bay, and then go down to the fruit-growing areas of Canterbury and Otago. Sir Joseph Ward will leave for the south about the end of the week. The Minister of Lands (Hon. T. Y. Duncan) will probably leave Wellington tomorrow for Hawke's Bay for the purpose of inspecting the Mount Vernon Estate. December 7. Mr P. C. Freeth, formerly chief reporter of the New Zealand Times, and- now proprietor of the Manawatu Daily Times, has announced his candidature for the Palmerfcton seat at "the next election. Mr Freeth's politics are strongly anti-Seddonian. j There has been a- good deal of debate I amongst the Maoris as to whether the "Otaki Tor Levin Natives should have the honour of entertaining their accepted chieftain Huia ! Onslow, who -is shortly to return to New ! Zealand with Lady Onslow. This long : " kerero " was finally brought to a concluI sion by Mr Hone Heke, M.H.R., pointing out to the Maoris the many] advantages Otaki offered for such a reception from the fact of its being the centre of the Ngatiraukawa and Ngatihuia tribal districts, and : its many ancient Maori associations. It 1 is now finally resolved to give to Huia j Onslow a real old-time Maori reception at j Otaki at a date to be arranged. cSir Joseph Ward emphatically denies that I there is any truth in the statement made by the Southland Times that Mr Seddon and he have had a disagreement. Both Mr Seddon and Sir Joseph Ward were in the Ministerial party at the opening of the Town Hall here to-day, and, apparently, were on the best of terms.

December 8. Messrs Smart and Wilkinson, the Otago and Canterbury resident managers for the State Fire Insurance Department, were recently in Wellington, and had a conference with Mr Brindley. The Auckland resident manager has not yet been appointed. I understand the Otago manaj ger will control Otago and Southland districts, ant] that the business of Auckland and Canterbury districts will also be under the control of the respective resident managers in these places, but that the business from other parts of the colony will be j controlled from the head office. There is 1 still a great deal of departmental work i to be done, and the staff will have some t difficulty in getting ready for business by the Ist- of January. Mr 0. E. Nalder, district land registrar and deputy-commissioner of stamps at Marlborough, will, it is understood, be * transferred to Invprcargill to fill the positionvacated by MY Dwyer. recently appointed a stipendiary magistrate. Replies are Expected within a fortnight o>: so from the 50 footballers to whom the Xew Zealand Rugby Union has asked if 1 they can make th<j trip Home. After those ,' who can go have been ascertained the . final selection will begin. The loam will ! leave in July, 1905, play it« first match on I 16th September, and return about February, 1906. The union will pay all transit expenses, including steamer and railway fares, hot-ol expenses, etc. A daily out-of-pocket allowance to each player has been generally recognised by English teams. It is understood that Mullineaux's team got 3s a day, and that members of the last English team got 2s. Each member of the New Zealand team will be paid 3s a day. The Government biologist states that diseased potatoes are being sold in Wellington, auil ho cffTs the following com- | inents: — "'lf these tubers, or any portions of them, arc thrown on rubbish heaps, or ] put into pig barrels, the disease will spread in gardens md farms. AH diseased potatoes should be cooked before being fed to ! pigs, ami nil refuse not so> treated should Ibe burned. Farmers collect pig food i from the city hotels should be sp-eeially cautious. ' There is no power under the Orchard an 1 Garden Pf st Act to prevent' tho sale of these diseased tubeis, the powe-is conferred by the act being confined to orchards, etc." Mr Robert Hannah, head of +he mamii focturing firm of Messrs R. Hannah and , Co., returned to "Wellington this morning by the Waikare from a nine-months' \isrl to the Old Country. Mr Hannah was accompanied by Mrs and Miss Hannah, and the pai-ty has returned in the very best of health after a most enjoyable trip. Whilst on a visit to Ireland, Mr Hannah Unformed a Post representative this morn-

ing, he observed a great change for tha better in manufacturing circles in that country. Ireland was now feeling the severe drain that had been made upon its population by emigration, and the prosperity o£ rhe country demanded a greater population, than was left. Canada and the Unitedi States of America had attracted a greati many of the Irish people, but there was not now the outrush of people that had marked previous years. Questioned regarding otherimpressions and observations, Mr Hannah said his trip abroad was made in the pursuit of pleasure and health rather than business, and therefore he had nothing to say. to the press

December 9.

Mr George Winder, a local merchant, who has just returned from a visit to the Mother Country, does not think the Agent-general'a office in London was much good to tho colonr. It appeared to be too fair from tho centre. He does not think al c o that New Zealand is sufficiently advertised at Home. December 11.

The Cabinet decided yesterday that notices of forfeiture of sections held by Crown tenants are not to be given without first being submitted to the Minister of Lands. This step has been thought necessary owing to the frequency with which notice? of forfeiture are sent out when the amount of rent owing is small and not long overdue.

The Cabinet has approved the proposal to secure space on behalf of New Zealand at the Crystal Palace Exhibition for an exhibit to be representative of the colony. The Agent-general is being notified accordingly.

Information has been received from a private source that " Clem " Hill, who i« to make the tour of England with the Australian cricket team next year, will not visit New Zealand with the team in February next. The batsman is marrying a Tasmariian bride, and shortly after their marriage Mr and Mrs Hill will leave Australia for England.

" I don't know if any exception will be taken to this presentation on the score of impropriety or of its resemblance to anational purse," said the Minister of Public Works this morning when he was presented with a photograph by some Mungaroa residents. " Personally I never look for a reward of this kind for the 'work that I have performed, for I find sufficient reward in the satisfaction and appreciation of the people."

A large shipment of butter and cheese was taken from New Zealand yesterday by the Shaw-Savill steamer Corinthic. The total butter shipped was 47,255 boxes and 565 kegs, and the cheese totalled 4-363 cases. » The butter oame to hand from the following ports : — Wellington, 13,373 boxes and 119 kegs ; Auckland, 8467 boxes and 446 kegs : New Plymouth, 11,912 boxes; Patea, 8295 boxes; Lyttelton, 2243 boxes; Dunedin, 2965 boxes.

The New Zealand Times points out that in " Dod's Peerage " the name of Lord Onslow's- New Zealand-born son is given as " Hon. Victor Alexander Taihoa." " Taihoa" is palpably air error of transcription for "Te Huia." The compositor has committed an unconscious subtlety in the error. " Taihoa " means " wait a bit," and is thus practically synonymous with the Onslow motto " Fcstina Lente," and with the name " On-slow " itself.

The Executive of the Bible-in-schools Conference at a meeting held yesterday afternoon unanimously resolved to prosecute with renewed vigour the campaign for a Bible-in-schools referendum. It was agreed to appoint an organising agent at a salary of £300 per annum. This official will bo largely employed in enrolling as members of the society electors favourable to the teaching of Bible lessons in the publio schools with a view to political action-. Applications for the position are to be lodged with Dr Gibb on or before December 31.

The Corinthio, which sailed for London last evening, is the deepest laden vessel that ever left Wellington harbour. She was drawing Sift 9in aft and 30ft lin forward. The harbourmaster piloted the Corinthic right out to the Heads. The reversal of the policy of the Government in regard to the prevention of anthrax as disclosed by one of the latest Cabinet decisions has caused surprise amongst stoekowners. This fell disease has now obtained a strong hold in the Auckland province, and there is no doubt if imported bones and manures come in under lax supervision the disease will spread throughout the colony. An expert who is thoroughly up in the whole question informs me that the soil in some parts of the Waikato is full of the germs. To such an extent is this the case that it will be almost impossible to eradicate them. This, he says, must seriously depreciate the value of the land, and, for his part, he would think twice before taking up a farm in certain localities. It will be remembered that after long delay and many urgent representations from Mr Gilruth, the chief veterinarian, the Government decided to erect bone sterilising plants at the northern and southern extremities of the colony. Mr F. G. Laurie was in July, 1905, appointed superintendent. Inquiries were made as to suitable sites for the plants, and tenders were called in England for some of the- machinery. Now, however, the * Government has decided that the erection of the sterilising plants shall not be proceeded with, but that experts shall be appointed at Calcutta and " other places "' to examine all sterilised bonedust and bone manures proposed to be exported to NewZealand, and that none shall be admitted to the colony unless duly certified to. W hether the course will prove as effective as the erection of sterilising plants remains to be seen.

A Palmorston North paper says the landi agents and other inhabitants of '" offices " in Palmorston are at present being " inspected." On Satin-day, 3rd inst , a lot of promises were closed up by order of am emissary of the Labour Department, anrl those concerned had to collect, their rents and transact their business on tho street.

The Wo«stport Times understands that an exceptionally fino new seam of coal has been struck in the Westport Coal Company's 1 Millerton mine.

At the quarterly meeting of Wakatipu Licensing Committee, lflc-ld at Queenstown, on Tuesday, the following transfers were* "rsnred: — M. H. Dawson io •>. W. Peri-.ani, Mrs Elliot to C Hopgood for Nevis Hotel. J. A. Patterson to G. Thomson for Halfway House Hotel. Conditional licenses wciv* granted for race meetings at Waikaka and Longridge. W. Alton's application for a. packet license for the s.s. Makarora au Pembroke was refused The police reports from the different districts were satisfactory — Lake County Press,