WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2664, 5 April 1905, Page 33

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

(Feou Otjr Own Corbespondext.) WELLINGTON, March 24.

Speaking of the> Catholic Church in France, Archbishop Redwood, in replyingto the address of Avelcome presented to him, said he had heard the Pope declare, not once, but on several occasions, that the day is coming — a!hd it may not be far off — when there will be a great reaction in that country, and their liberty would be restored to the Church there, and she would take he«r true position. Referring to his visit to Ireland, the Archbishop said he spoke with knowledge and experience of that country, as he had spent 10 of the most useful years of his life there. The people of Ireland were beginning to look up, and to be better in many ways, and he saw evidence of improvements and comfort. He was in the East and South of Ireland, but not in the West. The West was a most infertile country, and, strange to say, that was where the population was. The people should be brought back to the fertile part, and when this was done the western people would be prosperous, because when they "were on good land they would make progress. They were also making headway with industries in Ireland, but he was sorry to say the country was still "bleeding" — i.e., the youth of the country going across the Atlantic. The remedy for this would be found when tho people went on the land again. The Archbishop was delighted with the virtues of the people, and described Ireland as tRe most innocent, most moral, and most holy land on the face of the earth.

March 27.

With reference to the statement in the cable meesages that th-o United States has refused to allow Australasian butter to enter the country on the ground of its containing- boracic acid, and that as a result last month's consignment has bec-n reshipped to Liverpool. Mr J. A. Kinsella, Chief Dairy Commissioner, says that the cable message is not clear. In the first place, he tolci a Post representative, no New Zealand butter goes to the United States from our wharves, though a- small quantity is sent to Vancouver. It is found necessary, in order that our butter may keep in goort condition, to add a small amount of preservative, and boracio acid up to per cent, is allowed in Great Britain. The Agricultural Department of this colony tests the butter exports from time to time, and it has never found that our butter manufacturers exceod that safe limit. Mr' Kinsella, is specially surprised that the United Stato-5 should exclude our pure butter seeing that they export huge quantities of margarine. " filled " cheese, and similar produces. He c)oes not know under what law America ha> takf-n the action reported, but lie surmises that it. must be a recent enactment. As America is r,ot one of our markets, however, the prohibition is not a serious matter.

An old identity Mrs Prisrilla Ann Wilton, relict of the Into Mr Elijah Wilton, died on Fuday. Mrs Wilton, who had reached tho advanced ago of 73 years, armed in Wellington with her parents, Mr and Mrs Geoi-o© Curtis, in December, 1840, by tho ship London (Captain Shattloworlh), and lned lice ever t'uice. Her husband died in April, 1802. Two of her

sistere and three of her brothers are sh'lj living in Wellington. She leaves a familj of 10- sons and four daughters, and s a large number of grandchildren and great-grand-children.

March 28.

The clergymen constituting the Council of the Churches appear to be divided in opinion as to whether the noise of th<> tramcars has been lessened in any material degree on Sunday evenings When the cars are passing the churches the City Council has instructed the motormen to slow down to three miles an hour on such occasions, but the Rev. Dr Gibb, of St. John's Presbyterian Church, and Mr N. Turner, or the Central Mission, in Manners street, express the view that there has been no abatement of the nuisance; whilst, on the other hand, the Rev. H. J. Blamires, of the Molesworth Street Wesleyan Church, declares that the cars were not nearly so noisy on Sunday night last as on previous Sundays. Mr Blamh'es proposed, at a meeting of the Council of the Churches, that the City Council should be thanked for the concession already granted, but asked for the total cessation of tram-running during tho hours of servics. The Rev. G-. Bond (Newtown) urged delay, so as to give the motormen a month's trial before condemning them. This argument prevailed, and the motion was held over until the next meeting.

A new method of slaughtering cattle has been adopted at the slaughter yards at Ngahauranga. TKe inspector for the Society for the Prevention of cruelty to animals has witnessed it, and gives his approval. On the day he was there the animals were driven one by one into a narrow run, boarded at the side, and with a small platform erected. Just over the backs of the beasts on this platform a man was stationed, and he stunned each beast with, a heavy hammer. One side of the run was then lifted, and the carcase rolled out on. its side, and was at once put through the final stages.' The operation occupies from four to five minutes from the time the man takes his position over the beast until it is finally hoisted away. The inspector is of opinion that the new method is quicker and more humane than the old style of spearing- or spiking.

Dr Chappie, who contested Newtown afc the general election, has been invited t< stand for the City seat.

March 29.

When a young man named Jorgeson, a tailor by trade, was brought before the Chief Justice to-dlay on a charge of forgery, Mr Neilsen, who appeared for the prisoner, asked that the young man should either receive a light sentence or be admitted to probation. The prisoner, he said, was already serving a sentence of three months for theft. Jorgeson, who was only 21 years of age; had come out to the oolony about two years ago with art elder brother, and had got into difficulties through betting. He had hitherto borne a good character. His Honor said the betting mania -which had taken possession of the colony was* going to injure a great many citizens, but the majority of people did not seem, to see much harm in it. The prisoner had done two wrongs — first, in betting, and then, in committing the crime wirh which he was now charged. He would be se'nteflced to three months' imprisonment with hard laboxir, the sentence to be concurrent with, the term he was now serving.

According to the current issue of the New Zealand Trade Review a good volume of business is reported in all branches of trade. In the hardware section the activity of building work helps to maintain the general demand, while in the softgoods trade the season has opened well, and the turnover is so far ahead of last year's record. at the same date. There is still, however, a. general agreement of complaint a=» to the sluggishness of money in dairying districts; the output is lighter than had been antici?ated owing to the dryness of the weather, n sheep districts there is much briskness, and a strong demand for breeding ewes for shipment to Canterbury to replenish the flocks of the South Island. Importation is still on a heavy scale, and trade all round is sound.

"The Native Land Rating Act, 1904," will come into force on Saturday, Ist April. It provides that the following classes of native land shall be liable to full and special rates : — Land of which there is a European occupier, which is situate in a borough or town district, or within 10 miles of any part thereof; which is situate within, fivo miles of any Government or county road ; which has been at any time acquired by purchase, lease, or in any other way for valuable consideration from any person or from the Crown : or which has at any time been liable to full rates.

March 30.

The chairman of the Wellington Education Board (Mr Robert Lee) is drawing attention to the inefficient character of the rewards offered in the teaching profession, pointing a moral from the fact that the number of mule teachers in this district increased last year by only four. It must be evident, said he, in his annual report to the board, that unless the causes resulting in this diminution of the supply of male teachers were removed our schools would be within a generation largely in the hands of women, and, faithful and capable as_ were the services of these latter, it was in thehighest degree undesirable that there should be in the profession such a shortage of" either sex as was promised of males within, a few year*. In a number of instances lately the board had, after advertising, had either no applications or applications only from persons who w-ere unsuitable. The chairman instituted comparisons to sKow that railway clerks, postal and telegraph officials, grocers, bootmakers, butchers, bricklayers, 'painters, and hairdressers are all paid considerably more than teachers, and said it could hardly be contended that, in proportion to the value of hi-5 service to the State, the teacher received adequate reward. It was quite certain that afc present a youth of parts could earn far more in the mercantile than in the educational! sphere of work. The board was of opinion that the rate of pay should be such as to attract youths of the better class, combining; in the highest possible degree personal worth with educational attainment. So widely recognised was tho groat value of asound character that the board was quite certain that the people of this country wished not one of tho teachers of their child i-en to be underpaid, and that a measure, of wise reform for the purpose of securing a fair rate of pay to all qualified toacher3 would be widely appro\ed Even wirh tho recent increase of *calo 41 teachers, owing to the reduced attendance, suffered reductions of from 10m to £24 10».