NEW ZEALAND NEWS ITEMS

Otago Witness, Issue 2780, 26 June 1907, Page 33

NEW ZEALAND NEWS ITEMS

AUCKLAND. Dr James Dalziel, who for a number of years has practised at Pukekohe, was arrested at Auckland on the 19th charged with performing an illegal operation. Thirty-six hours’ continuous rain has resulted in heavy freshes in the rivers round Whangarei. At Ngunguru there is a very heavy fresh, but no damage has been done. The flat lands around Hikurangi are all under water, presenting the appearance of an inland sea. The City Council lias referred to the Finance Committee consideration of the proposal to establish a depot for the sale of humanised and other milk for the supply of milk for infants. The council have also instructed . the inspector to exercise constant supervision over the milkshops. Two claims have been made on the corporation for compensation—£4ooo by the Kauri Timber Company and £2OOO by Mr H. W. Fuller—for the loss of riparian rights and property taken respectively in connection with waterworks extension. Mr Hone Heke, M.H.R., who is visiting Auckland, endorses the protest of the Natives at Orakei in connection with the Auckland main drainage scheme. It is proposed to make Orakei the sewer outfall. He points out that if is most fertile land, and has been a source of Maori food supply for 100 years. Only about 50 families are living there, however. He suggests a site at Kohimaramara, close by, with no permanent occupiers to be interfered with. It belongs to the Church Missionary Society, and he believes it is let on lease. The council could get fully 100 acres or more if it required it there. He has written on the subject to the City Council and also to the Native Minister. WELLINGTON. At a, meeting of the Masterton Workers’ Land Settlement League on the 19th it was resolved to enter a protest against the action of the flourmillers in raising the price of flour, and that the Government be urged to reduce the duty on imported flour.

The question of extending the ramifications of the National Defence League of New Zealand was discussed at a meeting on the 18th. It was decided to hold a public meeting at an early date to consider the formation of a branch of th© league in Wellington, and a committee was appointed to make the necessary arrangements. A correspondent of the Taihape Post states that owing to the inability of the officials to secure adequate rolling stock ballasting operations on the Main Trunk railway Lin© during the part fortnight have been practically suspended . It is announced that the Norwich Union Mutual Life Society intends entering into the life assurance business in New Zealand. The head office will be here, with a local board of directors. Mr A. E. Kernot will be manager and attorney. Thomas Teece was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment on a charge of robbery with violence, and Edward Thomas Soul, alias Hughe.?, was sentenced to one year s imprisonment on charges of forgery and false pretences. Work is still going on upon the repair of the Cook Strait cables. So serious is the corrosion on one line that seven knots of new cable will bo required. An old three-core cable, abandoned last century, will be examined to ascertain if there is sufficient of it still serviceable, to give an extra line.

On Saturday night the police found a drunken man lying across the rails at Taihape 15 minutes before th© arrival of the last train. But for the moonlight the man would probably have been cut to pieces. A winter school for teachers was opened at Wanganui on the 24th, about 60 attending. The school is held for the convenience of teachers in remote country schools who arc unable to attend the Saturday classes for teachers in the centres. The school will extend over a week. The organisation of farm labourers into unions is progressing in the Wellington and Hawke’s Bay districts. Mr Fowlds is still of opinion that the loss on the Exhibition will be only between £50,000 and £60,000, but says a good deal will depend upon the realisation of effects. WEST COASTAt a meeting of the Westland Alining League held on the 19th it was resolved to urge the Government to communicate an official reply regarding the scheme submitted by a local syndicate for the drainage and working of Ross Flat. Subsequently the Railway League met and decided to cooperate with the Canterbury members in urging the Government to deal favourably with the tenders for the Otira tunnel. It was also resolved to ask the Government to expedite the completion of the Broken River-Cass section to enable one day’s

through service to be maintained from I Christchurch to all places served by the , Westland railway section. A strong resolution was also carried complaining at the delay of the Ross railway works. CANTERBURY. The Exhibition seals that appeared in the Waimakariri after being liberated on th© seashore have now disappeared. It is suggested that the seals have been shot. To a reporter on the 20th the Hon. R. M‘Nab said he was pleased to be able to say that there had been a marked improvement in the health of the Acting Prime Minister, the Hon. W. Hall-Jones. He was so well the other day that he was able to preside at a Cabinet meeting extending over two hours. The meeting was held at the residence of the Acting Prime Minister. As the result of three weeks’ vigorous campaign, the local Y.M.C.A. has increased its membership by 582, making the total number of members, including the boys’ department. 785. The result of the canvas is said to be a record for Australasia. A building campaign will follow.

SOUTHLAND. The police raided two houses where they suspected sly grog-selling. A quantity of liquor was seized, and informations have been laid. Informations have also been laid against a third party whose residence was visited recently.