WELLINGTON

Otago Witness, Issue 2812, 5 February 1908, Page 36

WELLINGTON

A man named William Bentley, driver of one of the Wellington Fresh Food and Ice Company's delivery carts, received severe internal injuries through the vehicle capsizing and falling on his back. The sufferer is now in the hospital. The Conciliation Board will sit on February 5 at PalrperstoD North to hear the butterworkers' dispute. It has been decided by the board to regard Palmerston as the centre of a district, and evidence concerning disputes in the surrounding localities will be taken there.

A batch of Wellington residents were before the court on the 29th ult. charged with watering their gardens witb hoses. Eacn defendant was fined 40s and costs. The need io<- the exercise of care in connection with the city water suply was emphasised.

Ac informal poll of ratepayers was taken at Wanganui on the 29th ult. on the question of whether the •weekly half-holiday should be observed on Thursday or Saturday. The poll resulted in 323 votes being cast for the former and 457 for the latter. At a special meeting of the Botough Council held in the evening it was decided to recommend the Minister of Labour to fix Saturday as the half-holiday for the combined district of Wanganui, Gonville and Eastbrook.

The term of Mr Justice Button's appointment as a temporary judge of the Supreme Court will expire at the end of February. and as there is now no exceptional pressure of work, the appointment will not be renewed.

Rabbit poisoning is universal amongst the Carterton farmers. Hundreds of rabbits are l5 r ing dead. It is stated to be the best season for poisoning since 1899. ' A fire broke out in Mrs Milne's Book Arcade (Pahiatua) on the 30th ult. The Btock, consisting of books, stationery, and other perishable goods, was practically destroyed. The stock and fixtures were insured in the Royal for £550. The building, which was owned b> Hallenstein Bros., pf Dunedin, was also insured. At the annual police examinations 28 candidates offered themselves, 14 of whom passed. The subjects on which they were examined included a knowledge of the Gaining and Lotteries Act, the Justices and Summary Jurisdiction Act. the Licensing Act, and police duties and regulations.

Another trip is to be made by the Government traininsr-ship Amokura. The \e3sei is to leave Wellington to-day Wednesday, and will proceed up the East Coast as far as Mongonui. Most of the intermediate ports will be called at, and the Amokura will spend some time in the Haur&kf Gulf for training purposes. The vessel will be- at Napier during the carnival in March. T/he Government canning expert (Mr W. Jaques), who has just returned to Wellington from the south, where he has been giving 1 farmers lectures on fruit-preserving for domestic requirements, left for Motueka last Monday, and will afterwards visit Central Oraero, Gisborno". Auckland. Waikato, Bay of Plenty, and the north as far as Hokianga. The Horseshoe Drainage Board (PalmerSbon N.). at the instance of Mr Hopping. Lave been served with a writ claiming. £2000 for alleged negligence in maintaining a 'drain.

Owing to the increased cost of running steamers, the two steamship companies trading between Wellington and Patea are raising the freight rates from' 10s to Us 6d per ton.