LOCAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3030, 10 April 1912, Page 31

LOCAL & GENERAL.

The honorary medical staff has donated the sum of £175 to the Dunedin Hospital funds, this money being the amount received as foes from students during the summer session. The donation, with its Government subsidy, will be devoted to the laboratory fund The Public Works Department is proceeding briskly with tho erection of the new bridge at Taieri Mouth. It is probable that all the ferro-ooncreto piles will bo driven this week, whilst the approaches are in pourse of formation. A woman named Ann Auld, aged 75, was admitted to the Hospital on the 2nd inst. Buffering from a broken leg. She had evidently put on a pair of new boots for tho first time, and having gone outside the door to see how she could walk with them on, had fallen down and fractured her left leg just above the ankle. At a meeting of the Dunrdin Savings Bank Trustees it was decided to vote the sum of £3OO as a jyrant to the Dunedin Free Kindergarten Association. The usual monthly meeting of the committee of the Chamber of Commerce was held on the 2nd; present—Messrs G. R. Ritchie (president). A. S. Paterson, Crosby Morris, E. F. Duthie, R. Jamieson, W. E. Reynolds, G. W. Gibson, W. F. Sligo, and W." A. Moore- Apologies for absence were received from Messrs J. W. Henton and W. C. Burl. Mr Morris, chairman of tho sub-committee, reported the result of the representations made to the Hon. J. A. Millar, then Minister of Railways, by a deputation with reference to the matter of under-statements of railway consignments. The statements made by the Minister as to the working of the regulation were noted ■with considerable satisfaction. Correspondence was received from several merchants with reference to samples of apricots grown in Central Otago, and it was decided that copies of the letters Be forwarded to the parties interested. The president reported that the resolution passed by the committee as tho result of the recent visit to Central Otago had been submitted 1 to a meeting of the Chamber on March 26, and adopted, with the addition of a clause advocating tho installation of a hydro-electric scheme between Lakes Hawea and Wanaka. After a considerable amount of discussion as to the •best means of following up the decisions of the meeting, a sub-committee was appointed to decide upon tho form of circular to bo sent to ministers, members cf Parliament, and others, and generally to deal with the mutter. Mr Hannan Reeves was elected a member of the Chamber. As chairman of tho Council of the Ragged School Union and Shaftesbury Society, Mr 11. Ernest Wood has forwarded from London to his Worship the Mayor (Mr W. Burnett) the following minute relating to the visit to these parte last year of tho director (Sir John Kirk): —"The Council cf tho Ragged School Union and Shaftesbury Society, at their meeting on the 9th inst., when their beloved director once more took his place among them on his return from the Australasian dominions, record, in the first place, their thanksgiving to Almighty God for His mercy in bringing His servant back safe from his long journey, and, in the next place, take this the first opportunity of expressing their high and warmest appreciation of the generous and unbounded hospitality extended to him throughout that journey by high and low, rich and poor, in that far-off but important part of the King's dominions. More especially is it desired to tender to tho Mayor and the Mayoress the most heartfelt thanks of this council for the brotherly love and kindness shown to Sir John Kirk during his visit to Dunedin—a visit which ho and tho council will always look back to as an abiding evidence of tho goodwill and fellowship existing between the Old Country and those of the samo race under tho Southern Cross who are animated by one and the same desire of winning the souls of our children for Christ, of giving them a fair start in this life, and a good hope for the life to come." The annual rifle competition in connection with the Farmers' Union will l>o held next month. Last year 20 teams competed, representing 120 men, and others would have come forward but for inability to select a team in time. It is hoped the came thing will occur on this occasion. The date for the competition has been fixed for May 24 and May 25, at the option of the teams. At its meeting on the 2nd the Synod of Otago and Southland passed the following resolution, on the motion of the Rev Mr Chisholm, seconded by the Rev. Mr Kilpatrick:—" That the Synod 1 recommends congregations within its bounds, by means of collections or otherwise, and without loss of time, to do what they can for the relief of the starving women and children in tho Home Country." Notwithstanding all that has been done to repress the pea-rifle nuisance, it would seem that much is still required in this direction, and a very trenchant letter dealing with the matter was read before the meeting of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Committee en the 2nd inst. Tho letter was from tho North Otago A. and P. Association, and stated that owing to the daily increasing number of instances of animals being either cruelly injured or destroyed by irresponsible youths discharging pea-rifles. that association was fully persuaded that the time had come for effective measures to be taken to put a stop to such wanton cruelty, and with that object in view it suggested that the Otago Ai&ociation should

use every endeavour in its power to have such legislation passed as would ensure protection to animal life from what was at prosent a veritable curse in the land'. The letter further went on to state that the North Otago Association had taken up the matter with vigour, and in addition to the above proposed legislation, were going further and petitioning tor a " gun license" throughout the Dominion. In both of these matters the support of the Otago Association was asked. The matter was discussed by members of the committee, and regarded ip a very favourable light, and it was finally decided, on the motion of Air J. Elliott, seconded by Mr James Ross, to support and co-operate with the North Otago Association in the matter. The hearing of the dispute between the captains and deck officers of vessels of over 2000 tons and the steamship owners over the question of wages, hours, and conditions of labour was continued on the 2nd inst. before the Conciliation Commissioner (Mr P. Haily). On the; chief points no actual agreement was arrived at, and the whole question has now been ad'journod to April 11, when the parties will again meet in Dunedin. In the meantime the Merchants' Service Guild is to l-o asked to nominate a committee with full power to deal with the matters in dispute. Captain Watson (of Wellington) reoresonled the Merchants' Service Guild, while Messrs Aitken and Smith represented th-3 Union Company. Building permits for the erection of new buildings and additions to existing buildings, of a value of £9766. were issued by the city building inspector during ths month of January. For February similar permits totalled £7362, and for March £11,748. These figures give a grand total of £28,876. expended on, or in process of being exponded, for new buildings and additions in the City of Dunedin for the quarter ended March 31. It has been stated that Injector Cullen. tho new Commissioner of Police, served for some years in the Royal Irish Constabulary, but tho story has not been told of how he eamo to retire from that distinguished force. It is very interesting. As a constable in the Royal Irish Constabulary, ho was called upon for duty at several successive evictions. The final one wa3 on a cold wintry night. The roof had been taken off a cottage; the children had been driven out into a snowstorm, and finally tho police were required to carry out into the wintry night a poor, bedridden old woman on her couch, which was deposited on the roadside, exposed to the fury of the elements. It was too much for tho feelings of the young constable. That night, when he took off his uniform, it was for the last time. He resigned his position, and came straight away to the colonies, with the determination to find his future in a country where there were no evictions. Professor Gilray and Dr J. Allan Thomson have been nominated for the vacant position on the Senate of the New Zealand University, caused by the retirement from the Scna f c of Professor Salmcnd, who is not seeking re-election. Professor D. R. White has been nominated by Dr Churoh, and Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P. It is said also that Dr Marshall and Mr H. D. Bedford are probablo candidates for the vacancy. Tho election will take place on May 1. In reply to a letter from the secretary of the Captain Cook Memorial Committee asking for advice as to the design and construction of the two monuments proposed to bo erected on Moluara Island and in Ship | Cove respectively, the bndor-secretary of the i Public Works Department writes stating that the request was referred to the GovernI ment Architect, who makes the following i suggestions: —"I do not know the island, nor I in what position the memorial is to be j placed on it; but, assuming it is to stand ; prominently on the top of a headland or j promontory, I would suggest an obelisk of 1 concrete, finished with pebbles and shells I from the beach, dashed on to a cementi plastered face. The sum available is too j small for a stone memorial and bulk is ■ necessary to render lhe monument suffiI oiently conspicuous. A tablet of Tonga Bay granite bearing tho inscription could be 6ct in the pedestal. As for the beach memorial, I would suggest a pedestal of concrete also, simply carrying on iop a grourj of toc'.c, on which is sot an old disused anchor of good dimensions, an inscription tablet to be set in the pedestal, the finish to bo similar to that for the obelisk." In the course of an interview Mr T. : Ternperley, a member of the Australian ! Press party, informed a Lyttelton Times I reporter that before the end of | the present year the Pacific cable section j between Auckland and Sydney was expected : to be in working order, and the result would be that the wholo of the commercial and press messages now received in Australia by tho Pacific cable would pass through Auckland, and would be copied there before being transmitted to Sydney. On behalf of labour complaints are often rnado that capital, otherwise tho employers of labour, treats it with discourtesy and intolerance, and occasions have been known : when labour not always been tolerant 1 or courteous to employers. An instance, i however, has recently occurred in Dunedin ; which shows that labour can be markedly discourteous to labour. In addition to evidencing a lack of the possession of tho liner instincts, tho instance ! also shows tho want of unity in the labour ranks. A local union decided to secede from tho Trades and Labour Council with tho object of joining the New Zealand Labour Federation. Beforo tho severance had b;'en actually accomplished, however, the Trades and Labour j Council appointed a deputation to wait upon i tho said union to place before its members

arguments and reasons for retaining their former association with the governing body of labour. The union was written to to this effect, and politely requested that the deputation should bo heard. The deputation, which comprised the Hon. J. T. Paul, M.L.C., and Mr J. F. Arnold, ex-M.P., and Mr S. Brown, secretary of the Bootmakers' Union, waited upon the union in due course. They were kept cooling themselves outside the door of the union's meeting room for an hour. At the end of that time they were informed that the Trades and Labour Council'3 request had been considered, but the union had decided not to receive the deputation. The case is believed to bo the first on record where a deputation from the council has been refused a hearing by a union. Another consignment of pictures, forming a part of the Baillie collection to be exhibited in Wellington and the other centres of the Dominion, arrived by thp Remuera from London on Monday (says our Wellington correspondent). The pictures all told aro valued at £25,000, and are insured for £17,865. It is hoped to raise fully £SCOO in Wellington and district for the purchase of some of tho pictures by private subscription, so that the Nutional Gallery may have a good si art when it is ready to receive pictures. Tho Harbour Board has assisted in tho matter by lending tho " U " shed for tho exhibition of the pictures when they are available for tho public. Some of the derelicts who arrive at the Christchurch police station provo interesting (says the Press). One old man who finished up there tho other day, when searched disclosed an astonishing find. Tied round his body were dried peas, jam tins, cigar butts, and other rubbish; in fact, his body was simply covered by a variegated assortment, of queer articles. Another old man has been landing at the polico station by devious ways every night for some nights now. Ho is very old and' feeble, and through the efforts of tho police he was admitted to a home. The police thought thoy had at last got rid of their old friend, but they were mistaken; for, liko the proverbial cork, up he bobbed again on Sunday night. Ho was found wandering about tho streets by a member of tho public, who gave the old fellow the luxury of a ride in a taxi to tho police station, where he made himself comfortable on the lounge in the v/atchhouse. The question of gambling was touched mid-day address on tho 2nd inst. (says our Auckland correspondent). Tho remarks arose out of a reference to the men who gambled beneath the Cross during the Crucifixion. Ho would not say, he proceeded, that to make a bet was to commit a sin. " But I do appeal to you young men of Auckland," his lordship added, "on tin's question of gambling to read what I think is one of the finest things ever written—Charles Kingsley's letter to his son, when he wrote to him from school and told him that he had backed a horse for tho Derby. Then, having read the words of one of the sanest men that ever lived, ask yourself, ' Do I want my boy to be a gentleman?' Ls it being a gentleman to take somcono else's money? Vou may eay that tho other person has a chanco to win, but it is nevertheless a dirty and low way of making money." Tho Bishop said he knew, of course, tliat thero was a bit of sport about it, but if those who heard him had witnessed such sights as he had witnessed >n connection with the wrecking of fine young lives by yielding to this insatiable hunger for gambling, bo thought they would be wise enough to say thoy would have nothing to do with it. Among tho remits to be submitted at the annual conference of the Libraries Association of New Zealand, opening onSatur<kiy (says a Press Association message from Wellington) is one urging that tho Government should appoint a commission of five mom bore, at least one lo be a. woman, to promise and establish country libraries and organise and supervise the supply of books to school libraries throughout the Dominion. Another remit seeks to secure for country and school libraries an increased Government grant, and another urges that tho parliamentary library sliould be made tho nucleus of a national reference library. During the month of March, in addition to about 5000 magazines, 6422 works in various departments of literature. were issued from the Dunedin Athenaeum Library. The details of the issue are as follow: —Science, 11; useful arts, 24; fine and recreative arts, 10; serials and political science, 20; philosophy a.nd religion, 30; history and geography, 172; biography, 136; language and literature, 6; poetry, and drama, 18; miscellaneous works, 57; and fiction, 5938. "Land transactions in Hawke's Bay," said a gentleman from that province to a Post reported, " have for some time past been assuming very considerable dimensions. As an instance, only the other dav a buyer from the South Island completed a transaction which brought his total up to £170,000, all in less than 12 months. The largo landowners," he added, "are beginning to realise that it is not in their own interests to retain the holdings, and several liave determined to cut up portions of their estates in the near future." Recording his impressions of New Zealand, which ho recently visited (says tho Dominion), Dr F. Sohone, of Germany, warns the workers of tho Dominion against pursuing personal advantages to the point of endangering the futuro of tho country, and also 6ay3:—"To mo personally it alway.s gives a somewhat painful sensation to heajr people openly admit that they are

fighting for the highest possible pay for the least possible work; it borders on claiming a higher pay than one's work is worth, which would moan to claim a premium on cither laziness or mediocrity. On the other hand, it proves that thceo people look upon their work as a thing they hate, and not as something that they have dearer at heart than anything else. Doing tho work cheerfully necessarily improves its quality, whoreas labour that works by mero compulsion, that objects against immigration from fear of competition, and that concentrates all its energies on fighting for advantages out of proportion to the industrial and economical state of things at large, is bound to check tho energy and spirit of commercial and industrial enterprise." An accident of a rather exciting nature happened to Mr Massey and his party at Kohuratahi on Friday last. The members were driving in three Cortlands, driven by Messrs Coxhead, Hill, and Cleland. One of the vehicles stopped, and the ono behind was unable to pull up, with the result that the horses came up against the rear of tho vehicles, one of them putting his hoof through tho spokes. Tho result can well bo imagined, and for a few minutes nothing could bo seen but kicking horses. After some difficult work and exciting moments, the wheel was got off tho buggy, and the horse extricated, none the worse for its experience. Mr James Rankin, tho new secretary of the Clydesdalo Horso Socir'y of New Zealand, is coming to tho Dominion by the Remuera. As the acting secretary reports that a large number of entries have been received from all parts of the Dominion for volume one of tho new Stud Book, Mr Rankin's first duties will bo the preparation and compilation of this volume. Dr Marshall has decided to become a candidate for tho vacancy on the Senate of the University of New Zealand, caused by the retirement of Professor Salmond. He has been nominated by Mr W. Downio Stewart and Miss Flora Allan (principal of the Girls' High School). Our Wellington correspondent informs us that the Local Government Bill has been handed over to tho lion. G. W. Russell (Minister of Internal Affairs), and ho hopes at an early date to havo the necessary steps taken to summon a conference, at which local bodies throughout the Dominion will bo represented, for the purpose of considering the measure in order that it may be submitted to Parliament early next session. Tho matter of arranging a basis of representation at the conference has been loft to the Minister. He proposes to make suggestions for tho grouping of local bodies. " In view of tho very large number of local bodies in the Dominion," Mr Russell remarked, " representation of each one would of course bo impossible, consequently my idea is that possibly wo may take tho existing hospital and charitable aid districts as the basis of representation at the conference. Tho local publio bodies within each of these areas might bo asked to jointly select delegates to represent them at the conference." The dato of tho confronce has not been fixed, but it will bo held soon enough to enable tho assembled delegates to give their opinion of the Local Government Bill before Parliament meets. The custom of observing " April Fool's Day " leads thoughtless individuals to fall into various kinds of crror3 of judgment (says the Christchurch Press), but ono of tho most objectionable forms of joking indulged in on that day is tho leaving of a message on a person's desk, asking him or her to ring up a certain number, tho number given being that of Sunnysido Mental Hospital. This alleged joke was perpetrated on so many persons on Monday morning that by 10 o'clock the Mental Hospital authorities were compelled to request the Telephone Exchango officials not to connect anyone with the institution until after 1 o'clock. The necessity for more agricultural colleges throughout the Dominion was discussed at a meeting of the General Committee of the Auckland A. and P. Association on Friday. Mr .T. R. Walters said that tho time had arrived when lessons in agriculture should play a more important part in the education of youth in the Dominion. Besides being permanent boardinghouses, agricultural colleges should also be available for those who might desire to drop in wcasiomdly for information. Mr Walters stated that at the Ilawksbury Agricultural College, New South Wales, a threeyear course involved an expenditure of only £6O. Owing to expense, many could not send their boys to tho colleges here, and he suggested that scholarships should be founded for the purpose of agricultural education. He hoped the A. arid P. Association and the Farmers' Union would take the matter up. He moved that a subcommittee, consisting of tho president, vicepresidents, Messrs Dick and Allen, anel the mover be set up to obtain information from other countries. Mr G. J. Garland, in seconding tho motion, stated that the Education Board would favour tho proposal and help tho association in any efforts it might make in the direction of agricultural education. The board had alreaely offered prizes for tho best school gardens in the district, which was a small step in tho direction of the proposal indicated by Mr Walters. The sub-committee was electc^d. A Press Association telegram from Christchurch states that the Hon. G. Laurenson was waited on on Thursday by Mr Cliarles M. Parker (secretary of the Canterbury Society of Arts), who urged that tho Government should assist tho society in tho matter of remitting tho duty on the 12 pictures which tho society is

landing from England in a few- days. Ha added that the 12 pictures ■would coat tha society £ISOO, and that they had been obtained for the purpose of furthering art in Canterbury. Mr Laurenson said that if) •was impossible for him to remit tho duty, but if Mr Parker would put his request in writing he would place a sum on the Estimates as a refund of the duty paid by tha society. This was the only manner in which tho duty could bo remitted. Mr Parker undertook to write the Minister on the subject. Mr G. W. M'lntosh (president of tha Otago Acclimatisation Society) has reoeived a message from the Under-socretary of Internal Affairs stating that the Minister of Internal Affairs proposes to allow a short open season for shooting paradise ducks in tho Otago district, the season to data from May 1 to May 15. The session of the University of Otago bo opened thU week. A fresh and im'portant feature of the session will bo tha opening on now basis of thai law classes and tho opening of tha accountancy classes, the University Council being financially assisted in the establishment of tho former classes by the Otago Law Society and in regard to the latter classes by the Now Zealand Society of Aejountants. Tho railway traffic to and from Dunedin on Thursday and Good Friday was extremely heavy, so much so that the bookings for those two days on the north and south lines constitute a record. The total number of passengers booked for stations north of Port Chalmers was 4258, as against 4019 last year. The detailed bookings to the principal stations were as follow, last year's figures being given in parentheses: Lyttelton, 75 (78); Christchurch, 629 (670) j Timaru, 348 (231); Oamaru, 430 (478); Palmerston, 183 (141); Waikouaiti, 122 (129), Puketeraki, 156 (225); Warrington, 225 (204). Tlie total number of passengers for Mosgiel, south of Mosgiel, and Otago Central, was 4462, as against 3728 last year. Tho bookings to the principal stations in this section were as follow, last year's figures being supplied in parentheses:—Tuicri Mouth, 272 (147); Queenstown, 232 (164); Middlemarch, 61 (51); Clyde, 113 (97); Outram, 94 (81); Lawrence, 251 (149); Romahapa, 93 (65); Owaka, 175 (132); Henley, 42 (61); Milton, 161 (170); Stirling, 139 (112); Balclutha, 154 (133); Uore, 138 (92); Invercargill, 348 (338). Tho most noticeable feature in connection with the above returns is the marked increase in the passenger traffio on tha southern section, particularly to Taierl Mouth, Queenstown, and Lawrence, places widely enough apart but all apparently coming rapidly into favour a 3 holiday rosorta. Tho traffic on the Dunedin-Mosgiel section was also extremely heavy, and showed a considerable increase over last Easter, the figures being 662 for ISI2 and 615 for 1911. On the Duncdin-Port Chalmers section there was a somewhat marked decrease, the number of passengers this year being 673, as against 822 last year. In all sections the returns for tho two days of this year show tho satisfactory increase of 824 over those for last year. In the matter of trains running to tirnotable time thero can be little cause for complaint On Thursday tho arrangements were slightly at fault, and as a result several trains including the expresses wero running late, but on Friday tha schedule timo was fairly well observed, except in tho ease of the first express from the south, which arrived in Dunedin about half an hour behind time. The instances of overcrowding in carriages wero also pleasingly few considering the larga numbers travailing. Hitherto the West Harbour Borough Council ha 3 allowed one of its surfacemen to accompany tho Government inspector of noxious weeds during his tour of inspection through the borough, but it decided at its last meeting to discontinue the practice. Tho council agreed that the privilege might lead to the embarrassment of its officials, who, it was urged, were paid to do the borough work, and that the Government inspectors should be allowed to perform the duties for which they wera specially appointed. His Honor Mr Justice Williams, sitting in Wellington, has granted tho following Otago applications:— Probate was granted re Aquila Pearco (Mr Woodhcuse), William Spiers (Mr Stewart), John Gracio (Mr Wilkinson), Thomas Ferguson Dob3on (Mr Bedford), James Orr Seoular (Mr Cook). Bernard M'Donald (Mr Lemon), and Mary, Allison (Mr Davey). Letters of administration were granted re Mary Ann Cameron (Mr Lee) and Arthur Henry Abbott (Mr Hjorring). In re William Waldron, deceased, a motion for executor's remuneration (Mr Brodrick), was referred to the registrar, and in re a petition for directions an order was made in tho terms of tho prayer. In Rennie v. the Camcrons Freehold Dredging Company, a motion for an interim injunction (Mr J. MacGregor), his Honor granted an interim injunction to restrain defendant from carrying oa operations so as to interfere with plaintiff's rights, tho usual undertaking being given as to damages; costs, costs in cause. The annual conference of the Canterbury Branches of the Navy League was held in Christchurch on the 4th inst., Prof. Blunt presiding. Tho chief discussion (says a Press Association telegram) centred round tho proposal by tho Timaru Branch that 11.M.5. Dart, now lying in Sydney Harbour and for salo by the Admiralty, should be purchased as a training ship for Now Zealand boys. Tjio schemo was considered too big for the league to undertake. A' motion was passed that a sub-committea gather information on tho subject of ex«

Wilding the present system of tea training lor Now Zealand boys, with a view to urging tbe Government to enlarge the accommodation provided by the training phi p. Amokura, Mr J. Craigie, M.P.. to be asked to bring the matter before the House. Mr George Gibb, of Scargil), saw the Hon. G. Laurenson on Thursday (says a Christchurch telegram) with reference to the present position of the lessees of the grazing runs at Scargill. He stated that under the 1885 act the leases of these runs were to be renewed at iho end of a stated period at a rental equal to 2i per oent. of their unimproved value at-the end of the period stated. The runs had been held by the present lessees for 20 years, and they did not want the present position disturbed. It was possible, Mr Gibb further remarked, that the Government might take possession of the runs for closer Settlement purposes. lie pointed out that the majority of tho runs were only able to cajrry one family. The Minister promised that on his return to Wellington he would bring tho matter under tho notice of the. Prime Minister. I" There are many policemen in Australia yiho are associated 1 with the Church, but it in very 6eldora that one comes out into tho jfight for a regenerated world, and takes ihis place in the pulpit. Adelaide claims one policeman preacher, however —Constable /£to\veft. Rowetc lias been 25 years in the .ikiut-h Australian police force, and is a first-

ciass constable. His chief daily duty (says a Sydney paper) is to move on the crowd of punters who gather about the Imperial Hotel and Tattersall's Club lane, in Grenfell street, and it looks as though his close association with the gambling fraternity lias impressed him with the urgent need of doing something more than merely to see that the law of the country is carried out. The parson-policeman occupied the pulpit at the Halifax .Street Methodist Church, Adelaide, on a recent Sunday morning, and he preached a forceful extempore sermon upon a text taken from Proverbs. The Hon. J. A. Millar, who is now in Auckland, will probably return to Wellington on Wednesday on his way to Dunedin. When questioned on the rumours respecting his future intentions MiMillar declared that at present be had no thought of leaving New Zealand or of retiring from Dominion politics. " Aa to the talk that I am coming up to live in Auckland I can assure you that whoever said it knows more about my business than I do myself," he declared, adding "much as I like Auckland I have at the present time no intention whatever of leaving Dunedin." Writing in the Maoriland Worker, M Robertson, 31. P., says:—We supported the Liberal party as against the Massey party on condition that a new Government -was formed. There could only bo one reason which would Justify us in keepinc the

Liberal party on the Government benches —viz., that, we would get better legislation from them than from the otheis, and use our position to assist the growth of the Labour forces in politics generally. To | get this better legislation it is first proposed j that a new Executive be formed and. j secondly, that when it is formed it be of j fuch a nature that we could legitimately j ally ourselves as a distinct party with it j lor certain purposes. It was necessary, . therefore, as a consequence of our vote | on the no-confidence motion that wo attend | this conference and make our desires known iin regard to the new Executive. Had | we not done so matters would have taken : a turn that would have made our previous j vote worse than useless. The number of inmates in the Dun--1 edin Hospital at the beginning of : last week was 149, and at its i close ]25. Twenty-six patients were I admitted during the week, and 44 J discharged, while six deaths took place—- ! Herbert Johnsen, Thomas Kellett, Alexj under M'Kenzie, Samuel Northey, Francis | B. Ranee, and G. Young. In reference to what has been described as " The Mataura Dispute," which came before the Presbyterian Synod last week, it. has been pointed out to us that though the dispute occurred within the bounds oi the Mataura, Presbytery it was in no way connected with the congregation of the Mataura Church. At the meeting of the Southland Educa- : tion Hoard on Wednesday, the question cf military training as it affected teachers cropped up, and the chairman (Mr D. Gilchrist) said that one of the defence officers j hod said that the board was against compulsory training. That was quite- wrong, Mr Gilchrist said; he was sure that there was not a member of the board who did not wish to see the scheme a success, and to help in consolidating it. According to returns published in the Gazette Canterbury and Otago arc the cnly districts in the Dominion in which there are more spinsters than bachelors, the numbers being 2299 and 2765 respectively, which is equal to an excess of over j 11 per cent in Canterbury and over 16 per cent in Otago. In the Auckland j district there is an opposite state of affairs, j there being 7263 more bachelors than spin- ! sters, which means that the excess is equal !to 25 per cent. Bachelors are defined as ! those 20 years of age and upwards, and spinsters those of 15 years and upwards. The late Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. M'Kenzie) was observed on Tuesday strolling along Lamb ton Quay in a j straw hat and light coloured tweeds (says ; the Dominion) Apparently he was enj joying his relea-se from the cares of Ministerial life Sir Jas. Carroll is another late Minister whose public appearances suggest that he is fortified in the cold shades of ietirement by a comfortable spirit of philosophy. Sir Joseph Ward may also be | mentioned in this connection. Apologising on Tuesday to the officers of the Treasury 1 Department for his failure to meet them ' on the previous afternoon, as had been arranged, he explained that he had been ' playing golf, for the first time in 13 years. ! Having started he played on and became ; so absorbed that lie totally forgot about the Treasury and everything else in Weii lington.

Enormous crops of fruit are reported from every orchard in llawkes Bay. in plea-sing contrast to the poor yield of last season. Insufficient labour ha,s been obtainable to can half the quantity of fruit coming in from the orchards. As a result of this scarcity of labour at least half the fruit crops have been sent to the fruit markets instead of to the canning factory. The number at present employed at tins Frimley works is not half that for whom work could have been found, could it have been j>ossible to procure them, there being employment for about three hundred hands all the year round. In the bush, where people are thrown on their own resources, some remarkable ingenuity is shown in contriving makeshifts A young fellow living in the backblocks not far from Taumarunui wanted particularly to be roused at 2 o'clock in the morning, and having no alarm clock, contrived a substitute on the spot. Like Alfred the Great (fcays the Taumarunui paper), ho had recourse to burning a candle as a timemeasurer. He suspended a small can of watei alxsvo the head of Ins stretcher in such a way that it was prevented from upsetting only by a string connected with the candle itt a certain mark, which he had found by experiment would be readied at the required time. He then lit his candle and went to bed. The plan worked like a charm. At 2 a.in he received a cold douche which effectually awakened him. An official of the Royal Household, with his Majesty's approval, has contributed to the Strand Magazine an article telling how the King's day is occupied. His Majesty's "office." as he smilingly calls it, is situated on the first floor of Buckingham Palace, and was formerly used by the late King Edward. It is a light and airy apartment, very simply furnished, and contains a largo roll-top desk which his Majesty used when Prince of Wales. On the other side of the room is another desk now used by Lord Stamfordham, while his Majesty's assistant secretaries and the minor officials of the department are close at hand in case their presence is suddenly required. King George is an extremely early riser, and his secretaries often find when they arrive to commence their daily duties, that he has been hard at work for several hours. All letters addressed to the King or Queen are sent direct to whichever of the Royal residences

they are occupying from the General Post office in London in si>ecially sealed bags. In the case of Bucking Palace, this bag* arrives, as a rule, just as his Majesty is finishing dinner, and is taken charge of by the secretary on duty, who opens it and proceeds to sort out the contents. Such letters as will ultimately demand the personal attention of King George are placed before him the samo night, but it is not often that he deals with them at the moment, save in matters that will not brook delay. Ho glances through them, makes a few brief notes upon them, and they are then placed under lock and key until he is ready for them on the following morning. The King has barely had time to deal with these before the Royal breakfast is served, and almost simultaneously an even larger bag of correspondence arrives. By the organisation of a well-nigh perfect system, however, this heavy correspondence is dealt with in remarkably quick time. Lord Stamfordham, should ho be on duty, opens every communication, and, glancing at it, places the bulk of it in large crimson leather baskets labelled with the tenor of the epistle Thus invitations to undertake public functions of one description or another go into one basket, charitable appeals into another, the official report of the proceedings of the two Houses of Parliament into a smaller basket, letters of a personal or semi-personal character into a fourth, and so on. Mr W. Willcox, head gardener in the Tourist Department's Domain at Queenstown, paid a visit to Fairfield and Dunedin last week and obtained a large collection of plants of various kinds (says the Wakatipu Mail). At the former place resides Mrs Martin, widow of the late Mr Martin, a noted nurseryman. This lady has very kindly given he? valuable collection of Alpine plants to the Tourist Department, the main purpose of Mr Willcox's visit being to obtain some of these. He also procured some very rare plants from Mr Tannock, who lias charge of the Dunedin Botanic Gardens. Thes? include some fine primulas. Altogether Mr Willcox procured about 100 plants, and these will form a valuable addition to the present collection in the domain. A scheme to beautify Cathedral square, Christchurch, was placed by Mr Hurst Seager before the committee of the Beautifying Association on Monday, and has been received with much favour. The Mayor (Mr J. J- Dougall) gave the scheme very enthusiastic approval when he was asked to discuss it on Tuesday morning. He said that Mr Seager had consulted him already, and had been assured of his hearty sympathy. He hoped that the City Council would give the Beautifying Association a subsidy. Cathedral square was one of the essential parts of the city. There great possibilities before it. With the application of even a little artistic taate it could be made the prettiest place of the kind in New Zealand. But he felt that, before any beautifying was attempted, it was necessai-y to put an end to the public meetings and the speeches made in the square. He was convinced that that should be the first step, and that Mr Seager's proposals should be considered later.

The ingenuity of thos-e who try to outwit the gatekeepers at football matches was discussed at the meeting of the committee of the Canterbury Rugby Union on Tuesday night, when the question of free passes for players cam* up for discussion. It was stated that it was possible for a player with a pass to enter the ground and immediately go out again, receiving a check to enable him to return. He could then give the pass cheek to a friend outside the gate, and enter again on his player's pass. The chairman, however, scouted the idea of a footballer doing such an unsportsmanlike thing. There is a general impression throughout the Dominion that in Nelson there are about three single girls to every bachelor. This idea is exploded by a table published in the latest, issue of the Gazette, which shows that in Nelson there* are 7561 bachelors of the age of 20 years and upwards, and only 4932 spinsters of the age of 15 years and upwards, or an average of 153 bachelors to every 100 spinsters. Another table show? that there are altogether 26,958 males in the district, and 21,505 females, of all ages. The unmarried male; persons totu! 17,814, and the unmarried females 12,338. A most extraordinary incident is narrated in connection with the Territorial camp at, Marakcke, in Ilawke's Bay It appears that the men expected' to Ik.' permitted to visa Takapau on the Saturday they were in camp, that place having the nearest hotel. However, permission was refused, and a guard was placed round the railway station to prevent any of the men boarding the train. A number of the more determined spirits planned a scheme which they successfully carried out. Making a considerable detour, in twos and threes they approached tin- railway line at a point alx>ul a mill- away from their camp, a little after dark. As the train approached, by means of a bicycle lamp and some red cloth over the glass, they mat aged to stop the train, and so got on board and reached Takapau. where they had a pretty good time. On the way back, when about a miio or so from camp, the whole mob joined in a fearful howl, which reached the ears of the engine-driver, who, thinking some accident had occurred, applied his brakes and pulled up the train, the Territorials dropping oft' in sixes and sevens. As they approached the camp a large force had been detailed to effect a capture. About 25 were taken, and the rest made tbeir waj to their tents durinc the niirht.

Fines of £1 and 10s each v ere imposed, and the general opinion was rhat they got oil' very iigin for such a grave breach of discipline. ]t was ar first thought that the engine-drivers wore in some way to blame, but a full inquiry completely exonerated thorn. There is a good deal of misapprehension about the conditions under which persons addicted to drink may bo sent to Pakatoa or Rotoroa (says the Post). Many who know their -weakness would like to bo obliged (o go to on© of these institutions, for the treatment of inebriates, but to "qualify"' under the law they have to undergo the unpleasant ordeal of a course of convictions in court. In the Magistrate's Court on Thursday, for instance, a somewhat unusual request was made by the defendant, Joseph Johnson, who was charged with drunkenness and the breach of a prohibition order. In pleading guilty to each charge, defendant said: "I want jou to send me to Pakatoa. I am only killing myself with drink, and want to get away from it. I want to go to Pnkatoa."' His Worship informed defendant he was not an habitual drunkard within the meaning of the act, and his request could not be complied with. lie was convicted and discharged on the first count, and fined £3, in default 14 days, on the second. A novel strike occurred at a suburban boarding-house in Gisborne last week. lb appears that the cook had had a grievance of gome sort with one of the boarders, and' carried the feud so far ae to refuse to serve him with breakfast, and ordered him out of the dining room. At the luncheon hour the offender again took his place at the table, and was once more promptly ordered out. Thereupon every boarder in the house rose fiom the table and left the tempting viands smoking upon the table. This action had, it is said, the effect of causing a higher official to intervene, and the cook had to descend from the somewhat lefty attitude he had taken tip. Some interesting observations regarding the qualities required to make a successful magistrate were made by Dr M'Arthur, S.M., at Wellington, on the 3rd inst., in the course of a speech at the farewell function to Mr Waldegrave, retiring Undersecretary for Justice. In complimenting Mr Waldegrave upon his wise selections for the Magisterial Bench, Dr M'Arthur said there weio three inherent qualities that ought to be found in every magistrate, whether in our lower or higher Courts. First of all, he considered that a magistrate should have a wide knowledge of human nature. That knowledge should be sympathetic, such as would enable him to imagine himself in a man's position. Next was the capacity of beiny able to weigh evidence. There were always two sides to a story. He was suit* that his fellowmagistrates would agree with him when he bttid that if they were to hear one side only they could give a decision very rapidly. In addition, magistrates must possess a keen sense of justice, otherwise they sometimes found themselves inclined to give a judgment more according to the letter of the law than the spirit of the law. He did not think that any magistrate should be called upon at any time to apologise that he had to give a judgment because he was technically compelled to do so.

The other morning (says the Clutha Leader) a small boy of about 11 was discovered in hiding near the Balclutha Railway Station, and on being taken to tho police, rokl a thrilling tale of how his father and he had travelled from Christchurch, and how the father, after giving him 2s for bread, had basely deserted him, and how he hud lived on bread for six days. The lad told a very plausible tale; he described his home in Chrfstchurch, gave tho number of the house in Colombo street, and so on, but Constable Ivopdell is too wary to be caught, easily, and after giving the lad his breakfast he proceeded to make inquiries. The boy stuck to his tale, and elaborated in a manner worthy of a De Rcugemont, but tho constable succeeded in bowling him out. The boy had run away from his home down Owaka way and walked up to Balclutha, possibly fearing some punishment from hie father. He is evidently a determined youngster with some pluck as well as other less desirable qualities and should develop all light if properly trained. lie has been returned to his home. Three young men had an unpleasant experience in a rowing boat on the harbour on Easter Monday, their craft by some means upsetting in the Victoria Channel, opposite the Cement Works. Luckily, the. accident was noticed by the occupants of a yacht's dinghy, though the smallness of the rescuing boat only permitted of one youth being taken on board immediately. The other two members of the capsized crew secured in the meantime a good hold', by means of the painter of the submerged boat, of one of the channel beacons, the dinghy having disembarked its load, returning from the shore promptly with another to their assistance, their rescue from a dangerous predicament being happily ertect-d. A resident of Sydney writes to a relative in Auckland :—" Although wages are high, the cost of living is getting a terrible burden on the breadwinner. I really think that, on tin' whole, the worker was better off some years ago with lower wages. Everything has gone up; at the restaurants nothing is supplied under a shilling, and articles that formerly were not charged for are no longer given in. The public say that every award that is made is only a prelude to higher demands. The purchasing value of money is less than it was by a good deal, as the workers and their wives are finding out day by day. Every indica-

tion Taints to a still higher cost of living in the near future. The thinking and reasoning man admits that higher wages are not as much of benefit to him as he expected, or was led to expect, and' that he would just as soon return to a more moderate schedule of wages and a more reasonable tariff for the necessaries of life, and he wondered how long wages will keep advancing and the cost of living do so likewise. The present position is not satisfactory either for capital or labour." A conference of the Federated Painters and Decorators' Union was commenced in the Trades Hall, Dunedin, on Easter Monday. Fifteen delegates were present in all, representing Auckland, Gisborne, Napier, Whangarei, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Ashburton, Timaru, Invercargill, and Dunedin. Mr F. Reyling (Wellington) was elected chairman. Mr W. Cooper, the secretary of the Federation was also present. Trie Executive's report and balance sheet for the past 12 months were presented and considered, after which an Order Paper Committee of five delegates was set up. It was resolved to devote the day to considering the remits from the various unions. On Sunday the delegates were entertained by the Dunedin Union, which took them for a drive to Henley and thence- by boat to Taieri Mouth, a mast enjoyable day being spent. Mr Mas>ey will attend a social to MiHardy, ex-M.P., at llakaia, on Wednesday, and will then go south to be present at a banquet in honour of Mr Anderson, M.P., at Wynd!ham. Mr Ma-ssey will return to Wellington about the end of next week. There was an extraordinary scene in Emerson street, Napier, on Saturday night (says a Press Association telegram). In response to an announcement that a woman who was alleged to be under hypnotic influence would be awakened at 10 o'clock from a 72-hours' sleep, a huge crowd collected Early in the proceedings they denounced the hypnotist, who declared that he had studied the science for seven or eight years. The crowd then took charge of the principals in 'be show, who had to seek refuge in an adjacent shop. Buckets of water were thrown on the densely-packed crowd from a building. The response was a shower of stones, which broke. some of the windows. The crowd hung on till after midnight, when the refugees were smuggled away in motors. The Governor's visit to Whangarei. it is stated, has occasioned considerable feeling among different local bodies (says a Wellington Post correspondent), and apparently on the point of precedence. Matters, however, came to a climax during the course of the banquet tendered to his Excellency on Tuesday night at the conclusion of the toast, "Agricultural Interests of the Whangarei District," which was proposed by Mr Crane. Immediately Mr Crane had finished speaking, Mr C. H. Hutchinson (president of the Whangarei Agricultural and Pastoral Association) rose, and facing his Excellency, remarked somewhat bitterly that he had not been called upon to reply bo the toast. In years gone by it was always the president of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association who was asked to respond to that toast at public gatherings As president ho claimed that he should have had the honour of replying. At the conclusion of Mr Hutchinson's remarks there was a painful silence. The Mayor (Mr T. H. Steadman) then rose and, speaking with evident heat, said that Mr Hutchinson was away when the toast list was drawn up. The reply to the toast had been allocated to Mr W. Crawford, a leading settler in the district. An embarrassing episode was terminated by bracketing Mr Hutchinson's name with Mr Crawford's for the reply The banquet terminated shortly afterwards

There were some unusual features in a case heard at the Falmerston North Magistrate'? Court on the 2nd inst., in which 11. Lows, of Dannevirke, farmer, sued his step-son-in-law, Alfred Smith, for £22 6s, money lent by plaintiff to defendant (says a correspondent of the Post). Plaintiff gave evidence that his wife had informed' him in June last that defendant wished to marry her daughter, but had no money to get. married with. Witness had replied that he would not sec the suitor '"stuck" for a pound or two, and defendant h;:d .subsequently asked him for a loan, on which he agreed to pay interest. Plain-tiff lent defendant £lO, and his step-daughter another £lO, to purchase necessary articles. Plaintiff also paid a doctor's fee for defendant, and for photographic groups of the wedding. Defendant and his wife gave evidence that the money was a wedding gift and not a loan. Mr Thomson, S.M., held that the £lO to the prospective bride might have been a gift, but that the £lO to the happy but inipeeuniouc bridegroom was merely a loan. He accordingly gave judgment for plaintiff for £ll 18s 6d, with costs. Some residents of Christchurch (says the Press) being of opinion that there exists the necessity in the Dominion for the establishment of a branch of the Shaftesbury Ragged School Union of London (of which his Majesty the King is patron), Mr E. II Stringer has communicated with Sir John Kirk on the subject. It is known that there are numerous cases in the Dominion that would be benefited by the establishment of such an institution, the objects of which are to provide the children of the less well-to do classes with Christmas trees, holidays in the country, and, when necessary, with clothing. The bicycle thief has again made his appearance in Invercargill, and the local police arc daily receiving reports of "lifted" machines. About a dozen are awaiting ownership at the Police Station at present.