INTERPROVINCIAL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7664, 26 June 1896, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL

o [Pbr Press Association.] WELLINGTON. To-day. The Gazette contaiusthe formal notification of Mr Ward's resignation of his Ministerial portfolios and other changes in the Cabinet announced this week. Annual tickets for bicycles accompanied by passengers, available over all the Government railways, will be charged £10 per annum per bicycle. A conference of delegates from working men's clubs opened their proceedings yesterday. Fourteen clubs are represented, with a membership of over 6000. The ohief question is the proposed legislation affecting clubs. A sub-committee was set up which will report to the conference to-day. The Prohibition Convention resolved that unless law on requiring halt the electors to vote at the licensing poll in districts where there is no Parliamentary contest be repealed the Council recommends that no seats be uncontested ; that independent of party politics no candidate for the forthcoming party elections be satisfactory to the Prohibition party who is not a sincere supporter on the platform : that Government be urged to appoint a Royal Commission of enquiry into the police administration and inspection of breweries. They also urge the substitution of au elective for a partjT Executive. The Convention also carried a large number of amendments they considered* necessary to the licensing laws. Replying to a deputation, the Minister of Lands said a measure giving the Government power to advance money to dairy factory promoters was now being drafted. The intention was to lend money on the recommendation of the Agricultural Department, the company's property being taken as security. The Public Trustee acknowledges the receipt of £18,746 for the Brunner fund, Othsr contributions have yet to come. The Camera Union carried a resolution expressing regret at Mr Ward's retirement . from the Ministry, and hoping that ere long he would' again be occupying the position of IVcaaurer and Postmaster-General. At a meeting of the Council of the Chamber of Commerce a resolution was carried- that the Chamber is still of opinion that the imposition of income tax on consignments is impolitic and contrary to right principles. If, however, it be insisted upon, it is suggested that the basis of assessment should not exceed 5 per cent, upon the net proceeds arising from the sale of each consignment, profit or no profit. Any other method of assessment would entail a vast amount of work in the compilation of returns, and would result in friction between the consignors' representatives and the department. It can be shown that the net profit. of the average number of consignments sold in this - colony would not reach 5 per cent. The Prohibition Conference decided to ask the Otaki Licensing Committee to refnse the . license to a certain hotel in the district on . the ground of alleged mismanagement, It was decided to put the following questions ' to candidates at the next election : — Would'." you support legislation giving the people ihe power to control or suppress the liquor traffic, including the supply in clubs, by a majority of votes cast at the polls ? ; would you support legislatou to give the people power by the votes of a majority at the polls to prohibit the manufacture, importation, ■; and sale of iutoxicating liquor throughout the colony? The Council endorsed the consensus of opinion expressed throughout the colony by its supporters that the right policy for temperance voters at the local option poll is to strike out the top line only on the voting paper. The Convention has. closed. ■' A Wanganui fisherman named Kelson, who . left New Plymouth for Opunake on Tuesday, was picked up last night by the s.s. Moa five miles from land almost benumbed with cold. He had a trying experience, and would have been dead if left a few hours longer. . DUNEDIN, To-DAr. John Ryley's filed statement shows liabilities £32,207, assets £30,6*6, debit to the Colonial Bank £64,070, covered by securites to the extent of £38,092. Mr Sinclair, Mayor of Papanui, and Mr Sim, a Cookston settler, are mentioned as candidates for Clutha seat. After a hearing extending over four days the appeal case Oliver v. Taylor was concluded in the Supreme Court. Thomaß Oliver, an hotelkeeper, was convicted on a charge of stealing gas from the Corporation by means of illegal connection at the Sussex Hotel, and was sentenced to two months imprisonment, and the appeal was. against this decision. Judge Williams affirmed the conviction, with costs against appellant. The police have arrested near Tapanui . a man named David Low, who had an illicit . still in full process of distillation. NAPIER, To-day. - The ballot for the Elsthorpe' estate, Patangata County, recently acquired by the Government for settlement purposes, , took place this morning, the old Provincial Council Chambers being crowded. Many . people were unable to get into town owing to the interruption of railway traffic through the flood. The Commissioner explained that he saw no alternative but to go on with the ' ballot, but in respect to paying ■ money, consideration would be given -t0..-t--hose blocked up country. Altogether, 604 applications were received for 9461 acres. : Six large sections, however, representing. 2850 acres, were not applied for, and 10 out ; of the 14 village allotments are in the! same position. CHRISTCHURCH, To-day. " Probate- to the will of the late J. E. -' Thacker was granted in the Supreme Court this morning. The total value, of the property to be admitted is £84,000. \. .-.'.' REEITTON, To-day." An accident ocourred at the Keep-It-Dark •" mine this morning. A new poppet head 35 ' feet high was put up yesterday, and- the ... necessary staging and derrick on top to lift * the bearers for the pulleys. John McLean, Alexandra White, and" Frank Callaghan were on top hauling up the cap-piece when the guy rope broke. The whole structure' collapsed. McLean's leg was broken, White " was injured in the back, and Callaghan only ." slightly hurt. Two legs of the poppet head were smashed.