LAST NIGHT'S NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9400, 9 April 1902, Page 1

LAST NIGHT'S NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(Per Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, last night.

The Hospital Board met to-night to consider the question of accommodation for infectious cases, there being now twenty such cases in the hospital, with only provision for five. It was decided to erect new buildings for the treatment of infectious diseases, and the Board's architect was instructed to prepare plans of wooden buildings to accommodate thirty patients, to be erected within the hospital grounds. This morning H. F. Griffin and Charles Bowler were selected as details for the Tenth Contingent. They proceed South to join the Contingent at Trentham. It is stated that, owing to the award of the Arbitration Court increasing wages and shortening the hours of the carters, the rate for carting will be increased on and after the 12th inst.

NAPIER, last night.

The present Major, Mr John McVay, replying to a requisition signed by a number of ratepayers and all the members of the Borough Council, asking him to allow himself to be again nominated for the seat, has definitely declined nomination for another term.

WANGANUI, last night

Detective Bishop to-day arrested Thos. Hefferman, charged with the theft of £27 odd from the Provincial Hotel at Palmerston North. The arrest took place at Aram oho on the arrival of the Southern express. Accused had £25 on him when arrested. A young man named Joseph Conell was also arrested to-day on a charge of horse-stealing.

PALMERSTON N., last night

Dr Valentine met the Borough Council this evening in reference to the appointment of a Sanitary Inspector under the Public Health Act, and health matters generally. The Council decided to consider the matter.

WELLINGTON, last night, Thomas Connor was to-day committed for trial on a charge of theft of a purse containing £75 from a woman in the Basin Reserve.

The Arbitration Court to-day dismissed two separate charges brought against a butcher of having employed boys in contravention of the award. In one case the boy who formed the subject of the dispute had only gone for a ride in a cart belonging to defendant. For some time past there has been friction between the Friendly Societies and the Wellington Hospital Trustees with regard to members of lodges being treated as out-patients at the institution. A deputation to-day waited on the trustees, who decided, with one dissentient, that <jhe distinction between members of friendly societies and other people should in future be abolished.

The Minister of Railways is making arrangements for a comparative test of the locomotives manufactured in Great Britain, America, and New Zealand. This will take place on the Clinton-Gore section of railways.

The mail agent on the Ventura reports that, so far as he could learn, Honolulu is free of the plague. At noon to-day the Anglia had paid out 792 miles of Fiji cable.

NELSON, last night, Mr W. Stevens, of Nelson, who was a member of the Second Contingent, and who for his action at Rhenoster Kop in bringing forward ammunition in the face of a heavy fire was mentioned in Lord Kitchener's despatches and promoted to the rank of sergeant, has received a lieutenant's command in the Tenth, and leaves to-morrow for. Addington.

CHRISTCHURCH, last night.

The Premier met the Victorian Labor Commissioners to-day and promised every facility for obtaining information on progressive labor legislation. Tbe Commissioners, in reply, said that they had been very favorably impressed with the progressive legislation in the colony, and bad found that, although there were minor differences in some points, neither Bide would interfere with the main principles of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act. They asked that Mr Tregear should be allowed to accompany tliem through New Zealand, which was granted. The Premier visited Kaiapoi to-day, and was presented by Messrs T. Parata and Tiribiu with an address-, on behalf of the Ngahi Aburiri tribe. Luncheon was served in the Runanga Hall, and toasts wore honored. As the party were leaving Miss Seddon was presented with a kiwi mat and carved mere.

A deputation representing the Canterbury Bootmakers' Union waited on the Premier regarding an alteration to the tariff. They read a report stating that ths Premier had in Auckland said he would advocate at Home a rebate of duties up to 20 per cent, in favor of Great Britain. They thought it would be against the industries of the colony if he advocated these views. They asked him to let the present tariff stand with regard to Great Britain, and to raise it against other countries, especially. America, by 45 per cent. The Premier said the statement did not necessarily mean an indiscriminate rebate of 20 per cent, on all manufactured goods. Nothing of the sort was intended. He had always done what he could to foster local industries, and would continue to do so. With regard to American locomotives and carriages, every endeavor had been made to obtain engines iv time from England, but the time was limited, and the Government had to go to America for them .

At the inquest on the body of Harry Feast, who died through injuries sustained through falling off the Sumner tram, a verdict was returned of "accidental death."

DUNEDIN, last night. At a meeting of the D.J.C. Committee, G. Dowse, handicapper, forwarded an explanation as to his handicapping of the horses of W. R. Quinn, J. R. McKenzie, and H. Friedlander at the last Autumn meeting. After consideration, the explanation was accepted. The fourth wool sale was held to-day, when 1519 bales were submitted. There was a fair representation made, and the demand for all classes was good. Merinos, halfbreds, and fine crossbreds1 showed an advance of a farthing, while coarse crossbreds were firm nt late sales.

France, within a few years, has won 1,500,000 horse-power from its running and falling water. In Sweden a scheme is afoot to work the State railways from tumbling mountain streams. In Germany a force equal to more than 1,000,000 horses, derived from water-power, is doing industrial work. In Italy and Switzerland much is being done, and far more is possible. In America the total amount of electrical energy derived from rivers and rapids probably exceeds that of all Europe.

The Bishop of Hereford has roused the intense indignation of British retail traders by his recent speech advocating an extension of co-operative stores. The Trade Defence Association has sent a letter to the Bishop, in which the cooperative stores are charged with selling inferior goods at higher prices than the retail trader. The writer concludes with an amusing challenge:—"The object of the co-operative movement is to bring all to one level. If co-operation is good for any one interest in the community, it should be good for all. Will your Lordship then advocate or support a scheme whereby the incomes of all the clergy will be lumped and then equally divided ? This is quite a fair question, seeing your Lordship has advocated the cause of the movement which has this object in view."