INTERPROVINCIAL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10962, 3 May 1907, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL.

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. Mr C. H. Poole, addressing his constituents, Baid he believed the Land Bill was brought down by Mr.McNub for tne purpose of gauging public opinion. It! was an ihonest attempt to solve the question, and the voice of the people" was being heard. He prophesied tnat a Puie Foods Bill would be passed next session. He was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. , < The Star's correspondent at Raurimu wires that an earthquake was lelt at Horopito on Wednesday at 6.46 p.m. A, loud noise preceded the shock, whicli continued for -some seconds. A slight shook was also feJt at Raurimu. i jin replying to-day to a deputation *re shortage of trucks, Mr T. Ronayne, General Manager of Railways, said tliat Auckland was growing, and to his mind it was going to be on top. He might, he said, be giving offence to southern people m Saying this, but it was quite right. Auckland liad undoubtedly a great future before it, and it was the business of the Railway Department to provide facilities to cope with the great increase m business. . At a deputation to the Hon. Geo. Fowlds, one of the speakers (Mr Squires) referred to the system under which municipal elections were conducted. In his .opinion the system now m use led to confusion and corruption, He thought that j touting at polls and the "ticket system should be prohibited, while the names of I candidates when printed oil the Voting paper should not be placed one under the ■other m alphabetical order, but m a circle, so that there would be no top or bottom name. With the present voting paper thoughtless voters ca*fc. their votes m favor of the first names on tlie papers, while those on the bottom were overlooked. The Minister «aid he would submit the suggestions to the Colonial Secretary. In connection with the classification of school teachers for the payment of salaries ;the secretary to the Board of Education states, tliat those teachers who failed to pass at the examinations m January last had got their licenses renewed, but m the case of three unfortunate teachers who passed and qualified for full certificates, j the Department could hot be 1 induced to issue certificates, and consequently, while those teachers remained unclassified, there was .a- 10 ncr cent, reduction m their salary. It was pne of the "ghastliest"' things he had ever known. The Board had lu»d notice of the issue of' certificates, coming eighteen montiis after the time at which those pertiflca{;es were "'dated. Had those teachers failed they would liave ha 4 their' salaries-, bu(; they were now penalised for passjng. The Board lias decided to remonstrate with the Department on the matter. The Waihi mine's April returns constitute a record, ££4,010 having been won from 27,655 tons, making the total output of the mine £5,602,500. The Women's Political League have re--Bo}ved to bring under the notice of the Government- the abnormal number of cases of assaults oh women and children recently before the Supreme Court, and to draw attention to the. remarks made by the Magistrate regarding perjury m such cases.. . " ' The Auckland eleotrk tramway -workers' application for a new award came before the Arbitration Couft to-day. Tlie men demand a general increase of wages, to bring them into line with other centres, a minimum payment of eight hours wages daily, and' minimum wage of 24s weekly for casual hands, who are, they say, too.jiumerous to enable them to earn a living wage. The company make a Counter proposal to the Court to adhere to the conditions of the previous award. A Taupo correspondent wires that Ruapehu is, quiet. Ngaruhoe is more than ordinarily active, emitting large quantities of steam and ashes. Tokaanu geyser is frequently active, ejecting water to a height of over one hundred feet. During a discussion on the system of nature study lately inaugurated, the chairman of the Education Board (Mr J. Bagnail) said that it had been proposed that the Board should have certificates printed and some had been issued. They were brought under the notice of the Department, and it was thought that they showed too high a qualification, and the sec- ' retary held tliat the Board was not entitled to issue such a certificate. The certificates read: "This is to certify that — is qualified to teach nature study and elementary agriculture .m the Auckland public schools, including practical work m school gardens, : plant experiments, budding, pruning, grafting, plnnt diseases, botany, insects, soil analysis,; dairying, weather observations, astronomy,' and nature study." Mr Petrie, the Board's chief inspector. ..reported.. that he considered the certificates far too prelentious for the class of qualification a teacher could get from three months' tuition, and the signing of it placed the chairman m a ridiculous position. After discussion, on the chairman's motion, itwas decided to alter the* certificates to show that the teachers had undergone a course of training and had passed an ex» animation m the subjects mentioned. The Hon. Mr Millar, speaking at Waihi, said he would introduce into Parliament next sewion a Bill to do away with imprisonment for small debts, when a man was honestly trying to meet his liabilities. The Bill would provide that a man who had fallen behind m payments could call his creditors together before the Official Assignee and agree to pay off so much a -week, the weekly payments to be ! divided among the creditors pro rata, j While they were maintained a protection ! order issued by the Assignee would pre- ] vent the debtor being sued m the Magistrate's Court for the recovery of small debts. While an honest man would be protected, ai man attempting to evade his liabilities would have no protection what- ■ ever. THAMES, this day. The Hon. Mr McGowan received several deputations. The most important was one formulating proposals for the deep development of the field. It is proposed to sink the Hauraki shaft to 100C{?t, aiid Government assistance is asked for. Mr McGowan favored the scheme, which was 5 one of importance, arid promised to Tecommend the Government to grant a pound for pound subsidy. 1 ELTHAM, this day, ; j Mr Massey addressed a large meeting on the Land Bill last night. A resolution was carried that freehold tenure is the most suitable. 2 MASTERTON. this day. Mr J. A. Renall, for the past two years Mayor of Masterton, was presented last night by the citizens with an illuminated address and a gold watch. Mrs Renall was presented with a gold watch and a gold brooch. Mr and Mrs Renall will leave to-day to take up their residence m the Auckland district. WELLINGTON, this day. The Wellington Trades and Labor Council passed a resolution approving of the action of the Minister of Labor m compelling the observance of the Saturday half -holiday provision of the Factories Act, and regretting the fact that the provision was allowed to be dormant so long. The floods m the Wairarapa are receding. -No damage" of serious moment is reported. Settlers having been warned, moved their stock to Jhe high levels. Several small bridges were washed away. Several parties of sportsmen on the Wairarapa Lake were. caught by the rising waters, and sought refuse on sand ridges. A Lambton qnay property having, a frontage of 26ft by a depth ol 236 ft, has changed hands afc £450- per foot. V " CHRISTCHURCH, tliis day. Speaking* at' Darfield last night; •Mr Charles ' Lewis, M.H;R., said as' an Opposition member he would' like to see the Land Bill passed as at first presented, so tliat by actual experience the people would know what Liberalism in* land*' mutters meant. He strongly criticised the limitation clauses, not -on their own* account, But' for their grbunds and e!|fe<jts; " Tile fifty thousand pounds limit would not free any land for the ma.}i of small means, because he would hot be able to buy outright. Owing to f-he inability of tlie vendor to regain J)is land if a partially-com-pleted sale fell trough, the fifteen thousand limit would cripple pile "lending powers of institutions on whose loans teh success of the farming industry practically depended. Some other clauses he did not oppose, and he would, as a party man, pass the whole Bill through. As a responsible man, liowcvcr, he would oppose them. He strongly disapproved to the proposal to abolish the optional tenure as the most distinct and flagrant breach of faith ever perpetrated by any Government. He condemned the 1 endowment clauses as abject nonsense. They were inadequate to do what Mr McNab expected. The total result of tbe limitation and unimproved value system would be to seriously check improvements. The municipal gasworks of the borough of Rangiora were formally opened last night. The works cost £24,000, and are a great success. At the ceremony the Mayor, Mr Ralph, said they were only the forerunner of other municipal under- . takings. Tlie Customs revenue at the port of Lyttelton for the month of April totalled £43,693, against £34,241 m April last year. '•'" Tho excise beer duty for April this year *Was £1424, and'fbr April, last year £1645: "" GORE, this day. Mr Poppelwell, solicitor, of Gore, has received £100 to be paid to the New Zealand Insurance Company as conscience money. Jt was forwarded to him through the agency of a Catholic priest m another part of the colony.

INVERCAimiLL, this day. A remarkable instance of the payment of conscience money is recorded. lhelocal manager of the New Zealand Insurance Company ,Ims received a cheque for £100 through a Catholic priest from a recipient who sustained loss by fire. Tho sender had struggled for years to save the money. , . DUNEDIN, this (fcv. Mr Goodman, who has been appfimted electrical engineer for Adelaide tramways, was entertained last night. He was presented with a gold watch by the late staff and associated engineers. At Duned : n seventeen new pensions were granted m April, the amounts ranging from £2 to £26 a year. Seven claims were refused, five because of income being proved, one on account of property owned by claimant, ond another because claimant bad not fulfilled the conditions of residence. Seventy-two renewals were granted, the lowest sum apjrortioned being £9 a year. None were refused. I Tlie increasing number of charges again/M; wen for breaches of prohibition orders wan commented on by Mr Graliam nt tlie Police Court yesterday. "I will Ir.ive to inflict n heavy penalty," said the Masristw.te. "During the last month eight such charges have been proved." The inquest on tlie bodies of Wm. Cas- ' serley and John Fvffe, killed by the Milbum blasting accident m February, concluded to-day. Tlie verdict was that the , men were killed by ah explosion caused by a charge blocking m a hole and tlie force used to clear the block.

(Speoial to Herald.) It bits already been mentioned that Day and MjcLachlan liave been matched to meet at Duhedtn on May 24tU. McLnchlan l»lds an unbeaten record over the middle distance m New Zealand, while Day is the recognised British and American professional champion. Tlie distances are 200, 300, and 400 yards, the winner to take 70 per cent, and the loser 30 per cent, of the <»ate. The side wager is to be arranged when Day arrives. Mr jtaurenson, member for Lyttelton, has agj-'eed to assist m the Land Bill campaign m Otago. Hei leads =off at Mosgiel.