LAST NIGHT'S NEW ZEALAND NEWS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 12698, 16 March 1910, Page 3

LAST NIGHT'S NEW ZEALAND NEWS

(Per Press Association.^ AUCKLAND, last night. In reference to the cable concerning the suggested mail i*oute via the TrausAndine railway, inquiries made amongst Auckland commercial people elicited tlie information that any route which will shorten communication with London will naturally be welcomed, but it is felt that tho routo via South America will not compare with those via San Francisco or Vancouver. At Valparaiso. there is m the '6ten»ix>ad*Rtea<l. v^l , liere*Sro* r iio trade prospects' to bo considered, as wheat and minerals are tho main exports from the Chilian port. From Wellington to Monte Video over the present trade route, the distance is 5975 miles, and, with an added train journey of some 1500 miles across South America, it is" not considered tho saving will be very great.

> WELLINGTON, last night. At to-day's" meeting ,<if tho Cabinet road votes totalling £27,000 and railway, votes for £60,000 wero authorised for expenditure. Other important items of expenditure which wore. passed comprise £31,000 for additional railway rolling stock. £9000 for railway 'stores, and £2200 for oxteusion and reconstruction of the Mount Eden railway station. Tho price of flour has been reduced by 10s per j ton. It ia now £10 per at southern, shipping ports, which means £10 15s per ton m 'Wellington. Tho Wellington branch of the Navy League giivo a, ball m the Town Hall tonight m honor of tho visit of Admiral Pooro. There was a. brilliant gathering. Substantial increases are announced m the. scale of travelling' and house allowances 03 part of the scheme of reform of tho Police Department, now being carried out by the. Minister of Justice. Hitherto married sergeants not provided with (jfuwtefs havo received house allowance of 10s 6d per week, and 'married constables not provided with quarters have received 7s per week. The rates 'm future will be 14s per week for sergeants and 10s £d for.ronst-ibles. Thi'se increases, however, will only be irrantod m the four centres, as rents are higher there than elsewhere. The new scale of travelling allow i-ices the rates u ill he Inspectors and ? üb-inspectors .l'2o 6d p.r day (no alteration!, station* ser^j'.n's aii'd ecrgeanta 10s (previously 6s) 3 c!vvi dcWctives 10s (previou ;ly 8s), detect-yes ii. 1 acting-detectives t).s* Treviouslv 3s), •.•!• stables 8s (previously M Tho ilcn^o^ take effect from Ami i. ' WESTPORT, last night. At the Warden's Court the application of the Westport Coal Company for a lease of what is generally known as "Cook's" coal lease, which adjoins the company's Denniston property, was considered, an objection being heard from Mr Wilson, on behalf of Mr Westenra, of Akaroa, a member of a syndicate formerly interested m the lease". The objection was that granting the leaso would give the Westport Coal Company v monopoly of first class bituminous coal m the district. The Warden decided to recommend the Minister to grant the application, disbelieving tliat- it means creating a monopoly, and stating that there was no guarantee that, if the application were refused, money could be other wise raised to develop the lease. Mr Dixon, superintendent for the Westport Coal Company, said his company could l>e producing coal from the lease m- -three weeks, as their present tram lines- wero now right on the boundary of tha 'lease.