NEW ZEALAND

South Canterbury Times, Issue 5025, 5 June 1889, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND

(Bv Telegraph. ) AUCKLAND, Joke 4. At a public meeting to-night a resolution was unanimously agreed to, recommending the abolition of the property tax and the substitution of a tax upon land. WANGANUI, Joke 4. A special meeting of the Borough Council was held this evening, to consider the offer frcmt'iegas company for tho settlement of the d spute. The following are the particulars of the proposals by tho company: (1) To charge the corporations 7s 4d per 1000 feet for all gas used in lighting, including the town clock, the quantity to be ascertained by meters ; not less than 10 to be placed in suitable positions in the borough. (2) A reduction in the price of gas to tho general public below 5000 feet per month from 12a 6d to lls j that at the now scale of rales to be below 10,000 feet 12s, over 10,000 feet lls per 1000 feet [s/c]. -3) The appointment of a delegate to meet a delegate from the eouceil for the purpose of adjusting the corporation gas accounts. The directors also stated that the large increase in the price of coal (almost 25 per cent) precluded them from making any greater concession, but that should the next coal contract show any reduction in price, then a farther concession would be made to tho general consumer. After a long discussion it was decided to accept the company’s offer, and the mayor was appointed the council’s delegate to arrange a readjustment of accounts. The Hon. J. Ballnnco will address his constitutents to-morrow night.

WELLINGTON. June 4,

The hospital returns show that the expenditure at present is much less than during the previous year. The tender for the direct mail service is on the same lines as the existing contract. The Government do not consider it particularly favourable to the colony. There will bo a rearrangement of portfolios to a certain degree in a few days. The Minister of Public Works having little to do with railways under construction, will take the Postmaster-Generalship, and Mr Hislop the portfolio of Education. The Government do not intend to propose any alteration of the North Island Trunk line. Mr Mitchelson expresses himself in favour of retaining the central route. No contracts will be let for the present, although £383,000 still remains of the million loan. It would cost £75,000 to take the line to the big tunnel at Porotorau. If contracts are let they will be at both ends. CHRISTCHURCH, June 4. At 3 pm. yesterday, Edward Ponsonby, aged 16, while loading hay at North Loburn, slipped off the top of a load, and the fork he was using penetrated his stomach. He died within two hours.

The committee of the Canterbury Jockey Club have adopted the following resolution : —“That the committee of the Canterbury Jockey Club hereby records its recognition of the firmness shown by Mr T. Teschemaker in the performance of his duty as chairman of the South Canterbury Jockey Club in the matter of the Princess Royal case.” At a largely-attended meeting of operatives in the tailoring trade this evening, a union of tailors, tailoresscs, and preesers was formed, with a strong membership. Speakers at the meeting protested strongly against the low wages and long hours prevailing in the trade. DUNEDIN, Juke 4. Mr Fergus explains that his views on education are those of a private member. The Government have decided not to touch the Act this session. The Port Chalmers Licensing Bench granted licenses to all applicants—eleven. The chairman said the committee considers that no person notoriously pledged to do his utmost to aboli-li the .liquor traffic should bo eligible to a seat on the bench, and the Act ought forthwith to bo amended in that direction. It was a manifest injustice to which no other trade or industry was subjected, that the followers of an occupation directly cmrutenanced by the State should be compelled annually to fight as for their bare lives.

INVERCARGILL, Juke 4.

The Southland Hospital Trust having made a demand on the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board for £IOOO for new buildings and alterations, the board appointed a committee to enquire into the necessity for the works and make comparisons with Dunedin Hospital. The committee reported to day. They point out that one half of the present buildings is occupied by the house surgeon and house steward, and suggest that both officers should be single men, thus throwing into the hospital the apartments now used by them as residences. The report also dealt with the staff, and suggested the employment of female nurses, and that the house surgeon should be subordinate to the honorary staff as in Dunedin. At present the medical officer is a duly qualified man and performs all the work of his department, and is responsible for it, consulting with the honorary staff when he thinks it necessary to do so. The conclusions of the committee, which were adopted by the board, were that expenditure on new buildings was not necessary, and it was resolved that a former resolution, giving the board’s assent to the trust borrowing £IOOO for the work, bo rescinded.