New Zealand.

Southland Times, Issue 14787, 2 November 1900, Page 3

New Zealand.

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Nov. 1. The Government has decided to set up a Royal Commission to obtain evidence as to the value as a going concern of those sections of the Midland Railway which were completed when the Government took possession. Messrs D. Bar ion, D. King and A. Baldey have been appointed Commissioners to classify pastoral runs in Southland. The distribution of £3000 voted by Parliament for public libraries takes place on Bth February and allclaimsjmust be made by 31st January. The total value of the imports to the colony for the September quarter was £2,934,979 as compared with £2,491,515 in the corresponding period of last year. The value of exports during the same quarter was £2,315,369 as against £2,022,743 in 1899. A statement of receipts and expenditure of the Consolidated Fund for the quarter ending 30th September shows the revenue to have been £1,790,803 and the expenditure £2,042,447. The Conciliation Board is engaged hearing a dispute with regard to plasterers' wages. The principal demands of the men are that the week shall consist of 45 hours ; that all journeymen shall be paid not less that £3 12s a week ; that boys shall be indentured. NELSON, Nov. 1. At the Masonic Grand Lodge this morning a resolution was carried in favour of fixing the grand secretary's office in Wellington from April, 1902. The constitution was amended in a great number of details, mostly on the lines of the proposals of the late Christchurch Board of General Purposes, and ordered to come into force on Ist January. A proposal for a scheme to make the Board of General Purposes a colonial «i c, instead of being mainly confined to the district in which the grand office is located, was referred to the Board of General Purposes for consideration, as was also a motion in favour of a scheme for better representation at communications of the Grand Lodge. Notice was given by Bro. Burton to move, at Christchurch, to re-open the question of the place of the Grand Lodge office, with a view of rehabilitating the system of rotation. The lodge closed this evening. CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 1. William Highland, driver of the engine bringing the evening train from Culverden, when at Weka Pass cutting was looking out of the cab for a signal when his head came into contact with a rock. He was taken to the hospital and is progressing favourably. George Wall, of Palmer ston North, was exercising a horse over hurdles when the animal fell and rolled over him. He was taken to the hospital but the extent of his injuries is not yet ascertained. Several persons had their pockets picked at Lyttelton this morning and the police arrested a man on suspicion. About 5 p.m. when the constable took him his tea in the lock-up he made an excuse for going outside and suddenly leaped the fence and ran away, pursued by the constable. Two civilians stopped the escapee and he was taken back to the lock-up. DUNEDIN, Nov. 1. Nurse Ross, invalided home from South Africa, was entertained at a social to-night, the Mayor presiding. She gave an account of her experiences generally, and thought the complaints about hospital management were exaggerated.