THE COLONIST, Published Daily-Mornings. Nelson, Monday, Novumbeb 17, 1902. SUMMARY NOTES.

Colonist, Volume XLVI, Issue 10568, 17 November 1902, Page 2

THE COLONIST, Published Daily-Mornings. Nelson, Monday, Novumbeb 17, 1902. SUMMARY NOTES.

Parliament has been dissolved, and the writs have been issued for the general election, which takes place according to law on the same date in every electorate, the 25th inst. having been fixed as the day of polling. In many districts there are candidates enough and to spare, but for the Nekon, Motueka, and Buller the competition is not expected tfo be so keen as in other places. For the two latter seats the former members are likely to have a walk over, the indications being that any opponents will merely be nominated for the purpose of securing a strong poll on the question of license, no license, or reduction of license, for the question of liquor license has to be settled by the people on the same day as the election of representatives to Parliament, For the Nelson seat Mr Graham, the former member, is opposed by Mr Jesse Piper, *who stands as an Independent Liberal, and who is a supporter of prohibition.

In several districts supporters of the present Government will split their votes between rival candidates on the same side, and it is impossible to say with what results, but the in* dications are that the Government will still have a strong majority after the new House is elected, notwithstanding that the Ministry holds a record for length of service. When many of those who have been consistent opponents of the Government freely acknowledge that much good has resulted from the Government policy the probable result of the elections cannot be wondered at.

Not many days have now to elapse before the polling^ takes place, but there are indications that some bitterness of feeling is likely to be shown over the Licensing vote. It is said that three or four districts in the Colony are likely to declare in favor of prohibition, and as the prohibitionists are putting up a candidate for each electorate, there will certainly be a trial of strength.

Sine& the publication of our last Summary number we have had news of the loss of two steamships on the New Zealand coast, and, unhappily, in each case a number of lives were sacrificed. The steamship Ventnor, left Wellington for Hong Kong, having on board, in addition to a cargo of coal for warships on the China Station, the remains of 500 Chinamen who had died in this Colony, and whose bones were being conveyed to the Flowery Land, there to rest with the bones of their ancestors. The ship, however, struck on some rocks off Cape Egmont, and having floated off, the captain, after waiting a little time, decided to go on, his intention being, apparently, to either continue his voyage, or make for Auckland — where his vessel could be docked— ras the necessities of the case demanded. He steamed on for about 300 miles, when the ship went down.. Most of the crew scrambled hastily into boats, and were saved, but a fourth boat, with Captain Ferry, was lost,

A sfcill more terrible tale of the sea is that of the loss of Messrs Huddart Parker's s.s. Elingamite, which vesi eel while steaming from Sydney to Auckland, struck on one of the Three /Kings, during a dense fog, and while going slow. She was said to have 43 saloon and 40 steerage passengers on board, as well as a crew of 54 all told, but the number of her passengers was greater than stated. One boat rounded the North Cape, and landed her passengers safely, while others made for the Three Kings, and another steamer of the same line --the Zealandia— rescued 89, but another boat and rafts were still unacounted for till H.M.S. Penguin picked up a raft 12 feet by 8, on which 16 people had crowded, but only eight remained when the warship made the rescue. It is believed ! that between 30 and 40 of those who j [sailed by the Elieganiite have m"et with a watery grave. ' An event of considerable local importance was the opening of the Nelson Co-operative Butter Factory, at Brightwater, which took place under most promising circumstances. The company is establishing creameries at Dovedale and at Appleby as adjuncts to the Factory. In regard to the dairy industry we must, nien- : tion that Mr May, of the Richmond Factory, has opened a creamery at Wakpuaka, and ig building another at Appleby, while Messrs Rankin and (Sons, of "Motueka, are about. to erect •a butter factory, at Ngatimoti. It I will thus be seen that the dairy in- ! dustry is advancing. The Co-opera-tive Fruit Company's factory at Motueka is now , about complete, and j during the season a large quantity of I fruit, ©specially raspberries will be I pulped thereat. The iron deposits •at Parapara hare attracted increased ! attention of late, and we now learn i that/three applications have been ■'lodged for considerable areas of this ■■ remarkable iron field, which may be said to be bounded by limestone and coal. '• . •.-■■.■■'■ * I Another matter of local importance /Is the establishment of an Inland Communication League, the object of which is to secure the opening up of the country by means of roads and railways. :^ There is every indication that the extension of what is known as the Midland Railway of New Zealand would prove highly advantageous by opening up coal fields that would/Secure" freigfct^fpr the i, lioe t .

The'discoVeries of coal near Belgrove, at Wangapeka, and at the Baton,"already promise to effect considerble changes in local conditions*

The Nelson Diocesan Synod, under the Presidency of the Bishop, has lately been in session, and the Methodist District Synod has also just concluded its labors*

locally the harvest prospects are at present good. The last clearing up at the Parapara Hydraulic Sluicing Company's claim resulted in the obtaining of 3340z. of gold.

In the early part of the month some damage was done by a gale at Napier, but this gale was a mere nothing compared to the terrible storms recently experienced in Australia. With darkness caused by dust borne on the wind, with fireballs gleaming, and with falling buildings, wrecked by the force of the wind, the scene in Victoria must have been appalling. A volcanic eruption at Samoa is reported, and a fall of red mud with rain in Southland, has, rightly or wrongly, been connected with that eruption.

l?6r the last quarter the imports to the Colony showed a decrease of £98,045. but the exports advanced by £374, 003, that the figures give cause for satisfaction.

The results of the Salvation Army self-denial week were recently made known, and again New Zealand con. tributed more to the funds than any of the Australian colonies. From New Zealand £6,748 was received; from New South Wales, which came sfeoond, £3.920; and from Victoria £3,550. Australasia contributed some £•21,000, and from the Nel3OH district £425 was received.

Tbe Premier, Mr Seddon, on his return from the Coronation and Conference of Premiers, met with a hearty reception not only at Auckland, but also in Wellington and in Dunedin. The Coronation Contingent was also fittipgly entertained on its return to Wellington.

The laying of the Pacific cable has been completed without hitch, and the immensity of the undertaking is scarcely appreciated. Those who remsmber the difficulties, with which the earlier cables across the Atlantic were laid may appreciate how great the task was»