THE COLONIST. Published Every Morning. Wednesday, March 8, 1911. SUMMARY NOTES.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 13049, 8 March 1911, Page 2

THE COLONIST. Published Every Morning. Wednesday, March 8, 1911. SUMMARY NOTES.

Ambassadors of Empire,

The Prime Minister and the Hon Dr Findlay, Attorney-General, have loft New Zealand to represent the Dominion at the Coronation and the Imperial Conference. An invitation was received i'or eight members of Parliament to visit England as the guests of the, nation for the Coronation, but the invitation arrived so late that no members were able to make arrangements to leave. It is very enrtain, however, that the Dominion will be worthily represented at both functions by Sir Joseph Ward and his colleague. As he has pro red himscJf on many occasions, the Prime Minister is an Imperialist to his finger tips, and none could more fittingly bo in charge of the important proposals which New Zealand will move at the Conference. Dr Kindlay's presence in Englend is rendered additionally necessary by legal questions of moment affecting the Dominion which arc. shortly to engage the attention of the Imperial authorities. The two Ministers were very cordially larewelled at various centres, and in his message to the country,•customary on such occasions, Sir Joseph Ward said: "I have tho deepest feeling of gratitude to the people of New Zealand for the goodwill which has been shown to me so universally on my departure for the Imperial Conference. While, however, I appreciate in the fullest way this spirit of personal kindness, I fully recognise, that much of the demonstrations of the goodwill 1 have received is due to New Zealand.; recognition of the importance to her of the grc«it mission with which 1 have been entrusted, and reflects a strong and unanimous desire which exists on the part of the people of this country to widen and improve the framciwork of Empire which will attach us closer to our Motherland."

Australian Politics,

The politwail sea in Australia is troubled at present by the campaign on the proposals which tho Federal Governmemt will shortly submit to a-re-ferendum, in the direction of amending tho constitution to give the Federal Govern memt wider powers in regard to industrial and certain other

matters. The fight opened a few days ag'<>) and is being strenuously waged on both sides. The proposals originated with tho Labour Party, but them is not perfect unonimity on the subject between the Labour Governments of the Gomnioinvfeilth alid one or two Stated, although differences, which in one instance threatened to develop into ah open rupture have been patched tip. Australia is agitated alsii By persistent rumours'that Hie American Boci Trust is about to commence operations in the country-. This will also become a political question, and it is certain that in Australia tho Trust will encounter obstacles which it will nijt be in the powci- even <if dollars to

surmount,

The Methodist Conference.

The Methodist Conference now in session at Christchurch is rendered notable by tho fact that it is the first conference of the autonomous New Zealand Church, the Methodist Church of New Zealand having betin granted independence at the Conference of the.Methodist Church of Australasia held in Australia last year. There, arc some hopes that the severance of the New Zealand Church from the Australasian Conference will facilitate the movement for church union among the non-episcopal cluirchcr. in New Zealand. A striking feature of the Conferenca was the broad a.nd statesmanlike address delivered by the retiring President, the Reiv C. H. Laws. Tho President for the cnsui.ig year will bo the Rev G. W. J. Spence, of Palmorston North.

The City Water Supply.

A few weeks' dry weather brought with it the usual complaints of a shortage of water, and it has again been demonstrated that the existing provision is utterly inadequate to mrrt the demands of the city during the summer. The City Council sonic time ago obtained a report and estimate ou the feasibility and cost of bringing into tho upper weir an auxiliary supply from a tributary of the Roding river. From the report it appears that it would be possible from that source to obtain an additional daily flow of a million gallons, or about equal to the normal daily consumption, at a cost of £6500, not including the price of land it would be necessary that the city should acquire. Tluire is, however, no reliable evidence as to the- constancy of the .stream i.n dry weather, and if it is liable to the same fluctuation as thfc Brook, that is a matter to which more attention should be given. The Council'has decided to take a poll on a proposal to bring water into the Brook from the stream mentioned at the estimated cost of £6500. Simultaneously a proposal will be submitted to the ratepayers to repair tho large d:::n, which was unnecessarily abandoned a few years ago, at a cost .not exceeding £2500. It is by no means likely that more than half that sum would be required to put the structure in an efficient state of repair, but even at the outlay proposed, of the two schemes the latter, offering an assured and abundant supply I'or all purpof.es, should find most favour with the ratepayers.

The Maitai far the People

The throat of the owners of the Maitai estate* to exclude the public fioni the river banks within the confines of their property, has been duly eanied into effect, the people of Nelson now being deprived of their most valued pleasure resort. There is, however, reason for hoping that the loss will bo but temporary. The representations made to th« Government on the dr1 siraoility of the .State acquiring the property, or part of it, I'or the benefit of the public, resulted in the Scenery Preservation Commission visiting Nelson tha other day, when a large and representative deputation was roeeiVed, and the whole question diseiiMccl at length. The Comniissioners, who appeared to be. in sympathy with tho wishes of tho city, will report to the Government.