WELLINGTON ITEMS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6489, 18 May 1899, Page 1

WELLINGTON ITEMS.

[Fsoit Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, May 17. The Premier will visit Patea on. 'Friday for the purpose of attending a Maori meeting, at. the earnest request of the Natives. On Saturday evening he will deliver a political address at Pahiatua. He will attend the Winter Agricultural Show at JUunedin on June 7. The Public Works Department has accepted the tender of Mr J. H. Sandford, oi Kaikoura, for the , erection of a new police station at that place. Two years ago the Department of Agriculture secured a few roots of the rhea plant, the new fibre plant, and careful propagation has resulted in a.uout ten thousand plants being available for distribution. Anj' persons interested in rhea culture should aj>ply early, as the distribution will probably take place Aext Monday. From statements made by the Agricultural Department it would appear that the alleged damage by the " ear cockle " among the wheat in the South Island has been greatly exaggerated. It is stated that arrangements will shortly be entered into with the Patea Canning Works for freezing meat. New works have been erected to replace those which were burnt down some time ago^/ The harbour works are also to be extended on the lines of the reports furnished Dy Sir John Coode and Mr Thompson. The Hon A. J. Cadman. is expected back m Wellington about the end of the month. Mr Duthie is convalescent, and will take outdoor exercise in a few days. Wellington commercial men freely express their disappointment with the statement made by Captain Russell ha his recent address at Auckland, favouring Auckland as the natural port of call, for the San Francisco mail steamers, and condemning the proposal of the- Wellington Chamber of Commerce in '■favour of making Auckland arid Wellington alternate ports of call Kegarding the present crusade against ganibW and the games of chance indulged in in aid of the funds of St Mark's Church I am informed that the gamblingconsisted of a sort of shooting gallery, the missile being a dart fired by the proprietors o^ the concern at a revolving card, the JSh" I C , ti( £ et colTes P°nding with the number struck by th e dart winning the stakes. The total amount netted by the church funds from this source amounts to the munificent sum of 4s i-,1lv e m P « ei ?- onS 'i V '' hoSe " ames are mosfc genetheSS ?n + ?, tr ° nage and Protection of tne .Bench in these matters. Mr HisMrim, opinions of representative bodies on the sub 0 D° f i t° Zeal^ Patent i, S M; U D. Morpeth, secretary of the Welllinoton Industrial Association,, has presented He admits that it would be highly satis factory if , a system could u 13 appointing examiners of patents, and throwOfflr? 8 TV' Pr °° f UpOn the P^nt Office and not upon the inventor, thereby avoiding subsequent litigation, but undeithe American system, which is suggested for adoption in this colony, decisions are given after patents' have been issued but appeals are made from the Commissioner to the Appeal Court. ' The appointment of examiners, Mr Morpeth says, would involve large expense, and there would be no certainty, niftier the -American system of security for the patentee, bub there could be no objection to .'the appointment of examiners if their duties were confined to a search as to. novelty. Friction would also occur if the examiners were authorised to impose restrictions .upon the construction of the Ifc would, therefore, be better, in his opinion, to continue on the lines of the English system, and allow patentees to establish their own rights, without obstruction and delays, which might prove vexatious. He thinks, however, that there is room for improvement, in the way of following the English practice of printing all plans and specifications, and supplying copies at a reasonable price, which, in England, does not exceed a shilling, in America sixpence, while here the charge is three pence per folio for a copy of a specification, with no limit as to the chnrge for plans. The renewal fees are, he believes, excessive, and as the Patent Office is realising an annual profit of between £2000 and £3000 there is sufficient margin for the reforms suggested. Mr Morpeth's report. was adopted, and a vote of thanks was passed to him. It is understood that the Wellington City solieitor has been instructed by the Council to give a. legal opinion as to the power ot that body to demolish insanitary shan'ties in the slums. The " Post," whilst expressing disapproval of the Premier's action in " touring the country in anticipation of the general elections," is forced to admit that; in his recent speeches, he has indicated some, new departures' in policy,- such as the majority vots on the question of rating on unimproved values, amendment of the Jocal government, laws, in regard to public works, and classification of districts, . .which are worthy of commendation.. • Mr J. M'Kerirow, Purchase" Commissioner, and Mi- March ant have inspected the Larsdowne Estate, comprising 10,000 acres, offsred by Messrs Williams and Beetham to the Government for purposes of close settlement. ' They have also inspected the Langdale and Tenui properties. Mr Collier, local inspector under the Dairy Regulations Committee, has demanded an- inquiry into the allegations of Mr Gilruth, chief Government, veterinary surgeon, and DrVFyffe, bacteriologist to the Wellington Hospital, ." as to the prevalence of tuberculosis and cancer in cows from which 'milk is suppl/ied to Wellington consumers^ - To cure that soreness of tho limbs which > attacks cyclists and other athletes when in' training, apply Loasby's Koolibah, a liniment which, is used exclusively by Geo. Sutherland, Harold Lyons, and other cyclists. Pri^o 2s. all chemists. ,