CABLE & TELEGRAPHIC

Waikato Argus, Volume XVIII, Issue 2907, 20 June 1905, Page 4

CABLE & TELEGRAPHIC

<rIt whs suggested recently t hut a Court of Appeal for tins whole of tSnull l Africa should bo created, hut the scheme has now boon abandoned. The Secretary of State for the United Stales, Mr John Hay, who has boon on a health cruise in the Mediterranean, is now quite recovered, and will shortly resume his duties.

The Public Works Department are making satisfactory progress in extending the Faeroa-Waihi railway. It is laid almost as far as iSuako Hill. Another couple of months should see it as far ns Waihi. The Allen line turbine steamer Virginian has made the voyage from Mobile, in Alabama, United States, to llimouski, in the St. Lawrence, Canada, via Capo Race, in six days 11 hours. This is a record for the route.

The French police say that an anarchist of Barcelona, in Spain, named A veno, was the man who threw the bomb at the Kins; of Spain in Paris recently, and not the young chemist Armould, who was mobbed and arrested after the incident. Members of the Canadian Manufacturers’ Association to the number of ‘2BO have arrived in England, and will remain three weeks. Their object is to study tbe industrial and commercial conditions of the Mother Country with a view to increasing Canada’s trade relations with her.

The following passes appear in the examination results published by the Institute of Actuaries, London ; Wellington : Part I—Class 2, Haiuley, John ; class 3, Dove, Jennings. Part 2—Class 2, Barford. McPhail; class 2, Latham, Moore, Towzol. Part 4 Class 3, Wilson.

The Army Remount Department of India bus informed tbe Premier of New South Wales that tbe supply of horses of the Australian class for army purposes from other countries is rapidly increasing, and that unless something is done to extend breeding in Australia for (ho Indian market, the trade will bo last.

Inquiries made in Wellington indicate that the retail trade is not so brisk at present as in the past. The head of a department at ono of the largest soft goods warehouses declares that, with perhaps one exception, there is not a retailer in the city who is doing the business which was done at this time last year. . In the country things were better. He attributed the slackness in the city to over-specula-tiou in high-priced property. The Wanganui Chamber of Commerce has unanimously carried the following resolution : the opinion of this chamber the settlement of large areas of unimproved native laud, such as exist in Wanganui and in other districts, would be beet accomplished by the Crown obtaining such lands by means of a Native Lauds for Settlement Act, tho capital value being invested by the Government, so as to provide a continuous income for native owners; and that the Government be asked to introduce the necessary legislation this session.” At a meeting of the executive committee of the Wellington Shopkeepers’ Association bitter complaints were made regarding the Shops and Offices Act. One shopkeeper stated that since the early-closing provisions of the Act had been enforced his average weekly takings had decreased by from £lO to £l2. In another case a shopkeeper’s receipts have shrunk so seriously that he has had to give his landlord notice of his intention to vacate hie premises. The whole situation was discussed by the executive in heated terms, and it was decided to try to make a protest “ so strong that Parliament must repeal this most obnoxious clause as early as possible.” The fact is being commented upon that the Christchurch City Council has tho municipal abattoirs insured with tho State Fire Insurance Department at a rate which is double that at which tho insurance companies were prepared to take the risk. Prior to tho establishment of the State Fire Insurance Department the companies charged the council 1 Is Cd per £IOO on the main building. In June, 1903, the council, considering this rate too high, offered tho companies 7s Cd per £IOO, which the companies declined. After tho establishment of tho State Fire Insurance Department tho companies reduced the rate to 10s Id, the same as that charged by tho Slate office. Ou June 8 the Council decided to insure with tho State, and two days later received renewal notices from two of the three companies who previously held the risk, on which the rate to bo charged was given at os per £IOO. The council having decided to insure with the State office, was therefore not in a position to accept the lower rate offered by the companies.