LATE TELEGRAMS

Waikato Independent, Volume III, Issue 183, 25 January 1906, Page 5

LATE TELEGRAMS

LABOUR CONFERENCE. (PER PUEj|S ASSOCIATION.) Auckland, This Day. At a meeting of the Trades and Labour Council to-night the proposed Labour Conference was discussed. Some members expressed doubt whether the conference would be held, and it was decided to telegraph to the Premier asking him to definitely decide the matter. GREATER AUCKLAND. Auckland, This Day. The Mayor of Auckland at a meeting of the representatives of suburban bodies submitted proposals for the formation of a greater Auckland. The statement went into the whole question very fully and statistics were given to show how the various bodies concerned would be affected by the change. Consideration was adjourned for six weeks. EIRE ON THE KAWAU. Auckland, This Day. Captain P. MacElwain and the crew of the steamer Kawau had an exciting time in the early hours of Tuesday. The Kawau was moored alongside Mangawai wharf and at half-past two the engineer (Mr Long) was awakened by the flames and smoke entering the cabin. He promptly gave the alarm and the captain, officers and crew were soon hard at work trying to suppress the flames. At first it was impossible to get into the engine room, the fire having originated in one of the starboard coal bunkers. A bucket brigade was formed and when the fire in the engine-room had been got under, the donkey-engine was put to work pumping water and subdued the outbreak. The extent of the damage will not be ascertained until a survey has been made. INQUEST ON THL KAPANUI VICTIMS. Auckland, This Day. The inquest on the bodies recovered after the collision between the Claymore and Kapanui was continued. In the course of his evidence Captain Southgate, of the Kapanui, stated that he could not go inside the Gael on the day of the collision as he M'ould have had to pass over Minefield’s, against which the Wellington authorities had warned master mariners. The coroner remarked that if this statement had been made at the marine inquiry it might have had an important effect on the decision. RECEPTION TO THE RUGBY FOOTBALLERS. Wellington, This Day. The New Zealand Rugby Union has decided to hold a reception to the New Zealand footballers on their arrival at Auckland. PRESENTATION TO MR CULVER. Wellington, This Dav. Mr W. J. Culver, general secretary of the Liberal and Labour Federation of New Zealand, was presented with a purse of sovereigns and illuminated address in recognition of his services. INSTITUTION FOR INCURABLES. Christchurch, This Day. The Hospital Board to-day adopted a resolution that the members for the North Canterbury district be invited to confer with members of the Board with a view to united action being taken during the next session to provide an institution for incurables, and that Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards throughout the colony be asked to take a similar action, LOCAL OPTION POLL INQUIRY. Invercargill, This Day. It is expected the hearing of the petition to invalidate the local option poll will be concluded to-day. The evidence so far is to the effect that the poll was well conducted.

RAILWAY DUPLICATION WORK. Wellington, This Day. The feature of the railway duplication work between Wellington and Petone is the use for drainage purpose of large ready-made concrete pipes. When a drain is concreted on the spot some time has to be allowed for the concrete to set before it is filled, and before carts can pass over it. The use of concrete pipes avoids this delay. These pipes would appear to be a saving where they are to be used within easy transit of the place of manufacture. It is doubtful whether it would be economical to send them to the Main Trunk Line. Nevertheless, the constant delays arising from laying concrete drains at frequent intervals has been blamed for the tardy progress of that extensive undertaking. Ail the blasting charges in use in connection with the Wellington and Petone reclamation and railway duplication works are fired by electricity, Nobel’s magneto exploders being used where there is no cooer. The operators usually stand some 300 feet away to establish the current. The great advantage of the electrical firing is that there are no hangfires and consequently no risks and no waste of time, which benefits are as valuable to the travelling public along the road as to the workers themselves, as traffic is not hung up and work stopped pending the issue of hangfire.