DOMINION ITEMS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12256, 2 July 1909, Page 7

DOMINION ITEMS.

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 30. The number of births registered in Wellington for the six months eliding to-day nas been 1050, as compared with J.OOL) m the corresponding period of last year. The deaths since the beginning of the present year have totalled 430, including the victims of the Penguin disaster. The figures for the corresponding period last year were 360. There were 550 marriages during the first half of this year. 555 took place between Ist January and 30th June last year. Under the Government's retrenchment scheme, the "Mines Record" and "Labour Journal/ as published in their present form, will disappear. The whole of the Government publications are to be amalgamated, and one journal, to be edited by Mr. J. Cowan, will be made to answer the purposes now served by the various publications. This arrange* ment, however, will not affect the "School Journal."

HOKITIKA, June 30

The works of the Ross Goldfields Ltd., with a capital of £70,000, are nearing completion. Tho plant has cost nßarly fifty thousand pounds. The pumps are capable of dealing with two thousand five hundred gallons-of water per minute. They will be worked by electricity to be generated by water power. The company expect to commence pumping operations this month. INVERCARGILL, June 30. The excise duty on beer manufactured in Invercargill during the June quarter of the present year amounted to £435 6s, as compared with £368 8s 3d collected in the same period last year. This means that the consumption of locally manufactured beer shows an increase of 5351 gallons for the quarter just ended. Customs dues generally for the quarter show a decrease of £1700.

At a mass meeting to-night to celebrate the third anniversary of the carrying of no-license in Invercargill, the following resolution was carried unanimously: "That this meeting expresses its satisfaction at the promise made by the Government to take action in the Supreme Court with a view to squashing the licenses recently granted in the King Country." WELLINGTON, July 1.

It has been definitely decided to remove the Museum to the Mt. Cook site, and locate it in a new building of three stories, erected in front of the present barracks, and originally intended for a prison. The cost'will be £16,000, and there will be provision for future extension. The construction will not, however, be taken in hand at once, as the Public Works Department have other large works in hand, including the foundation of the new Post Office, and the new Government House, the work on which has begun. The Governor's private secretary has received intimation that the first Imperial Service medal to come to New Zealand has been awarded to Walter Christie, for forty years in the Defence Department. He fought in the Maori Wars, and was in command at the Chathams when Te Kooti was there. Ho is at present at Home, and, with Mr Tingey, Avas deputed to present Lord Roberts with the gold medal of the Veterans' Association, of which he is patron. AUCKLAND, July 1. The engineers in Ralph's coal mine, who received a bonus of lime guineas for loyalty to the mine owners during the recent strike, have handed the money to the Waikato Miners' Union. The Union last night voted this money to an engineer who was recently dismissed at Huntly. The deaths in Auckland for the six months ended June 30th were 100 less than for the same period last year. NEW PLYMOUTH, July 1. At a sale of education reserve leases yesterday, twelve sections, aggregating GBBO acres in various parts of the back country were offered to brisk competition. Only two sections were sold at the upset, the others going at advances up to 260 per cent, over the upset, the average being 66 per cent, above. Tho sections are situated all round Taranaki.

The Petroleum Company's No. 2 well is steadily improving, and has yielded an average of 10 barrels per day for the past 'three weeks.