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New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXII, Issue II, 9 January 1904, Page 23

Interviewed at Dunedin, Mr James Mills, managing director of the Union S.S. Co. of N.Z., said that while negotiations were proceeding satisfactorily, with the Canadian Government for the. Vancouver mail service, the matter could not mature till I he Commonwealth saw the result of the calling for tenders for the different mail routes. lie said that there was no truth in the report that the company was fitting the new' steamer Manuka with a turbine, but a turbine steamer is to be built for the company’s trade between Melbourne and Launceston, to be ready about the same time as the new Fiji boat, in September. The Manuka, by the way, is practically a sister ship to the Moeraki. Mr Mills said the company hoped to develop the direct trade between India and New Zealand, and he regarded the outlook as hopeful, ‘ .

Tenders for building a bridge over the river at Cambridge were last week laid before the representatives of the contributing bodies by the Mayor of Cambridge, Mr. T. Wells. The American Bridge-building Company (J. Burns & Co v agents) forwarded three designs of a cantilever bridge. No. 1,14 ft. wide, £9784; No. 2,14 ft. wide, but lighter in construction. £8426; No. 3, similar to the latter, but 2ft. wider, £8750. Since these had been received Messrs, J. Burns and Co. telegraphed stating that it was probable an extra 10 per cent, would need to be added cn the imported ironwork. The Cleveland Bridge Company, of Darlington, England (A. Brittain, Christchurch, agent), tendered for a cantilever bridge at £10,500; W. Brown and Co., Liverpool (A. Brittain, agent), 14ft, wide suspension bridge, £14,352; G. M. Fraser, ironbark suspension bridge, with steel cables, 16ft. wide. £5250. Tile tenders will be further considered by the various local bodies concerned. On Boxing Day between 60 and 70 people assembled on the Ruapuke Beach for the purpose of holding a working bee with the object of uncovering and bringing to the light of day th.it buried ship which in some past ago was stranded at the mouth of a creek running into the sea. It win discovered many years ago by Mr. T. B. J till, anil the iate inspector of schools, Mr. O’Sullivan, who on returning from a bathing excursion rode right across its deck. The. spot was never properly located, and nothing resulted from the wo 'king bee, as the old vessel’s position could not be determined. ThiSe was a great deal of difference of opinion regarding the position of the wreck, and she still lies probably clothed with twenty feet of sand, with her treasure trove—if she ever had one—si ill intact, awaiting the advent of an energetic antiquarian who will spend time and money in the prosecution of his search for relies of byegone days. — (Kawhia Correspondent.) Dr. Pomare, the Native Health Officer, has been telling a Southern newspaper man that a great change is being effected in the home life of the Maori, in the direction of the abandonment of the

old communistic habits in favour of European methods. It is becoming a general custom for the houses to be built on European lines, and for the Maoris to prefer the comfortable bed to the mat on the damp and uncomfortable ground. Moreover, the young Maori builds himself and his wife a ow house when he gets married, instead of crowding into the family whare. Everywhere the doctor finds himself much respected, and the news of bis visit is the signal for a general drastic spring cleaning of the pas. A good response was made to khs proposals for the National Scholarship examinations on January sth and Oth. The following figures, arranged in order of applicants and number of available places, shows the entries received: Auckland. 80 and 14; Wellington, 45 and 15; Christchurch, 22 and II; Dunedin, 29 and 12; Napier, 24 and 4; l7 and 8; Masterton, Id and 3; Whangarei, 13 and 4; Thames, 10 and 6; Ashburton, 9 and 1; Naseby, 8 and 3; Oamaru, 7 and 1; New' Plymouth, 5 and 3; Westport, 5 and 4; Gisborne, I and 1; Hamilton, 13 and 0; Palmerston, 12 and 0; Timaru, 12 and 0; Wanganui, 9 and 0; Greymouth, S and 0; Hokitika, 8 and 0: Kaikohe, 7 and 0; Lawrence, (I and 0; Opotiki, 4 and 0; Tapanui, 3 and 0; Tauranga, 2 and 0; Dargavillo, 2 and 0; Akuroa, 2 and 0; totals, 243 and 127. Al! previous records for C hristmas bolidiv business were easily beaten tlus year While and cards despatched bed on last year’s figure* by 32,022, Loth books and newspapers showed a rise of upwards of 25 per cent. Two English ladies who are touring the colon}’ at present are Miss Nisilda Daniell and Miss Appach. They have booked passages by the Waikare for the Sounds trip, and after doing Mt. Cook and Iho (’old Lakes and (he Otira Gorge, they proceed to Auckland by way of Wanganui and the Hot l akes, making the return journey to England via. Fiji and Vancouver. Miss Appach, who is at present making a short slay in Wellington. is a relation of Major General Babingtoiu