IN THE DOMINION,

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XL, Issue 15, 11 April 1908, Page 7

IN THE DOMINION,

Over 173,000,000 eggs were consumed in New Zealand last year. Cabinet has decided to appoint two additional inspectors under the Orchard and Garden Pests Act. The Flourmillers’ Association has advanced the price of flour by 10/- per ton. Restrictions on the importation of hides from New Zealand to the United States have been removed. The Godley statue in Christchurch is to be removed from its present site to a position in the Cathedral grounds. The estate of the late Sir John Hall which was certified to last month for stamp duty, amounts to £216,271. ' At Nelson, a meat freezing company has been formed with a capital of £50,000. Wellington Master Bakers have decided to adopt the cash or coupon system of trading. Wellington Corporation is negotiating for the purchase of the Gas Company’s plant and business. The profits from the Wanganui municipal gasworks for the year ended March 31st, amounted to £3OOO. Stamp duty totalling £27,628 6/4 was paid on the estate of the late Archdeacon Samuel Williams. Owing to the large number of scarlet fever cases the Westport schools have been closed. A block of freehold property in Queenstreet, Auckland, was sold last week at the price of £290 per foot. The North Brunner Coal Company of New Zealand, with a capital of £150,000, has been registered in London. Chinese Consulates are to be established in New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa.

Lyttleton is said to be “the worst port in Australasia for seamen and firemen obtaining liquor and causing trouble and expense to shipowners.”

The New Zealand Farmers’ Dairy Union is this season, making fully 47 per cent less butter than it did last

The Government intends cutting up the Ormaglade run. in the Teviot district of Otago, consisting of 28,000 acres, into four grazing runs of 7000 acres each. This season the Hawke’s Bay Fruitgrowers' Association has dealt with 34.000 cases of fruit, against 18,000 for last season, up to May 31st. The Anti-Asiatic League of Palmerston North is petitioning the Government to increase the poll-tax on Chinese from £lOO to £5OO.

School Commissioners throughout the Dominion whose terms have expired in the ordinary course have been reappointed. _

The Auckland Tramway Workers’ Union is understood to be asking the Government to hold a public inquiry into the condition of the brakes on the cars.

The suburban borough of North East Valley, Dunedin, has resolved by a large majority of votes, to discontinue rating on unimproved values and revert to the capital value system. The proposed site of the dairy school at Palmerston North has been inspected by Mr. Singleton, and it is understood that a large two-storey building will be ready for occupation next year.

For the eleven months ended on Ist March last, the revenue from Wellington city tramways was £113,784, and the balance, after paying expenses, was !£5324.

Replying to a deputation. Dr. Mason, chief health officer, agreed that there should be a national system of examining plumbers and granting certificates of competency. Owing to the wet weather interfering with the success of the various demonstrations, the guarantors for the Napier Carnival have been called on to pay up the full amount of their gunriintees, totalling £lOOO. . ,

Thirteen carpenters employed at the Westport Stockton Coal Company's construction works at Ngakawau demanded

an increase of wages from 11/- to 12/per day. The request was not granted, and the men have struck, but three have since resumed work.

It has been definitely decided that Colonel Davies (Inspector-General of the N.Z. Forces) will represent the Dominion at the Commonwealth Defence Forces’ manoeuvers, near Sydney, during the Easter holidays. Christchurch City Council adopted the report of the Electrical Supply Committee, recommending that the municipal electrical supply system should be extended and improved at a cost of £ 15,500.

The Public Works Department has extended the running of its trains at the northern end pf the North Island Main Trunk railway to Erua, four miles beyond Waimarino, thus reducing the coach journey to 14 miles. A cart, driven by an elderly man named John Foster Smith, a tea dealer, was struck by the midday express at the Piri Piri crossing, Dannevirke. Smith, who was severely injured about the head, was taken to the hospital. Two inventions, patented by a Sydney gentleman, may have an important bearing on New Zealand industries. One is a process for liquefying sulphur and the other is an improved method of treating antimony ore.

European vegetable growers in Auckland district have started a society to oppose the Primo Minister's proposal to employ prison labour in providing vegetables for the market, in competition with Chinese growers.

The Minister for Lands states that there are at present a good number of estates under offer to the Government. Reports are being received by the Land Purchase Board with regard to several estates in Canterbury. The Denniston Coal Miners' Inion took a ballot recently on the subject of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act.-Ot 360 votes recorded 140 were .for, the Arbitration Act and 216 against; majority against the Act seventy-two. o. The post offices at Palmerston Nprtjj and Invercargill are to be raised to the first rank. Each of these officers will be come a saving’s bank centre, enabling withdrawals to be made direct from that office. Replying to a deputation at Napier Sir Joseph Ward said every consideration would be given to the request that the survey of a railway route from Napier to Gisborne should be completed as soon as possible, and an estimate prepared of the cost of making the line. The Government steamer Ranadi. which arrived at Suva. Fiji, from Rotumah on April 3, reports that Mr. Wellings, the purser of the steamer South Australian, who was, according to news previously received, tomahawked by the natives of Futuna, is well. The “Feilding Star” says that it is stated on good authority that the stop-ping-places on the North Island Main Trunk Railway will be Wellington. Paekakariki, Palmerston, Marton, Taihape, Horopito. Taumaranui, Frankton, Mercer and Auckland. The coupon (or eash system) has been brought into practice by Hastings bakers. Interviewed a leading baket stated that customers were taking kindly to the innovation. He commenced with 6000 coupons in hand, which he found insufficient to meet one day's demand. The Muriana. which arrived at Suva, on March 31st, brought from Tarawa (in the Gilbert Islands), the men Mortimer and Jackson, who are alleged to have murdered the captain ami mate of the schooner Neuvre Tigre (afterwaftls called the White Rose), on the high seas. They will be tried in Suva. Five children, between the ages of nine years and 18 months, ha Ve been .discovered suffering from scarlet fever, ' in a small three-roomed cottage in Duiiedin. Four of the children .were ayc,«nimodated in one bed, which almost momlpoliscd the floor space of the aptiftmetit, which was low, and had a sloping ceiling. The Council of the Evangelical Churches jn Wellington resq|v<-d "to wait on the Ministers and protest against, the„needloss amount of drill done in volunteer camps on Sunday, and to urge that no

canteens be allowed in connection with forthcoming Easter manoeuvres. The Council also decided to protest against non-totalisator clubs being allowed to hold as many race meetings as they choose, and to urge that race days for each district be fixed on a population basis.

Lily Gilpin, a waitress who was engaged by Carter the Magician in Wellington to assist in the “Flyto” act, has recovered from her employer £9 damages with £5 4s. 6d. costs, as compensation for an accident that befel her through the fall of a cage in which she was confined during a performance.

Two dead and 28 live Chinese have just taken their departure from Wellington, en route for the Flowery Land. The finger-prints of the live ones have been taken, but as there is no danger of the corpses being personated by yellow immigrants, the formality was in their case dispensed with. Discussing the shortage of petrol in New Zealand, caused by the tactics of the Standard Oil Trust, an Auckland gentlemen expressed the opinion that it would be a good thing for the Dominion if th? Government were to take over I he Taranaki oil industry and develop the wells there.

Notification is made in the ‘'Gazette'' that the importation of swine into Queensland is prohibited for 12 months from October 15 last. The importation of swine into Victoria or West Australia is postponed indefinitely, and only stud swine are allowed to enter Tasmania. The importation of swine is allowed in South Australia.

The magnetic survey of the Dominion is to be extended to the Chatham Islands, and Mr. H. F. Skoy. of the Magnetic Observatory, ami Mr. E. Kidson, cf the department of terrestrial magnetism, of the Carnegie Institute, have left Christchurch for the purpose of undertaking the work. They expect to be away about five weeks. The Wellington Bookbinders and Piper Rulers' Society considered a letter raking for assistance for the Blackball strikers. It -Iras- resolved that th? Union, being in favour of conciliation an I arbitration, as a means of settling industrial disputes, cannot see its way to support the Blackball miners in their ilcnance of the law. The fame of Taranaki ironsan I has evidently been noised very far abroad. From Peterborough (England) a correspondent has written to the New Plymouth Harbour Board asking for information with regard to proximity of deposits of coal, water carriage, and railage, and proposing to visit th- Do minion personally. The various societies of professional musicians ia the Dominion are petitioning the Government not to establish an I subsidise a Conservatorium of .Music, as suggested by the University of New Zealaml". A New Plymouth clergymen alleges that the bulk of the prominent citizens of that town have no Church connection whatever. Evidently “lapsing into Paganism.” .Mr. Win. Dixon, a contractor, a'. Drurv. Auckland, has elected to go tw >

months to prison rather than obey aa order of the Court to pay £2l back wages to a workman whom he had employed as an “improver” at 7/ per day, when said workman was a journeyman and entitled by award of the Industrial Arbitration Court to receive 10/ per day. Mr. C. M. Gray, M.P. for Christchurch, who has just returned from an inspection of the North Island Main Trunk railway works, does not. think that express trains will not be running between Wellington and Auckland much before March of next year. He believes that the viaducts can be completed within the next nine months, but he thinks that the other works in hand cannot possibly be finished by then. Mr. J. C. Blackmore, Government pomologist, has gathered together a collection of five specimens each of 300 varieties of apples grown in the Canterbury district. Ihe apples will be sent to England, under the auspices of the Industries and Commerce Department, for competition with the United Kingdom and the whole of the British colonies at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Show this year. A suggestion is made that, the Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin associations of commercial travellers should federate, and then affiliate or work reciprocally with the Australian Association. At a conference, to be held at Brisbane during the Easter holidays, Dunedin representatives will oppose tho project. " ; Mr. J. S. Larke. Canadian Trade Commissioner, does not think that there will be any export of timber from New, Zealand to Canada, for the reason that the latter country requires only hard woods, and none are grown here. Thd North Island kauri is now available in such small quantities that it can hardly be regarded as an export article. A suggestion has been made by Mr. W. Fraser. M.P., to the effect that, in lieu of the penalty of imprisonment for members of an industrial union who refuse to obey a decree of the Arbitration Court, the' cancellation of the union's registration should be enacted, In the case of iifdividual mbmbbrs of unions disobeying, * they should autoirtic* ally ccp.se to be members. Cue hundred thousand American Atlantic .salmon ovay arrived from Canada by the s.s. Warrimoo for the Fisheries Department. 'l'his is the first _importation of American Atlantic salmon ova, and. although the Government or; dered half a-mil’ion ova only a-fiftji of th£ number could be supplied. The Governmeat previously obtained a consignment of Atlantic salmon ova from England. In Dunedin Police Court, Elizabeth McCaaighan, aged 50 years, sued her bus* band, aged 21 years, for the maintenance of her children by a former marriage. The parties had separated after three days. The magistrate (Mr. Wid.* dowson) said it was one of the strangest cases ever before the Court, and he de ; dined to make an order. The best thing for the complainant to do was to tako her huslxnd home and look after him.

During the first quarter of the present year New Zealand exported 134,100 ounces of gold valued at £528,069, or 15,981 ozs, of the value of £54,897, more than during the corresponding quarter of last year. The quantity of gold exported last month was 41,585 ozs, valued at £166,276, as compared with 50,573 ozs, valued at £203,673, in March, 1907. The export of silver for March, 1908, was 89,038 ozs, as against 101,550 ozs in March, 1907.

At a meeting of the Otago Harbour Board, the Works Committee reported that it estimated the revenue for the year at £75,000, to which had to be added a credit balance of £5929 at January 1. 19G8, making a total of £80,929. The estimated expenditure was £78,900, leaving a credit balance of £2029. It is proposed to widen Rattray-street wharf, at a cost of £3750, while dredging will cost £20,000. Debentures to the amount of £20,000 are to be issued to meet the expenditure to 30th December next.

For the coming National Dairy Show at Palmerston North, the entries show a substantial increase, numerically, over the previous year. In the butter division 45 factories are responsible for' 96 entries. There are 69 entries in the two export classes. In the elieese division 22 factories are exhibiting with 77 entries, and there are 33 entries for the export classes. The total entries for the two divisions are therefore 173, as compared with 150 last year, and 67 factories from all parts of the Dominion are exhibit-

Up to the present 248 burnt-out settlers in the Wellington land district have been furnished by the State with grass seed of a total value of £9955. The Wellington district appears, to have suffered most from the fires, judging by the applications for assistance. About 20 settlers in Hawke’s Bay have been relieved. Up to March 19 there had been 40 cases (representing £1500) dealt with in Auckland, 93 in Taranaki (involving £1300), 16 in Marlborough ( £ 1400), and 31 in Nelson (£800). These totals will be considerably increased by the additional applications which have since been received. The Hon. Geo. Fowlds states that he is strongly in favour of the proposal made in the new Hospital and Charitable Aid Bill that the appointments to hospital staffs made by the local authority' should be reserved for Ministerial approval. He wanted to get the very best provisions embodied in the Bill, and to that end it was proposed to hold a conference of the representatives of hospital and charitable aid boards in Wellington early in June. The Department would then be able to hear objections to the proposals submitted in the Bill introduced two years ago by the Government. Motorists in Christchurch—and probably in the Dominion generally —have serious cause for complaint in the severe shortage of petrol at present existing. Several owners of cars in Christchurch who do not keep a plentiful supply of “ spirit ” on hand have found the shortage very inconvenient. A dealer in Christchurch told a " Star ” reporter that his firm could not get any petrol at all at present. The explanation given is that the market in New Zealand is absolutely controlled by an American trust, which has been limiting the supply' to the colony in order to keep up the price, and the demand has outrun the supply. At a mass meeting of women, held in the Choral Hall, Auckland, on April 1, Lady Plunket eloquently pleaded for support, for the Society for the Promotion of Health of Women and Children, which she said was subsidised by the Government to the extent of pound for pound up to £lOO. In the last decade 15.905 infants under 12 months of age had died in New Zealand. Including these, 20.309 children under five years of age had been lost to the country, lardy Pl unket wished it to Im* known as widely as possible that Nurse Chappel, who was coining up from Dunedin under the auspices of the Society, would be ghul to render every assistance and advice to mothers.

( omplaints are made by employers of labour in Christchurch that there is a great shortage of skilled labour, more <*specially in the trades connected with building. The completion of a large number of buildings has been delayed owing to inability to find plasterers. Kmployers attribute the scarcity of artisans to (he limitation of apprentices under the different industrial awards. Al <3iriatcLurch, on Thursday evening,

the council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association discussed the question of sending representatives to the Olympian Games, to be held in London in July next. It was decided, if the money were subscribed by the public, to send Kerr, of Wellington, and Murray, of Christchurch, as the accredited representatives of the Dominion from the council. It was also decided to write to Guy Hoskins, Philadelphia, U.S.A., an ex-New Zealander, and ask him to represent the Dominion at the games.

Cruise of the American Fleet. Probably the 16 ships will be divided into tw’o squadrons of eight each. In an interview, Sir Joseph Ward informed a “Lyttelton Times” representative that, though he had not received an official reply to the despatch sent by the Governor to the Secretary of State, or to the cablegram sent by the American Consul at Auckland, he had been privately informed that the American fleet would visit New Zealand in August. "I believe,” said Sir Joseph, “that the fleet will proceed to Auckland from Samoa. The American Consul is resident in Auckland, in addition to which it is the closest port in New Zealand to Samoa. Onee the fleet is here, representations will be made to the Admiral, requesting him to visit Wellington, and, if there is time, Lyttelton and other ports of the South Island. Of course, one has to recognise the fact that the whole programme of the fleet is certain to be fixed ahead, and that the time at the disposal of the admiral to carry out the programme is very essential to him.”

Mr. Deakin has received a reply to a communication requesting to know whether the visit to Japan will make any difference in the Australian visit of the American fleet. He has been informed that it will make no difference in the arrangements. The armoured cruisers will not cross the Pacific, but the entire battleship fleet will come.

Manawatu Railway. At the annual meeting of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company the chairman stated that the year just closed had been a record one for the volume of business done, and also for the greatest individual increase in any one year. He doubted if the most sanguine of the directors dared to hope last year that the ensunng 12 months’ operations would result in an increase in revenue amounting to £15,913. In Hie past two years the aggregate increase totalled £28,099, or approximately 16 per cent of the whole revenue during the year. The number of passengers carried during the year increased from 510,506 in 1907 to 601.250, and this increased accounts (with parcels) for £9355 of the improvement in revenue. Goods carried during the year amount to 134.779 tons, or 15,719 more than last year, and this increase accounts for £6168 of the larger revenue. Expenditure increased by £ 14,214, and amounted to 60.2 per cent of receipts. The sum available for dividends is £44,941. It was proposed to pay out of this a dividend of 4 per cent, making, with the interim dividend of 3 per cent already paid, 7 per cent for the year, and to carry forward a balance of £33,141. Referring to the matter of the Government taking over the line, the chairman said: the present juncture we can only await events, but we are quite prepared to facilitate and assist the Government in the acquisition of the line in every way consistent with due regard to the interest of shareholders.” Messrs. J. R. Blair and H. Strang were re-elected to the directorate.

Conciliatory Tactics. Three industrial disputes down for bearing at recent sittings of the Arbitration Court in Wellington were amicably adjusted by means of friendly conferences betwen the parties interested without recourse to the Court. Mr. W. Pryor, the New Zealand Employers’ Federation secretary, says that it is a matter for much congratulation that so many of these disputes are now being settled in conference, especially as the federation has laid it down as part of its policy that, wherever possible, these matters should reach finality by friendly agreement, rather than by an award of

the Conciliation Board or Arbitration Court. The experience of all those who were interested in such matters was that when an agreement wae arrived at in this amicable fashion, the resulting awards worked with far less friction than when every single point had to be contested before the Court.

Captain Cook Memorial. At a meeting of the Captain Cook Memorial Committee, held at Blenheim, on April 2nd, it was decided to invite competitive designs throughout New Zealand for the monument to be placed on Cook’s landing-place at Ship Cove, Queen Charlotte Sound, at a cost of from £2OO to £5OO. An offer was received from the Admiralty of an old cannon, to be placed on the monument, and this was accepted. It was decided to ask the Minister for Lands to suggest a suitable emblem to typify the scientific side of Cook’s character. It was agreed to extend the movement beyond the bounds of Marlborough, and the secretary is to write to the editors of the leading newspapers throughout New Zealand, asking them to treat the subject as a national one, and inviting them to join the committee, and assist its aim.

The Slump in Flax. During the month of March the quantity of flax sent into Auckland was 3461 bales (or 585 tons) of the approximate value of £ll,OOO. Had it not been for The absurdly narrow margin at the present time in the market price between “ fair ” and “ good fair,” there would have been a larger proportion of better quality fibre sent in. Millers, however, came to the conclusion that under existing circumstances it would pay them better to send in the lower grade. More flax was sent in than was expected in the face of the very low prices offering, and it is stated, as there appears to be indications of an improvement setting in in the London markets, that some of the millers who had decided to close down have now come to the conclusion that they will still continue milling operations.

The New Zealand Flax Millers’ Association executive met at Palmerston North on April 1, Mr. Seifert (president) in the chair. Mr. Pryor was also present. The President stated that he had telegraphed to the Valuer-General, asking for a revaluation of flax properties in view of the fall in prices, and had received a reply stating that it would be necessary to make application in individual cases. It was decided to circularise members on the subject. It was resolved to make representations to shipping companies in regard to freight charges in view of the present situation, but it was considered unreasonable to ask any reduction in railway charges. Mr. Toogood explained the position in connection with a patent flax-dressing machine, and, after discussion on its merits, it was resolved to communicate with the Patent Office and with various flax-milling associations with a view to giving the machine 'a trial.

Vital Statistics. The birth-rate in Wellington during the past quarter was higher than in any quarter in the history of the city. The number of births for the period was 520, the figures for the month ending March 31 being 162. During the first three months of the present year 266 marriages were celebrated in Wellington (85 for March), and there were 190 deaths, 81 of which occurred during the month. In Auckland, the vital statistics for the quarter are as follows: Births 780, deaths 360, marriages 318. The returns for the corresponding period of last year were: Births 640. deaths 270, and marriages 267. Thus for the past quarter there has been an increase in births of 140, in deaths of 90, and in marriages of 51 over the first quarter of - ... The births registered in Christchurch during the January to March quarter numbered 570; in 1907 they were 560. Deaths in the March quarter of 1908 totalled 191, against 354 in 1907. Marriages in' the same periods totalled 203 and 274. During the month of March 37 births, 13 marriages, and seven deaths were registered in Gisborne. The birth-rate is

unusually high, and the death-rate proportionately low for the month. The total births registered in the four centres of New Zealand in the month of February amounted to 608, against 681 in January—a decrease of 73. The deaths in February were 211—a decrease of 23 on the number in January. Of the total deaths males contributed 124 and females 87. Eighty-six of the deaths were of children under five years of age, being 40.76 per cent of the whole number. Eighty of these were under one year of age. There were 47 deaths of persons of 65 years and upwards.

The Fruit Canning Industry. New Zealand canned fruit is coming into favour for local consumption, displacing the imported article. Mr. Jacques, .the fruit-canning expert, mentions one grocer -who formerly had a prejudice against New Zealand canned fruit, but was persuaded to give it a trial, with the result that last season he sold 500 cases of it, and so well were purchasers satisfied with it that he is prepared this season to take 1500 cases. In Nelson and Central Otago, fruitgrowers are alive to the possibilities of the expanding trade, and are planting largely. One man alone has purchased, for planting out, 24,000 trees, all of one variety of one particular fruit. Another man has planted, this year, 10 acres of one variety of apricots. In North Auckland, with its great fruitgrowing facilities, Mr. Jacques found very little being done, beyond the excellent work of the fruit-canning work at Whangarei. In the Hokianga district, peach-growing is being entirely neglected. Mr. Jacques advises all farmers to cultivate orchards as adjuncts to their other operations, as fruit is a valuable standby when other farm products fall in yield or in value. Let every small farmer paste this in his hat: — Wake. New Zealand farmers. And "go to the ant”; The fruit-growing hobby Is just what you want; "You eat what yon can. And you can what you can't!”

Phenomenal Rainfall. After between three and four months* drought, there has been a copious rainfall during the month of March, with floods in several districts. The rainfall in Wellington during the month totalled 4.87 in, as against only three points in February. In Auckland, the rainfall for March was 8.12 in. This is the highest yet recorded for this month in Auckland, where the average rainfall for March, over a period of 41 years, has been 2.5 lin. Last month rain fell on 17 days, the greatest fall for one day being 1.83 in. This was largely exceeded at Gisborne, where the rainfall during March was 12.805 in. Rain fell on 16 days, the highest fall being 4.15 in on the 20th inst. In March last year 2.01 in fell on 11 days. The average for 30 years is 4in on 12 days. At Waihi in March last there was a “record” rainfall of 20.5 in. The average there for the month of March is 6.50 in.

Educational Institutions Opened* At Dunedin on Saturday afternoon, the foundation stone of the new Training College was laid by Sir Joseph Ward, in the presence of a large and representative gathering, included in-wliich was the Hon. G. Fowlds, Minister for Education. At the conclusion of the ceremony the Ministers proceeded to the dental school (a recent adjunct to the University), which was officially opened by Mr. Fowlds. Speeches were delivered by the Hon. Mr. Fowlds, Sir J. G. Ward, Mr. James Allen, M.P. (Vice-Chancellor of the University), Dr. Pickerill (director ol school), and Mr. T. K. Sidey, M.P.

Customs Returns. The Customs duties collected at the port of Auckland in the month of March' last amounted to £73,326 9/2, as against £6O/170 11/2 for the corresponding month last year, an increase of £l2/155 18/-, The beer duty amounted to £2092 0/5, compared with £2210 10/2, a decrease al £llB 9/9.

Duties paid at the Custom House in Gisborne for the past three mouths show, a large increase over any previous quarter. They amounted to £11,683, a«

against £9431 for .the same period of last year. Tlie total Customs receipts at New Plymouth for the year just closed was £41,093, as against £34,657 in the previous year. The revenue collected on April Ist was also a record for a single day, being £789. The net duties for the port of Wellington for the fiuanieal year, which closed on March 31, reveal an increase of £76,089 on the amount collected during the year 1906-7, and the total Customs receipts, which include miscellaneous receipts and shipping, port and light dues, have increased by £97,068. The increase in the beer duty was £2,001. The following are the figures for the year (those for 1806-7 being shown in parenthesis):—Net duties, £842,985 (£766,895); beer duty, £14,659 (£12,657); total receipts, £884,192 (£787,123). The. figures for the quarter just ended are: —Net duties, £226,934; beer duty, £3,989. The month’s figures are:—■ Net duties, £74,510; beer duty, £1,290.

Steamer Line to Vancouver. Information has been received that an arrangement has been concluded with Messrs. Charles Barrie and Son. of Dundee. owners of the Den line of steamers, and the Indra, line, of Liverpool, to take up the Alley Company’s contracts with the Canadian and New Zealand Governments. The firms will jointly conduct a regular line of steamers. There will be a two-monthly service at present, the vessels leaving .Sydney and Vancouver simultaneously, and calling at Auckland, Wellington, and other ports as inducements offer. It is hoped that before long the trade Will justify monthly steamers. Sir Joseph Ward, when questioned on the subject at Christchurch, said that on account of the irregular running of the Alley line, the Government had served the company with a notice of cancellation of their contract. The Indra line offered to take over and complete the contract, and that had been agreed to. The new arrangement would last for about 12 months. The Canadian Government, which had also agreed to the alteration, shared the cost of the service with New Zealand. In his opinion it was not a heavy impost, and New Zealand should keep up the steamer connection with Canada in the interests of the development of trade.

Industrial Legislation. A meeting of the Dunedin Trades and Labour Council, held on the 2nd April, endorsed the Workers’ Compensation Bill. With regard to the amendment to the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, the following motion was agreed to:—“That the Government be urged to amend the constitution of the Conciliation Boards to provide for (a) the election of one member by the unions and one by the employers, these to appoint a chairman; (b) that when a dispute is filed the union and employers concerned appoint two representatives to sit with the other members of tire board.”

Scarcity of Girl Labour. The experience of the manager of the Petone Woollen Mills bears out statements sent from various parts of the Dominion as to the shortage of girl labour. He states that there is a great dearth of girls, and as a consequence ten looms in his company’s mill are standing idle. Nearly every department, in fact, is in want of girls and boys, and in many cases the company is employing married women at 35/- a week to fill vacancies.

Otago Central Railway. Regarding the Otago Central railway, the Premier informed a Dunedin deputation that since he had been in Parliament, 21 years, that there bad been an average of over £60,000 a year spent on the line, bringing the total to date to £1,270.918, and there was a small amount put on the Estimates last year. The Government had to consider, next session, whether it was to go beyond the amount it had set aside for railways, to the extent of <1,140,000. The sum of £330,000 was on the Estimates for the North Island Main

Trunk this year, and it would probably require £170,000 to finish it. He was going through Otago Central with responsible engineers, chiefly with the object of benefiting by their advice on the matter of irrigation, and also with a view of having a further look into the general surroundings of the country. When the Government dealt with the general allocations for railways, and saw how much it could fairly allocate, Otago would receive every consideration.

Wanganui Trade and Trams

The total exports from Wanganui for oversea ports during the year ended March 31st were valued at £403,873, being an increase of £ 19,000 over the previous year. Of this, wool (38,000 tons) contributed £300,000, and frozen meat £64,000. Imports for the year totalled £ 236,000, as against £ 183,000 in the previous year. Customs receipts totalled £82,000, being a substantial increase over the previous year, notwithstanding large reductions in duties. The contractors have made a start in the construction of the tramways. The contract price is £40,000 odd. A proposed extension to tjie sea beach, at a cost of £ 27,000, is now being considered.

Accidents, Snicides, etc. Murdoch Gillies, a telegraphic operator in the Wellington office, was killed on the Hutt-road on Sunday afternoon, while attempting to cycle across the road in front of a motor car. An old man named Joseph Prender, who had just served a short term of imprisonment for drunkenness, was found drowned in the harbour at Dunedin on Sunday last. A man named Underline was killed at the Arowhana station, Whakatutu, by the limb of a tree falling on him. Underline only arrived a week ago from Tasmania. Thomas Humphries, aged 15, was fatally shot by a gun, which fell in a stable at Remuera, Auckland, on April Ist. He was a popular inmate of the. Children’s Home. On Sunday evening an inmate of the Old Men’s Home at Ashburton, named William .Deare, who had been ailing for some days, stabbed himself in the abdomen with a knife while in agony through pain. He was removed to the hospital, where he died next day. Deceased was 76 years of age. Mrs. Gordon Reid, of Wellington, and Miss Martha Jones, of New. Plymouth, were seriously injured at. Palmerston North on Saturday last, through being thrown down by cab-horses that stampeded on the arrival of the evening train from Wellington. Miss Jones had several ribs broken, and one of then penetrated her lungs. A boy named Albert Donald McKay, aged seven years, son of Mr. Donald McKay, of Lebons Bay, was attempting to climb over some rocks, when a large boulder became dislodged, and rolled over the boy, pinning him to the ground. He was relieved by a neighbour and takep to Akarca Hospital, where he died early on Monday morning. The accident occurred on Sunday morning.

John Burke, a farmer residing at Kaiwera, near Gore, met with a fatal accident at Gore on April 2. When riding over an asphalt footpath, his horse slipped and fell, throwing Burke to the ground with' considerable violence. He was picked up unconscious, his skull being fractured, and he died in a few hours. He was an old resident of the district.

Mr. Sidney Cadle, a well-known stock auctioneer, in the employ of Dalgety and Co., Christchurch, was killed in Cathedral Square on March 31. He was crossing the tram rails when he slipped, and an Opawa steam tram, which was then coining in, struck him, the engine passing over him. and mutilating him so terribly that he died shortly after removal to the hospital.

At Mornington, Dunedin, on Friday night, fire broke out in a little hut, which was occupied for the time being by a night watchman named Wm. Simmons. The place took fire, while he was asleep, and he Only escaped with difficulty after sustaining severe burns. A man named J. Templeton, of St. Albans, about 45 years of age, was knocked off his bicycle by a lorry nt the Hank of New Zealand corner, Christchurch, on

March 28th. He was taken to the hospital, but died shortly afterwards from the severe internal injuries he had received.

Personal Items. Mr. Jas. Mitchell has definitely decided to contest the Oamaru seat in the' Liberal interest at the general election. Sir Joseph Ward is now on a tour of Otago, Southland, and Westland, which will extend over three weeks. Mr. G. B. Lilly, a journalist, who formerly resided in Auckland, has died of paralysis in Melbourne. Mr. A. L. Herdman, solicitor, Wellington, will contest Wellington North seat against the sitting member, Mr. C. H. Izard. Mr. Andrew Collins, long known as a labour leader in Wellington, intends to contest the Palmerston sesit at the general election. The Hon. Geo. Fowlds is fulfilling a. series of engagements in Canterbury, Otago, ands Southland, in connection with the work of his Department. Mr. Holmes, Engineer-in-Chief, Public Works Department, left Wellington on Monday upon a visit of inspection of the North Island Main Trunk line. He will afterwards go through the Auckland district, returning about a fortnight hence. The late Mr. Willoughby, editor of the “Melbourne Argus,” whose death was announced last week, was the first of the war correspondents of Australia; for he accompanied, for the "Argus,’ the troops of General Cameron in the New Zealand campaign, and wrote brilliant descriptions of the fighting. •Sir Joseph Ward has informed an interviewer that there was no truth in the rumour that Mr. Dinnie (Commissioner of Police) was to be relieved of his duties.

The Bishop of Melanesia, accompanied by Mrs. Wilson and family, were to leave Norfolk Island for Sydney on March 18. The Bishop is proceeding to London to attend the Pan-Anglican Conference at Lambeth.

Hawke’s Bay Education Board has appointed Mr. Richard Clarkson, M.A., of Normanby, director of technical education in succession to Mr. H. H. Robjohns, resigned. His Excellency the Governor returned to Auckland on Saturday last from Rotorua. He is due at Wellington on 11th inst., to open the Perone Technical School, and lie will afterwards go on to Christchurch for a few days. Judge Monro, of the Native Lands Court, was seriously injured a few days ago at Newmarket, Auckland, by being knocked down while crossing the road by a cyclist. The judge has been in New Zealand over 70 years. Major H. F. Head, R.G.A., has been appointed Director of Ordnance and Commandant of the New Zealand PermanentForce. Major Head has lately been commanding No. 14 Company of the Royal Garrison Artillery at Shoeburyness. He enjoys the reputation of being a very smart and capable officer. While in New Zealand he will be given the local rank of colonel.