IN THE DOMINION,

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 4, 22 July 1908, Page 5

IN THE DOMINION,

Wanganui is to have a co-operative bakery. There are now 22,124,000 sheep in New Zealand, an increase for one year of 1,140,000. Dunedin City Council has a debt of '£ 963,426; new loan proposals increase this to £1,241,000. The City of Wellington is inviting tenders in London for a hundred thousand 4 per cent debentures at par. An old age pensioner at 'Russell is supposed to be of the age of 104, and another at Otaki is believed to be 107. The latest newspaper, “The Bluff press and Stewart Island Gazette,” claims to be the most southerly journal in the world.

.Westport Harbour Board has works in hand to cost over £300,000, and has just received authority to execute further harbour improvements costing I £200.000.

The Hawke’s Bay Education Board has adopted a scheme for a winter school for teachers at Gisborne, and decided to hold the session during the third and fourth weeks in August.

There are between 30 and 40 patients at Pakatoa Inebriates’ Home, and the -Salvation Army is now arranging to acquire Ruthe’s Island, for the purpose of additional accommodation.

Figures prepared by the Tramway Department show that the average fare charged to passengers is 1.33 d per mile in Wellington, the same in Dunedin, 2.12 d in Christchurch, and 1.47 d in Auckland.

Heavy losses have been suffered by Mr. Elliott, a Kawhia settler, who has just completed the muster of his sheep. When the late bush fires started he had 2368 sheep on his section, and now can only muster 1460.

The number of carcases of mutton exported from the Dominion last year was -1,821,426; as against 1,921,465 in 1907, and 1,500,773 in 1906. The lamb carcases exported last year numbered 2,826,437, as compared with 2,519,417 in 1907, and 2,134,563 in 1906.

There are now in New Zealand 121 industrial unions of employers, with a total membership of 3,630. There are 310 workers’ unions, with a membership of 45,614. Eight employers’ unions and nine workers’ unions failed to send in returns, and their registration will accordingly be cancelled.

The Wanganui Chamber of Commerce passed a resolution urging the Government to appoint a Royal Commission to report on the timber industry of the Dominion, particularly with regard to the effect of the importation of Oregon pine upon the New Zealand timber industry.

A meeting of the Painters and Decorators’ Union at Napier carried the following resolution as the outcome of an appeal for aid:—“That the union absolutely refuses to grant any financial assistance to the Wellington Bakers’ Union, and disapproves of their action in striking.”

Napier Borough Council has decided to approach the Municipal Conference with a proposal to secure amending legislation to conserve the . rights of cities and boroughs in the matter of electric lighting. The Council is legally advised that the present Act does not prevent private Supplies within certain limitations. The immigration and emigration returns for June, 1908, disclose an excess of departures over arrivals, to the number or This is an improvement on last year’s figures for the same period, when the excess amounted to 323. The figures are as follow:—1908, arrivals 2706, departures 2758; 1907, arrivals 487-8, departures 2201. The recent floods in the Taieri County have damaged roads and bridges to the extent of about £5OOO, and Government assistance will be asked to that extent.

A net profit of £5349 18/9 was made by the Wellington Investment, Trustee and Agency Company during the year ended June 30th last. The dividend for ,the -year is 6 per cent. Work on the Canterbury end of the 'Arthur’s Pass tunnel on the Midland

Railway will be commenced shortly. Mr Leslie Reynolds, the engineer in charge of the works, -who has been in the North Island for the past five or six weeks investigating harbour schemes at Wairoa, Gisborne and Tokomaru Bay, states that it is possible that the work may be put in hand in about a month, and at the latest in three months.

In Auckland shops there arc no less than 2918 assistants employed, 2209 in Wellington city, 2539 in Christchurch, and 2197 in Dunedin. The wages paid in Christchurch last year amounted to £228,713, Auckland came next with £221,097, Wellington third with £212,097, and Dunedin’s total reached £ 189,215. Working out the averages, however, the order is reversed as follows:—Wellington, £96; Christchurch, £9O 11/7; Dunedin, £B6 1/-; Auckland, £75 15/5. Severe 'Wintry Weather. The weather during the past week has been unusually cold, and heavy falls of snow are reported from a number -of Southern districts. In the MacKenzie Country, in South Canterbury, the sheepfarmers anticipate heavy losses. It is stated that where hundreds were lost after the last great snowstorm, some few years back, the loss this time will run into thousands. In Central Otago the railway traffic has been impeded by the deep snow, which is in some places as high as the funnels of the locomotives. Even on the Main Trunk Line, in the North Island, the snowfall has been so heavy as to interfere with the running of trains, and the work of railway construction was temporarily brought to a standstill. At Gisborne the hills were on Saturlay last all covered with snow, and on one of the inland roads the coach had to go through snow up to the horses’ knees. The Port Hills at Christchurch had also a mantle of white. The Auckland weather has been cold, but bright. Maori Congress. The Maori Congress opened in the Wellington Town Hall on July 14 th, when addresses of welcome were given by. the Hon. Jas. Carroll and Hon. Geo. Fowlds. The latter impressed on the natives the importance of giving attention to health matters, and expressed a hope that the congress would result in improvement of questions affecting the native race.

The official opening ceremony took place in the afternoon, when addresses were delivered by the Governor and Sir Robert Stout. Discussion on Maori councils and sanitary inspectors took place on July 16.

The Hon. J. Carroll, in an address, said he was pleased to find the Maoris were now ready to regard the Maori councils seriously, and not look upon them as playthings, as once there was some disposition to do. It had been said that the Act under which the councils got their power did not give enough. If that was so, let the Maoris move to have the Act amended. Mr. Carroll spoke of the old system of sanitation, stating that after the advent of the white man there were disagreements, and canoes began to drift, but the time had come to make a strong effort to get back to better health conditions. Let the Mao.is get the drifting canoe, turn it round, face it to stem the torrent, and, by propel - attention to sanitation, improve their dwellings so that their people would become as physically fit as their ancestors. The weakness of Maori Councils to effect this improvement so far might be partly due to insufficient power and funds, but it had to be further said that jealousy on t. r part of those who were not members had made the ,work more difficult.

On Friday, July 17, Messrs., A. L. D. Uffraser and Hcrries, M.P.’s, delivered addresses on the question. “Has the time arrived for removing legislative distinctions between pakeha and Maori!” Mr. Fraser urged that the Maori should be placed on the same electoral roll as the pakeha, and allowed to vote for the candidate ho thought best. Mr. Herrics agreed with him in the main, but ho denied that there was any colour line, and said he thought they would mingle with the pakeha as one people. The Englishman was a mixture of Celt,

Saxon, Norman, and Dane, and they produced a distinct nation. He hoped there would be this coming link of pakeha and Maori in New Zealand. He looked forward to the day when the future New Zealander would boast with the Anglo-Saxon of having Maori blood in his veins.

On July 20th the Congress duscussed a letter from Lady Stout urging that all Maori girls who were not fitted for the professions of missionaries, teachers, doctors, or nurses should be taken as domestic helps. After discussion it was decided that the Congress was fully sympathetic with the object that Lady Stout had in view, and is of opinion that the domestic training of Maori girls Is to be encouraged as part of a general scheme for uplifting the Maori race, but that the employment of Maori girls as domestic servants amongst Europeans is not desirable as a general practice.” The Railways Report. The annual report of the Railways Department for the year ended March 31st, 1908, presented to Parliament on July 14, is of a highly satisfactory character. Seventeen miles 29 chains of extensions were opened during the year. The net revenue, £812,179, the Minister states, is equal to a return of 3.33 per cent, on the capital invested in the open lines, and 3.04 per cent, on the total capital, £26,735,140, invested in opened and unopened lines. The cost of working the Kawakawa sections exceeded the earnings by £912. The Kaihu section has also been worked at a loss of £463. The number of train miles run during the vear was 7.051,274. being an increase of 295,820.

The total number of ordinary passengers carried was 9,756,716, an increase of 155,930 over the previous year. This is very gratifying, as the returns for the previous year showed the phenomenal increase of 774,404 passengers over 1906, consisting largely of traffic of a non-re-curring character, which was induced by the New Zealand International Exhibition season. Tickets issued numbered 185,174, an increase of 19,760. The number of workers’ 12-trip tickets was 43.961, and of workers’ weekly tickets availableon suburban lines 101,199. These tickets continue to maintain their popularity. Holiday excursion tickets numbered 732,135, being a decrease of 124.277 when compared with the previous year. This, however, is accounted for by the fact that this class of ticket was issued to Christchurch during the whole currency of the Exhibition. School, factory, and friendly societies’ excursion tickets numbered 113,080, an increase of 17,416. The number of school, factory, and friendly society excursions run during the year in the principal districts was: —Auckland, 27; Wanganui, 60; Wellington-Napier, 42; Christchurch, 141; .Dunedin, 95; Invercargill, 39. The coaching and goods, traffic showed large increases, with the exception of sheep, wool, and grain. Tn coaching the increases have been as follows: —

Parcels, 7636; horses, 653; carriages, 389; dogs, 5685. In live stock and goods traffic the increases were: —Cattle, 17,720 head; pigs, 10,765 head; chaff, limo, etc., 1451 tons; firewood, 918 tons; timber, 49,057 tons; merchandise, 45,248 tons; minerals. 184,467 tons. The decrease in the wool traffic was 7568 tons; grain, 31,138 tons; and sheep, 67,901 head. The net increase in the gross tonnage was 246,000 tons. The decrease in sheep traffic is due entirely to the heavy movement of sheep that took place during the previous year, owing to the drought. Although, therefore, the sheep traffic for the year under review compared unfavourably with that for 1907, it was, nevertheless, greater by some 700,000 head than the traffic of any other year when normal conditions have prevailed. The average number of men employed during the year was 12,338, against 10,858 the previous year, an increase of 1480. The amounts charged to duplication of lines during the year were: — Wellington - Hutt duplication works, £38.830; new Hutt road and purchase of land for same, £7391; Auckland-Pen-rose duplication works, £54,302; Addington - Rolleston duplication works, £11,031; Dunedin-Mosgiel duplication and deviation of line, £74,720. Total earnings, 1908 £2.761,938 ~ „ 1907 2.624.G00 Total expenditure, 1908 1,940.759 1907 1.812.482 Net profit on working, 1908.... 812.179 „ „ ~ 1007... 812.118 In concluding the report explains that the increased cost of maintenance was

very largely due to the policy of betterment that had been followed during the past few years. In view of the large economies that can be effected in the cost of operating the railways of the Dominion if the gradients were flattened and alignment improved, thus enabling increased loads to be hauled, arrangements are to be made to obtain the data necessary to formulate a scheme for dealing with the matter in a practical and comprehensive manner. It is proposed to extend the issue of 50-trip family and 50-trip single commutation tickets to distances up to 25 miles, to issue workers’ weekly tickets under the usual conditions to stations between Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt, and to extend the Wellington suburban area-to Upper Hutt. It is also purposed during the next summer season to make an experimental issue of week-end tickets to and from the various week-end resorts served by the railways, and, in the event of the result being satisfactory. to further extend the issue as circumstances warrant. Mr Hall-Jones estimates the revenue for the year ending March 31, 1909, at £2,835,000. ami the expenditure at £ 2,020,000. Ransom for a Stolen Picture. Three months ago there mysteriously disappeared from the Academy of Fine Arts in Wellington a picture entitled “Surrey Hills.” by W. B. Leader. The picture, which is valued at about £<>oo, is the property of the city, and the Mayor was approached by correspondence, in disguised handwriting, to pay ransom for the restoration of the picture. The letters were signed “A. G. Ransom,” and at first £l5O was demanded. The Sailors’ Rest was indicated as the place where replies might be sent, and subsequently a certain column in the “New Zealand Times” was suggested as a medium for negotiations. As the money was not forthcoming the thief then wrote threatening to cut the picture into pieces the size of postage stamps and return it in that form. Another expedient adopt ed by the holder of the picture -was to threaten the Mayor with personal violence unless the £l5O demanded was paid. Eventually the demand was reduced to £5O, and this sum the Mayor paid out of his own pocket, with the result that the picture was restored on July 17 as silently and mysteriously as it was taken awa v.

Poultry Championships. The Hastings Poultry anil Pigeon Show opened on duly 17. The entries in ail classes constitute a record. The. Golden Wyandotte championship was awarded to Hickling (Pahiatua). R. S. Young (Palmerston) gained the champion in the White Orpington class. Boyes (Wellington) won the North Island Wyandotte Club’s shield for the best Wyandotte, and Bateman (Dannevirke) the shield for most points in any one variety of Wyandottes. W. A. Hanson (Auckland), for Silver Wyandottes, was awarded first for hen ami first and special for pullet. At the North Island of New Zealand Wyandotte Club’s annual meeting, ('apt. Hood (president) congratulated the club on its membership, which is over eighty. It was stated that the new champion shield had been subscribed for the best birds in the club’s show. The following officers were elected: —President. Mr. John Jarvis; vice-presidents, Messrs. W. A. Boyes, E. T. Bateman, F. Daere, L. Luxford, Capt. Hood, J. Currie; committee, Messrs. T. Jamieson, T. R. Boyes, F. Bradley, T. J. Leighton; secretary, Mr. T. R. Boyes; treasurer, Mr. Guthrie. It was recommended that next year the Wyandotte Show be held in Auckland. Teachers’ Superannuation, At a meeting of the Otago Educational Institute on July 17, the question of the superannuation fund was discussed. The opinion was expressed that teachers should keep to their own bill, with annuities based on average salaries over the whole period of service, with £2OO ns a minimum, otherwise the fund would bo depleted by higher salaried officers retiring in the next few years on allowances not justified by their small contributions. A motion, “That this Institute desire the Minister of Education to classify teachers and positions and control all appointments,” was discussed, and it was decided to remit it to the Council of the New Zealand Educational Institute for its consideration.

Sad Dr üble Tragedy. A terrible tragedy occurred on July 17 at Maimgatautari, about-ten miles beyond Kihikihi, when Erank Mason, of Mason Bros., runholders, killed his own child and then committed suicide. Constable Lander, who proceeded to Mauugatautari, on entering the Masons' house, found the dead body of a little baby boy, aged 10 months, in the centre of the lloor with his head shattered by a gunshot wound, whilst the father’s body lay behind the door, with a bullet ■wound just below the left ear. Particulars regarding the tragedy aro somewhat meagre. From what can be ascertained things do not appear to have been going well with Mason financially lately, and losses of stock preyed so heavily on him that they appear to have unhinged his mind. He has been decidedly rjueer lately, and on the morning of the tragedy his wife noticed that he was more strange than usual. As the day progressed Mason got worse, and threatened to shoot himself and the child. His wife took a rifle out of his hand.

Shortly afterwards, a neighbour, Mrs •Brett, eame over, and with Mrs Mason wont into the kitehen. While there they heard two shots, and, rushing in, found that Mason had obtained a gun, which was also in the house, and shot the child in the side of the faee and blown its brains out, shattering the skull fearfully. Mason had then apparently turned the •weapon on himself." The charge entered the left side of his faee just below the jaw, and> the whole face was blown off, leaving the man unrecognisable. Deceased was a tall man, and could easily have reached the trigger to discharge the gun into his own head. He was about 35 years of age. Mason was some time ago farming at Eureka, 12 miles from Hamilton, and while there he married Miss Danka, and went Home for a trip with his wife. On returning to the colony they settled down at Maungatautari. Mason was an enthusiast in hunting and polo, and both he and his wife were very well known throughout the Waikato. Te Wlriti’s Monument. Messitj KtiSsell and Son-, monumental masons, of New Plymouth, are engaged in the completion of a massive monument to be erected at Parihaka in memory of the chief Te .'Whiti. It is of polished Aberdeen granite, and stands 11 feet hi<di. The basement is four feet square,"and on this is a solid circular column bearing the inscription and four small Peterhead columns. These are surmounted by a handsome cap and vase, 'i he whole monument is being nicely carved, ami on each side of the four panels of the cap is the emblem of Te Whiti, The inscription is being carved in Maori and English. It reads as follows: — This Monument is erected to tile Memory of Te Whiti —o Rongoma, who died at Parihaka mi 18th November, in the vear of our Lord, 1907 ; aged 90 years. lie was o man who did great deeds in suppressing evil so that peace may reign as a means of salvation to all people on earth. His emblem, the Raukura, which signifies “Glory to God on high, peace on earth and goodwill to all mankind," he bequeathed to his people Te Ate Awn. The monument will be unveiled on 'August 18. Natives from all parts of the North Island are expected to be present at the ceremony. Arrival of Immigrants. The steamer Arawa, which arrived in Wellington, on July 13th, brought out a large contingent of third-class passengers, who intend settling down in New Zealand. The total in this class was 270 persons, and of these 104 have been granted assisted passages. They come from all parts of tiie L’nifcd Kingdom. Included in the list are nearly 30 domestic servants •bringing a declared capital ranging from £2 to £lO each. Of these 23 landed with a declared capital of £2.each. The others were made up of “ capitalists ” of whom there were three with £lO, and others with £4 each.

Included in the immigrants were a baker a silversmith, and two carpenters, all going to work already found for them; also two joiners, a grocer and a dressmaker.

A dairy-farmer arrived with £4OO to his credit, and there were five farmers whose capital between them amounted to £450. A fruit-preserver and wheelwright (combined) had! £3OO in hand. There joined the Arawa at Hobart a party of stalwart Tasmanian bush men, who informed the labour officer that they had come to New Zealand for a holiday, but that if they liked the country they would remain in it.

Several Wellington ladies were among the first to board the Arawa, not to welcome friends returning from the grand tour, but to interview the domestic servants. Notwithstanding tempting terms, and liberal concessions as to “ time out,” with easy working conditions, the ladies were wholly unsuccessful in their quest for domestic helpers. Miss Breniner, of the Labour Department was among the visitors to the Arawa to give the women immigrants all the information which would be of assistance to them in getting remunerative employment, but the domestics were all engaged before leaving London. Seventeen of them have engagements in Hawke’s Bay.

The Religions Education Question. The Wellington Diocesan Synod discussed a resolution expressing approval of the New South Wales educational system, by which teachers of various religious denominations have permission to visit State schools within ordinary school hours for the purpose of giving instruction. It was suggested that a committee be set .up to formulate a scheme for New Zealand to be referred to the next session of the General Synod with a view to making representations to Parliament for amendment of the Education Act.

Several speakers said it was merely beating the air to bring up such a resolution, as people would not agree to a change. Eventually the Synod carried a resolution to proceed -with the next business on the order paper. The Hawke’s Bay Education Board, by live votes to three, carried a motion fixing the school hours at 24 J per week, and not exceeding five., per day. It is generally understood that the object of the motion is to facilitate the giving of religious instruction in schools where the. committees are favourable.

Slump in the Timber Trade. The result of the stoppage of timber orders in this district is the elosing of several mills. The Ruatapu mills closed on Saturday, making five now closed down in the vicinity of Hokitika. Only those niills with white pine orders for Australia are keeping going full time. A large number of men are now thrown out of work, and if the dearth of employment continues it will be a serious matter for the district, a number being dependent on the timber industry. A meeting in favour of increasing the duty on Oregon pine has been belli at Kumara, and similar meetings will be held at Ross and Hokitika.

Wellington Trrmways. The annual report on the operations of the Wellington Tramways has been compiled. It covers the period for the twelve months ending 31st March. The total revenue for the year was £122,91)4, as compared with £96,619, earned during the previous year, an increase of £26,375. The total pasengers carried during the year numbered 20,105,723, an increase over the foregoing twelve months of 3,208,689. During the year there were 226 collisions with vehicles, and 315 accidents to persons, 190 of which were causer} by passengers, mostly ladies, stepping from moving cars. The cost of' repairing cars damaged through accident was £ 400. The Trades’ Conference The annual conference of New Zealand Trades and (Labour Councils opened at Wellington on July 20th. In the annual report opinion Was expressed by the executive that every financial member of the Union should* be entitled to exorcise his or her vote, both for the election of the Arbitration Court and Conciliation Board representatives. Practically a plebescite of members was needed to ensure these representatives being elected on a democratic basis. Regarding the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, the report stated that the executive was convinced that the

workers of the Dominion would strictly adhere to the provisions of the. Act, "providing that the Legislature amends it- in the direction of making an Act to encourage the formation of industrial unions, the granting of unconditional statutory preference to Unionists, removal of vexatious delays caused by the Court irot dealing with matters referred back until months have elapsed, and amending the Act so as to provide for a minimum wage. The opinion is also expressed that had the Legislature given conciliation boards more power with regard to making recommendations there would have been no need for the suggested abolition of these boards; also that the time has arrived when the workers should Use every endeavour to prevent lawyers trom appearing before the Court. Mr. Thorn (Canterbury) was elected president. j

Accidents, Suicides, etc. Mr. Thomas Hall, a well-known settler of Leamington, was found on the Maungatautari' road, with shocking injuries, caused by a wagon having capsized. He died shortly after. A young’ unmarried man named Probert was fatally injured at -the Waikino battery, Waihi, on July 14th, and died about an hour after the accident occurred. He was caught in the elevator wheel and carried up to the top, where he was fearfully crushed before the machinery could be stopped. The deceased was a son of Mr. W. Probert, builder, of Newton-road, Auckland. A young man named Gordon Watson, son of Mr. ,G. W. Watson, colliery proprietor, of . Pakawa.u and Dunedin, left Pakawau in a small boat on Monday morning, intending to go to Collingwood, five miles distant. He lias not since been heard of, and it is feared he has lost his life.

Patrick Finlay, an elderly man. who sustained injury to his spine through a fall off’ a wool bale on the wharf on May 18, died in the Wellington Hospital on July 16.