IN THE DOMINION.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 24, 9 December 1908, Page 5

IN THE DOMINION.

Well-sinkers at Arataki at a spot indicated by the Rev. Mason, “struck” water at 128 feet. Previously wells had vainly been sunk to great depths. The Whangarei Agricultural and Pastoral Show last week was a great success. A petition has been lodged for the upsetting of the Licensing poll at Masterton at which No-License was carried by 31 votes. The petitioners allege a number of irregularities. Six tenders were received for the erection of the new post office in Auckland, but it is understood that they are all higher than the estimated price of £85,000. Ten boys who have recently completed their term of eighteen months’ training on the Government training ship Amotaira have joined vessels trading out of After several attempts to refloat the Steamer Hawea, which went ashore at (the entrance to the Greymouth bar, the KTnion Company has decided to abandon the vessel. The Waiotahi mine at Thames, Auckland, got 302 oz. 1 dwt. of bullion, valued at £829 9/-, from 109 tons of ore during November, which is a better return than last month, although the amount of ore treated is less. The New Zealand winners in the worldwide essay competition of the British and Foreign Sailors’ Society of London are:—North Island: Lenore M. Sutherland (Onehunga District High School). South Island: Gretta M. Isdale (Waitaki Girls’ High School, Oamaru). The subject was, “What does the nation owe to Nelson and her sailors?” The prizes are plaques bearing the King’s initials and made from copper used in Nelson’s ®ld flagshin. A burglar who entered the house of Mr SR. Williams, Napier, last week disturbed Mrs Williams, who pluckily fired two shots at the intruder with a revolver. One apparently told, as he dropped his swag, containing a lot of valuables, which he had packed up for transport. Mr Williams was away from home at the time. When the Nimrod was leaving Lyttel-

ton last week for the Antarctic regions to pick up Lieutenant Shackeltou and his party a small boy was discovered on board, stowed away among the stores. The would-be explorer was promptly put on board a shore launch, a proceeding 'which he resented in a very juvenile fashion—copious tears. Dr. Mackellar is urging the Auckland Hospital Hoard to pay more attention to the training of nurses in the art of cooking food for invalids, which is much neglected at present, lie suggests that the Education Board should be approached and some arrangement made by which hospital nurses undergoing training should receive the benefit of the instruction given af the technical classes under the control of the Department. In accordance with a resolution passed last month, the sawmills in Southland have been closed down. About 35 mills, employing upwards of 700 men, will be closed down to-morrow. About 35 mills, employing upwards of 700 men, will be affected. Three youths and one old man were sentenced at the Auckland Supreme Court last week for offences against young girls. One man was sent to prison for seven years, and ordered to receive fifty lashes in two instalments, another to two years, a third to twelve months, and the oldest prisoner, a man of 70 years, received a sentence of three years, The judge was most severe in his remarks, and expressed his determination to put down this crime. The Hon. Hall-Jones and his family left Wellington on Friday by the Corinthic for London, where he will assume the office of High Commissioner in place of Mr W. P. Reeves, who lately resigned. Mr Hall-Jones was one of the most respected members of the Ward Ministry, and his farewell was attended by many expressions of regret at his departure and wishes of success for the future. The Bluff correspondent of the ‘’Otago Daily Times” states that a haul, reminiscent of the old whaling days, was recently made at Mason's Bay. on the west coast of Stewart Island. Two men were off the bay fishing, when suddenly the waters inside became a mass of life and animation. Proceeding to ascertain the cause, they discovered

such h shoal of black fish a-» ha-* not been seen for many a day. Thereupon, -they set about driving the fish on shore, succeeding in stranding no fewer than 320, of full size. They improvised a “try dtnVJi;” and were expecting to cask from 60 to 70 tuns of oil. A sunfish, which has been scientifically designated “Orthagorisus mola," was washed ashore on the Awatuna beach a few days ago (says the Drey mouth ‘‘Star”), ami was discovered by Mr W. Rioux, of the Dominion dredge. The fish is a marine curiosity of great dimensions. lie measures from head to tail 10ft. Gin., depth of body. sft. Gin., width of body. 2 ft., and length from the tips of the fins, which are horizontally situated near the tail, lift. Gin. The weight of the li-h is estimated to be about two tons and a half, ami some idea of the size of the monster may be gathered when it is stated that it required the power of two draught horses to drag it a few feet on boards. The Main Trunk Lix*e. In addition to the ordinary two days' service, it is reported that the Railway Department, at Christmas time, will put on trains leaving Wellington and Auckland at 7.30 in the evening, which will connect with the ordinary trains at Tanin ar unui and Ohakune, thus giving practically a through service, though there will not be any sleeping cars on the night trains, and passengers will require to change trains. There is also talk of a three days* service, to enable passengers to get a better idea of the country. The holiday fares will be about' £3 18/2 for the return trip first-class, and £2 2/4 second-class. A Temporary Arrangement. A temporary readjustment of portfolios has been arranged by the Prime Minister. The Department of Railways will be taken over by the Hon. J. A. Millar and that of Public Works by the Hon. J. McGowan. Pool* Pay. Tn consequence of statements having been made that dressmakers who have been 17 years at trade are only receiving £1 2 p. . e Dunedin Trades Council decided to take steps to form a dressmakers’ union early in the new year.

Oil Fr lay the Cnion Steamship Company'* training-ship Hartford left Wetliogtoa in tow of the cargo steamer Kamona. for Kaipara. Following is a complete list of the IhiTtford’s first o-nr piemen t of apprentices: -4 adet>: N. B. W. Ilaszard, Ponsonby, Auckland: R. M. Wright. Mount Albert, Auckland; 1.1. M<<'lellan, Glenmore, Auckland; R. 11. Baigvnt. Wellington ; J. A. Bunting, "*(, Albans, Christ church; C. F. Carey, Papamii. Christchurch; A. G. M. Christie, Ashburton: F. A. Peters, Dinedin; <>. s. Wilson, Dunedin; G. V. Jenkins, Green Island; William Whitefield, Watkaka Valley. Southland: A. J’. Adam. Lilydale. Victoria. The lads will receive such instruction in seamanship an 1 navigation as will help them to qualify as officers alter sen ing the m*c<*s-ary time afloat. The Border Brewery. In reference to the protests against tlm proposed erection of a brewery just outsnde the no-license district of Ashburton, Sir Joseph Ward has replied that whatever the law requires the Government will carry out. The Primo Minister has intimated his opinion that whoever is responsible for the proposal is acting unwisely. He is satisfied that it was never contemplated when* the people had decided in favour of no-license that practically a defiance of the law should take place. It is evident. says Sir Joseph, that such a brewery can be legally erected, but he has no hesitation in saying it ought not to be done. He is determined that t lie will of the people shall be respected, and if it is decided to erect a brewery on the borders of Ashburton, Parliament will he asked to legislate to prohibit it. Varsity Judgment. There is a pretty little sonnet of Shakespeare's, beginning: “ ( ans’t thou, O Cruel, say 1 love the» not ...” Many () Cruel, say 1 live thee, not . . .” Many people who know Shakespeare esteem this as possibly his best. Not so the Auckland Cnivei>ity College Debating Society. They hud an ’’Olla Podridu” last week —one of those affairs where the members submit ‘original'’ compositions which are read by someone else to the critical members. The non-competitors vote according to the suppo-merit of the effusion-;. Two wau~ with more hum-

©in than the average Varsity student, picked uut this pretty sonnet of Shake* Npeare’s, and sent it in as their own. 'I h< re wiih great difficulty in getting anybody to read th • poetry. Really it bristles with elocutionary difficulties, but the main difficulty was that it seenie<l such awful “rot.” At last one unpoetic youth - a. distinguished student of science, a man of irreproachable character, a. \ery Hotspur as to ba Had-mongery— accepted the tusk, under protest. There was a ghastly silence when the “reading’’ was done. The audieme was grim dead, soundless. Then they took up the marks allotted by the critics. It is literally and absolutely true that Shakespeare vanie out where many another good man has been found—at the bottom of the list? Then the fraud was confessed, and the students shrank sheepishly out of the room and into more congenial darkness. Ptomaine Poisoning. Last week Mrs. Arthur Raven, wife of a baker on ( lyde quay. Wellington, her three children, and Kihei oCok. the servant girl, became seriously ill after eating tinned sardines. A doctor was <uminoned, and. after he ba. I attended to them, they were taken to the hospital. The New Parliament. The second ballot for the Bay of Plenty took place lasf week, with the fidlowing result : — W. I). S. Macdonald (G) .... 2641 J. G. Go\\ (<>) 2204 Majority for Macdona I*l 437 Tin results ( f the voting lor Maori members of the House of Representatives an as follows; — NORTHERN DISTRICT. Hom Hoke (late member) ~.. 1182 I Lire Te Rang! 333 EASTERN district. A pi ra ma Ngata (late member) 4126 Tiki Paaka 1481 SOUTHERN DISTRICT. Wb.ire.ui Uru 351 Tame Pa rata (late meml>er) .. 350 Charles West 22 WESTERN DISTRICT. ITenare Kaihau 2035 Pepcne Eketone 1486 'IV Heuheu Tukino 1185 Teao 1145 Te Kahu K 565 Wealthy Organ-grinders. street organ.playing is not an unre-munera-tive occupation, as the publie trustee by this time has discovered. A well known blind barrel organist, whose music wa.- frequently hoard in Wellington streets, has passed away, and his r-stati is being administered by the public trustee. The organ earnings were -urprisingly large, and no less a sum than £2500 has been carefully invested in city real estate. The testator’s wife and family, from whom he had been separated for the past twenty years, are leading in Sydney. It is not long since that another street musician accumulated during his lifetime £4700 in hard ca-1.. The Nimrod Sails. ter ton was en fete on the l&t De- <• mbvi. in honour of the departure of the Nimrud fur Antarctica, to pick up Lieutenant >ha« k»-lton and the remainder of tic -hoi- party left at Nh-Murdo Sound in February la-t. All th** shipping in p<»rt and tn -I of the public and commercial building', displayed flags. The whole <»t th» Ninirod’* <-ompany were in the Rig':*-t of spirit-. an<i there is every posf.nh.’y of the 1 returning u» Lyttclt«m -one time during March or April * The Rhodes Scholarship. A meet mg of the Profe«,urial Board of o.» Au kland L’ni*er-ity wa** held, on Monday for the put |e>-e of selecting .ear’- Auckland candidate for the pli ant Mt V. G A/drtdg*',. whom the Board decided to iMtect. LRe Auckland representative for the Rhode* honour* »- the wixth and young* «t -on of Mr. George Aldridge, of Aui klaiwl. uho han been for twenty fire year* pallor of the

Church of Christ now meeting in the West-street Church. Newton. The young student was born in Auckland, and has not yet attained his majority. All his education Jias been received in Auckland. His career has lieen brilliant and unchequered. His schooling commenced at the Grafton School, at which institution In* gained a scholarship which ei.titled him to tuition at the Grammar School, where he was always high in the forms. From the Grammar School he graduated to the University, also by scholarship. Last year he put up a record by securing three senior scholarships within the twelve months. The scholarships were for pure mathematics. applied mathematics, ami geology. At the present time Mr. Aldridge is president of the Auckland University Student-’ Association. rhe candidate has always had remarkable success in his examinations, and is a worthy representative of the North. The candidate has gained his B.Se., and has Ihe distinction of being the first to win in one year thre Senior Scholarships -ince the present regulations came into force, in 1883. The Dunedin Professional Board has nominated Hector MarLvan. M.A.. as (It ago University's candidate for the Rhodes scholar-hip for the current year. IL took first-class honours in mental -cience. Professor Gilray replaces Proft ssor Benham on the Rhodes scholarship sided ion committee. Earthquakes in the Bay of Plenty. Considerable excitement was caused in the Bay of Plenty last week by a series of earthquakes of unusual severity. The effects were principally felt at Wha kata ne, and there were evidences of considerable volcanic activity at Whale Island, which lies seven miles of! the mainland. opposite the entrance to the Whakatane River. There were reports of Whale Island being rent by an earthquake, and the outbreak of a- volcano, but an investigation showed that though there had been considerable disturbance on the island, and the appearance of the steep rocky seaward face had been quite altered by land slips, there were no signs of thermal act ion. The crew of the ketch Albatross, which was at Ohiwa at the time of the disturbances. had a most uncommon experience. which was described by one of their number to a ••Graphic" reporter. WILL THE TARAWERA OUTBURST BE REPEATED? •To assume that the Whale Island eruption is a preliminary to a greater catastrophe is perhaps an unnecessarily alarmist view., but the circumstances nevertheless warrant serious attention being paid to any further developments.” This was the opinion expressed by Professor A. W. P. Thomas when interviewed by a “Star" representative. Raurima Rocks and Whale Island, which. Professor Thomas points out, are between four and lives miles apart, lie almost in a direct line between Ruapehu, Tarawera, and White Island, which is the main line of volcanic activity in the North Island. All deductions, he stated, have to be based upon the accuracy of the newspaper reports, since that is the only information available to work upon. The Professor regards the statement emanating from some fishermen to the effect that a large crevice has appeared in the seaward wall of the island as one of very great importance. Presuming that there, has actually appeared such a fissure, it might possibly be a prelude to a volcanic eruption. “Wr have no right to assume that volcanic activity has ceased, or that it i- dying out/’ the Professor declared, i’o my the indications may be interpreted fn two way-. Either the sea wat‘*r has obtained acce-s to the heated voltani<- rocks, which undoubtedly exist below. an<l th<* volcanic *»team pressure ba- a< cumulated until it has produced t hi-, fissure, or «•!-«• wo may have a stage in volcanic development along Ihe main Em of activity with a fresh supply of lava working it- way to the surface. In r»iich a i-as- a volcanic explosion may ensue -»u<h as that which occurred at Tarawera. At pros<*nt the evidence D*for<* is insufficient io «ay whether tb<? phenomenon is comparatively a, miiKd one and will quickly subside or whether a mor< serious event is likely to wur.” Referring to a r«-port that yellow clouds of sulphur weie rising from Cbtt

island, the Professor remarked that this was hardly feasible. Sulphur clouds would be white, and what has actually been -e<-n is, in his opinion, dust. It is also pointed out by Professor Thomas that at the time of the Tarawera eruption, apart from the loss of human life, and the damage to property, the country, to the extent of over 60(10 square miles, was covered with fine ash, two-thirds of it being over an inch deep. After the Tarawera muption the Professor visited Whakatane, and the ash deposit there was two inches deep. Whether any permanent harm was done by the ash it is difficult to say. If a volcanic explosion of serious intensity occurred at Whale Island, a north-east wind would probably bring quantities of ash to the mainland, but the damage likely to ensue in that way would not, he thinks, amount to anything serious. In any case, Professor Thomas ssiys the more hopeful view to take is that the worst of the seismic activity is over, and that even in the event of an eruption on Whale Islam], no great injury to the mainland need be anticipated. More Immigrants. 1 he Arawa. which arrived in Wellington on Sunday morning, brought 330 passengers, of whom 218 were in the third class. Of the third-class passengers 129 were “assisted.” There were twenty farmers, and six farm labourers. The capital possessed by those immigrants who were assisted out by the Government is LT.769.