IN THE DOMINION.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLII, Issue 19, 12 May 1909, Page 5

IN THE DOMINION.

Braes Band Associations. THE North Island Brass Bands Association last week had before it applications from ten members of the Wellington Garrison Band for transfers, also a letter from the Wellington Garrison Band tendering its resignation, instead of the apology demanded, and a letter from Lieut. Herd, dissociating himself from the action of the band, as he had disapproved of it and was merely tire band’s conductor. It was unanimously decided fto refuse the transfers or the resignation, and to suspend the band and its members till it apologised, also to exonerate Lieut. Herd. It was decided to hold the next contest at Wanganui in 1910, and that the executive should in future select the judge, Kstcad of leaving it to the ballot of the bands, as heretofore—the practice (which led to the friction with Wellington. The trouble between the Association, and the Wellington Garrison Band was started by certain strictures passed by the band’s secretary, Mr. H. G. Hill, respecting the Association, the upshot of .Which was that Mr. Hill was suspended, and an apology demanded from the band itself. This was decided upon by the 'Association at the February contest at Hastings. Lieutenant Herd, who is coniductor of the band, took no part in the dispute, but the band as a whole has apparently resolved to support is secretary. Two Men Hilled. An old resident of Palmerston North, named Wm. Auehinaehie, was killed on Thursday. Deceased, who was 60 years of age, and crippled with rheumatism, (was crossing the railway Tine as the mail train from Auckland was approaching. He evidently did not hear the whistle, and the cowcatcher caught him and carried him along for two chains. He was badly mutilated, death resulting almost immediately. Auehinaehie was a native of Scotland, and lived for some years at Kaikoura and Rangiora. Patrick Coe, storekeeper at Kopatarui, near Levin, was killed by being run over by the arteoon train from Wellington on Wednesday last. He fell asleep on the line on his way home from Shannon, and the train ran over his head. A Fatal Fire. . Watchman’s store, at Brunner, and also the dwelling-house attached, were destroyed by fire last week. The flames jspread so rapidly that practically nothing .was saved. , A shocking incident of the confiagra(tion was that two daughters of Mr. (Watchman were unable to make their e;oape, and were burned to death. On-. ,of the unfortunate girls was seventeen, years of age, and the other a mere child of five. Both made an effort to get out,, but were apparently overcome by smoke. (All the other members of the family escaped by jumping from the second storey windows, and all sustained minor injuries. Thomas Watchman had an arm broken. The Budget. In tlie House of Commons last week, Mr. Asquith announced that Customs duty would be imposed on foreign beer. Tha leading proposals are being vigorously discussed, and the Government is accused of utilising the Budget to carry Socialistic measures which they otherwise would be unable to secure. Mr. Lloyd-George, in reply, pointed to examples abroad and In some of the colonies, of high license duties and taxation of land values, the surplus of which was partly hypothecated. He remarked that the needs of the navy in 1910 must bo met first. Enough would then ba left to relieve the local ratepayer. The Chancellor claimed that he had strive* to distribute the taxation justly and fairly, and declared: “The naval expenditure will be very much higher In 11910 than in 1909.” He also foreshadowA change in the tax on licenses ac-

cording to the quantity of liquor sold, instead of the amount of rent paid. Mr. Balfour produced figures showing that in the case of one firm in the liquor trade the new burdens proposed would amount to £35,000 or £7OOO more than it distributed to ordinary shareholders. Mr. Lloyd-George questioned the accuracy of Mr. Balfour’s figures, but gave nothing positive instead. Mr Asquith justified the Budget as being in accordance with free trade principles, and because it was adequate to meet the necessities of 1909, and the necessities of future years without taxing the necessaries of life. He described spirits and tobacco as luxuries; at all events, they were superfluous. He predicted that the consolidation of licenses and the raising of the price would ensure the stability and prosperity of the brewing industry. A meeting of the licensed trades in London, including distilleries, emphatically protested against the ruinous increase of duties and licenses.

The retail price of tobacco bos aeen increased by a halfpenny an ounce. A meeting in London, claiming to represent 200,000 tobacconists, complained that the increased duties would necessitate the employment of 25 per cent more capital and would ruin half the small retailers and manufacturers.

The increased price of eau de Cologne, seents, and drugs containing spirits, and hairwashes is ten per cent. Retailers are charging fourpence a gallon extra for petrol. Mr Buxton Whitbread, writing to the “Times” upon the effect of the additional “trade” taxes, instanced two breweries, which hereafter must pay £104,745 in increased cost of licenses, though their annual profit was only £61,300. Fire on the Rakaia. Just as the New Shipping Company's steamer Rakaia was unmooring, preparatory to sailing from Lyttelton for London, via Monte Video, Teneriffe, and Gibraltar, smoke was observed coming through the flooring of the chief engineer's room. An examination revealed that an inincipient fire had broken out aft among some coal. Water was poured in, and the smoke eeased. A quantity of coal was removed, and a survey made by Lloyd’s surveyor. The manager of the shipping company states that the fire was not a serious one. It was caused by a naked steam pipe passing through a bunker covered with coal, which was fired by the heat. The departure of the Rakaia was postponed until Tuesday. Sir Robert Hart. Sir Robert Hart, who returned to London last year after 50 years’ service as head of the Chinese Customs, has been invited to return to China. Masonic Grand Lodge. The annual gathering of brethren of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand Freemasons was held at New Plymouth, The sitting took place in the Theatre Royal, when M.W. Bro. Lord Plunket presided as Grand Master, and was supported on the dais by M.W. Bro. O. Nicholson (Pro. Grand Master) and M.W. Bros. M. Niccol and H. J. Williams (Past Grand Masters). R.W. Bro. J. Moncrieff (Carterton) filled the chair as Senior - Grand Warden, and R.W. Bro. T. Allen, P.G.W. (Auckland) that of Junior Grand Warden. There was a very large attendance of both Grand Lodge delegates and brethren and of the Taranaki lodges. The rank of Past Grand Chaplain was conferred upon V.W. Bro. the Rev. T. G, Hammond, of Taranaki. Votes of thanks for their services to Freemasonry were given to R..W, Bros. J. W. McDougall (Napier), M. Thompson (Southland), and W. Moyes (Nelson), Past Provincial Grand Masters, and also to M.W. Bro. F. Binns (Christchurch), Past Provincial Grand Master. Bro. R. N. Blennerhassett, N.A., N.Z.A.A., was reappointed auditor The Grand Master was re-elected for n fourth term of office. M.W. Bro. Oliver Nicholson, of Auckland, was re-elected

as Pro. Grand Master. Other Grand Lodge officers were also elected.

Intimation was made that a special communication of the Grand Lodge will be convened to bid farewell to Bro. Plunket upon his departure next year. In the evening the Grand Master was re-installed, and the other officers were invested with ths insignia of their respective offices, Bro. H. J. Williams, P.G.M., and M.W. Bro. Nicholson, proGrand Master, officiating. M.W. Bro. Williams tendered to the Grand Master greeting from his 10,000 Masonic brethren. He had the greatest pleasure in tendering to the Grand Master the heartiest greetings, congratulations, and good wishes of the Grand Lodge and the Freemasons under its jurisdiction. W. Bro. C. Page (Auckland) acted as Grand Director of Ceremonies, and W. Bro. Bain (Christchurch) as Assistant Director; W. Bro. Renaud (New Plymouth), musical director.

M.W. Bro. Plunket, in his address, said that in being elected Grand Master for a fourth term of office he wished to express his high appreciation of tha honour thus conferred upon him, also to state that he fully realised the responsibilities that honour carried with it. Referring to the progress of the order, the Grand Master pointed out that during the past seven years seven new lodges were opened, 700 names added to the roll of membership, and the funds increased by £3683. On April 30th, 1891, the Board of General Purposes showed a balance of £72; ten years later it was £4009, and another eight years afterwards the fund stood at nearly £20,000. Their financial position was a real cause for congratulation, and an evidence that true Freemasonry permeated the Constitution. The Widows and Orphans’ and Aged Masons’ Fund is now about £11,900, but after providing the necessary annuities the Board had only a margin of £ 60 per annum to meet any deserving cases. The Grand Master once more referred to the need for carefully /guardian the porch so as to see that only fitting men should become members. In conclusion, his Excellency said: — “Brethren, my period of public office in New Zealand, and my position in the chair of King Solomon, come to a close in about a year’s time. I shall find it hard to leave this country, where I have spent some of the happiest years of my life. To you, my brother Masons, I owe many debts of gratitude. Notwithstanding the wise counsel and wholehearted loyalty which the members of Grand Lodge have ever extended to me, I feel very conscious of much work ill-done and much not done at all. I can only say that during my final year as Grand Master I will do all I can to merit the confidence you have again shown in me, and advance the welfare of Freemasonry in general and our own constitution in particular.” Help Wanted. Housewives will be interested to learn that a petition, emanating from Christchurch, is in course of signature throughout New Zealand, by women over 21 years of age, praying Parliament to encourage the immigration of domestic servants by arranging to give suitable applicants free passage to the Dominion. Fifty prominent ladies in Auckland have taken charge of the petition, which is being largely signed. For the convenience of those who have not already done so, copies may be seen and signed at Messrs. Upton and Co., and Milne and Choyce. Supporters of the scheme are urged to sign immediately, as the petition must be in Wellington in time for the opening of Parliament. The Leys Institute. The recent addition to the Leys Institute was referred to in the report of the Committee of Management presented to the Auckland City Council last week. Members of the Council expressed their views when the clause came up for adoption. Mr C. J. Parr thought it would not be amiss to place on record their appreciation of the munificent benefactions of Mr T. W. Leys. Last year had been very fruitful in this respect; Mr Leys had found out of his own pocket over £7OO for the addition to the library opened last week, and also ho had presented several hundred books, gome of them very valuable. Above all, the community ought to recognise the daily mid nightly interest taken by Mr Loys in the management of the Institute. It was not so difficult to start an institution of this kind. It was a question of money. But

to get a man to act as managing director, asitl spend his days and nights, as well as his money, in its welfare, was very rare. He moved: “That this Council places on record its appreciation of the renewed benefactions of Mr. T. W. Leys in connection with the Leys Institute.” Mr P. M. Mackay seconded the motion, and remarked that it was quite a snrpriis to see the number of valuable volumes in the library and the spacious rooms of the Institute. He regretted that the eastern side of the eity did not possess a similar institution. The motion was carried unanimously, and the report of the Management Committee was adopted.