NEW ZEALAND: GENERAL

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIX, Issue 52, 26 December 1901, Page 20

NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL

The Caversham election resulted in the return of Mr. Sidfey by a substantial majority. THE Wellington City Council has passed a by law making it an offence, punishable by a fine not exceeding £6, to expectorate upon the footpaths. The Ohrisrohurch Pint states that under the new police regulation, Inspectors Pardy (Dunedin) and Pender (Wellington), both of whom are over 60 years of age, will be cowpulsorily retired at an early date. In consequence of New Year's Day falling on our usual publishing day we will be obliged to go to pre*s a day earlier than usual. Corn spondents are, therefore, reg nested to forward contributions so as to reach this office on the morning ©f Monday the SOth. The Westinghouße brake is being fitted to all new cars turned out from Addirgron Workshops, and the old cars ar« &l-o being fitted with the brakes as rapidly as possible. The Christ-chunih-Dunedin express will be the first complete train on this section to have the brake on engine and all carriages. The banquet; tendered to Sir Joseph Ward by the townspeople of Gore on Tuesday night was very successful. About 70 persons were present, the number including a sprinkling of ladies. Besides the guest of the evening, Lady Ward, the Hon. H. Peldwick, ML U., and Messrs. Gilfedder, Uanan, and McNab, M's.H.R., were present A labge number of Maoris (says a northern paper) have asked the Native Minister that they be allowed to go to South Africa with the Eighth Contingent. ' The British,' they virtually say, ' have made a mess of it ; let us go and put things right.' The policy of the Imperial authorities, however, is against the Maoris taking part in the war, and the offers cannot be accepted. » The volumes of statutes passed during the session of 1901 has just been issued by the Government Printing Office. The volume contains 74 genera), 26 local and persoual, and three private Act«. On the back, instead of the familiar ' Vie.,' is the inscription ' I Edward VII.' v Messrs. Mills, Dick and Co. have gained a reputation for their Otago, Sonthland, and South Canterbury Almanac and Directory which only accuracy and eomprebeiibiveneßs oould achieve. Like wii.e, thin publication improves with age, and each year Home new feature or special it«ui of information is added which makes it still more welcome to the business man, to whom it id indispensable. Among the contributors to the December number of the Auntral Ligld are the Ripht Rev. Dr. Delaney who brings to a conclusion his articles on The ' Communion of Saints ' ; Rev. John Murpby, who writes entertainingly on ' The Orators of Ireland.' Rev. H. W. Cleary, whose article on ' Angela ' *illberead with interebt,and Mr E. S. Wardell, who takes the public into his confidence with reference to the manufacture of coins. The remainder of the contents iB up to the usual standard of our esteemed Catholic monthly. The Hon. T. Y. Duncan, Minister of Lands, was banqueted at Oamaru oq Thursday light, bir Joseph Ward, responding to the toast of 'The Ministry,' fcaid, they had been told that the Government were against tlie farmers, but, as a matter of fact, the Government had given the farmers £238,000 annually by wav of railway concessions ulone. Then storage had been piovided for farmers' produce at a cost of £10,000 a year; free grading of pro«luc had been conceded, and £50,000 had been placed on tha estimates for providing cold storage in South Africa. It was the duty of every man to check any attempt to set town against oountry ; they must all unite in doiLg what was for the good of the Colony in a spirit of moderation. Speaking of the Federal tariff, he said the time would come when the Commonwealth would find it to their advantage to ra iprocate with New Zealard in order to gain a share of our trade. Notwithstanding remissions the revenue was now £103,000 more than at the same period of last year, and the million and half loan hid been a buca-ss. He had no tear as to the future. New Zealand nii<jht have troublous tiniea before her, but there waa no present sign of their coming.