MAILS AND POUNDAGE RATES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 31, 6 February 1905, Page 4

MAILS AND POUNDAGE RATES.

Australia has now committed itself to the poundage system for the carriage of its ocean mails; and, despite the optimism displayed by the Federal Postmaster-General, we can see no reason for modifying the adverse opinion that we have already expressed upon this experiment. A very apposite comment upon the difficulties of the position is supplied by the action of the Orient Company in refusing to pick up the Marseilles mail for Australia. The Orient Company is not under contract with the Postal Union, and can there-

fore suit its own convenience in carrying such freight. The company is naturally not very amicably disposed towards the Federal Government, and has taken this method of proving that it was a mistake for Australia to allow the mail contract to lapse. The San Francisco steamers are in the same position as regards the Postal Union, and it is not very likely that they will put themselves out to accommodate Australia. The Commonwealth even thus early seems likely to learn by a bitter experience that so important a matter as the carriage of mails cannot safely be left to chance or the convenience of more or less unsympathetic companies. The Postmuster-fjcneral expects to effect a large saving on the contract cost of mail carriage; but unless we are much mistaken, the delays and disappointments inseparable from this casual method

will soon rouse an agitation in Australia for a return to the well - tried and efficient contract system, even if a certain amount of popular prejudice has to be swallowed to secure it.

The following is Captain Edwin's weather forecast for 24 hours from 9 a.m. this day: "'Gale from between northeast and north and west, glass further fall, rain probably heavy."

A larger crowd than usual attended ths opening of the Criminal Sessions of the Supreme Court this morning. The cafies are of more than ordinary interest, and include several charges of homicide. Saturday, the Chinese New Year Day, was observed as a holiday by local emigrants from the Celestial Empire, who followed the usual Chinese custom of visiting their friends, wishing each other luck and prosperity during the new year. Mr Wallace D. Hawkes, of Hunua, was injured near the station on Saturday evening by a fall from his horse. He was picked up unconscious, and was conveyed to Pukekolie by train by Constable Tanigan. Dr. Dalziel was called in, and after he had attended to the > injuries Mr, Hawkes was conveyed to the District Hospital, where it was found that he was suffering from severe injuries to the head. Mr H. Rawlinson, who was recently injured at the Chelsea Sugar Works, is we learn on inquiry at the hospital, making good progress towards recovery. In accordance with the clauses embodied in the new Orchard and Garden Pests Act, the inspectors appointed have been paying several visits to the Birkenhead district, and in one or two instances the owners of infected fruit trees have received orders to destroy them within a given time. The fruitgrowers are desirous of complying with the Act, and the inspectors are satisfied at the way in which the Act is being observed. A member of the Social Democratic Federation, writing from Bradford, says: "I am happy to say that things are still moving with us. We are pegging away for a municipal milk supply, and hope to pull it off before long. We have fixed up the free meal business for the poor kiddies, so our Cinderella work will be very little in future. I suppose you know the Countess of Warwick has joined the Federation. I hear she intends to visit New Zealand, and if you are lucky enough to get her, see that she is not nobbled by the prohibitionists. She is very strong on temperance reform: at the same time she is one of the few who admit that if the workers were abstainers they might get a less share of the i products than they do now."

A leading Christcburcli baker draws a gloomy picture of the local baking trade. He attributes its bad condition to excessive competition, which, so far from being the soul of business, is killing business. Competition is so keen that there is no profit on bread and many bakers would be only too glad to sell their businesses. Large numbers make small goods, such as pastrycooks' articles, and they manage very well.

Mr D. Jones, a farmer and a prohibitionist, will oppose Mr Lewis for the Courtenay seat at the next general election.

It is stated on good authority (our Christchureh correspondent telegraphs) that there is at present in Christchureh a man who has established quite a worldwide reputation as a burglar and general criminal. He is not supposed to have been in any way connected with the recent burglaries in Christchureh city. The visitor has in the past shown himself to be daring and skilful in quite an unusual degree, and the police, it is stated, have conveyed to jewellers and others likely to receive special attention from such a man a warning to be on their guard.

It is announced by the Post Office that the postage on newspapers for British Honduras and Leeward Islands i? now reduced to Id per paper irrespective of weight.

The Lands Department has a section of 52 acres of second-class surveyed land (light bush) to offer next month on the Great Barrier Island. It is section 10 of the Harataonga Parish, fronting the East Coast near Whangapoua Bay, and it is very broken land, covered by manuka and mixed forest. The title is lease-in-perpetiiity, and the upset rental is 3id an acre per annum.

Next month the Lands Department throws open for selection 3461 acres of second-class land in the Piako district, and 1611 acres of heavy bush land in the Awakino, Hokianga, Opotiki and Raglan districts. The timber in the blocks in the latter is of various sorts, not including any kauri, however. The land appears to have good facilities of access. The prices range from 8/6 to 30/ an acre in the latter. There is a good deal of heavy bush land in the Piako Block, also some light bush and scrub, and the prices range from 12/6 to 25/ an acre for cash. They can all be hid under the other systems.

The local office of the Union Company has received particulars of the new island trader which Messrs J. D. Dunlop and Co., of Port Glasgow, are bmldin<* to the order of the company. As stated previously she is to be somewhat similar to the Navua, which has become a very popular boat in the island trade. The new vessel will be somewhat larger than the Navua. and while her internal arrangements will be on the same lines any improvements which experience has shown can be made will be carried out. The dimensions of the new boat will be — Length 320 ft, beam 44ft, depth 29ft Biin She "will have aeorsmodation on deck for 90 saloon passengers and 40 secondclass. A speed of 12* knots per hour on a draught of 19ft will be maintained at sea, but it is expected that she will do better than this, for it is improbable that she will always be so deeply laden. The vessel's total deadweight capacity, including passengers, will be 3500 tons. It is anticipated that the new boat will arrive in the colony in 1906, when she will immediately be placed in the Auckland, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Sydney running. *

Among the successful candidates at the recent Junior Civil Service examination were the following pupils from the secondary department of the Onehunga District High School:—Robert SlyneM (passed with credit) and G. R. Jackson.

Speaking of the railway traffic during the holiday season, extending roughly over a month, the Minister for Railways stated that every ear throughout the colony was available ; for service, and was actually used with one exception, an old worn-out brake van which was in the repair shop to be rebuilt. During the month referred to 384 locomotives, 84!) carriages, 305 brake vans, 13,414 waggons and 1002 tarpaulins were in use. As a matter of fact, if the Department had had two thousand more waggons it could have utilised them all. During the pressure of the Christmas traffic carriages repeatedly carried about 100 persons each. As" Minister in charge of the Department, he took the opportunity to compliment the railway staff, from the general manager down, on the way in which the very heavy traffic all over the country had been met, and he said that the condition of the rolling stock available for use at that time reflected great credit upon the mechanical branch of the service.

The Rev. Charles Hargrove, M.A., who recently toured New Zealand and Australia as the representative of the British and Foreign Unitarian Association, arrived home at Leeds on December 17. In an interview published N in the "Yorkshire Observer," he contrasts the condition, social and political, of Australia with that of New Zealand, adding: "There are those who ascribe the present difficulties and stagnation in Australia to Socialistic legislation, but Socialism has been carried further in New Zealand, and, certainly, up to the present, with good results."

A well-known Maori woman, named Heni Nohoaka, died at Gisborne last week,, aged seventy-five. In 1865 her husband, Henare Jtfihoniho, was killed at Waiapu by Hauhaus. In revenge Heni personally led a fighting party against the Hauhaus, and defeated them. Her hapu was a great fighting section of the Ngatiporou tribe. Another notable Maori whose death occurred last week was Petera Te Puketua, head chief of the Arawa tribe, who expired at a good age at Otaki. His body is being removed to Ohinemutu (Rotorua), where a big tangi is to be held over his remains.

Dr. Craig, who has been a member of the medical staff of the Rotorua Sanatorium for a considerable time past, has resigned hie position in order to enter private practice.

Mr F. M. Scully, of the Auckland Post Office, staff, has been returned for the third time as Postal member of the New Zealand Post and Telegraph Appeal Board unopposed.-* Mr W. Parquhar Young, of the Dunedin Telegraphic Office, has also been returned unopposed as Telegraph member of the Board.

Mr J. G. Culpan, late of Messrs Tonson Garliek, Limited, has begun business in Xo. 7, Bradford Buildings, as a valuator and general commission agent. Mr Culpan was a builder of 20 years' standing, and has been in the furniture line for a similar period.