WELLINGTON NOTES.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11483, 16 January 1903, Page 6

WELLINGTON NOTES.

(SPECIAL TO "THE PBESS.") WELLINGTON, January 15. v The Maoris at Whatarangi (East Coast) are now making hauls of fish, the reason being that the crayfish are now casting their shells, and are besieged by all sorts and sizes of other fish. Porpoises and cow fish are also reported to be in great abundance. The Publ'o Works Department will cornmen c as soon as possible the survey of the Cntlins River railway extension. Last month _<ixty-one men were engaged on the work, and authority has been siven for tne pnidovment of an'additional gang. The Minister for "'ublic Works hopes to visit the line in a couple of months. There were 46,502 cwt. oi butter, 7549 cwt. of cheese, 13,982 cwt. of beef, 74,568 cwt. of mutton, and 8511 cwt. of lamb ex-poi-td from the colony during December. J he value of these exports was £375,519The motor car service between Thorndon Esplanade and the inter-section of Manners and Cuba streets is to be instituted on Anniversary Day, and continued thenceforward. The car is designed to seat ten passengers.

The motor car service between Thorndon Esplanade and the inter-section of Manners and Cuba streets is to be instituted on Anniversary Day, and continued thenceforward. The car is designed to seat ten passengers. An accident occurred on the Monowai yesterday, on her voyage from Sydney. The supply cock of the refrigerator blew out. filling the lower deck ©f the ship with thy fumes of ammonia. In the engineroom the fumes ignited from a light in the room. The fumes spread through the ship in a tliick fog, almost suffocating a man who was asleep in a bunk close by. There _k no doubt that the man would have been suffocated at once had he not had the presence of mind to put his head out of a port-hole. After several men had made attempts to rescue their unfortunate com rade, Mr Ronald, the second engineer of the ship, pluckily broke through to th_ man and brought him to a place of safely. The rescued man was almost suffocated, and could not have lasted much longer in that atmosphere. Even to-day he still looks terribly ill. The fire was extinguished by putting a hose over the side, and through a port-hoTe. Interest in the affairs of the Wellington Trades' Council are falling off. The ordinary meetings of the Council are sparsely attended by delegates, and last night a quorum failed to put in an appearance at a special meeting called to consider items fr»r diftcustiion at the Easter Conference of Trades' Councils.

The recently-started Labour paper, "The Democrat," has suspended publication for a month, owing to the lack of interest taken in the publication by the Trades Unionists of the colony. An effort is being made to create fresh interest in the paper.

During his stay in England, the Premier arranged for the purchase of two blood horses for breeding purposes in the colony, and it is understood that they are now on their wav out.

A young man who has been travelling round the colonies has died at a local hotel. Enquiries made by the police are said to show that death was due to alcoholic poisoning, tbe result, it is alleged, of excessive drinking. The circumstances have bsen reported to the coroner, who has fixed an inquest to be held at the morgue at noon to-morrow.