IN-OTHER CENTRES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 207, 26 May 1908, Page 9

IN-OTHER CENTRES.

(BT TELEGEJLPil—special coitßnaroNDEjrrs.i AUCKLAND. . May 23. Mr. Oliver Nicholson, in consenting, at tho request of a largo deputation, to stand against the Hon. Georgo Fowlds for tho Grey Lynn seat at next general election, said that when lie had been first approached on tho matter some weeks v ago, he was unable to give a dccided answer. Since then ho had boen waited upon by certain olcctors (mutual friends of tho sitting member and himself), who had advised him not to accedo to tho requisition on tho ground that it' was not desirablo that two good men should contest tho seat. They had, therefore, suggested that ho should contest another seat. This had clinched tho matter, as ho thought that if he wore a good enough man to contost another seat he was good enough to contest tho representation of tho district inwhich ho had resided for over twenty year's. (Hear, hear.) Ho then dccided to accede to tho requisition, and to do his best to serve the public in an endeavour to oust the sitting me.mber from his present position, as ho considered that that gentleman's pronounced and extreme political views wero inimical to the Dominion's welfare. (Hear, hear.) He had been given to understand by certain supporters of the present member that they regarded his (Mr. Nicholson's) candidature with equanimity and even pleasure, and that they intended to let it go forth that he was the nominee of the liquor trade. They hoped that this bogy would divert, the attention of the olectors from other important issues. Tho statement that ho was the' nomineo of tho liquor trade was an absolute falsehood. He was the nominee of nobody. Tho "Trade" had not suggested to him that ho should bo their candidate, lior had tho matter been brought before him in any way. He would havo a groat deal.to say on tho matter later on. He would stand as an independent Liberal, and ho, would make his position quite clear when he addressed tho electors. Ho expressed jileasure in noting that the requisition was signed by so many porsons of diverse political views and religious convictions. (Hear, hoar.) Drainage and Entorio. . ' In Dr. Purdy's opinion the recent outbreak Of enteric fever at.Edon Terrace was duo to chofact' that from a sanitary point of view that area was practically a blot 011 the map of Auckland.. Eden Terrace, with an area of 100 acres, had no fewer than twenty-fivo notifications of infectious disease for the year ended March 31. \Vith regard tb sanitary matters, at the time when tho Health Department made a house-to-house inspection tho condition Was such as to reveal'a state of affairs which should not bo tolerated in any modern city. In his opinion, the continuance of the. Smaller Road Boards such as Eden Terrace prevent tho progress of a largo city. In the first place, they could not maintain a satisfactory sanitary servico,' and they wero dependent 011 theit moro progressive and wealthier neighbours not only for their water supply but for the disposal of their refuse. The cost of modorn sweepers for their roads, and other modern matters of disinfection made up an item which was quite .beyond their means. - In Great Britain tho Hdn. John Burns, president,,of tho Local Government Board, had taken tlio administration of small townships entirely out of the Lands of thelocal Boards, and had compelled them to amalgamate into one authority. It was to be lioped that the public of Auckland would realise tho- ridiculousness of continuing the present state of affairs. The time was ripe in Auckland, added Dr.' Purely," for a iftovoment to develop the city on similar'lines to those now being followed in Sydney. Aparj; from tho building'' of the Grafton Road bridgdj a prospective town hall,, and a few'isolated plans to improve High Street, together with a resolution (now two years ■ out, of ; date} for. tile building of a city morgue, no public body in Auckland seemed .seribusly to. havo considered a systematic • scheme of improvement. tinder' Foroeil Draught;

• When.'tho Farmers'. Union.Conference met after.. lunch yesterday,. delegates : were faced with, an ord6r_ .paper comprising thirtyrsix notices of motion, varying from rabbit 6xtormiriatibn to the impi-oyement of the 'Legislative- Council,, and 'as many of those' prosent. desired to get away early, it Was agreed tliat'only tho mover, and seconder of a motion should. bo 'allowed .to speak. Twenty minutei tlien sufficed to dispose of' as mimy motions, and tho proceedings began to pall a little, delegates being inclined to speak of the .meeting as farcical. Tho climax was reached whon it was proposed that tho Legislative Council should be elected by ratcpayers,, instead of being composed chiefly rtf political rejects. \ Members wished to air thoir eloquenco. dri the subject, but tho chairman' was adamant, much, to their disgust. . The houso; thinned considerably during the romaindor .of the afternoon. It is probable that a three days' conference will be held nest year.

; CHRISTCKURCH; ■ ■ " May 25. . The Chairman of the tramway employees', meeting yesterday (at which Mr. T. H. Diivoy, M.P., was present) guilty of a delightful faux pas. One of the men present , was inveighing in somowhat forcible languago against the treatment meted •out to tho men by .tho Tramway Board. 'In the course of his remarks the speaker suggested the 1 possibility of tho men asking for a certain concession. "If wo did," ho declaimed, "tho Board would d soon show us —He was not allowed to finish tho sentence, for the Chairman, virtuously. indignant, demanded ordor, ' and added portentously, "No Parliamentary languago here." . Tho feelings of Mr. Davcy, M.F.J may bo more easily Imagined than described.' Fashion In Roiigion. Bishop Julius, preaching at St. Luke's yesterday ovoning from the text, "Fear God, honour the.King". (I Peter ii, 17), dealt with the present ptato of religion. After referring to the obligation of tho individual to tho, State, an obligation which was a natural one, his Lordship said tho fellowship of God's Church was not .an artificial one. Yot churchmanship was said to be intolerant, arrogant, and selfish, and so. it very often was. Just as there was a patriotism undeserving of the name, so tlioro was a churchmanship which was narrow, intolerant, and. altogether a, hateful thing. ' But truo churcfimanship was immeasurably wide,- and far beyond their thinking. There lias nothing selfish in it, nothing intolorant, nothing of arrogancy. There never was a timo that called for better service from ' Churchmen than the present.' There were people who took iu very heartbreaking 'view of tho condition of' religion; people wlio told them that roiigion was failiug; that pcoplo wero drifting away. He had heard much of this across the .water. Ho was sure that fashions changed. It was once the fashion to go to church; ;iiow tho fashion was not to go to church, and ho did not know whether it was not every bit as good a fashion. To go to church for fashion's sako was a very littlo thing indeed. It might bo better if they wero reduced to a lnoro or less little company of earnest souls, who would not bo led away by this or that fashion, but who worshipped because. thoy loved it. Thoy might bo hotter with that littlo group than with a church packed with people who came to show their bonnets or show tho fashion. Tho privileges enjoyed by Churchmen did not moan ease or contentment. Thoy were for nso for God's glory mid tho spread of His Kingdom in the world. Ho had been thinking a great deal whilst ho bad been away from the dioccao how tho work wont on. How faithful Churchmen continued doing faithful work'. He had thought-of tho laity, tho men and Women teaching in tho schools doing the drudgery, but. the blessed drudgery of the Church, no had thought of all the Workers for t.lio Church who wero getting more kicks Minn ha'pence, or those who, did not always reeeivo the love and gratitude that ilioy deserved. God grant that they w'ere working for some .better reward. There was, after all, not much ground for pessimism, and there were many grounds for thankfulness.