NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 490, 24 April 1909, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Cby telegram—γ-eesh assocutioh.) 9 NO AWARD FOR GENERAL LABOURERS. Auckland, April 23. The Conciliation Council recently asked Mr. Justice Sim whether tho procedure of tho builders', contractors', and general lai bourers in applying for un awaid to cover all general labourer?, inespectivo of their, particular trado, was in, accordanco with tho spirit of tho Act. The Court held that tho award must apply to some particular industry, and could not covor general labouiers, nor m any en cumstances > could, tho award cover labourers employed bj private individuals not connected with a particular ' trade. Tho dispute with each class of employers must bo kept separate, and whero an award exists I for any trado labourers' wages should be included A JUDCE'S ATTITUDE CONDEMNED. Napier, Spril 23. At a meeting of tho Employers' Association the following jceolution , was adopted: —"That this association lully endorseb tho motion passed by the Employers' Federation condemning tbe present attitude oi tho President of the Arbitration Court m imposing greater lesponsibihtie? on emplojcr3 in regard to' tho employment of workers undei the preference to membem of unions clauses m awards, also that all employers should strongly lesist tho inclusion of prefeieuco clauses m iutuio awards."

, > STEAMER KITS A WHARF. AuoklanJ, April 23. The steamer" Laudordale,' when being towed out >of dock by tho Haibour Board's tug, collided with the wharf and damaged her luddor and iiopeller. She was re-docked to-day. It is estimated the iepairs will cost about £100. Her departure tor Greymouth has been delayed fox a noek. ' A POSSIBLE APPEAL'CASE. Napier, April 23. Asked as to tho likelihood of an appeal in the case of Cock and others v. the AttornejGoneral and AJr. Justice Sim, Dr. Fuidlay said tnat no doubt the matter could bo taken to the >Pnvy Council, but he could not say what attitude the Government would take. Although he was nominally a defendant, his position was merely a formal and technical one. ' — ' r ' MUNICIPAL EIATHS. ' ' Ghi'istoiiurch, April 23. Speaking at Sydenham tD-night tie Major (Mr. C. Allison) stated that the returns from tho municipal baths for 10} months totalled £809 2s. Id., the working expenses being £450 17s. 3d, leaving a gross profit of'£dsß 45.,10 d. Interest and sinking fund tor the period amounted to £263, leaving a profit of £95 Is. 6d. HOUSE BURNED. i ' Auckland, April 23. Inspector Cullen rcecned a telegram from Constable Carmody, of Whangaroa, to-day stating that a six-ioonied house was destroyed by fire last night. Tho'bmldmg belonged to Mr. Cornelius Gothard, and had been rented to Mr. Long, a dentist. The house, which was valued at £200, was insured in the South office for £100. It.is not known whether Mi. Long's effects were covered by insurance. *• . OYSTERS. - ' Auckland, April 23. The "oyster "season .will open on Saturday week next, May 1. The Inspectoi of Sea Fisheries (Mr. J. P. Bennett),"who was just completed an inspection of the beds in Hauraki tlwb, tho oysters are plentiful The lish have spawned exceedingly well, except at the Carrior, whoro the crop is rather disappointing. Mr. Bennett is considering the advisableness or transplanting "oysters from the moTo prolific beds / Barnei, being of opinion that b) mixing the breeds tho quality and quantity will bo improved. Mi. Bennett has suggested to the Department that tie whole of v th'o, gulf should be gazetted instead of isolated bods as heretofore, so as not to hamper the work of the,pickers who/of course, are unde- the inspector's' personal supervision. MINING DEBRIS IN OHINEMURI RIVER. ' , '. , Walhl, April 23. At & Jargo public meeting, the principal business firms and mining companies being represented, the following resolution was passed unanimously:—"Whereas by pioclamation- published in tho New Zealand Gazette of April 4, 1895, the Ohinemun Iliver was • proclaimed as from July 10, 1395, a water courso into which tailings, mining debris, and waste water of overy kind used upon or discharged from any claim or licensed holding adjacent to such .watercourse shall bo suffered to flow, or bo discharged, and from such date of proclamation the said river has been continuously used foi such puiposes, tho various mining companies in consideration of such _ advantages have spent largo sums of money m the development of their mines, and theaeforo th! 3 public meeting strongly objects to any movement mado for tho purpose of revoking such proclamation, which if civrried out wiU I entirely rum the wholo mining industry." I HOTEL LESSEE SUES HOTEL pWNER. t «. TV *•' „ Hokltlka, April 23. In tho District Court to-day, m a civil action brought by Thaesa Briggs (Icssc'd of the Lmpiro Hotel, lately burned down) against Garohno Batchelor, the owner of tho promises, for a breach of covenant m the lease m not rebuilding the premises, a claim was made for £500. Tho jury awarded £300 damages.

RATES ON NATIVE LANDS. _ Auckland, April 23. Tho Raglan County Council, which finds its, finances Boriously .embarrassed by the absence of provision for enfoicing tho payinont of rates on lands owned by Natives has issued a circular to other county councils who aro concerned in tho matter suggesting the- holding of a conference with a view of. taking united action to ■securo the needed amendment of the law. Tho Raglan Council's balance-sheet just issued shows that during the past two , years only seven pounds have been paid to tho council out of a total of £2900 duo as rates on Native lands. FEVER. ' >' ' . Duncdin, April 22. Ten casf-s of scarlet fever havo been re- - portod from Tapanui. The- District Health Officer has gono up to see what arrangements can bo made for isolation. One caso las also been reported from Fairfield. DREDGE FOR NEW PLYMOUTH. Now Plymouth, April 22. The ftew Plvmouth Harbour Board has accepted tho trßder of Fleming and Forguson for a dredge to cost £33,000, and to bo dc--1 livered here in ten months. DISAFFECTED CHIEFS DEPORTED. Auckland, April 22. A proclamation issued by Dr. Solf, Governor of Gorman Samoa, rclating'to tho disaffected chiefs, states that they aro to be deported, with relatives,' to Sipan Island, in tho Caroline Group, and that in six islands over which they ruled no now appointments would he made for one year. ' All guns and ammunition must be surrendered to theGer- . man authorities. Tho head of overy family must pay a tax of thirty marks, in 'addition to the ordinary tax of twolvo marks. The (Juiemor lays stress on tho lenient treatment meted out to the disaffected chiefs, and expresses a hope that it will be appreciated bj, ; tlio loyal natives. To-morrow, at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.. continuation opening services will be lipid nt the now XJnitarinn Freo Church, Ingostie Street. Dr. Tudor Jones i"ii! deliver special nddrc-ses, ami li.eie will be vo-Ml and insfrlmentnl music. All the snftts- (chairs) in the new building aro free.