NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1020, 9 January 1911, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(By Telegraph,—Press Asscciation.l

POST OFFICE, PRESENTATION.

SPEECH BY PRIME MINISTER. . . Dunedin, January 7. iiiis morning the Prime Minister took opportunity, while passing through Dunedin, to make a presentation ou behalf of the telegraph service of New ZealanH to Mr. TV. iarquhar Young, who, through an accident and illness, has retired from t lie service after 35 years' service. Tho presentation took the practical form of i substantial purse of sovereigns, which was presented in the presence of 100 men employed in tho office, including Mr. B, H. Keys (officer in charge), and Mr. Talhot (his assistant).

Sir Joseph Ward said that it gave him the greatest pleasure to bo present among them, and to bo the means of conveying their respect and esteem to an old colj league who was retiring on well-earned superannuation. (Applause.) For many years Mr. Young had been an important officer in the Telegraph Department of the Dominion. The speaker well remembered an interview with Mr. Young ia his early days, for Mr. Young had been the originator of the Telegraph Officers' Association, was its first president, and, as president, was a big factor in obtaining j the removal of the ,£l5O barrier. (Applause.) That association had done good ; work in removing the disabilities under j which the telegraph service had laboured, | and sure they -joined in wishing ; with him that Mr. Young would enjoy i his; retirement. Sir Joseph Ward then presented the purse of sovereigns. Mr.'Young said, in reply, that much aa he valued the gift, it became doubly valuable from the fact that Sir Joseph. Ward, had made the presentation. Sir Joseph was a political head whom' the officer recognised as a friend. (Applause.) He well remembered that first unofficial' interview with Sir Joseph, an interview that had been officially refused by the Secretary of the Department. Sir Joseph had done away with their disabilities, but the speaker hoped that .young servants would not forget old battlers who had fought for official recognition. (Applause.) were given for Mr. Young.andSir Joseph and Lady Ward. / ■ MAIL BAGS ON FIRE. Christchurch, January 7. . The West Coast mails were in somejeopardy yesterday, when a fire was discovered in a heap of bags stacked at. the rear of the- leading coach. The coaches were travelling between. Bealey and Cass when the outbreak was noticed, and the mail bags were speedily lifted from .the coach, and tho 'fire stamped out. 'One passenger who assisted was unlucky enough to have one of his hands somewhat burnt. Three or four bags only ' were affected, by the • fire, • and" the contents of those bags were emptied'out and placed in new bags. The damage done was fortunately only slight, some newspaper circular matter and the-edges of some letters beiug charred, and as rir as ; could be ascertained by. dilicer* ir quiries from the addresses, the - of all the injured letters were t lntact. ]So explanation of-the otuJeak has.been received, but it is supposed that' the trouble arose from a lighted. match or burning tobacco thrown down by a. passenger on the coach.

FARMERS AND POLITICS. : Jimara, January 8. J. tie bouth Canterbury Farmers' Union Executive yesterday discussed a proposal from the Auckland Union to organise the fanners luto a political party. All the members objected to the Union' taking up party .politics, as leading to dissension and disintegration, but will send the proposal to the b for consideration. It was agre , — i-vy i th f farmers must look after.theii cal interests, bnt not through the u_ whiclrhas much.other.work to do. The executive supports the Harbour Boards request for the abolition of the differential 'railway rate on frozen meat from Onmaru, favouring Port' Chalmers, as . ilia rate being for 37 miles longer qi »nce, COUNCILLOR AND A .CONTRACT. • „ . "1 ' "Nelson, January' 7.;' As Councillor T. Field is. managing director of the Wilkins and Field Hart ware Company, which is a. corporation contractor, with a contract current till March 31, his firm has asked for the cancellation of the contract to permit , Mr. Field to retain his seat, and so' avoid the expense of a by-election, ag the municipal electiras are to.be held shortly. The council, by five votes to. four, agreed to cancel /the contract Mr, Field thus retains his seat. EDUCATION RESERVES. Gore, January 7. Sir Joseph Ward, interviewed at Gora by a deputation from Waikaia, 'promised to advise the- withdrawal of the education reserve leases advertised for sale for a further terra of years, and their re-letting for twelve months, only, ill order that the- question of the leases might be gone into with the view that land suitable for subdivision might not bo locked up in a few hands, as woulo / probably be the case if.'the leases were sold now. . -

AN INTERESTING POINT. Westport, January 7. An interesting question will be. tested at the Magistrates Court, Westport, on January XI. The police are prosecuting two local hotelkeepers on a charge of selling liquor on Monday, December 26, upon which day, .it.is contended, hotels should have been closed in accordance with the legislation of last session.