NEW ZEALAND NEWS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.)

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1054, 17 February 1911, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.)

IRRIGATION AND RAILWAY EXTENSION. Duncdin, February 16.: Speaking at Cromwell in reply to ro quests for extension of the Otago' Central railways and irrigation, the Hon. J. A. Millar said as far as the possibilities' of what could be done .by effective irrication*were concerned'.his present trip had been almost a revelation. He wished northern members "would visit tho district and _see for themselves, the. won■derful fertility of the soil- when.water was brought in. By establishing first ail: ' effective irrigatija system there would bo a better..; case for railway extension. Iu the Minister's opinion whatever was; done should be of a comprehensive.character. Of course those settlers whoso land was benefited, and who used tha water, would .have, to contribute toward/ * the cost of; conserving the water.

CONCILIATION COURT. . Nelson, February 16. ■> A sitting of the Conciliation Court lias commenced here to consider the claims • of the Nelson Tailoring Trades Union.. , Mr. Hally,' Commissioner, presided: Mr. D. Morrison * (Wellington) and Mx. T." Harford (Nelson) 'acted as. assessors ■, for the employers, and the assessors for the employees were Mr. P. A. Muir (secre- . tary of; the Wellington Tailors' and Tailoresses'. Union) and Mr. F. Wainscott (secretary of the Tailors'and Tailoresses' Union); Between 40 and 50 employers'in. the city, Waimea, Motueka, Takaka. and Collin gwood have been cited by the traion. The union asks for a 48 : hours' week, with a minimum weekly wage of to mal« tailors and pressers, : other . than piece* • workers, and .£1 15s; for females, over.*, time-pay,- and preference to unionists, - The union demands. that no female ba taught coat-making and no female coat- • maker be employed. • - - HOSPITAL. APPOINTMENT. Nelson, February 16. There' were eight' applicants for tha position of Resident Surgeon.at tho Nelson Hospital, rendered vacant . through the resignation of Dr. Mackay. Dr. H. E. A. Washbourn,- ■ M.D.,- has-, been, selected. He was born at • Collingwood, and educated at Nelson College and Edin< burgh Uuiversity. For - some years ha was in a , bank, and for two years waa ' travelling audit accountant for the bank. At present he is . practising at. Sumner,'; and he is expected to take up his new duties on March 8. . . TARANAKI PETROLEUM. ' New Plymouth, February 16. : The Taranaki .'Petroleum Company .to night received several applications, inclucL ing two direct from England, and' oni " direct from Germany, for samples of crude petroleum for testing-, purposes. Operations at the bores at Moturoa art still very satisfactory/ ■ -. .■-• . SUPREME,COURT SENTENCES. Dunedin, February 16. . At the criminal sittings of the Supreme Court,- sentences were passed as follow:—' Arthur Patrick M'Kay, fourteen days' imprisonment for indecent language; Walter Riddell, three months for housebreaking with intent; Walter Baker, jointly, convicted" with Riddell, - three months, and on expiry reformative imprisonment for three years. John Doogue -was ao quitted on a charge of ;cattle-stealing'a«'. Seacliff. This ,concludes the sittings. ~. t - f . v-.--..-AN ENJOYABLE OUTING. ' —r* f- - , RAILWAY HEAD OFFICE PICNIC. - , The blinds were down in the Railway■ Head Offices yesterday. The. busy brains, tluit ' direct 'the Dominion's trains;' tha • clerks .who calculate the figures; the.- ; cadets who do the lesser, duties ahd/.feed : th6ir..ambitions on studies;' the mechanic? r ians.and dranghtsmjn—in fact all tha various grades in the- big red brick building—were away with their families for a day's outing.. Twelve months yigo - the weather was kss .favourable, for ; .tho " picnic, and the glorious" sunshine, ■ witlt : a cooling breeze, yesterday, ' set the gay ' trippers talking of their good luck as they sat crowded on.;the Ferry Companyjs steamers heading for Day's Bay.. Day's .Bay beckoned an open invitation. ~ Its ; little breakers curled coaxingly on the beach, and the bush on' the hills'jlooked . cool and' green. '• It was a happy 'and a gay crowd that' stepped ashore and- set ■ about enjoying th? day. : That everyone found the day enjoyable was quite evident.' The arrangements '";worked like ■ •well-oiled machinery. 'The- sports programme was of-more .than.usual interest, and events were run-well up to',.time.; There was bathing in . tho "bav, siaa amusements .for the children, and water-.;, chute rides ,for;all grades. . There, waa also a most excellent •-luncheon which, everyone enjoyed, and. afterwards men- - tioned enthusiastically. In fact the whole ; gathering -was a great.:;success . and a, credit to those who. managed it ina heads of departments who , attended were:—Messrs. Ronayne, Buxton, Beamed ; Burnett; Blackstone, Wynne, Blow, and Davidson. A hrge army of\ director, "kept- things moving, ..... but . Mr._ . it. M'Keowen, as secretarjr, bore- the brunt • of the burden. One ontstanding incident •; of the gathering .was the presentation in the evening:of 'the :to. : the departmental team, scoring the most _ points in the athletic :.>nd. swimmmg events. , The trophy, which went to the 'chief mechanical engineers department, was. presented by Mr..,T. Ronaynfe in a officials"who'looked after the amus&- . ment of the children were; Messrs. J. "B'sant; D. D.-Weir,- J. Hutcheson, W. C. Burd,- and R. H. Stephens. Other, offi- . cials in the'sports events were Messrs. . T. Ronayne, H. lddop,' Fleming, - Lundon; .Kelly, Baxter, . Harris, Hales, Bland, W<sir, M'Lean.; Mr. , P. .J. M'Govern .was press steward and treasurer. '. Tho results of the events are as -foK ' 75vds. Swimming Handicap—First heats R. Ronayne, 1; J. T.. Egan, 2. ■ Secynd-. heat: F. E. Jenkinson, lr Snelling,;.-. Final: Jenkinson, 1; Ronayne, 2; Snelt'"fdyds. Swimming Handicaps-First teat: M'Ala=ter, l; Edwards, 2.- j Second,heat:- , Pnii? 1 • Trcahv, 2. Third heat: Hoare, • . Henderson, 2/ «nal: M*Masto, ;1;' H^ s r Swimming' Championship.—Ro- - navne; 1; Jenkinson, _2. ~. , . : Neatest' header.—Jenkinson, 1; ; Ko-; "wOvds" Single Men's Running Xhamv;, pionship.—Farna, 2. :• ■ 100 yds. -Married Men's Running Championship.—Millar, _l; Ingleton, 2 . .. • 100 yd«. Cadets Running:Champipnship -Carson, 1; M'Master, 2.:_ ./ • • ■ 100 yds. Running ; . Handicap (open).— First heat: Galbraith, 1; Fama, 2. Sec- ■ ond heat: Leydon,)l; Ronajiie, 2.; Third heat: Murphy, 1; .Edie, 2. -. Final—Ro- ; :- navne, 1; Galbraith, 2. .• •••• Sack Race—Treahy, 1; Millar, 2. Wheelbarrow Race.—Grinter and Scott, I;. Baxter, and Goadley, 2. ,- . 1 • Three-legged race —Millar and Haase, l;'Ronayne and Baxter," 2. Relay Race, of 400yds—Chief,Mechanir ; cal Engineer's Office (Ronayne,; Baxter, Faina, and M'Keowen), 1; Hea'd Ofiica Staff (Millar, Lerick; Hoarc,;ahd-Dun-'. can), 2. . ': . ; - •'"> Tug-of War.—District Oihci teaiu, 1; Head Office team, .2. ~ ' ■ : Picnid Directors'. Race.—Wynne, ,1; Ro. - bieson, 2. , :