AUCKLAND SPECIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 265, 18 November 1901, Page 3

AUCKLAND SPECIAL.

THE SHOW. [Special to Times.] Auckland, last night-, The Agricultural Show yesterday was very largely attended, many Gisbornites being present. GISBORNE HORSES.

Mr J. A. Harding’s horses Materoa and Tauhei remain at Auckland until after the Christmas meeting. It is to be hoped that Mr Harding will have better luck with his horses here than he has had of late. He is to be complimented for the sportsmanlike manner in deciding to leave the horses here. They will compete next at the Takapuna meeting on the 30th inst. HOW THE MONEY GOES. I learn that the- Gisborne followers of Tauhei at the meeting concluded this week lost heavily over the grey mare’s nonsuccess. SUCCESSFUL JOCKEY. Buchanan has ridden twelve winners at the races which have eventuated here during the past fortnight, a record that the young Gisbornite may justly feel proud of. PRODUCE MARKETS.

The local produce markets were steadylast week. In fruit there has been large supplies. The s.s. liakanoa landed a welcome supply of bananas from Fiji in good order, and by the Manapouri, from Tonga, a heavy cargo of oranges arrived, but owing to the lateness of the season they were in poor condition. In local fruits there was a good supply of gooseberries and lemons, which realised good prices. New potatoes fully maintained their values, whilst old varieties were

scarce. Butter and eggs both sold better the latter realising up to 9d per dozen al auction. Poultry showed no change, bul young pigs were scarce. MINERS’ UNION.

A special meeting of the Executive Committee of the Thames Miners’ Union was convened for the purpose of reconsidering, at tlie request of the Waihi branch, the question as to whether or not grants of money should be allowed from tho union’s funds to those members of the latter branch who represented it at the sittings of tho Conciliation Board and Arbitration Court in connection with the receut miners’ wages dispute ; but, at tho request of tho Karangahake branch, the meeting was adjourned until next Friday evening, it being stated that the liarangahake delegates on tho Executive Committee declined to attend to discuss the matter at issue until they had first ascertained the feeling of their branch upon the subject. The Thames Central Committee declined at a recent meoting to adopt the suggestion of the Waihi committee to caff a meeting cf tho executive for the purpose of discussing the proposal, which action was confirmed by the quarterly meeting of the union held subsequently, as it was considered that the representatives in question had been amply rowarded for their services. The Waihi eominitteo, however, have appealed from this decision, and according to the union’s rules tho executive must now be called together to discuss the question. AN EX-GISBORNITE. Gisborne people will be interested in the following item : —Mr G. J. Browne, who has been chief postmaster at Oneliunga for tho last 15 years, and in tho service -10 years, has tendered his resignation, and retires on a well-earned pension. In accepting Mr Browne’s resignation Mr Gray, secretary, Chief Post Office, Wellington, wrote: “ I have to express my regret that you should have felt it necessary to sever your connection with the Department, witli which you have been so long and honorably connected. 1 trust, however, that the relief from official cares will be to the benefit of your health, and that you will long be spared to enjoy your pension.” Mr E. V. Bonn, acting chief postmaster at Auckland, also wroto as follows: ” f have plcasuro in testifying to the efficient manner in which you have performed the duties of postmaster at Onelnniga, and the uniform pleasant relations which existed between our offices.” When Mr Browne joined the service -10 years ago there were no money orders, tclograms, private boxes, savings bank, or letter-carriers in connection with with the Postal Department. Mr Browno intends to continue to reside in One-

liunga. UNIMPROVED VALUES,

A Wellington correspondent telegraphs to Auckland :—Now that the system of rating on unimproved values lias been carried, the Wellington public are awakening to the situation to-day, and are anxiously inquiring what the effect of the new taxation wil be. It is asserted by persons who are in a position to speak with some authority that the ratepayers will not save some thousands of pounds by the change, as has been publicly stated by one at least of those who agitated for the alteration. The new system will necessitate the keeping of two separate sets of rate-books, and in various other ways thero will be many consequential alterations. It is asserted also that in a closebuilt city like Wellington, where open spaces of unoccupied properties are comparatively few, the advantage of rating on unimprovqd values will be considerably less than it would be in many other places, The new system is to come into force as from March ol next. POLITICAL TATTLE.

The Auckland Herald thus revives an old story:—Rumour is still busy with the report of the probable reconstruction of the Ministry. It is freely stated that tho Hon. Thomas Duncan will resign his office as Minister for Lands in a few weeks, and it- is hinted that ho will be succeeded by Mr Me Nab, the member for Mataura. Mr McNab is a young man, a souud lawyer, and commands the respect of all sides of the House, but the objection against him is that ho is a South Island mao, and that South Island influence is already too strong in the Ministry. Mr Hogg, the member for Masterton, is also mentioned as likeiy to be given tlie vacant portfolio. Mr Hogg is an industrious representative of a country constituency, has studied the land question closely. His views when be first entered Parliament were somewhat extreme for the moderate men of his party, but of late years he has shown greater reasonableness in this regard. Mr Hogg, liko Mr McNab, is a strong supporter of the Government.