EARTHQUAKE SHOCKS,

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2028, 13 March 1907, Page 3

EARTHQUAKE SHOCKS,

Pross Association. NELSON, yostordny. A sharp shock of earthquake, lasting a low soconds, was experienced about 5.45 this morning.

Tho oarthquako shock was sharp, followed by two otlior shocks less pronounced. Bottles- woro broken in tho shops and somo glassware was knocked about in the township, that boillg ttio oxtont of the damage there, but in tho country districts tho commit work in somo of tho hop kilns was crackod, and two or tlireo chimneys cnino down. Tho shock was tho most sovoro for sovoral years, and lasted sovoral seconds. WELLINGTON, yesterday.

Two shocks of oarthquako woro felt in Wellington this morning, ono at 5.2 G and the otlior at 6.30. WAKAPUAKA, yostorday. A sharp shock of oarthquako was felt lioro at 5.15 this morning. BLENHEIM, yesterday. A rather sharp shock of oarthquako, apparently from tho southwest, was folt at 5.25 this morning. GREYMOUTH, yosterday. A very sharp shock of earthquake was folt this morning at 5.20. ' WAKAPUAKA, last night. A sharp shock of oarthquako was folt tlioro at 10.11 to-night. WESTPORT, last night. No damage Is reported from the earthquake oxperioncod this morning. METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, yesterday. At tho Methodist Conferenco tho Rovs. P. W. Fnirclough and W. J. Williams woro appointed to proparo a circular re the policy of the Home Mission and Church Extension Committees for consideration by the September quarterly meeting and tho district Synods. On the .motion of Mr. W. G. Bassett, it was agreed to oxtond the appeal made so successfully at the Conference mission breakfast to all tho circuits in the colony, the responses to bo recorded by the end of Juno. The Rev. Simons submitted a report of the Select Committee on tho Separate Endowed Schools Bill. After full consideration it was resolved to offer the most strenuous opposition to tjip Bill, apd a large and influential committee was appointed to take tho necessary action to prevent its passage through Parliament. ft was decided to recommend to the General Coufprenpp that the following matters be dealt with in tho representative session of the Conferenco, viz.: (1) Interconferential exchange of ministers’ supernumeraries ; (2) the stationing of ministers; (3) election of chairman of districts. All*. E. Rosovear presented the report of the Outlook, which expressed gratification at the work of the year. The Rev. J. Ward was heartily thanked for his services as editor, and was re-elected to the office. A Christchurch committee jvas appointed to consider tho relation of

the Outlook and report to the next Synods and Conference. Tho Rev. G. Bond brought forward the reports of the governors of Prince Albert College. It was agreed to giyq the trustees permission to sell the property if necessary. CHRISTCHURCH, last night-

At the Methodist Conferenco' today the thircl ftlrft final jjsf o.f stations was read' a$ follows ::—Wellington District: Taranaki street, the Rev, W, G. Fnirclough, F. C. Porter, H. B. Redstone (Supernumerary); F. W. Isitt and T. x . Jones (without pastoral oliarge); organising secretary of tho Bible Class movement, H, L, Rlamire; AVellington (South), W. J. Williams; Wellington (Suburban), E. P. Blamire; Johnsonville, C. Eaton; Hutt, S. J. Garlick (Supply); R.Wilson, W. Kirk (supernumerary); South Wairarapa, W. J. Elliott and C. Blnir; Masterton, J. N. Buttle; Napier, A. C. Lowry; Hastings, W. Tinsley; Gisbor.no, C. Griffin; Eketahuna, G. T. Marshall; Dannevirko, T. Thomas, 8.A.; Levin and Otaki, J. Wrigley, P. K. Paris; Waipawa,' G. Frost; Woodville, B. H. Ginger, supply W. G. Masliu; Pahiatua, a home missionary ; Norsewood, a homo missionary; Waipukurau, a home missionary, Rev. P. W. Fairclougll chairman of district.

WORK AND WAGES.

Press Association. AUCKLAND, yesterday. The Committee of the Auckland Butchers’ Union last night con-, sidered the log submitted by the Slaughtermen’s Union, and decided to refer the demands, with certain recommendations, to a general meeting of the Masters’ Union on Monday, this course being according to the rules. The slaughtermen meet to-night to further consider the position. A strike is unlikely, but probably demands will be framed for , the Arbitration Court in April, this, of course, depending upon the answer made by the masters. INVERCARGILL, yesterday. The Wallacetown slaughtermen have informed the managing director that, in accordance with the decision of the Canterbury men, they will not accept the company’s proposal. SLAUGHTERMEN AND THE Alt' BITRATION COURT. CHRISTCHURCH, last night. The mediation of Messrs. T. H. Davey and Geo. "Witty, A T .11 -1’ - - • in connection' vyifcli the slaughtermeh’s dispute, has proved ineffective. The Union accepted their offer to do what they could, but explained that they had cpiite lost faith in the Arbitration Court, and would have nothing to do with it. A copy of the proposed now log was given to Messrs. Davey and Witty for the purpose of conferring with the two companies. A conferenptj was held this" morning, but the' managers of the companies absolutely refused to discuss the matter except Oil the Arbitration Court basis. Messrs. Davey and Witty reported to that effect at a special meeting of the Union held to-night,, and they were warmly thanked and cheered for their services- The Um ion affirmed the position that it would not take less than'2ss per 100, and while it was willing to enter into an industrial agreement with the companies, it would have nothing to do with the Arbitration Court. The position consequently is exactly where it was before, and the men are now trying to get other work. At a largely attended meeting of the General Slaughterers’ Union tonight a motion was adopted expressing sympathy with the slaughtermon in their present tppulbe.. ’ ■' Commenting .on the Auckland' slaughtermen’s demands, Mr. H. Stringer, secretary to the Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Company, said the beef killing rate demand meant an increase of GO per cent,., and "this was ridiculous. Ho then allowed a perusal of the wages sheets, which showed that with killing beef at 2s per head, and mutton at 20s per hundred, the slaughtermen earned, without overtime, from £6 to £7 f,s per week. For the week ending November 3, one man received £6 19s 7d, and three others £6 los 7d ; for the week ending November 10, five men received £6 18s 7d each; for the week ending November 17 sis men had £7 10s Sd each, for the week ending November 24 five men bad £6 18s each, the week ending December 1, six men averaged £6 15s lOd, the week ending December 8, six of them ; drew £7 18s Sd each. With the beef butchers there was a board of eight, but very rarely there was a full board, and the numbers of men given represented the board for the full week. In tlfS last season for the week ending February 2, working five days in the week, one man re-

coivod £5 13s, anothor £5 13s sd, and tho smallest wage received was £3 17s fid. Tho “ringer” killed 132 head of beef and mutton, and ourned £5 13s fid, and tho lowest man .77 head, earning £3 17s fid. For tho wook ending February 16, ono man rocoivod £7 14s 2d (including £1 5s overtimo), another £7 3s 9d (including 18s overtimo), another £7 Is (including 18s overtime), another £6 2s 2d (18s 5d overtime), and anothor £6 18s 3d (17s 8d ovortime). Tho increaso demanded in tho hoof killing rate meant that tho men wanted a rise to £lO to £l2 por wook, and tho increase in tho mutton into meant a wago of about £8 por wook. Tho incronsos asked woro simply ridiculous.

THE FRUIT FLY,

Press Association NAPIER, yesterday. Mr Boucher, Government Pomologist, is vory confident ho will be able to restrict the fruit fiy to Nnpior, and ultimately to eradicate it. Regarding the fruitgrowers’ domnnd that all fruit on tho Napier hills be destroyed, Mr Bouclior says tho law givos no powor for any such stop; and furthermore, it would be inadvisable, for if there were no fruit on which to Food hero the fiy would sproad to other districts, and it would then ho impossible to restrict the operations of the post,

COMMERCIAL

Press Association WELLINGTON, last night. Tho Department of Industries and Commerce lias received the following cable message from the New Zealand Government agent at Sydney: “Tendors are invited for supplying tho Aniorican forces at the Philippines with the following meat—6,6oo,ooo lbs of beef and 1,500,0001bs of mutton.” The agent also cables that particulars have been forwarded by mail.