INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2124, 5 July 1907, Page 4

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Ail unfortunate Christchurch hawkor, whoso litt'lo business is much.handicapped by failing oyoigbt, was pleasantly surprised on reaching his home ono day recently to find a now handcart standing at his door, with a note attached to it stating that it was left as a present to him. Tlio grateful recipient has made overy ofiort to find his benefactor, but so far without success.

In the oarly hours of the morning of June 21st, when the weather was bitterlv cold, a man drifted into tlio police station, Christchurch, asking to bo locked up Ho’ related .a. remarkable story about having misappropriated a sum of money from his employer in Sydney and spending it»_ in drink. He said tlio. Cttugs pf.Jrpmorsbj induced*'by liis act, had prompted lnm to give himself up. The police, however, wore reluctant to take him in a'nd gaVo him a comfortable seat in front of the fire tb think the matter over. After half an hour had elapsed he was still of the same mind, so he was pjaced in custody.. The upshot of it all was that tho nian appeared before tho Magistrate (Mr. V G. Day, S.M.) charged with drunkenness. Accused, a very re-spectable-looking elderly man, pleaded not guilty, and remarked he was sorry any statement had been made in Court of his alleged, defalcations. He had gone to tho police station because he had thought that was tho wisest thing to do, having spent two hours on a bench in the park, und having been almost frozen. He could not go anywhere else as he bad no money. The man’s employer, who had come all the way from Sydney to give evidence, stated accused bau not stolen any of his money, and he was quite willing to take hnn in hand. Mr. Day thereupon discharged the self-accused, ordering him to pay 9s medical fees. The Wellington office of the Union Steamship Company has received advice (savs the New Zealand Times) that a head tax of four dollars (IGs 8d) each including infants, payable by all, excepting ‘qnly American citizens, entering tho United States of America, will be charged after Sunday, June 30th. Tourists passing through the United States will get a refund if they leave the States within thirty days of landing. The Union Company has, therefore, been instructed to collect the extra IGs from passengers booking passage bv the C. and A. line who intend to go through the United States.

“What are the privileges of a member of Parliament?” was a pointed question put to Mr. J. T. Hogan M.H.R., at tho conclusion of bis address in the AA'anganui Opera House recontly. Mr. Hogan said a member had a free pass over tlio Government railways, but his time was always so occupied that the weekly journeys to and from AA 7 ellington was almost the only trip he could find time to make. He was allowed to telegraph 36 words for 6d, and could post his official letters free from the House when it was sitting, but all other letters he had to pay postage on. He had also an allowance of 10s a day for both tlio opening and closing days of Parliament (£l. in aTI) if lie were in his place, but not otherwise. Another privilege was that he could not be summoned while the House was sitting, but. he added TThmorously, no doubt his creditors would eonie pretty heavily on him when his term was" over. The Mayor of Christchurch recently telegraphed to Mr. Martin, solicitor to the Municipal Association, with regard to tho tie on the water supply question in the Sydenham AA’ard, asking whether as in other cases the Returning Officer could de-

cide bv lot. In replv, Mr. Martin states that there is no provision of the kind referred to applying to loan polls. It is therefore intended _to Hold a recount with, a view to seeing upon what grounds the informal votes were rejected, and if necessary the Mayor will re-submit the proposals to the ratepayers.

In a reference to trade between this colony and Germany, the New Zealand Trade Review mentions that our list of exports is scanty, and the total value, though showing an increase upon previous years, is comparatively unimportant. These figures cannot, however, be accepted as giving a measure of Germany’s consumption of New Zealand’s products as there can be no doubt that additional supplies find their way to that country by indirect routes owing to there being no direct communication between the two countries. The table of our imports is more considerable, and shows a tendency to increase. Several items exhibit growth in spite of our preferential tariff, while in a good many there is diminution. Among the more important instances of increase may be mentioned china and earthenware, fnnev goods, glass and glassware, musical and scientific instruments, especially pianos, iron and steel, sewing and other machines, manures, paper (other than printing), and stationery. In some of these cases the German manufacture is subject to an extra rate of duty under the preferential tariff, but-on the other hand, they are assisted by the preferential rates of freight conceded by British lines of shipping to the foreigner.

“There are a great many more people in England to-day who are in favor of protection than formerly, but the class of protection which the English people will admit, even if a Conservative Government comes in, will not be the class of protection which will affect foodstuffs.” This ri the impression gained by Mr. C. H Izard, M.H.R. for AVellington North, during a stay of a few months in the Old Country. Continuing, he said that although the feeling in favor of protection was growing, it was not in favor of protection on foodstuffs, and no other protection would bo of any use to New Zealand. The general impression amongst English people as to the results of the Conference, Air. Izard said, was that it left the colonies free to make treaties with any nation that would give the best price for their produce. Hie whole thing seemed to come back to the statement alleged to have been made by Cobden, when asked what he would do if all other nations did not givo freetrade. The answer was: “I would be a protectionist.”

Passengers who arrived in AVcllington by the Rotomahana on Juno 27th had a story to tell about a narrow escano of collision between that vessel and the Zealandia. A passenger by the former steamer states that the two vessels left Lyttelton about the same time, the Zealandia having tho advantage: by about 25 minutes. Shortly before the arrival at AVollington the passengers on the Rotomahana were awakened by the sudden stoppage of the engines at half-past 5. The engines were then reversed, and after a short time again stopped. The vessel was then about a mile or three-quarters of a mile from the lighthouse outside the Heads. It was evident that something had gone wrong, and a delay of about an hour took place, the vessel in the meantime drifting backwards. Eventually the vessel was got under way again, but the steam steering gear having jambed, she was steered into port by hand. The officers would say nothin'" about the mishap, but the story goes that as the Rotomahana was' approaching the Heads, at full speed the Zealandia which had then only a slight lead, suddenly crossed the Rotoniahana’s bow. Captain Collins, who was on the bridge of the Rotoniahana, promptly reversed bis engines (says the Otago Times), and threw his helm over so suddenly that the steam steering gear was thrown out of order. It is stated that it was only by Captain Collin’s promptness of action that a collision was averted. Further inqyiries go to show that the story has been exaggerated. It is stated that the two ships were not within half a mile of each other, and there was never any danger of a collision.