YESTERDAY’S TELEGRAMS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2147, 1 August 1907, Page 4

YESTERDAY’S TELEGRAMS.

Press Association. WELLINGTON, yesterday. The sub-committee of tho Benevolent Trustees reported on its investigations into tho conditions under which recipients of relief are housed. The committee finds thero are two _ widely divergent classes in receipt of ’ aid. One class revels in untidiness and filth, others will keep their residences in order. Tlie only course to adopt with the former class is to oblige them to submit to discipline if they are to recoivo help. To that end it seems advisable to secure a house, consisting of a number of smalt suites of living rooms, fitted with bathroom, lavatories, and other necessary conveniences. This house might lie called tlio disciplinary home, and to it should shiftless and untidy individuals bo committed for reformation. It should he under thesupervision of an inspector, whose duty it would bo to see that tlio rooms wore kept clean. Should tlie inspector find tho rooms deteriorating through neglect, it should bo liis duty to order tho occupant to vacate the rooms, whilst ’Cleansing operations were undertaken, when the people could return. The operation, if necessary, would be repeated on another lapse, until the disturbance of domestic conditions would become such a nuisance as to force tlie neglectful housekeeper to recognise the virtue of cleanliness, and reform in tho manner of living. When they became amenable to this discipline they could elect to go back to places of residence of their own choosing. Tno other class, who live decently, are entitled to better housing than is possible under the present conditions. Thy Committee thinks the difficulty could be met by the trustees obtaining authority to purchase a poor quarter of the city, and there build a number of cheap but decent houses for the deserving poor. The Trustees now assist people with their rent to the extent of about £6OO annually, and with the congestion of population this amount is more likely _to increase than to diminish. The Committee says there is here an opportunity for well-to-do people to provide a portion of the money to carry out a great philanthropic work. Consideration of the report was deferred. At the Agricultural Conference -a discussion took ptiace on a motion asking tlie Department of Agriculture to open registers in impiortant centres of tlie colony in which entire horses could be registered after having been examined by a Government veterinary surgeon, and found free from hereditary disease. The motion was restricted to draught horses, and carried. A motion making it compulsory for draught stallions to

pass a test was negatived. A motion to tax all stallions was also rejected. T'l." question of the Government being asked to frame regulations which would prevent inferior stud horses being sent from the colony, was referred to a committee. A resolution was passed urging the Government to encourage the extension of the telephone system in rural districts, and a deputation was appointed to wait on the Postmaster-General. Satisfaction was expressed at the abolition of the sheep tax. The present date for making sheep roturns, April 30th, wai approved. A motion was brought forward directing that all A. and P.' Associations should insert a clause in tlieir rules prohibiting trimming of sheep, on being amended, directing that judges disqualify trimmed sheep, was negatived. It was decided to ask the Government 'to establish experimental farms in Canterbury, Ota•<o, and Southland. The committee appointed to deal with tile question of fires, recommended that the Government should ho requested to bring in a Bill to prevent the careless use of firo in rural districts. Mr. Kirk, Government Biologist, gave a technical talk on diseases of turnips, cabbages, and potatoes, with progress reports on experiments that are being conducted throughout the colony. It was decided to ask the Government to initiate a system of co-operative experiments in agriculture on similar lines to those carried out by Canadian experimental unions, and in order to secure the proper carrying out of such experiments the Government bo asked to have a certain number of cadets in connection with every experimental farm under Government control.

The watchmen on the wharves heard a loud explosion at 7.40 last evening, and looking in tlio direction whence it came, saw flames leaping up from the after-hatchway of the ship Melville Island, as high as the crochet yard. Rushing along with fire-extinguisliing apparatus, they poured water into the hold, and to a certain extent subdued the outbreak. Tne fire brigade was quickly on tile scene, and the hatchway was closed and battened down. Tho fire had reached the sails on the mizzen mast, anil a man had to he sent aloft with hand grenades to put it out. It is hoped that the fire below will he smothered. In the meantime tile brigadosmen are awaiting developments, being stationed on the wharf witl the most powerful appliances at their disposal. The hull of the vessel, a big steel ship, is warm for twotliirds of its length. The Melville Islaii I had just completed tlio discharge of a cargo of creasote, and was taking in ballast to-day prior to sailing for Newcastle. Cater.—An inspection is being made to-day of the ship Melville Island, with a view to ascertaining the extent of the damage caused by an explosion of creosote last night. The damage done to the sails and mizzen mast of the vessel is considerable, the mast being charred for nearly half of its total length, while the sails are burnt through in maijv places, and scorched over their whole area. The Chamber of Commerce met

last night to consider the tariff, and passed the following resolutions: ‘■That in view of the remission ofid per 4h granted to local manufacturers in sugar, this Chamber is strongly of the opinion that the schedule of old duties on imported confectionery should be reverted to; that the duty on foreign cocoa be reduced to Id per lb; that infants’ food be admitted free; that the Government be recommended to revert to the old duty on boots and shoes; that the remissions named in class 6 should not come into force until January 37; that roofing tiles he included in class 9 and also under the preferential tariff, schedule D, part 2; that an ad valorem duty of 20 per cent, be placed on handbills, circulars, etc. instead of 3d per lh; that trade catalogues and price, lists he free; that corrugated iron should he admitted free; that the duty on cash registers should not he increased; that dairy cleansing „ materials he placed on the free list; that imprinted butter paper he free.” In the case of Carruthers v. the ’Union Steamship Co., claim for compensation for injuries on board the Mararoa, the Arbitration Court has decided that the Legislature has pow-

or to make a law giving to ft servant a right to compensation in respect to m accident happening on the voyage of 11 Now Zealand ship between Now Zoalnnd ports. It also held that the business of this Company was an employment to which the Workers Compensation for Accidonts Act applied, and that claimant came within the definition of n worker. Claimant, was awarded compensation at the rate ,of 22s Gd a week during Ins total or pa 1 1 in 1 incapacity. CIIRISTCiIURDU, yesterday. The realisation of the Exhibition buildings and other property is turning out remarkably '«• well. Mf. Muuro told a- roprosoutativo to-day whereas tho estnto was at one timo expected to reuliso £15,000, it was now certain that tho iiguro whom all wins sold would bo at loast £50,000. It will probably ho six months oven now betoro tho ground is. entirely cleared of tho various erections, and tho foncing and tho various debris of tho Exhibition. Tho remaining pieces of tho marble statuary by .Mr. Summers, of Melbourne, have beoi. sold to tho Tourist Department for £2OOO. This must bo regarded ns satisfactory, seeing that the price paid by the Exhibition was about £2600, and one of tho pieces has since been sold for £BO. The statues are still lodged at the Christchurch office of the Department, but it is considered probable that Rotorua will be. their final destination. t A movement is. on foot m Christchurch to establish a crematorium. At a meeting last night of the Physical Culture Society a motion was carried urging the City Council. to move forward quickly in arranging a public meeting to consider tho proposal. The charges of manslaughter against W. B. It. Moorliousc, in connection with the New Brighton motor cyclo fatality, will bo heard on August 12 at. the Supreme Court. The ease was thrown out by the Grand Jury last session, but the police wore ifot satisfied and began afresh. Tho calendar for the next sitting of the Supreme Court oil August 12 comprises fifteen charges against 14 persons, moulding two cases of manslaughter, one being against; Stanton (a specialist), under whoso treatment a young man died, one of unnatural offence, one of perjury, one of escaping from prison, one of supplying drugs for an illegal operation, one of (lings for an illegal purpose, one of forgery; the, rest are assault and common theft-. Four cases, all of forgery, have been sent up for sentence from the lower Court. The last four days have been more or less damp, and this will do a lot of good to farms and pastures. Today there was bright sunshine. L YTTE LTON, yesterday. At the Lyttelton Magistrate’s Court this morning, Arthur Rawson and Robert McCarthy, prisoners in Lyttelton gaol, were each sentenced to six mouths’ additional imprisonment for attempting to escape by getting over tlie gaol wall on Juno 18.

PALMERSTON, yesterday. All Young, who was yesterday fined £7 9s 6d for aiding and abetting opium smoking, refused fo pay the fine, and was taken to Wanganui to serve the six months’ sentence. NEW PLYMOUTH, yesterday. The programme lias been issued for the New Zealand championship tonllic. tournament, to bo held at Now Plymouth at the end of December. For the first time thoro are up handicap events, but the Taranaki provincial tournament will bo held immediately afterwards. Wilding and Parker have promised to attend, and efforts aro being made to secure Brooks and Miss Sutton, the African lady champion, and other first-class players. DUNEDIN, yesterday. The removal of the duty on cotton and linen goods as fixed by the tariff to take pinee on October 31st. will occur right in the middle of the drapery season, when the warehouses and retail houses are carrying their heaviest stocks. This would probably involve the retail trade of the colony in serious loss, and an effort is being made by the warehouse proprietor and retailers throughout the colony to get the Government either to put the duty on at once before the new season’s goods come in, or to hold it over till the end of the drapery season, about January. The matter has been jilaced before the Minister. The Rugby Football Uuion yesterday presented Mr. Colin Gilray, the Rhodes scholar, who. leaves for Ox- • ford to-day, with an inscribed sovereign case, in recognition of his sterling services to Club football in Dunedin. Mr. Gilray is the most popular player in Otago this season. The Rhodes scholar was entertained at „ farewell dinner by the University otudents last evening. James Arthur, a single man, 2G years of ago, has died at North-east Valley as a result of injuries sustained on the railway duplication works works at Caversham. On March 6tli while deceased was' unloading sand from trucks, the engine bumped the trucks against the sleepers, and Arthur was crushed. He was taken to the hospital, where he remained for two months, being then removed to his home. An inquest will be held. The following resolution‘was passed by the Otago Provinical Council of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union and has been forwarded to the Minister of Lands :—That when Crown tenants’ leases expire or are surrendered the Government should provide in the Land Act for the tenant having the right to appoint a valuer to act. with the Government valuer. The Arbitration Court will sit- at Dunedin on September 9th to hear an application for enforcement of awards, and on September 11th to deal with compensation cases. The Court will sit at Invercargill on September 17th to hear an application for enforcement of award and compensation cases, .and returns to Dunedin .on September 23rd to deal with industrial disputes. The. infectious diseases hospital question resulted in another abortive meeting yesterday,’ the various, local authorities not being ablo to agree. The principal exception taken was with reference to the apportionment of contributions as submitted by the district health officer, and several of the more distant of the bodies claimed to be excluded altogether. A motion by Mr. Stevenson, representing the Taieri County Council, approving of the district health officer’s recommendations, was carried by a largo majority. The chairman, however, pointed out that this to be effective must be unanimous, so the whole question will lie submitted to l:lie Stipendiary Magistrate again. AUCKLAND, yesterday. An exceptionally boisterous passage uaf experienced by the ship Mac Diarmid. She loft Newcastle on July 191.il for Coquimbo, and in twenty days sustained damage to the extent of £IOOO or £2OOO. On Monday week last, during a hurricane, the foretopmast and all the foresails were carried away. The mizzen and mainmasts were sprung. During the day a complete set of sails were lost. The caigo shifted, giving the vessel a considerable list. The mate, Borris, was washed overboard and washed back again. The crew were slightly injured clearing the wreckage. A sudden calm set in next day. For several days the vessel drifted towards idle coast of New Zealand until Sunday morning;' wllen another heavy gale was experienced, lasting till Monday .night. A tremendous sea was running. The ship stood' out from the land. A considerable number of sails were lost. The crew moved about the decks knee-deep in water, hanging to life lines. A great dea’ df provisions was lost. Everything movable on deck and below was carried away or broken. The vessel is making a little water. It is feared she is strained. All the crew received injuries to their hands while clearing the wreckage. Alfred Miichelly, who had been employed hv Wingate and Company, merchants, of Auckland, was arrested to-day on a charge of embezzling £l6 Jd. A number of other charges ar - pending. It is alleged that the total defalcations run into some hundieds of pounds.

At the Police Court Alfred Muchell.' , charged with having stolen and fraudulently converted to his own use 5s 5d and £lO 4s Bd, the moneys of Y ingate and Co., was remanded till Tuesday. Accused came from Australia thirteen years ago. He left employment with AViugate and Co. three months ago, the reason being entirely unconnected with the charges now preferred against him.