WELLINGTON GOSSIP.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2082, 7 January 1908, Page 1

WELLINGTON GOSSIP.

Special to Times. WELLINGTON, January G. There are 800 members in the Flaxmill Workers Union which is asking for affiliation with tho Wellington Trades and Labor Council. During the 24 years Mr. James Ashcroft has been Official Assignee the estates of 3000 bankrupts havo passed through his hands. In his remarks regarding the death of McNalley tho other day Mr. Ashcroft said that fully fifty per cent of tho cases that came before him in his capacity of City Coroner were more or less connected with drink. After thinking over the matter he added:—“l am sometimes almost persuaded to become a Prohibitionist. It is so very sad when one thinks of tho large number of eases in which drink leads to suicide or crime. No warning seems to have any effect.” Mr. W. Pryor, secretary of the New Zealand Employers’' Federation, leaves for Southland to-day. Me will visit .Dunedin early next month and sit on tho Arbitration Court in place of Mr. S. Drown, the employers’ representative, who will then bo on a visit to the Comonwealth. This will be the first occasion also on which Mr. McCullough, the nowiy-appoint-ed employees’ representative, will take his seat on the Court. Mr. Pryor subsequently proceeds to Timaru, Oamaru and North Canterbury on business concerning tho Federation. Mr. McDonald, of tho Tourist Department, lias secured a fine set of biogrftpli films of the departure of the Antarctic exploration ship Nimrod. Tho nietures were taken from H.M.S. Powerful and the Department intends to send copies of them to various parts of tho Empire. A slight earthquako was felt hero this evening. Tho Minister for Lands will next week inspect the Crown Lands between Napier and Rotorua. He will return to 'Wellington about the end of tho month by way of the Main Trunk Lino. The Hon. Dr. Findlay, who is to accompany the Admiral in his tour in tho Mount Cook district, will leavo for the south to-night. Messrs Erich Davidnon. F. fechmacht and F. Ulriclit. three German tourists, left ’Wellington this morning en route to the Hot Lakes district. They leave Auckland next week for Sydney.