WELLINGTON.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2156, 3 April 1908, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

(Special to “Times.”) WELLINGTON, April 2. MARITIME WAGES. Following the lead of the local shipping companies, the Government lias decided to increase the wages of sailors, firemen, trimmers, -and greasers on the Government steamers Tutane'kai -and Hinemoa by 10s a month. MINING POSSIBILITIES. “Mr. George A. Carter, of Oregon, U.S.A., an American mining expert, came to Wellington from Sydney yesterday to make investigations of certain mining possibilities in this country. EX-DETECTIVE MADDERN. Ex-Detective Maddern, of Gisborne, is reported medically unfit for duty, and lias been granted a pension by the Police Provident Fund Board. AUTOCRATIC GOVERNMENT. At the opening of a private hotel here to-day, the Hon. J. A. Millar took the opportunity of stating.that* if the Government- of New Zealand listened, to every suggestion offered to it by people outside, it would become almost as autocratic as that of the Tsar. SALMON OVA. By the Warrimoo, Mr C. F. Ayson, manager of the Hakatarainea hatchery, arrived from Vancouver with 140,000 salmon ova-, supplied by the Canadian Fisheries Department to the order of the New Zealand Marine Department. The ova are in good condition, and are now on the way to Lake Te Anau, where there has been erected a special hatchery for them. MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY. Mr. C. M. Gray, M.P.. of Christchurch, is returning to Christchurch to-night after a holiday trip to Auckland. He travelled both ways by the central route. Mr. Gray informed me that in his opinion it is extremely doubtful if the express trains will be running through to Auckland by tho end of the year. Ho thinks the viaducts will bo finished before the end of.the year, but doubts if tlio other railway works will bo completed so soon. Ho expressed the opinion that the express trains would not be running much before the end of the present financial year. POLICE RETURNS. During the past mouth there were 564 persons taken into custody, summoned, or apprehended in Wellington on the charge, of drunkenness, and of these 41 were females. All males were summarily convicted, 379 males and 22 females being imprisoned in lieu of fine or surety, aud 22 males and 5 females were sentenced to peremptory imprisonment. For being drun'k and disorderly . within the meaning of the Act, 48 males and 3 females were apprehended, and of these 49 were convicted. ■On all charges 1331 males and 110 females were apprehended. Of that number 1142 males and 100 females were cony icted, 13 1 males and 34 females were imprisoned in lieu of fine or security, 111 males and 10 females were senteiiced to peremptory imprisonment, and .13 males were sentenced to bo whipped.