The Chronicle. PUBLISHED DAILY WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 1911. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 5 April 1911, Page 2

The Chronicle. PUBLISHED DAILY WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 1911. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Minister of Labour made an important speech in reply to a deputation from the "Wellington Trades and Labour Council on Monday on the question of immigration. The deputation alleged that the Government had. assisted the "Se'dgwick hoys" into the country to work for a wage of 3s to 4s per week. The money for the assistance of theso lads, it was alleged, came out of the pockets of the general taxpayer, and it was maintained that so far as the farming industry was concerned there were sufficient men and boys in tho country to meet its needs. Mr Millar was able to refute the charges. He had, he said, no knowledge of the Government haying assisted the Sedgwick hoys with passages to the extent of £9 each. The. amount was -£4, or £200 in respect of tho 50. Out of the f>o boys, 35 were under Iβ. They had all jbeen sent to mixed farms, and lie could not see how the arrival of 50 boys was going to disturb the labour marker. None of tho ftedgwiek boys were getting less than 10s per week, and in addition they were "found" and clothe*!. Every month their pay was handed over to the Labour Department, and was held in trust for them till they reached the age of 21. So many wild statements have been made with regard to Mr Sedgwick'.s East End lads, and so much credence has been given to them in certain circles that it is well to record the Minister's statement. The danger of unlimited, immigration is obvious, and the Government may be depended upon keeping a vigilant eye on this most important matter. But neither the Wellington Trades Council nor any other organisation can deny that farmers are crying out for. hands, and that large tracts of territory still remain undeveloped through want of the requisite labour. The importation of the "Sedgwiek boys" was an experiment and the Minister's assurance that it is not to be repeated until the results of tho first batch arc available should effectually dispose of the allegations that the Government is embarking on a policy of "assisted" immigration. "Work at the flaxmilla around Shannon is very brisk," a hand remarked yesterday. "There is always work for a man if he wants it," he said. The prospects would indicate that up till Easter the mills will be exceptionally busy. ; By the close of the winter the Ilorowhenua County Council will have carried out many most useful roadway improvements. The County Engineer (Mr Malcolm) is calling for tenders for metal for Otaki Gorge road extension. 'He has plans ready for part of the NgararaMangaone road, and he lias special instructions to call for tenders for all the metalling that will be required in the Tokomaru riding for & he next twelve months. On 'Saturday the tenders for the Otaki Gorge road will be considered by the council. The work that is to be performed! within the next few months will employ a considerable amount of local labour. Miss Whitaker, who has been in New Zealand for two years, looking after the interests of the Girls' Friendly Society, is leaving in a few months on her return to England. She is on her last official visit to Wellington, and so was given a farewell at, the G.F.S. Lodge.. {Representatives from the different branches attended, and during the evening the guest of honour received a substantial proof of the good wishes and thanks of the society in the form of a. purse of sovereigns. Miss Whitaker thanked the donors heartily, and gave an interesting address on ".Responsibility." Miss Witaker intends to travel about for another three months, after which she will spend some time in Australia, and India on her way to England.—Otaki Mail. Tho Weraroa Football Club will play a scratch match, with Kereru at Weraroa on Saturday. The boys of the "red, white and blue" are likely to turn out a very good clulb, and an old footballer stated that he hoped' it meant a revival of the "old times." "Tf you get two good teams here there will be greatly added interest to the game," he urged, and ■recalled that a few years ago "gates', , were much better than they are now, and that the public as a rule evinced keener interest in the game than they had done during the lasttwo seasons. "These players at the Weraroa end are good goers," he continued, "and are going to make things merry this season. The Union interfered in the past and robbed football of much of its interest. Can anyone say that, considering our population we get the support we ..ought to at matches? . Local competition greatly enhances inter, est in the game." The speaker concluded by, saying that when the two local clubs wore in existence, so f r ™ n V' as tlle interest i n local footiba.il that a referee from Wellinigton had to be brought up to adjudaoate. It will be interesting to Keaf what other football enthusiasts have to say in the matter. Rubber'stamps, any design, mde Levin • ™ Chronicle office,

At present ab tho Gear Company s works at Potone there are 84 men employed! killing "nmtton," and between6Boo. and; 7000 sheep are disposed of daily. The rainfall afc Hawera during March totalled 1.86 in. of whichl.7o in fell before the 4th, so that for four weeks there has been no ram wortli. speaking of. As the result of an official enguiry into the affairs 'of the Russian .State railway in Siberia, it has been established "that "graft" and peculations have robbed the Government ot £2,000,000. \t the annual meeting of the Auckland Y.M.C.A. last week it was reported that of the £11,793 promised 1 When the campaign for funds for a new buijding was made about three years ago, the sum of £3233 is .still outstanding. The work done in the school gardens by the pupils at the Halkett public' school has, says tho Christchurch News, been practically nullified, by the depreciations of rabbits, and the Education Board has decided to vote forty-five, shillings for _ wire netting fencing to keep bunny in his proper place. A Dunedin burglar, being asked whether ho had anything to urge why sentence; should not be passed upon him, asked that he might be sent to "Tnvercarsrill gaol, where he could learn to road awl write." A social gathering in connection with tho Levin Presbyterian Church will be held! in tho church on Thursday evening. A musical programme will be submitted, refreshments _ will bo served, and a. Collection in aid of the church funds will bo taken. The committee extends a. cordial welcome to residents in general to he" present. During last week 50,575 sacks of grain were carried over the railways of Southland, as compared with 37,956 sacks carried during the corresponding week Inst year. Since the beginning of this year 151, sacks of grain have (says the Tnvercargill correspondent of the Otago Daily Times) been railed—an increase of 24,067 sacks over the amount Inst year. An appropriation of two sums of £150 was decided by tender at an extraordinary general meeting of the Levin Terminating Building Society last evening. Tim highest tender was £27 10s. which was accepted' for the first £150. The next highest tender accepted was £20 for the second £150. Tho upset price fixed was £15 per £150. The beekeeping classes under the auspices of the Hawcrn Technical School, .says the Star, were resumed last evening, when there were seven students present. One came from Mokoin, one from Manaia. and one from Kaponga. This well illustrates the bold the subject is getting, and also .shows (hat Hawera is n good centre for such classes. During his stay in England Di , Newman, president of the Wellington Rugby Union, met many prominent footballers. He told the delegates at the Union's annual meeting that the All Blacks were well remembered, but it was generally held that with football so much improved at Home, a Xew Zealand team would not have such an easy time now. The doctor quoted the case of the Harlequins, the champion Rugby team of England last season. He had been assured that this position had been" , reached by the adoption of New Zealand methods, such as gymnasium and hard practice and. training. There is a movement on foot to> initiate a third-class tournament under the local Rugby Union. Teams are expected to be entered by the Maori College, Otaki. Levin District High School, tho State Training Farm, and probably one or two others from the clubs of the district. In tho course of conversation with Mr McTntyre yesterday, a Chronicle reporter was in-formed that there was every ground for believing that the movement would be a 'complete success. Personally, Mr MeJntyre warmly approved of the project, and said that it would undoubtedly encourage a love of true sport among the younger footballers of the district. In reply to a representative of the Standard who asked as to the state of the building trade, a Palinorston builder replied: "Very fair. Perhaps not quite so 'brisk as a, couple of months ago, but plenty of work on hand and in sight. I could employ two or three more men, but I prefer doing a little less and having a smaller wages sheet to provide for. So far is I can see there is likely to bo fairly steady work for several months ahead, and I don't think there is an unemployed carpenter in Palmerston at present. Tho high price of materials and present rate of wages may •possibly check building operations to some extent, but between new buildings and alterations there is plenty of work, and likely to be, so far as T can sec ahead." A somewhat amusing, if rather undignified sample of electioneering advertisement inserted by a won kibe Municipal -Auditor, has been supplied by a West Australian correspondent in the London Accountant. A handbill was widely circulated in tho municipality, headed.: "A few cogent reasons why is worth a vote for Municipal Auditor. Because he is a Theodolite, favour ing neither sex nor party. Bee v.-so Iβ is a small man with a larr.e lamiiy and good at additions. Be.'j.i.<o only one Auditor can be elected, as the Habeas Corpus Act does not, pi ovide for more. Because ho woirkl not like to lose his fiver deposit, ;is three butchers, four bakers, and the man he borrowed it from aro wtiting for it." An extraordinary general meeting of the Levin Terminating Building Society was held in the Druids' Hall last night. Mr P. AV. Goldsmith occupied the chair. A notice of motion was put before the meeting in reference to No. 24 of the Society's rules. Mr Goldsmith moved, and it was seconded by Mr Harper: "That rule No. 24 be rescinded and the following rule be inserted as rule 24: ' Any .person taking up shares or taking up "additional shares after the commencement of the Society shall pay an extra entrance fee of three shillings per share in addition to the ordinary fee; such persons shall be entitled to participate, in all appropriations after paying six fortnightly subscriptions. All arrears of subscriptions, fees, etc., accumulated! from the commencement of the Society shall be a first charge payable to the Society on all monies received by any subscriber by vay of appropriation.' " The motion' was carried. A persistent rumour is current in well informed circles to the effect that the Auckland Police Force, or a very considerable section of it, is in a ferment of discontent. It is not easy to ascertain just what the grounds are which have caused the unrest (says the Otago Daily Times correspondent), but they would appear to be several. Some of the trouble has to do with promotions, which everybody knows must come to many members of the force in the near future, and some wfth the conduct of the force by the officer _ in charge of the district. It is claimed by some of them that the regime of late has been unnecessarily strict, and that the men have not _ been treated with due consideration in the matter of animal leave. It is said also that it was concerning this alleged or real discontent that the commissioner visited Auckland a. short while ago, but on this, as on all other matters referred to, it is impossible to get definite information.

A meeting of the Ladies' Auxiliary of tflie Y.M.C.A. will be hold m the rooms, Queen street, tomorrow afternoon at threo o'clock. Arrangements for a visit of inspection by the Levin Borough Council to the' gas works have been left in, the Hands of Mr B. R, Gardener (the mayor). ■On the motion of Cr. Lancaster, seconded by Cr. France, the Levin Borough Council has passed! a resolution to establish a few meters of the shilling-in-the-slot system in the iborough. Mr A. Fraser, the census enumerator, through 'an .advertisement, notifies that if any householder in the district has not Xteen supplied with ■ a census schedule, application should be made to him at Foxton. To-night the residents of Levin will have the opportunity of listening to Mrs Don in the Anglican schoolroom. Amongst the singers will be found the name of Mr E. A. Caldow, of Wellington, whose sister in wellknown in England. The number of gas consumers in Levin is now two hundred and eight, with two hundred meters, in public use. Tbe coal in stock is twentyfour tons, coal carbonised' during month was twenty-two tons. % The number of street lamps is 38. During the month of March 2G1,200 feet of fas were manufactured, ancl the total output was 257.300 feot. Mr W. R. Burge r as secretary, notifies- in our advertisement columns, that the annual meeting of the Horowhenua Rugby Union will be held in tbe Manakau Hotel on Wednesday next week. The balance sheet and report will he received and the election of officers will take place. Interesting matters will be discussed. Candidates for Confirmation at St. Marv's Church, Levin, on Friday are kindly requested to meet at the schoolroom at half-past seven o'clock that evening. Seats will be .reserved 1 for the parents and friends of the confirmees. There will he a special form of eervice with appropriate hymns. The Bishop, who will conduct the service, will be assisted by the vicar (the Rev. S. G. Compton, M.A.) The solar eclipse which will occur next month will not be total so far , as "New Zealand is concerned. From the eastern States of Australia, and from New Zealand, the eclipse will bo seen as a partial one on the morning of Saturday. April 29. Tn Wellington the eclipse will appear to commence at 7h 27.5min a.m., and the greatest phase will be attained at, 8h 25. tm, and the sun will shine forth nnobsenred at Oh 72.9 m. The local hunting season will lieein early in May, and equestrian enthusiasts are looking forward to the initial run with expectation. Tin's will take place at Heatherlea at Mr J. iR. McDonald's estate. Mr J. (I. Jamieson will act as secrctarv for the southern portion of tbe hunt, which includes Levin, Kopu+nroa, Manakau and—further south—Otaki. Members of tbe southern portion of the county are hopeful of getting tbe kemiols located at Levin. Eev. D. C. Bates' weather forecast states that present indications arc V| for a low pressure area of decreasing intensity lying to westward of the North Island, which will probably merge with another low pressure area advancing on the South Island. The barometer has a falling tendency everywhere and is likely to become low in the South after about thirty-six hours. Mild and humid conditions are probable generally and showery in parts, the Easterly and Northerly winds prevailing and gradually increasing in force. A private company has been registered to conduct the business of The Triad. The following details have been filed:—Triad, Ltd. (The). Registered as a private company on March 29. Office, at the office of A. E Wliyte, Featherston street, Wellington. Capital, £7200 into 7200 shares of £1 each. Subscribers: A. E Whyte, 1800; C. N. Baeyertz, 3G00; D. M. Findlay, 1800. Objects: To acquire and take over as a going concern the business of printer and publisher of the newspaper "The Triad," and of the art and music supplement issued therewith and the publication '"'The Guide to New Zealand," goodwill, etc., now carried on by O. N. Baeyertz.—Fiiullay-. (Wei. lington, 13/'ll). 'fhe system which obtains in most of the Australian States of having an auditor for municipal accounts elected by the ratepayers has much' to recommend it, and we think that it might with advantage be adopted in New Zealand, especially wliere municipalities engage in the conduct of trading concerns (says the Mercantile. Gazette. Tn Victoria, for instance, there is a board known as the Municipal Auritors' Board, and this body issues certificates or licenses to persons who satisfy it by examination that they are competent to act as auditors, and that they are thoroughly conversant with the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act. Persons who hold certificates of licenses from the 'Board are eligible for election by the ratepayers, and these auditors usually conduct their audit at the same time as the Official of the State Audit Office. There are signs that the 'prolonged drought is at an end, and the thunderstorm that burst over this locality last evening, it is hoped, will ibe the prelude to copious rains which the parched countryside is badly wanting. Yesterday morning was "warm"—the afternoon was warmer still, andl as evening approached there were obvious signs of atmospheric disturbance. By seven o'clock the countryside was illuminated byi brilliant flashes of lightning, and the rumbling of thunder indicated the near approach of a severe storm. Rain fell heavily in parts of Horowhenua, but Levin's visitation was only slight—just about sufficient to cool a sub-tropical atmosphere. A meeting of the members of the Horowheniiia Prospecting Association was to have been held last evening, but with the exception of Mr Shaw and the secretary (Mr C. R. Brown) no member of the committee put in an appearance. The thunderstorm which burst over the town din ring the evening may have deterred members from being present, but the matters to be discussed were of such importance as should have ensured a well attended meeting despite unfavorable meteorological conditions. The chief matter that was -to have been discussed was a letter from Mr C. H. Baker, B.Sc, director of the Thames School of Mines, with regard to prospecting the ranges. Summarised,-Mr Baker stated that he had l no doubt the Thames School of Mines would undertake to make assays free of charge for the association until some dicovery was mad© which would warrant notation. The director outlined the method of commencing prospecting, and concluded by stating that he would be glad to do anything he could to further the object of the association. The terms of this communication will be discussed at another meeting of the association, which the secretary will call within a few days. Nelson H. Heath, Bristol street, Levin, is still at citizens' eervice for all carting requirements. He meets all trains and calls at any house in the town or vicinity. When you want any carting done or any luggage shifted, drop a postcard to him, Or ring him up on Telephone 45. He has first class.sample rooms in his care at Levin Town Hall. —Advt-