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Motueka Star, Volume IV, Issue 157, 20 February 1903, Page 5

The New Zealand Socialist Party evidently disapproves of the manner in which the present owner of Skibo Castle made his millions. Mr A. Boonstra, hon. secretary of the Auckland Branch of the Party, forwarded the following resolution passed at the last meeting of the City Council: “That this branch of the NewZealaud Socialist Party deeply regrets that the Mayor and Councillors of the city of Auckland have seen fit to besmirch the honour and dignity of the bulk of the citizens whom they represent, i.e., the workers, by joining in the rush for a share of the blood tainted spoil of which Andrew Carnegie is now unburdening himself. This branch earnestly trusts that the people’s representatives will yet withdra\v| from a position so humiliating to the citizens of such a reputed free and democratic country as New Zealand.” The letter was received without discussion.

A syndicate of Dunedin gentlemen have been engaged prospecting lately at Fairfield, Green Island, and as the result of their operations have struck what is said to be a splendid seam of superior coal.

The Dobson bore hole is now down 1780 feet. The flow of oil and greasy matter is increasing accompanied with a very black powder which is very light in weight and floats on the top of the water. The indications that a good flow of oil will be tapped ere long appear to be a increasing. A Sydney domestic servant has been committed for trial on a number of charges of forgery. She forged the names of various Sydney clergymen running from £5 to LI2 each, and then went to leading business houses and made purchases for the clergymen to say a third or half the amount, directing the goods to be sent up. SomeTimes she professed to be the wife, or daughter of the clergyman;

■Any clerics who received travelling with their names engraved and similar articles at Christmas, imagined they were Christmas boxes till their bank books came round, and the frauds were discovered.

We (Wairarapa Times) understand that, last week, the guard tent at the VVAirarapa Mounted Rifles encampment was stolen, ropes were all cut and the tent removed, and no trace of it has yet been discovered. Several horses are also still missing. The matter has been reported to the police. The Dunedin Employers’ Association is taking steps with a view to having

formed in Wellington a vigilance committee to watch over 1 all legislation, and in particular to place before Parliament in every way possible amendments of the labour laws proposed by the Employees’ conference. The Saturday half holiday is not proving a complete success in, Napier. One of the chief causes of complaint is that some employers do rot pay their men on Friday, fearing that they could not depend upon the workmen returniigup to time next morning. Many women who entered shops said they would like to have bought, but they had no money. Some husbands worked in the country and did not return home until Saturday with their week’s pay. One shopkeepei-’s takings were 65 per cent less than on the previous Saturday. Another reckoned that the dislocation of business during the week had cost him at least £SO, comparing his figures with previous week’s returns.

According to a return recently issued by the United States Treasury Bureau of Statistics, the Sta.tes not only lead the world in coal production but have advanced from third place to the head of the list since 1800. In that year the United States produced one fifth of the coal of the world ; last year its production was one third of the total of the world. The coal output of the U nited States has quadrupled since 1880, while that of the remainder of the world has not quite doubled. The three great coal producing countries of the world are the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany. These three countries produce practically 80 per cent of the world’s coal. Since 1800 the United States has increased her output by 221,000,000 tons, Germany by 103,000,000 tons, and tbe United Kingdom by^Bo,ooo,ooo tons. It is stated by an American paper that Sandow, the strong man, is going in for a publicbouse. Sir Thomas Naghten Fitzgerald, the well known surgeon of Melbourne, arrived at the Bluff on Tuesday. Sir Thomas is senior sui'geon at the Melbourne Hospital. lie went to the Boer war as a consulting surgeon, and co-opei'ated there with Sir Frederick Treves, and was knighted for his services. The Chief Justice, the Solicitor General, and the ex—Solicitor-General, have been appointed a Commission to consolidate the New Zealand Statutes. Tbe keel of the battleship New Zealand has been laid at Portsmouth.