NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8355, 15 February 1913, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Negotiations are proceeding between tho Union Steamship Company and the Wellington Seamen’s Union with respect to the Mapourika’s firemen trouble. There is some prospect of a satisfactory adjustment of the difficulty with the union which Will enable the vessel to resume running. A dispatch received by the Prime Minister through his Excellency the Governor expresses cordial appreciation by Lord Crewe of the message sent from the Dominion to the Secretary or State, conveying sympathy at the attempt made upon tho life of tho Viceroy and Governor-General of India. “While tho cost of living in New Zealand has been steadily going up, the stipends of Methodist ministers have been steadily going down," declared Mr L. M. Isitt, M.P., at the Methodist Conference yesterday afternoon. Quite a number of delegates protested Vehemently that the statement was incorrect, but Mr Isitt repeated it and asserted that his own experience as a probationer and, later, as a minister, proved that What he had said was perfectly true. Tho subject was discussed by the conference at some length, but further statements were all made in committee. Considerable merriment was occasioned by a remark made by Mr L. M. Isitt, M.P., at the Methodist Conference yesterday afternoon. Complaint was made by a speaker that Mr Isitt, as secretary of a certain church fund, had not carried out to the behest of the previous conference to visit all the circuits and explain a particular matter. Mr Isitt declared that he would have done so, but for the fact that a misguided country turned one Government out and put another in during the year. He trusted he would be able to carry out his instructions this year, unless a wise country turned the present Government out and put another one in! Mr L. F. Ballot, of Sydney, the holder of the patent rights of the vacuum process of preserving meat, fish, fruit, etc., concerning which the Hon. Mr Flowers, chairman of the Sydney Meat Trade Board, speaks so highly, has been on a visit to Wellington. During his stay he entered into an arrangement with Mr F. T. Moore, of Johnsonviile, to send a demonstration plant to Wellington and promote the use of tho system in this Dominion. Mr Bullot is confident that his process will supersede freezing in a few years. According to recent cables the large sum of £750,000 has been paid for a similar process m America. Mr Bullot is negotiating for the sale of his firm’s invention to countries in Europe and Asia, for which offers running into six figures have been received.

The following steamers will be within wireless range of Wellington tins evening: Ulinuiroa, Wimmera, \ictoria, Moeraki, Zcalandia, Alanuka, Delphic, Marmora, Awara, ami Makurini. The steamers within range tomorrow evening will bo the iUnnaroa, ilanuka. Moeraki. Mauiigatuu, Zealandia, Arawa, and Marmora.

The postal authorities advise that the Tietoria, from Sydney for Auckland, has on hoard an Aiisirai'an mail, iho Wellington portion should arrive by the Main Trunk express on M,iic.uy next. English and American mails, via Vancouver, should roach Wellington by the same train. The Government training ship Amoxura returned to Wellington yesterday from Ship Cove and ihcion, and anchored in the stream. The vessel is to sail next Thursday for the Kerraadcc Islands to examine the depots jor castaways. She will probably call at Auckland on return from the 'J\orinadecs. During the vessel’s stay in chip Cove his Excellency Cord Liverpool'visited the ship and inspected the ■joys. Dor a few days longer art lovers will .o afforded an opportunity of inspect.ll4 Mrs Fletcher Johnston’s hue col.cctiou ot original English water coloui igs which are on free exhibition at Messrs tv. if. Turnbull and Co. s Gallery, Panama street. The original atenuon was to have closed the ex.ilhtion this week, but in compliance with numerous ■ requests Mr Johnston has agreed to exhibit for another few .uys. The members of the Now Zealand AAthlctio and Cycling Union intend .mlding a meeting at the Trocadero next Thursday, Eutii inst., with the object of forming a cash amateur and ycliug club. About fifty members have so far promised to join. It is aoped to run tho club in conjunction with the Northern Rugby League. Mr J. Kennedy is tho local secretary, and will be glad to furnish information rending the project to intending members. An arrival from Montreal at Auckland on Thursday morning was the New Zealand Whipping Company s steamer "Waimato. Upon leaving Canada tho Waimato had under the hatches a full cargo of machinery and paper. The Eastern Canadian service is evidently a profitable venture .remarks the Auckland “iStar' ), * or the steamers which come down to Aus.raiiau and New Zealand ports from Montreal'and St. John invariably cany all the cargo that they have capacity for. While on the passage from Cardiff to Montreal to load for New Zealand, the Waimato met with heavy weather. During the gale a spare anchor broke from the lashings and carried away a portion of the bulwarks. The annual outing of the combined stalls of the Public Works Department (head office) and Mines Department was held at Day’s Bay yesterday, and was attended by about a hundred officers and their wives. The picnickers, who included most of the heads of the departments, left town by the Duchess at 10.16 a.m., and had a highly enjoyable day. Cricket teams, organised and captained by Messrs Mass ainara and Bennett respectively, tried conclusions, hut tho result was doubtful owing to the neglect—accidental or consciously apprehensive —oil the part ol one team to keep scores. Various other sports, including a tug-of-war, riming everts, etc., were indulged in. To-day the Workshops and District Offict staff of tho Public Works Department will hold its picnic at 'lrenthara racecourse, and a largo gathering is anticipated. During the greater part of yesterday. the conference ot Education Department Inspectors discussed in committee the proposed new syllabus. For a brief period m the afternoon tho four recently-vappoi nbed medical inspectors who are investigating the health ot children at primary schools attended the conference and answered numerous questions in regard to the interpretation ot regulations governing the scheme. The Inspector-General (Mr G. Dogben), who presided, also gave esplantations, but the greater part of the discussion was not for publication. Alter a while, tho inspectors withdrew, and tho conference proceeded in committee. It.is understood that the subjects of history and civic ethics has received greater recognition at the hands of the conference by being made compulsory, along with geography and arithmetic, for proficiency certificates. Other changes in tho syllabus are pinposed, .but none, it is stated, can be' described os radical or revolutionary. Since its completion, the Auckland reiess station lias accomplished some remarkable work (says the “Herald”), .ignt after night the Station has been in communication with vessels at a distance. On Tuesday night the Qana-diali-Australasian mail steamer Maraliia was spoken when over 200 miles the other side of Suva, and Suva is over 121)0 miles distant from Auckland. ... Oceanic Steamship Company's 11.M.5. Ventura, outward bound from ,yaney to Ban Francisco, via way ‘.,rts, was spoken on Tuesday night at i range of over 1000 miles. The wireless superintendent at the Auckland ition stated on Wednesday that as the stations at both San Francisco and Honolulu arc of fifteen kilowatts, it is almost .certain that a message was ,cd by the mail steamer Aorang, from either of those stations conveying the news of the disaster to Captain Scott’s party. The Aoraugi would have been about 1500 miles distant from San Francisco on Tuesday night. A correspondent signing himseli “Hades” compiains of the extra charge for passengers on the mgin. boat to Day’s Bay. “1 may say i am living at tho waterside for tin. present,” he writes, “and had occasion to stay in town last Wednesday night, intending to return by the late steamer at 10.15 p.m. I duly arrived in time at the steamer, and was astonished to find that though 1 haa a monthly ticket 1 was asked for a further 6d for tho fare over, which 1 paid. For what reason this extraordinarily unjust charge is made after ~ayuig the exorbitant sum of iM 2s (to tor a monthly ticket is beyond my comprehension. 1* urther, 1 am tolu >f a person purchases a return ticket at Dav's Bay and wishes to return by the late boat the same evening, a further lid is asked, making tne iota, fare Is Od for the journey.” The manager of the Ferry Company, Mi Zohrab, states in reply: “the East bourne Borough Council asked us t, put on special steamers. VVo came E an arrangement with them by whic., the time was fixed by tho council, am. it was agreed that the extra charge o. sixpence was very reasonable* Th monthly ticket does not give peop.the privilege of travelling on the extr. Monday and Wednesday late nig.i. steamers. This arrangement has bee, working for the last twelve months, and the present is the first and only complaint we have received about it. The conditions of journeying by the night steamers are printed and generally understood by all who use the service.”

“The economic basis of tho Scott Epodition” is the title of an address to be given in the Theatre tomorrow evening by Mr T. Fraser, of the executive of the Federation of Labour. Mr Fraser will deal with U a Ilia, n Scott’s “message to tho public. _ Mr HTil. chief inspector of schools in Hawke’s Bay, is to give an account of his “Experiences of Bible in schools in England, Australia, and elsewhere” in tho Unitarian Church, Ingcstro street, to-morrow evening. The. dispute between tho Now Zealand Bookbinders and Taper-rulers' Trade Society Industrial Union and O. M. Banks, Ltd., and others, and tho dispute between the Wellington Stationary, 'Traction and Locomotive Engine Drivers’ Union and W. Cable and Go. and others, will he beard by tho Arbitration Court at Wellington ou Monday, March fil'd next. Tho court will continue the hearing of the same cases at Napier on Friday, March 7th, Palmerston North ou Monday, March 10th, and at Wanganui on Wednesday, March 12th. The ladies’ auxiliary of tho Methodists’ Foreign Mission entertained tho delegates attending the Methodist Conference at afternoon tea yesterday in the Wesley Hall. Mrs Gilmore, a missionary from Now Guinea, gave an iuterostni gaddress on mission work iu New Guinea and the surrounding islands. Matthew, a Papuan boy, whom Mrs Gilmore brought with her, alsa made some remarks concerning the work, Mr Gilmore acting as interpreter. Ou tho motion of Mr C. H. Luke, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to the ladies for providing afternoon tea. A meeting, of the -Society for tho Protection of Women and Children was held yesterday afternoon, Mrs A. R, Atkinson presiding. There were present Mesdames A. Hoby, J. Kirkcaldio, G. Ponsonby, and W. F. Ward. A number of cases were reported upon, and help given where necessary, ana, other cases are being investigated The following subscriptions were acknowledged with thanks: —Mrs H. Gilmei £l,' Mrs L. Blundell 10 s, Nelson, Moate and Co. 10s. Storor, Meek and Co. 10s, Mrs J. R. Blair, Te Aro House, Wol-. lington Woollen Co., Hutcheson, Wilson and Co., Mrs Jas. Gibb, and Dr, Agnes Bennett 5s each An article in the “Times” recent! J called attention to tho insufficiency of the staff of tho Public Trust Office, as evidenced by the excessive amount of overtime work exacted from tho existing staff without extra remuneration. A “'Times” representative was informed yesterday that one branch of tha office had worked overtime each night for eleven months without interruption, and that the officers had received no extra payment. On tho day of tho publication of tho article, a circular was, it is stated, sent to each officer, informing him that tho head of tho department would make a strong recoin, mendation to the Minister that ill future overtime work should be specially paid for. Moreover, it is believed that the commission which inquired into tha working of tho Public Trust Office, and which at present stands adjourned till the return of. Mr A. Macintosh from Sydney, will make a recommendation to the Government that the existing staff of the office .ho strengthened. Officers, it is stated, heartily endorse every word of the article published in the “Times.” Tho commission is to report not late* than March 31st next, and will prom ably meet a few days, earlier than that date to frame its report.