INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10060, 30 January 1909, Page 1

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

(Pib Pbess Association.) WELLINGTON. January 29. A conference of Anglican bishops in New Zealand was held in Wellington todavj when the chief business under consideration was ihe matter of arrangements in connection with the ilission of Help which is to visit the Dominion in 1910. Nothing definite can be decided on until further infornnition is received from Jingland as to .the personnel and form of the mission. Dr Lang, Archbishop of Voric, was to have accompanied the latter, but his place will now be filled by Dr Tloskyns, Bishop of Southwell, who is one ot' the most remarkable divines in London to-day. HASTINGS. January 29Tlie annual ram fair, under the auspices of the Hawke's Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society was concluded at Hastings to-da.v. Lvery entry of English Leicester Hock "rams was sold at prices ranging from li to 3 guineas. Southdowns were largely competed for at prices ranging from 5 to 10 guineas, ltomneys, which were yarded in large numbers, had only a fair sale. Stud rams were not largely entered, and the highest ligure realised was 60 guineas for a. shearling Romney, bred and sold by .Mr K. J. liiddiford, of Lower Hntt, and bought by Mr G. Ueamish, of Wlianawluma. The prices offered did not agree with vendors' values, and many of the stud rams were passed under the hammer. CHR IST OH U K CH. January 29. Dr Findlay inspected the local police force this afternoon, and later visited and inspected Lyttelton gaol. Asked regarding the gaolj the Minister said he was unable to communicate any information save that the buildings were far from new. Mr Laurenson, .M.l'., who accompanied the Minister, stated that Dr Findlay made a very careful inspection -of the gaol, and spoilt over an hour on his tour, and though reticent as to his future action indicated that there was necessity for better lighting of the cells. According to Mr Laurensou. the Minister was inclined to think too many small gaols were being kept open, and it would be better to have one or two large central prisons in which a proper svstem of classification and reform of the inmates would bo carried out, but he had not come to any delinit-e decision on the matter yet. I)r Findlay intends visiting and inspecting all the gaols in the Dominion.

At a meeting of ; the Deans Memorial Committee to-night an amendment, that the proposed scholarship be open to liovs from any public school in the Dominion, provided' the holder attended the Christchurch Boys' High School throughout the term of the scholarship, was discussed, but owing lo the smallness of the attendance it was deckled to postpone further consideration till a future meeting. The action of the executive of the Boot makeis" Cjiioit Federation regarding the agitation for ihe removal of the duty on imported boots and shoes was endorsed at a very largely attended meeting of the Ciiristchurch Bootmakers' Ciiion, held on Wednesdav.

During the year 1908 there were fortythree bankruptcies in the Canterbury' district. The total liabilities were £20,289, including secured creditors £10,843. The dividends paid amounted to £5966. Twenty-four orders for immediate discharge were made, while five debtors had their discharge suspended. The special feature of the bankruptcy year has been the collapse of the building boom, and the financial downfall of builders and contractors and others connected with the trade. Farmers and general traders were almost free from bankruptcy troubles during the year. At the annual meeting of the Industrial Association to-night a motion was unanimously agreed to that industrial comniibsions should he held in tlie four centres to inquire into unemployment in Ihe Dominion, and that the Government should he requested' to instruct a Conciliation Commissioner to preside over each inquiry. which would consist ol representatives of industrial associations, trades and iabor '-ouneils, and of woollen, engineering. imp feme n t-nia king, cabinet-making, hoot and shoe, and other industries, if necessarv.

A sensational robbery took place at the Theatre I'ova I some time this afternoon. It annears that Mr Duncan. Mr Bland Holt's treasurer, locked the office at the theatre about 4 p.in., leaving locked in a wooden box a sum of £320 in gold and notes, in tended for the payment o[ salaries. On returning to the office at I p.m. Mr Duncan found'the padlock with which the box had been locked lying on the floor, and the box empty. A door leading from the vestibule to the office bad been forced open by the thief. The matter is being investigated by the police, but so far no trace of the thief or monev has been found.

INYIORCARGILL. January 29. In the annual address to the Bluff Harbor Board to-cfav, Mr J. 15. Watson, chairman, reviewed the work of the year. The revenue had exceeded that of the previous year by £2644, and the total receipts £24,948) was a record. T'he total cash expenditure was £53,274. This.was by far the heaviest the Board had ever been called upon to face, leaving out of account £20,000 borrowed: for the dred,ge in 1904-5, and said much for the buoyancy of the Board's finances that it had been able to cope with such a large outlay without public borrowing. At a, meeting to-night of representatives of the various local bodies, .it was resolved that the executive committee in Wellington of the Municipal, Harbor Board, and County Council Association be written to with the request that they open up communication with the various borough councils, harbor boards, and county councils with a view of forming a united superannuation fund, and ascertain how many local bodies are inclined to join, and further how many employees would be likely to be contributors, and make inquiries what- percentage on the wages and' contributions each local body would have to pay by way of subsidy. It was also resolved that the associations be informed that the meeting is of opinion that no fund should be established unless a sufficient number of contributors join the fund to ensure its financial success.

NAPIER, January 29. The Prime Minister on Thursday sent a strong protest to the High Coimnis-" sioner in connection with the British Government's prohibition, of the importation of frozen kidneys and offal. Sir J. G. Ward to-<fa.y received the following cablegram from the High Commissioner "Your cable of the 28th January re frozen kidneys and offal received. Very strong representations bave ab-eady been made to the Imperial Government, but full consideration will be given, and a. definite decision is promised on the' Bth February. Will do the best I can for shipments in transit." The Premier -left to-night for Gisbome.