AUCKLAND NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 4 March 1908, Page 29

AUCKLAND NOTES.

AUCKLAND. February 11. Butter, best factory sorts, is how quoted at Is wholesale, and is being sold over the counter at Is 2d. Milk has also increased in price, being now sold at 4d per quart. On the whole pastures are holding out remarkably well, and promise to be able to stand for some time yet, although, of course, there is a steady decrease in the yield of milk. The Raglan weather observer (Mr H. T. Gibson, F.R.M.S.) writes: "I have to report another record, this time in an unusual direction. Latterly we have been able to measure our rainfall in feet, but, as was experienced all over the Dominion, January's skies permitted but a sprinkling of" water to moisten the thirsty so.il, much to the detriment of crops, and consequently of the milk supply. Though last January was a cloudy month, only a fraction of an inch of rain fell on three days, whereas during January, 1907, bridges were carried away and the countryside flooded by 21 days' fall of 13.48 in. For over three years previous to last month the lowest monthly fall was in March, 1905, when 1.195 in fell on 10 days." The ourious position ariaing in connection with the export of Auckland butter from the Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company's private siding is that neither the exporters, the Freezing Company, the Railway Department, nor the shipping companies feel inclined to accept responsibility for the butter after loaded on to railway trucks. This was referred to Sir Joseph Ward by a Herald representative in the course of a conversation last evening. The Prime Minister replied that, although the line past the Freezing Works went to the railway wharf, it was nevertheless a private siding; and although practically all the butter exported had to go over that line, it still had to be considered a private siding upon which the Railway Department could give no receipts for goods. Upon a private j siding the holder could load or d'seharge at any hour of the day or night, and so at the other end of the journey the department simply conveying the goods. The position, j however, might be easUy met. He thought if the parties concerned paid for the services of a railway officer to be present at the loading, the Railway Department could then give a receipt for the goods thus handed into its care. He thought that at nil events could be arranged, but the Hon. W. Hall-Jones had resumed charge of railwave, and the matter came within his jurisdiction. He (Sir Joseph) would refer the point to Mr Hall-Jones later. The Government drainage works at the Great Piako Swamps are now in full operation under the direction of Mr Breakell. the Government Engineer. One drain will j be seven miles in length, and when the dredges arrive it will be widened from 20ft to 30ft. So energetically is the work being executed that within a few years a large area will be offered for sale by the Government. It is anticipated that for many years sufficient land will be sold to pay for the threat expenditure contemplated by Mr Breakell. What the opening of theee lands will mean to the Thames and surrounding districts no one can adequately estimate. Mr Breakell's anticipations a.re that a great number of people will be located there, and that the plains will prove to be of enormous value to the Dominion. Mr J. Scoteher is not far behind Mr Breakell in" his anticipations. He believes that the days are not. far away when there will be 40 flaxmills in operation on the plains, employing many hundreds of men, and putting into circulation many thousands of pounds weekly. . It is reported here, writes the Wuirarapa correspondent of the Waikato Argus, that several Manawatu farmers ""have made up their minds to quit New 'Zealand for the lands along the border-line of Queensland and New South Wales. Somo of these residents, so the report states, have been over to Australia spying out the land. Others have already made their purchases, and are now "packing up" to leave the Manawatu. Their reasons for leaving the Dominion are, they state, the labour conditions, and the high price of land. The aggregate capital of these intimated emigrants is estimated to be £220. 000. _ As the conclusion of an affiliation case heard yesterday at the Poiee Court, Mr Kettle, S.M., in dismissing the information, 6aid it Tested with defendant ac to whether he would take any further action in the matter. In any case, in the- interests of justice, he would communicate with the police. In his opinion there had been deliberate- and corrupt perjury. Cases of perjury in the court were becoming tco freq-uent, and the only way to get the truth told was to take drastic action. Some months ago he had communicated details of a case to the police, but they had . taken no action for "a monfh, and in the meantinte the defendant had escaped. He

hoped action would be taken promptly in this case. February 12. •The dry weather has resulted in an interesting experiment being made in the Waikato, where the farmers are going in for artesian wells. At Waitoa-, Mr Gleeson had a bore put down on his property, end a splendid flow was tapped at 136 ft, the supply being over 50,000 gallons per day, although only a 2in pipe was used. On Mr Henry's property at Waitoa a bore was put down 273 ft, and at that depth a flow of 5000 gallons per day was struck. TlTe water in both cases is beautifully clear and pure. News has reached here that the Piako Swamp, near Miranda, is on fire, and that an area, of 11 square miles has been devastated, ton 3 of green flax being consumed. A somewhat unusual application came before last night's meeting of the Auckland Presbytery in the shape of a letter from the Congregational pastor in charge of the new church at Mangamai. It appears that there is also a Presbyterian Church in the township, and that it has done service for the last 40 years for all denominations. The new church, under the control of the Congregational Union, is also available for all worshippers. In a letter to the Presbytery the Congregational minister (Rev. J. H. M'Kenzie) wrote stating that a few years previously hi 6 predecessor (the Rev. "C. C. Davidson) built a pulpit and presented it to the people belonging to all the denominations then worshipping in Mangamai. " This pulpit," the letter continued, "was placed in the Presbyterian Church, together with a small organ purchased by the people, who now desire that both wulpit and organ be removed to the new building. There are, however, two gentlemen claiming to act for the Presbytery, who dispute our right to remove the said articles. May I ask the Presbytery in the name of the people for permission to remove these articles. We. desire the matter to be settled in a friendly and Christianlike spirit." The clerk of the Presbytery (the Rev. R. Somervillei said Mr Davidson had given a pulpit to Waimi, and it would be a nice precedent to allow people to go and take a pulpit away. " A more ridiculous and unchristianlike proposition I never hoard of." said Mr Sommerville indigna-ntlv. "They have been usingr our church for 40 years." — Mr A. J. Entrican : "Are we still holding services in the old building?"— The Clerk: "Yes." — The Rev. Mr Munro said the new church had been partly built by Presbyterian subscriptions. He would move — " That as Presbyterian services arc being reerul&rly held in the Presbyterian Church at Manpamai. t.be Presbytery regrets " — The Clerk: "l would not reeret anything about it." — Mr Munro: "Declines to accede to the request." — The motion was carried.