WELLINGTON NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 4 March 1908, Page 40

WELLINGTON NOTES.

(Fbom Our Own Cobbzspokdent.) WELLINGTON, February 19. The following axe the candidates for the ■Rhodes Scholarship, wbiob will be decided <}n Friday:— A. M. Finlayson, Ofcftgp University; J. A. Bartrmn, nominated by the \Boys' High School, Christohureh, but from Otago University; H. T, Reveil, Otnterkury College; G. V. Bogle, Victoria Ooltege, Wellington; and S. N, Ziman, Auek£nd University College. The members of me Selection Committee are: — His Excellency the Governor, the Chief Justice, One Other judge of the Supreme Court, and the tnairm&n of the Professorial Board of each University College. Practically the whole output of the

Government ooal briquette and eggette J factory at Westport is taken by the Rail- J way Department, which reports that the fuel is giving every satisfaction when used on open lines. Owing to the quantity ok tar used in their manufacture, they are not suitable for locomotives running through tunnels. Mr C, Paterson," M.A., LL.B., a member of the Scottish Bar, who has retired after 27 years' service in the Indian education service, is at present in Wellington. He scouis tbe idea, of another mutiny in India, and says the great majority of the enlightened men in the Madras Presidency are strongly averse to the present seditious agitation. It is, however, the few agitators who perhaps make themselves most heard, but their agitation apparently does i not count for much. Autonomy for India would simply mean internecine war, and even the babus of Bengal, who are making the most noise ju6t now, would, under a self-go"Verning India, be quickly wiped out of existence by the more warlike Mohammedans, Sikhs, and Gourkhas. Mr Paterson has been cycling through the Dominion, and he says that while New Zealand may be God's own country, it has the devil's own roads. | The case of a lad of 18 who receives i only 12s 6d in wages has attracted some I notice here. The Benevolent .Institution Trustees doubted the etory, but it has been \ proved to be quite correct. The father stated that it was his wish to apprentice hie son to a trade, but he found that the lad, according to the union award, could not be paid more than 7s 6d per week, and he could not afford to make the sacrifice, even though it would be better for his eon's future. Mr A. C. Pearc©~, a member of the Board of Trustees, remarked that the outlook for boys in New Zealand was becoming alarming by reason of the restrictions placed upon the number of apprentices and the obstacles placed in the way of deserving lads, who, from a variety of reasons, could not serve time at trades, and yet were prevented from improving their positions by picking up some useful calling. •