LOCAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 25 August 1909, Page 32

LOCAL & GENERAL.

Tiie Marine Department recently received complaints from the line fishermen in Ha'.vke s Bay thut their grounds were being despoiled by the trawlers, and a request w»i£ made to it ti*&t the steamers engaged in the industry should not be allowed to work so close to the shore. In order that the exact position might be ascertained, Mr L F. Aysoi:, Chief Inspector cf Fisheries, was sent up to Napier, and he 's now in Wellington preparing a report en blie subject, co that the Government may be able to come to a decision as to the wisdom of prohibiting trawlers from fishing in certain parts of Hawke's Bay.

With reference to the ca6e of the Maori performers who were prevented from landing at San Francisco for health reasons, it appoais-that they were suffering from what is known as trachoma, or granulated eyelids. Tliis is a disease which is very common among the immigrants into the United States from Southern Europe, being apparently due in some measure to change of climate, and as it is easily communicable it has been placed by the United States Government on the list of infectious diseases As to New Zealand's part in the matter, it appears that the troupe was pa-sred before Leaving as being healthy. It is not known whether at the time of departure any of them were suffering from trachoma. On t>he other hand, trachoma is not an infectious disease under the New Zealand health law, and even had it been observed, th^ health officer would only have warned the intending passenger and the shipping company that it was likely to stand in the wav of the passengers landing in the United States.

The Gore Standard reports a chapter of accidents from the Merino Downs district. Mr E. Orchard was working with a double furrow plough, when by some mischance the lever struck him on the face, bi'eaking his ncse and inflicting a nasty wound on his forehead. It wae decided that his mother and sibfcer should take him into Gore to (he doctor, but tliiey had only gono a short distance when the pull bolt of the po!e broke, with the result that, as the buggy was at the time going down an incline, the vehicle began to race the horeei. Mrs and Miss I. Orchard were thrown out, tne latter retaining her hold of the reins. The- injured man, who was in the back, got out and stopped the horses. The mishap was seen by Miss L. Orchard from the doorway of the house, and she called her fa-ther, who ran hurriedly to the spot. His excitement, however, was so great that when he arrived on the scene he could do nothing but rest and recover himself. Eventually the doctor was reached without further adventure.

At tho Milton Magistrate's Court on the 13th a landholder was sued for rates due to the Bruce County Council. The defence was that the rates had been paid to the late assistant county clerk, who mysteriously die appeared come months ago. The merits of tha case were not touched vipon, however, as Mr W. C. MacGregor, solici'.oifor defendant, took objection to the fact that it had not been proved that the legal demand had been made by the clerk for the rates, and the county authorities were nonsuited on that point.

The chairman of the National Bank of New Zealand mention-ed at a meeting on July 6 (writes our London correspondent) that the bank would probably in the near future undertake a heavy expenditure on new buildings at Auckland and Dunedin.

Speaking at Oxford on the l£th (says a Press Association message) the Hon. D. Buddo said the supply of land for settlement in small areas was rapidly coming to an end. By 1912 nearly all the land urder survey would have gone.

Mr A. Moritzson, who is a. member of the Laurence-Roxburgh Railway League, and who has just returned to Dunedin from the Roxburgh district, speaking to a Times reporter on the 13th, stated that he is strongly of the opinion from what has come under the notice of the Minister of Public Works dining his present tour, and from the replies made by him to the \arious deputations that have waited upon him, that the claims of the LawrenceRoxburgh line of railway 6tand unassailed. The settlers of the leviot district would bo quite satisfied in the meantime if the line was pushed on with the greatest despatch to Beaumont, the construction of the remaining portion to be completed at a later period.

The Dunedin-Mosgiel railway duplication will probably be finished and open as far a.s Burns-ide in cix or eight months. A deputation was informed by the Hon. Mr Millar yesterday that th© duplication of the line between Dunedin and Mosgiel was originally estimated to cost £135.000, but already the expenditure was £200,000, and a third of the work had not been done.

An instance cf the disabilities under which public school teachers labour was brought before the Education Eoard on the 18th by Mr Mitchell. The teacher of a small school near Oamaru, who had been in receipt of a salary of £130, was granted six months' leave, and a relieving teacher wa>s sent up— the latter a capable man, a.nd, incidentally, a married man with a small family. It appeared, however, that recently the school had suffered a falling away in the attendance, and had bosn disrated. (Schools are graded accordingto the average attendance, and grade ia the principal factor considered in determining the teacher's salary.) Tho regulations allowed the legular teacher to continue for

a time at hear former salary, but the advent of the relieving teacher was synonymous? with a reduction of the salary, so as t«i make it correspond with the grade of th«j. school. Consequently ihe gentleman referred to found that his eaJary was at th<». rate of about £90 a year. It «ras manifestly unfair — yet the arrangement wasstrictly in accordance with the regulations^ There was another and exactly similar case* cited— that of a lady assistant at the Oamaru South School, who had taken tha place of another lady teacher. The latter? had been receiving payment et^the rate ofj £130 per annum; but when she was replaced her successor found that the salary attached to the position had decreased nearly £30, in accordance with a reduction, in the grade of the school. Tho board regretted the circumstances, but pointed^ out that, with the regulations before it, ifc was powerless.

The official total of tho number of entries received in connection with the Dunedin. Competitions Society's forthcoming festival' is 1092. This is an increase of 282 overlast year's total, but it is worth remembering that this year 17 teams, each representing 12 individual, have entered for the. '• Calisthenics " competition, and thes©. count as 204 entries. Leaving these entries, out of tho calculation, however, the total number of entries etill shows the very, : satisfactory increase of 78 over those of! last year.

A Press Association telegram from WeU. lington states that the Minister of Railways has replied to a resolution of the. recent Chamber of Commerce Conference in reference to the issue of week-end tickets on the New Zealand railways. Mr Millar says the experiments made by the department in various parts of the Dominion in issuing cheap tickets in connection with the half-holiday movement from tho largo centres to places of interest within tv reasonable distance at very low rates did not turn out a financial success. The ordinary rates for travel in this country are so low that they form no bar whatever* to those people who have the time and 1 desire a journey by rail. The* department also issues at frequent intervals holiday excursion and day excursion tickets m,t rates much below the ordinary tariff. Th© people of th© Dominion enjoy great facilities for railway travel, and have -k> cause of complaint in regard to the rates they pay. In these circumstances he cannot see his way to comply with th© conference's, request.

The following extract from & letter re-, ee'ved by the Education Board on the 18th-. from the- Secretary of the Education^ Department speaks for itself: — "I am ■directed to inform you that it has been, decided to make an annual grant of £10 to your board for the purchase of books forthe library at the Training College." This, grant wae not solicited by the board!

Dr Valintin© was present at last week'emeeting of the South Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, and indulged), in some remarks as to the cost of conducting tho Timaru Hospital. Speaking generally on the subject of charitable aid, DrValintine said the number of institution*, in New Zealand was growing out of all , pvoportion to the country, and the cost of keeping them up wae tco heavy. Hos-.. pitals cost the country £210,000 last year, ajid charitable aid £104,000. Thee© were, very large sums for a country tho size of) New Zealand, and the expenditure must be kept within moderate bounds. With a.. view to this end he would like to see boards co-operating to minimise expenditure. He also said that under the new Hospitals Bill centralisation will be gone, in for to a certain extent. He would do his best when the bill comes before theHouse to have the Government subsidies, for charitable aid stopped, though he did! not think he would carry his point. He> had no objection to the hospital subsidies, but it was wrong to pay subsidies fo^~ ckaritable aid.

A meeting of the congregation of Knox Church was held on the 18th, when the ques*. tion of taking steps to secure a pastor ia. succession to the Rev. W. Hewitson w»3: considered. Mr Hewit&on (interim Moderator) presided, and there was a large attendance. Tho meeting was marked by c frajik and friendly expression of opinion, a. id after considerable discussion it was. unanimously decided to insert in the call the name of the Rev. R. E. Davies, M.A.,^ of Petersham, Sydney. Messrs Islip, E. R. Smith, and J. E. Ryan were appointed!, commissioners to supervise the signing of the call. A number of signatures wereappended at the close of the meeting, andt the call will lie for signature in the vestry of the church for the next two Sundays.. It was agreed that if any member of tke~ congregation was unable, owing to in--firmity, to attend the church for the pur-. pose of signing the call, on© of the com«missioners should take the call to that member.

The Hon. J. A. Millar visited the Otagcu Foundry on Thursday morning, and there in--spected the framework of tho new steamer - that is being built for the Peninsula Ferry Company. The Minister expressed himself* as well satisfied with what came under his.. observation, and commented very favourably on the fact that such a boat was being- built in New Zealand.

At the deputation at Lawrence to the lion. 11. M'Ken^ie in connection with the-Lawrence-Roxburgh railway on Wednesday, 18Lh insr., it was said by Mr J. B. M'Kinlay, - that '' Mr Anderson (the member foe Mataura) had told him no later than that evening, after his arrival in Lawrence, that after what he had seen of the work done on the line he was firmly convinced, it waf. the duty of the Government to carry out._, the line to the point where it was author--

ised — namely, Beaumont." Seen by a Daily Times reporter on the 19th with reference to this statement, Mr Anderson said Mr M'Kinlay had taken a. wrong inference from the remarks he had made to him In connection with the matter. What he had said was that it was a waste of money to have constructed the line to Big Hill, but he had not said it was the- Government's duty to continue the line. He had also said that of tha two routes— Tuapeka Mouth to Beaumont, or Lawrence to Beaumont — that from Lawrence was the, better; but these statements left his opinion on the question of the continuation of the line to Beaumont perfectly free and unexpressed.

A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that the Federal Government has replied to the Acting Prime Minister stating tnat it will consider the Dominion's suggestion that the prohibition imposed upon New Zealand potatoes being imported into Australia be removed if consignments -are accompanied by an official certificate as to their freedom from disease, and subject to further inspection upon arrival.

The Otago Art Society held its annual meeting on the 19th instant, when Dr Roberts presided over an attendance of seven other members. The annual report (already published) and balance sheet were unanimously adopted, and the following members were elected to the council: — President, Mr Joachim; vice-president, Dr Roberts; treasurer, Mr M'lndoe; secretary, Dr Scott; auditor, Mr T. S. Graham; committee — Mesdames Hccken. Wcodhouse, .White, E. C. Reynolds, M'lndoe, Messrs" W A. Moore, W A. Bollard, A. H. Fisher, J A. Burnside, and Dr Blomfield. A hearty vcte of thanks was accorded those who generously lent pictures for the society's last exhibition.

Last month's southern fisheries (says our Bluff correspondent) were most successful. The catches represented not less than £3000. Sales, however, continue very slack. Orders from the Commonwealth are coming in slowly, while supplies from Cook Strait are more than sufficient for Sydney requirements. That leaves Foveaux Strait entirely dependent on Melbourne markets. r j..ie- two f reezer . craft — Kekeno and Gisborne — are lying at Halfmoon Bay waiting a slant of weather to take them on to Dusky, where they mean to put in another month's cruise. As already reported, operations in that neighbourhood have proved highly satisfactory.

The Morniiigton Borough Council has dec-ded to appoint Mr Frank Young, at present town clerk of Gore, to the position of town clerk and tramways manager.

The City Corporation tramway returns for the fortnight ended Saturday last disclose an increase of about £170 over those for tup previous similar period.

An Invercargill telegram states that at a special meeting of the Borough Council on the 19th Mr John Sturrock, of Wellington, who came out from Scotland 15 months ago, wa3 appointed town engineer out of 34 applicants.

Our Alexandra correspondent states that a man named Walter George Burnell was arrested by Constable Shanahan on ' Wednesday on a charge of stealing a £5 note from a boarder at the Caledonian Hotel. Accused, who was travelling for Mr George Davies, tailor, of Christchurch, was charged yesterday before three justices, t and was sentenced to 30 days' imprisonment in the CJyde Gaol.

Speaking to a deputation from the boilermaking trade on the 20th, th- Hon. J. A. Millar stated, in reference to a remark by a member ofthe deputation, that skilled tradesmen were employed in the Hillside Workshops in riveting up trucks, that there would be no more of that kind of work carried ,on, as instead of the bodies of railway trucks being built of steel they would in future be constructed of jar rah hardwood. Trucks that were built of steel did not last long enough, and it was not paying the department to make them.

Mr M. Maloney, of tho Christchnrch Telagraph Office has invented a patent tandem long-distance transmitter, which greatly enhances the utility of the telephone. The transmitter can be fitted on to any telephone at a very little cost, and incraases the volume of sound with almost incredible loudness. For instance, Mr Maloney, in the presence of a reporter, demonstrated that a person standing Bffc or 10ft away from the receiver of a telephone, at the other end of which one of the transmitters had been attached, could hear a" person speaking in a conversational tone without any difficulty. A mere whisper also makes a large volume of sound, and a person's breathing, which in ordinary circumstances is imperceptibb, can be distinctly heard. The transmitter, Mr Maloney states, is constructed on the principle of the human ear. It should prove of incalculable value in long-distance telephoning, tests between Christchurch and N«piei - having proved eminently satisfactory. The New Zealand Government has accepted the transmitter, and has ordered 500 of them for use in the service.

On Friday, 20th, his Honor Mr Justice [Williams sat in Chambers, and granted probate in the estates of Christina Thomson and Joseph Eskdale. - On the application of Mr Hosking bis Honor granted an order authorising the trustees of the Estate of William Smaill to realise on a farm before the coining of age of the jyoungest child, now aged 20, so as not to risk a loss. The other business transacted .Wtai R« Guthric v. Brent, petjtion for 'direction, etc. — Order in terms of prayer, trustees to enter into an agreement and Memorandum of articles of association, as

mentioned. Re Stratford-Henmker v. Trustees, Executors, and Agency Company, motion for directions and originating summons. — Order for service on trustees and widow. Re School Commissioners of Otago v. Edge and another, motion for direction and originating summons. — Order for service on both parties.

A Nelson telegram states that one of the unemployed named John Judge went to the Nelson Labour Buieau on Thursday afternoon and asked for work. He was told that none was available, whereupon he said he wanted a night's food and lodging, that he had no money, and would get what he wanted by breaking a glass door, so they had better send for the police at once. Judge then proceeded to put his fist through the door, breaking the glass. He wa3 arrested, and got a night's lodging. On Friday morning he was fined' £1 and 13s 6d (the cost of the glass), and given seven days for payment, after which a warrant may be issued.

An interesting law point as to the rights of the police in entering a man's house was decided in Sydney on 26fch ult. by Mr Justice Sly. When a poiic© sergeant and constable went into the- house of a Chinese, at Nyngan, one night last month, and saw him lying on a bunk smoking opium, with a lomp burning, it was contended, on the defendant being broug-ht before the Police Court, that they had not had the necessary authority to enter the premises, and therefore were not legally empowered to arrest the man. In reply, it was argued for the polico that this authority was not needed; that they did not break into the premises, nor were they stopped, and that on seeing an offence committed, they had just the same power to arrest th© culprit as if he were in the street or any other public place. The two justices of the peace upheld the objection, however, and dismissed the information. On appeal, Mr Justice Sly ruled that this decision was wrongs and the caee will therefore go back for re-hearing.

On the recommendation of the Deputy Postmaster-general of Queensland, the Commonwealth Postmaster-general has issued an order prohibiting the conveyance of intoxicants by post. The deputy Postmastergeneral told Sir John Quick that at some stations in the interior employees were getting drink in this way. "It is not considered right." said the Minister, " that the parcels post should be made the means of carrying intoxicating liquors throughout the whole of Australia, and to places where thei'e are no liquors sold."

The appearance of the surroundings of railway-stations in New Zealand was commented on in unfavourable terms by Mr S. Hurst Seager at a meeting of the Christchuroh Beautifying Association last week, and as a remedy for the existing state of affairs he proposed that the Railway Department should be urged to adopt a plan that had been followed with satisfactory results by some of the railway companies of the United Kingdom. The companies, he said, provided very substantial prizes fov the best-kept stations, and as a result of the keen competition among the railway employees the appearance of the station yards was most pleasing. Any available space in the' station yards might be planted with various specimens of the flora indigenous to the district, and if this plan was carried out systematically travellers from north to south would be able to glean a knowledge of the flora of the country. He moved that the suggestion should be brought under the notice of the Minister of Railways. Mr A. Kayo said that a similar plan had been attended with satisfactory results in Victoria and New South Walee. The motion was carried.

Mr Henry Skey'e abstract of weather observations at Dunedin for July is as follows:—Mean barometer, 29.932 in; mean elastic force of vapour, .214i:i ; mean temperature in shade, 42.1; mean terrestrial radiation, 32.4 ; mean daily velocity of wind, 117 miles; mean amount of cloud (from 1 to 10), 5.3; total rainfall, 2.64 in; number of days on which rain fell, 7.

For some time past (says our Naseby correspondent) the sludge channel in Main Gully has been a source of danger to the low-lying portion of the town by reason of the silting up of the channel. The scour has hsen insufficient to deal with the mass of tailings and debris that is btought down this channel, and from time to time protective banks have been built to protect the town in times of flood. The Government recently granted a sum of money for the purpose of building a more permanent retaining wall, end this work is now employing about 20 men. Scrub is being carted in from the outlying district, and is being used for facing the wall, and a solid bank of gravel is being erected, which cught to protect the town for many years to come. It is estimated that the work will cost between £300 and £400.

A Gore message states that Mr Wra.g-ge forwards the following to the Matauva Ensign from Akarca :— " The penumbra of the disturbance named after Queon Dido is covering the- country. She is coming on steadily, and will probably prove a beauty, bringing winds from the north-east to north and north-we-st, shifting to tho west, and later to the soubh. The=s will be bad over the Tasman Ssa."

The Tramways Committee v, ill recommend the City Council, at its n?xt meeting, to accept the tender of Messrs Smith and Smith (Ltd.), who offer £1210 for the right to advertise inside tramway cais for the terra of three years.

Four of the pa-tients in the Hospital died during the past week, their names being Geonge Robertson, Egbert Longley, Ethel Bain, and Louis Williamson. There wexe 37 patients admitted and 23 discharged,

and the total number of inmates in the institution at the end of the week was 157. The total number at the end of the previous week was 147.

Thomas Chambers was admitted to the Hospital on Saturday night suffering from •a- broken leg. He was working 1 at Catlin's River bushfeiling when he slipped off a log on which he was standing, and sustained the injury mentioned.

At the Salvation Army Barracks, Dowl i»g streel, on Sunday, Staff -captain and Mrs Hamilton (late of Japan) and the " Nippon Kiku Kumi " conducted special services. Several hymns were eung in Japanese, and short reminiscences of eight years' resideaice in Japan were giv-an by the staffcaptain. Th© story of the advent of the Axmy into the Land of the Rising Sun was that in September, 1895, a party of four officers went to that country under Captain Wright. At Hongkong the party, desiring to appear in Japanese costume on arrival, purchased the necessary articles of apparel, but found that when they marched through Japan streets from the wharf they excited some amusement. After arrival at lodgings inquiry was made as to the cause of the merriment, and it was explained that the articles purchased were apparel . that was usually worn by the Japanese at- night, and not during the day. The difficulties of mastering the language and conforming to the customs of th» people were dwelt upon, and the recital of numerous mistakes made evoked smiles. The ultimate success of the work was also referred to, and the ffcatement was made that there are now 1243 Christian churches in the country.

Steps are being taken by the City Council (sa-j-s a Wellington Press Association message) to have a Milk Supply Bill introduced into Parliament dm-ing the coming session in order that authority may be- obtained by the council to establish a milk station at which the milk supply of the city will be treated and distributed. The bill also will confer on the council power to buy and sell milk aji.d ■dairy produce-, to manufacture butter, provide cool storage, and to act generally as a dealer in milk and butter In all the bill will contain 18 clauses, and amongst them is one to empower the council to subsidise visiting nurses and to supply milk to the poor of Wellington.

Mr H. K. Wilkison, at the emoke concert held on Saturday evening in connection with constitution day of the United Commercial Travellers' Association of Australasia, suggested that an aaea similar to that of Victoria Park (better known as Jubilee Park) should be set apart on the Town Belt and planted, the -park to bo namod Bathgate Park, in recognition of the valuable work done by Mr A. Bathgate in connection with the amenities of the city and province. The suggestion was very cordially received by a large gathering, the applause indicating that such a proceditt-e on the paxt of the corporation would meet with general approval.

Describing in detail the incidents relative to the fire which destroyed the Strand Arcade, Auckland, on "Monday night, the Star states that the "Volunteers, including a large contingent of Garrison Artillery, turned out from the cirill shed. They rendered most valuable assistance. " I am most thankful," said Inspector Cullen, " that I have the assistance of the Volunteers. Although we have some 70 to 90 constables on duty, I really don't know what we shpuld have done without them." In thas connection it is necessary to state that the crowd on the lower side of Queen g.tree-t was at times very uni'uly. A large number of larrikins, and gome others, indead, who ought to havo known better, thought it a very fivie joke to add io the difficulties of the police by insubordination, a-nd more than once they brcke the barriers, and made a rufh up Qu-e^n street, only to b-9 repulsed, however, by the police and the troops, who had bt^n lined all along th-s front of both cro-w<3-=.

A Press Association telegram frcm Gore states that Mr ,Wrags« has advi^d the Standard that the disturbance named Dido, notified come days ago, is surely approaching, and tlie umbra is now overlapping the western districts of New Zealand. It was Dido that caused the heavy rain and the disastrous floods in Victoria and el?ew'here. Early in September another disturbance, named Anchk-es, will be experienced, and shipping is advised accordingly

In connection with the consumptive immigrant who arrived in Dunedin by the Morayshire some we-eks ago, and whom the Hospital Board refused to take charge- of at the request of the Disti-ict Health Officer, the Hon. Mr Buddo, Minister of Public Health, ha 6 wired to tha chairman of the board (Mr J. H. Walker) that the Government will pay for the upkeep of the man, pending his return to the Home Country, from which he arrived. Und-er these condition?, the Hospital Board will now accept the man as a patient at the Rock and Pillar Sanatorium.

A new school in brick, containing two rooms, wae opened at Fairfax en the 23rd. It cost, with furniture, about £900. At a social in the old building on Friday night it was mentioned by Mr D. T. Fleming, a member of tha Education Board, that the fir3t school ir. Fairfax, Tokomainro, was opened in January, 1675, and the settlers contributed something like £150 towards rhe erection of the school and schoolhouse. Mr John,Lyttle, *a new arrival from Scotland, was the first teacher Before that time the" Tokomairiro School was opened

in Fairfax— which wae then the surveyed Government township in Tokomairiro — but the school, church, etc., were moved over to the n-ew town of Milton, which was created by the traffic keeping out on the plain in its progress south from Bunedin, and leaving Fairfax town isolated. Those who did not shift over set about getting a school erected, and in May, 1875» a public meeting was held, a committee ap"pointed, subscription lists opened, and by January 1, 1876, the building was opened. The teacher's salary was £75 a year and echool fee 3, less 10 per cent. Two years later another class room had to be built, and there were 70 scholars on the roll, and a mistress was appointed, Miss Stevenson gexting the situation. For the last 30 years very little has been spent by the board on the echool, though the attendance all along has been very good.

The Hon. the Speaker of the- House of Representatives (Mr A. R. Guinness) having received official notification of the death of Mr A. E. Remington, M.P. for Rangitikei, has signed the declaration and returned it, so that it will duly appear in this week's Government Gaaette. He will subsequent to the publication forward his warrant to the Clerk of Writs. As coon as the Gazette reaches him at Greymouth, which will probably be not later than tomorrow week, the writ will be issued and the election will be held during the month of September, so that the member elected will (says our Greymouth correspondent) be able to take his seat at the opening of the session.

Six candidates are definitely in the field for the Rangitikei seat, vacated by the death of Mr A. E. Remington, M.P. They are equally divided between the two political parties in the country. Mr R. Smith who opposed Mr Remington last year, Mr W. Me!d.rum, and Mr R. E. Hornblow, are standing in the Ministerial interest, and Mr G. Hutchison, Mr F. F. Hockly, and Mr A. J. Joblin axe announced as opponents of the Government.

A new regulation ks gazetted last week giving the Minister o£ Telegraphs power, if he thinks fit, to charge half the ordinary annual charge for the telephone to any public hofjpital or public benevolent or charitable institution. If a new line i 3 required, the institution will have to pay for it.

The following regulation affecting the investment of sinking funds on local bodies' loans guaranteed by the Government e<ppoars in last week's Gazette :— " All moneys directed to be paid to the Public Trustee under subsection 2 of section 10 of "The Local Boclie3' Loans Amendment Act, 1903," and all interest accruing therefrom, shall be invested by the Public Trustee in the same manner as moneys forming the common fund of the Public Trust Office are directed to be invested under section 34 of "The Public Trust Office Act, 1803."

The Labour Department has issued a certificate of registration and incorporation of the New Zealand Slaughtermen's Industrial Association of 'Workers. Theraovomomt of which this is the outcome commenced 13 months ago, when a conference was held at Cbristohurdh. The unions affiliated are Auckland, Poverty Bay, Wellington, Canterbury, Otago, and Southland, and the federation will in future control negotiations for fresh terms with the employers in every freezing works in New Zealand. For the present the headquarters of fche association will bs in Wellington.

A larger area than usual will be sown in wheat in the Tokomairiro district this year. Indications are held to point to this oareal maintaining a payable price up to next harvest.

The average daily attendance at the Carnegie Public Library for the week ending Saturday, 21st inst., was 593 persons.

The creditors of Cecil Lusoombe Hawley, a bankrupt Wellington clerk, were called together for their first meeting on Thursday (&ays the New Zealand Times), but as only one wa3 present the proceedings lapsed. In his statement bankrupt set out thrt in November of 1905 he had gone into a business at St. Olair, near Dunetlin, for which purpose lie had borrowed £2+o from his mother. The business did not pay, and lie had to rent a house for the accommodation of his wife and family, thua adding to hia financial burdens. In July of 1907 he sold out and paiij, the money to his creditors. An unfortunate experience as commifrsion agent with a partner followed, after which he got a temporary job in tiro Government service. His wife ched, leaving him with six children, whom he took up to Wellington in order to sec-are the position he at present held. This meant heavy expense, and the sacrifice of his furniture. His salary was £175 a year, so that in view of th© high rent* and cost of living in Wellington he was quite unable to make any offer to the creditors. The immediate cause of his bankruptcy was the action of one of the largest creditors in issuing a distress warrant, thus causing him to scsk the piotection of the court. The debts to unsecured creditors were set down at £356 3« 6d, and to secured creditors at £50. The assets totalled £20, this being the estimated value of furniture held. The largest unsecured creditors were : —Mrs B. Hawley, Qhristchuroh, £240; R. Witeon and Co., Dunedin, £21 14s sd; C. Da vie, Dunedin, £24 ss; Georgeson Bros., Dunedin, £19 9s Bd. The unsecured creditors were:— W. Miller, Dvmedin, £35; National Bank, Dunedin, £15. '

T The Premier of New South Wales has ' received a further communication, from ' the Agent-general (Mr Coghlan) on the subject of the Australian frozen meat trade ! with Switzerland. The republic still adI beres to its decree which came into operaj tion on July 1, fixing the taxes to ba 1 collected for the veterinary inspection of I meat and meat products imported into that country. The British Government sought to have the inspection, so far as tlie Australian trade is concerned, dispensed with upon the production ol officially certified memoranda drawn up; by the Local Government Board. This memorandum is the one which embodie* regulations for the official certification of meat products exported to the United States and the Argentine Republic. But the Swiss Government does not, according to Mr Cog-Man's latest letter, feel inclined to accept such memoranda as complying sufficiently with the spirit of the requirements of its regulations. It is laid down that the ordinance regarding t!he control of meat and- meat products shall hay« a general bearing and be applied in the same - manner in all its parts, and without any derogation, with respect to all the countries ol origin. Whilst' unable for this reason t<x comply with the wieihes of the- British Government, the Swiss authorities hay« .taken precautions that the trade 'in meat and meat products of foreign origin shall not suffer any interruption at the frontier. The communication ""has been forwarded" by the Premier to the Agricultural Department. " „ ■»

On Friday afternoon a young woman respectably dressed called at a house in Linwood and engaged rooms for herself and fr rends. She explained that she was a waitress at one of the restaurants in th« city, and had to go on duty in the evening, but would remain in her new lodgings until then. She settled herself in the sitting-room, while the landlady went to another part of the house. On returning * th© landlady found that her new hoarder had disappeared, a-nd, on lookinground, discovered that a purse containing 11s 6d had also vanished A private telegram received in Wellington on Thursday night from Ta-upo announced the death at Wsj,ihaka, on ih« shores of Lake Taupo, of Hitiri te Paerata, a noted old Maori chief, of the NgatiRaukawa tribe. Hitiri was one of the -heroes of the battle of Orakau, the anal engagement in the Waikato war, .1864. His father, uncle, and brother were killed in the fight, and his sister, Ahumai (who died at *Taupo last year) was severely, wounded. Hitiri escaped with the remnant of his hapu, after a stubborn resistance lasting three days, in which over half the garrison of the Orakau na were killed. The Maoris at Maunga,taut&ri in tha Waikato intend to erect a mill to cut th» rimu and white pine erowiag on their land in that district. Many Maoris are employed in the sawmills in the Auckland 1 pro\ jioa and some of them are as expert at the work as Europeans. In come districts the whole of the log-getting for th» local sa-wmillers is done bj Maori labour.