NEW ZEALAND NEWS

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 118, 20 January 1915, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND NEWS

THE FINANUAL POSITION.

HON. J. ALLEN INTERVIEWED.

J (By Telegraph.—Press Association) 1 WELLINGTON, Jan. ZQ. • J In the course of an interview on.; j the subject of finance for the period •of nine months, ending December 31, I the- Hon. Mr Allen states that revenue I amounted to £8,545,826, or £231,526 more than the revenue for the first nine months of last year. Expenditure out of the consolidated fund was £8,996,368, an increase of £606,611 on the similar period last year. This, however, he thought would include the bulk of the increases jfor> jttye Jlull year, as he did not anticipate any increased expenditure for the remaining three months. Public works expenditure was just £7,508 in excess of that of the first nine months of the previous year, which show's that public works are being kept going. The expenditure on public works J'or It tie -nine nionlns jbialng £1,620,745. ' "Db you expect to declare a surplus?" Mr Allen was asked. ' "Ask me something easy," he replied*

DESTRUCTIVE BUSH PIRE3.

PAHIATUA, .Tan, 19. Disastrous bugh fires are reported ra the Pongaroa districa, where a cycloni* gale has been raging. j Gardner and Yeoman's sawmill is i completely destroyed, also the cottage?, stables, and the big stock of timber, the estimated damage being £6OOO. Two bridges, valued at £2OO each, i near Waione, Akitio County, are destroyed, also an unoccupied house ©A . > Davidison's property, and the building? on Eaustey's. The fire swept through Max Kaysei 's crchard, and it is reported that J. W. Murray's fine residence at Pakowhai is also burned. ;; j The road between Dannevirke and Pongaroa is blocked to vehicular tras» , i fie, and the mail coach is unable to get through. The destruction of the sawmill will make timber very dear for Akitio County. Many outbuildings and miles vt fencing are gone, and many houses ar* . still in danger. Rain fell last night, and the gale . abated. | FURTHER DAMAGE REPORTED, DANNEVIRKE, Jan. 19. Reports from coastal districts iudi* eate that extensive damage was Aon& there on Monday by fires, which were fanned into activity by a howling gale. Dr. Wilkins, Akitio, who recently commenced practice in that district, had a narrow escape of losing his life. He was summoned to attend an injured boy in the Waikereru district, a piece of the fire-infested area. A burning tree caught his motor-car and the doctor was overcome. He was unconscious when found, and remained so all night, but has now quite recovered.

RELIEF FOR DEPENDENTS OF MEN ON SERVICE. TIMARIT, Jan. 19. A meeting or the South Canterbury Patriotic Committee to-day diseased (on a case reported from Christchurch of a needy family of a man who joined a South Canterbury company for th* front), the general principles on whieh relief shall be afforded from the local fund. It was unanimously resolved to assist dependents of men actually snroiled in the South Canterbury military district, independent of their domicile, and that relief to dependents not domiciled in South Canterbury be given through and with the co-operation of local committee, if one exists. The recommendation of the Christchurch committee on the case in point (12/0 a week) was adopted as from December 9, when the Christchurch comniittee b* -gan contributing. NURSERYMEN'S CONFERENCE. THE PREMIER'S ADDRESS. WELLINGTON, Jan. 20. The N,ew Zealand Association of Nurserymen commenced their annual conference to-day. The Premier In addressing the conference said, it had been recognised that planting of timber trees was important to the State. A great had been done, but a great deal more remained to be done, not only by the Forest Division, but by local bodies and settlers. People owed a duty to themselves and to posterity to plant as many trees as possible. The Premier ateo referred to the development o fthe fruit industry and the possibilities ahead. The President of the Conference, Mr W. H. Johnston, said there was a great future before the fruit industry, ind the export of fruit would be of the Dominion's finest assets. FruttF could be produced in enormous quantities and markets were assured.