NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 89, 3 April 1908, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

DUNEDIN HARBOR BOARD. Per Press Association. I Dunedin, Last Night. At a meeting of the Harbor Board to-day the Works Committee reported that it estimated its revenue for the year at £75,000, to which had to be added a credit balance of £5929 at January Ist, 1908, making a total of £80,929. The estimated expenditure wis £78,900, ' leaving a credit balance of £2029. The estimated cost of dredging was £20,000. ■ In moving the adoption of the report, I Mr. Bullock said it was proposed to widen Rattray street wharf, at a cost of £3750. It was considered necessary to provide additional berthage for steamers. The cost of dredging was estimated at £20,000. The report was adopted. The Finance Committee recommended

that as it was unlikely that the whole of the works contemplated could be finished during the present financial year,

debentures to the amount of £20,000 would be issued to meet the anticipated expenditure to December 30. This was agreed to.

CASH SYSTEM OF TRADING. Wellington, Last Might. The Wellington master bakers decided to-night to adopt the cash or coupon system of trading.

I'ALMERSTON POST OFFICE. Palmerston North, Last Night. Under the new classification the Palmerston post office lias been moved up two grades, which leaves it now one grade bolow a chief post office. This involves the removal of Mr. Inder, the present postmoster, who has been promoted to the chargo of the Masterton post office, which has been raised one grade. Mr. Indcr's place will be taken by Mr. W. T. Yard, who is assistant post master at Dunedin,

LABOR LAWS. Dunedin, Last Night. A meeting of the Trades and Laßor Council to-night endorsed the Workers' Compensation Bill. With regard to the amendment to the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, the following motion was agreed to:—That the Government be urged to amend the constitution of Conciliation Boards to provide for (a) elec-

tion of one member by unions ami one by employers, these to appoint a chairman; (b) that when a dispute is filed, the union and employers concerned appoint two fepresentatives to sit with the other members of the Board; (c) the Board to have all the powers of conference as proposed in the Bill introduced by Mr. Millar.

SALMON OVA. Christehureh, Lust Night. A Wellington message received yesterday stated that 100,000 American Atlantic salmon ova, which arrived from Canada hy the Wnrrimoo for (he Fisheries Department, was the first importation of such ova. Mr. 0 .F. Whiteside, of the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society's council, states that in 1907 the Canterbury 4Society landed from Canada 1)0,000 North Atlantic salmon ova. Forty-five thousand were hatched out, and the Soj ciety now has 40,000 healthy yearlings, which will be liberated in June next.

OUTBREAK OF SCARLET FEVBR. Westport, Thursday. Owing to scarlet fever cases here, the schools have been closed.

THE ELECTRIC GUN INVENTION.

Auckland, Thursday. Professor Brown, physics professor at the Auckland University, who has just returned from England, says that he heard nothing whatever of Simpson's electric gun. He considers that it is quite possible that such a velocity as statedinthe cable could be obtained on the principle of an inductive coil with a

coil 100 yards long iind a sufficiently powerful dynamo. There was no reason why 30,000 feet per second, or an even higher velocity, should not be obtained if the gun were worked on that principle. Any other nation might easily adopt the idea. Tt was doubtful if it would benefit Britain.

A MESSAGE FROM THE SKA. Waiigainii, Thursday. A bottle was picked up on the beach 'at the mouth of the Wangnmii river. It contained a piece of ship's slielvi.ii" paper. The message, as far as can be deciphered (the paper having become gained by the sen water) is: "December 23, 1904; Star of England boat sinking; taking to the rafts. Send help ( ,ff laland Terra del Fm>go—James P (steward ), S. of K" The final mime is indistinct, but like "Patterson." Tt has been ascertained that the Star of England which is at present in Wellington, wns between Sydney and Melbourne on December 23, 1004, „nd that on the arrival at Sydney a steward was discharged owing to giving awav to drink. From the appearance of the" bottle, it has had a long immersion in the water.

WEALTHY CLERICS' ESTATE. Napier, Thursilnv. .Stamp duty lotallin., £27,028 (is' -Id was paid on the estate of the iatc Archdeacon Samuel Williams.

EGG-LAYING COM PETITION. Blenheim, Last Night. The third egg-laying competition hclc at Blenheim dosed on Tuesday, The following are the prize-winners: —C. Hart (Christchurc'h), £lO, 1190; H. Hawke (Greytown), £O, 1184; F. Edclston (Motueka), £5, 1180; E. Scott (Duncdin), £4, 1178; Geo. .Silcock (Wanganui), £3, 1173; ,1. Law IBlenheim), yS2, 11144; A. It. Brown (Napier), 20s, 1138; Miss Mr. Shaw (Blenheim), 20s, 112.); A. and I'. Association (Blenheim), 10s, 1007; Master Rcwi Snialc (Blenheim, 1003; Marlborough Herald (Blenheim), 1005.

COMMONWEALTH MANOEUVRES. Wellington, Thursday. Cabinet has decided that one of the defence officers shall visit Australia during the Commonwealth Easter manoeuvres. The step is being taken as the outcome of an invitation from the Commonwealth. The officer who will make the trip will probably be selected by the Defence Council.