GENERAL TELEGRAMS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 254, 20 October 1908, Page 2

GENERAL TELEGRAMS.

-MINEKS' FJiDJiRATIuN. By Telegraph.—Press Asswiation. Wellington, Last Night. 'At a conference in Wellington to-da',' of delegates from various jiiirls oi tiio Dominion, it was unanimously decided to form a New Zealand Federation ot -Miners. Tlie conference proceeded in committee to draft a eonsutution. The delegates are to meet again to-iiioirow.

VISITING VVAKSHII'S. Christchurch, Last Night. H.il.S. Encounter, which arrived at Lj ttelton from Akarua un Saturday, will remain at Lyttelton for eleven days and sail oil Wednesday, 2Htli inst., for Nelson. Alitor a short slay at that port the warship goes on to Welling, ton. 11,.M.5. Pioneer, third-class cruiser, left Lyttelton this morning lor AK'arou, and on the "way round was to carry on I torpedo and liring practice. She will return to Lyttelton on Friday. Wellington, hast Night, ihe Defence Department is advised that Sir Richard l'oorc expects to arrive at Wellington on November 17th with tllic flagship Powerful. lie hop.* to be accompanied by six other cruise:? of the Australasian squadron.

Tllli GUIUSTOIIURCII SHOW. I Christchurch, Last Night. It is expected that tile space applied for by agricultural implement makers at the Canterbury A. and P. Association Metropolitan Show will total close U1K)11 70,000 square feet in all. The Department of Agriculture has made 30 entries of North Island slleep, representing about forty sheep.

PROSPECTS IN CANTERBURY. Christchurch, Last Night. Canterbury in her best spring attire (illy describes the agricultural district:* at the present moment. Now is the time when excursions into the country give the correct view of the surprising fertility of the laud in the province. On iill hands there is a wealth of grass for the Hocks and herds,and the crops, wheat, oats and barley, cpver the broad acres with a mantle of greenness and freshness inspiring sanguine hopes for :the future harvest. Sheep and lamb are in a most forward condition, and some of the farmers have begun shearing.

TlllS LEPER PATIENTS. 1 Clu'istchurch. Last Night, Both tile Maori who was brought down from the North Island a few weeks ago and the white patient on Quail Island are reported to be doing well. As i;lie. right vye of the Maori was hadly all'eeted by the disrate, it was thou'ght that the sight of the left eye would be endangered. An operation was performed about a fortnight ago, the right eye being removed altogether, and the patient is now progressing satisfactorily.

CANTERBURY TRADES AND LABOR COUNCIL.

Chrislchurcn, Last Night At the meeting ol the Canterbury Trades and Labor Council the Prime Minister wrote regarding the branding of goods made in Sew Zealand was nnde rtlie consideration of the Government. The Minister of Railways wrote stating that the question of the railway employees who left the service in 1881 could not be considered, as they left through dissatisfaction. The cases of the men Who left in 1890 would be. dealt with "by Parliament. Considerable discussion took place on a motion to support the socialist candidates at tile general elections. The president ruled that the. Council could not deal with the motion, as the rules of the Council did not permit the discussion of party politics. A motion that the president's ruling be disagreed with was lost on being put to the meeting, and the ruling was upheld by a large majority. t

AGRICULTURE ON WEST COAST Chrislehurch, Last Night.

Mr. E. Clifton, Chief inspector of Stock and Director of Experimental Farms, who was in town on Saturday, informed a representative of the Press that whilst on the West Coast he enquired into the possibility of rendering useful for agricultural and pastoral purposes refractory lands in the vicinity of Wcstport and Hokitika. Though the majority of the people on the other side of the Southern Alps are still more interested in mining and timber getting, there are soma who are turning their attention to the agricultural and pastoral industries. At Wcstport Mr. Bayliss is endeavoring to arrange with others interested in agriculture 1.0 plough and prepare some (Jcmonstratkn lots, and at llokitika a small area ot public lands has been prepared for cropping. Some of the soils from West Coast districts have been found on analysis by Mr. Aston. Chief Chemist t.o the Department of Agriculture, to contain most of the elements of plant food with the exception that the percentage of phosphatic elements is deficient by the application of the requisite manure. Under the advice of Mr. Aston it is hoped that this deficiency will be supplied, and some useful results will follow.

INTERESTING LEGAL POINT Christehurcli, Last Night. An interesting legal point of law in regard to the admission of evidence was wised at the Magistrate's Court this morning. The evidence of the defendant liad been taken in Southland,, and counsel, on his nehalf, objected to it being put into Court by the plaintiff, llu submitted that the evidence was • practically itlio property of defendant, and if the plaintiff could not prove his ease then the defendant need not put the evidence in at all. He argued that 'because the evidence and been taken at a distance the defendant should not be .placed at a disadvantage. Ths defendant should not nut It in until the plaintiil had closed nis case. Mr. H. W. Bishop, S.M., quoted the section of tie Evidence Act which was to the effect that evidence taken at a distance was deemed to be before the Court. Ife said that his practice in such matters coincided with that of Dr. McArfhur, of Wellington, but was entirely opposed to the method of the Magistrates at Auckland and Duncdin. It was an important point, and he would like to consider it.

THE CANTERBURY LOAN. Christehurcli, Last Night. The cablegram published in this morning's papers stating that the Christehurcli City Council "is issuing 887 I'/i p*.'r cent, debentures at 102%" is not understood hv the Christchureh oily authorities. Tlie Council is floating tlic water works' loan at Home, but negotiations have not yet been completed.

McLEAN INSTITUTE. Christeluirch, Last Night. Applications for the position of matron for the McLean Institute closed today. JSotweett seventy and eighty applications have been received CIVII, SERVANTS' PAY. Ohristc'Uurck, Last NigM. A great nnvay (lovernment servants throughout the Dominion are asking that candidates for Parliament should ! pledge themselves lo see that the vermnent servants in all branches should receive payment fortnightly, instead of monthly, as at present. They maintain that monthly payment to men with families, in townships in particular, causes them to become creditors to retail busi'ncs.s ,|ieople, and that often they pay over the current rates. Some feel that they never can get their heads above water.' the monthly payments resulting in thoughtlessly enlarged accounts.

PHARKI'ABLE AID INSTITUTIONS. | Auckland, Last Night. At the meeting of the Hospital and G'harilabel Aid Board this afternoon, a telegram was received from the I'rime Minister to tile effect that in preference to inmates of charitable aid institutions who through disease or misfortune were unable to make tile necessary declaration for a pension, he had carefully considered the matter, but as it wouid be dangerous to allow one person to apply for another or to give „ cevtiticate for another, the Government could not sve its way to make any exception.

Flßl'l. Ashbnrton. Monday. An old block of wooden shops at Tinwald, owned by J. Gadsell. who carried on several businesses in them, was burned last night. Tile premises were insured for ClOOrt, but the loss is much above that amount.