GENERAL TELEGRAMS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 5, 30 January 1909, Page 5

GENERAL TELEGRAMS.

' CHKISTCHURCH BANKUI PTCIES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchiiich, Last Night. During the year 11)118 there were ):! bankruptcies in the Canterbury district. The total liabilities were A'iU.iS'J, including secured creditors of U10.513, mid the total liabilites were er>,.">uU The dividends paid amounted to l.V.ilio'. Tw.eiitv-four orders for iminediate discharge were made, while live debtors had their discharge suspended. The special feature of the bankruptcy year J has been the collapse of the building] boom and the financial downfall o! builders and contractors and others con I noetcd with the trailc. Farmers and general traders were almost free from bankruptcy troubles during the vear. LOCAL BODIES SUPERANNUATION'. Invcicargill, Last Xight. At a meeting to-nignt of representatives of the various local bodies, it was resolved that the executive committee in Wellington of the Muncipal, Harbor Hoard, and County Council Associations be written to with the request that they open up communication with i Hie various borough councils, harbor' boards, and county councils, with u view of formi.ig a united superannuation ■fund, and ascertain how many local bodies are inclined to join, and further how many employees would be likely to be conlributors; and make enquiries,' what percentage on the wages and tiibulions each local body would have to pay by way of subsidy. U was also resolved that the Associations be informed that the meeting is of opinion that no fund should be established unless a suliieient number of contributors join the fund to ensure financial sueces. J IMPORTATION 1 OF KIDNEYS Napier, Last Night. The Prime Minister on Thursday sou! a strong protest to the High Commissioner in connection with the British Government's prohibition of the importation of frozen kidneys and offal. Sir J. G. Ward to-day received the following cablegram from the High Commissioner: "Your cable of 28th January re frozen kidneys and olfal received. representations have already been made to the Local Government Board. Full consideration will be given, and a definite decision is promised on the Bth February. I will do my best for shipments in transit." INSPECTION OF GAOLS. Christchurch, Last Xight. Dr. Fiadlay inspected the local police force this afternoon, and later visited and inspected the Lyttelton gaol. Asked regarding the gaol, the Minister said he ' was unable to communicate airy infor- i uiation, save that the buildings were far from new.

Sir. Laurenson, M.P., who accompanied the Minister, stated that Dr. Findlay made a very careful inspection of the gaol and spent over an hour on his tour, and though reticent as to his future action, he indicated that there was a necessity for better lighting in the cells. According to Mr Laurenson, the Minister was inclined to think that too many small gaols were Ochg kept open, and it would be better to have one or two large central prisons in which a proper system of classification and reform of inmates would he carried out, but he had not come to any definite decision on the matter yet.

Dr. Findlay intends visiting and inspecting all the gaols in the Douiiuon. BISHOPS IN CONFERENCE. Wellington, Last Night. A conference of Anglican Bishops in New Zealand was held in Wellington to-day, whe;i (he chief business under consideration was the matter of arrangements in connection with the Mission of Help which is to visit the Dominion in 1010. Nothing definite can be decided on until further information is received from England as to the personnel and form of the mission. Dr. Lang, Archbishop of York, was to have accompanied the latter, but his place will Ire tilled by Dr. Hoskyns, Bishop of Southwell, who is one of the most remarkable divines in London to-dav. THE FLAXMILLLNU INDUSTRY. Palmcrston X., Last Night. The Flaxmillers' Association yesterday appointed a strong deputation to •wait on the tiovernmeut to lay before it the position of the industry n-.ul its threatened extinction, with a view to obtaining redress of numerous alleged hardships.

BLUFF HARBOR, luvercargi,', Last Xight. In his annual address to the Blull' ' Harbor Board to-day, the chairman re- ' viewed the work of the year. The revenue had exceeded that of the pre- ' vious year !,.. j.S(iU, uuu J.o I. ... .. ceipts ( £24,045 i was u record. The ( total cash expenditure was .C 33,274. • This was by far the heaviest the Board ' had ever been called upon to face, lcay- I ■iilg out of account £20.000 borrowed for the dredge in 1004.1, and it spoke well ' lor the buoyancy of the Board's finance that it had been able to cope with ' sUcb_tJ,.lajiru uuthiA- without i„,i,r,.- 1„„-- ( < OHINEMURI LICENSING POLL. Waihi, Friday. ' ( At tile inquiry into the Oliineniuri licensing poll, the Court intimated that ' flic I'viileiice lor the respondents would lie taken but it would reserve its deci- ' sion on the points of law raised. I VENTILATION OF A MINE. Dunedin, Friday. ' Alexander Sinclair Gillandors, malinger of F'reeraan's colliery, Ablxitsford, was .prosecuted for not maintaining 150 I Icubie feet a minute for every animal i {employed underground. The defence admitted that the ventilation in workany parts was defective, and urged that Ull it required was that an adequate supply of air should be constantly maintained in the mine. Mr. Eraser, for the Crown, sapMhat whatever construction Mr. WijK '•on put on the Act, the decision v ound to be appealed against. IHe ni( .-iiined that the Act meant •ventilation in Hie mine and in every (working part. Judgment was reserved. STORE BURNED. ) Kotorua, Friday. • C. I'. Mil don's general store was completely destroyed by fire at half-past Itwo this morning. Nothing was saved. ftladcii is a heavy loser . His insurance, amounted to COOO.