WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9, 1904

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1063, 10 August 1904, Page 2

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9, 1904

We observe that in most of Iho towns the authorities aro taking steps to include churches in tho category of places to bo protected against outbreaks of (ire. The Wellington Corporation haß already included them, and church officials aro complaining at the action, Naturally, the ministers feel aggrieved that their churches should be classed with play-houneß, and we think with excellent reason. No one in recent limes has seen a congregation that could get up a destructive panic, for in this colony congregations aro not its a rule crowded ones, Thoro is not any over-crowding of the aisles, ami tlinre is no "scenery," or calcium lights,'or explosives; and nobody smokes, cither in the body of the building or in the vestry, Church lires are very rare, and tho occasion will bnvo to bo an extraordinary one

when an ordinary congregation cannot get out n[ church in two rainut".t. K- '.rly every church seats the

' -."get' part of the congregation on the ground floor, which does away with tho possibility of a blocked slair.case, So that on the wliolo wc think thai the idea of bringing the churches into line with theatres is farcical ami unnecessary, If a case colli'.! be. cited in which a church

congregation had been seized with fire panic, and life had been lost, we would believe that tlw precaution

vas necessary ; but where Iho pro- J dsioos 'if extra oxita would mean a (rawing on church funds, which ;iro never very Hush, tlw idea seems L sruel. AVlioii w» consider that '■ nearly 'nil the theatre lires " behind," :md that there is no " bu- 0 hind" at all in churches, and that the accessories are not so intlammüblo as tho theatrical kind, the hard- t ship is the more apparent, The ( great difliculty in the colony—so ; I the clergy say-is to draw miflicient people to decently fill the po\VB, and it is probable that I lie clergy would be delighted to get congregations big enough to be considered dangerous by tho lire inspectors. The church is as safe as the school, in which there are more lives, and quite as precious, to be saved in case of fire; but neither tho local authorities nor tin Education Boards think it necessary to honeycomb the i schools with exits. There is no valid reason for the alterations now being forced on tho churches,and as the danger of lire is shadowy, the enforcing of unnecessary exnense is unjust and very improper.

Wo are pleased o learn tlmt Mr. J. Mclmloe, who, through injuries received while playing hockey, was confined to Ills bed for some time, ia now about again. The leading scores for the third round in the Dev. Father Bro.lie's prize art Lieut. Clarke, scr., 87; Pte. Wood,l2,Btf; Sefgt. Devorons, scr., 82; {'apt,llollison, scr,, 80; l'tc. McCnrthy, 12, 7(5; Pic, Peard, 12, 74; I'te, Davies, 20, 68, The Ohincuniri County Council, which recommended that all kauri and other timber aroas on the goldtleldi should bo under the control of the Warden, hits been informed that, as tbevo arc aovcral petitions from local bodies now beforo Parliament praying that legislation bo passed entitling local bodios to receive royalties derived from tho sulo of timber and llux, the council's application will be held over until a decision on the petitions lia3 been arrived at, A good doal of intorost is being taken in the representative hockey match here next Saturday between Auckland and Wailn, Arrangements lmve been made by (ho local club (o liavo the services of the Federal Band. Tho knowledge that tho band will be in attendance will no doubt be the means of attracting a very largo gathering lo witness the interesting contest, The team to roprosent Waihi tvill bo selected this evening oftcr the scratch match between tho" A " and "B " teams,

The sanitary condition of the ffnilii mine wits referral to by a deputation from llio Waihi Miners' Union that waited on the Minister for Mines dnriiifj his recent visit. The Inspector of Mints, who is empowered to ileal with the sanitation of mines, has reported as 'ollows:—" In reference to tho sunita/y system lately adopted in this mine, special covered pans arc provided for etteli of the principal Icvld, Tlioao pmis nro removed iwice ft week by tho company's Dion, and sent, to the surface; the boroughnightsoil contractor ;akes thorn away, and supplies duplicate pans to put in their place. This appears to answer vory well so fur," Mr. J, S. Nicholson, 0110 of the engineers employed by the Waihi Company, and who has been n resident hero for many years, was tendered by hit friends a fare* well social list night at tho Central Hotel, Mr. Cnthey occupying the chair. Mr. Nicholson is leaving Waihi to talto up farming in tho northern part of tho Bay of Islands. In tho course of tho evening he was the recipient of ut Gladstone bag, attached to which was a silver plate, with his namo neatly inscribed thorcon, tho gift of his friends. Tho presentation was mado by Mr. Arthur lloach. Letters of apology for unavoidable absenco, were read from Mr. John Heudorson and others. Tho oveniug was most enjoyable, and was brought to a conclusion by the singing of" Auld Lang Syne,"

In reforonco to tho incident of two small boys rolling atruck wheel down tlio Wnihi Company's No. 3 shaft, which is nt present in disuse, Sergeant Shcohan, who made inquiries into tlio affair, statos that tho lids wore 8 and 11 yoars of ago Tlio whoel was lying closo handy to the shaft, and, curious to hoar tlio noiso tlio wheol would mako in its descent, rolled it into tlio sliaL Just at tho mornont two men wore paißinp along tho level bolow in tho direction of tlio than, mid had (jot within a fow yards of tho shaft at tho bottom, when the wheel crushed down, By another routo tlio men euiuo to the surfaeo to investigate tho occurrence, A more striking instanco of tho great danger of dropping anything down a shaft could not have been given. A few moments later tho men would liavo been directly underneath, and one or othor or both would most likely Imvo boon killod by the falling wheel.

During tho visit of tbo Minister o Mines to Wailii a deputation from tbo Minors' Union brought under his notico tho necessity of an alteration in tlio gauge of tho initio tramway*, and stated lliat the usual "unfje in tho Middle Island was lft. 9in., whilst in tho Wailii initio it was 2ft, litt,, and owing to the groat waight of tho trucks the rnon often ricked their backs. Inquiries have sinco been ruado by tho Ministor, and it has been found that there aro no tramways of Ift, 'Jin Kau®nin either the quartz or coal initios on the West Coest of the Middle Island, Tlio Wailii Company is at present experimenting with a system of fast and freo wheels to enablo trucks to bo moro easily turned oil the ilat-shects, and should tho experiment provo successful tlmt uystcm will be goneiully adopted m tlio initio.

What is stilled to bo ono of the soundest nuil most profitable avouues of investment; olTured in tlio colon)' is n:w prcioilled in Wellington in tho formation of mi important company, the Empiro, Dollcvuo and Mansions On« solidation, Ltd., which will yiold at least from tlio voiy commencement 10 per cent on tho money invested. The company has for its object the acquisition and consolidation of thvoo highly valuable proportion, which avo lo bo carried on under joint muißgcmont ami on tho most up todate liiu-s. Tho principal proporty is tho Empire Hotel, Wellington, ono of the largest and boat appointed hotels in New Zealand, which is at tlio present tiwo rolurning a proiil of ovor 110,000 per mi • num. Tho beautiful Bollevuo Gardens, at tho Lower Hutt, aro tlio moat attractive of pleasure vcaoi'ta, and under tho now manngbiuout there aro immense possibilities before them. The ''Mansions" is tho lending private hotel in Wellington, and although only recently established, is yielding over 8 per cont on tho capital invested, Tho object of tlio consolidation is to secure improved and more economical management, and to carry out audi necessary improvements and additions as will place ilie.ic lino properties in tho vory front rank of their dass. In the grcai expansion of business in Wellington, and its iiii'i-fmsnl importance ns rcentre iortlie ton list irallic, tbe Empire, Bollevuo and " Tho Mansions" must inevitably sharo, and the investment will undoubtedly prove n highly remunerative ono to aharoholdors. Tho abridged prospectus of tho consolidation is published olsowhore in our uolumni,