NEW ZEALAND: GENERAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 15, 10 April 1902, Page 19

NEW ZEALAND: GENERAL.

It is stated that Inspector Pender is to take up his residence ia Christchurch.

The Triad for the current month contains a very fine selection of articles on many subjects, in addition to which it is excellently illustrated.

The North Island battalion of the Tenth Contingent leaves by the Drayton Grange for South Africa on Saturday. The port of departure will be Wellington.

It is expected that Parliament will meet in the first week in July, and that the Premier will return to the Colony in time to deliver the Financial Statement, about the third week of August.

It is reported that a considerable portion of the potato crops in the Oamaru district has been ruined by the excessive wet, especially crops in low-lying 1 or flat land.

Many of the more pretentious boroughs in New Zealand must envy Gore, which has now an electric light system under municipal control.

Rev. Father O'Sullivan, S.M. (writes our Wanganui correspondent) returned from Australia on Good Friday, after a holiday trip extending over six weeks. He appears to be much benefited by the change.

A correspondent of the Wellington Evening Post, writing from Taranaki, says it is an indisputed fact that hundreds of young children whose parents are engaged in the dairying industry, are Bimply white .slaves. He has in hiß possession a letter from a young man who came out from England some six months ago, in which he complains bitterly about the long hours at 'cow-spanking I—from1 — from 4 am, to 10 p.m.

Speaking st Wellington the other day the Premier said the Government were taking steps to fortify the principal coal ports, and were considering the question of establishing large coal depots in various parts of the Colony in case of war. The Government would, he added, give early consideration to the suggestion that ocean mail contracts should only be let to British-owned steamers.

' I see the bankrupt kept a racehorse,' said Judge Kettle in the Bankruptcy Court at Masterton the other morning. ' Bat he made no losses on it,' remarked counsel. ' Oh, no,' said his Honor, ' men never lose money on racehorses or the totalisator ! ' The Judge went on to cay that honest men always tried to pay their debts, whether they were discharged from bankruptcy or not. It was always pleasant for them to be able to walk the street, look every man in the face, and, in the words of the eong, say, ' I owe not any man.'

The eeasm when the thrifty husbandman lays his giant turnip and mammoth pumpkin at the feet of the worthy editor of the county newspaper is evidently at hand. A local grower of rhubarb has informed the Tuapeka Times that he can put into the shade that phenomenal leaf said to have been raised at Daunevirke. The Tuapeka grower had a leaf sft across, while the stalk was 23in in length, and 9in in circumference. This, ho said, was not exceptional as the bulk of his rhubarb of this variety would average about the same.

Among the successful candidates at the recent Civil Service examinations were two Reefton boys, Masters Walter King and Robert Crowley. The latter also passed the Matriculation examination. King was formerly a pupil of the State school and Crowley of the Catholic school. Both had, however, during the past year been taught by the Sisters of Mercy, who, together with the successful candidates (says the Inangahua Herald), are to be congratulated upon the success that has attended their efforts.

Speaking at Hawera the other day the Premier said that combines and monopolies were against the best interests of the Commonwealth. Someone had to tackle the question, and he did not know anyone better able to do it than himself. When the time canre it would be tackled. These things were growing, and the result might be even civil war. His own opinion was that Parliament was the proper body to deal with these matters, and make such monopolies next to impossible. Even drawing attention to what was going on. said Mr. Seddon in conclusion, might have a beneficial effect.

It is with sincere regret (says the Orepuki Advocate') that we have to chronicle the closing-down of the Orepuki Shale Works. All the men employed at the works, excepting about 150, were discharged on Saturday last. Some of those whose services are retained for the present will be engaged in hewing coal for the purpose of keeping the furnaces going. The remainder will be employed refining the wax and oils. The company has about 100 000 gallons of oil to refine and 95 tons of wax. These will be placed on the market directly the refinirjg process is completed. We are informed that the works are indefinitely closed.

The members of the Victorian Labor Commission, on being interviewed at Christchurch by a representative of the Press, expressed themselves as delighted with what they had so far seen of New Zealand. It was a magnificent country, full of all sorts of possibilities, said the chairman. The Hon. R. Reid was enthusiabtio over the Lakes district, and has an idea that the lakes could be utilised for tramways and street lighting. At the Roslyn Woollen Mills the Commissioners were delighted at the excellence and finish of the manufactures. ' What we admired as a Commission,' Mr. Reid said in conclusion, ' was the complexion of health and vigor upon the faces of the girls and boys, and we realise that the generations to come in this country will be a race of vigorous, strong people, that will always find a splendid opening on the Continent of Australia.'

The teachers' Court of Appeal sat; at Wanganui on Thursday 1 Friday, and Saturday last hearing the appeal of B. P. Clarkson, late head teacher of the Normanby School, against the action of the Wanganui Education Board in dismissing him. The Board's contention was that the inspector's reports on the Normanby School examination were not favorable. Clarkson held that he had not been guilty of neglect, and that faults which might have been found in his work had been due to circumstances over which he had no control. In extenuation of this Clarkeon stated that the children attending the school were rendered unfit for active mental work by the fact that they had to milk a number of cows before coning' to school, and that the dairying industry was inimical to good results being obtained by any teacher. The Court upheld the appeal and ordered the reinstatement of Clarkson.

On Thursday night Mr. and Mrs. Seddon were presented on behalf of the old age pensioners of Auckland with addresses. Mrs. Seddon was also presented with a diamond ring. The Hon. A. J, Cadman introduced the deputation, and as wn old colleague testified to the arduous toil in the interest of old age pensioners, notably in sticking to the committee table of the House of Representatives for Beven days and seven nightp, and wearing down opposition to the Bill. Mr. Seddon, in replying, said the thanks of the community in regard to old age pensions legislation were due not to him alone, but to all who had supported the Bill. With reference to the demand for a universal pension, he said that anyone who advocated, that course was an enemy to old age pensions, for such extenBion would make the scheme too burdensome, and it would break down.

The unseasonable weather that has prevailed of late is having a serious effect on harvesting operations in Otago and Canterbury. The Clvtha Leader states that the continued damp weather has had a very detrimental effect on the grain crops throughout the district, the bulk of which is still in the stook. In many instances the grain is sprouting. On Inchclutba there is still some cuttiDg to be done, and very little ia in the stack. In the Upper Hillend district there is some to cut, while there is a great area mill in the stook, leading-in being just barely commenced. In the Te Houka, Warepa, Waitepeka, and neighboring districts the work is more advanced, and in a few cases threshing has commenced. A Christ-

church paper says that reports locally received from the south stated that at least one-half of the wheat crop between Orari and Oamarn will, on account of the damage done by the recent floods and the*^ wet weather, be quite unfit for milling.

Speaking at the opening of the Hukanui-Hamua bridge, near Pahiatua, last week, the Right Hon. the Premier said the customs revenue for the year ended March 31 was £2,201,218, being £91,218 in excess of the estimate. This was an increase over last year of £20,419. Where now, he asked, were tho&e who said that last year's estimates of the revenue would not be realised ? The botr duty last year showed an increase of £4+52 on the previous year. He looked forward to having another prosperous year, as the wool market seemed to be improving. Last year there was an abnormal expenditure from the consolidated fund of nearly £200,000. This would not be rfquired this year, consequently there would be a surplus in that fund that would enable remissions of taxation to be made. Amongst remissions would be some that would enable settlers and producers to have their goods sent for shipment at the lowest possible rate. Ministers were pledged to give back from the railway rates all over 3 per cent., and during the current year he thought there would be £70,000 or £80,000 they would thuß be able to give back. Remissions of customs duties would also be made, in the shape of goods manufactured in the Mother Country. Money would be found to give an increased vote in aid of the Australasian squadron. It is evident the Government must carry out a moderate but progressive borrowing policy. There would be a surplus in the consolidated fund of £200,000 to transfer to the public works account, making, with the loan money not yet raised, and the credit balance, a sum of £850,000 available for the current year.