WELLINGTON.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2377, 18 December 1908, Page 5

WELLINGTON.

ITEMS OF INTEREST. [Special to “Times.”] WELLINGTON, Dec. 17. The Customs officials had an unsuccessful hunt for opium on board the Moeraki on her arrival from Sydney. The Rimutaka brought 5S secondclass and 190 third-class passengers. There was a fair number of passengers in the first saloon. Amongst the immigrants are a number of carpenters and farm laborers. A consignment of partridges, of which only three died on the voyage, came to hand by the same vessel. The Rev. Father Power, of Hawera, who returned to-day from a trip abroad, says lie. found Ireland much more peaceful than formerly, the increasing ownership of the land by tlie people contributing nnich to the good order, and pointing to a hopeful future.

! Mr. Wm. Hannay, manager of the Wellington-Manawatu Railway Company, will join the directorate of the Golden Bay Cement Works, Ltd., and will act as managing director. MrT Hugh McNeil, who is making an inspection of tho New Zealand branches of Briscoe and Co., arrived by the Moeraki from Sydney, and will speiul about three months in the Dominion.

Mr. J. L. Stout, son of the Chief Justice... Sir Robert Stout, returned to Wellington last evening after a ten months’ visit to the Old Country. Mr. B. C. Aston, chief chemist of the Agricultural Department, will leave by the Hinemoa next week on a visit to the southern outlying islands. Mr. Justice Chapman intended making the same trip, but has had to .alter his plans. The Hon. J. A. Millar says'tlie State oyster picking and selling has been a success. In all 11,000 sacks were sold, and the receipts of the venture have exceeded the expenditure. Mr. Millar adds that tlie manner with which the picking lias been carried out under the overseers-liip of Inspector Fisher will enable the beds to be picked again in the new year. Formerly when picking was done by pickers, the picking was. in many cases so carelessly done that the beds had to be closed for three or four yearn to enable them to recuperate. The Rimutaka, which arrived to-day brought from London a Jersey lieifcr for- Mr. Vavasour, of M arlboruogh, 22 Dorset slice]) for tlie Stock Department (20 ewes and two rams), two Cheviot rams for Mr. T. Crosse.. Hawke’s Bay, alfd three Border Leicester rams, three Border Leicester ewes, and one English Leicester ram for the executors of the late Mr. John Douglas, Mount Royal, Otago. Settlers and business men along the

Manawatu railway were very anxious for the State control of the line, but now that the State has acquired the properly, they find that they were s better off under tlie regime of the company, at all events in regard torates on goods and fares on certain days.