LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14940, 13 March 1912, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

A man - named Alexander Glenduuiing, a resident of Grafton Road, was knocked down by a motor car yesterday afternoon, and taken to the hospital. His injuries, consisting of one or two alight cuts on the head, were not of a serious nature, and he will be able to leave the institution in a day or two. ■ ' The Hospital Board met in committee last evening, and for over two hours discussed clauses in the Medical Committee's report in connection with the administration in the lady superintendent's department. No decision was arrived at, and the Board adjourned at 10 o'clock till next Monday night. Warm commendation of the compulsory military training system was expressed by Dr. C. P. Knight, of Wellington, in a speech at the luncheon tendered to the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) in Ngaruawahia yesterday. Ho described the Defence Act of the last Parliament as most wise and statesmanlike, and expressed the opinion that by it, the men responsible for its enactment had earned the lasting gratitude of the people. New Zealand was in the situation of the ancient Britains after the withdrawal ef the Roman legions. It was existing only on the sufferance of the Japanese, for t while it was safe during the alliance of Japan with Great Britain, it would be gravely imperilled when Japan withdrew her shield. Modern invention had enormously increased the radius of a navy's activity, and the safety of the Dominion could be assured only by the fulfilment of a system of training for its defence.

The steamer Sussex, which arrived at Auckland yesterday afternoon from Liverpool, via way ports, brought 12 saloon and 50 third-class passengers. One saloon and 14 third-class passengers landed at Auckland. Tho others are proceeding to various parts of the Dominion. The new arrivals are a. desirable class, the men including carpenters, engineers, factory hands, and labourers. One man, who pre-

viously worked in New Zealand, has returned with his wife and family of eight to make their future home in New Zealand. The family intend to take up land close to Auckland. A numbed of wives and families have come out to join husbands and fathers, who are already in, New Zealand. All the passengers landed in splendid health. . v The Presbyterian Church at Papakura has given a unanimous call to Rev. Dawson -Madill. At last night's meeting of the Auckland Presbytery the clerk ((Rev. R. Sommerville) intimated that out of 146 names on the roll 108 had signed the call, which was supported by : Mr. Sutherland and Mr. E. D. McLennan, of Papakura. It was decided to ; place the call in Mr. Madill'fi hands, and that the Presbytery sustain the call. ', Mr. Madill intimated his acceptance,: It was agreed that the ordination • take place at Papakura at three pan. on March 28.

The great event of the week has, of : :-;i course, been the return from the Antarctic ' of the Norwegian explorer, Amundsen] - with his ■ thrilling story of the successful ' > dash to the Pole.: : This week's : issue of tip! the Auckland Weekxt News, which s on sale to-day, contains a large number of appropriate illustrations, including pop. traits of Captain Amundsen and his British rival Scott, and Dr. Mawson, a picture map showing the different " spheres of in. terest" of the various expeditions and photographs of the Fram in the ice and of Antarctic land and seascapes. Numeral other current events of interest are alio dealt with in an interesting mariner . : Amongst these may be mentioned the fir! ing for the King's prize at Trentham, the . cold snap in Britain, the development of the Taranaki oilfields, the construction of the great Panama Canal, the arrival of' the new steamer Maunganui on her maiden * ' ■ trip, the harvesting season in Marl.*-''*/•''' borough, the mishap to the ferry steamer Pupuke, the stranding of the Himitangi at the Chathams, the Premier picnic lit Motutapu, the Press Association ' Com ference at Greymouth, and many others The portraits include Colonel Robin, whi hag been appointed to represent the Dominion at the War Office; Mr. Harold Beauchamp, the retiring chairman of directors of the Bank of New Zealand and Mr. D. C. Collins, the young New Zealander who is to row in this year' Cambridge eight. The double-page comprises a most interesting series of photos graphs of pioneer homes in the New Zea- ' land bush. There are also numerous other pictures of interest from all parts of the Dominion and beyond it, the whole number being in every -way. an. excellently varied one. *• . " I want to impress upon-you thaWhia ' is the most objectionable offence that a hawker is capable of," said Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M.. in the Police Court yesterday when convicting Albert F. Sleath of cry.' ing his wares in Customs-street, to th« annoyance of persons in the neighbourhood. His Worship said that in futnra he would impose heavy penalties. '. Taking the opportunity offered by the presence of the Hon. J. A. Millar in the district, the chairman of ; the Harbour "''. Board invited the Minister to accompany him and the rest of the members of > the Board, with the local members of Pari liament, over the site of the reclamation i to be made at Mechanics' Bay for use as a railway yard. Mr. Millar went to Puke, i kohe yesterday, and the excursion ■ was i fixed for the hour of his return. He tele* ! graphed to Mr. Gunson during the afteri noon that he would reach town at 4.30 . i p.m., but he did not arrive then, or even considerably later, so that the persons who were waiting for him concluded that his motor car had found a greasy patch of ,-. road. It was darkening too fast to inako it worth while to wait longer, and tbw trip was put off. In comfortable pens on the boatdech; ■ of the steamer Sussex, which arrived at Auckland yesterday afternoon from Liverpool, are to be seen consignments of '':v.'' poultry, pigeons, and sheep. The poultry, which is the property of Mi G. N. Bell,' have -stood the long voyage remarkably '■ well, and are in the pink of condition. There are two pure hens, , baa game cockerel, • and a champion pullet.: The pullet (Laxton Lady) won second prize at the Grand International Show at the Crystal Palace in November last against all-comers. The hen (Cumberland Countess) is also a prize bird, and won at the leading shows at Home for three years. Mr. Bell has previously resided in New Zealand, and has returned to again take up land at Stonoy Creek, in the Manawatu district. The prize • ehsep .era consigned to Dunedlin, and come from " Romney, in Kent. There are two Romcer Marsh rams, and nine ewes and hoggets. The animals are all young, and finely developed. The pigeons have come from some of the best breeders in Edinburgh, and are: consigned to Dnnedin. The consignment comprises one pair of black Jacobins, • one pair Dunn antails, one chocolate fan- • tail (the mate died at sea), one pair white pouters, one pair blue pouters, one pair tumblers, and one pair black titters, .';,,; ■'■'■■'''".,':.;, .'.,""; ■.'■ j-' 1 .■..,•', ~': i: t ;> ; ; ; ,'; $ : i : ; . The Harbour Board has only received one tender, that of Mr. ( Alex. Watson, fo» the excavation of the cliff at Sfe. Barnabas 's Point ; and the construction of &# embankment at Mechanics' Bay. < Tzii lonely tender induced members to ask at : yesterday's meeting of the Board if then t was any reason why such a large and important work had failed to arouse any, competition. The chairman, Mr. J. H. Gunson, said that in the present unsettled state of the labour market contractors | were very dubious about undertaking; large works. If things were more settled be had no doubt there would have' been number of tenderers. '■■.■■'■'.■■■■ i: ■ : ■. : " : i A garden fete was held in Dnnedin yesterday (says a Press Association message), with the object of raising funds for improving and beautifying the city i«servei and providing more recreation gronnc'iß. ' The affair was a great success, the air tendance in the afternoon being very large. An even greater number wee present in the evening. It is anticipated that a substantial sum .wM be available for the object in view.. ,' „'

A few months ago a mild controversy was occasioned at Tolago Bay in regard to the correct manner in which to spell the name of the thriving coastal township, (telegraphs our Gisborne correspondent). Prior to that time there had been at least three methods in common useTolaga, Tologa, Tologo— each method had its own supporters, who claimed, that their particular way was the correct spell-'; ing. Subsequently at a meeting of rca« dents the subject was introduced, and » was pointed out that the three ways « spelling were to be found on the stor* keepers' billheads; It was eventually de-, cided in so far as that meeting could a* cide, that in future the township should-- ; be known as Tolago. This is considered _ incorrect, but it has been pointed out Of, those who favour it that such is ; the man: .; ner in which the name is epefled on m ■ j maps, etc., issued by the Lands and Surrey , j Office. A reply is made, however, that* the post office authorities have for some ■,g years insisted on the spelling Tolaga, wbicfc | version is also adopted by other Govern- -,; ment departments. , '■>•* A large number cf Bibles are kef**' 1 all Supreme Courts for use in the «**«*!* ' A of juniors and witnesses. At Chnstchurcb on Monday last (says the Press) they *'£«> | called upon to represent a string of ran > , way trucks, the circumstances of the case demanding that some representation shouW be given of a railway train. "We wu suppose that these books are railway, trucks," said counsel to a .witness*, as w. m spread half-a-dozen Bibles along the taW? I in an orderly row. "To what base,<£•»- j may we come at. last," His Honor niter- j posed, deprecatingly. ■ "These B*W may be used for many purposes, »" seems hardly proper that they should » used to represent railway trucks, Conn » sel smilingly rejoined that they W, . appropriately be used in the interim 01 justice, and, • besides, they were so handy. His Honor raised no further objection ex- I cept to remark that "being handy fc j*« ■ 1 source of so many crimes." The "Bib"* cal" illustration then proceeded to »«;--, satisfaction of counsel and witness* ' •