Untitled

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 90, 17 April 1901, Page 4

Sir Robert Stout's decision in the "beer case," Hancock & Co. v. Ryan, was given at the Supreme Court this morning by Mr. Justice Conolly. The claim was for £249 17/, balance of rent alleged to be due from defendant as lessee of the United Service Hotel. The main defence had been that the proviso in the lease under which defendant obtained a rebate in the rent in return for purchasing bis liquors from plaintiff company was an illegal agreement. His Honor the Chief Justice, however, held that though he thought the spirit of the statute htid beeu ingeniously evaded in the drawing-tip of the lease, the letter of .the law had not been broken. Judgment was given for the plaintiff company for the amount claimed.

At a meeting of the Auckland University CoUege Council held yesterday afternoon, the Chairman -(Sir G. M. O'Rorke) announced that the Rev. J. H. Simmonds had been elected to represent the Government on the Council, and accorded him a welcome. Consideration of the question of appointing a lecturer in law subjects was deferred till the end of May next, information on the matter to be obtained in the meantime.

The interesting ceremony of inducting the Rev. Henry B. Gray to the pastoral charge of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church takes place this evening. A special meeting of the Presbytery will be held, at which the Rev. J. Bates will preach the sermon, the Rev. R. Somnierville induct, and give the charge to the minister and the Rev. W. Gvay Dixon, M.A., will deliver the address to the people. No doubt there will be a large attendance.

The charges against Robert Barlow Ferguson, for keeping an illicit distillery at Kennedy's Bay were called on in the Magistrate's Court, Coromandel, yesterday, and adjourned to the 24th by Mr. Bush, S.M.

A fire at the Wade on Saturday last destroyed the barn, the stables and their contents, of Mr. Roberton, a settler. The property was insured in the Royal office for £100, the loss above that sum being about £200. The origin of the fire is a mystery.

A meeting of the New Zealand and Australian Natives' Association was held in the club rooms last evening. Mr. W. H. Churton, vice-president, occupied the chair, there being a fair attendance. The president, Mr. J. J. O'Brien, who was absent through illness, 'agreed, at the request of the Association, to retain his office. The amended rules, providing for Australian natives joining the Association, were passed.. Mr. Churton was appointed to act as the Association's representative on the Reception Committee, to make recommendations and arrangements in matters in which it is interested.

There is still standing at Waioeka, near OpotikL, an old whare known as "Te Kooti's Whare." Here'the author of the Poverty Bay massacre found hospitable shelter from the natives who were Hau-haus; and among the hills in the back country he managed to conceal himself successfully when llopata, Te Kepa, and Tojna were eagerly seeking to bring to justice the culprit, on whose head a price of £5000 was set by the Government. Waioeka is now a very quiet and loyal place, like many another locality in New Zealand which has stirring associations connected with it. Pictures of the Waioeka, with its historic relics, are among the illustrations of ths week's "Graphic."

A side light is thrown upon the: grim reality of war by a paragraph in the annual report of the Citizens' Life Assurance Company, which states that deaths iv the Transvaal war were responsible for increasing the death claims during the year by. £8000. No doubt other large life insurance companies will suffer proportionately.

The Auckland 'bus-drivers held a smoke concert last evening at the Anchor Hotel, as a fitting conclusion to their annual picnic and sports. Mr. C. Pardington presided, and handed the prizes won at the sports to the successful competitors. A musical, programme was gone through, and toasts were honoured, including "Tho King," "The Employers,*' "The Ladies," and "The Host and Hostess." A handsome silver matchbox was presented to the host, Mr. Tapper, ii recognition of his efforts to promote the enjoyment, of those present.

During the Easter, holidays Mr H.W, Jenvey, chief electrical engineer to the Victorian Postal Department, conducted a series of experiments with wireless telegraphy. He transmitted messages between Point Cook- and Point Ormond, a distance of fully ten miles, the signals being first-class and the results far better than.was anticipated. As no mast, was available at Cook Point, the experimental.st flew a kite, which answered the requirements admirably. Mr Jenvey expresses the opinion that he would not have the slightest difficulty in conversing over 20 miles with'bis existing apparatus, all of which was constructed by the departmental staff.

The Go-vernment intend to start a forest reserve of 10,000 acres on the Rimutakas. between Cross Creek and Kaitoke. Instructions have also been given for the establishment of a nursery about 30 acres in extent on a block of Government land between Trentham and the Upper Hutt, and Mr Matthews, the State Forester, has arrived in Wellington in connection with the project. Tt is to be on the lines of the nurseries at Rotorua and in Otago.

A Masterton hairdresser received a "leasant surprise the other morning. Tt did not take the usual form of the first of ApriT surprises. His faithful dog marched into the shop with a roll of 7 £1 notpy in his mouth. Where they came from is a mystery. .

A model of the Ttuapekapeka Pa lias been added to the Maori collection at the Christchurch Museum. The model was constructed by Lieutenant (afterwards Colonel) Lalneavis, of the 58th Regiment, who was at the pn at the time it Avas attacked in December, 1845. The work was on view .at the London Exhibition in 1851, and the local authorities subsequently wrote asking permission to obtain a copy of the model. Thanks, however, to the services of Sir Walter Eiiller, the original itself lias been obtained, «.

The Citizens' Life Assurance Company, Ltd., whicli is doing- a large nnd rapidly increas:ng business in New Zealand, submitted a satisfactory balance-sheet this year to shareholders. For the third year in succession, new assurances totalling1 over £1.000,000 have been completed in the ordinary branch alone, the figures being, £1.052,143 12/6. In addition, £1614 6/8 was received during the year as consideration for annuities granted, amounting to £186*15/2 per annum. The revenue from premiums and interest during the year amounted to £320.034 -10/8. on increase of £35.720 5/ over that of the preceding year, and the largest on record for the company. The death claims in tbe ordinary branch of the year amounted to £27,520 5/6,.while 7E834 18/ was paid in connection with endowment assurances and endowments matured. Tn the industrial branch tbe claims by death amounted to £ 21,6^6 19/5, and by maturity of endowment assurance, and . endowment policies to £26.534 8/1. Taking the industrial and ordinary branches together, death claims are £17,291 10/1 more than the figures for last year. Of that increase over £8000 avhs caused by deaths in connection with the war. in South. Africa. Since the establishment of the company £538,907 15/7 (over half a million sterling) has been paid to policy-holders. The assurance fund ("moludinrr paid-up capital) was increased during the year by £114,487 4/9. and at the end of the year amounted to £642.129 9/1. The. year's increase is considerably the largest on record. The annual premium income on policies in force at the close of the year amounted to £317,192 6/2. an increase of £25,432 7/7 over lastyear.

The 45th session of the Athenaeum Literary ahd Debating Society was opened last evening at the V.M.C.A. liooms,-when the Rev. W. Jellle, 8.A., delivered the inaus'ural address, "Robert Browning: His Attitude Towards Questions of the Time." Mr M. Aldis presided, and there was a good attendance. The lecturer showed a thorough grasp of his subject, and illustrated his remarks by passages from the poet's works, displaying no small degree of elocutionary power. Altogether the lecture was thoroughly enjoyable. At the close a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Jellie for his interesting address. The President announced that in future the meetings would be held at Waters' Coffee Palace, Queen-street.

Owing to so many being unable to gain admittance to the Foresters' Hall, Newton, last evening,. Mr. Palmer will repeat his lecture, entitled, "Fourteen Years' Suffering Cured by Vitadatio," to-morrow evening, in the same hall.

Mr J. H. Kendrick, a settler near Kawhia, in sending in his name as a subscriber to the "New Zealand Farmer," writes: "I expect, as a newcomer from England, your article in the 'Farmer' for February on 'The Waste of Natural Advantages' appeals to me more strongly than if I had lived here some years. So far as I have seen, the majority of the farmers out here would find it very much to their advantage were they ito take your advice."

The colonial mails per Oceanic from Melbourne, March 13, were delivered in London on April 12th, two days early. If through any. cause it should happen that even one householder's census schedule is in possession oi any resident or other person in the County of Eden, it should at once be returned to the Enumerator, at Government Insurance Buddings. The officers are now making final calls, and as some contingency may arise in< either the retention 4 or handing over of the paper the safest way will be to lodge it or send the form to the proper offices at once. Up to the luncheon adjournment this afternoon, Mr Brabant, in his capacity of old age pensions investigating magistrate, authorised certificates to issue to the following applicants for renewals and new claims for the full amount of £18:—Margaret Shepherd, David Milner, Bridget McGrath, William Monkeville, Mart.n Walsh, Catherine Clarke, Marcella Praser, William Whitmarsh; George Worman. £10: George Staines. £10: James Scott's amount was increased from £8 to £10; whilst another, whose husband had an income of £78 owing to the amending Pensions Act, was not authorised a certificate. During Monday night the premises of Mr. H. Prime, ironmonger, . Onehunga, was broken into, and the contents of the till, a "few shillings, stolen, while papers and stamps were strewn about the floor. The burglars gained access to the building by pushing back the centre bolt, which fastened folding doors. The doors, which are new, having shrunk, made the task easy for the intruder. The matter was reported to the police, who are now investigating. Advices from the outer islands of the Fiji group show that Vanu Levu escaped damage by the severe gale which created havoc at Levuka on the 13th instant. The islands adjacent to Ovalau, namely, Wakaya, Mokagai, and Naingani, suffered considerable damage, more particularly the cocoanut trees situated thereon. Captain Langdale's yacht was wrecked at but his residence escaped. At Viti Levu Bay the schooner Alice was dismasted. Prom this point the gale swept over the intr ' "g waste of reef and water . it reached the northern island- <_ ifa-sawa group of islands,whici ' ported to have suffered considerably through the cjestruction, more particularly the cocoanut !tree.__. Land slips were numerous all along the Ra and Ba coasts, and the natives say that saieh heavy rainfall has not been experienced for years. Fiji wiii be represented in the show that is to take place at the opening of the Commonwealth Parliament in Victoria. The Government have decided to despatch to Australia a unit (comprising 25) of the Armed Native Constabulary, under the command of Colonel Francis and a Native Commissioned officer. The Britisji India steamer Fazilka arrived at Suva on 28th ult. with 816 immigrant coolies for the sugar plantations. She left on the return to Calcutta on Ist inst. for another lot of •coolies. Another vessel is due in a mouth with a similar batch, and the Fazilka will return in about three months with a third supply, so that the population of the group will be increased in three months by over 2000 souls.

.No less than five charges of the murder or attempted murder of their fellow countrymen are to be preferred against coolies at Fiji at the next session of the Supreme Court. Twentytwo persons are charged with the crimes, 17 being accused in one case.

The tender of the Taupiri Goal Mines, Limited, for supplying , the Government railways (Auckland section) with ten thousand tons of steam coal has been accepted. The supply will be taken from Ralph's mine, Taupiri Extended, and Kimihia mine. Quite a large muster of younf people of both sexes met in. the Wesley Hall, Pitt-street, last night, to practice the action songs, etc., to be sung at the Victoria Day annual gathering of Bands of Hope connected with the Auckland Band of Hope Union, on the 24th and 25th of May next. Good •progress is. being , made, and with a few extra voices the choir will be an exceptionally strong , one. A distribution prizes in connection with St. Mary's Sunday School, Parnell, took place last evening m the Parish Hal). The prizes were presented by the Rev." Geo. Mac Murray, and afterwards a series of cinematograph views were shown by Mr H. H. Smith. . The bazaar and sale of work held at Cairns' Hall, Ellerslie, last week, for the purpose of providing funds for the erection of a Roman Catholic church there, was in every way successful. Fair business was done on each of the three days the bazaar was open, and as a result a sum of about £70 was collected. The church, when erected, is to be regarded as r memorial of the late .Father Walter Macdonald, who laboured so faithfully and assiduously in the district for so many years until his death. ; A very neatly and artistically engraved brass tablet in memory of the late Mr. David Nolan has been placed by parishioners in Christ Church, Ellerslie, the church with which he wart so closely associated for many years, being not only a public worshipper, but also a warden and superintendent of the Sunday-school. The lantern lectures in connection with the West-street Church, Newton, which have proved such a success during the past nine winters, will be inaugurated for 1901 this evenlnp Mr. Geo. Aldridge will give a reading entitled "Wops, the Waif." Vocal music will also be provided, and Mr, Cooper's cqlossophoiie will render a few items. The opening entertainment of the Ponsonby Baptist Young Men's Mutual Improvement Society was held on Tuesday night. There was a fair attendance. The Rev. -A. H. Collins gave the president's address, and various members delivered impromptu speeches. Miss Tremain gave an exhibition of club exercises, and recitations were contributed by Miss Over, Mr, Wine, and a rpading by Mjss Robinson. A piano solo was played by Miss A. ■ Jones, and songs were givei by Messrs. Robinson, Lemmon ano F. May. :

Just opened large shipments of blankets, full size, 16/11, j size 10/11 single 7/11, both English ana" colonial manufacture, at Tonson Garlick Co^a, Ltd.—Ad.