Untitled

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8, 10 January 1902, Page 4

A concise summary of news for de- I spatch by the 'Frisco mail, leaving to-morrow, is given on page 6 of this issue. Captain Edwin's weather forecast for the 24 hours from 9 a.m. to-day is as follows: "East to north and northwest gale after ten hours from now, glass fall, heavy rain."

A party, including the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Mr. Thompson, member for Marsden, and Mr. Burd, Government Surveyor, left Hamilton to-day for Kawhia, going overland to inspect land there shortly to be thrown open for settlement.

The formal opening ceremony of the Katikati Co-operative Dairy Company's factory was held on Monday, in the presence of a large concourse of settlers. It had been resolved by the directors that the "christening" should have been performed by Mr? Captain Hugh Stewart, of Athenree, but the coach from Waihi which was to call for her being two hours late. The directors decided to ask Mrs M. Gledstanes, an early and energetic settler, to act as her deputy. Mr Alf. Shepherd, as chairman of the directors, in a few happy words explained the object of the meeting, calling on Mr Vesy Stewart as father of the settlement to address 'the audience. At the conclusion of his speech, in which he referred to the improved and prosperous condition of the settlement, and the bright prospects now in view, called on Mrs Gledstanes to set the machinery in motion and to declare the factory open. The company then adjourned to the adjoining paddock for lunch, which was most liberally supplied by the directors. Full justice having been done to all the good things provided, a long programme of sports was gone through. Mr C. F. Wigley, on behalf of Messrs. L. D. Nathan and Co., and of the Campbell Ehrenfreid Co. respectively, subscribed a guinea from each firm towards the funds of the sports, Mr C. Millar presented a valuable gold brooch set in rubies and emeralds for the women's race, and several other liberal "subscriptions poured in for the sports funds from leading settler., and others. The day was perfect, and everything passed off in a way worthy of Katikati.

At the luncheon hour to-day the overseers and employees of the "Star" office presented Mr. C. P. Syms, a member of the jobbing staff, who is leaving for London, with a handsome travelling bag and illuminated address. The overseer of the jobbingdepartment, Mr. Bake well, made the presentation, and in doing so spoke ot the high esteem in which Mr. Syms was held in the office. The address was signed by Messrs. T. Bakewell, W. J. Wright and G. Moon as overseers: J. M. Carnahan, on behalf of the staff; and endorsed by Mr. H. Brett. Mr. Syms thanked the donors for their handsome 'present, and the proceedings ended with cheers.

A report in circulation, on apparently good authority (say., the Bay of Plenty "Times"), that the London Syndicate which had the option over the Te Puke Gold Reefs mine, has closed with the New Zealand vendors, the terms being £5000 cash and 25,000 shares in the new company. We have endeavoured, so far unsuccessfully to obtain definite assurance as to the full correctness of this report, but the folio wing, facts may be of interesit. Tire presenit Company qonsists of 100,000 shares of 2/6 each, find these will receive 1/ cash, or thereabouts, for each share held, and one share of £1 for every four held in the New Zealand Company. The London syndicate is to consist of a nominal capital of 250,000 share* of £1 each, and of which £55,000 was to be subscribed. £5000 goes to the shareholders in 'the old Company, and £35,000 has to be deposited in the Bank on the day the property is handed over. There will, of course, be minor adjustments among New Zealand shareholders, as some haci fully paid-up and others only to 2/23, and there were also some 1400 shares issued to workmen oi? the co-opera tive principle, but these will not materially affect the above.

The Waikato "Times" says:—"ln the light of various experiences, our own included, it is not likely that we should become advocates of boycotting, but if there could be any justification for the system Germany has supplied it. And whether justifiable or no the Germans are almost certain to feel its effects. The movement originated at Oamaru will unquestionably spread over a great part of the colony. The insolence of the German criticism is indeed unbearable, and the pity is that we cannot punish ■the authors of it iv some less objectionable if not more effective fashion.

Messrs A. Yates and Co. has received a communication from the Town Clerk, Mr H. Wilson, re a report sent in by the superintendent of parks in which he says, re some sweet peas supplied by that firm: — "I had One bed planted with the dwarf varieties, 9 inches apart. They are now in flower in the Albert Park, and the show of bloom has far exceeded my expectations,"

The funeral of the late Mr R. A. Bullen took place on Wednesday, and was largely attended. The officiating minister was the Rev. O. R. Hewlett, and he conducted impressive services at the late residence of the deceased, the Anglican Church, and at the grave in the Papakura Cemetery. At the latter place the Rev. T. Norrie also gave an address, in which he paid an affectionate tribute to the memory of the departed, referring specially to his geniality as a friend and neighbour, his success as. a journalist, and his readiness to help in educational matters, and in the social meetings by his witty speeches, and the liberality of his views. His loss was acknowledged as one who took a deep interest in the progress of the district, but especially to his widow and two sons and two daughters, who are bereft of a kind husband and father. Much, sympathy is felt for the bereaved, and sorrow for the passing away of one so useful at the early age of 51 years.—(Own Correspondent).

A memorial signed by a large number of the householders of the Kirikiri school district, has been forwarded to the Board of Education asking* it to reconsider its recent decisions with regard to the dismissal of Mr Murray and the saluting of the flag in the public schools.

Several special features, in this week's "Graphic" make the number one of much more than ordinary interest.^ First in importance, perhaps, are the pictures of the Auckland section of the Eighth Contingent in camp and bidding farewell to Onehunga. The boys departed so quietly, and we were so busy with our holiday-making, that these scenes will be a novelty to most,_ as they are of interest to all. Capital pictures of the N.Z. Lawn tennis championship meeting, giving clever studies of the individual players in the act of playing' should be welcome to all lovers of the game. The concluding days of the Auckland Racing Club's Summer Meeting gave matter for some fine photographs, which are published in the number. "Gems of the Pacific" is the title of a series of new views of Tahiti, etc. The Domain, from new points of view, makes another capital subject. Considerable space is devoted to scenes on the new underground, tramway about to be opened in Wellington. Young readers of the "Graphic," and their elders too, will be pleased to sec photographs of the dolls distributed free by the "Grapnic" to the poor children of Auckland and Wellington on Xmas Eve. Among the portraits are one of Mr x_ensington, of the Lands Office, recently appointed Under-Secretary for Lands, and the Rev. Geo. A. Carver, the new incumbent of St. Sepulchre's, Auckland. There are the usual cartoon cartoonlets, stories, notes, topics, sketches, society news, ladies' and children's pages, sport notes, etc. The number is now ready.

The young Marquis of Queensberry, who succeeded to his title about two years ago, is among this week's list of bankrupts, says an English exchange. His gross liabilities were stated at £13,305, and estimated assets at £15,041. Another titled bankrupt, Sir Ellis AshmeadBartlett, is having his affairs overhauled in the courts. He pays about 17/G in the pound to the majority of his creditors. Earl Bosslyn, whose affairs have been before the courts for several years, has managed to get his bankruptcy annulled by an arrangement under which his property passes into the possession of his father-in-law, Mr R. C. de Grey Vyner. When the Earl succeeded to his impoverished estates in 1890 they were encumbered with a debt of £30,000. Instead of economising he went on merrily with the aid of money lenders till 1897, when his liabilities were found to amount to £100,623, of which £8522 was unsecured, and his cash assets were nil. Even after this crash he did not mend his ways, and in August, 1898, his discharge was suspended for five years, the grounds being insufficient assets, and ''contributing 'to his bankruptcy by unjustifiable extravagance and' gambling." Meanwhile the estates had been managed by trustees, from whom they are now made over with, the sanction of the court, to Mr Vyner.

Mrs Roosevelt has stirred up debate in many household (writes the New York correspondent of the Sydney "Herald') by announcing that she has never hitherto spent more on dress than 300dol. a year, and hopes to keep within the same limits during her reign at the White House. This is the more significant because sne has a hanusome fortune of her own. Mrs President Hayes probably spent less even than SOOdol.; but some President's wives have spent more than twenty times as much. Mrs Roosevelt has explained that she began life as a matron with an ample wardrobe and a goodly store of lace inherited from her maternal grandmother, who was an Englishwoman, and that her evening gowns, after lasting three, and sometimes five, years, have been remade into waists or dressing sacques. Other details of the same prosaic kind have been given. Of course, the purpose of all this is to make it clear that the extravagance in costumes which is a crying scandal at Newport and New York City will not be tolerated at White House functions.

The "New York Journal" has an extraordinary story in a recent issue regarding the jilting of Lord Kitchener. The following are a few extracts from the paper in question: "The beautiful Lady Helen Stewart has jilted Lord Kitchener, the British Commander in South Africa, because of the dreadful concentration camps in which he has g-athered the Boer women and children. She first became aware of the existence of these when she went, to Paris and saw the newspaper 'Le Rire,' which published a special edition of pictures exposing Kitchener's atrocities. Kitchener was long reputed to be indifferent to women, but he fell in love with Lady Helen. She promised that their engagement should be announced when he came back a conqueror from South Africa, but his deeds have turned her admiration to loathing. She is now engaged to young Lord •S'tavordale, the heir of the Earl of Ilchester, and the prospective possessor of six great English mansions."

Most interesting facts m£ reference to the numerous workmen s oo operative societies xn the United Kingdom are combmed an a _report which has been issued by the Labour Department of the Board lrade. The growth of the movement is sm prising. The retail distributive associatioSs had a total capital in 1899 of £2'>S>473 of which #18,925,270 was .hire capital, .£2,510,691 loans and ~ _ _?a_n-.12 reserve ana deposit-, <7 d*84^; es r in these insurance funds. Shares societies are of the.nominal vain of £1, and may be paid m fu lon allot ment or by instalments, ""J^g Id uer week per share. Inequeniiy .id pei wee * subscription in large societies a nrs. - _ _• of 1/ is the only payment m cash xequired, the balance due n respect of\he member's liability *™%« of his share, being provided by ciedrt in<* his share account with the sums tf wSch he becomes from to time entitled as his share in tne pro fits. These bodies are so rich that they do not know what to do with their wealth, and- conferences are held in various -parte.of the country to discuss the best method of utilising the surplus.At the end of 1899 a tote °f_.^£_^ was invested by retail distributive societies otherwise than in their-own business. Of this amount, ; £3 bib, 087 was reinvested in other co-opera tive societies, including the wholetale societies, the .corn mills and other productive societies, while £4,405,041 was invested in house property, partly let to members and partly held on mortgage as security for advances made to members, the balance being invested in various cotton spinning, railway, and canal undertakings, and other concerns.

A law has been 'passed in Norwaj (says the "Daily Express") providing that in future any woman who wishes to ffet married must present to the proper authorities a certificate showing tlxat ske is skilled in the arts of cooking, sewing, knitting and embroidering. There has been for some time an agitation in Norway, the object of which was to secure the passage of a law prohibiting those persons who were in any way physically defective from marrying, and ordaining that marriages should only, be allowed to take place between persons who could show diplomas of sound healthMany .objections, however, were raised against such a law, and as a substitute the edict requiring women to be skilled in the household arts has been passed. The young men of Norway are jubilant over this victory, but the young women are naturally wondering why no certificates are to be required from the men which shall prove that they are able to support their wives. For this reason they consider the new edict is unfair, and many will agree with them.

A Dunedin lady who has been touring Japan and was fortunate enough to secure an invitation to the Mikado's chrysanthemum party, writes in the Otago "Daily Times":—"Our way up hill led through grounds laid cut in the Japanese style of landscape gardening, and flaming red maples made a glorious sunset effect behind glossy foreground foliage. Here were artificial lakes harbouring w.l- duck, rustic bridges, clumps of feathery bamboo, and old moss-over-grown stones —dear to the soul of a Japanese gardener. But as for the chrysanthemums —ranged all around in pots tmder awnings—they conveyed at the first view anything but an impression of a good chrysanthemum show. In fact, better blooms may be seen any year in the Agricultural Hall in Dunedin. Better, but not so luxurious nor so curious. A Japanese loves to rear oddities amongst his collection. Some flowers have only a single row of large petals arranged around a yellow disc, like an ox-eye daisy; others bear petals as finely shredded as those of a Scotch thistle; and, best of all, some plants support three or four hundred blooms on one stem, arranged to grow in perfect symmetry from a broad base to an apex. These last were monuments of patient and careful training, and many bore grafted flowers of several colours. Sanomya, master of the ceremonies, received all guests at the entrance, whilst his wife, a tall and stately Englishwoman, towered conspicuous, amongst the little Japanese ladies. Another Englishwoman, also married to a Japanese nobleman, mingled in the crowd, but her history was not one calculated to inspire admiration for these mixed alliances. She had met and married her husband in London, but on arriving at his home in Tokio, found herself confronted •by wife No. 1 and a large family, who refused to give up possession. Needless to say, there are now two separate, establishments."

The "Standard" Paris correspondent gives an interesting account of a sort of French Primrose League which has been started to defend Property, the Fatherland and Liberty. It is organised by a committee of ladies, and is already said to have half a million members. In order to make the men in g-ood society vote the ladies of the League are thinking of decreeing that to be admitted to their drawingroomsthese gentlemen must, for the future, exhibit their card of election. The following is the programme of the League: "Women, our hearts are full of pity for the sufferings of the poor, but we reject Socialism, which only serves to deceive the weak. BeimV Frenchwomen, we love France, and rejecting internationalism, we demand Frenchmen to govern her. As mothers, we contend that our children belong to-us, and not to Deputies or Ministers, and that it is for us to bring them up', to watch over their infancy, and to choose their teachers. To accomplish that task we demand liberty. As Christians we wish our faith to be respected in the same way as we are ready to respect that of others. We desire that all consciences may be free on French soil. Functionaries and priests, monks and nuns also have a conscience, and we demand liberty for them." Clearly, an anti-Republi-can, Catholic and (we suspect) antiSemite organisation. We are now opening up some of the latest novelties in made-up lace goods for ladies' neckwear, collarettes, scarves, etc., at very moderate prices.—Smith & Caughey's lace department.—Ad.