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Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 198, 19 August 1904, Page 4

The following is Captain Edwin's weather forecast for 24 hours from 9 a.m. this day: "Strong winds to gale from between north-west and west and southwest; glaea rise slowly; tides moderate; sea moderate; rain probable." Messrs Henderson and Macfarlane, the local agents, are in receipt of cable advice stating that the R.M.S. Ventura left San Francisco at 4 p.m. yesterday, with "00 tons of cargo for Auckland. The steamer wu two hours late in leaving.

Recently Mr Justice Edwards made some remarks which were not altogether in favour of the new law which enables an accused person to give evidence on oath. Yesterday, addressing the jury on the case in which a youth named Meek was charged with perjury. His Honor said the new law had the inevitable effect of increasing perjury. Previously a prisoner toid his story without enterng the witness-box, and this was in some respects to his advantage, because he could not be cross-examin-ed. The new law, while it was certainly in 'favour of the innocent person, put a premium on perjury by the sruilty. There was, moveover, a tendency to excuse a guilty man's acton in denying the charge against him, but this perjury on the pr'soner's part was often backed up by further perjury by his friends who conspired to uefeat the ends of justice. Tue jury in the case referred to then retired, and finally acquitted the prisoner

Councillor McLeod pointed out at the City Council meeting last night that the Coun-eil paid a reward of £10 for the conviction of anyone found breaking a fire alarm without cause. A person had been detected doing this, and a fine of only 10/ and costs had been imposed. He thought that the Inspector of Police should be approached - , and a higher fine pressed for in future. At a public meeting of residents in the Mt. Albert district, held last evening, the question of a better train service was considered. The meeting approve 1 of the proposals as emphasised by ti. deputation which waited on the district manager on Tuesday last, and by a unanimo'.s resolution urged the importance of a late train from Auckland on not less than three evenings per week, leaving, say, at 10.30. The manner in which the passenger traffic has increased on the railway since better travelling facilities were given is a most weighty argument for still more generous dealing. H. M. survey'ng ship Penguin, now at Sydney, is e.xpscted to arrive at Auckland next month. She will remain here for about three months, during which time she will carry out a survey of the Hauraki Gulf. The Challenger, one of the In test additions to the Australian Squadron, will, it is stated, arrive in Auckland next week from Sydney. The civil cases awaiting settlement at the Supreme Court next week are rather more numerous than usual, 24 actions being set down for trial. The most interesting among them are two actions against the Auckland Tramway Co. for injury and loss incurred through the Kingsland tram disaster of last Christmas Eve. One of the claimants 13 Mrs Margaret Bagust, w'fe of a Karangaliake resident, who claime £550 on the ground that by reason of the collision she was thrown from her seat, personally injured, and frightened so severely that she has since suffered from diabetes, which threatens her life. The other claimant Is Mrs Lindsay, of Kingsland, who claims £700 for the loss of her husband in the collision. It w : ll be remembered that Mr Benjamin Lindsay, a gardener, was crushed between the two cars and died a few hours afterwards. The claimant states that she and her son and daughter, Alfred aj(? Ethel, were dependent on her husband for their support, which is now lost to them. Mr J. A. Tole is counsel for Mrs Lindsay, and Mr McGregor for Mrs Bag-ust. These actions will be tried before a jury of twelve. Among other cases of interest there are three actions against the Collector of Customs as to duty on goods, a claim for damages from the Northern Steamship Co. on account of a collis'on, nnd an action of Rea versus Woods for £500 damages for alleged slander. There are nine divorce cases, but only one of these will be heard before a jury.

At a meeting of the Birkenhead and Northeote Fruitgrowers' Association, held last evening, it was decided to sign the -petition forwarded by the Hawke's Bay Fruitgrowers' Company, Ltd. (to to be presented to Parliament), re infoeted Island fruit, on the understanding that non-infected places would be exempt. At a meeting erf the executive of the South Canterbury Farmers' Union, a petif.jcm to the Farmers' Co-operative Association against trotting at auctions was supported, and a form of an agreement was drawn up to be submitted to the auctioneers, promising to avoid the .practice. A resolution was carried by five to two in favour of lessees in perpetuity being given the option to purchase the freehold. The Pakuranga Hounds meet Pt eleven o'clock to-morrow morning at the Harp of Erin Hotel. The hour of meeting ia made early so as to give members a cliance to attend the big football match. The attitude of the better ed cated young men of to-day toward Christianity is a subject of general interest, and this will form a considerable part of Mr. Jamieson's answer to the question raised by his lecture, "Is Christianity played out?" Mr. Jamieson is the travelling secretary of the New Zealand Young Men's Movement. He intends to give a series of addres=e3 in St. James' Hall, Auckland. The fr3t will be given at three o'clock to-morrow (Sunday) on the above subject, and is open to men only. Dr. Knight will preside. The remaining addresses will be open to all. When "Daniel" appears in Court there is always some humorous side. H« was charged in the Folic* Court this morning wich b(~ng drunk for the third time . n six months. Daniel did not understand. All he wanted, he said, was the Bench to let him off this time, and he would never sin any more in the way of drunkenness. "Fined 10/ or 4S hours," said the chairman. '"Thank you xeiy much!" exclaimed Daniel, ■waving his dark oily hands at the Bench. "Good luck to you! Thank you very much!" and the minions of the law bore him off still ejaculating thanks on thanks.

A deputation of the Women's Natives' Association, consisting of Mesdames Martin, Rule, Fleming, and Nicol (secretary), waited on the captain of the British football team this morning to invite him and his team to be present at a Leap Year Ball to be held next Wednesday. While thanking the deputation the captain said they were bound to leave Auckland on Monday, otherwise he would have been pleased to accept the invitation offered. He said that the team would carry away nothing but the mo3t pleasant memories of their stay in New Zealand. The question of Star Chamber sitting.* in divorce cases was raised before Mr uustice Cooper at Wellington yeaterday. His Honor declined to order the press not to publish particulars of a cas-e before the Court. If it was in the interests of public morals, he would not hesitate to order non-publication, but his experience was that the newspapers of the colony were exceedingly careful not to publish anything likely to offend public morals. He was opposed to Star Chamber proceeding's, unless in exceptional circumjtances.

There is an improvement in- the weather to-day, the wind having moderated considerably. On the West Coast there 'is a moderate gale*~from the westward, but the sea is exceptionally heavy. There is still no sign oi" the s.s. Rotokino, which should have arrived at Auckland from iGsborne yesterday afternoon. The i s.s. Paeroa, which should have arrived ; :rom the Great Barrier last night-, had j not put in an appearance up to a late I hour to-day, while the s.s. "Waiotahi has been bar-bound at Opotiki, and is not expected to arrive until to-morrow. On the West Coast several vessels ha.c been detained by the gale. The Muritai is bar-bound at Hokianga, and so also is the Glenelg at Wanganui. Tha s.s Takapuna, which left Onehunga yesterday afternoon, anchored down the harbour through the night, and did not cross the Manukau bar until 6.30 o'clock this morning. The s.s. Karawa met with a very heavy sea coming- up from New Plymouth last night, but the wind force was not very great. She arrived at Onehunga at eleven o'clock this morn.ing, being an hour lonjj'r than usus-'i on the passage. W. C. Watson, aged 48, died in the Waikato Hospital last night of pneumonia. He has a brother in London, but no relatives in the colony. The Mayor reported at the City Council last evening that a dozen garden seats were required for the Domain Gardens, and that, while anticipating securing these as donations, he proposed ordering them at once. He said ■our had already been presented, and he would be glud to receive another eight, as th« seats, were to be placed in the gardens which were now being done up. The eo-st of a seat waa about £3 5/. In connection with the improvement of the Domain -a letter was read from the Scenery Conservation Society expressing the gratification of that body that the work had been decided upon. Dr. Neligan has resigned from the presidency of the Auckland Sailors' Home. His resignation will be received at a meeting of the Council to-night. The g*ain to the city from doing its own carting instead of letting contracts was illustrated at the meeting of the Council last night by returns submitted by the Engineer, Mr A. Wrigg. Full details were given, and showed a saving of £229 12/ for the half year. The Rev. J. C. Jamieson, travelling secretary of the N.Z. Bible Class UnioiT, arrived from Napier by the s.s. Tarawera yesterday. He intends to deliver a course of lectures while in Auckland at St. James' Hall.

Mr. and Mrs. Hatrick, of Wanganui, were to leave Vancouver for Suva on 19th August, arriving there ou 6th September. They leave Suva on 16th Sep : tember and arrive in Auckland on 21st September. A meeting of citizens was held at Nelson last night, to decide what should be done with the balance of the funds raised locally for the benefit of those who went to fight in South Africa. There is a balance of about £380, and it was resolved to erect in the Queen's frardena a memorial to the fallen troopers at a cost of £250, and devote the balance, after meeting claims, towards the erection o-f a fever hospital. The time of the closing of tenders for the supply and delivery of printed stationary, etc., for the New Zealand Railways has been extended to the 30t*i November. At the Ellerslie road railway crossing on Tuesday night a horse was very nearly killed. It appears the animal got a fright, jumped across the cattle-stops in front of a train, and was pinned underneath the cow-catcher. Luckily the train had just left the station, and hid not got much speed' up, so that the driver was able to bring the train to a standstill before any serious damage was done.

Madame Lilian Tree and her capable concert company, by the reproduction of "Martha" at the Choral Hall on Saturday night, are providing a rich musical treat for the music-loving part of the community. The initial performance was a revelation. .Nothing approaching it has ever been heard since the visit of Musgrove's Grand Opera Company, and the audience was naturally full of enthusiasm. The fact that the town is full of visitors has induced Madame Tree to repeat the concert at the Choral Hall on Saturday night, when there should be an overflowing audience. The parts allotted to the various vocalists will be the same as at the first performance, except that Mr Walter Whyte will take the music of "Lionel" and Mr Barry Coney that allotted to "Plunkett." Seats may be booked at Messrs Wildman, Lyell and Arey's.

Britain v. Auckland! ! The goil of success is good value. You'll get this at Geo. Fowlds', Victoria Arcade, in shirts, underclothing, sox, etc. —Ad. Shirts, hats and caps, collars and ties, and underwear, best value in town, at Rushbrook and Bridgman's, Queenstreet.—(Ad.) Britain v. Auckland.—Geo. Fo-wlds , premises will be closed at 12 o'clock to-morro-w, re-opening at 6.30 p.m.—Ad. Country visitors to Auckland should take back a parcel of cheap reading matter from Spreekley's, next G.P.O. —Ad. Britain v. Auckland.—Geo. Fowlds' premises will be closed at 12 o'clock to-morrow, re-opening at 6.30 p.m.—Ad.