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Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 48, 25 February 1910, Page 4

The following is Mr. D. U. Bates' weather report and forecast for 24 hours from 9 a.m. this day: "Northerly winds, strong to gale. Expect unsettled and cloudy weather. Rain probable. Glass Little movement." A party of picnickers at the Wakanui beach captured a fine specimen of an albatross a few days ago. The ibird waa taken to Ashtrarton alive, t>ut it died a fe-w hours after its arrival there. It measured between sis and eeven feet from tip to tip across the -wings. Erie Watt, a boy aged 0, who resided at Concord, a suburb of Sydney, with his parents, was killed by a tram at the Mortlake terminus. Wit/h some other boys ho nad been for a swim, and while the cars were being- shunted the boys amused themselves by bmgmg on, despite the warning of an official. Wait was seen to jump on to tb« footboard of a moving car, and then losing his foothi"-, he fell beneath the tram, the wheels passing over his chest. When extricated he was dead, the body being terribly mutilated. Flags flags, flags—3d, 4d, Cd, and 8d each, at Grey and Ford's Newton (Ad.)

The Hon. T. M^ l- " 1 ™ has recently been making a journey through Westland, and lie has noticed in places the absence of bird life. "Between Nelson and Hokitika," he says, "hardly any bird life at all is to ibe met with; the imported vermin have done their work of bird destruction only too well. In the region from Ross to the south, however, the tui and the pigeon are to be seen, making bright the landscape with their presence. At the Forks, I met a gentleman who took a great interest in bird life on the Coast, and he told mc that the weka, kiwi and kawakawa had disappeared, and he believed that the stoat and weasel killed every bird in the country. He had himself just lost a half-grown black swan which he had reared. He \v. Qiuui it lying on its back, with a gaah hi its throat. The stoats and weasels were often seen in the neighbourhood of the lakes where the ducks made their nests, and it was suspected that the vermin paid due attention to their eggs." The large number of unvaccinated children at present in New Zealand formed a topic in Dr. Purdy's presidential address at the Medical Congress on Tuesday evening. '"This," he said, "is not due to the fact that the majority of parents have conscientious objection to vaccination, but because they think it will be time enough to have children vaccinated when sniaiipox attacks us, and that the chances of a smallpox visitation are remote. If there is one subject on which the medical profession is united, it is the absolute safeguard of vaccination and the dangers unvaccinated children run. 1 need not dilate on the reasons for this consensus of opinion; it is a settled fact, and should be known to the public at large. I have vaccinated thousands of children and adults, and can conscientiously say I have never seen any illell'ects near or remote that could be traced to vaccination. The little operation performed with due safeguards, safeguards that every medical man adopts, is absolutely free from danger, and, moreover, causes at any rate to the infant no pain, and seldom even any inconvenience. As age increases, vaccination is apt to cause a good deal of pain and distress, but there is practically no danger in its use." If thi»re has been any outstanding feature of recent criminal sessions throughout New Zealand (says the Wellington "Post"), it has been the large uuniber of cases before the Court of one- form or other of sexual degeneracy. Judges have remarked on the frequency of assaults on young girls, and on miscreants convicted of such monstrous crimes have inflicted the severest penalties. At Auckland two men were each sentenced to five years' imprisonment, one to a flogging as well. At Palmerston N'rth it was only the advanced years of the offender that saved him from a longer term in gaol than three years. Thus abominable form of crime seems to be increasing in spite of heavy sentences and severe punishments. Inese are deterrents, and nothing but deterrents. It is right thai the judge should wreak the full vengeance of the law on criminals of this type, who corrupt the very springs of society, but it must be remembered that long terms of imprisonment and floggings will no more prevent such crimes than the penalty of death for stealing a sheep put an end to sheep-stealing. The trouble is more deeply-seated. It is a proper subject for the investigations of the crirainologist, for the expert in mental diseases, for the sociologist. There may be all manner of unseen and hereditary causes at work, which only careful study and scientific research could succeed in isolating. In the meantime, while we agree in the stern enforcement by our judges of the rigour of the law, it is good to note in a cable message published recently that philanthropists in New York are raising £200,000 to construct a hospital as an adjunct of the City Children's Court for the treatment of degenerate children. Thus it is hoped to remedy physical and mental causes of crime. It is on the linea of prevention and cure, while nature is still plastic, rather than In punitive sentences, that improvement may be best sought. At yesterday's sitting of the Onehunga Magistrate's Court an application for separation was made by Mary Elizabeth Hooker (.Mr. J. K. Lundon) from her husband, Stephen Hooker (Mr. C. Schnauer), owing to alleged persistent cruelty and ill-treatment. Plaintiff stated that for years she had been subjected to ill-treatment and bad language from her husband, and as a consequence her health had been affected. Defendant's brother lived with them, but there v.-as no truth in the suggestion that she liked him better than her husband. The reason he lived there was because her husband had asked him, and anyhow, she would not live in the horxse alone with her husband, as she did not consider it safe. He had •threatened to take her life. Dr. Scott gave evidence as to plaintiffs bad state of health, and a number of other witnesses were called. The Magistrate reserved his decision till next Court day, and suggested that "the parties come to a-n agreement meanwhile. Lord Kitchener is refreshingly unconventional (says the •'Dominion"). So much so, indeed, that he> aetuallv concedes that a man can enjoy high dinner in other than evening clothes. Has he guessed the secret that underlies that vague objection which the average man has to donning evening dress — that broadcloth wears well, and age in the aggregate i≤ accompanied by a tendency to corpulency? Be that as it may, the invitations for the Ministerial dinner given in the Field-Marshal's honour at the Grand Ilbtel on Thursday evening were laibellod—"Plain clothes' , (which may be taken to road, clothes other than evening dress or uniform). The same abstention from sartorial embellishment was observed at the private dinner given the distinguished visitor by His Excellency the Governor last evening. At the end of March, the seventy or more -statutes in which the native land law of New Zealand is buried will cease to operate. In their place will come the new Native Land Act, a monumental work of over four hundred clauses, covering all phases of the settlement and use of native land by Maori and European. The new law goes a great deal further than a mere consolidation, and consequently the regiJations and rules of procedure in the Native Land Court have to be revised. As a preliminary to the Act coming into operation, a conference of Native Land Court Judges will take place in Wellington on March 15th to deal with the revised arrangements for its administration. The youngest daughter of A. W. Whittlesoa met her death at Salisbury (Adelaide; on the eighth anniversary of her birth. After coming from school, she went to a neighbour's. Some limbs were being lopped from a gum tree, and a limb had a rope fastened to it to keep it from swinging on to a fence. As it fell the rope gave way, and the bough fell in an unexpected direction. The other children ran ont of danger, but Freda Whittlesea was struck on the lower part of the back °M after lingering a few hours, died,

y estera ay concerning the death died in ttfhoS?^ B™,8™ , - ' Stanley, who as the reJult^ ' the 13th msL as the result7 m sustained by falling from a \™g™* Waitokerei on the oth fort, Kn* found that deceased met his death cidentaUy arid by misadventure? 'rw was evidence that deceased was s<W of a shoe, which in turn made 2 horse lame. On that account the "rid was lost, which resulted in th loss of a battle and a kingdom At th« T 2 ■ time (says the '%ydaey D^Tet graph"), a gentleman finds himself it a message, which sh» Vj t ""β-gofc harbour she saw the steamer Till }* husband on board half-way '° "» . " Heads. And now the liy £ 1° , the sgaHas riic i Sydney—to get the familyTv/!?? 1 . * the telephone on the ,JT ch °P The deer-shoottai» •(,...„,■ . •:. «fe Hawke's Bay district Kb* - th « ' ? March 19 to April 30in tL w fr ° m ' Grey district from March 24 t The lad who deserted from ti,- j. • ■ v ship Amokura at Tfc™ weVk'T* ' '' ago was apprehended by thHolice at Ashburton on Saturday 7 morrJn* * V', appears that he swam ashore from the boat with the aid of a lifebelt, clad and bareiooted, walked to Sffi ?■ where he obtained work for a feW daw ' •■ at harvesting. The police have notified the Department of his capture, and are awaiting instructions as to what st«H ' are to be taken. The young Bailor is said to have been one of the latest're- ' emits, and it is believed 'that-: he was ' • homesick. He had no complaint about f " the food or accommodation provided m . board, as everything possible is done to-?-: , if make the life of the Aniokura lads eon* " \ fortable and attractive. Speaking at the medical congress 'at Wellington on Tuesday evening, the. president (Dr. Purdy) said that much good might be done if the Health Department took over the registration of marriages. ; "It has been suggested," he. contended, I" " that no cine be allowed to issue a license to marry until the prospective bride and bridegroom present .certificates .' ' •' of good health signed by a legally quali- ' fied medical practitioner. who has known ■ the parties for at least six months. Now -t I do not believe in this or any method of | dragooning people. It has also been sug- ' f gested, to raise the minimum marriage a ff a ifof a man to 25, and a woman, to 21, ,'_"£ ■which would, according to Dr.' Rentou"., •( decrease degeneracy, pauperism and disease. Also that no man over 65 should ; ba given In marriage unless the ■woman he ■, . over 45. Again, although recognising t• j that such regulations would be good for the race in one sense, yet one must admit ' that one can carry regulations too fat '/■'■ n-hen one interferes with the sacred'rite L of the people. As to ages, in New Zea£•■'■',' ';< land a man of 23 is equal, as a rule, " ' physically to a man of 25 in England, " and a "woman of 21 to an Englishwoman ■ of 23. If marriage was indirectly, even, brought under the jurisdiction of , the. Health Department at least iui attempt ' might be made by the issue of pamphlets!;,;;-,i;. v J to people marrying, telling thsin some, ' ~i useful physiological facts. . . Schools l for mothers, might be established in, all ' the large centres. ... The best im- , , migrants to New Zealand are strong and healthy children, born in. the Dominion." Speaking to a " Dominion" representative on the Arast-Barry race, on the Zambesi, Harry Floyd confesses himself nonphrssed by the conditions under whichthe race is to be rowed. He states that • ! the championship conditions set out that the race must be for £500 a-side, yet so far it has been announced that it will be for a purse of £1000, put up by South African people. If this is the arrangement, and no other has so far been announced, it will leave it <>pen for anyone to deposit £1000 and challenge Arnst to row for the championship of the world and £500 a-side, the day before he rows Barry, in which case the match with the Englishman for the purse could; not take place until the - legitimate challenger was satisfied.' Floyd says that there is little doubt but \ that the stake could be divided into two , f< sums, so. as to comply with the cham- ' ; pionship conditions, but so far he has , <" seen no movement in that direction. " ;'l\ A communication from a shopkeeper/;;|; on the Great Xorth-road brought before , 1 1| members of the City Council last evening a matter which was unanimously agreed | should have attention paid to it. The shopkeeper complained of the tramway r-" sprinkler, which he said threw a large . \ qttantity of water on the tramline, but S beyond that, and towards the kerbstones, v£| the sprays of -water simply dug up tße , g | dust in furrows, and then drove it into 3 g the shops, often doing irreparable dam--J | age to the goods. The writer said the ■■■ ratepayers were much better served by the old water carts, and he hoped the £ Council would revert to these old-fash-ioned but very useful dust suppressors. - \i Several- Councillors fully endorsed the views of the writer of the letter, and the matter was referred to the Works Committee. The City Engineer intimated: that the Tramways Company were ex- ' '■ perimenting with a pattern.of sprinkler which, it was hoped, would alleviate .or J! remedy the nuisance caused by the sweeping action of the water thrown at pre- j sent. In the course of the discussion, ':" mention was made of the use of tar to , '•■ sprinkle on roads to lay dust.; Sprink-j lers to spread tar were in use in Melbourne, and the Wellington City Council had recently acquired one. It was quite I clear that the present method of sprmk- Ji. i S ling was unsatisfactory, but it was also j clear that the contract with the Tram- k ways Company had five venrs to run, i which gave rise to some difficulty as to ■ j ; how the service might be bettered. The I task of discovering a way was left over I to the Works Committee of the Council. I. In consequence of the stormy weather I and 'heavy rain the Waitemata Show I which was to have been opened at Wai-,; i,>. wera to-morrow, has been postponed till I Saturday, the 12th March, ", ' • j . Mr. Jas. Trounson, who has been., a I I member of the Auckland Land Board for I the past two years, in anothercolumn |: : ' offers hiniseli for re-election. r ' I Sheetings, damasks, napery, and S . 'towels, consigned to the Belfast T.inun | ■-. Company, selling at big redactions at :j ;. . I Grey and Ford's, Limited Newton.— r'