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Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 78, 2 April 1913, Page 4

The following is Mr D. C. Bates' weather forecast for 24 hours from 9 a.m. this day-. "Easterly -weather, veeriag by N. to W. There is a prospect of fair to cloudy weather. The barometer has a falling tenendcy." The annual election or school committees will -be held this month, and the meetings of householders for that purpose "will, it has iieen decided, be held on Monday. 2Sth inst. The Education Board decided this morning that the Auckland education district be divided into three wards—the North, East, and West Wards—the 'basis of the division of the district to lie the same as that adopted last year. At the inquest on the unknown man whose body was found in the harbour yesterday, Mr. T. Gresham, Coroner, told an extraordinary story of a" ' similar fatality. Some'years ago, he said, the body of some person unknown was found in the harbour, and was -placed on view in the old water-front morgue, in the ■hope that someone would identify it. As it 'happened, no less than four women ■wanted-to identify it as their deceased husband, each apparently being very anxious- to establish her widowhood. Some warm disputes between the females took place in the presence of the corpse, each of the disputants claiming it as her dear departed. How the matter was settled Mr. Gresham did not say. but presumably none of the -four was able to ! make good her claim to relationship. Mr. Maughan Barnett will commence his duties as City Organist on Saturday evening next, -when he will give the first of the regular weekly organ recitals. His programme will include standard organ works and also compositions of a lighter character. Amongst the former may be mentioned Bach's brilliant Prelude and Fugne in D major, and Boelmann's "Suite Gothique." A fantaisie on Gounod's "Faust" and , Boccherini's celebrated minuet will be included amongst the more popular items of the programme. 'Mr A. E. Glover, M.P., has organised a parly to visit the State Farm at Waerenga to-morrow. Messrs J. S. Dickson. M.P., and J. iH. Bradney, M.P., and Mr F. La wry, and Mr A. R. Harvis, a member of the Auckland Land Board, will .be arri'Orget those making the trip. •Mr Glover liafi arranged .for the Rotorua exprete train, leaving Auckland at 10.18 .a.m., tp stop opposite the State Farm.

Although'the Auckland Hi rbonr Board has intimated its disapproval of the proposal of the Devqnport Borough Council to- secure a • site on> the North Shore waterfront for a private contractor to erect swimming baths . (with hot salt water baths as an essential adjunct), the Council has decided not to let the matter drop. The legal and Finance Committee was authorised by the Council last night to consider the position,, with a view to the establishment of baths on such terms as would meet with the approval of the Harbour Board. Councillor Nixon has a notion, which he believes he can cbnvert into a practical proposition when an electric scheme is installed within the borough, that" an ample supply of hot salt water (which would otherwise go to waste) will be available for the provision, free, of hot salt water baths for the residents of' Devonport. He explained to his fellow-councillors last niglit that there was enough hot salt water supplied by the ferry boats now to give everyone a bath for nothing.

Tfce Coofcley Home 13 gradually becoming full, according to a committee report presented to the Hospital Board last night. A reason attributed was the admission of .many young men who are •being sent from the hospital, and it was pointed out that at the present time there are no empty .b*de on fche' male side and only seven on the women's side. .Eighteen recent admissions were reported, making the total number of inmates 248.

Our Port Albert correspondent supplies details of the destruction by flro on Friday last of the Temperance Hall, briefly reported by telegram- Soon after noon a fire started on the main road about 12 chains from the hall. There was a fresh northerly wind blowing at the time, and the scrub and furze soon fed a ibig fire, which travelled directly up the hill towards the hall. The pine trees on the property caught fire, and the shingle roof was soon in a blaze. Before the few settlers residing near the hall arrived on.the scene the fine building wae doomed. This is a big loss to the district. Iα addition to the maili building, with seating accommodation for over 400 persons, there was a small hall adjoining; also a large basement room underneath the main-building. In the smaller building the Good Templar and Druid Lodges held their meetings, and all their books, regalia, etc., were burnt, together with the piano and harmonium. The trustees had let a contract to replace shingles with iron, and the material, which was on the ground, was practically destroyed. The building was insured for £250 in the New Zealand Office, and the loss amounts to about £§00.

A youthful male patient in • Auckland Hospital who already owes £63 in fees has been suspected of interfering with an ulcer in order to prolong his etay in the institution., The medical superintendent (Dr Maguire) expressed the opinion a,t last night's Board meeting that if the boy (who wae hysterical) was lefueed further treatment the ulcer would 60on heal. It wae decided to ascertain if he could be accommodated at the Costley Home for the time being.

The gold export from New Zealand in March totalled 29,1630z, valued at £116,----756, compared with 31,7710z,' valued at £125,551, in March, 1912. The eilver export during the month 'wae 7G,201bz, valued at ■ £7,855, compared with 92,-. 5970z, valued at £9,437, in March lafet year. For the quarter ended yesterday, compared ■ with the March quarter of "1012, the figures are: 1913: Gold, 00,----57"20z, valued at £361.082; sHyer, 276,----028oz, valued at £28,705. . 1912: Gold, 101,3760z, valued at £401,880; silver, 261,0740z, valued at £26,522.

The injured feelings of a hospital; patient found vent in a letter which was read-at last night's meeting of the Hospital Board. •Hβ complained that 'he had bean subjected to the indignity of being asked if he •would'pay Iris fees on the day of hie. discharge, instead of being allowed to'forward them at hie pleasure. He also informed the Board that he belonged tp a family who were the biggest ratepayers in one of the outlying suburbs. Members treated the epistle somewhat lightly, being inclined to wonder at the presence of so wealthy a person in the public hospital. The writer prolnieed to forward his fees at hie earliest convenience, and the letter wae "received." j Six hundred picked singers from the! State schools of Wellington lifted up their strong vibrant yoicee in the con- ■ cert chamber of the Town Hall on Mon-; day afternoon. There •was no mistaking the enthusiasm of the 'boys and girls for patriotic song. They sang "With Heart and Soul and Voice." and. their song penetrated to the Council Chamber, where the City 'Fathers sat in solemh'cohclave, to the offices below, and out on the street. The children were rehearsing, for the coming of HJ&s. NewZealand. It is proposed that the juvenile choir will sing such gongs as "Hearts of Oak." "The Red, White, and Blue," "The Lads in Savy Blue," and "A Life on the Ocean Wave," from the foredeck of the Duchess, when it meets the incoming ironclad as it enters Wellington Harbour.

A decision in connection with the proposed cottage hospital for the county, of Rodney was come to last night, when the Hospital Board decided to give effect to the recommendation of the InspectorGeneral Hospitals (Dr Valintine) to establish a cottage at Warkworth, to be used as a centre for the activities of a district nurae, tihe said cottage to have a email room for emergency accident cases and another for emergency maternity caeos. An amendment moved by Mr Nerhcny, and seconded by Mr Rutherford, to defer the matter until • after the election of the new Board was defeated.

An. unusual visitant to Kingston, on Lake Wakatipu, during the Easter holidays, was a penguin, ■which was quite unwittingly shot.at and killed t>y a local marksman. Where this solitary representative of the Polar regions had actually come from or how it came to be there remains a mystery, and up to the present no feasible solution of its strange appearance -has ibeen propounded. -

At the Magistrate's Court, Papakura, yesterday, before Mr. Fraser, S&L, George Grant (driver) and J. H. Carter (owner) were fined 20/ and 7/ costs, and 40/ and 12/ costs each, respectively, for working and causing to be worked two horses with core shoulders. Mr. Alder, inspector for the S.P.C.A., appeared for the Society.

One boarder in a Wellington hotel had an almqst providential escape from death during last Friday nighi'e storm. He was lying on his bed, which, .was placed directly foine&th a skylight, -when, -without any -warning, an earthenware chim-ney-pot crashed through the skylight, and fell on to the. ted, only inches away from the man, who was slightly cut by tho shower of shattered glass which fell upon him.

A piece of ox-hide as large as a, man's hand is worth 1/. This is not romance. A Dunedin firm of auctioneers obtained at auction 12d. per lb. for a hide ■weighing 86ib. gross. This is easily a record, and likely to stand for a time.

The shadows of coming event 3 crept into "the Hospital Board room last night, and more than once during the meeting members suggested that the approaching election had called them forth. . So diverting were the proceedings that a few minutes after the city clocks had struck the hour of ten (the regulation time-.for meetings to close) it was realised that an extension of time had not.been moved for, and so the meeting /.terminated abruptly. Prior to thie returns had been submitted in response to a previous motion by Mr. P. M. Mackay, showing the coet of the resident- manager's house to have been £852 10/, and the amount spent on the hospital grounds during the year to have been £767 3/11, ac compared with £680 16/7 for the previous year. Messrs.. Ooyle and Mackay questioned whether the expenditures had been fully authorised'by the Board, which caused the chairman (Mr. H. Schofield) and Messrs. Potter, Nerheny and Rutherford to commend the work of the manager, the chairman remarking that the grounds had never looked better than at present. Mr. Potter, as a member of the Finance Committee, stated that the total expenditure during the year was £25,000, which wae a saving of £50, as compared with! the previous year, and this in spite of an increase of £1,110 for provisions and wages. "We have actually sa-ved £50, and have the improved condition of the grounds thrown in," he remarked, juet ai3 the meeting was abruptly adjourned. jSi! gentleman in Auckland has received a letter from America, asking particulars regarding " a great earthquake that occufa-ed on Wellington on the 26th of February last," his reason for writing being that he had a brother in " the afflicted city." The writer enclosed a cutting from an American newspaper with a ;l 'big double-column heading:— " Many Injured in (Great New Zealand Earthquake." The Teport is dated Wellington; N.Z., Feb. 2Mh, And reads as follows:—"With a report as of artillery discharged, a heavy earthquake shook tin's city to-day, terrorising inhabitants, shaking down chimneys and damaging many houses. Nobody was killed, though, many were cut "by falling bricks from the toppled chimneys. The shock was toe severest ever feVt in New Zealand." iK v ■■■■

According to a Wellington paper satisfaction is expressed by ships' ofßcers, emigrants, and all concerned, with the Immigration Department's,new method of .dealing with assisted arrivals. Each immigrant, on- passing the health:officer, is -handed a letter containing specific information with regard to employment, means of reaching destination, etc. For most new arrivals this- letter contains all the information desired, but any person yis-hing to know more can apply to the immigration officer or at the office of-the Department. Needless to say, this method is'more expeditious than the old form of personal interview. Of the last ioat-load only two immigrants sought;further information. Eight came in from a previous vessel, but it was found that their visit was in the nature of a social call. They had seen the name of the office, and just "dropped, in." .

A big gang of men is at work on the Dominion Road tramway duplication from View Road to Herbert Hoad, a distance of 51$ chains, the; contractors being John McLean and' Sons. The work is being.carried out under the personal supervision of Mr. 'Murdoch T&cLean, , and is being pushed forward vigorously to take full advantage -of the fine wea-; ther. The roadway, is" in parts almost solid'stone, and deal of "blastinghas to be done,- but Mrl McLean expects to complete the. contract in about two months. The duplication of the tramline over this section will save a good' deal of time, as the single track oh such, a busy section' hae for some time pae't' caused a gqod deal of delay, and made it-difficult for cars' to keep np : to their time-table.. The duplication' of the remaining part of the Dominion Road tramline will-be deferred until the railway bridge ifi widened.

A boy named Stanley Winger had a perilous experience yesterday in Winger and Smith'e mill at Taumarunui. The boy was adjusting a pulley on a rapidlyrevolving shaft, when it caught in his shirt and whirled: him-: round, causing him to be very much cut and bruisedAlthougb the ' engine-driver promptty shut off eteam, the machinery did not stop until a benehman, with- great presence-of myid, thrust-a log into the circular saw.' The youth, when cut away from. the shaft,' appeared to have sustained no. serious injury. Had he struck any obstacle while- being whirled round,vrhe would- probably have been killed.' ..:' . '■

An inquest on the 'body of an unknown man, which was found in the harbour yesterday morning, was -held by the Coroner (■Mγ. T. Gresham) this morning. Dr. James Moir, who had made an examination of the body, stated that it ■was that of a, man aged about 40, fairly well nourished, and bore no marks of violencel The body had apparently 'been in the water not more' than ten days, and the advanced state of decomposition prevented him from determining the cause of death. Constable Bruton:sta.ted that, in! consequence of information received,! he .went out in a row-boat and found.the body floating face downward in the fairway between Ponsonby and Northcote. The deceased -was clean-shaven, and wore an old suit of bla-ek cloth, hrown canvas shoes, and a soft collar and green tie. There was no name marked on any of the garments. Sergeant' Cowan, who represented the police, saidi that the body had not so far 'been iden-. tified, and at present no one had been reported to the Auckland police as missing. The jury rctiirned an Open verdict. ■

Mr. A. Ross, Town Clerk of the.Mount Wellington Road Board, and the Town •Clerk of the Tama'ki West Koad Board are convening a meeting, to be held shortly, t° consider the of a candidate to represent their-districts on the Auckland Harbour Board.

A missionary meeting in :»»inection with the Melancsian Mission will be held in the Town Hall to-morrow night, at S pjn. Addresses will 'be given by his Slxpellency the Governor and by the Bishops of Auckland and Melanesia, and come of the missionaries will also speak. The Southeim'Crpss will sail shortly for : tbe islands, carrying 10 missionaries for the work.

'During the March quarter the Customs revenue collected at Wellington' amounted to £256,229, as against £232,----082 for the corresponding period of last 'year. The beer duty receipts for tie quarter -were £3.562, an increase of £866 on the eam-6 period of 1912.

A further extension of time, until April 30, has been given to the Public Trust Canrmiflfiion, which, wee appointed test cession to report upon the methode and the working of the Public Trust Office,-and to eubmit any recoanmenda■tione for the improvement of its conduct.

•A jnase meeting under the' auspices of. the Melan-esian Mission wilj be held in the Town -Hall to-morrow night, and will ibe addressed by .the Bishop of Melanesia, Archdeacon Uthwatt, and others. Hie Excellency the Governor will be present. , ■

The construction by the Devonport Borough Council of a tea kk*Jc on Cheltenham Beach is a subject that can hardly be introduced into the deliberations of the Council without disturbing the harmony of the proceedings. The Council is divided on the question, and although generally there is now a- • tendency to bow to the decision of the majority; and to refrain from comment concerning the kiosk, Councillor John Allen still remains an uncompromising opponent of the venture. Last night he entered a .formal protest against the encroachment on the beach by the breastwork in front of the kiosk, and demanded that it be removed. The whole thing was illegal, he insisted, and quite apart from that it ,was universally condemned as being calculated to spoil the whole contour of the beach. He asked, also, if the Council proposed to leave the stumps of trees lying on the beach where, they had been' thrown out from the kio3k site. Several other councillors expressed surprise and some misgiving that the kiosk should have been builfc so far out on to the beach. They had not, they explained, understood that it would be so far on to the sand as to require a breastwork to enable people to get past at high tide. Marriage by registrar is quite a simple matter, but the ibridegroom is possibly a person to be excused for bungling the simplest of things- Just how strange a man's behaviour can be. however, on such an occasion, ie proved by many an amusing experience in the Registrar's office. For instance, "Length of residence" is one of the printed questions which the intending bridegroom, hue to answer. The written a newer given the other day at the Auckland Registrar's office, quitp upset the serenity o.f the staff, for the reply given was, "50ft. by • 30ft." The Education Board this morning received and referred to the inspectors for consideration certain suggestions submitted by the Teachers' institute, with the idea of opening up more equitably the avenues of promotion for teachers who have suffered a lon<* period of service in the baekWocks. Wh.at the teachers pro- : pose is that. prospective regulations be j framed to make country service in some 5 form or other an essential qualification ■ for certain of the more important posi-; : tious near town. V As the result of friendly negotiations in the Conciliation Council yesterday, the wages of workers in the fish-curing industry. were fix6d at a satisfactory compromise of. £2-10/ per week for curers, and £2 15/ for smokers. Overtime will.be allowed at the rate of time and,a-half up to midnight, and on liolidays>- and-double titne after: that hour, and "on Sundays. Fifty hours will con-\ stitute a week's work," as hitherto. ~ V Another important advance, in the,; conquest of Auckland city by. the motor car was marked by an incident in the Police Court this morning, when a lady was fined 10/ • and costs" for 'driving a motor car' round the corner of Queen and Victoria Streets, at more ' than a , walking pace. The lady w-hb has thus achieved the distinction of.being-officially .'■;..' the first,motoriste.to •break the speed ■'};' limits-of the city by-laws, took the corner ..-of Victoria Street West at some-, ..- things like twelve'mile3 an hour. • :. CreSitors in the fcankrupt- estate .of T, Archibald jCrawJcwd, a Hamo farmer,:'., who" speculS'tedy without success in land Vdeals in various part's of-Auckland oro- ~-XJi. vince, yesterday decided to : leav». the pr,S assets in the Bands o£ the Assigriec for. ;>i sale to the test advantage. . .vfe '& meeting, of the proprietors of/, licensed hotels in the_eity ,arid suburbs ';■■ of Auckland will "be held in the Chamber f f , of Commerce o,n Friday, .the '4th "nist.," ' to arrange for proposed tariff inconnee- '• tion with visitors to the "exhibition. Local-bodice' contribufciane'to the Dis-.'-..',' trict Hospital vrefe £4,59 iin arrears "at ~ v the beginning of last month, but now the amount outstanding has been reduced to £1,795. The Hospital Board reviewed •:•■: : the list of tardy local 'bodies -at its • meeting last .night.