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Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 83, 8 April 1913, Page 4

The following is Mr. D. 0. Bates' weather forecast for 24 hours from 9 a.ni. this day:—"There are indications for south-easterly winds, strong to gale, decreasing, and veering by east to north. Weather probably cool and changeable. Night probably very cold, with frosts inland. Barometer has a rising tendency, but falling after about 16 hours. Seas moderate, but with increasing tendency. Tides inercu.i.g.'' A large number of cases were set down for hearing at the Magistrate's Court this morning, the total being 170. 'Jt this number there were many adjournments for various reasons stated, ot!ier3 were settled out of Court, and -lerences were filed in no less than 27 cases. Typhoid is reported to have again broken out among the Maoris at Te Hoe. one case having been diagnosed for certain. It will be remembered that some months ago typhoid was epidemic at that settlement. As usual when there has been prolonged dry weather, typhoid has appeared in various parts of the district, but it is to be hoped that the present cold snap will put an end to any further spread of this disease. Typhoid has been more prevalent than usual this season in the Maori kainga at Waahi. Two cases were sent this week to the Waikato Hospital, at Hamilton. Another native is confined to his bed, and several others arc said to be walking about who should be undergoing treatment. Some amusement was caused at a meeting of the Whangarei Acclimatisation Society on Saturday night by Mr. H. F. Friedricks asserting that just -prior to the opening of last shooting season a number of pheasants were shot in the Wairua district and supplied for a Masonic banquet that was held in Whangarei. He further asserted that a Whangarei policeman got one of the pheasants from the oven where they were cooked. Another member announced that he had attended the banquet, and he explained, amid laughter, that the only game on the menu was the ordinary domestic fowl. Mr. Friedricks was requested to make a definite statement, but he declined to do so. and the incident closed. Although rural labourers are iv de-' manu. in various parts of the Dominion, in others they are not too highly paid. A farm labourer, who has " encumbrances " and owned to having a wife and six children, stated in the Stratford Court that his wages were 31/ a week, i with house rent free. He remarked that ho could not keep a young family on these wages, and the four judgments obtained against him certainly bore out this contention. The Magistrate commented ou the low wages, and said that in the Hawera Court, girl witnesses, who were good milkers, stated that they were paid as much as 35/ a week and found. A laugh is riot a eustomarv interlude m the civil business at the Magistrate's Court, but a real hearty outburst took place this morning. A* solicitor asked that a case be adjourned, and when the reason was inquired, gave the reply that his client appeared to be lost trii.ee of| in the bush, and he had not been able to get into touch with him. The solicitor for the other side dryly remarked: "This man is said to be a cook. He nearly poisoned' a whole camp, and he very wisely is keeping-out of the way." "When the laugh had subsided, it was announced that the man had been sitting in the Court tbe whole time, which resulted in more laughter. Two 'belated week-end -parties, whose absence had begun to cause their friends grave anxiety, reported themselves all well last evening. The yacht Venture returned to port with two brothers named McLean, after a trip to Drunken Bay which was affected by rough weather. . A launch containing Messrs. I Speer, J. Thompson, P. Levy, and B. and J. Fitzwilliams, also came back safely. It appears that they landed at Whitf ord on Saturday for some shooting, arid on returning to the launch next day found that it was stuck in the mud. The engine became affected, and, notwithstanding a loan of some oil from a passing launch, their boat could not he got under way. Mr. Speer was rowed ashore yesterday morning, and he came back to the city 'by 'bus, sending another launch down to the assistance of his friends. As an instance of long-distance wireless work, the' communications during 'her present trip south between the .Zealandia. and the Marconi station at Tii- ; angle Island, on the North of Vancouver Island, are interesting. The station at Triangle Island is only a two-kilowatt station, yet the Zealandia was in touch with it up to a range of 3,090 miles distant, that is to say, until she was over GOO miles this side of Honolulu. The Lower Hutt Borough Council oxo adopting strenuous means to cope with the peril caused 'by reckless motoring. They have now arranged to place motor "traps" at various intervals along their portion of the main road. Certain points will be selected, the distance measured off, and telephone communication established between the "traps," which will be in charge of a man with a stop waltch. •Fourteen years is a considerable time to allow to elapse before seeking to recover a debt. A case was called at the Magistrate's Court this morning in which Mr. C. C. Kettle remarked that tbe statute of limitation was set up as .a defence. The. defendant came forward and •remarked he would rather take the general defence, adding that if it could be proved he owed the money he was prepared to pay it, but he 'believed that the amount had been paid 14 years ago. Tlie matter was then passed to the list of defended cases. When the steamer.Ruahine, owing to an unusually heavy sea, causing all her lines to break, suddenly haa to put to sea, at Timaru, she carried out several guests who were dining on hoard. It was important that they should communicate with their family, so they sent a wireless message to Wellington, and Wellington telegraphed it back to Timaru. A policeman the other night rudely disturtied the entertainment of a number of young fellows who were busily engaged bombarding with stones 'the roof of the Grafton drill-shed, in Eden Road, while drill was proceeding inside the ■hall. There were about a score of. unauthorised 'bombardiers, and the policeman captured three of them, who came before the Magistrate at the Juvenile Court this morning, and were fined each 10/ and 7/ costs.

When the Studholme Estate wia» broken up some 16 or 17 years ago, one settler purchased hi 3 holding at £11 •per -acre; £43 per acre was refused for. •this same land just a few days ago. It is. admitted that the property now carries a good deal of improvements, but, counting these in, the land has more than trebled its value in les3 than a score of years. The above furnishes a striking example of the unearned incre--1 ment of land.

One of the heaviest losses through the recent floods in Southland was that of a settler who had 107 acres of wheat, which was considered the best in the western district. This has been entirely destroyed. The loss is estimated at £1,000. Quite a number of sheaves '.fere gathered hy the fishermen on tlie Riverton beach by means of a long pole with a hook attached. A speculative Chinaman guaranteed to buy what was recovered at so much per sheaf.

It is risky to indulge in the luxury of a lawcase without having any cash. An illustration occurred this morning during the civil husiness at the Magistrate's Court. A woman appeared to defend a debt .case, but had not the fee. Mr. C. C. Kettle decided to go on with the case, and was about to give judgment when it was announced that the plaintiff hadn't any cash wherewith to pay his fee. Under the circumstances his Worship advised a meeting' for settlement, judgment to be given if the fee was paid.

Until Mr. E. E. Canham, president of the Waterside Workers' Union, returns from Warkworth, where he has gone to make inquiries, there is not likely to be any development in the industrial trouble, particulars of which were published yesterday. That there has been a slackness in the cement trade generally, however, and a consequent paying off of hands, was a statement endorsed 'by the manager of the Portland Cement Company (Mr. Vickerman) this morning. The manager of Wilson's Portland Cement Company yesterday stated that because of the falling off in trade only one rotary kiln had been working, instead of three, as ordinarily. This morning Mr. Vickerman 6tated to a "Star" representative that during the past three months there had been a general slackness in trade, and one of the company's rotaries had not been working during that time, with the result that the services of 30 men had had to be dispensed with. Slackness of business and over-production, in fact, at present applied to the cement trade generally. Improved machinery had greatly facilitated the production of cement, and the, position for some months past had been tliat the supply greatly exceeded the demand. The falling off in the building trade had. had its bearing on the market, arid the curtailing of contracts for the Otira tunnel and general cessation of the Public Works Department's hig building schemes had assisted in. bringing about the -present position in regard to the cement trade.

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