Untitled

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 155, 1 July 1913, Page 4

The follo'/inj i= Mr. t>. C. Bi.tc-' weather forecast for 24 hours from !l a.m. this dny:—"Expect freshening northerly winds. strong to gale. The weather will probably prove thick and fo.sjry. and much rain is to be expected. Barometer falling. Tides and sea increasing on the OOJ^t." The insurance of menfliers of the Greenlane J-ire Brifride against accident while on duty is a matter cm which the Reimicra. and One-tree Hill Road Boards, who control the hripide. have not yet come to an agreement. Pome lime apo the Remucra Hoard took the stop or insuring a!l the members, of tlie brigade, and then applied to the One-tree Hill Board for a refund of half the cn?t. A reply was received at the Hoard's meeting la.~t night. in which One-tree Hill denieu any liability in the matter. Members appeared to feel that as the firemen received so much an hour for their attendance at fires the Board might be liable in case of accident. It was proposed that as the cost was small, Rerjuera should bear the whole of it. but one member objected to this "on principle." and finally ft was decided to insure the brigade only against accidents t-hat might happen in Remuera territory. the insurance company to bo asked to refund half the premium paid. In comparison with last year, -svork is more plentiful in VVanganui this winter, and taking :■•!! into consideration there are net many unemployed in. the town. So far theie have been no caeee of hardship reptWJ. nnd prospects for the remainder of :hc yur seem bright.

I An inquest was held before Mr E. C. Cut-ten yesterday afternoon into the circumstances connected with the death of Wesley Reading Beer, aged 12 weeks. the infant son of Mr Albert Beer, of (lonbern Road. Remuera. The evidence indicated that on Friday afternoon Mrs Beer left the child in a perambulator outside the house with two other children. Later she heard cries, and on going outside found the perambulator on its side and the baby on the ground. The two other children said that they had touched the perambulator and that it had run down the -hill and upset. The infant did not appear to be ill until next day, when Dr E. Williams was called in. The child died on Sunday. The medical evidence showed that death was due to concussion of the brain, and a verdict of accidental death was returned.

Mr AY. Earnshaw's advancement to the Legislative Council brings to mind an incident in his career that, so far as we know, has not till now got into print. At South Dnnedin he was speaking as a candidate. He was obviously nervous. The two .reporters working immediately beneath him saw him sway about on the edge of the platform, and feared that he might pitch headlong upon them. A Labour man began to heckle and interrupt, and .Mr Earnshaw grew more unsteady. Suddenly he stopped, in a faint, and had to be helped to the side room. The reporters rushed to his aid. One took a glass of water, and when partially revived he said. "It's no use—T'll give it up." "Don't you," said the scribes. "Go back and lash out and give your answers." ".So I will," replied the candidate. He returned to the platform a new man. lashed out at his questioners, and finished up determinedly. That was the beginning of Mr Earnshaw's political life. Further particulars concerning tbe death at Inglewood of the little child named Ellen James are to the effect that the girl was left in front of a lighted stove while her mother went out to get firewood. No sooner had Mrs Jajiies left the room than screams caused her to return, and she found the child ablaze. She did her best to smr-iher the flames, eventually putting the little one under the tap. A snd feature of the -fatality is -that this is the second child that the parents have lost. Mrs James stating ot the inquest that another of I her chflo-en had died as the result of scalding, tho little one having upset a saucepan over herself. The medical evidence showed that the present case was hopeless from the first, owing to extensive burns on every part of the body. A verdict of accidental death was returned.

A smart piece of worK was carried out by the railway officials in Miristchureli. with the assistance of the police, by which some stolen luggage was quickly traced. A man who arrived in Christehureh during the morning by the ferrybo.it deposited his luggage in the leftluggage office, intending to come south by the second express. Shortly before the train's departure, he discovered that he had lost his luggage ticket, and on going to the olfice lie found that his luggage had gone, having been taken evidently by the person who hau lound the ticket. The officials immediately communicated with the constable at Rukaia. who boarded the express on its arrival at that station. During the journey of the train from Rakaia to Ashburton. the constable made a search through tbe train, and eventually found the luggage — a. suitcase and a portmanteau—under a seat of a second-class carriage. He inquired for the owner, but without success., The value of the luggage was estimated by the owner at about £35.

The flag at the office of the Canadian Trade Commissioner (.Mr. W. A. Beddoe) was Hying to-day in commemoration of the 4-fitlt birthday of the Dominion. The confederation of the Dominion occurred on July Ist, ISC7. Of the fathers of the confederation there is only one living— Sir Charles Tuppcr, who was born in 1812, and is now 92 years of age. That .Sir Charles Tripper is still hale and hearty is evidenced by the fact that a week or two ago he sailed from Montreal for London, lie was a former Prime .Minister for Canada, ami bis present home is at Vancouver. His son. Sir Charles Hibbert Tuppcr. was formerly a member of Sir John McDonald's Cabinet.

It may b3 news to some of our readers that the dogfish is now used as food in England. A Dunedin resident who paid a visit to tjie Old Country in the early part of the year, says that at least 103 boats run out of Plymouth to take dogfish with hook and line, and between their takings and the hauls of the trawlers vast quantities of dogfish get to London and other cities, anil there find their way to the fried fish shops. Before leaving the seaside the dogfish is beheaded and skinned, and, thus made unrecognisable, he passes to the consumer under all sorts of names. Were it not for this supply the shops eoubl not be kept, going. The common belief out here is that the English waters are stiff .with fish. This is quite a mistake. The dealers assured him that they couid place ten times as much fish of the common edible species as the trawlers bring to market at ordinary times. A sling of railway iron caused some damage to the decking of the Queen's wharf, Wellington, on Saturday. The sling was being landed from the Xcw Zealand Shipping Company's Remuera, when the iron slipped out of the chains and crashed through rhe planking into the harbour. The result was a large gaping hole in the wharf.

I A medical gentleman who returned to i Sydney from Norfolk Island stated that a good deal of dissatisfaction prevails there. '• The Island is a Crown colony.'' he said, "tut the way the Government has spoon-fed it has never enabled it to progress, and the people are at a standstill. Of course, their natural market is New Zealand, 000 miles away, hue they have no means of getting produce away. Many of them are so disheartened that j they are trying to gel to Queensland to I take up land; others arc going to the | New Hebrides, and some have gone to l the Solomons. Only up to 25 acres can 'j lie leased, and for a'period of 2S years. j There is -an immense amount of red-tape . attached to land transactions. The only I way they consider it-would he possible ■to help them is for the island to be ; brought under the Commonwealth, or for the authorities to purc.ha.se, or charter, an auxiliary oil schooner to ran between Norfolk Island and Auckland. Two trips a month could be done, and the people j all agree it would be the making of the j island. The vessel would take all their produce, and probably snch a boat would get a subsidy for carrying mails. There j should be a good passenger and tourist traffic. All they want is 18 months' notice for planting purposes. If the j authorities will promise the service the , people will guarantee that from the | start there will be no lo3s. They reckon a Gehooner of fiO or SO -cons would cost ; between £2.000 and £2.500. the expenses of running from £1.200 to £1.500 a year, and the profite £50 a month. | Many of *he people wish to come under j the Commonwealth, though many have I sympathies with New Zealand.

The Mount Eden BoTough Council last night considered .the report presented by the Engineer respecting the drainage of the clay area of the borough, and approved the drainage of the district contained lin zones 1, 2, 3. and -I of the report. This district is practically the clay area lying on each side of Dominion Road. It was arranged that the Engineer and the Mayor should confer with the District I Health Officer, and report later to the Council. So far very little has been done in the direction of making the mining court a featUTe of the forthcoming Exhibition. It is, however, recognised by those who have the interests of the gold-mining industry at heart, that it would be a disgrace to Auckland if there is not a good show in the court. The [Mines Committee has, therefore, convened a meeting of directors of gold mining companies for this evening at the Chamber of Commerce to confer upon the best steps to be taken to ensure a good exhibit. It is especially the desire of -the Committee that secretaries of mining companies should attend, as their experience will be of much value. "

General lan Hamilton, who is to visit the Dominion early next year, will inspect and report upon the whole of the military forces of New Zealand. There aTP, says the Minister for Defence, some special questions that he wants General Hamilton to consider, but these cannot be disclosed at present. The Dominion will get the benefit of the General's advice. 'He will tell the authorities howfar the training is effective, and give an unbiassed and independent opinion as Inspector-General for the whole overseas forces, regarding the progress made, together -with hints; for the future. General Hamilton will report to the British Government as well os to the New Zealand Ctovorn-ment. He will remain in the Dominion about three weeks or a month.

There were 1.3(1 marriages during the month of -lune. 27 of these being contracted before the Registrar. Of the total number of S2S marriages for the first six months of this year. 174 have been undertaken before the Registrar. In June of.last year there were 124 marriages, and -the tot.il for the six months was 817. In the first six months of last year there were 580 deaths, but this total has been exceeded by 120 for the first six months of the 'present year. Then- were 109 deaths during June,"only two more than for June of last year. The 244 births registered in Auckland during .Tune was only six less than the number lor the corresponding month of last .year. So far, this year there have been 1,010 births, a.s against 1.510 for the first six months of last year. The dark cloud which has been hanging over trade on the West Coast for some months—namely, the aftermath of labour troubles last year—is gradually passing away, says a Grevmouth correspondent. A noticeable improvement in the general condition is being felt all round. The steady development and employment afforded at Reef ton, Blackwater, and the various coal mines since February is surely making itself felt, and, although iheTe is room for several hundred more mc„ at the mines, the active operations now being conducted should, before the year is out. bring fte district back to its former prosperous condition. The results now being obtained at the Blackwater mines, together with the opening of the Millerton Company's mine in the same locality, the development of the locality of the Hockstetter auriferous field at Abaura, in virgin country, for sluicing, with tbe employment for a considenvble number of men, the sure and steady work being done at Blackball, Paparoa, and the new State mine—all these portend for the advancement of the district.

A visitor from a certain Southern mining district tells a story illustrative of how increases in wages gained by the workers are "passed on," with considerable additions, to the general public. The men employed in certain mines obtained per medium of an "award," a rise of one penny per ton in the hewing rate. Forthwith the mine-owners circularised the merchants who took the product of their pits, to the effect that, in consequence of the increase in the cost of production, they were compelled to advance the price of coal by one and sixpence a ton. The merchants, in turn, informed the dealers that they were obliged, on account of the increased burden which had been laid upon the mining industry by the award. to raise their prices by .three shillings a ton. The dealers, for their part, promptly informed householders that the exactions of Labour forced them to ! charge six shillings per ton more than they had previously demanded.

It is an ill-wind that blows nobody any good. The recent fierce storm at Hokitika removed the surface from large stretches of beach, and left exposed the black sand, which is nearly always goldbearing. Regardless of the heavy rain and the wild gale which had been blowing all day, parties of men were, at work on the beach skimming off the black sand and carting it out of the reach of the waves. "So quickly does the beach formation change .that the next tide may bury tbe black sand with several feet of ordinary sand. Among tile Clydesdales recently purchased for export to New- Zealand l writes a London correspondent) is Mr. William Moiklorn's big two-year-old Fifeshirc colt, Boquhan Kennedy, which has been bought by the Ciutha, Horsebreeding Company. This colt was brod hy IMr. Stephen Mitchell, and was got by Apukwa-,.sire of many champions, out of Beatrice In the hands of bis Fife owner he h,as been a well-known prizewinner. -*

An endeavour is being made by Mr. A. Harris, M.S., to have the distance for the free deV.very of telegrams from the Takapuna post office extended from one mile to two miles. The Postmaster-Gen-eral has promised to give the matter careful consideration.

speaking to one of the leading school teachers ol Southland, a reporter was informed I hat during the past twelve years no more than one town boy. so far as his recollection served, had been dux of the Southland High School, all the o'hers having been lads from the country. The annual meetinj of tho Auckland District Institute of the New Zealand Educational Institute takes place on Friday. Included iv the notices of motion is the following:— "That this Institute urges the department, in the interests of religious liberty and true patriotism to rescind .the regulation which declares that it will consider unsatisfactory the conduct of any boy holding a scholarship, or a free place, who docs not conform to the Defence Regulations." No appl'cations were received by \he Taranaki Commissioner of Lands for the 11 sections, totalling 12.334 acres, in the Raoraomouku Block, which was offered tor selection for cash, occupation with right oi purha.se. or renewable | Pa6o The land .s situated five to twelve miles irom a landmg on the Wanganui River about nine miles from Pipiriki and 31 miles from Whangamomona township.

The number of undefended sases to "be dealt with at the Magistrate' Court each Tuesday morning has been increasing much of late., and to-day i list of 220 cases was gone through. In remarking on the increases' vwirnie of business, Mr. Kpttlc, S.M., lemarled that be was quite prepared to sit at 9.30 on Tuesday mornings imstead of ct 10.15, in order to finish the list earlier. He hoped that the Law Society world consider the proposal. Dr. H. D. 3uuiford said that he woulu bring the matter before the council of the Law Society, though the proposal was open t> objection that au early start would lot give solicitors so much -time to go through their correspondency before coining to Court. What might be described as aa example of rapid finance was mentioned at the last meeting of the Oamaru Harbour Board. It was in collection with the repayment of. loan moieys. The sum of £82,000, balance of tin loan from the Australian Mutual Provdent Society, required in connection wiH the liquidation of the 18S3 and 18S7 ioa_s, was paid to the Commercial Bankinp Company at Sydney as agents for the Kational Bank, transmitted to Oamaru, and the amount required to repay the bonds held in England sent from Oamaru to london all in one day. The Wanganui Spiral ('omiany's building had a narrow escape from destruction by fire a few days ago. It appears that a 3,000 gal boiler filled with Ttinidad—a mixture >of tar and pitch—used for coating the pipes, had overflowed au\ caught fire. The difficulty of suppressing the fire was considerable, but beyond the loss of materia] and the partial destrucvion of the building, very little damage wai occasioned.

The new brick school at Palme-ston North, built to accommodate about 200 pupils, is to be opened by the Hon. James Allen. Minister of Kducatiua, A number of members of the Educn tlfrn Board and members of their families will be present, a-nd a representative gathering is ajitic'pated. The school is situated in five acres of. ground. While staying at the Shamrock Hotel, a visitor from Taumarunui, named W. ■Stimpson, had the misfortune .to fall down the steps on Friday. Ho was picked up in an unconscious condition, and was attended to by Dr. Milson. Ht3 condition became so bad that he was sent to the 'Hospital, where it was found that the unfortunate man was suffering from injury to the brain. His condition is regarded as serious. The French warship Kcrsaint arrived at Suva, Fiji, on June 14 from Wallis Island, under command of Captain Rogue. She was on her way to Noumea, and carried 64, Samoan passengers. Pror fessor Cailloux. a French archeaologist, who is carrying on research work in Polynesia -was also on board. 'An American paper publishes a photo of Pelcrruß Jack, with the follorwing delightfully inaccurate geographical description: "His piloting stretch is the French Pass, which is the narrowest channel of the Straits between New Zealand and Tasmania. The Pass is just under two miles long." Ladies' tweed coats, 7/6, 12/6, 15/C----blanket coats, 24/6; raincoats, 14/11*, 16/11; maids' tweed coats, 4/11, 5/11. Open Wednesday till 0 p.m.—Bridgman" and Bridgman's Sale.—(Ad.) Smith and Caughey's Great Winter FAIR now proceeding.—(Ad.) Gent.'s macs. 10/6, 24/6; raincoats, 22/6; Overcoats, 23/6; oilcoate, 8/11, 11/6; tweed suits, 23/6; boxed suits, 39/6, 45/; tweed trousers. 3/11, 4/11>, 6/6: boys' oilcoats. 7/11, 8/11. All goods reduced. Open till 6 p.m. Wednesday. t Bridgman and Bridgman's sale.—(Ad.) /