NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10053, 3 June 1898, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Mr R. Moore, M.H.R., it is expected will address the Kaiapoi electors on Monday evening next. The civil sittings of the Supreme Court open on Monday next, but so far there are but few cases for hearing. Captain Edwin reported from Wellington yesterday that the barometer will be low in the south on the 6th or 7th inst., and that northerly gales are probable in most places south of Napier and New Plymouth between midnight on the sth and noon on the 7th instant. I A party of tin kettlera who visited a newly married couple near Rangiora are to be called on to explain, before the Magistrate, how the custom originated and what good object it serves. Additions are to be made to - the Benevolent Home in Ohiro road, Wellington, at a cost of £1500, which will be met out of the sum bequeathed to the home by the late Mr Walter Turnbull. Swaggers are said to be again presenting themselves in numbers at the various stations in the Wairarapa district; and show their gratitude for the shelter and food afforded them in various ways. One settler informs a Wairarapa paper that although he invariably places a comfortable whare at the disposal of these travellers several articles of clothing. have been recently missed with their departure, and he intends to keep a strict eye upon their actions in future. For a considerable time Mr J. H. Mander, of 30 St. Asaph street, has been engaged in perfecting a machine for facilitating the work of voting at elections by ballot. He has now completed his invention, and claims that it has many advantages over the present system. All that an elector who wishes to vote has to do is to press a knob and the machine does the rest. During the polling the machine is locked and the key kept by the returning officer in charge, and immediately upon the close of the poll two slides passing over the front of the machine are opened and the result of the poll is disclosed at a glance. Mr Mander claims that this machine would make the ballot absolutely secret, as no voting papers are required. A regulating bar is affixed to the machine to regulate the number of votes allowed to each elector. The machine has been built by Messrs A. Smith and Son, electricians, High street. A company has been floated to place the invention on the market.

The bankruptcies in the colony last week were-'reduced to seven—two butchers, a baker, a blacksmith, a saddler, a farmer, and one not described. A new feature iv connection with the Government railway service has come into operation in Wellington, viz., a special delivery of all parcels up to lcwb. i The Wellington cabmen object to the proposal that the number of each vehicle should be painted upon its lamps, and have sent a deputation to the City Couacil on the subject. Captain Marciel, the hou. secretary of the Navy League, has received a book entitled " The Rise of British Naval Power," by the hon. secretary of the British branch of the Navy League. Captain Marciel will be pleased to show it at his office to anyone interested. Mr P. Curtis, postmaster, Lyltolton, and Mr J. A. Hutton, postmaster, Oamaru, are appointed transmitting and receiving officers under the Electric Lines Act, when certifi, cates as to the sending of official telegrams may be required. At the monthly meeting of the committee of the Southbrook school, Mr Beer resigned the chairmanship and his seat on the com* mittee, and Mr T. J. Withers was elected I chairman and Mr Dyson to fill the vacated f seat. The master's report showed an average I attendance of 137, the cutnbor on the roll I being 171. The attendance had been affected \ by potato picking. I A movemeiiD is on foot for the establish* ment of technical and manual classes in Amberley. At a meeting in the Amberley schoolroom on Wednesday evening, when representatives wore present from Amberley, Balcairn, Brooinfield and Dal beg, it was decided to call a public meeting for Wednesday < next, at 8 p.m., in the Amberley school. , [ room, for the purpose of ascertaining what measure of support might be expeoted towards the establishment of cooking and sewing classes. In the course of the hearing of the Selton arson case his Honour Mr Justice Denvriston commented favourably on the fact that though thirteen witnesses had been ex- j amined they were able to get through the case in about three hours. This very desirable result was due to the fact that the privilege of cross-examination was not carried to such an extent as was the o&ae with respect to other matters investigated before the Court. In the last list of inventions and patents complete specifications have been received from Mr J. Hardcastlo, journalist, Timaru, apparatus for charging reservoir pens; and provisional specifications from Mr D. McLennan, litho-draughtsman, Sydenham, and Mr A. Beardsley, bootmaker, Christchurch, an envelope; Pulsator Milking Machine Company, Christchurch, puleator milking machines and teat cups for same;' Mr F. Burnett, engineer, Christchurch, ploughs ; Mr A. Dudley Dobson, engineer, Christchuroh, pasteuriser, or heater for milk or other liquids; Mr W. R. S. Smith, builder, Kaiapoi, circular frame for holding cycles; Mr F. R. Dennison, cycle maker, Christchurch, oycle driving gear. It was fully expected by many who sup* ported the erection of a city abattoir (says the " Otaajo Daily Times ") that there would be a small loss for the first year or two of its working, but already there are indications that the receipts from fees will about meet the interest on cost of construction. It is understood that some three or four of the butchers who signed the guarantee to the Boslyn Borough Council have now taken out licenses, and. are killing at the City abattoir. The report of Mr Snowball, the Inspector, shows that from the 7th to the 21st May 2939 large and small cattle have been killed and thoroughly examined, the fees amounting to £53 7s 9d. During the same period the carcases of three cows, one bullock, one calf and fifteen sheep were rejected. The criminal session of the Supreme _ I Court was continued yesterday, when the y case of Regina v Edwards, arson, was taken, rfj This was a case, the particulars of whioh ' have already been fully published, in whioh an unoccupied house at Sefton was burnt. The jury returned a verdict of " Guilty," and his Honour sentenoed the prisoner to two years' imprisonment. In Regina v Worrall, Palmer and Page, for breaking and entering and stealing, Worrall pleaded " Guilty," and the other two were acquitted. In Rpgina v Martin Hansen, criminal assault, the accused was convicted, and sentence was deferred. In the case of Worrall, h|s Honour sentenced the prisoner ' . to three months' imprisonment. A man was arrested by Detective Cox yesterday on a charge of having at Dunedin, on May 27th, committed the theft of tbe» ; following articles:—lß finger rings, 20 watches, 8 scarf pins, 6 brooches, 1 sewing machine, 1 gun, 9 books, 1 highland costume, 1 suit of clothes, 1 Masonic jewel, 1 electric battery, 1 umbrella, 4 white shirts, 1 gold albert, 1 revolver and case, 3 pairs of trousers, 2 goats, 1 iron trunk, 2 musio stands, 3 overcoats, 1 gun case, 1 clock, 1 watch stand, several wood carvings and 1 gold chain bangle, oE the total value of £100, the property of T. E. Shiel and others. At the adjourned special meeting of the Lyttelton Harbour Board yesterday it was resolved, in answer to a cable from the Agent-General, to offer the sum of £12,700 for the dredge Manchester. It was resolved at a former meeting to offer £12,000, bat the Agent-General oabled that the lowest price the Canal Company would take for the dredge was £12,700. lb was also decided to appoint a committee to deal with the question of the purchase of the dredge, and if they thought fit to Bend Mr Turpin to England to superintend the fitting up of the dredge. At a meeting of dairymen at the Zetland Arms Hotel last evening, to hear the report of the effect in the rise in the price of milk, Mr Burgess, who presided, said chat those who had had the matter in hand had reported that no difficulty had been experienced with the customers in obtaining 4d per quart and hardly any of the purveyors of milk had lost customers through the rise, which had now become general. After discussion, it was resolved to form a milkmen s union, to protect the interests of the trade. Mr C. Burgees was elected president, Mr J. W. Bradehaw treasurer, and the following : committee :—Mesare W. Wright, H. Simpson, J. Parsons, T. Priest, E. Harper, W. Boundy, Vogel, T. McFadden, J. Harrison, Duke, Emmett, Thornton, Palk and McGregor. The appointment of a secretary left over. The meeting adjourned for • fortnight. The Provisional Committee appointed by the various Christchurch Societies to deal with the question of neglected children met last night at the house of Sister Frances, when reports of many cases ot destitute and neglected children were received from clergymen, deaconessea, stipendiary magistrate, the truant officer ano other workera. The committee reeolveo itself into a Children's Aid Society, M* Blank to be asked to report to the Society cases of apparent neglect and destitution that come under his notice. Mrs Hende* , ' son, Mies Stella Henderson, and Mr Hoar* were appointed a sub-committee to draw op a prospectus setting forth the aims an« objects of the Society. Mrs Henderson w to act provisionally as hon. secretary, ana . Mrs Black as hon. treasurer. Mr Blank offered to receive any clothing for distribution on behalf of the society at hie houae, Fitzgerald street, North-east belt. Dr. Rentoul, of Melbourne, writes:—"l made a minute and prolonged examination of the various high grade cycles, the result , was my conviction that the ' ' u> without fear of rival, the one supremely ■ best bicycle as yet constructed. My use of it has proven this conviction true. Of bail-a-dozen high grade makes of cycles it may be eaid, it stands unique. It is the king amongst the peers, and, in addition to its . positive qualities, it has a unique, comparative claim. Unlike most English com- \* panics, the 'Oamond , Company stand loyally to the principle of building one grade only, and that the highest grade possible. Thus it avoids hanky-panky tricks of trade. Comment is unnecessary- Call and see 1898 " Osmonds "at the D.I.C. Agency. 2130 For seven days only—Shaw, Robinson and Co. are showing some wonderful bargains. Tweed dress lengths from 3s lid, velveteens from Is, blankets from 7s lid, * colonial flannel B£d, table damasks 9£d, sheetings from 9J|d, ladies and children's mackintoshes at half price, flannelettes from Iβ lid per dozen, men's Uvecd trousers from 6a lid, worth 8s 6d, colonial tweed suits 24e | 6d, knitted aox 4id, and working shirts from Iβ lid. 213 Caahel street, opposite. . .> Prims office. 2363 : ' ■- .. ■ ■' ?!

Mr T. W. Kirk, of the Department of Agricultnrc, informed the Taranaki Farmers' Club the other day that he had known tho roots of Californian thistle to extend 80ft in light soil. It is intended to bring the recommendation* of the Special Sub-committee appointed by the Industrial Association, re the jubilee celebration, before a meeting of the General Committee, to be held on Thursday evening eext. Mr A. J. Blackmore, of Napier, who has been studying at Mr Gilford'a Navigation School, Wellington, has successfully passed {us examination as mate for Home trade. With reference to the towing of the barque Helios reported recently, the Harbour Board have decided upon holding a departmental enquiry into the circumstances attending the case. Qn Wednesday Felix Brown, a boy at Sumuer State School, dislocated his elbow joint. During the dinner hour he was playing in the playground when he fell. Examination ehowed the injury, and the teachers having fcandagd the arm up, the boy was brought op to Chri-.tchurch to a doctor. The Board of Conciliation will not sit in connection with the Builders' and Contractors' Association dispute v Armstrong and others, and the painters' dispute until the l4th and 15th of June respectively, as one of the members of the Board (Mr Williams) has to go to Dunedin in connection with the bootmakers' dispute there. An ordinary meeting of the Harbour Board was held yesterday afternoon, but the business was not of great public interest. Tenders are to be called for the erection ot a small scoria building on the Cave Rock, the Beautifying Association not deeming it a disfigurement. In a Justices' Court recently a solicitor rose and addressed the representatives of the Great Unpaid on the Bench as follows:— "Your Worships, as amicus curia?." "I beg your pardon," eaid the presiding Justice, " what did you say ; your name was Michael what?" And'then, strange to say, some of the Court officials laughed. A petition was received yesterday by the Harbour Board from resident seamen in Lyttelton, asking to be placed on the same footing as to the use of the Sailors' Home as visiting sailors. The report of the Superintendent of the Home stated that if this were done there would be no room for those th« Home was intended for. The matter was referred to the Harbour Improvement Committee. The excuse offered by a 3'ountj man who was brought before an Auckland court the other day on the charge of failing to support his father, was that he was studying for the ministry, and wanted all his money to buy books necessary for his course. " I told him," said tho relieving officer, " that it was an uncalled for act for a Christian man to let his father be thus dependent on public charity." An order was made for the payment of 5s a week. It is recorded that in one of the regiments on service tho sergeant in charge of the guard whilst on duty turned out his men on the officer making his rounds, and reported ■•' All present, sir, and duly sober." Yesterday in the Supreme Court, when couusel was examining a witness as to the sobriety or otherwise of a person, tho witness said, '• Ho was duly sober," which is a eomewhat novel term here, but which has the advantage of being used in connection with military duties. ' Tho addresses by the representatives in the engineers' dispute came to a termination yesterday, and the Chairman of the Arbitration Court announced that the Court would file its decision when agreed to. The Court also at the request of the Canterbury Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiuers included Messrs J. Goes and Williams and Stephens in tho recommendations of the Conciliation Board on the last building trade dispute. There never was euch an example of utter astonishment as at. the general meeting of the Industrial Association last night. A gentleman from Temuka had- volunteered an address, which in the- innocence of their hearts the Association accepted. What, • however, wae their horror as the most advanced protectionist theories and socialistic proposals were found to be the staple features of the address, and this, too, before an association which is eminently freetrade, and decidedly non-socialistic. It was just «B well that one of the members of the Association rose and disclaimed any sympathy on the part of the Association with the opinions advanced. A meeting was held in Wellington this Week of persons interested in the frozen meat trade, for the purpose of considering the proposal to ferm a Frozen Meat Association. Resolutions were carried expressing approval of the formation of an association for Now Zealand, with its headquarters at Christchuroh, and requesting the secretary of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce to write to the headquarters of the association formed in Christehurch, stating that the meeting was willing to join such an association, but would like first to have further information as to the proposed ■cope of the association and the responsibilities of its members. Special.—lf you require a tonic take the best—Syrup of Hypophosphitea. Barnett, chemist, lib bottles 4s M, 41b 2s 6d. 2200 The "on or off in a minute" frubber mudguards for cycles, price 6s 6d pair. Oates, Lowry and Co., Zealandia Cyole Works, Chriatohurch.—[Advt.] Gifts.—£lsoo to be given away free in prizes of ladies' watches, albums, workboxes, work-baskets, &c, for Crown brand tea coupons by Hubbard, Hall and Co. Next competition closes last day of Jane (this month). THE BENEVOLENT HOME. "I would scrub the streets for anybody that would employ mc rather than go into the Home," said an old woman at the meeting of the Wellington Benevolent Trustees It was decided to allow her the alternative. DERAILING OF A TRAIN. An enquiry into the cause of the recent derailing of a train at Kankapakapa is now proceeding at Auckland. The evidence so far (says a Press Association message) is that? the accident was not due to the condition of the rolling stock. Further evidence Wil) be taken at Helensville. ADMIRAL PEARSON IN AUCKLAND. ! Admiral Pearson, accompanied by the members of the Harbour Board, was taken round the Auckland Harbour. The Calliope Dock was visited, when the Admiral said, according to a Press Association message, that he had no idea it was euch a splendid Work. i A LOYAL OFFER FROM THE 'MAORIS. The Premier has received a long letter from Tuta Nihoniho, of Waipiro Bay, on the East Coast, urging that in view of the European troubles a force of 3000 or 4000! young Maoris should be immediately raised *nd drilled. He says it is his earnest wish to lose his Uto in fighting for our Sovereign the Queen. 2ENNY-IN-THE-SLOT GAS METERS. These contrivances (says the writer of the Edinburgh letter in the " Otago Daily Times") seem to be steadily gaining favour ' in some of the smaller towns of Scotland, especially those inhabited by a working class population. At Dunfennline they are extensively in use and at Dumfries the local Gas Commission report havng collected 4cwt oqrs of coppers in three months in this way. At Coatbridge this figure was far exceeded, the last quarterly collection yielding 18cwt °f pennies. Of "this total 4cwt were returned to consumers as the difference in the present selling price of gas compared with *nat which was charged when the meters first introduced, Coatbridge being the pioneer town in Scotland in this improvement. Hitherto the amount of gas supplied for a penny has been twenty cubic feet, but the company intend to readjust their meters *> as to increase tho quantity to 28ft. The Wccees of this experiment is certain to lead to others, and not a few persons in Scotland Mc awaiting with interest the result of the operations of the company which has been formed in London to supply hot water from we .lamp-posts on the penny-in-the-alot ■TBtem, with probable further developments U »upplying hot cocoa, coffee, &c.

MR PIRANI CHALLENGES THE PREMIER. According to a message in the "Post" from a Pahnerston North correspondent, Mr Pirani lias telegraphed to the Premier—"lf you will resign and contest Palmerston, I will do likewise." WIDENING OF WELLINGTON STREETS. The Mayor of Wellington (Mr Blair) has informed the City Council that he intends to bring before it proposals for the introduction of legislation which will give it power to take land for widening streets, and to impose a betterment rate on the owners of land benefited by the works. Unless such legislation is obtained, he states, it will be impossible for the Council to widen any of the streets. TIME PENALTIES IN BUILDING CONTRACTS. In consequence of the decision of the Wellington Magistrate that time penalties for the non-completion of contracts cannot be recovered where extensions of works are authorised after the signing of such contracts, some of the local architects (says the "Times") have consulted a solicitor, and have got him to frame a saving clause for : insertion in future building agreements between owners and contractors. CAUSED BY A LIGHTNING FLASH. In the Nelson district the othei day a settler found seven sheep heaped on top of one another, the whole having evidently been killed by lightning. A yard or two lower down the spur was the camping ground of tie sheep, on an outcrop of rock, and in the solid rock a hole had been made about 2ft 6in in diameter, and 2ft in depth. The hole had the appearance of having been en used by a blast, the rock at the bottom being deeply cracked in all directions. ENGLISHMEN IN CUBA. The feeling against Englishmen in Cuba is evidently almost as strong as against Americans. " The Times " correspondent received an intimation that his presence in the island was not convenient, and that he had better leave before the Government took official action to compel him to do so. He left for Key West. THE RISE IN PRICES.. One result of the American-Spanish war (says an Auckland telegram) is that the price of rope advanced £3 per ton this week. DEATH OF A CENTENARIAN. Our Ellesmere correspondent writes: —Mrs Mata Kukae, aged 105 years, died at the Tamntu Pah on Thursday morning. She was the oldest Maori in the South Island, and lived at Tamutu for eighty nine years. The old woman was well and hearty up till a few days ago. She received Government aid for several years, but lived alone in a miserably small hut, sleeping on the earth and kindling a fire in the centre of her hut. ON THE EVE OF THE WAR. It is stated that Admiral Villamil, commander of the Spanish torpedo squadron, before leaving Cadiz, visited the shrine of the Virgin, accompanied by the crews of the vessels under hia command. Addressing tho men, he offered to any who felt fear the choice of remaining behind, but the crews unanimously replied that they preferred charing with their commander the dangers of the seas and of war if it came. Whereupon the admiral and his seamen knelt beiore the crucifix and took a solemn vow never to return to Spain unless victorious. THE KLONDIKE FIELDS. The "Post" makes the following extract from a letter which a Wellington resident has received from his brother in British Columbia:—"You will be surprised tc near that the Klondike boom has waned very much, end steamers intended for the trade are laid up in Vancouver, while numbers of people who came there intending to gto are returning home again. While admitting that tlure is a lot of gold up there, I have never been at all enthusiastic about the Yukon. You hear of the few who have made money, but very little of the thousands who have not, and * who are unable or .ashamed tc return with nothing to show, while the dangers and difficulties and .unpleasantnesses of life there are enormous. British Columbia is a far better field for investigation and investment than ever the Yukon was or will be, and the amount of gold, silvfr, copper, lead, &c, will this year in value far eacwd the Yukon output. Ono man 1 know, or iat her two, have just closed a big deal in London at a profit of 500,000 dollars between them. His was for a lease of a hydraulic claim of 900 acres for 20 years, without stipulations, from the Dominion Government. I wouldn't put a cent into any of the so called Klondike cou;pauies, though." ANOTHER NEW SUBJECT FOR THE SYLLABUS. There is no end to the possibilities of public instruction in Victoria (remarks the "Argus"). If everything were taught in State schools that well-meaning people think should be taught school hours would have to be extended and teaching staffs quadrupled, so that the work might be carried on in shifts. Boys are''taught how to sew and girls how to hem, lessons in morality have become an essential as lessons in natural science, and deportment and etiquette promise in time to replace the multiplication table. The child of the future will doubtless become an active citizen, at five, and take a prominent part in affairs of State when he reaches double figures. In addition to intellectual accomplishments, it is now proposed to inculcate tho theory and practice of detective work as part of what might be called the domestic department in the school curriculum. At the suggestion of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children notices are to be circulated in the schools impressing upon pupils the necessity of keeping a vigilant outlook for cases of ill-treatment, which might not otnerwise come under public notice, in the hope that wicked parents and unfeeling guardians may be brought to justice. A SAD STORY OF ATBARA. Very pathetic interest (writes the London "Daily Telegraph" attaches to the death of Captain Findlay, of the Cameron Highlanders, who was killed in the triumphal charge which scattered the slavedrivers of the Soudan at Atbara. He was married only in September last, and his young wife has still to learn that she is a widow, as her medical attendant thinks it best for the moment to let the fact be broken to her gently. She has been informed of the first telegram which came to hand with the news that her husband was dangerously wounded. Mrs Findlay was the daughter of Colonel H. Barron, R.A., who was chief of the South Front at Gibraltar. After her marriage with Captain Findlay ehe was with him in Egypt until her husband was ordered to the front. Few men in itae British army were more beloved by all who knew him than the gallant captain who fell in the tiour of victory. It is not improbable that he received his fatal wound in consequence of the attention drawn to him by his great stature. He stood in his stockings 6ft 6in, and was therefore one of the tallest men in the service. He was an admirable soldier, dearly beloved by all his friends, and died on tbe field of honour.