NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12828, 12 June 1907, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The auction announcements of McKenzie and Willis, C. A. Lees and Co., Charles Clork, New Zealand Farmers' Co-o_., Baker Bros., Devereux, King and Co., National Mortgage and Agency Co., H. B. Sorensen, Ford and Hiidlield, and Williams and Kettle, will be found on page 11 of this issue.

a correspondent complains of the insufficiency of th© lighting arraaigentcuts at the Tramway Board's excavatier., at the intersection of Fa_.gn.ve and Junction streets, Fitzgerald and Moorhouso avenues, the locality in its present condition being, according to. our informant, most dangerous to pedestrians after nightfall.

A black seal -was seen by the signalman at Adderley Head yesterday morning, beach inside th© Heads. Tlie seal did not stay very long, but the signalman states that the animal seemed to bo bunting for food. "The papers are quito entitled to be impudent to everybody as long as they do so nicely, and without giving offence." —A paradox from the lips of ono of tlio clergymen attending the Christchurch Presbytery meeting yesterday. Our Dunedin correspondent telegraphs:—lt is reported here that the Government will purchase the Welling-ton-Manawatu Railway line, and that an announcement tint the transfer has been effected on a basis satisfactory to both parties may be looked for at an early date. Tho Hon. George Fowlda, in a speech at tho Richmond (Auckland) Cruisina Club's social on Monday evening, said tliat he would encourage aquatics; they were a very great factor in building up a strong and vigorous manhood, whicli would he of immens. valuo to tho colony in tho days to come. A nicotine; of Court Star of Canterbury, A.O.F. 2300. was liskl on Monciav, Bro. O. Jacobson in the chair. It was resolved that it be a recommendation, to the managing committoo that •when tho CR. is unabio to attend _ne funeral of .a deceased brother tuey shall nxako arrangements for a substitute to carry out his duties. Nominations of officers took place. Bro. J. "Wat.iew read tho report of the last district meeting. A committee was appointed to make final _jrnam_o_nen.s for a card match with Court Thistle of the Forest. At a .meeting of tho Greymouth Harbour Board yesterday it was decided 1 : 'That seeing tho present port is not up to tho requirements of trade and that largo extensions and improvements are imperative, .Mr Maxweu and tho nn-gLnecr-in-ehief bo communicated with, with tine object of ins pontine, reporting and advising, along with tlio Board's engine..-, upon the feasibility of constructing _ a deep sea harbour in connection with tho lagoon scheme already approved of by tho Board. According to a Press Association telegram from Auckland, the discovery of Maori burial cava, at One Tree Hill surprised even Sir John Logan Campbell, who had not tho faintest idea of their existence, although he ha., been familiar with the property for so many years, and naturally considerable interest has been, awakened by the find. At present the inspection of theso depositories of tho bones of the ancient dwellers on tho Tamaki Isthmus is only to be accomplished after an intricate acrobatic feat. Tho state of the Auckland Police Court Buildings led Mr C. C. Kettle, S.M., to make somo remarks on the subject yesterday morning (says a Press Association telegram). Two wo men who had been living in a filthy condition in Durham street had just been removed from tho Court, when his Worship remarked that tho officials should get the place fumigated at least once a week. '1 am informed," he wont on to say, tf hy a scientific man that this place simply swarms with all sorts of germs. I once asked a gentleman to mako an experiment, but lie said ho was afraid of the results, ■which would probably prevent everyone from coming near." Tlio Rev. Dr. Erwin mndo som« rather uncomplimentary remarks about the "Outlook," tho official publication of Presbytorianism in New Zealand, at the Presbytery meeting yesterday. Ho stated it was -printed on paper which was quito transparent, tho matter was wretched, the type was almost unreadable, and every issue contained a large number of glaring transpositions and typographical errors. Unless the 'Outlook' underwent a radical change ifc could never be a success. 'It is a disreputable "paper altogether," Dr Erwin concluded, "and its only eha,nce is to fall in with tho other up-to-date publications of tho day." At tlio sitting of the' District Court at Ashburton yesterday, beforo his Honour Judge Haseldcn, James Heseltino (Mr Hall) claimed from John Paget the sum of £72 7s 3d. and £11 9s 4d, disbursements and costs. # This was a case in which tho Official Assignee (Mr J. Davison) had been appointed receiver cf moneys obtained by the sale of the trotting hor*o De-rring-cotte. by order of the District Court, and tho plaintiff now diesiretl to obtain the sum above mentioned, as his shaTo. The ewe had been adjourned from the previous sitting of tho Court. This time defendant did not appear, anl was not represented, and his Honour granted the motion applied for, the balance of the money held by the Official Assignee to bo paid to defendant or his solicitor. Billiard enthusiasts were afforded an opportunity of witnessing an excellent contest last evening, where H. W. Stevenson, tho world's champion, played a gamp of 1000 up with W. Stephenson, a well-known local player, in the billiard-room of Warner's Hotel. The visitor conceded his opponent 500 points start, but the latter did not display his usual form, and was eventually defeated by 100 points. Some good strokes were" made by both players, especially Stevenson, and the beet breaks wero as follows:—H. W. Stevenson : 53, 101, G9, 44, 92, 76, SG, 127, 243; W. Stephoneon (receives 500): 33, 0-5. 25. 34, 3G, 53. Giving a splendid exhibition in a very easy style, Stevenson gained steadily en the local crack, and at last overtook him with a magnificent break of 248, tho scores at the finish being: Stevens©!. 1000, Stephenson 900. Tho Railway Department has adopted a somewhat unusual method of indicating its appreciation of the promptitude of Driver McNamaro in the recent 'Banksido collision. Mr McNamara, it will bo remembered, was in chargo cf tho volunteer special from tho south, and when ho saw tho other train anpro-ching brought his train promptly to a standstill, and thus lc.j3.ned tho seriousness of the accident. Tho Department has presented him with a gratuity of £10. In order to show their practical sympathy with exdn'vcr J. Meiklo, who was recently dismissed from the railway servico in connection with tho collision, all tho locomotive department employees in tho Canterbury district nro contributing a day's pay towaids a fund that is be7ng established for his benefit. Railway "men in other parts of the colony are also subscribing liberally. In a chat with Dr. Louisson yesterday, as reported in another column, a "Press" representative obtained some iitorosting information relating to football in England. During his last year nt Home Dr. Lonisson waa assistant bacteriologist at Guy's Hospital. While experimenting in December he was unfortunate 'enough tb inoculate himself with typhoid germs, incurring an attack of the disease, which kept him for three months in bed. He is now, however, feeling very. fit. The doctor has beon investigating during tho past year the uses of tuberculin and vaccines, judging the. amount of the doses by estimating tho opsonic index ctf the patient—a system discovered by Sir A! in roth Wright, and now very much in v. c o in London. After chatting on football topics, Dr. Louisson went on to say that he noticed a tremendous change in Christchurch since he last saw it ten years ago. "It has improved out of all knowledge," he remarked; '_ have seen tram systems in many towns, and in London a new system has been started everywhere during the last few years, but I should say the Christchurch system compares very favourably with any."

Notice of motion has been given in the Hokitika Borough Council of U» intention to buy out the local Gas Company. Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M., leaves Christchurch to-morrow to hold a Native Lands Court at Sprihgburn, near Nelson, and in his absence Mr \. G. Day, S.M., will transact the magisterial business at the city Court. The matron of tho Christchurch Hospital desires to acknowledge with thanks tho gift of a quantity of rabbits from Mr A. Aston, of Gientunnel, and of a bundle of magazines from the Public Library. The late Dr. Alexander, of Dunedin, under his will, bequeathed £1250 to tho Governor of St. Helena for tho benefit of tho native-born poor, and the necessitous inhabitants or tho island. The legacy was given in recognition of tho fact tliat St. Helena was Dr. Alexander's birthplace, and tliat his family had been closely connected with it for a lengthy period. At its meeting yesterday (says a Timaru Press Association telegram) the South Canterbury Board of J_di.cntion passed a resolution protesting against tho action of tho Department in deciding to make no travelling allowance for those children who travel to school from a distance per horse or bicyclo. Tho Chairman said he hoped every Board in the colony would pass a similar resolution. Tho hard struggle that falls to tho lot of most denominational journals was ventilated by ono of the sneakers a. the meeting of the Christchurch Presbytery yosterday. He said that it was practically impossible for iKipors devoted entirely to religious subjects to exist. Their only hope was to contain a variety of reading matter, like tho daily journals. People could not bo blamed for not buying denominational publications, for they very seldom merited being purchased. Tlio weekly meeting of tho Heathcote Valley Literary aud Debating Society was held in the Schoolroom on Monday evening, tho Rev. T. R. Richards presiding. Tho lady members supplied the programme, which included short papers by Misses Mouldey, Pike and Scott. Mesdr.mes Richards and Grant, a recitation by Mrs Pedlcr, a reading by Miss Pedler, and a song by Miss Nixon. Miss Weir played the accompaniments. Somo comment was mado at tho Presbytery meeting in St. Paul's Schoolroom on tho expense to which several of the members wcro put to in attending the mooting of tho Presbytery. One reverend gentleman, from an outside district, stated that he paid £4 a year in railway fares, whilo another said his travelling expenses wero as much as £10 per annum. This was all paid out of the members' private means, and it was suggested that a fund should bo inaugurated for tho purpose of assisting members in the matter of travelling expenses. Greatness carries with it responsibilities, according to Mr Justice Denniston, even where jokes aro concerned. The Hon. J. A. Tole, appearing in the Supreme Court at Auckland tho first day after his appointment as King's Counsel, was listening to an honest carter, who returned two bottles of whiskey which had strayed into his horse's nosebag. "Waa it good whiskey?" queried the X.0., amid laughter. "You must be careful what jokes you make now," advised hia Honour in a mild, reproving tone; "for your observations will bo watched. You roust bring your jokes up to the highest judicial standard." In expressing regret at the small attendance at the Sydney Centenary Hall on the afternoon of Sunday, 2nd inst., when Mr W. Judkins and the Rev. T. Woodfull, of Melbourne, delivered addresses on "Social Reform," the chairman (the"Rev. W. G. Taylor) Baid that in Sydney Sunday meetings had always to contend with pleasure resorts. "Today," he added, "the Besses o' th' Barn Band are playing at one of tho pleasure resorts, and we regret it exceedingly- *<Applause.) Some of us have been charmed by their music, and 1, for ono, had no idea that they would givo themselves to this purpose at a harbour resort on a Sunday afternoon. (Hear, hear.) You know how tho crowd would follow tihe band, and I am glad to see even so many aa we havo to-day." Since 1889 there have fceen 34 executions in the gaols of Now South Wales, the highest number in any year being five. In 1902 and 1905 no executions took place. In the bad old days executions wero frcquont. For the ten-year period ending December, 1834, there were 303 executions, or an average of about 30 a year; for the next decade, clewing 1844, the number had dropped to 174, or about 17 a year; ifc fell again for the period ending 1854 to' 38, and the same number were recorded up to 1864,, falling up to 1874 to 31, and to 1884 to 22, and rising to 29 for tho ten-year period terminating in 1894. But there waa a drop to 15 (or the decade closing in 1904, whilo in 1905 there wore no executions, and only ono in 1906. All of whidh argues (remarks the "Sydney Daily Telegraph") that wo have become less drastic in our methods and more discriminating in our treatment of crime, as well as more law-abiding as a people. ( There is a moral to be drawn from the remarks of a IMasterton saddler to a "Wsirarapa Daily Times" reporter, in reference to Conciliation and Arbitration methods. He stated that in conversation with a gentleman who was ono© a well-known saddler and harness maker and importer in a big way in Wellington, retiring some years ago, the latter remarked, "I just got out of the business in time." Asked to explain, he said that while he was paying his best men £4 and £5 a week he waa suddenly whirled into the maelstrom of Unionist disputes, and the consequence was that his host men wero put on the same level as those of much less ability, and they naturally resented tho lowering of their wages to a common level, whilst . incompetent tradesmen's were proportionately advanced. "It was a logic the skilled men could not see," was the comment, "and in a few.months I found them leaving mc to go elsewhere, and my business became completely disorganised. It is my opinion," ho concluded, "that there is a lot of harness going to be imported int6 this country." Mr Martin Mcllrath. of the firm of Messrs Mcllrath, Ltd., Sussex street, Sydney, returned to Australia last week from Hong Kong, hawing completed a long search for his brother Hugh, j whose disappearance in the East is still unsolved. Mr Hugh Mcllrath left Bydney in August last for the East, and as word had not been received from him since November, his brother set out in March to elucidate tho mystery. AD he had to go u,pon waa that Mr Hugh Mcllratfli had been to Japan, thence returning to Hong Kong. His last words home were that he intended travelling to Canton. Mr M. Mcllrath's first cable to his other brother in Sydney was sent fiom Hong Kong in disappointing terms after Singapore bad been visited and advertisements inserted in the press there. On reaching Hong Kong later j the police wero spprised of tho facts, but still the search was fruitless! Shanghai was next visited, with no' better result, - and Mr Mcllrath then I proceeded to Canton and Hankow making diligent efforts to locate his brother, or to determine his fate but ' oil to no purpose. Mr Mcllrath's' conclusion is that his brother had been robbed and then murdered in HongKong, not the faintest trace having been found of his whereabouts in any town of the several visited. i

The Telegraph Department advises that at 8.45 a.m. yesterday Vancouver reported :—"Lino down to Montreal; work ccming slowly via Winnipeg.'' A meeting of the Coal and Blanket Fund Committee will be held nt the Oity Council Chambers at threo o'clock this afternoon. The Dunedin City Council (says an Association telegram) by a majority of one decided to increase tho salary of tho town clerk from £800 to £1000, consequent upon his having taken over the duties of city engineer also. Tho direr accompanying the expedition on the steamer Huia (says an Auckland Press Association telegram) obtained a further £400 in gold from tJic wreck of the Elinganiite. Operations havo now boon suspended for "tlio winter. Mr Pryor, secretary of tlio New Zealand Employers' Federation, addressed a large and enthusiastic meeting of employers in Palmerston North on Monday night (says a Press Association telegram), as a result of which the local Employers' Association has boon resuscitated, and. a largo number of new members enrolled. The County Council (says a Paluatua Press Association telegram) passed a resolution protesting against tho manner in which valuations of land aro mado, and alleging they are too frequent. It was assorted that prices wero being forced to fictitious values by speculators, nnd valuations wero. being basod on the results of their o-ierations to the detriment of legitimate farmers. At tho moe-ting of the Christchurch Presbytery yesterday, the Her. Dr. Erwin- mentioned that the Presbyterian missioner, Mt Wills, was carrying outwork among tho railway co-operatives at Broken itiver. Tlio labourers were very short of reading matter, and when Mr Wills went among tihora, taking a largo amount of literature with him, ho was weloomcd -with Opon arms. Cr. Small, ono of tho Dunedin City Council's representatives on tho Fire Board, has ako resigned out of sympathy with tho Mayor, whoso rceignntion was reported yesterday, and as a protest against the action of the third representative of the Council (Cr. (Sullivan), ns insurance agent, proposing Mr Craig for tho chairmanship. '■ Mr T. Mackenzie, M.H.R., invites ! tho consideration of local bodies j throughout Otago (says our Dunedin I correspondent) to the present system of periodically readjusting tho electoral boundaries of the oolony upon n-basis that attaches prime importance to the factor of population. He claims tho support of the people of Otago and Southland in an effort to obtain such amendment of tho law as will produce a less imperfect plan. A surprise waa sprung on tho representatives of the rum! area at tne Drainage Commission yesterday, when it was announced that tho City Council in its statement of d l -fence made a oounter-claim against the rural area, showing that instead of there being over-payments from the rural area, £14,345 should now 6t»nd to the credit of tho sowfkgo nrpa. Before, the Commission opened, tho rural area hadamended its claim to £32,000, winch is in exact accordance with tho amount acknowledged Tiy tho i)rainagg_Boai-d. A groat demonstration of values is advertised to-day by tlio D.I.C. Several hundred pounds worth of fashionable dress trimmings, fancy braids and I galons, braided, sequined, and beaded gimps, motif and fancy ailk insertions aro offered at a discount of 60 per cent, off marked-prices'. A big display of those goods will bo mado in tho D.I.C. windows and to-day (Tuesday), and for frevon days the public will bo charged exactly half the prices marked. So© to-day's display of trimmings. 8 Messrs Armstrong and Co., by making their Winter salo thorough in all departments, instead of a conservative special item affair, strik© tho .right chord, and pleaso the public. 3 Ernest M. Sandstoin, F.5.M.0., _>._*. U.A. (London), ophthalmic . optician, may be consulted on all cases of defectiy© eyesight remediable by glasses. Specialty—Rimless invisible eyeglasses. Hours, 9.30 to 5.30 Consulting rooms, Cash©! street W., next Ballantyne's. Telephone 397. 8 Hight now is tho timo to secure a bargain-. The special purchase sale commencing torday at Black, Beattie and Co. afford l * ono of those rare chanoes to save money on fresh now season's goods. i&vetry item detailed in the circular is what it is claimed to be. Tho value is tftiero. Do not ialil to call to-day. Many bargains will bo gone to-morrow. V It may not pitovo a paying investment selling goods at tbe pnoes, but Mcssis Armstrong's sale supplement is--suod yesterday caused a booming rush of buyers., 1 We aro requested to csijl the attention of our lady reader* to an advertisement appearing in another column wJierein Messrs lSmtb. and, Co. Ltd. advise shoppers of a largo purchase or 8000 yds of this soaeon's smart dress goods. Owing to the tremendous advaoutaige the firm secured! in buying so lar«dly the prices at -which they havo marked, tho goods will certainly appeal to th© feminine mind. Their windows (45ft long) aro now resplendent with these (fabrics, and will well repay inspection. . 12 Patents, Trademarks, Design*.—.' Henry. Hughes, Patent Agents, 183 Hereford street, Chri_tohurch., obtains patents in all countries.. Reliable advice on application. Telephone 254. 9 Mr J. D. Clarke, D.8.0.A., F.S.M.C., F. 1.0. (London), sight-toet-ing specialist, having returned after undergoing a special oourse of training at the Northampton Institute, London, may now be consulted. Speci-ally-built testing rooms, fitted with latest instruments ** for sight-testing. Charges moderate. Address: J. D. Clarke, 148 Colombo street (adjoining S. Clarke and Co., jewellers). 20 j Tho busy scenes enacted in Lower I High street and Victoria square yes-J torday are accounted for by the open- 1 ing of Mean* T. Armstrong and Co.'s Winter salo. 2.1 Better have no watch than one con- j tinualiy. wrong; Consult Kennett. the ! people's watchmaker. His timekeepers are good, oorrect and cheap. Kennett will also test your eyesight and fit you with spectacles. High street, nest Excelsior Hotel. 9 Do. 1 require spectacles? This can only be answered by having your eyes tested; each eye should be tested separately. If you need spectacles call on J. K. Procter, 180 High street, Christchurch, who has the largest stock ol optical goods and artificial eye** in too colony. Your eyes tested ixeo and spectacles not supplied unless necessary. 7