NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13170, 17 July 1908, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Jn connection with the McCarthy Fund, the following subscriptions hare been "transferred as follows:-—E.C., £1, to the Mrs Batchdor Fund: 1.H.X.,

10s. and "Nemo," L's Gd, to tluvOgden I^nd.

There was a crowded house at the benefit entertainment given at Oxford on Wednesday evening for the Ogden family, and tho receipts were about £12.

The Dunodin master butchers have* decided to increase tho price of meat from |d to Id per lb, as from Monday next. This is said to bo due to a gradual hardening of the stock market. The present prospects indicate (says a Press Association message) that" tbo position will bo more acute as spring approaches.

What's in a name? A lady announced to deliver a lecture on health topics in a southern centre rejoices in the patronymic of Miss Argue.

The Labour Department is sending a number of men to work on the Midland Railway, beyond Broken River. The wet weather and heavy falls of snow ha-e prevented their immediate departure.

At the last meeting of Cabinet, the following grants were authoris-!.— Kumara-Springfield road, £751); Ahurin river bridge, £1500; Hornby school, £t4O. Tenders -were accepted for siatiou buildings at Blind River, on the Blenheim-Waipara railway.

Ihe weekly meeting of the Heathcoie Literary Society was held on Monday evening, Mr F. L. Mculdey presiding. The. nutting took the form of a musical evening, items being contributed i>v Mis Stout, Mi-ses Pedlir. Moukley -V Weir, Geary, Hatton. Hatohwcil," and Qiioreo, and Messrs W. A. Macdowoii, Hsitou, an:! Querco.

Tho adjournrd quarterly meeting of the H.A.C.B. Society was held in tho Hibernian Hall on Wednesday evening. Tho ceremony of installing the officor3 for the ensuing six months was proceeded with, Bro. W. Rodgers, Past President, officiating as installing oilicor. assisted by Bro. Kelson, Past Pro .*id<?nt. sis installing warden. Dining tho evening various musical and items were contributed by tho members.

''Truth's" football competition on the Canterbury-Wairarapa match closes to-night. Intendinifeompetitors should, therefore, send in their rniesses before 10 p.m. >.. Cash prizes will be naid for the best forecasts of tho score*sent in on the special coupon appearing in tonight's "Truth." There is no entry fee. The competition is odou to everybody except "Press" office emand already hundreds of guesses have, been sent in. Particulars of tho next competition will be given in Saturday's "Truth."

At ,x meeting of the Board of Managers of the Peninsula Technical Ass> ciation on Wednesday evoning, the louder (£W.t) of Mr G. Haylock for the erection and fitting of the new Techuical School (towards which the Government have given a grant of £820) wns accepted. Tho work will bo started forthwith, and the foundation stono is to be laid by tho Hon. G. Fowlds, Minister for Education, who.is to pay s. visit to Akaroa in about six weeks' time. The site for the. school was donated to the Association by Mr E. E. Lelievre, ci" Akaroa.

The trustees of a cemetery at Bundalong, on tho river Murray, in Australia, were recently served -with a notice from the Vermin Destruction Board to exterminate rabbits. Tho cemetery had become a breeding-ground for tho peet, and it -was discovered en

investigation that tho rabbits had fur-

rowed down into the graves, owing to the ground, which had been dug, being much easier for them to penetrato. None of the graves -were opened, biit it is stated (says tho Sydney ''Daily Telegraph") that in some country cemeteries rabbits have actually madevheir nests 1 in coffins, the wood of -which, had mostly decayed. Tho Bundalong tiu> tecs ignored tho notice, were prosecuted, had to pay costs, and have no-.v resigned.

In,, delivering judgment in a will ease/ir. Adelaide, tho Chief Justice vds.'r Samuel Way) remarked that it i\;is highly improper for. anyone to fix any mark whatever upon a-will after the death of the testator. "When even Doncil marks -were made they had to i>e explained. Several cases had recently come under tho notice of the Court Ono of the highest official in South Australia had impressed a stamp upon a -will and written his name upon it, simply because it chanced to pass through his hands, and his action

necessitated tho document ■brought before the-Court and an ox" plantation being made. The officer had

no intention of doing wrong, but would know better in future. Wills would

have to be brought before the Court m the condition they were left by tho tf.-s----tator.

\esterday at the Oxford Court a nan named F. Firth was charged with sending a document which purported to bo issued from a Court to recover for Fir,th Bros, from an East Oxford resident the sum of 18s 3d. If th© amount were, not paid within two clays (tho document stated), "final proceediucs would be entered at the District Court. Oxford, when the said plahit would be heard by Justices, and judgment civen." It also stated section 87 District Court Act' would be put in ooeration by a Judge of the Supreme Court, and'that on any good* or income the Judge could make distraint or commit the debtor to gaoi. The form had marked across it the words ''Registered G B 9163" in rod. This was sent to the debtor in a registered letter by Rost. The offence was admitted. Mr Day, S.M.. said the full penalty was £10. A fine oF 10s with costs 7s was imposed.

AH the elements of a serious accident were present in a remarkable collision which took nlaee yesterday afternoon at the junction of Cashel" and High streets. A four draught horse team, attached to one of J. M. Heywood and Co.'?. lorries, tcok frisrht when crossing the Cashel street bridge, and bolted. I hey had a clear run across tho Colombo street intersection, but just as the horses reached the High street crossing tho Onawa 'bus, which was proceeding towards the Square, drew across their path. The two leading draughts crashed blindly against the 'bus, and tho next instant there was a struggling and tnngled mass of horses on " the pound. Three of the horses in the lorn- went clown, and tho ta.sk of releasing them from the Gordian knots caused by their own frenzied plunging was not an easy one. The two 'bus horses , escaped without iniury, the driver having managed to turn them out of tho way :ust at the crucial mnnient. The. other animals, though they were no doubt sovemly bruised, did not show many visiwTe signs of the encounter.

Among the birds -winch it has born proposed to acclimatise in New Zealand is the stubble quail (Commix p-»c----torahs), a denizen of Australia. «nd Tasmania. At the Acclimatisation Conference at. Wellinerfon en Wednesday .1 remit from tlfe Wahnato Society :>roposrd that th« restrictions on the importation of this specie; of onail rhotild be removed. Mr Payton" (Atickl.mi) read a letter, which stated that in America a hitch value was placed 1 n birds of the.quail family as undoubted "Farmers' Friends." Dr. S. \V. J«id-1. of tho y.fi. Biological •Surrey, had stated in a report that, on examining thirteen birds he had shot, he fennd 5582 wcea-seeds, tr-hile ono bird atone had consumed 550 seech of the Farmers' Curse, sheep, sorrel. Among the inserts eaten trere largo quantities of pot.i*.o beetles, eut-wonns,* and chinch-bugs On a conservative basis the total 'tmrun!j>tkm of ireed-seeds b.v the Bolxrliite C|U.'iil betwern l«t September nn.l 30th April in Virginia, ambunte.i to -573 ions. The motion, was passed.

A prohibition order was granted by the Kaiapoi Court yceterday against a district resident. A Beautifying Association has been formed at Rang-.ora, and a coniprahen-c-.irc plan of work is in course of preparation.

I An inquest was held at Lyttelton yesterday afternoon touching the death : of John "William Trigance, who died in J the Casualty Ward on Wednesday night from injuries caused by falling over a cliff while working at Purau last week. After hearing tho evidence, tho jury returned a verdict of accidental death. At the Oxford Court yesterday, before Mr V. G. Day. S.M., Thomas Vicker.v, labourer, of Sheffield (for whom Sir Johnston appeared), was committed for trial on a charge of perjury, alleged to hare been committed by accused when giving evidence for his own defence on a charce of cruelty to a mare, at Oxford on May 21st. The annual meeting of the Board of Management of the Technical Classes was held at Rangiora on v Wednesday evening. Tho bnlance-sheet showed receipts £147 4s 2d. and expenditure £147 8s Id. Mr Carmichael was re-elocted chairman, and Mr J. Marshall secretary. Plans of the new school were approved.

A room having been kindly granted by tho f New Zealand Farmers' Association at Rangiora for tho uso of .the X.A. and P. Association, Mr A." S. Clark.«on has undertaken to obtain the portraits of the past presidents aud notable members of tho society since ISO;]. The collection should be a very interesting one. Mr-W. Thomas, caretaker of Quail Island, wishes to acknowledge, on behalf of tho leper patients, the receipt of a good selection of phonograph records from Mr J. H. Fountain, Christehurch. Tho patients have expressed themselves as being deeply grateful for the gifts of books, magazines and phonograph and gramaphouo records. Two women who Lad acted as midwives at Oxford were yesterday fined 10s each. Both admitted they had boen engaged for confinements, the patient in one case being stated to be too poor to employ a doctor. Mr Day, S.M., pointed out that only in cases of emergency were nurses exempted from the law which required that all who practised midwifery must be duly registered. A committee meeting of the Ambcrley Breeders' Association was held on Monday afternoon, Mr F. H. Courage presiding. The" da to of tho annual Show was fixed for October loth. It was resolved to have one judge- in each class, instead of tAvo as formerly, and

also to have two judging rings for the draught stock. The catalogue was revised, and several now competitions were added. Benjamin Direr, formerly a stationer in the Old Country, -was brought before the Magistrate's Court at Dunedin yesterday on a long list of charges of stealing books from local booksellers, tho value of the books ranging from 32s to . about £8. Accused was sentenced to six months' imprisonment on the first charge, and to throe months on each of. the others, the sentences to be.concurrent. At the last meeting of tho St. Albans School Committee the. head master's report showed a roll number of 629, with an ayerago attendance of. 600. It was decided to close the school on Arbor Day (July 22nd), and to request the City Council to permit the scholars to plant trees offered by tho Board in tho St. Albans Park. It was decided to give hearty support to a movement started by the Nelson School Committees in favour of giving town commit- | tees the powers now possessed by Education Boards. . •■■-■*

A comparison of the.Auckland and "Wellington .tramway system was made hy Cr. Entrican &t tho Auckland City Council last night. Last year, he said, they had a member of Parliament- de-i crying tho local system, and holding up tho Wellington system as an example of what a tram service should he. For all that, Auckland had carried--22,474,127 passengers to Wellington's 20,105,723 during the year. The accidents in Auckland did" not amount to one-fifth of those in Wellington. Another councillor said the fares charged in Wellington and Christchurch were 25 per cent, higher than in Auckland.

Our Greymouth correspondent telegraphs:—An interesting situation, is likely to occur in connection with the cancellation of the registration of'the Blackball Miners' Union, which is to take effect as from August 14thj provided no objection is received in the meantime. It is understood that the Blackball Company will object to tho cancellation, and will at - tho same time apply for a new award. If the objection is upheld, and a new award made, il< will mean that the miners will have to observe the decision of the Arbitration Court for tho period for which the award is made to apply.

At the boxing carnival in Timaru on Wednesday night. W. Wateon,.of Christchurch, met Elliott, tho Austral-

Asian feather-weight champion. " soiyput up a very plucky fight, but Elliott proved too good for him. Thompson, of Christchurch, met Gould;'.'of Timaru, in a six-round bont. This was a fairly oven contest. Gould did most of the forcing, but Thompson showed the best all-round form, and the verdict went in his favour. Some .very pretty catch-as-catch-can wrestling was seen when Brown, the Wellington, champion, met P. Heyens, and defeated him easily.

, The quarterly meeting of the St. Albans Method iet Circuit was held on Monday evening, the Rev. W. A. Sinclair presiding. Tho balance-sheet showed a deficiency of £3, Is 6d «|nly, which was considered very satisfactory considering tho additional expenditure incurred through the appointment of a second minister. An increase -of scholars on the rolls of both Sunday schools was reported. A conversation took place with regard to the boundaries of the Christchurch Circuits, a readjustment of such being considered advisable. It was resolved to protest against Sunday band concerts.

A circular letter addressed to the ;'Xew Zealand Cricket Qub" found its way into tho }**ew Zealand Cricket Council mooting last evening. The missive came from Mr Harold C. Floud , , lion. secretary of the Hamilton Cricket Club, Hampshire, England. It contained the information, that it was proposed to pleco a plain' memorial stone on Broad-Halfpenny Down in the parish, io'mark the site of the cricket ground of the old Hambledon Club.

Tho cost was estimated: at about £100.

and -the members of the New Zealand Cricket Club were- invited to subscribe their individual guineas. The Council received tho letter, without comment. The old Hambledon Club was tho first cricket club founded in England. It lived from 1750 to 1791 ar.d was strong enough to play All England. Shortly before midnight tho St. Albans Fire Brigade wcro informed by a cyclist that a house in Andover street was on fire. The City Brigade were communicated with, and the Chester street steamer .and Lichfield street chemicals proceeded to the outbreak, which was found to bo situated in a four-roomed honee belonging to ilra Garforth, and occupied by Mr 0. Birch. Tho fire appeared to have started in the passage, and by tho time ie was suppressed, the interior woe badly damaged. Mr Birch was absent from tho hon.se when the outbreak occurred. , and only for the promptness of the brigade" it would have been totally destroyed. The- insurances were not available, but the damage to the huildina m estimated at from £50 to £00, and to the furniture from £40, to £50.

Tho Mayor has received £5 tttmil A. W. Money as a> contribution to«L Coal and Blanket Fund. .- ;* ~ A Westport message reports ham Connolly, charged with mn*2 and perjury, has been remanded tilfS A motor of an eleciric car'i»t'«! placed near tho Bank ot .\ ew zJLj?* corner about 11. o'clock last and traffic was delayed for somofSS in consequence. * ,c i A\aihi, for alleged indecent assart 2 pupils of the Momington School, it* leacher. eea ******* M «3S

Tho Auckland City and SuW, Fire Brigade delegates having ifi the tinted Fire Brigades Associate*? hold its 1909 conference and deiw££ tion jn Auckland, tho invitation V* accepted yesterday. T* 5

At the Wanganui Education Boar, meeting on Wednesday, strou E mfc mc jus were made on tho delay bvtS Education Department in attending t, applications for grants, and it was solved to write to tho Department- « the matter. Ol

The signalman at the Lvff«uv Heads about 1 o'clock; this £SS noticed distress rockets and blue Hrfjh being exhibited from some vessel dentiv in trouble to the southward «i tho Heads. He wae unablo to m«fc, out thp> vessel on account of tho dut ance. but tho tug was sent out about 1.30. v.

An aged defendant, who appeared t< the Court yesterday to answer a claim maao by a local body: inform*,! tho Magistrate (Mr H. ft. bS that ho could not get satisfy! tion from the plaintiffs, after ho luS his rates. "Kick up a fuss aboutV" said the Magistrate, 4l and when *L get a chauco vote tor a new set of men."

Horrick's City Mission, the work of which is now amongst women inrf children and families, is still, in of funds to overtako all tho ca»< coming before tho Board of Wxk* There are a number of families .for whom clothes, boots, etc., are ne«£ sary to be providod, and in aid would bo gladly welcomed by JJrt Herrick. ' "™*

Tho Xapier Borough Council hasdecided to approach the Municipal Gμ ' ferenco -with a proposal to seesa amending legislation to consorvo 'tfcj' rights of cities and boroughs -n-ithns spect to electric lighting. Tho Xapj<* Borough Council has been legally ju£ vised that tho present Act does not "prs; vent private supplies within ceru« limitations. . ■ "■-;

An inquest-was hold at tho hospital yesterday, before Mr H. \V. Bisfaop, District Coroner, and a iurv, into the circumstances connected with the death of tho little girl Gibbons, who ws» severely burned at St. Albans on Wed. nesday. After hearing the evidence ef Dr. Crooko and of tho child's mother, in which the facts were similar to ticao already published,* a verdict of accidentally burned was returned. .

A witness, when giving cridenco. afr the Magistrate's Court yesterday, in a claim for damages against tbo New Zealand Shipping Company, lrai sliown a memorandum on a consignment note that tho Railway Bep srtment would not tako any responsibility for goods unloaded from a steamer at night. "Oh I" ho replied, "you' got thoso notes whether tho goods aro unloaded in" daylight or in darkness. It is absurd some of' tho receipts tho Hailway , Department sive." . . ' • *

Tho early opening of tho Slain Trunk Railway is causing the Department to look ahead es regards tho staffi&g 04----this big section (says our Dunedia cqre respondent). ■■; The Dunedin section *P bo drawn on for a fair number of and tho Locomotive Department is wot' inviting*applications from youths of titat age of 17 to 18 last birthday for itiV position of engine cleaners. There ano great dearth of youths coming for-" ward, but the experience is thai some! are not able to meet tho educational' and physical qualifications required, $- Provided tho weather is suitablo fceii \yednesday, raoro attention will bo paid to Arbor Day at the North, Center' bury Education Board's schools than-' has been tho caso ill, tho past. At quite a number of schools it is the intention of tho committees and the teachers iffgot the pupils to do treo planting ejthrty in the school grounds or some puolifireserve, or, where neither of these-are suitable or available, in the grounds ai< tached to the teachers , dwellings, rided that the teachers undertake" t<T employ the occasion for tho purpose bF' instructing their pupils in tree plant-' ing. ■ . , ••-"t* ' Eyestrain, Headachce.—Ernest M. Sandstein, P.8.M.C., D.8.0.A-, ton.don, Conanlting Optician, may be con. suited on all emm of defoctir* «y#-"-eight. Fifteen years , special - stodjA and experience. Latest method* *M : instmment*. Consulting rooms: Ca*W ; street W. (next Ball*ntrne's).' Ho«l»i' 0.30 to 5.30. The Hobey Oil Engine U epection; call and ■«• for jowidfA' Fall particulars and price* stions; also, Sheep Shearing Macain'"" •ry, etc.. Apply, H. McClellaad, »4 Cashel street, Ghri&tchurch. . ! ',Ji . At the D.1.0. Sale to-day, a spe&l - feature will be an eitraordinarjr e^' in trimmed millinery, included at swee ' forty-two models, in latest, etjt«,' which, regardless of oost, aro narked at one price—half-guinea each} aba, / the capital selection of motor caps and ready-to-wear hats, as ahrays found aY the D.1.C., aro marked at poutire clearing prices. " - ,6^ "1 would like to thank you for tte Tery careful way my furniture prepacked and removed from ny.laU, residence to my present addn*.' Nothing vn& broken. I shall ceiiaiely, recommend you to all I meet who is-,

tend travelling."—<Sign«d) P. C.BExtract from letter mddreeeed to ti»,' N.Z. Express Company, Ltd. - \,l

Sterling bicycles <'Built like a tratdi/' W. Baesett and Co. , - • , Tho buying power of money is «i w height at "the people's place forvalue.-. just how. Great value* are markably low, sale pa-ices—backed np 6j qualities tha.t are absolutely" rcliiWeFresh bargains wiil be brought fbrw««f - each day till the end of the sale, afli ;* . a risit to GraJham, Wilson and Smell«*_;U ; sale -will well repay cveiy maa »W woman who considers real economy" v* ' drapery, clothing, or household jjooUJ. * ." Until Saturday, July 25th, extra- "\ ordinary values in thie Reason's hip ■'■ quality and clothing seen at Graham, Wihwn, and. stock-taking sale—values which snpeal to every lover of economy. ''~\< is worth whilo to remember thate»sr/ r , article offered at this sale is of guarafr teed high quality. ' ".,,*' Thero are still those who sweep <«£'' pete in the old way, working in ck«M*» of duet, doing double work in dostißt afterwards end destroying both «*£ „. frets and furniture. Save labour , urnishings by buying a good carp» eweeper at a moderate price at Bastie, Buli and Pickerings, opposite Ball** tyne's. . • °

Messrs Eugene Spitz and Co., IW* Ladies' TaUors, 198 Casliel street, h»« recoived per s.s. Papaiiui and Ow:.jnthic an assortment of exquisite J 0 *!*"" - rials for costumes for tlio Grand »*• tional Raoos, of which there »,?•'' ■ one costume length of ,each C5!^;. J - Also received a few lengths of * W s;,<Cloth for llaco Coats. >4vo, Simple ideas, if patented, often fortunes. Consult Henry *VJ*22i* J H patent agent. 183 Hereford »tregU t «S-gsg United Service Hotel). Coa*Bit»»B^

For a thoroughly reliable watch rkit Si Clarko and Co., jewellers, US f-oloinbo street. Only standard watches stocked; ladies t-olifl gwld watches from «« Ansonia watches is tki. Waterburys rns'W. Non-Mannctio levers £os, Mocris, nmpei Walt-ham, Rotherhanis. equally cheap. C-arkc, jeueller, Colombo street. 4

PROBLEM* OF THE PACIFIC. The future relations <jf China and Japan with Australasia are a matter of growing interi&t and importance to tho inhabitants of these colonies, and the views of an experienced observer cannot, therefore, fail to be of value. Professor J. Macmillan Brown is now visiting the F;.r X"..st uiib a view to &tu<lviii£ the question .'it hr.st, liand, slid "to-morrow's issue of '"The Press" wili contain, un-ir-r the title, of -Problems of the Pacific." tlio first of a terms of articles which he will contribute to our columns. Tho first a-ticle deals with "The Sailor Peoples of the Eafrt." and will bo found most attractive and interesting.