LOCAL AND GENERAL,

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 244, 8 July 1908, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL,

Tho Brindisi mail, which arrived in Auckland on Sunday afternoon per s.s. Moana, reached Wellington by the Manawatu, express last night.

■ The Institute of Marino Engineers has donatcd £10 to the funds of the Wellington Hospital. ;., ■ _

Mr. Holdsworth, general manager of tho Union Steam Ship Company, is visiting Wellington in connection with tho negotiations between the Harbour Board and the Patent Slip Company.

Yesterday's meoting of the Benevolent Trustees was attended by the Rev. \V. A. Evans (chairman), Mrs. Darvall, and Messrs. A. W. Hogg; M.P.; R. Robertson, P. G. Bolton, and H. Cook. The number of inmates at the Ohiro Home was reported to be 95 ,(67 males and 28 females). -The, only other business transacted was tho investigation of relief cases.

A Press Association telegram from Gisborne states that the postponement of the welcomo to tho British footballers at Palmerston was not due (as stated in a message from' that place) to tho team being barbound at Gisbome. The delay was caused through the Monowai meeting heavy weather in the Bay, of Plenty and the cargo shifting. The sea at Gisborne was calm, and the steamer could have been worked had she arrived.

At.a meeting of the Maori Congress Committee on Monday the names of Dr. Mason (Chief Health Officer), Messrs. Hamilton (Curator of the Colonial Museum), W.Bird (Inspector of Native Schools), H. N. Holmes (Y.M.C.A.), J. B. Hockworth (Superintendent of Maori Councils), and J. H. Phillips (Interpreter of the Legislative Council) were added to tho list of the Executive. The new members wero all present at the meeting. It was decided to hold the opening ceremony in the Town Hall instead of in the concert room. At tho Congress Lady Ward is to preside over the women's conference, which will be held in tho tea-rooms of. tho Hotel Windsor. ' -

The following donations were received and acknowledged by tho Society for the Prevention of Cruelty, to Animals at its meeting yostorday aftomoonMr. M. Chapman, K.C., Messrs. R. Fletcher and Co., Stewart Dawson and Co., and the Gear Meat Company, £1 Is. each, £4 45.; Mr. Justice Cooper and Mrs. Wilson, £1 each, £2; tho Mayor (tho Hon. T. W. Hislop), Mr. F de J. Clere, and tho Wairarapa Farmers' Co-operative Association, 10s. Gd. each, £1 lis. Gd.; Mrs. llabe, 10s.: Messrs. H. Pollen, L. W. Ludwig, L. G, Reid, T. Humphries, W. L. Tripp, W. C. Kensington" H. W. Lloyd, W. and J. Staples, Coulls, Culling and Co., Ltd., Tlios. Ballinger and Co., and C. M. Banks, Ltd., ss. each, £2 15s.;' Mr. J. B. Hopkirk, 25.; total, £11 2s. 6d.

There are about 220 members on the Council of tho Maori Congress, which is to commenco its sittings at the Sydney Street Hall at 11 a.m. to-day, and of these it is expected that 100 will attend the present session. Mr. C. R. Parata explains that these membors are ■ mostly ,the younger chiefs of hapus extending from the North Cape to the Bluff. One of the chief objects of the Congress will bo tho presenting to Parliament of a petition, signed by 3000 Maoris, whieh sets out that after certain lands havo been sot apart for tho maintenance of their owners, they should be allowed to utilise the balance with tho samo freedom as in the caso' of -the pakeha. Other matters to bo dealt with are the liquor question among'the .Natives; the education of tho young; and tho abolition of Maori Land Boards (calculated to save tho country £30,000 per year) in favour of a system of land control more on a plane with that enjoyed by the pakeha.

In a letter from the South received -by tlie Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at yesterday's moeting, tho writer stated that _ho tecoiitly visited a large meat-freezing works, and he was horrified to witness tho methods employed in slaying tho'bullocks. After the animal had been brought down by repeated blows from a pithing instrument, tho prostrate body was hauled out by a chain and pulley attached to one'of tho hind legs, a hole was ma.do in the back of tho head with a tomahawk, and a long cano deliberately thrust into tho "still living" brain and worked up and down. Tho tense quivering of tho hind lot; which was free convoyed to tho writer's mmd tho unmistakable impression that tho poor animal was suffering indescribable agouy, but tho paralysis induced by the severance of the spinal cord provonted it from giving vocal expression' to its sufferings. It also seemed a needlessly cruel pmctico in connection with the • slaughter of sheep and lambs to have tho living animals looking on whilo their comrades' throats wero being cut immediately beneath them by the butchers, and tho carcasses flayed and disembowelled. A look' of 'terror'and concern was patent' in tho eyes of the poor victims awaiting their turn. Tho opinion was expressed by members present that a bullock might possibly liavo some consciousness as to other animals being 'slaughtered, but that it could hardly apply to'Bheop.

Tho. hearing of tho case of Williams and Kettle v. the Official Assignee in Bankruptcy or tlio property of Henry Geo. Harding, a bankrupt, will bo commenced in the Court of Appeal this morning. "Tho public evidently prefers the .beauties of tho organ to the beauties of tho scenery," said ono member of the committee at an attenuated meeting of .the Scenery Preservation Society held in the Town Hall, last evening.

Tlio monthly meeting of the Trustees of the Home for Aged Needy was. held yesterday, iho business transacted was" of an informal nature, thero being only two members present—Messrs. J. G. W. Aitkcw, M.P., and J. .Danks. Accounts amounting to £99 9s. lid. were, subject to confirmation, passed fcr payment. The old people at the Home wero reported to be doing very frell, and matters in general were stated to be in a satisfactory condition. •

Tho aim of the Wellington Benevolent Trustees is not so much to support indigent persons as, whenever possible, to enable them to support themselves. With this end ( in viow, they recently subsidised a collcc-' tion made by a man who had lost a leg, and Wished to purchase a wooden one in order to undertake somo light work. An application mado yesterday for a similar subsidy started a'discussion as to tho wisdom of the expenditure, but calculations went to show that if aid were given in this direction a man could be taken off • the books of the Board after an expenditure of less than a year's maintenance.

_ The exhibition for which a special building is to ha erected oil the Auckland Town Ha.fi site in connection with "N.Z. Industries Week " will embrace a number of working Kpdels, and an endeavour is being made by the Industrial Association to secure a- representative display of the work being carnod on at . the Technical School. It is also proposed to exhibit for tho information of visitors specimens of the minerals of Auckland province, including a. collection of kauri gum. A suggestion had . been mado that as the display is suro to bo visited by very many hundreds of the American sailors, space should be sot aside, and a really representative collection of Maori carvings, weapons, implements, and curios exhibited.

Th<i death occurred at the Victoria Hospital (Wellington) on Sunday of Mr. W. J. lloydhouse, father of Mr. W. F Roydhouse, editor of the Wairarapa "Daily News,": Mr. T. R. Roydhouse, editor of the "Sunday Times," Sydney, and Mr. J. C. Roydhouse, employed in the Government Printing Office at Perth. The dccoased, who was 76 years of-age, was. formerly in the employ of the Telegraph Department, but for forty years past lie has settled at' Grey toy 11, in the Wairarapa. Tho death of his wife at. Sydney was recorded ten days ago. Ko leaves a family of three sons and five daughters, two of the latter being settled -in Australia, and • threo in New Zealand The' funeral will take place at 10 a.m. to-day. '

Seen in reference to the movement on the part of tho retail butchers urging the city to acquire tho property of the Banks Moat Company in the Ngahauranga Gorge for tho. purpose of abattoirs, the Mayor stated that they had already paid Mr. Garrett £3100 for his property in the Gorge, but the acquisition of the Banks Company's property would save a tremendous lot in draiuage, as it was a much better site. On tho other hand, there might be a disadvantage in that tho works might be on'too small a scale for tho rerequirementa of city abattoirs. The City Engineer is to report 'on the property for the enlightenment of the Council. Plans aro already prepared for the erection of abattoirs oil tlio Garrott si'tc.

"I havo como to soo what.to dowith.theso bills," said a man who appeared before the Benevolent Institute yesterday,; producing several accounts from the Hospital. Ho explained that 110 had. no money at present, and, though lie had the prospect of a job, any little surplus ho might get over the cost of living would not suffice to meet the bills.: Mr. Bolton fixed the matter by saying that lie would seo that the accounts were written off.. After the meeting, ho explained that all accounts were sent, in by r the .Hospital in this manner, and should ; be investigated and either written off or collected. A fixed charge of 255. a week was made, 1 and at pre-, sent amounts totalling many thousands of pounds were outstanding. Some portion of this could, no doubt, be, collected, dnd in order to simplify the process he had constantly advocated a regular investigation of all accounts. .

As a bankrupt of tbo Jewish- persuasion was about to take the oatli at a meeting ,of creditors yesterday, he put on his hat, in with the usual practice of Jews. "Take' off your hat," said the • Official Assignee (Mr. A. Simpson). The bankrupt protested that ho was a Jew, and it was usual to have tho head covered while tafe ing the oath. " You ,can't do it here," replied the Assignee, and the bankrupt went through tho ceremony with his head uncovered. Provision is made "for such' cases in an-Imperial Act of 1838, which declares an oath to be binding if administered in such form as' tho person taking the oath declares to be binding. In the- "New Zealand Justices of the Peace,", by the late Mr. Ju'stioe Johnston, chapter' 3, dealing .with tho .law of ovidence and the exercise of discretionary power, section 139 (Oaths and Affirmations of Witnesses, etc.), states: '.'Jews' are sworn on the five books of Moses with their heads covered."

.'At a bankruptcy meeting yesterday morning, the Official Assignee (Air. A. Simpson) roFused permission to a person to represent two creditors. He said that one of tho creditors (who were in partnership) would havoto attend; A prosy could only bo allowed when the creditor was ten inijes away. Tho agent: "I have attended many, of these meetings before, and this is the first tiino 1 have been objected to." The Assignee: " That is my ruling. In fact, a solicitor cannot speak unless I allow him. I have decided that until the Act is amended in that, respect to allow solicitors to attend meetings, and speak, but not to vote."- The agent then left thp room.'. Tho section of the Bankruptcy Act upon, which the Assignee relies is scction 1)6. (iiij, which reads as followsA creditor residing or bein<j| absent more than ten miles from the place.of meeting may givo a general proxy to any person and any other creditor may give a general proxy to his manager, or clerk, or any other person in his regular employment.". '.

, When asked his opinion on the Prime Minister's building scneme, his Worship tho Mayor (Hon.'T. AY. Hislop) was rather inclined t'o the idea that it was a good one, though he had not gone into the details. The widening of 13owen and Museum Streets .was certainly, he said, something in keeping with tho policy of tho City Council, but ho was not sure, that the closing up of Sydney Street, as was suggested, would meet with favour, i'or a couple of years past'there.had been talk of constructing a branch tramline' from Lambton Quay to Tinakori ltoad by way of Charlotto Street, Sydney Street, and Glenbervio lioad, and sooner-or later it was a work that would have to be.considered. Besidos Sydney Street was one of tho main thoroughfares leading from tho Government railway station' to that thickly-populated part of - tho town in the vicinity of the southern end of Tinakori Road. In the opinion of another expert, if thp Government acquired that part of Sydney Street that divided the grounds of the Parliamentary Buildings from Government Houso "and widened Bowen Stroet, it would bo necessary to acquire Quinton's corner when the shortcut tramline to Tinakori Road''was constructed, because of the acute angle at that point. ITor that reason our informant did not favour tilt! closing of Sydney Street, as ih' the case of that thoroughfare the street corners were quite practicable for tramway purposes. The proposal of the Government to cut up the blpck now occupied by the Government Buildings into building (leasehold)- sections has not created any. excitement, for as a matter of fact tho trend of business, as well as population, is towards tho other end of the city—south and east. The suggestion to move tho railway station any further southward is not favoured, as it is thought that tho lines and buildings in connection with such a big terminus would cut off communication between Thorndon aud tho "new wharves. that aro being built north of tho Glasgow wharf.

Colonel Hosltin, Chief Socrctarv of the Salvation Army for Australasia, and who was at one timo in charge of its operations throughout New Zealand, is conducting a number of meetings in tho Vivian Street Hall, and will be present at a united reception to-night.

jJ\ *. , , . .ri The premises of Rouse, Black andt Son, carriage Street, weras broken into on as far as can Kee ascertained nothing -.wars "stolen. '■ The police fi believe-tho work boys Advice received br, l ithij''polico statos that d a - four-roomed house: atiAkuta, near Master--ton, was destroyed tire'St 7.20 p.m. Mfx Monday. ■ Tho building, t vtfhich was occupied i • Sidcole, was, insured .in the Victoria* Office and tho conteatsi'ffi 4;lio State Officß. . iho lire is supposeAltdy hafe originated f through a defective chwirn^y. There are as a nilc^he l avy bookings this time of the year Company's £ steamers which make ,i(hoiwip *to the Island#.. Iho Company anticip'a,jp >li(:av-iy bookings ,by their new Islands traciytlvSua, which leaves £ Auckland oil Tuesday,,\J%. 21', for Tonga,,, ■samoa, I'ni, and Sydney. .'A'full descriptianr of the Tofua,..which is fitted andi finished throughout, appeared ins our columns. .The of the Unionn Company advise- that bQoUiWgs'ftom Welling 1 ton for tho Tofua are Well up" to expecta«j lions. -j s ;. j. , .In a letter to the Sotyettofyr the Proven./ -tion of Cruelty to Anirpjilsl'hrcfiived at yew terday s meeting, the '.writ&KVJrew' attention: to a matter that camo'undoMis notice oiiia recent Sunday aftei-iiooii. .■''J'A 1 four-hoit® drag, containing, I from twenty?, five to thirty young meiiy(ftiotbaJlers, I-be?' lieve), passed mo, and it B was 'quite evident that the horses were account of the heavy roadgeotf; the way out, The 1 left-hand leader was ba : uh'od m perspira» tion, and seemed to have no tgio'Slcft in li^at' all, and, to all appearance; tffc find it haid to keep up with the other?,. A't the time lit' passed me, the driver - belabouring -iit with the wliip.. -Those■ in i t-lid-1 brake seemed to take no notice of 'the -BQOT' hi'utes, contented themselves with- ahoiitniW ana yelling at different people alongjtfhfffittid." . <ffio Inspector (Mr. Seed) explairtoiithatitho.hofsa' • was in a. deplorable condition.no The matter, < was left in tho hands_ of !'■ An amendment to tho. Aiibifrfltion Act, tabled by the Opposition, aras • responsible for the defeat of tho Government at list ' night's sitting df the UiiioneTairliainent in ' the Y.M.C.-A. Building. - (Mr. . A. H. Casey, took the chairiatiij p.m., be* foro a fair "house," and "tlibp adjourned' debate on the Arbitration Act "waSitaken. iMr. W. A. Compton (Opposition) tabled ten amend*' ment to tho Bill'introduced bjf Mo Honi : the Minister for Lands pd Lab'otn:o'(Jlr. Glan-.. ville Hicks). 1 An,animatod deHa'to followed, and resulted in tho Opposition.'poa'fefendmeut being carried. Tho Governtent.-'fchWupon resigned. Tho following .tookjipart.. in the "» debate-Messrs. G. .!Schmißt(i;. Leming,; O'Kane, Budd (Minister 1 fßr klESofcation), ■.' M'Gann, Nicklin (Minister -for pustoms), Wolfe, Buchler, M'Kenzie,'aHdfOomoton. A letter was received (Mr. A. C. Bretherton), ment from ''politics," and flioioirrablb members, on tho motion of a unanimous vote of ser- . vices; ■ "| v-.; , : t , \ During the" Wellington tion' Society's meeting last pre-sid-ent (Mr.' W. L. Meek) roentioifedithatho had been, waited on., by an oldblWejlington resident in , the. person of MrT.To'nk3» who had said that it was his intsnMon' tqitfight'tooth and nail against the Qits) Council's' proposal : to cut up tho TowfeSßeltfUffo" recreation ground purposes. ' Mniaßnksjwisiied to know what attitudo the / to take in .the matter. Mr. ■ lington would have'been all thoilbett'er .ofcif it >had possessed more citizens} ofcth(i'stamp. ' of Mr. Tonks years ago. He; ctidi whether those present cared ,io "ekpro'ss'.aii*- -. opinion 'on the matter. Mr.[ CO E. /rWardm. (the well-known surveyor) saiiitbat strongly : iii faydur of tho he- !c tion. " What is the use of'tHk^owni'.Beitf' t- ; in its present condition?',' hesrisked^.V-Let 1 >;V them use it for.stennis and: ; other sport. It is absolutely • ' it is utilised 1" The meetingl'jdfecidecL, that • 1 the Society was-not. called upon ;to Kpress : an opinion on the subject). ■ ? 3 : ' At the annual meeting of thd Institute of, Marino Engineers' held on ;|)ie; to-j! port presented stated that th®tyearV began " with a membership 0f'"449, Eadv;> died, three had been transferridiito„'oth'er .districts, and seven ,had'left' KewKZ&land, ■; while. 89 had- been . elected' duringntnfrJ'year, •' \ \- bringing lip the'total membersbipTlkrHlate to 517. Reference was made: to dolia&d®fliem.' -b. bors—namely, Mr. H. A. M'Gregorf an old J/f and' esteemed member of. the Mititiite,, anc < s lato inspector of machinery; Mr) GifeM'-Xu; > < tyre, late second engineer of thffTuUAekal; > Mr. J. P. Stephens (late of ?.Mtesi*SP' l - , Ste-.'!■ phenson and Cook, Port Gilroy (late chief ;of the Kaituna)!,BTvho> died I as the. result of ia railway. accidonitjatiiLyt-; f ■ telton; Mr. E. V. Hood (son of tlie hdrbour-' j .. . master: of New Plymouth), whb. cfefc'from i <• injuries received on board the Emtuhtßi'-80-i i ference was made to tho growth of thettech- \ . nic'al and' general library,' and. fcote's.ofcrj thanks were passed to Messrs.' Fl Ciennell,t\ R. 'T. Turnbull, D. 'K. Blair, .D. and W.-G. T. Goodman for-gift£tVo&lbooks;.; and periodicals. > , . ' ''/id;.' 1 There was something like a 'Mfbteßi" at" the . meeting of tho Scenery -:.iWserVation' • Society last 'ovening. The sooietjjii'-hSs' not'i 1 been in a satisfactory conditidn ofot some' -' years past, and last evening'_MiQ &.^Hurley'-' ; -' moved that the City Council : be fa'sked to~''. take over tho control of its resorees'V". On?. 1 tho motion being put to itl'l was defeated, by four votes to , < v upon Mi'.- Hurley stated thai; tWpresideiit;-''• (Mr. W.VL. Meek) had not. vote'd.'ti.'itAs 'tho' ; latter'. made 'no move in the idiHoiition of, voting, Mr. Hurley, said ■warmly, -'i think it rjght. We camo hcre;oWof«ng -for '• t-lio presidfent. to take a strong, this 4 matter, yet:ho leaves it to a priyato'teferabor. ii to tako the--.odium, of moving tlili resolu- ( tion. . In', matter he has takbh'f.np an ;■ ! attitude—well,l don't like to ohhriiclerise ; i it exactly-t-r-1" "Really," saifliiMr.: C. } E. Ward, "I don't think the president deserves this.: /i There is no. call forlihoi-'ehnir- | man to vote (Mr. Hurley—"Yes, ilifere-is."), -i except when the voting is equal. .lt;don t \ know much '.about the. conduct ofinmbetingSi" , 5 but I 'think that is so." Mr. Glasgqy agreed with the speaker. At this Mr. Shirley advanced upon- his liat and; coat 'i but, thinking better of it, resumesJ .seat, Tho President Said ho: was not incfav t Qiir .of.. ' winding up' unless 1 the meeting waff'j llnarii-' mous, and as' Mr. Monaglian had (Offered to' ' do the collecting/ and Mr.- Morris hidi&ffered „ f to carry oil. tlieV secrotaml workjilhi&JvoM would be in favour of carrying on. \\ j'.':,-