LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 412, 22 January 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Postal authorities, advise that ttd Victoria, whioh left Sydney for Auckland on Wednesday last, has .on board an English, and Australian mail, which is.due here by .the.enpress .train/from New Plymouth on'tho 'evbniug of; Monday, January .25. .•.;.-■■ '■'-■"•••i , . ■The list of officiating nlinisters|'und<!r the Marriage, Act in, the Dominion are publishedin this, week's .Gazette.- ■.■' '.-■:' ' ; -'--'!.;. TheFire'Brigade was called out at 5.15. yesterday ■ evening l .to attend, a' gorse fire ■ off. Mount Street. ~ ; v .; ,■ Cabinet yesterday, authorised the. experidW ture of road votes amounting to £100.000, and railway- construction votes totalling £7000. , . .... ■■-. ■•.. ■; :■ The Plimmerton, Road Board is to be dissolved, and its territory merged in the area controlled by the Hutt County Council. This step Has been taken, by the latter body in Conformity with the desire of the ratepayers of the Plimmertori road; district, as expressed in a petition, presented to the Hutt County Council at a special meeting held yesterday. Theiron tower of the new first-class lighthouse at Cape Brett, Bay of Islands,'is, to be constructed by Messrs. Charles Judd and Co., of the Thames, under contract to the Publio Works Department, the price' being' between £700 and £800. The lantern has arrived from Home, end the apparatus;is.expected shortly.-. ■ • , • : \,,;. When a request for the use of Seatoun Park for the purpose of a picnic came'before ■ the Miramar Council last night, the Mayor, (Mr. C. J. Crawford) observed that;damage to the trees in the park was still very''com-. rnon. "It seems; a very strange thing," , added the' Maypr, "that vandalism of this, nature should be so prevalent in'and'about Wellington." x .- ■ '■'■'.. ~ . •;■■;,. . A,tender has been < accepted by the Govern-; ment for the erection of station buildings at Ngahere, where the Ngahere-Blackball railway joins the.main line from Groymouth ; to lieeftbn.'. The price is. about £900. > ; The Government has "also accepted tenders for the erection of a post office at Richmond (Nelson), between £700 and £800, and a police residence and stablo at Rakaia at a similar price! ■' ■ . ■'. ':'■ ~ / ' .. .- ■■■ -..j '■..; .■; \ At the. Court of Inquiry : into- the Hutt' local option poll yesterday, I Mr.;W. P. James,' S.M., who was formerly regarded as. one'or, the best returning officers m New Zealarid;. commented on the waste of money inyolved in the payment of two sots of officers—one , each for the electoral and licensing , , polls—' acting at the general elections; Hof : nad,;iio doubt in his mind that one set of officers conduced;to greater iifficioncy. ~-,.•■■ . . : :, . There was little difference in the deathrate for December recorded in Auckland, Wellington, Christoliurch, and Dunedin'. The following were the number of deaths recorded in tho' four centres,'.with.the rate, per 1000 ;of; population in parentheses—Auckland, ■ 78 : (1.07); Wellington, 69 (0.83) •■< Christchurch, 45 (0.76); -Dunedin, 48 (0.81). The births: registered were:—Auckland, 179; Wellington. 197 J Christchurch, 142; Dunedin, 127. , 'J "Tivo months' hard" was the untenable pronouncement made by one of , the justices who presided over the sitting of thoS.M. Court yesterday ■ when called upon to give a decision-in the case'of a woman charged , with insobriety. A look of alarm spread over the face of the Clerk of the Court, who reached up and whispered a few words in the ear of the justice. The J.P. showed considorablo alaority in amending the sentence to a fino of 20s. ■ . •.:•..■ . , Last night- the Union Company's ferry steamer Mafaroa was again delayed-in getting away,for Lyttolton in consequence of the late arrival of the mail train. The delays occasioned by waiting for luggage at the railway station wero responsible, in at least two cases, for passengers missing the boat. Several other intending passengers, who possessed wealth enough to chartor.a cab from tho station to the.wharf,, also had the unpleasant experience of seeing the Mararoa leavo tho wharf without them .although the vessel was about half-an-hour late. For instructions on the latest and/most- becoming style of Hairdressing, for Hair Treatment, Fucd Massriw and Shampooing, vis't Mrs. Kollestori,' Willis Street (over Car-nil's) Personal attention, advice free. Tel. .1599. (J739 There are moro.ways tha none of ■blftndin" tea, but there's, only one honest and right way, that is to blond for quality. Many teas are blended for value—that is,' teas of certain prices are. lumped together in ovder4o naire oertain of profit. Crescent Blend Tea is blended for quality, irrespective of the prices of • the teas required to make the blend. It is a scieutiflo combination of the strong , robust/teas of Dnrjooling and the fino delicate teas of Ceylon, Two shlUluga jior lb, from all ator ei,— Advt,.-..••■..•

Three members of the Hastings Fire Board are to be elected by the contributing lecal authority on Monday, February-16. /The registration of tho Auckland Builders' and Contractors' Labourers' Industrial Unipn of has been cancelled. , -" _ The quarterly statement of the as'sefs and liabilities of -the banks operating in the Dominion $ire. gazetted this week. . ' ; i Money-orders and correspondence arc forbidden by the Government to" be -forwarded to John Mcllinger, "Verona," Lent.Eiso, Burnham, Buckinghamshire,' England. : The statutory half-holiday-will be a subject of discussion at a meeting of the New Zea-land-Shopkeepers' Association; on. Monday noxt. - ■.. .; .■■> ■ Our alleged summer! According to "the Masterton Hospital diary, a man was admitted to the institution at the end of last month suffering from a ('frost-bitten foot I" The civil list at the Magistrate's Court, whioh had to be adjourned yesterday on account .of both Magistrates.being engaged on tho'Hutt licensing, inquiry, will be taken at 10130 on Monday morning. / : ■/ At tho Mount Cook Police Court- yesterdoy morning, befprb Mr. J. Coogan, J.P., two first oftenders were charged with insobriety. One was conviqtcd and discharged. The other was fined 65., in default 24 hours' imprisonment. ■ '■. :.• ;. . ': An invitation to the Hon. J. Rigg to deliver a lecture on the currency question on Thursday next will bo sent by the Trades and Labour .Council. At la.st night's meeting of the council it was deoided that the'chairman:! arid seoretary be authorised to'make arrangements for other lectures, in:the' : future - ' The Labour Representation Committee'of the Trades arid Labour Council will -bring down ■• its .bajance-slieet/next i week. ...At , .last night's meeting of the council ebmpjaint was made of the delay, which, it was stated, was due; to the secretaries, of various;unions not. sending in their reports promptly....;. ;* N : The rainfellfor Wellington last month was 2.87 inches, of which .1.45 inphes fell on December "23. . The wettest, place in , the North Island during the month wasStrathblftne.i Hangaroa, where 16.75 ; inches <were recorded, and in the South Island Otira maintained, its reputation by .registering 16.91 inches .of l rain. . ..-// / : .-- /.../-■ Tenders have beea.accepted by the Minister fof Public Works as under■:—Police residence and- lock-up ■at 'Hamilton East', 6.' Jack, I Hamilton (£Bl6 Is.: 2d.) j post omoe at St. Ba'thaiis, J. Drummey,/ Alssandra (£685 45.); station buildings on : zers railway, Rhodes; Thomas and Son, Gpro (£l7Ol. 7s; 6d.); police : station- at Thames, j:W. ; A. Clarke, Auckland (£IBB9 10s. 9d.).: ■ ; •The annual. re-union' of the "i Sixth. New Zealand Contingent, was held at Godber's Rooins/last'.evening). there ■ being' a . fairly good muster of the ; former comrades-in-arms. Captain: Mostyn Jones . presided,.. and. there wore also Lieutenant Beamish (Post and' Telegraph Rifles) and Staff-Sergeant-.Major Wood, of Christchuroli, a- former.staff--officer of/the contingent. A very pleasant evpriirig.was "spent, musical and:.other items being contributed by- several members of .the"company. ; , '~-" ; '.-■■-■•■■• ■ : . .-', . r : The smartness with which sailing dinghies may be, handled was demonstrated last evening during a race held under ..the auspices of the Thorndon Dinghy 'Sailing-) Club. Tho Ajax, in charge of. Mr. C. Moore, turned turtle, in.ja; very severe squall, and the Thehna, handled/by Mr. ;Ted Bailey,: was quickly ..to tho .rescue,. picking up the two men who were floundering m.the water within three minutes of the accident. ■ ' The 's'.b! ' Swan : was also Quickly, oh the scerie,_,and rendered assistance in righting and gettiri'g.the wator ; out of, tho :boat,-. , which was then able to. proceed home .without further/help. ' , ,"... ■'...'.-, •■';•'■':, ■.Two minutes /sufficed.: to- carry, out ..the business, for which a. special meeting of the' City Council was held yesterday, afterneph. CpuncillorsiLuko; and -Gotlbor; were apppinted ■ tov:sign, the special-rolls prepared m'con:i,ectioii.jyjth_iie_iorUicoming polls on- the ■ riiatter'of the Wadestown • tramway and - the Wadestown. and Northland water supply, and .the' general, roll for: a ; poll,"on w :other works which'" tho • cbuhoil ; / propose'' ih '■ uhderfaKe.-.: .There were,:.pre,senta't tho meeting ■the Hon. , ■T.;. W.. Hislop (ilaypr),- Councillors Shirt-' cliffo, M'Laren, M.P., Luke, .M.P., Cohen; Carmichael, Gbdb'er, MorrahyFletcher.Hales,/ ■.-'-."■.'• '' / ■ ■: -- v , ; ;■/ -;:'■ ,: -A deputation of ratepaybrs. in the Whareroa'.'.Riuing waited upon ; the Hutt" County at .its. meeting . with reference to certain circumstances surrounding the;tenantship of part-sections 18 "and.l 9, WTiareroa, 'in respeot of which the sum of £48. 9s. had been refunded to: the council recently by Mr.'O. P. Lynch . as' overpaid compensation for land- taken for road purposes. '''The land in question had been the basis of- a dispute, between Mr. Lynch/.on 'the/one, side and. pertain ratepayers on the other. ; After considerable argument on. the question- (Mr. Lynch-being also present), it was eventually, decided—the deputation having finally withdrawn—that' certain/informatibn, asked.for would be. supplied. : . ■ '.Once a- coastal - trader, the- topsail, schooner Charles arid Arthur made her final; voyage—-to-the bottom of: Cook Straityesterday. Many, years : ago the; vessel' had the misfortune to get. ashpre- at Wanganrii, and being: got off was converted into a' coal hulk, and did- good -service in Wei-. .lington. Harbour.t ■: Yesterday the .ferry. steamor Duco,. Captain Abram in command, went alongside, the hulk at 1 p.m. She took the vessel in tow, was abreast of Pencarrow at 2110 p.m., and at 3.40 p.m. the old Charles and- Arthur, .bored with Win. augurs, sank i.tbi. the bottom., Captain Abram j who conducted the: scuttling, had the elements against him, but notwithstanding this ho' sunk the hulk in 300 ft. of water. ■.-. . ■/. -._ -After her periodical trip to the : southern islands, the Government steamer Hinemoa arrived bpek at the Bluff on Wednesday evening; '-. Everything'ftt'the depots was.found in good order. A boatshed and.a boat were left pn/Disappeintment Island for the benefit of possible castaways. Our zpplpgical gardens will benefit by the Hinomoa's visit to the south. Mr. ,Geo, Allpoft, Secretary of the Marine. Department, adviEbs/that two old hair-seals arid a young one in good conditipn, which are ,on'-.board, tho Hinemoa. together: with about two dozen penguins of difTerenjt species are fpr pur local zoo.^'.The" steamer is.expected to leave to-day,for Wellington, via the W«et Coast lighthouses, 'and is expected-tp arrive, in'abont ten days' time. .", ■ : -."■' •/-When , the Methodist Conferened assembles in Wellington next month a committee will be Appointed early in its session to consider the prpposal to establish a Central Mission in tliis, city. /The Wesleyan Missions already operating in most'of- the large bitios of the Empiro are. regarded as an.impressive and [progressive form .of modern religious •■ acl.tivity. The project for Wellington emanates from the Mothodist Council, for Church Extension, whioh, during the' past'few months, , has.raised a fund of. over £2000. for "enterprises of advance, and expects,,considerably to ..augment .the fund during . the' present j [year.' There is every.reaspiitp believe that the cpnfei'once will receive-Uhe,represents-., tipns of the counciL enthusiastically,' and' will; appoint a. minister with special qualifications for tho responsible position. ' A somewhat train % incident was witnessed on Wednesday 'incrriing at Bunnythorpo (writes our travolling correspondent). The parly morning train was just pulling put froni jßunnythprpe pii its way -.to Feuding when a young'man in ,ii.frock coat and tophat;' representing a musical company, was sebii making a, despbrato rush to bpard one of tho, cars. The ti;ain .was just gathering speed, and, 1 asi"thc expression /on'■."thoybung man's face "do or, die," passengers sat: tight and watched hard. '.;■ For one instant, tho black-coated, figure' was seen on the line, then it disappeared; in what appeared to bn a headlong: dive near a cattle Stop. Thero were sounds as if somebodv were being dragged, and somo lady passengers, '.'He's under,", when:with a crash" and,,a'-]aV. tho engirie-dmer put' bn the' emetgency brake, and.'the train stood still.'. Seiao passengers whp got out in fear that the worst had happened were astonished to, seo tho young man, dust-covored mid nerye-shdken, but safe.' It. appeared that he. slippnd as he clutched at' the handrails, and .was falling and being dragged at the very instant the emergency, brake was put on. , The prompt action of tho engine-driver jovotl. the youna rnau. from.' a scrioue injury, if uot from, deaths \-. .' • ■"" • '

• The Rarigitikei Sawmillers' Association has: "'•'-"' arranged to interview the Hon. J. A. Millar(Minister for Railways) on Tuesday next, re- .// garding freights on;timber. .' . ~ ".. :.', ' The.South Wellington Horticulturar Show / > was visited by a large number of people yesterday. afternoon and evening. A good enow : 7 of flowers, etc., interested the elder people, -/ .- while : the.!'cabbage patch ,, .proved the- pre-.r-mier attraction for' the chilurenY ' Great in- •-. ■ terest was taken in the voting for. the decorated tables. / -;.. : . , :-, '- K ■■' ■.'■■■ :. .■Federation of Labour formed .the'.jubject ; V : of a .question put by Mr. J. Purclias at the -. /' .meeting of iho Trades :arid labour Council -I' last night, . In answer- to his. inquiry, as to."' ; the progress of the movement the secretary "■ '. of the' executivo committee stated that he", .'•;' ; had written to the various trades councils > J on the matter; The Westland-.Trades Coun- :' ■'■' oil was indifferent, but the others, who had. ■.■-.'■ replied were in favour of pushing the matter :: ahead./-.,' ' - ,":. .'■-■.'•■: ■■:: -./';- \--.v. ;■ "The Newmarket (Auckland) Borough Coun- .' ml recently approached the Government with : a view to getting-.a. clock.installed in the .;■ tower of the new post office in'the borough.." At.a recent; meetingbf. the council aletter / was read fromthe Postal Department stating".- .' that the Government did not.usually supply". ' tower clocks for, offices like those at New--■/. .market. If, however, the .residents would/;/;/ undertake-to. ; provide half the cost of a clock : / •costing'up to £70,, the Postmaster-General '■ ' would consider the matter of the other half ■ --■ being paid-by the; Government.': No action. ■ was taken m regard to the letter.. ■' / ■ . Mr. P.- C. Atkinson, well-known' in -Wellington, cricketing and football "ciroles,-:-on the eve of his departure for Wanganui was ten- - dered a farewellat the Y.M.C.A. "Mr. Aitken, '■■ -: in handing him a,shaving outfit, spoke highly ■/ of (Mr. , : Atkinson's connection, not .bnly/with '■"■■. the ..senior.- oricket; but/with-depart- -: . nients of' .the-; association, which ■ mean more ■f: ■ or' less ■ hard work,. such, as the Boys'-.Work 7 '"':■■;. ■ and;.the Strangers' Tea -Cqmmitferz-i.-Mr.'-v.. , '. Atkinson,.;in; responding,- / -saidy.ihat'^vpa : ■; •though ! ;he had only/ been 'a member of -the 1, association for a; yeaij.^he.ihad/.made.more .:./. firm-friendships in. the time than he thought "?"> possible. , ': ■■■■/ /,■:'■ "■'/■'. ,' -;:./.- v.. ■■: V:: : - "k A Masterton '-man, who" wasi/leaving hiev> \, '■ office in town at a late• hour' bi a : receufc; /t evening, on" coming: out into th&"- darkrie'ss ; found two..men' in./close'proximity to/the /; door, apparently 'awaiting" his : :exit.\ 'One. //'; immediately brushed ■in-to.him/.'-and: curtly.'. : -; demanded a match. : "Right," responded /-.'■;' the. resident cheerfully, l and in .the twinkling • ■ of an eye admihisterea to the insolent jndivi- :. dual such a .beautiful "right-hander" in the. :' 7 eye that the fellow went sprawling oil to tho: '■•■ pavement,: his companion , making '.off without'.. .'"':' ado. ■•■ The resident ■ referred ,to happened' to - ; be an old hand, at the-'science "of self-defence, ■':' ':■:■■ and though : fairly/well up in years/he gave. /■ the two persons a:decided' surprise;; and he' : :: pursued his way home in>peace/after- their : confusion. : y//;' : r- .-/■.;./ ;-■ >!>: ///-/ ; -/"'V ; ■" '■■'-, -The annual report of tho. Wellington Conn ■'.':' mercial-Travellers' and Warehousemen's As- ■ sociatioa states .that the sui-plus amounts to ... ■ i £9954 6s. 6d.j made up as follows :--General / / account, £8324 ss; j relief fund,£l23o Is; 6d.; -/., mortuary benefit fund, £400: total,' £993463. ■",'- 6d.; as against £9693-.-165..:1 d. November,': : . ■ 30,// 1907; ■ being '■ an: t-increase,-.'Oof':'' ■■ : £260 / 105..; _ sd. / '/Tho / relief '; .-fund: : '.-j ;, . shows, .an ■'■ increase /of ' : £72; i ; 13s.'-, .-"-for- / ';. the> year..- In the revenue '..abebuntj" the ■re-:/./ ceipt-s-from/all 'sources: are £132 .18s: / 6d.. / more.than.-:those.-:of; last .year,/while:the ex-/-?., • penditurehae decreased.^..£s9,2B,',sd.'.:../.The/-'/' members' shows a total membership' / \ of-492, as compared with.49B last-.year,■ clas- , -■/ vsified as follows:-rThe c6m.mitteairegrets : to- -v; report. the . decease;; of'-.;' several: /'mem- . : ■ bers,":': Vizir-Associatidn,/-.Mr. ''?o.i/'M'Ar- r die; :, Town ■ Members,'-.. Messrs.'' R. "> E..■: ■•':- "Bettymo, : C. W. Benbow,' and ■ Av' A, Bar-;' 'i:; • nett... The committee" recpmmehds.that a fur-: -i*. •ither slim- of £50 ,be/.added",to tHe-mortuary. -.■•.'"-' benefit.fund.suspense/account, .and.that'im-/./'/ mediate steps be teken-. to/establish-a.rcor-'•■/",■; 'iiuS.n'';- , biilent j fund-by a' s_um,'.tp; be // > fixed upon/'being'paid' to'/the.heirs of w ; -. sociation //mombers/ who ; may :" die 'Vhile '"/"■ .fina'ttdial;';';' ■■■':; : ./ , v v '■■ ■■''.'■'?■'":''■ ■■ ;: /'i/ :; i" ■ ■ '"--:/ ; '• " There is.in.course of;erection- in Ghuzhee.' ■ .'•' Street/tie''first'.isteel-fraine./building.. to/be./;' : .constructed pn'jthe'.most:apprbved'Ajnerican -.. methbds^-the'style''of constru'etibn-in,which■/. i ; cath'storybears'its'own'.'weightV This is the:<' '■ ■'four-story, and 'offices being erected- ■■:'■.'■ for Cadburyis, froin the.plans,-of ,:Messfs,/' /" boggard and: Prouse..: In.this'ibuilding iskeleton : frame, of, 'heavy■■ steel.'.girders and '- : stanchions is'.-'solidly Criveted ,'togeth'erV then-'- ■• each girder and/stanchion is encased in spe-.':, ■ \cially-prepared ; ■';• cpnerete, : (reinforced .with.: , steel'.wire), -which,/,in'■•'the case of the exterior glrders, : niakesa shelf."on'.which"to ~ ;erect the brick,walls, Sα'that each section of /_;j ;brick\vork is really/only: a panelj-aiid could '■'" bo knocked; out" at ;any time /.without,. im- / pairing.the stability'.of the structure, as .-a i whole, ; Assujning, : for; instance; that a',/■;.: fife occurred next door, and" a portion of the brickwork perished through intense heat,: that part- could/be taken "away" arid< replaced ■■ •, without the. slightest trouble.. The; floors .'are .. of-reinforced concrete; designed' to 'carry. 3001b. to the square fpot. The-strength is igiven .to"!th'e,-Jobrs by steel■ rods,/!only six "./ luches apart, hooked on the girders' on both' . : sides of each section, and then/boxed in with / .. concrete.. The . electric/lift .'/shaft vie ■ con- " - !structed 'on similar lines. The architect's claim that thisis-the, truest form of steel-framo. .'-.' building, that it is economical in the'end owing to: space its saves (the;walls.are'.only 14. ■ inohes in thickne"ss)j,and that, it is.practice;■..'. -. .aUy.'fire'-and .-barthquake; ■.'proof ;■.- 'The build- , ing is being ..erected by 'Messrs.... Sandera - Bros., and is to:'cost approximately £5000. ;,-