LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Evening Post, Volume LII, Issue 135, 29 October 1896, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

There is no quotable change in the position of the money market, says the New Zealand Trade Review of to-day, and those interested in finance are looking with some concern to the outcome of the approaching Presidential election in the United States. Bank rates are unaltered, still standing as quoted below. In the open market money Is in ample supply, and demand not particularly active. The "building companies are still offering 4 per cent, for 12 months' deposits, and lending rates ma^ again be quoted 4J to 6 per cent., the majority of transactions being done at 5 to 5£ per cent. Cabinet has decided to purchase Mf. Walter Drake's farm at Johnsonville for a workmen's village settlement. T?he pr6t>erty, which consists of 331 acres, is situated within & few hundred. yards of the railway station.' It has also been decided to'p'urchase 4128 acres of the Matamate Estate, Auckland (formerly the property of Mr. J. C. Firth), and 13,341 acres of Waikato lands, belonging to the Assets Realisation Board, made up as follows .-—6528 acres of the Okauia Estate, 2711 acres of the Karapi'ro Estate, 4102 acres of the Rangiatea Estate, comprising sections Nos. 1, 6, and part of No. 12, Wfcikekau Block. The following appropriations have been made by tbe Cabinet: — Whangamomona Improved I*arm* Settlement, expenditure £100; Merrivale Estate, expenditure £250 ; Whangarei-Kamo Railway extension, ex* penditure £3000. A portion of the Miramaf Estate, on the road to Worser Bay, has been offered to the Wellington Racing Club for a racecourse, and some of the stewards are inclined to accept the offer. A Small wharf has recently been erected in Evans's Bay, close to the tunnel which runs through the hill on the estate; < and it is pointed out that passengers from town could be landed within a few yards bt the course in 15 minules after leaving the Queen's Wharf. An excellent road leads on to the ground. The club's lease of the Hutt Park has still 21 years to run, but in consequence of some friction which has arisen between the cjub and the trustees of the Park, there is a feeling that a cdtJrse^Bhttuld be made either at Miramar or some othei locality near the city. The ballot fdr the first appropriation o! the Petone Co-operative Building Society took place last evening. Mr. J. T. Sing, Chairman of Directors, congratulated the members on being able to have the first ballot so soon after the commencement of the society, and stafbd that up to last night ' 526 shares had been allotted. Messrs. W. , G. Lodder and J. G. Price were appointed scrutineers, and the first number drawn was that of Mr. A. Burns. As Mr. Burns was not present or represented, after waiting the time fixed by the rules (10 minutes) the draw was declared forfeited, and a second • draw took place, when Mr. W. Inglis was successful. As the holder of two shares he - becomes entitled to a loan of £200 free of interest. It was discovered yesterday that a mean and malicious piece of mischief had been done on the Petone Cricket Club's ground. A hole about the width of a spade was found to have been dug in the pitch in a line with and 2ft from the block, and another sod was also turned over about 12ft in front of the crease. The club has experienced considerable difficulty in getting its new ground into order, and the pitch is now completely spoiled for this year. .. At St. Mary's Cathedral. Hill-street, last evening, Miss Kelly, the late organist, received a handsdrae stand-lamp as a wedding gift from the members of the choir, with whom she had been associated for a number of years, first as a singer and later as organist. Mr. Ciraino, choirmaster, made the presentation, Mr. R. A. Loughnan seconding him. Mr. L&ishley suitably replied on behalf of the recipient. The burglar alarm contrivance patented by Mr. M. M'Dermott, which has been set up „ in Mesirg. Cook and Gray*! office. Concealed in a certain portion of the office is a small switch connected by wires with an electric battery, and also with every door, lock, and window in the office. When an intruder stands in front of the safe, a bell will ring violently and continue ringing until the switch is' turned off. The sama thing occurs when any one attempts to | tamper with any of the doors or windows. A working model representing a bousa fronting a street is also shown by Mr. M'Dermott. It has two bells, one inside and one outside the house. Any attempt to muffle or otherwise tamper with the outside bell sets the inside one wringing violently. Another point of the invention is, that it any of the concealed wires are cut or interfered with, the bells are set ringing. The invention will supply a want wherever-* as in Wellington just now— thieves are plentiful.

Thefe were 113 civil cases on the list at the Magistrate's Court this morning. This is probably almost a record for an ordinary Court day. Twenty-four were defended cases. ' The total value of imports, including specie, into the colony during the September quarter was £2,050,050. This, says the New Zealand Trade Review, is the first time since the September quarter of 1886 that our imports have reached a total of two millions. The increase on the corresponding period of 1895 is nearly £270,000, about £114,000 of which occurs at Auckland, and £140,000 is divided in nearly equal proportions between Dunedin and Christchurch. The year ending 30th September shows, apart from specie, an increase of £863,731. The advance in the North Island is £465,028, and that in the South £405,790. The value of exports for the quarter is £1,334,087, a slight increase compared with the corresponding period of 1895. The total for the year, according to the Review, shows an increase upon 1894-5, apart from specie, of £652,288, the North Island having improved by £382,436, and the South Island by £268,575. According to a statement made on the authority of the Government Insurance Commissioner (in reply to an assertion that in consequence of the loss made on the temperance section it had been found neces- . sary to merge this section into the general section), in December, 1885, the general section showedalargesurplusand the temperance section a deficiency of something under £3000. This was expected, as the temperance section had only existed 3} years. Brom that date the two sections were worked as one, except as regards the bonuses, which wgre calculated upon the mortality profit on the two olasses of risks. For the five years ending 1890 the mortality profit was proportionately equal ia the two sections, whilst in 1891, '92, and '93, the profit was slightly greater proportionately in the temperance section, and temperance bonuses slightly higher. A meeting of the Wellington Liberty , League was held in the Exchange Buildings last.night. Mf. C. F. Worth, who presided, said they had met to consider how to combine themselves into a solid body, and to propose what steps should be taken to forward their interests. On the motion of Mr. T. K. Macdpnald it was resolved to hold a public meeting during the next fortnight, and a committee, consisting of Mesdamei Shortt and Doby, Messrs. J. Young, Worth, T. K. Macdonald, E. H. Beere, and A. S. Menteatb, was appointed to make the necessary arrangements. It was also resolved that the same committee should act as an necutive, pending the appointment of permanent officers at the public meeting. In reply to a question, Mr. J. Young said the object of the League was to steer clear of all political obligations. Their platform was sufficiently broad, to take in men and women of all shades of political, opinion, and their greajk object was to protect their League from all encroachments. The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (Mr. J. D. Ritchie) and the Government Veterinarian (Mr. Gilruth) will leave for Hawkes Bay early next week on business in connection with the itock diaease in that part of the colony. To-day is the 29th anniversary of the foundation of the Wellington City Rifles. • A claim by Oliveorona, McDonald & Co. against the New Zealand Times Company for £21 for paper supplied to the defendant company, was decided by Mr. Wardell, S.M., yesterday afternoon. The defence was that the plaintiffs had agreed to take out the value of the paper in advertisements in the New i Zealand Mail. Mr. Wardell nonsuited the plaintiffs, with £2 2s costs. A sailor on the vessel Mary Ann Doreen was seriously injured about the face yesterday through being struck by a log which was being slung on board. Mr. Fitzgerald attended to the man and sewed up his face. The police are informed that a boardinghouse, the property ct James O'Callaghan, which was Occupied by H. Bagley, was £ destroyed by fire at Maktui on Tuesday. The building was insured for £350, and the furniture for £150. Incendiarism is suspected. At the meeting of the Melrtse Borough Council last night it was decided to add 19 per cent, to all outstanding rates as soon as the six months from the date of their becoming due have expired. We are authorised to state that there is no foundation for the report that & Lyttelton syndicate has made an offer for the Wellington yacht Maritana. On the civil side at the Magistrate's COurt this morning the following cases went by default :— W. H. S. Moorhouse v. J.,L. Gages £7 10s 2d ; Dresden Piano Co. v. Thomas Preston, £6 I6s 9d ; Executors of the estate of J. C. Woodford v. Patrick Kearney, £8 6s; Trustees in the estate of P. A. Rive v. Thomas Joyce, £2 Is 8d • E W. Mills & Co. (Limited) v. John V. Paton, £22 2* 6d; J. Nathan & Co. v. Alfred Burling, £5 15s 3d; Butler Bros. v. A. S. M'Alli9ter, £9 10s 3d; Commercial Agency v. F. Peel;, £4 10s ; same V. T. Olphert, £3 95.; W. H. Quick v. H. Ferris, £3 4s 2d. . In the judgment summons case of Harcourt & Co. v. F. Harding, the defendant was ordered to pay £3 5s 6d by instalments. The Mungaroa stream affords good fishing this year. One local follower of the " gentle sport" secured four dozen fine trout, averaging over three-quarters of a pound each, on Saturday afternoon last. A cabman named Win. Shepherd was admitted to the Hospital yesterday with a badly-injured back, caused by his being thrown from his cab. The tender of Messrs. Zajonskowski Bros. ha» been accepted for the erection of a new Post Office at Marten. Mr. Andrew Collins has been nominated fty the Operative Bakers' Union and the Building Trades Labourers' Union for the racanl teat on the Board of Conciliation. This is how the Napier Fire Brigade "gets back "at Mr. F. Pirani, M.H.R., for having opposed in Parliament the usual Government concessions for the Fire Brigades Association :—" That a vote of thanks be accorded to Mr. F. Pirani, M.U.R., for his action with reference to the United Fire Brigade Association subsidy and free passes, and we trust that he will not again have an opportunity of voting on the question." A barrel of herrings was recently sent out to a Hawera settler as a present from the Home Country. The value of the fish at Home was £1, or at the outside 30s; but the duty was 80s, and the railage, wharfage, and charges (excluiive of freight), brought the total up to £2 Os 2d ! The duty (says the Hawera Star) strikes one as the most glaring imposition. Possibly Scotch herring is a luxury, and maybe the sentiment under which a man longs for a tangible reminder of the land of his birth takes small account of a few shillings ; but look at the matter from the point of view that the duty is from 100 to 150 per cent, of the value of the article imported 1 The Collier Two-speed Gear Cycle Company, Melbourne, winch wa« recently floated with a capital of £20,000, has (says the Australasian) purchased the Carbine Cycle Work* from Lincoln Stuart, Limited. It will be seen from our advertising columns that every effort has been made by the Committee of the Convent Bazaar to make it attractive. It will be openrd on Saturday next at 8 p.m. Season tickets cfn be obtained from Mr. T. J. Davis, Uon. Secretary. The Bazaar promises to bt highly •ucoesafui.

Mis 3 Margaret Lorimer, M.A., of Cbristchufth, has been appointed by the Education Board as head-mistress of the Mount Cook Girls' School. There were a large number of applicants ; and in the selection of Miss Lorimer the Board has acquired the services of a teacher of undoubted ability and c[ualifications. In addition to her degree, she holds the teacher's A.2 certificate. There are only two women teachers in the colony who possess a higher qualification than Miss Lorimer. The new head-mistress takes up her duties on 25th January, 1897, after the summer holidays. The calm water last evening was taken advantage of by the Star Boating Club to row the final heat of the Jdnior Fours. Three crews started, stroked by J. Moeller, 8. Harcourt, and S. Richardson respectively. A good start was effected, Harcourt jumping away with'a sli<ht lead. A steamer leaving the wharf interfered somewhat with Richardson's men,' necessitating their changing their course, whioh possibly altered the result of the race. From there onward a ding-dong race ensued, each crew alternately seeming to have a slight advantage. Harcourfs orew (G., Tripe 3, J, S. Wilson 2S2 S and H. T. Richardson bow), however, came with a grand spurt, beating Richardson's crew by Hah! a length, and Moeller's by three and ahalf lengths. The captain and deputyCaptain acted as judge and starter respectively. The club pairs are to be rowed on Saturday at 2.30 p.m. sharp. New Zealand is advanced enough, but riot so much as some English papers represent. For instance, woman has not yet got into Parliament, though a writer in the Bristol Observer thinks she has. An article in that journal takes up the servants' half-holiday duestion, which, it says, is being publicly discussed just now because " a Bill has been brought into the New Zealand Parliament by a Mrs. Kelly, urging a oompulsory halfholiday weekly for domestio servants from three to ten." And it proceeds to state that '' the Bill was vigorously opposed by 'Lady Stont,' herself a prominent worker in the cause of women's welfare, so that her opinion has more weight than many another's." Thfre is a beautiful piece of confusion here between the legislation attempted by the member for x Invercargill and the discussion upon it by Wellington's Southern Cross Society. The Cayersbam Borough Council evidently possesses some likeness to our own City Council. " I have never during my 14 years' connection with the Council seen the Mayor tackled and insulted as he has been to-night," said ono Councillor at a recent meeting; and another followed by remarking that during 20 years' experience as a member he bad never seen Councillors so fightable. Then when an explanation was being made by the Mayor, another Councillor characterised it as untrue, a remark he declined to withdraw. This was followed up by the assertion from a fourth Councillor that the Mayor ought to be ashamed of himself. In reference to the recent heavy shipments of bullion from Australia, the Argus says the gold is leaving Sydney for San Francisco because the New York banking and exchange houses agreed that at any 1 reasonable cost they rould bring gold into the United States pending the Presidential election. Of course, they could only do so by extensive flnanclrig — that is 1 , by a species of kite-flying. The banks are making a profit of about 4 per cent, by selling the gold. Had they refused to sell, then the demand on the Bank of England irould hare been sO much greater, and with increased stringency in London they might have found themselves obliged to ship to that place instead of to San Francisco, possibly at a loss instead of a profit. Gold, in its international movement, eventually becomes an article of commerce. An interesting experiment is about to be tried in the Transvaal — the total prohibition of the sale of liquors to natives. The new law will come into operation on Ist January, 1897, and from that day it will be illegal to fupply any intoxicating drink— beer, whisky, Ac., to natives. The chorus of the Caledonian Society is requested to meet for practice on Monday night, to prepare for the Exhibition concert on 30th November. A full attendance is particularly desired. Mr. R. B. Williams and party are to give an attractive musical programme at this evening's meeting of the Congregational Social Institute, in the Bowen-street Schoolroom. The Huddart-Parker Company to-day notifies the steamer arrangements for the Christchurch races and show. The excursions arranged by the Union Steam Ship Company in connection with the New Zealand Cup and Derby and Canterbury Agricultural Show are announced to-day. . To-morrow, at 2 o'clock sharp, Mossrs. J. H. Bethune & Co. will hold an attractive sale by publio auction at their rooms, Featherston-street, when they will sell a valuable collection of 800 volumes of interesting and handsomely-bound books on bioffraphy, poetry, travel, history, science, theology, fiction, and general literature. The catalogue, which comprises upwards of 270 lots, includes numerous gems of literature of special interest to book collectors and others, and as the sale is absolutely unreserved, it should attract a large attendance of buyers. Messrs. A. G. Tamo and Co. advertise six half-draught upstanding horse 3 from Hawkes Bay for their horse sale on Saturday. They are all young and good sorts. The Te Aro Baths have recently been renovated, and are now open for the season. Between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. they are available for ladies only. Professor Pannell, the swimming expert, is in daily attendance.