LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Evening Post, Volume LII, Issue 168, 7 December 1896, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr. E. C. Smith, formerly of Wellington, has resigned the position of manager of the Auckland branch of the National Mutual Life Association, in order to devote his whole time to mining business. He has been succeeded by Mr. P. (-Hll, late of Napier. In Chambers on Saturday, before the Chief Justice, Mr. Jellicoe moved to remove a caveat lodged by John Herman against Ex-Detective Kirby^s "property at Napier under a deed executed in July of last year. His Honour made an order that unless Herman began an action in the Supreme Court to establish his claim before Ist February the caveat is to be removed with costs. Mr. Gray appeared for Herman, One result of the mining boom in the North has been that the Thames County Council has been able to clear off all its liabilities, aud start another .year with a credit balance of nearly £2000. The so far unsuccessful attempt to recover the tools lost in the petroleum bore at New Plymouth has cost the company about £260. At a wedding in Paeroa last week a Mrs. Smith, a widow, was married to a man of the same name. Miss Smith was bridesmaid, and all the visitors bore the name of Smith. An enquiry by the municipal authorities into the management of the Auckland Public Library has resulted in a report to the effect that the conduct of the official* is in every respect satisfactory. Photographs have been obtained of the fossil remains of the huge saurian discovered at Purangi, Taranaki, last week. The Hawera Star says it is improbable that the Survey Department will go to the expense of digging the remains out of the cliff in which they are embedded. The new member for "Wellington Suburbs, Mr. T. Wilford, does not believe that electors talk one way and vote another. So he told the mass meeting on Saturday night, and he quoted the estimates of his party ana the votes polled to (upport his opinion. There was hardly one district in his electorate, he said, in which they were disappointed in their anticipations. At the Hutt they reckoned on a majority of 40 and got 42; at Petone it was to be 274, and they got 288 j at Newtown <;hey expected to get beaten by 200, they were beaten by 220; at Kaiwarra they expected to win by 56, they were 58 ahead; at Ngahauranga they reckoned on a majority of 40 and got 44. The only places in the whole district where the estimates were upset were at Kibimie and Wadestown, where his majorities were much larger than anticipated. The body of the late Mr. Albert Karaitiana (son of the famous Hawke* Bay chief Takamoana Karaitiana), who died in Christchurch from consumption yesterday week, was embalmed by Mr. W. Langford, of that cit}', and was brought to Wellington on Friday. On Saturday it was taken by rail to Hastings, where it is being interred this afternoon. A knowledge of the art of embalming was acquired by Mr. Langford by a special course of study at the Sydney University, and from him Mr. Flyger, undertaker, of Cuba-street, has received sufficient tuition to enable him to also adopt the process. Mr. W. H. Frethey occupied the ohair at the annual meeting of the WellingtonWoodville Railway Employe's' Benefit Society, held on Saturday night. The report and balance-sheet, which were adopted, showed that the total receipts for the year amounted to £229 13s 6d, and the disbursements for sick and funeral allowance to £120. A dividend of 9s per member was declared for those who had contributed to, the funds throughout the year. The membership stood at 178, and although this it the highest yet attained, it is expected to be still further increased during the current mouth. Officers were elected as follows :: — • President, Mr. T."E. Donne (re-eleoted) ; Auditors, Messrs. C. W. Johnston and J. Leadbeatpr ; Committee of Management, the President and Messrs. D. Blano, P. Cairns, C. Couchmau, C. Fisher, W. H. Fretbey, C. .Hailwood, J. Quinp, and H. Thomas. The Wellington Pigeon Homing Society'! race from New Plymouth waa flown on Saturday, and resulted as follows:— Mr. W. E. Laneyfa Meteor (844}'ds per minute), 1 ; Mr. A. Smith's Searchlight (738 yds per minute, 2; and Mr. W. Clark's Navigator (733 yds per minute), 3. The tie in the race from Napier between Mr. Smith's Maxim and Mr. Prentice's Tit Bits was also flowt on Saturday, and was won by Tit Bits.

An action was begun before Mr. Justice Edwards in the Supreme Court this morning in which E. R. Roskruge and wife sue Michael Ryan, licensed victualler, Pahiatua, and P. K. "Watty, housebroker, Wellington, for £500 damages. Plaintiffs allege they were induced by the defendants to buy the Terminus Hotel, Picton, on the representathafrthe takings of the house were £46 a week over and above the actual outgoings for stores. It was in terms of the contract of purchase that the value of the stock and furniture should be ascertained by two valuers, one to be appointed by each party. The defendant tiffs, who assert that he acted in collusion with Ryan,- as a result of which they were induced to buy the furniture and fittings for £660 10s, when the true value was not more than £400. Both defendants deny the collusion and misrepresentation alleged, and Ryan says be believes the valuation of the furniture and fitlingß to have been a fair one. Mr. Jellicoe appears for the plaintiffs and Mr. Skerrett fur the defendants. The case will hut all day. The annual examinations of primary scuool teachers who desire certificates or promotion are to be held in different parts of the colony between the 6th and the 15th of January. Civil Service candidates will be examined at the same time. The examinations in Wellington are to be held at the Technical School. The number of teachers td be examined will be about 730, and 30 pupil teachers will undergo examination in drawing. There are no fewer than 640 Civil Service candidates. Figures supplied to us by the RegistrarGeneral show that the Taranaki district has made great progress during the past five rears. The number of cattle has increased by 67,910, and the number of sheep by 109,121, while the area down in sown prass has increased by 206,952 acres. The most remarkable increase, however, is in the butter and cheese industries. The quantity of butter made during the past year was 4,877,5241bs more than five years ago; and the quantity of cheese showed an increase of 1237 tons, the value of the total output being £163,164 more than it was five years ago. We h»ye received from Mr. A. E. Kernot, the Wellington district agent, a copy of the SUh annual report of the Australian Alliance Assurance Company. The amount at credit of profit and loss account, including the balance previously brought forward, is £33,371 14s 9d, of which £14,371 14s 9d is carried to credit of next year's account after appropriating £4000 to suspense investment account, and declaring a dividend of 6s per share. The net fire premiums received for the year were £21,486, and marine premiums £10,395. A dispute has occurred in connection with the handicap yacht race which took place on Saturday between the Waitangi and the Maritana. The officials of the Port Nicholson Yacht Club whoattended to the starting and time-keeping declared the Maritana, which was allowed 18 minutes from the Waitangi, to have won on time allowance by 30 seconds, but the owners of the Waitangi claim that their boat had two minutes to spare, having finished 20 minutes before her rival. A protest has' accordingly been entered against the Maritana bf Mr. T. Kirker, one of the owners of the Waitangi. "Eobert Scott, carpenter of the steamer Eangatira, yesterday slipped and fell down the forward hold, a distance of about Bft. Dr. Pollen attended to Scott, who, it was ascertained, had broken two ribs. The annual statutory meeting of delegates from the various contributing bodies held for the purpose of electing six representatives on the Board of Trustees of the Wellington Hospital was to have been held this morning. Only one delegate put in an ippearance. The second-grade examinations in connection with the Wellington Technical 3chool were completed on Saturday. The, results of these and also of the scholarship '-"' ind'otter" examinations will 'be known by ;he 20th inst. The first interment made, in the new shnetery at Akatarawa, Upper Hutt, the ground for which was presented by Mr. S. Benge, took place yesterday, when the late Mr. J. C. Cruwaygen, a very old settler, who died in the Wellington Hospital last week, was- buried there. The service was cbnducterf by Mr. C. H. Hinman, and a large number of tettlers were present. Anniversary services were held in St. John's yesterday, and were conducted by the Rev. Wm. Hewitson, 8.A., of Knox Church, Dunedin. There were large attendances at all the services, in the evening the church being quite crowded, and the able and earnest ministrations of the preacher were highly appreciated. In the morning Mr. Hewitson took as his subject the conversation of Our Lord with the woman of Samaria, as recorded in John iv. In the evening Mr. Hewitson discoursed on 1 Cor. iv. 3-s— Paul's appeal from man's judgment to God's judgment in regard to his character and life-work. The service in the afternoon was specially for the Sunday-school children, when a large number assembled with their teachers, parents, and friends, and Mr. Hewitson delivered to them a most interesting and instructive address on the evils and devices of the tempter, founding his remarks on Gen. iii. ' Mr. Maughan Barnett presided at the organ, and the large and well-trained choir led the psalmody, and rendered an anthem morning and evening with great taste and effectiveness. The collections amounted to £38 10s. A conversazione will be held in the schoolroom to-morrow evening, when addresses will be delivered by Rev. Messrs. Hewitson and Elliott and Mr. Aitken. Music will be furnished by the choir, and refreshments will be provided by the ladies. .After hearing evidence in the Magistrate's Court this morning as to a charge against Mrs. Martin of having used insulting language towards William Gray, the Stipendiary Magistrate dismissed the information. George Anderson pleaded Guilty to the theft of a silk handkerchief valued at 10s from William Kemp, and of n pair of trousers of the same value, the property of ' J6hn Griffiths, and was sentenced to three months' imprisonment on each charge, the terms to be concurrent. For drunkenness one first offender was fined j while Jonn Conroy was ordered to pay 10s or go to prison for 48 honrs, and was also fined 20s, with the alternative of seven days' imprisonment, for having been found in the Queen's Hotel when a prohibition order against him was extant. William Wylie, uliat Wilson, who was arrested by Chief p«tective Campbell on Saturday on a Warrant from Christchurch charging him with vagrancy, was remanded to the South. Twenty other cases, chiefly maintenance and assault, were either adjourned or withdrawn. The Secretary of the Hospital acknowledges with thanks receipt of the first Christmas donation, one fr6m Mrs. W. B Rhodes, of the Grange, of £3. Intending contributors to the Christmas fund are respectfully asked to send their donations at their earliest, convenience, so that the Matron and Secretary may know in good time the amount at their disposal. There are about 150 patients to be provided each with a Christmas parcel. Time is needed to make a wise selection of the goods and in making the present suitable) for the patient for' whom it ii intended. Donations will be thankfully received, and will be acknowledged through the press. Among the first of the Christmas cards and New Year almanacs to be sont us this year in one from Messrs. F, G. Roach & Co., of Victoria-street, who are agents for Kerr*s N.M.T. tewing cotton. We heartily reciprocate the teasonable oomplimenW

Inspector Pender left to-day for a visit of inspection to Picton and Blenheim. A poll is being taken to-day at the Hutt County Council office and at Brown's Bay on the question of raising a loan of £500 under the Loans to Local Bodies Act for the purpose of constructing a portion of the road to Gollan's Valley. Altogether 229 candidates have entered for the primary drawing scholarships offered by the Education Board, the examinations for which are being held at the Technical School to-day. The following is the number of candidates sent by the various schools :—: — Petone, 14; Khandallah, 1; Wadestown, 3; Cross Creek, 1 ; Thorndon, 19 ; Newtown, 27; Rintoul-street, 8; Terrace, 34; Mount Cook Boys, 27 ; Taita, 2 ; Te Aro, 30; Kilbirnie, 7; Mount Cook Girls', 29; Clydequay, 27. The principal prize in the Wellington Provincial Gun Club's open handicap on 19th January will be £65. The second, third, and fourth prizes will be £20, £10, and £5. The Lyttelton Tines, the Government organ of Canterbury, classifies the 69 members whose return it accounted for on Saturday morning as follows :—Government, 39 ; Opposition, 26 ; Independent, 4. It admits Messrs. Crowther, Pirani, G. J. Smith, and T. Taylor to be Independent. The Eight Hours Demonstration Committee bos made a donation of £5 to the Boys' Institute. The following annual subscriptions are acknowledged: — Mr. Jacob Joseph, £5 ss ; Mr. James Smith, £1 2s ; Mr. M. Chapman, £1 Is; Messrs. A. J. M'Tavish & Co., £1 Is ; Mr. W. "VI. Hannay, £1 ; Mr. C. F, Millward, 10s • Mr. D. T. Stuart, 10s. At a meeting of the congregation of the Church of St. Mary of the Angels, held in St. Patrick's Hall yesterday, it was decided to hold the annual picnic at Father Lane's grounds, Lower Hutt, on Boxing Day. Committees were appointed to carry out the sports, arid it was agreed that an art union should be held in connection with the outing, its proceeds to be devoted to the fund for the enlargement of St. Mary's Church. To-morrow, at 2.30 o'clock, Messrs. J. H. Bethune «fe Co. will offer by public auction, at their rooms, Featherston-street, two freehold properties in the City of Wellington, to be sold by order of the mortgagees, under conduct of the Registrar of the Supreme Court. The first is a valuable seotion having a frontage of 32ft to Tory-street by a depth of 80ft, together with the extensive business premises, comprising two-story shop and dwelling and large bakehouse, formerly occupied by Mr C. M'lntyre. The second lot is a choice freehold section, having a frontage of 33ft to Adelaide-road by a depth of 99ft, together with two comfortable two-ntory dwellinghouses, let to good tenants at 10s per week each. These adjoin the Tramway Pie Shop, and are situated in the best port of Adelaideroad. After the above Messrs. Bethnne and Co. will also sell, by instruction from the owner, the lease for 25 years of two choice building sites, having frontages of 46ft and 25ft respectively to Adelaide-road. These leaseholds are conveniently situated close to the Tramsheda, and as the conditions of sole will provide for half valuation for buildings and improvements, they should find a ready sole. Mr. Frank Grady, of the well-known " Shop for Presents," Willis-street, advertises that he is opening up Christmas novelties in jewellery, watches, clocks, sterling silver, eleotro-plate, leather, and fancy goods. Five per cent, discount is allowed on all cash purchases, and " T,he Shop for Presents " will remain open till 9 o'clock each evening till the end of the year. Messrs. A. G. Tame <fc Co. sell to-morrow, at their rooms, four orates crockery, Thb annual distribution of gifts has once again been begun at Te Aro House, and until further notice all purchasers of 10s worth and upwards at that well-known establishment will receive a handsome present varying in value with the amount of their purchase. The great popularity of these gift fairs has been abundantly proved in past years, and we feel sure that, attention having been called to this year's present-giving, throngs of enstomers will hasten to participate in the benefits now being dispensed at Te Aro House. It may be eaid at once that the presents themselves are greatly superior to anything of the kind previously offered. A. special shipment of goods has been received from England, amongst which have been included innumerable novelties. Ornaments, bric-a-brac, toys, and useful articles of every description are comprised in the shipment, and it will be a strange taste that can find nothing suitable in the assortment. Special lines are advertised as an additional attraction, and everything points to a big boom during the progress of the annual Gift Fair at Te Aro House.