LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Evening Post, Volume LVII, Issue 22, 27 January 1899, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The business of the port of Wellington has increased to such an extent that the Board has found it advisable to restrict the use of the wharves by persons who wander upon them during business hours merely for the purpose of sight-seeing or passing an idle hour. At yesterday's meeting, Mr. H. G. Claridge, senior taily clerk, was, on the recommendation of the Wharves and Accounts Committee, relieved of tallying duties, and appointed Assistant Wharfinger, at a salary of £240 per annum, as from the Ist February. In the discussion on the appointment,the opinion was generally expressed that it should be part of the new officer's duties to control the pedestrian traffic on the wharves, and if not absolutely prohibiting people who were not there on ousiness from using the wharves in business hours, to at least see in order to avoid accidents, that they keep inoving, and were not allowed to stand about. It is really time that a city like Wellington should have some scheme of providing citizens with drinking fountains lat convenient parts of the town. At present from the Wellington Railway Station to Newtown the thirsty can only obtain water at Martin's Fountain or the Basin Reserve. At the latter there is not even a drinking vessel. There used to be a fountain at the Library, but like the milk of human kindness, it has dried up. Even inside this institution there is not a filter or a water bottle. Considering the number of children and adults who make their holidays at Oriental Bay and round the Magazine Point, a service continued from the plantation at Oriental Bay to the point, with a tap here and there, would be a boon much appreciated. At the plantation there is a tap but no vessel to drink out of. Amongst the passengers from Sydney by the Oonah was Mr. Robert O'Connor, proprietor of the block of handsome shops which has done °o much to improve the appearance of Vivian-street, who has made a trip round the world. Mr. O'Conrlor left Wellington about seven months ago by the Vancouver line, and broke his journey several times in crossing Canada. On returning to Kerry, in Ireland, his native place, after an absence of 35 years spent in Wellington, he received a great welcome from his old friends and acquaintances. He spent two months in the country, the greater part of which time was devoted to shooting. Mr. O'Connor travelled overland to Naples, where he caught the Oroya, by which he came on as far as Sydney. Although he has spent a very pleasant time and has seen many countries there is, in his opinion, no place to equal New Zealand as a place of residence. The Street-widening Committee of the City Council is to meet this afternoon to consider a proposal to acquire the site of the Tramway Hotel, in furtherance of the scheme for widening Adelaide-road. Councillor Barber brought the subject before the Council last night, pointing out that tenders for the re-erection of the hotel would close in a few days, and if anything was to be done to acquire the site it should be done at once. Councillor Smith added that if they allowed the building to be proceeded with it would mean an expensive purchase. The Customs returns at the four chief centres of the colony during the quarter ended December last were as follows : — Auckland, £122,788 as against £124,337 for the corresponding quarter of 1897; Wellington, £109,972 as against £112,636 ; Christchurch, £72,761 as against £77,720 ; Dunedin, £97.802 as against £96,154. The total for the whole colony for the quarter was £489,353 as against £492,550 during the same quarter of 1897, a slight decrease. The returns for the year totalled £1,961,726 as against £1,912,160 during 1897. The Wellington Trades Council last night voted £2 2s towards the Imperial tribute to tlie memory of the late Sir Oeo. Grey, and resolved to suggest to the various other Councils in the colony that they should donate a similar sum, and that it be forwarded as a contribution from the Trades Councils of New Zealand. The Harbour Board yesterday, on the recommendation of its Sinking Fund Commissioners, decided to advance a further loan of £2000 to the Karori Borough for the completion of the Baker's Hill tunnel and road works. The money is to be advanced at 4 per cent, at par, on the security of a special rate of in the £on the capital value of the property of theborough, and on similar conditions to the existing loan of £4000.

The Normanby Horticultural Society, in the Taranaki district, has adopted a practical method for abating the small bird nuisance by offering prizes at its next show for the largest collection of small birds' eggs. The next Trades Conference will consider a recommendation made by the Wellington Trades Council that the Government be requested to amend the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act in the direction of prohibiting newspapers from commenting on cases under consideration of the Conciliaton Boards. Considerable interest is being taken in the civil action brought by the Wellington Branch of the Federated Seamen's Imion of New Zealand against Frederick Layer, a seaman, to recover 14s fees due. The amount involved is small, but the question being fought is said to be one of principle. Dr. Fihdlay appeared for the plaintiff when the case came before the Stipendiary Magistrate yesterday afternoon, and Mr. Wilford for the defendant. WMi am Jones, secretary of the plaintiff branch, produced the certificate of incorporation (dated 7th November, 1895), copy of rules and amendments, etc. Defendant was made a member in the usual way. He had paid his dues, 2s per month, without hesitation for some time, and had never repudiated his membership. In answer to Mr. Wilford the witness said that in May, 'lß9s, he himself was a member of a subservient, agency, which had its head j quarters in Dunedin, and that later he ~ad received a letter stating that he had been dismissed from the position he now occupied. Judging by the nature of the cross-examination the dispute seemed to hinge on this some-time standing disagreement between the Dunedin and Wellington Branches of the Union, and the difference in the rules. The Magistrate remarked that all the necessary requirements appeared to have been fulfilled as regards the incorporation and registration of the Wellington Branch. The case had not been concluded when the Court rose, and was adjourned till next week. The Wellington Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Society held its 15th annual meeting at. Thomas's Hall last night— Mr. J. Casey, a Vice-President, in the chair. The annual balance-sheet showed the 1898 show to have resulted in a loss of about £43. The statement of assets and liabilities was as follows: — Assets — Plant, pens, cages, &0., £201 12s; amount on deposit in Bank of New Zealand, £104 3s lOd ; total, £305 15s lOd. Liabilities — Overdraft at Bank of New Zealand, £70 8s lid; balance, £235 6s lid ; total, £305 15s lOd. At the beginning of the year under review the overdraft was £10 Is 3d. It was explained that the plant had been written down 10 per cent, for depreciation, and after discussion the report and statements were adopted. The election of officers occupied some time, and resulted as follows:— -President, Mr. J. R. Blair ; additional Vice-President^ Messrs. E. J. Fallu, J. B. Speed, W. L. Curtis, and W. G. King (Carterton) ; Auditors, Messrs. C. Stubbs and R. Wilberfoss (both reelected and very flattering reference being made to their past services) ; Trustees, Messrs. H. M'Kay and T. Erskiue. It was resolved to increase the Working Committee from 9 to 15, and the old committee with the exception of Messrs. Lowcay and H. Pitcher was re-elected, the additional members being Messrs. W. Janiieson, J. A. Frost, W. B. M'Kenzie, H. M'Kay, A. Guthrie, T. Doig, J. Casey, and F. Bradley. Mr. W. L. Curtis agreed to hold office as Treasurer till the first meeting of the new committee ; and Mr. J. B. Speed, in response to the unanimously expressed wish of the meeting, agreed to again accept the position of Secretary. Votes of thanks were passed to Messrs." E. B. Bristow, G. Remington, and others, for assistance. Although the number of adjudications in bankruptcy in Wellington City during 1898 was not in exces of the previous i year's total, yet a glance at the following figures shows how different were the nature of the estates. For the sake of comparison the 1897 figures are in each instance placed before those of 1898, as follows:-— Number of petitions by debtors, 46 in 1897, 47 in 1898 ; adjudications on petitions by creditors, 6 and 3, compositions being accepted in two of the latter ; orders of immediate discharge granted, 27 and 23 ; orders suspended, 28 and 6 ; assets as per statements (excluding amounts secured to creditors), £3756 18s 4d and £13,207 Is 4d; amounts secured to creditors, £4014 and £15,709 10s ; liabilities as per statements filed. (excluding amounts secured to creditors), £12,125 2s 6d and £31,621 12s 6d, a big increase of £19,496 10s 3d ; assets realised by Assignee, £4232 18s Id and £6267 14s 7d; amount of debts proved, £9660 8s 7d and £37,747 0s 4d, another big rise ; "amount paid in dividends (excluding preferential and secured claims), £3029 10s 4d and £3149 19s 9d ; amount paid for preferential claims, £243 11s 4d and £194 7s ; amount paid for secured claims, £366 12s lOd and £775 12s Id; paid for Government commission, £204 16s 4d and £229 16s. The return for the district of Wellington is expected to be complete by next week. An applicant who was asked in the Pensions Court this morning if he had any certificate as to character, replied : "Why, I was the first man to throw in the first lot of dirt on the reclaimed land in Wellington !" He appeared to think this conclusive evidence of his good character, but it was not so considered by the Magistrate. "Councillors are just now," writes a correspondent, "agitating for particular streets to be improved, while considering these there are two* deserving immediate atteneion. The first is lowering the hill in Buckle-street .through the Barracks. The frontages are all owned by public bodies and little trouble should be experienced in changing this thoroughfare from its present unsightly condition into one which would make it a credit to the city. If necessary, could not prison labour be utilised in doing this? The spoil would not be difficult to dispose of, for there is a low-lying section in the same street near Cambridge-ter-race now used as a timber yard, the owner of which would doubtless be glad to fill up. The second is the extension of Elizabeth-street to Kent-terrace, a work that would obviate the drag up Firie-street and give an easy grade to Brougham and Austin streets." A circular is to be drafted at the instance of the local Trades Council, and distributed amongst trade unionists and democratic voters generally embodying the provisions of the Municipal Reform Act, and the method proposed to be followed by the Wellington City Council in registering electors under it. Mr. R. A. Young has been appointed temporarily as Resident Engineer in the Public Works Department at Westport. Alterations of the boundaries of the land districts of Marlborough, Nelson, Canterbury, and Otago, are notified in this week's Gazette. The Assembly Rooms at Mangaweka have been appointed a place where sittings of the Resident Magistrate's Court may be held. The receipts of the City (Jouncil for December amounted to £10,104 14s sd, including £8349 for rates. The expenditure durtng the same period was £11,367, including £6093 for interest and £1772 for street repairs. The bank balances at the end of December stood as follows : Credit balance City Improvements Loan Account, £4812 6s 3d ; credit balance General Account, £1244 13s 6d; debtor balance Cemetery Account, £432 13s 8d ; credit balance Deposit Account No. 1, £15,000 ; credit balance Deposit Account No. 2, JS7OOO.

Baron Rolf Cederstrom, whose marriage to Madame Patti, the celebrated diva, was recorded by cable yesterday, is a young Scandinavian nobleman. According to the lapse of time (said a contemporary in announcing the engagement) the bride will be abou6 20 years the bridegroom's senior ; but as nobody associates the lapse of time with Madame Patti, mere chronology may be dismissed as impertinent. A claimant for an old age pension this morning set forth in his written application that he was " 65£ years of age last birthday!" He seemed a little surprised when smilingly informed that that was impossible, and as he had no proof that he was even 65, his claim had to be postponed. The straightforward, smart, and sharp answers of an old soldier created a pleasant break in the somewhat monotonous proceedings. On the question of his age, he said, with a smile, "I have no proof except what my friends have told me." 'Have you ever been in prison V" asked the Magistrate, and the "expected answer came : " Never ; that's out of my line." He added that he worked at breaking stones last year, but did not earn half of £10. Another sturdy applicant, 74 years of age, who had been in the Imperial Army, stated that he still worked to get food for his wife. " That's more than many men half your age do, even after they are brought to Court, ' said his Worship. The Department of Agriculture has ordered another trial of the chemical procesof dressing flax patented by Mr. Giliman, of Onehunga. The trial is to be conducted at Mr. Toogood's mill at Feather - ston to-morrow by Messrs. Robt. Gardiner and Rutherfurd, two of the Flax Bonus Commissioners. Mr. Ritchie, Secretary of the Department, intends to be present. A trial of Mr. Toogood's patent flax washer will take place at the same time. The irritation felt by a number of settlers at the change of the name of +he township of Birmingham to Kimbolton ha? been allayed through the offices of Mr. Amelius Smith, who was sent up by v he Government to enquire into the grievance, and the new name has now been generally adopted by the settlers. A little boy who belongs to the Terrace School fell off the wharf at Day's Bay yesterday, and was pluckily rescued by Robert Ronayne, a son of the General Manager of Railways, who dived off \k.e wharf and kept the child afloat until assistance came. The appointment of Mr. W. D. Dumbell as Chief Clerk in tiie Public Works Department is gazetted. Mr. Henry Kember, the genial member of the Advances to Settlers Board, intends to spend a month at Rotorua for the benefit of his health. Some months ago he fell a victim to influenza, and his * ealth has not been satisfactory since, but it is hoped that a course of baths and perfect rest will recuperate it. Mr Kember -will leave on Sunday, by the Takapuna. Further nominations have been made by school committees for the three vacancies about to occur on the Education Board is follows : — Waihakeke, Messrs. Robertson, and Buchanan ; Pirinoa, Messrs. McCar-, die and Buchanan ; Upper Hutt, Mr., Robertson. The City Council has put in a claim for a portion of this year's Government subsidy of £2000 for public libraries. The tender of Mr. J. J. K. Powell at 7s 9d per yard has been accepted by the City Council for the supply of 2000 yards of boulders for street repairing purposes. The' Government has decided to proceed during the coming winter with the con1 struction of the first portion of the Tangahoe or Roimata road in the Hawera district, estimated to cost £2000, and for which £300 was voted last session. At a meeting held last evening it was decided to form an orchestral society at Newtown. Mr. C. Overbye was appointed conductor. The membership is at present about 15. The wool clip on the Starborough Estate, Marlborough, this season amounted to 1115 bales, and after deducting the weight of wool packs, resulted in the splendid average of 101b lOJoz of wool per head. The dramatic company known as Her Majesty's will arrive in town on Monday, and begin its season at the Opera House on Tuesday, in Frank Harvey's drama " A Gilded Sin." Mr. D. M'Kenzie has been elected Treasurer of the Wellington Trades Council in place of Mr. W. J. Carman, who has resigned, and whose services were acknowledged last night by the Council, which resolved to send him a letter expressing its thanks for past services and regretting his retirement. Sixty Derby birds were sent to Paikakariki by the City Flying Club last night and 12 to Napier. The latter will compete in a race to be flown to-morrow. Mr. John Newton, proprietor of the Caledonian Soap Works, and Miss Newton, who have been on a trip to Scotland, have returned to Wellington. - The journey each way was made via Suez. The City Council has deferred consideration of a request made by the Melrose Borough Council for payment of the sum of £60 promised towards the cost of forming the Evans Bay road. The City Surveyor is to examine the work and to report to his Council. The contributors to the Wellington Hospital will again be represented on the Board of Hospital Trustees by Mr. John Danks. Volume 31 of the "Transactions of the New Zealand Institute" will shortly be printed. The Post Office authorities have been advised that the R.M.S. Mariposa, with British mails to 14th January, left San Francisco on 26th January, three hours late. An interesting table appear* in this week's Gazette, showing the quantity and value of gold entered for duty for exportation from New Zealand from April, 1857, to 31st December, 1898. The <oU< is 13,845,7270z, and the value £54,453,325. The quantity entered for export duJnp the quarter ended December, 1898, war 77,5020z, valued at £29,142. A comparison is also given of the amount and value of the t gold entered for export during the years 1897 and lbtfb 1 . In 1897 the amouni was 251,6450z, valued at £980,204 ; and in 1898 it was 280,1750z, valued at £1,080,691— a considerable increase. The different goldfields contributing to the 1898 output were:— Auckland, £527,786 (about one-half) ; Marlborough, £3003 ; TCelson, £6882; West Coast, £319,789; Otago, £223,231. The Sabian Dramatic Club, which recently gave a performance ' at the Exchange Hall in connection with the distribution of prizes of the Marist Brothers' School, has offered to give an entertainment at Joknsonville in aid of the funds of the Catholic church in that township. The performance is fixed for next Tuesday evening, and the play chosen is "Word of Honour.' Messrs. Joshua Bros., proprietors of the Australian Boomerang orandy, forward us a neatly lithographed pamphlet containing photos of the Melbourne Cup winners from 1861 to 1898. Mr ( A. Collins, who has just returned from a visit to the Old Country, will iriv* at the Oddfellows' Hall, Petone, to-night, an account of his reception by the worker of England, and his experiences at Home. Admission is free*

n i m»-«-----In case it should be wondered why the Wellington Harbour Board should have arranged for the flotation of its £150,000 loan lor harbour improvements locally at what may be regarded as a slightly higher per centage than would perhaps be payable were the loan floated in tlie London market, it may be pointed out that there are distinct advantages to the Board connected with the arrangement. They may be briefly stated as follows ; — (1) There will be no brokerage to pay ; (2) the loan is short-dated, and is co-terminous with the Board's existing loans, which run out in February, 1897 ; (3) the debentures can be taken, up as the Board requires theai, the money being spread over a period of three years from August next, thus relieving tho Bonrd of having to pay interest on idle money, for which it would have no immediate investment ; (4) although nominally the interest on the debentures is payable in London, by arrangement with the Australian Mutual Provident Society, which js advancing the lqan, the interest will be paid in Sydney so long as the Society holds the debentures, and the only object of having them on the face made payable in London is that they may be a more marketable security. Mr. Geo. Collier, Inspector of Dairies in Wellington and suburbs, whom the Dairy Regulations Committee suggests should be superseded by a highly-qualified veterinary surgeon appointed by the Government, has occupied the position for four years, at a salary of £225 a year, out of which he has had to pay his owr travelling expenses. The Committee does not feel dissatisfied with the manner in which he has done his work, but considers that in the interest of public health fit Is highly desk-able that the duties should be discharged by a first-class veterinary surgeon. Messrs. Turnbull and Watkins, on behalf of a client, have written to the City Council asking the lowest rental which that body will take for the section at the corner of Panama and Featherston streets. The firm stated that if its client obtained a lease of the land he Avould erect a building at a cost of about £3000. The Tovm Clerk pointed out to the Council last evening that the building which was now on the section was being converted into office? for the City Surveyor's staff. The Council referred the letter to the sub-committee of the Finance Committee. The Union Company's Sounds excursion is being brought to a close to-day with a visit to Pelorus Sound. Captain Spence. of the Rotorua, has notified the local office of the company that he saw the Waikare at anchor under Guard's Bank waiting for daylight this morning to explore the Round. Arrangements have been made by vhe Taraweva, sailing at 2 p.m. tomorrow, to call at Picton on her way to Sydney to pick up the Australian passengers who have been on the Waikare's excursion trip. Mr. Kennedy, local manager, will also go to Picton by the Tarawera. Mrs. Montague, of Wanganui, who is staying at Bodley's Hotel, brought to Wellington- some pictures by her husband (Mr. A. Montague). The pictures include scenes from English country lite, and among them are a charming view of Bruges and a pleasing sunset scene on the seashore. Some of Mr. Montague's work has on a previous occasion been sold here. In the Magistrate's Court this morning, before Mesrs. C. M. juuke, J. P. Jones, and Judah Myers, Justices, William G. Brigham was sent to gaol for a fortnight fornaving obtained 10s 6d from Herbert Kirkcaldie and 7s 6d from Bernard Doherty by means of valueless cheques. Nelson Batchelor was convicted and discharged on a charge of having stolen s^mo apples from Dr. Grace's orchard. To-day being the 40th anniversary of the birth of the German Emperor flags ■were flying at the German Consulate and at the residence of Mr. Focke, the German Consul. At the Hutt Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, before Messrs. J. Wilkie and J. F. Caverhill, J.P's., H. Parsons was fined 12s for riotous behaviour atPetone. Thi3 was the only business. The Petone Caledonian Club celebrated the Burns anniversary by holdirig an ingleside in the local Masonic Hall. Musical items were contributed by Mesdames Woollett, Conon, and M'Ewen, Misses Brown, Rintoul, Bowman, and Mitchell, Messrs. M'Leod, Shaw, and Ainson. Pipers M'Clellan and Grant made things merry, and about 40 couples took part in dancing. Miss Moore supplied dance music, and Misses Silva, Turner, and Mrs. Bold accompanied the vocalists. "I cannot recognise you if you appear as counsel," said Mr. Kenny, S.M\, to a well-known solicitor who appeared with an applicant in the Pensions Court this morning, "but it is all right if you appear merely as a friend." As it was not in his professional capacity that he appeared, the member of the legal fraternity gave evidence as to the character of the claimant. At Lawrence last week Magistrate Hawkins inflicted a substantial penalty in the case of Kobert Cotton, one of a batch charged with neglecting to destroy rabbits. The area held was some 33,000 acres, and the fine imposed £35 and costs 7s. Herr Max Hoppe notifies in another column that he will resume violin, teaching on Ist February. He asks his former pupils and intending ones to note the change in his address from the Exchange Hall to the Dresden Piano Company's warehouse. ■Dr- L. L. Smith, a well-known physician of 46 years' standing, inserts a notice in another column. Messrs. Wilkins & Field give notice that their annual sale of ironmongery commences to-morrow. Mr. Joh. E. Lindberg, the cheap draper, Cuba-street, announces atill further reductions for to-morrow's sale. In our Wanted column Messrs. E. Hannah and to. advertise the prices of a few speoial lines of boots and shoes to be Hold to-morrow and next week. The favourite excursion steamer Duchess ■will run to Day's Bay to-morrow and Sunday mornings and afternoons. Attention is" drawn to the alteration in the time of departure to-morrow, the morning trip being faxed for 9 a.m. instead of 10 a.m., and the afternoon return from the Bay 6 p.m. instead of 5 p.m. Those in quest of subnrban summer residences will note that at Mr. W. F. Shortb'a auction mart, Willi.-atreet, to-morrow he will submit 15 building sections, the pick of picturesque Muritai, situated on the Day's .Bay side of the harbour. The claims of this lovely spot, gmng as it does health and vigour to its present numerous patrons, need no comment. The sale takes place at 2 o clock. Immediately afterwards Mr. Shortt will offer a gentletnan'B 18ct gold watch by order of the Offioial Assignee, in the estate of J. Hamilton, of Levin. Messrs. F. Sidey & Co. will sell to-morrow furniture, &c. Messrs. Hornblow & Co. Bell at the Nag's Head yards to-morrow horses, traps, harness, Messrs. A. G. Tame & Co. will sell an entry of draught and harness horses, hacks, harness, <feo., to-morrow.