LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 48, 25 August 1904, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A "fire-imp"— a composition for cleaning chimneys — seen shooting clear of a. house in the neighbourhood of Courtenayplace about 9.25 lost evening prompted a man to raise an alarm of fire and call tho Brigade out. Just as tho firemen had returned to the station from the false alarm bhoy were summoned to a "flare-up" on Thorndon-quay caused by the ignition of material in a tar boiler. Tho Wellington City Council has been asked to supply the Public Works Department wit-h a return giving Iho names and widths of the streets or right»-of-way in tho city which aro under 66ft wide. A prohibition order was issued yesterday against a young man named Ihomas Jon », to apply in tho Wellington, Newtown, I lull, und Otuki Licensing Districts. Two firfct-offending inobriatce. were each fined ss, in default 24 hours' imprison monb. A swagger named Edward Wilson, j ■ found sleeping under the tree* of a resident in Fitaberbcrt-terraee about 3.30 this morning, was convicted aud discharged. Ho explained tint he wias a aOnuiger to tho town, and ■ intended leaving it at the timo he was caught by a constable. Michael Morris was fined 40s, in default ono month's hard labour, for having behaved in a. disorderly manner whilst drank in the bur of the Oriental Hotel. J. Sutherland, found j guilty of having wilfully broken two pones of gla*» in the door of a building occupied by Paul Hoskins, was finod 10s and ordered to pay £1 damago, in default seven days' imprisonment. For insobriety Jarnos Co moron, with a previous conviction, was fined 20s, ;n; n default seven days' iuiprieonmont. Five first offenders wore aiso dealt with. Tho Government cannot see its way to accede to the roquest made by the Friendly Societies' Conference that it should graii b the use' of the baths and -medical attendance at the Government sanatoria free of charge to bona-fide members of friendly societies who are sent there and maintained at tho expense of a society. The . Colonial Secretary explains that nn extension of the freo concessions would tend to disorganiso the whole system of Government assistance to deserving persons. The member for Newtown told the Colonial Secretary ye«terday nfternoou that ho did not think the Government understood what it was the conforenco had uaked for. Or, added Air. Barber, perhaps the Government want to give well-to-do tourists a monopoly of Rotorua's curative qualities. A Wellington delegate, who attended tho conference, desires us to state that the proposals of the conference were reasonnblo. Ab the present time friendly societies have six beds placed at their disposal at Rotorua ab the rate of 21s each por week, as against the ordinary rate of 30s. Theso beds are always occupied. There are a few other members of the societies who require the special treatment of tho Rotorua baths, v The socioties pay tho expenses of these members in sending them to Rotorua out of thoir benevolent funds, and have now asked tho Government to admit theso special cases into the baths freo of cost. Considerable interest was created some two years ago by addresses given by an Indian girl of the Brahmin caste in tho 'mission of her mother at Mukli, Poona district, to the child-widows of that vastly-peopled country. Mnnoramabai was tho name of this Indian young lady, daughter of Pundila Rainabai, who cares for 1800 child-widows and over sixty orphan boys. Tho mission is supported entirely by voluntary contributions, and a tithe of all money received is set apart for foreign missions. The local secretary (Mrß. Francis, Shaw) desires to acknowledge with thanks the following donations: — Mrs. and Miss Blnkiston, Greytown North, 5s each ; P. Muir, 2s ; and tho following gifts for Christmas to bo sent next month : — Mrs. James Smith, sen., Wellington, box containing quilts, workbags, nnd other useful articles ; tho C.M.S. Sowers' Band, Grey town North, parcel containing doll brooches, pincushions, workbags, etc. ; from tho Maori/ boys of Greytown, a handsome scrap album arranged by themselves for tho boys' orphanage Those- women who follow the reports of, fashions in tho different fashion journals will know that voiles are still considered nlmost the only correct thing for dressy gowns. Our advertisement on pago 7 contains prices and descriptions of tlieso fabric*.— Kirkcaldio aud Stains, Ltd.— Advt.

Recruiting for the navy la still being carried on in New Zealand. Under the naviaj agreement 120 men were to bo obtained from this colony, and up to the present, about 80 liavo joined. A» they join they uve placed on 11. M.5. Tauranga for training, replacing men who joined the ship at Home. These latter are cither sent to Sydney to other vessels on tho Australian station, or they are »ent Home. The Tauranga is now in Wellington, and will '.e«ve for Lyttellon in a few duys, and will probably remain in that port for about a month. The date on which che is to bo relieved by the Phoebe, which is at present in Sydney, has not yet been fixed. Tho Rev. P. W. Isitt writes : "I regret that Mr. Robert Hogg uaed tho word "misatatomont" in reference to my assertions concerning the Russian and Scandinavian liquor trade. I would not apply the word to anything he said during tho debate, although ], oi course, differed from a great deal of it. In re Russia, 1 quoted a certain Mr. Raffalovitch, who last commended tho Uuwian system to tho Royal Statistical Society, London, and said incidentally that it had increased (he Imperial revenue from intoxicating liquors from £29,000,000 to £3^,000.000 in four yearn. It is possible that he was right and Mr. Hogg's Year Book statistic*) not wrong; for the Government co-in-ol in Russia, 's not extended over beer. But I do not give unqualified acceptance to Russian statistics, aud believe Unit llu-y are frequently concocted to please the Tsar or the people. Such ligures us I can now get holu of from the statistical abstract of the United States for 1903 indicate a steady and enormous increase in tho consumption of beer in Russia. I have more faith in my Scandinavian figures and am prepared to submit them to any one's criticism One Tesult of Sunday night'a discussion is that I realise I that the SociidisW plea for State^ ownership pf tho liquor traffic has not been placed before Prohibitionist workers very fully or plainly ; and, because I thinl' they should study every phase of the question, I am willing to give Mr. Hogg space in an early issue of our paper to state his case in 4000 or more words, to be replied to, of course. His statement will then go to many thousands of our readers, and I will botli give Him 500 copies for distribution and supply him. with as many more as ho wants at cost price." A good deal has been said and -written about milk of late without a single word or suggestion being made "as to what is to be done to one of tho principal of> fenders — the dirty milk-peddler of the cities. Walking down the streets of the dimpire City on a recent Sunday morning (writes the Dairyman), passers-by were struck by the sight of a trio of filthy milk-cans that were so obviously unfit for tho uso to which they were put that the most callous could hardly refrain from expressions of horror and disgust. The cans referred to were in a main street of Wellington city, a few chains from tho Premier's residence, and it was nobody's business to interfere Had the sight been witnessed in an American city, a few blows of an axe would have prevented these filthy disease-spreaders from doing further injury ; but hero they may bo allowed to go on carrying disease and death to scores of children for many years to come. The health officers of Sydney and Melbourne say that one infant out of every seven carried to the cemeteries of those cities are sent there by tho filthy milk on which they had been fed. How much of the infant mortality of New Zealand cities is due to the same cause is a matter for the Health Department to decide. The sooner they decide it the better. Tho astounding amount of 25 ton* of "literature" haa been forwarded by the State of California to the St. Louis Exposition — 15 tons of it in one train load — writes our American correspondent. What California needs to-day is population, and all the big cities of the Slate are engaged in an activo advertising campaign, frying to attract settlers from what the people of the Golden State are fond of calling "the effete East." The distribution of all this literature concerning the wealth and resources of California i« one development of the advertising scheme Twentyfive tons of reading matter mean that a round million of pamphlets regarding California are- now in St. Louis. The Auckland Chamber of Commerce is protesting because the Government has taken no steps to rem6vo the rocks in tho fairway at Onehunga. The cos* has been estimated at £1500, and the Government does not, is i» understood, care to expend moro than £500 over tho work. Referring to a recent social "send-off 1 at Kaitangata, the Clutha Free Press says: "The speeches suffered greatly through tho interruptions of tho rowdy element. Towards 10 o'clock things became noisy indeed, nnd n/frrer before perhaps in Kaitangata at a similar function was heard such yelling and singing"' as thon took placo. Plates and bottles were freely thrown about, drunken men struggled here and there, whilst fighting was in full swing on the stage, and altogether the- scene was one of the most disgraceful ever enacted in Kaitangata. Things conld hardly be otherwise when It is known that the committee had provided twenty-six gallons of beer and four dozen bottles of whisky, and this was freely tested by numbers who hnd evidently set out, with tho intention of having a real drunken spree. The annual report to be presented to the Hebrew congregation of Wellington at the Synagogue next Sunday states that tho membership now stands at 98. During the year ended the 12th hist., there had been fourteen births and nine deaths in tho. community, and three marriages had been solemnised. Special references are made in the report to the passing away of Messrs. Jacob Joseph and Morris Hyams. The latter gentleman had been secretary of tho congregation for a period of twenty years prior to his death, and the executive committee- now recommend that his son, Mr. Louis Hyamß, who s has been acting as secretary, bo permanently appointed to the position. It was mentioned that the late Mr. Joseph had bequeathed a sum of £1000, to be set aside for investment by tho trusteos of the Synagoguo, tho interest of which sum is to go to the minister's salary. The report also stated that tho committee h»d given further consideration to tho question of increasing tho accommodation of the Synagogue, but the excessive amount of' the tenders for proposed alterations necessitated holding tho mutter over for tho present. Over/low service* had to bo held in the Hebrew Schoolroom during tho Holy Days, nnd it wn« probable Unit a similar state of things will a^ain result. It is reported by the Rjvbbi that tho Hebrew School \vn« in a wttisfaotory state, the attendance* during the past year having been quito tip to the average, and the scholars had made good progress. The aamiuitleo note with pleasure tho establishing of a Zionist*' Social Club in tho city, with Mr. 1). J. Nathan n« president and the Rabbi as t r«»i\miror. The committee of tho oounrognMon report a satisfactory state of affairs financially, and thanked Mr. I«mc Van Staveron for services rendered gratuitously to the congregation. The -Rabbi is ulso. thanked for his devotion to tho community. An art union of pictures, with tho object of raising funds for the Public Sotaool Gutet Battalion Band Fund, will ! tjtJce place on November 8. Particulars aro advertised. Black Swan Butter is tho highest grade of Now Zealand butter. It is perfect in » quality, texture, and iUvour.-~Advfc.

As the Welliiigton-Manaw»tu Railway Company's train, due at the Thorndon Station at about 5 o'clock lost night, was upiHouohing the Hull-rood overbridge a wagon laden with timber left the lails, and wn« dragged for two or three chains before the train's progress was arrested. Tho passengers were transhipped into a train sent up for the pin pose, and a j rived at their destination a few minutes late. The line was blocked for two or three hours, and the mail train in consequence arrived in Wellington about three-quar-ters of an hour late. The wagon which ran off the metals was damaged, as were also borne of the sleepers. Mr. James Rod, who was a passenger by the train to which the wagon belonged, writes to" us that tho 'accident would have been a very serious one but for the prompt action of the engine-driver (James Barr). Ho and some other passengers consider that the driver should be rewarded for his conduct, and suggests that we should open a subscription list at our office with that object. Mr. Rod has sent us a guinea towards the proposed fund. If the Jap knows how to take advantage of favouring circumstances and to size up the prevailing weakness of an institution in the same way as tho Hawera Chinaman, he will prevail against the w orld. The following episode from tho Hawera Star will illustrate John's astuteness. He knows that one's luggage, in travelling by train or steamer, is frequently "missing" for longer or shorter periods, so bethought -him of an effective remedy, a thing sought in vain by nvmy a frenzied traveller in all lands. The other evening the Hawera stationmaster was courteously rung up by his confrere at New Plymouth, who said two boxes for him had come off the steamer and were being carefully transferred to the first train. They duly arrived with their labels legibly showing the full name and address of our popular railway official, "H. J. Day. Esq., Hawera." The porter as promptly wheeled them to his roomi when John stepped off the train with "All litec, that my box"— protests, etc., showing Chinese hieroglyphics on the corner. "1 loosee plenty ting on tlain ; Igo statioDinasa, Aucklan ; I say who name you stationmasa Hawera — he say H. J. Day — see? That's my box ; he come all litee 1" An exhibition of paintings from the brush of Mr. Geo. E. Butler was opened in Messrs. M'Gregor Wright and Co.'s art gallery yesterday. Mr. Butler is no j stranger to Wellington, and examples of ' his work have frequently been exhibited in the -city. Tho feature of the present exhibition is a series of pictures, the result of a month's visit to Mount Cook and its neighbourhood early in the year. Two large caiivasus (50in by 40in in size) depict the massivity of Mount Cook and its ice and snow at close range, .from Tasman Glacier, and the beauty of a distant presentment of Mount Earnshaw. Other smaller canvases present different phases of mountain tops, snow fields, glaciers, bush, and stream. There is also a collection of seascapes from tho wild coast of Otago, and Mr. Butler is very much at home in the treatment of sea and rock. Reminiscences of his recent Gtudies on the Continent of Europe and in England are shown on the walls of the gallery, and amongsb some figure studies "In the Gloaming" (which has been sold), two striking manuka-gathering* scenes, and "Coming from Cnurch" (a Dutch impression) are well worth lingering over. The gallery is open to the public free of charge, and will well repay a visit. Tho annual meeting of the Wellington Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Society was held at tho Silver Grid last evening, Mr. George Finn occupying the chair. Commenting on tho report and balance-sheet, the Chairman remarked that he did not think the iccent show had been quite as successful as had been anticipated, but it was quite on a par win. former shows. The Society's bank account i« now about the same as it was at the commencement of last year. The overdraft, however, ehonld be practically wiped off after this year. The groat interest that is being taken in poultry throughout New Zealand just now should tend towards the success of futnre shows, a-nd seeing the number of new societies which have been formed, there seemed to be little doubt as to the future of the Society. Tho adoption of the report and balance-sheet (a precis of which has" been published) waa agreed to. Tho following ofheero were elected for the ensuing year: — Patron, His Excellency the Governor ; President, His Worship the Mayor; Vice-Presidents, Messrs. J. Casey, T. J. Leighton, M. G. Grenside, E. B. Brietow, F. Townsend, R. E. Bannister, Q. Remington, A. H. Fulford; Auditor, Mr. Henry Kember; Trustees, Messrs. E. B. Bristow, F. Townsend; Hon. Treasurer, Mr. A. Simpson; Hon. Secretary, Mr. Francis Shaw ; Committee, Messrs. G. Finn, M. G. Grenside, A. Simpson, T. Doig, G. Fearn, H. Dovey, J. Currie, F. Cooper, T. Jamieson, D. Murphy, A. Doig, J. S. Adams; Delegate to North Island Poultry Association, Mr. M. G Grensido. Votes of thanks were accorded to Messrs. G. Finn and A. Simpson for their efforts on behalf of the Society ; also to Mr. H. Dovey, tho retiring Secretary, and Mr. M. Q. Grenside. The Secretary waa instructed to write a letter to Mr. Henry Kember thanking him for his past services as Hon. Auditor. An amusing case came before the Sydney Court the other day. Edward Pedro, alias Edward Malos, aged 41, a French cook, was charged with falsely pretending to Walter Richards thut a certain advertisement — namely, "European la,dy, 25, about £1500 income, wishes to meet re-spectable-gent. , view matrimony ; genuine. E.P., P. 0., Alexandria," was a genuine advertisement, and that he (Pedro, alias Malos) was a correspondent for tho lady referred to in it, by means of which false prctonco ho attempted to obtain from Walter Richards the sum of 10s with intent to defraud. As a result of the advertisemcnt«6B letters were sent to the defendant. Trades and professions were w-ell represented in the list of correspondents who were willing to sacrifice themselves on the alter oi matrimony. Law, medicine, and the honorary magistracy entered into competition with the hardy son of toil for the fair prize. Nono of them, strange to say, were actuated by mercenary motives. They simply yearned for tho young lady's love. Many of them stated their weight, height, health, and personal appearance, and while they referred to themselves with a certain amount of modeacy, their descriptions were generally calculated to produce a favourable impression. Tho fo.fowing is a verbatim copy of one of the accused's letters : — "Dear Sir, — In reply to your letter, I beg to inform you I am only a correspondent of the lady wishing a uniop with a respectable Australian gentleman. She is French by birth, as I am, and speaks fairly English. Her fortune in cash nnd property I will let you know. You have no commisison to pay if you are able by my intermediate to be an eligible partner. You have only for fee to send me 10s by post, free on my correspondence, as the lady is not in Sydney for the present ; and after I will given you all particulars and appointment after, as all communications are strictly confidential. Hoping your letter is genuine. When I receive from you I will immediately transfer your letter." The accused was committed for trial. The anniversary social gathering of King's Coronation Lodge will be held to-morrow evening at the New Century Hall. Wilton's Old English Cough Linctus is prized by old people, because of the prompt relief it brings for asthma and chronic ailments of the bronchial tubes. 1b 6d and 2s 6d.— ■ Advt.

The number of entries (sixty-four) jusfi received for the musical examinations to ■ be conducted in Wellington under th<i auspices of the Trinity College, London, shows an increase of fourteen upon th« number received last year. The local secretary (Mr. A. J. Wicks) has jusi received word that Dr. Win. Creser, who i» to conduct the examinations through out the colony, will arrive at Auckland, by the San Francisco mail steamer on th«i sth prox. He will visit the varioufc centres on the M r ay couth, and is expected to reach Wellington about the 2nd or 3rd October. Details concerning the examinationa, which are to be held in the Educ* tion Board's buildings, will Be adver tised in due course. A claim under the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act has been file* with the Clerk of Awards by Arthur S.. Gibson, farm labourer, who alleges thai he was thrown from his horse in April lost .white employed by Arthur S. Aid' rich, farmer, Paraparaumu, in mustering stray cattle, and received spinal concussion. He claims £215 as compensation, and the cone has been added to the already long list awaiting the next local Bitting of the Arbitration Court. Sitting in his civil jurisdiction at th<> Magistrate's Court to-day, Dr. A. MAr thur, S.M., u&ve judgment for plaintiffr in tho following cases : — Commercial Agency, Limited, v. George Andrews, isli 16 r Bd, costs £1 lls 6d ; same v. Collins and Lewis, 8s Bd, costs 10s ; Veitch and Allan v. Charles C. Saunders, £2 7s 2d, costs 10s , King and Jtfuir v. Charles L Cadell, £24 6s 6d, costs £2 19s ; J. NaI than and Co., Limited, v. Daniel Jones, £31 lls 3di costs £2 14s; Woolf and Vogel v. Marcus Barak, £6 10s, cost* £J, 3s 6d , Thomas Ballinger and Co., Limit" ed, v. Isaac Clark, £12 10s 6d, cost*. £1 10s 6d ; William Jolliffe v. Fred V Watty, £25 4s, costs £2 14s; the Public [Trustee v. William Hamer, £1 13s 6d, I costs ss ; the Empire Loan and Discount Company, Limited, v. William Ryan, £lei 3s 9d, costs 15s; Thomas M'Carthy v. Walter Rice, lls costs only. Catherino Hurley claimed £2 16s rent from Jann Paulmeir, and got judgment for £1 Bft with 7s costs. . Fml Nelson Adams this morning pro> ceeded by ineaus of judgment summonr, against a young man named G. Wilson for thfc recovery of £15 7s money owing on the sale of a bicycle. In crossexamination by Mr. KirkcaMie, debtor stated that his wife owned a photographic studio, and allowed him £1 a week expenses. He purchased the bicycle to canvas for his wife, but owing to bad weather was unable to use it much before ii was seized by distress warrants. He went to race meetings occasionally, but. denied having made bets recently or being part owner in a racehorse. Dr. A M' Arthur, S.M., adjourned the case until 24th November, and instructed debtor in tho meantime to keep a record of his earnings. Justinian J. X Powell, represented by Mr. Churchward, proceeded in a similar manner against John Young for the recovery of £15 No order waa made in this case, it haring been shown that debtor, a carpenter, had only averaged £2 in wages durini. the last six months, and had no personal! property Daniel F. O'Sullivao, who made no appearance, was ordered to pay £4 0s 6d to A- Levy on or before IbO September, in default seven days' imprisonment. * Furniture carefully packed, stored, and removed by experienced men ; special low rates. New Zealand Express Company No. 20, Customhouse-quay. Telephone 92. — Advt. Munt, Cottrell, and Co., general car riers, 1 Customs and forwarding agents. Storage a speciality. Furniture packed aud removed. Office; Queen's Cham bers. Telephone No. 23.— Advt. Spring Millinery, Spring Blousingg. Spring Jackets, Capes, and Bloubos — in faot, everything for Spring wear is now on view at O. Smith's, Cuba-street. The selections in all departments are mora artistio than over before, and calculated to •wist Nature in making tho lidies o€ Wellington Btill more attractive. O. Smith,' Cash Draper, Cuba-street.— Advt. Bargains in second-hand biorcles. — Wrt can supply you with a serviceablo maohino from £3 upwards. All machines guaranteed in good order Oatos, Lowrji and Co., Cuba-street. Telephone 1531.—Advt.