LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 35, 10 August 1905, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tho proceedings of Parliament yesterday were, during tho afternoon, decidedly interesting. Mr. Fisher's charges relating to an alleged payment to Captain Seddon again camo on for consideration. The first and most important portion of the debute was reported in last night's Post, and the remainder of the debate appears this evening. For the rest, a good deal was said about State coal mines, several other matters of minor importance were dealt with, and the House also considered two prirate members' Bill* in Committee.

It is safe to say that the announcement to-day that it is the intention of the Mikado to send a' Japanese fleet to British waters— ostensibly a call of courtesy, of course— will be received in the Chancellories of Europe with as much interest and attention as would news of a decisive battle from the seat of war. It is the only item of first-class importance relating to Japan to-day. An ex- Wellington resident, writing to on© of our staff from Kobe, under data the 30bh Juno, says there is no war nerws obtainable. " You hear more about it in Wellington than we do here," says the writer "Most of ithe news comes from abroad ; in fact, the war is rarely mentioned hero." "A Trust is little more than a joint stock company writ large," was a pronouncement of Sir Robert Stout, in the lecturo on "The Origin of Commercial Law" which he delivered last night before the Accountants' Students' Society. Sir Robert mentioned that joint slock companies were originally regarded with great disfavour by English people, and the "South Sea bubble" was an incident which naturally occurred to memory in this , connection. Reverting to the matter . of Trusts, Sir Robert said that a Trust was a combine that had abolished sentiment, and, it was said by some, had abolished honour. "Accurate" writes correcting a statement that Lord Roberts, late Commander-in-Chief of the British Army, was now on the retired list. Our correspondent states that by virtue of his rank as a field-marahal Lord" Roberts will remain on the active list until tha day of his death. Extended leave of absence has been granted by the Wellington Presbytery to the Rev. J. Aitken, of the Onslow district. Mr. Aitken went to Edinburgh early in the year for surgical treatment, and has made such a good recovery that he hopes to reach Wellington again at the end of the year in good health. The question of a school for Northland was mentioned in the House yesterday. Mr. Field asked the Minister for Education when the Government proposed to deal finally with the Education Board's application for a grant ior the school. The reply given by the Premier was that on the 31st ultimo the' Inspector-General of Schools, in company with the Inspector and Architect of the Board, visited the site for the proposed school at Northland. It is considered that a school is necessary, but the application sent in needs some adjustment. After discussion between the Inspector-General and the officers of the Board referred to, it is understood that a fresh application with completed plans will be forwarded to the Department in a short time. • Some weeks ago Councillor Morrah drew the Corporation's attention to the state of the Te Aro Baths, which had been damaged by heavy seas. He intends moving at to-night's meeting of the Council that the baths be closed until the damage has been repaired. A gentleman well known in swimming circles who was one of tho«e who strongly urged the erection of baths at Te Aro informs us that the baths are at "present quite unsafe. Some of the piles have been washed away and many of those which are still standing are very unshaky. The water in the north-eastern part of the baths is silting up, and he predicts that unless a concrete wall is put up it will be impossible t<- bathe in that portion of the batns next year. He considers that the Council will be only throwing away money if it attempts to patch up the timber structure. The only remedy in his opinion is to erect a proper seawall. A parade of the Wellington Navals was summoned last night for Mount Cook drillshed. Five petty officers turned out but no gunners. Staff-Captain Biss had been appointed to take charge of the parade, the company's officers having all" resigned. In addition to the petty-of-ficers, there were present Master-Gunner Richardson and the Permanent Artillery instructors. Two men in naval uniform stood outside the drillshed and a fairly large crowd, in mufti, stood across the street. A3 the time for the parade drew near a non-commissioned officer asked from the doorway of the hall if there were any navals in mufti present, and an answer came "No." Then the non-com, walked up the hall and saluted the commanding officer, and reported "No muster," whereupon the parade was dismissed by the divisional 'corps officer. The Chairman of the New Zealand Candle Company was asked at the general meeting whether 'the falling-off in the consumption of candLes was not due to the cheapening of tho price of kerosene, and the reply was given by another Director (Mr. Kennedy), who said that, in 1900, when the duty was reduced, the total import that yoar of ■candles was 1,609,1211b, and the- colonial make was 3,317,4091b. Coming to theyear 1903, tho imported cand!e 5 amounted to 3,042,053, and the local made to 2,746,6471b, making a total of 5,788,7001b, as against 4,926,5301b in 1900, so that ie will be seen that the total consumption ol candles was greater instead of less. This entirely disproved the suggestion that, through the remission of the duty on kerosene, the consumption of candles, on the whole, has been lessened. The importation, however, 'had completely absorbed the falling-off in the colonial make. Judgment in what ar© known as the Land Transfer Cases was given this morning by the Court of Appeal. Difficulty in interpreting the Public Works Act Amendment Act, 1900 (sections 20 and 21), the Public Works Act, 1903 (sections 2 and 3), and the Public Works Act Amendment Act, 1904 (section 5) has been experienced for somo time past by District Registrais of Land in cases where lands affected by these provisions are lands under the provisions of the Land Transfer Act, 1885, and tho Acts amending it. To ascertain the position tho Registrar-General of Lands moved the Court of Appeal to decido a number of questions which had actually ariser before several registrars, and certain of which questions had in different districts been differently determined by the registrars. In all fourteen questions were submitted foi consideration of the Courts, each of which had' arisen in actual practice. The fourteen questions are somewhat lengthj, and as separate judgment*, were given by the Chief Juslice and Justices Williams, Edwards, Coopor, and Chupman, in each of which the questions are commented on and dealt with seriatim, it is impossible to succinctly and adequately summarise the Court's judgment. By giving definite ctuide to Laud Registrars it will considerably lighten the tasks of those officials, and for guidance of these and other people whose interest or duties are materially affected by the matter full copies of the several judgments are both desirable and caacntiol. It may be shortly said tluit all owners of property are directly or indirectly affected by the points at issue. Our winter sale closes at 1 p.m. next Saturday. Theie is still ample time to secure some of tho countless bargains offered. Sample fascinators from Is 3d, Is 6d, #to 9a lid ; golf jerseys from I 7s 6d, children's sizes from 3s 6d ; French Jap. silk blouses suitable for spring wear, 10b 6d, 12s 6d, 15s 6d ; ladies'* silk ties, three for 2s, also special ranges at Is 6d and Is lid each ; washing ties, 7£d each. 1 Kirkcaldie ewd Stains (Ltd.J.—Advt.

A sitting in Chambers to fix the civil list for the coming sessions will be held by His Honour the Chief Justice to-mor-row morning, at 10.30 o'clock. The Coates Cup was played for on the Hutt links last Monday, and resulted in a win for the Hutt ladies by one point. The Wellington team scored 461 ; the Hutt score was 460. Mrs. Gordon's score (108) being the best for the Hutt and the best score of the day, she holds the cup for the year. On a charge of having obtained £10 from the Postmaster-General by means of a false pretence, a seafaring man named John Henry Coulter was this morning brought before Dr. A. McArthur, S.M. On the application of Mr. Herdman, accused was remanded until the 18th inst.,bail being allowed, self in £25 and one surety in £25. Two first-ofiending inebriates were each convicted and dis- [ charged. The Wellington Drivers' Union, which last January filed an application to extend the Wellington Drivers' Award" to country employers, has now withdrawn the ap-plication-in so far as Masterton, Carlerton, Dannevirke, Pahiatua, and Woodville are concerned. Palmerston North and Wanganui are still included in the application. The award at present applies onlj to Wellington and suburbs. Two seamen belonging to .the- ship Zealandia, at present taking in ballast at the Queen's Wharf, this morning, fell a distance of about 20ft down the hold of the vessel, escaping with slight injuries. The men — whose names are Formoa Engvig and Carl Halldin— -met with the accident by standing on a hatch, which tilted up with them. Engvig was bruised about the arm and side, whilst Halldin sustained a scalp wound. Whilst working at the Mokoia to-day, a man named Wm. David Billman twisted his back, and was taken to the 'Hospital for treatment. The quarterly convention of Wellington Primitive Methodist Sunday School teachers was held in the Newtown Church last evening. There was a large attendance of fcoth teachers and officers, and a very useful discussion followed the reading if papers by Mr. E. Oxley on the "Social Side of Sunday School Work" and by Mr.. Ernest Dawson dsaling with the interest of parents in Sunday Schools. The reports from the various schools showed each <to bo in a satisfactory condition. The chair was occupied by Rev. C. E. Ward, and during the evening vocal eolos were contributed by Miss E. Embury ana Mr. TV Hoar. Sitting in his civil jurisdiction at the Magistrate's Court to-day, Dr. M'Arthur, S.M., gave judgment for plaintiffs in the following cases : — Fildes, Mitchell and Co. v. David Martin, £2 11s lOd, costs £1 3s 6d; Wm. Hendry v. Edgar J. Clough, £4 4s, costs 15s ; H. H. Smith v. Graham and Tetley, £11 lls 3d, costs £1 10s 6d ; The New Zealand Machinery Co., Ltd., v. Graham and Tetley, £13 13s sd, costs £1 10s 6d ; The Commercial Agency Ltd. v. Edmund A. Gray, £16 15s, costs £2 0s 6d ; William Gran v. Charles Ellison, 5s 6d, costs^T-ls; The Wellington Woollen and Manufacturing Co., Ltd., v. Chas. Louis Schmoll, £13 17s 2d, costs £1 H)s 6d; Harry Vincent Westbury v. Ernest Bennett, 8s costs only ; William S. Wallace v. T. Mollison Smith, 18s 6d; costs ss. A meeting of the Wellington Presbytery was held -at St. John's Church on Tuesday afternoon. A number of matters remitted from the General Assembly were considered. The reports on statistics showed that the Presbyterian Church was continuing to make steady progress. The Assembly's recommendations regarding the amalgamation of the sustentation and ministers' stipend funds and the regulations for church extension charges were approved. It was announced that the new Book of Order (which contains the law of the Church) would be considered at the next meeting of the iPrcsbytery. A committee was set up to make further arrangements for services at Brooklyn and Kelburne, which district gave promise of growing into a regular charge. Subsequently the Presbytery sat ns the Assembly's Committee which is to leport on the union and co-operation of the Evangelical Churches. It was decided to enter into correspondence on the subject with the Congregational, Methodist, and Baptist Churches. A point affecting ■ the estate of the late Rev. C. S. Ogg was before the Supreme Court yesterday, the presiding Judges being the Chief Justice and Mr. Justice Cooper. There was a verbal contract made between Mr. Ogg and Mrs. Burnett in 1900 for Mr. Ogg to build a house for Mrs. Burnett on her section of land in Gpring-street (she to pay off cost of construction in a reasonable time), in consideration of an assignment of an insurance policy on the life of Mr. Burnett and of Mrs. Burnett performing certain duties in connection with the Rev. Mr. Ogg's charge of St. Andrew's. iThe house was built, and Mrs Burnett entered into possession, after which from time to time she paid sums (shown in a ledger produced), which were equivalent to interest on cost of construction. The suit before the Court was one for specific performance, Mr. Alex. Gray (counsel for Mrs. Burnett) asking that the Court, in the absence ot any contradiction, do rule that Mrs Burnett entered into the house by virtue of the verbal contract to purchase made between herself and the late Mr. Ogg. Mr. Martin Luckie, who appeared for two of the beneficiaries under Mr. Ogg's will who reside in Scotland, opposed the application on the ground that there was no mutuality at the time the contract was entered into ; Mrs. Burnett was merely a tenant. Mr. Justice Cooper pointed out that Mrs. Burnett had agreed to pny rates and insurance ; that was not the practice of a weekly or monthly tenant. The Chief Justice agreed ; no ordinary tenant paid insurance on a house. Mr J. P. Campbell, solicitor to the executors of the will, appeared on their behalf. Mr. Campbell pnt in an affidavit that Mr. Ojetct had told him that the house was bi'ilt with a view to Mrs. Burnett eventually purchasing it. The decree was granted. Seven guineas costs to each party were allowed, to come out of the estate. Tho report to be laid before the annual meeting of the New Zealand Kennel Club states that from a numerical point of view the lisb of affiliated clubs is about on a par with that of last year. The club will start its new year with a credit balance of £13 9s. Fanciers are gradually falling into the wading of the New Zealand Kennel Club rules, and less friction has been noticeable this year; the question of registration is still," however, the cause of a' little misunderstanding. It behoves all owners of dogs (especially those in the country districts) to see to this matter perstm^Uj- — it is »iec<B»->orj-wben entering their dogs for competition to satisfy themselves they are registered witu the governing club, and thus avoid consequent disqualification. The Wanganui A. and P. Association has given notice to .move, "That the New Zealand Kennel Clnb forthwith tako into consideration the allotment of nil chall*nge classes for the ensuing season on lines consistent with the furtherance of the 'fancy,' and that not more than two challenge classes for the same breed be allotted to any society in the North Island, and the onme quota, to the South Island,"

[ Several letters are in type, but are omitted for want of space. The Court of Appeal, aiter it had given judgment in the Land Transfer Cases thir morning, adjourned for a fortnight. Speaking at the meeting of the New Zealand Candle '"Company, Mr. Nicholas Reid said that the most serious competition'which «ht> colonial candles have to face is that N in respect to candles manufactured and exported from America and Burmah to this colony. These, he explained, were *nade solely from paraffins wax If they were d composite candle made from stearine and wax — the colonial companies would be in a position to ' hold their own. The duty on candles is Id, and on wax 3d. The duty of Id is not adequate protection against the imported candles, whilst tho duty of jd on paraffine is not sufficiently low to enable the rompauies If. manufacture- a. purely paraffine candle to compete with the imported article. Mr. -Martin Kennedy said that when the duty on candles and wax was reduced in 1900, it played directly into the hands of trusts, against which Parliament had several times attempted to legislate. For example, paraffine is supplied by the Standard Oil Company, and American candles by the Vacuum Oil Company—an offshoot of the Standard Oil Company. They had also to compute with cheap coolie labour employed in the manufacture of Burmah candles. He also pointed out that, with respect ito English candles, the principal manufacturers, quoted id ,per lb less foi export than for Home consumption, which meant that they were using the colonies as a dumping ground for their surplus manufactures. The claim for £10 3d made by Stephen Harris against Frederick N. Adams for balance due for work done and materials supplied in effecting alterations and repairs to the defendant's premises in Mercer-street was decided by Dr. A. M'Arthur, S.M., this morning. His Worship said the difference between the parties was on one point only, on ■which there appeared to him to have been a genuine misunderstanding. That point was whether the plaintiff was to do the plumbing work on the verandah or not. Aftei reviewing the evidence his Worship gave judgment for plaintiff, for the amount claimed, with £4 Is costs. Mr. Gray appeared for plaintiff and Mr. Findlay for the defendant. Judgment was also given in the case in which Richard Michael Carroll cued James Brocklehurst for the return of certain goods or £7 16s in case possession could not be had. His Worship said this was the case of the responsibility of a warehouseman for the loss of goods entrusted to his care, and gave judgment for plaintiff for the return of the goods except a vice or £6 Is and £2 6s costs. Mr.'Kirkcaldie appeared for plaintiff and Mr. yon Haast for the defendant. A meeting of the Miramai Borough Council held last evening was presided', over by the Mayor (Mr. F. Townsend) and attended by "the following Councillors: — Messrs. Witt, Richards, Wardell, Brodie, and M'Grath. The City Council wrote in reply to a letter from the borough with reference to the boundary line between the city and Miramar. It was decided to adopt certain suggestions made by the Council concerning the subject. Attention was drawn by Messrs. Easson and Co. to the wharfage chargo" on coal landed on the borough wharves. They pointed out that the borough's charge was 2s per ton, whilst the charge on the Wellington wharf was Is per ton. It was pointed out by Councillors that the Harbour- Board took Is out of the 2s charged by the borongh, and that if any reduction was made it would ,have to be from the borough's portion of "the wharfage. On the Motion" of Councillor Wardell it was decided to reduce the charge to Is 6d per ton from now till the Ist March. The Mayor reported that a work requiring immediate attention was the lepairing of the Evans Bay road from the city boundary to the cutting. He said he had instructed the Clerk to prepare an estimate of the work required for improving and repairing the road, and subsequently placed the estimate before the Council. On tho motion of the Mayor it was decided to invite tenders for the necessary work. Accounts amounting to £340 17s 8d were passed for payment. The Mayoi intimated that it would not be long before the Council wiped off its debit balance. At the inquest yesterday on Captain S. Lambert, whose body was found in the harbour on Tuesday last, Mr. V. Wllleston was foreman of tho jury. W. R. Scholefield, watchmaker, stated that the deceased had left in his (witness's) care a deed-box containing seven £20 notes and deeds of some properly in Nelson. Dr. Tripe, who made a "poet s mortem examination, deposed that there was a wound about an inch long on tho back of the head. It might have been caused by a fall backward against some sharp projection. He found evidence of serous appplexy. Such a condition would not be produced by drowning. It would, be sufficient to cause death. The fingers wore tightened, but the skin was not, corrugated, and witness did not think the body had oeen in the water more than 48 hours. The immediate cause of death was drowning while suffering from serous apoplexy. Captain Tinney atatecT that the deceased, vtaom he had known for 29 years, had two, apoplectic fits som., time agi,. I * .sed told him that he was 76 years oid. Emanuel Ryder deposed that he saw accessed fall down, in a fit 111 the Working Men's Club between 5 and 6 o'clock on Saturday evening last. The fit did not last long, and deceased go^tip and resumed conversation with some friends. Maurice Manthel deposed that a few minutes before 6 o'cloo> on Saturday he saw the deceased lyf v • on the ferry breastwork and another man trying to pick him up. Witness lent a hand, and deceased, who had a severa cut on the back of his head, was placed upon his feel, but he ritaggcred and again fell. Witness then had to leave to catch the Day's Bay boat. After further evidence had been taken thejuir returned a verdict that deceased mot his death by drowniug, and that he fell into the water while suffering from serous apoplexy. Members of the Karori Golf Club aw notified that the golf season will h* opened on Saturday afternoon. The New Zenland Express Company'; Van meets the incoming Alanawatu expressevery night. Luggage for town or steam, er carefully delivered. Charges moderate. — Advt. Muut, Cottrell, and Co., genera] car riers, Customs and .forwarding agents Storage a speciality. Furniture packet and removed. Office : Queen's Cham bers. Telephone No. 23, — Advt. C. Smith ha* established a reputation fo selling Ike highest standard of goods at tho lowest possible prices, for cash. The fact that everything bought by C. Smith is on tho principle of spot Cash p»ymcul pnablcß vis to give our cubtomors tro benefit of liberally discounted prices. Having enables us to give our customers tho beno ciplc, it is to our interest to keep up out' reputation, and to oontinuo giving the best value possible at moderate prices. Mr. O. Smith, who is even now purchasing huge quantities 'of now goods from^tho best English and Continental markets, advises us "that Ins "ready oash" system of buying still enables him to quote his own price for tho newest and most up-to-ilato goods, and is confident that his stock for the coming season will in every way meet with tho approval of the most fastidious follower* of fashion. O. Smith, Cash Draper, Cuba-street Advt.