LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Evening Post, Volume LXXII, Issue 93, 17 October 1906, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Yesterday, the Legislative Council Bat for about an hour and a half, the,only Bill under notice which «xcit«d any discuasion being the Workers' Dwellings Act Amendment Bill. The Houeo dealt with a large number of Bills, the Advances to Workers and Offensive Publications being tho principal measures of debate. An important measure dealing with defence was brought down by Governor s Message in "'the afternoon, and an amendment to the Public Revenues Act wasi similarly introduced shortly after midnight. The stesmer 'Moeraki, which arrived from Sydney this morning, brought over one hundred packages of goods for the New Zealand Exhibition. Our Dunedin correspondent telegraphs that the Rev. A. Cameron has received a donation of £100 from Mr. James M'Kcrrow, of Wellington, towards the residential college fund. A chimney ablaze at Compton's timber mill, Boulcott-streeV at 7.30 o'clock last evening, was responsible for the brigade bsing called out. The flames were suppressed without any damage being done. About two months ago tEe City Counnil spent about £100 in planting the fulf between Nairn-street and the Irooklyn tramway line. During the past fow nights some miscreant has entered the reserve and stolen about 50 wattle trees and damaged others. There seems but little prospect of the suspended sittings of the Meikle Commission being resumed and concluded during .je stay of Mr. Justice Edwards and Mr. Justice Cooper in Wellington' at the- present sittings of the Court of Ap--peal. „ It will be remembered that when the commission last" eat, in Jhe middle of May, an-adjournment sine" die was made to enable the evidence of Mr. W. R, Cameron, formerly manager for the New Zealand Land, Mortgage and Investment company —the former owners of Islay Station, from which -ileikle was alleged to have stolen the sheep —to be taken, by commission in London. The adjournment was further necessary to permit of tho return to the colony of the present Minister for Lands (Hon. R. M'Nab), whose evidence wao considered necessary. Mr. Cameron's evidence has not yet come out from Home, and it is probable that no further sitting of the commission will be held until its arrival, when Mr. M'Nab will probably be examined and counsel's closing address delivered. The Wellington criminal sessions, which open on 19th 1 November, promise to ba exceptionally heavy. The calendar already comprises the following twelve charges: —Patrick Connor, alias Alexander King, indecent assault on a child; Francis Stephen Hart, assault, causing actual bodily harm; Junan Gomez, breach of Post Office Act.; Albert John Stannard, and Arnold Harold Wlikes, assault and robbery; John Connei forgery (six charges); John Edward Lisher, alias Ramsay, alias Thompson, asaault and robbery; Win. Jenkinson Sparrow, alias Simmons, theft from a dwelling; Joseph Reynolds, assault, causing actual bodily harm; Marion May Emmens, murder; Maria Neary, alias Gerty Neary, alias Smith, assault, causing actual bodily ■ harm; Jamas Wills, sheep stealing (two charges). Rather an unusual case came before the Stipendiary Magistrate &t Cambridge, Waikato, last n-eek^vhen Mr. Selby, the huntsman of the Waikato Hunt Club, was sued by a local farmer for the recovery of £3 as damages for disturbing his sheep and causing three of them to give premature birth to three dead lambs. The plaintiff (Samuel Hall) gave evidence that the hounds Went over his 1 property on the 30th June last, and later on the same day they crossed a paddock in which there were ewes heavy in lamb. He went intp the paddock, and the sheep flocked around him, but later on the hounds again crossed the paddock. A number of tho ewes had dead lambs, which he attributed to tho fact of their having been frightened by the hounds. On 2?th July he saw Mr. Selby in Cambridge, and warned him not to bring the hounds there again. However, on the day following, the hounds again crossed hb land, eleven horsemen following. The magistrate g&ve judgment for' the amount claimed with costs. Tho presiding Justices at the Magistrate's Court to-day were Messrs, J, Young, T. W. Young, and G. Winder. John M'Gowan, against whom there were previous convictions for drunkenness and one for theft, pleaded guilty to tho larceny of a pair of bocta valued at 12s 6d from Joshua Morris, and wao sentenced to one month's imprisonment. A cab-driver named Samuel Sheppard was brought before the court on two charges of leaving a Cab and horse unattended at Rintoul-street during the progress of a football match at the Athletic Park on 22nd September, and of using insulting language calculated to provoke a breach of the peace on the same occasion. Mr. Percy Jackson ' (Wilford and Lovi) defended. Accused denied the language imputed to him, and pleaded serious provocation. The charge of leaving the vehicle unattended was withdrawn, and a fine of 2s 6d imposed in the 6econd case. James Kirkwood, represented by Mr. Cook, pleaded guilty to having left a horse and vehicle unattended on Oustomhousequay in the <arly morning, and was fined 5s and costs. A eimilar penalty was imposed on Arthpr Whale lor driving arqund the corner of Molesworth and Wingfield streets at faster than a walking pace.

A serious accident occurred in Cour* tenny-placo about 8 o'clock this morning. An elaorly man, whose name is said to be- Duncan, and who is a wharf labourer, was crossing the road when he was knocked down by a tramcar proceeding towards town. Persons who saw the accident, think that the man was deaf, an he a*"-earod to take no notice of the ringing of the motorman's bell. It was seen that the man was seriously injured, and Drs. Young and Elliott, who arrived in a very few minutes ordered his removal to the hospital. It was found that he had received a very bad fracture of the skull, his collarbone was broken, and he had *. ako sustained severe internal injuries. Hi» condition is regarded as serious. William Leonard Heath, who carried on a confectionery business in Manners.etreet until recently, was last week adjudged a bankrupt, and a meeting of hia creditors was summoned for to-day. 'Tho bankrupt did not attend, and the' Official Assignee stated that consequently them was no statement of assets and liabilities available. The following creditors wera represented: —John Young, cabinetmaker, £40 6s; Kirkcaldie and Stains, drapers^ £37 19s 6d; Laery and Co., merchants* £35 10a lOd; W. and G. Turnbull md Co., merchants, and William Campbell grocer. It was stated that the bankrupt tiaa paid £19 monthly as rent. Tho meeting decided that Laery and Cbb should sell the stock-in-trade, fittings* etc., at auction. To-day's meeting of the District Hew* pital Board was attended •by Messrs, J. Godber (chairman), R. C. Kirk. G» Frost, R. B. Williams and M. Murdoch*, A statement was presented by Mr. Michic, Clerk of Works, showing thav the cost of the new sanatorium at Otald was about £4000. The chairman s said the statement was a very satisfactory one, and it showed that the action oi the board ir. doing the work by day labour had been justified. The lowest tonder received was about £4500, whicli did not include the cost of foundations and other extras \vaich had been carried out for the £4000. Mr. Frost estimated that the board had saved! about £1000 by adopting the day laboursystem. Mr. Williams pointed out that the board was fortunate in having tha advice of two practical builders like Messrs. Murdoch and Frost. Accounts amounting to £1592 were passed for payment. The Medical Superintendent* reported that there were now seven, males and seven females in the hospital, and that Probationer Campbell had\ left to enter the Wellington Hospital. This morning the Arbitration Court, consisting of Mr. Justice Chapman, .Messrs. |3, Brown, and R. Slater, heardl a motion by Mr. Toogood, on behalf of Jas. Ferguson, bench carpenter, Wellington, for an extension of the timo within which Ferguson may file a claim for compensation against the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company inrespecb to an injury which he sustajn&a, to a finger while in the company's employment. The Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act, 1900, prescribed tha limit of time during which a claim could be filed as within three months , after the accident, but -the present application was made under section 4 of tho amending Aci^pf 1904, which empower* the court to extend the time at ito discretion, provided tho period of such extension does not exceed one month. In the present case the respondent company had been making payments to tho injured worker since the occurrence of the accident. The court granted the extension of' time for lodging the claim, but the President intimated that tho question was an important one on which he would give a written judgment, air. J. P. Campbell appeared on behalf of the railway company. Ciyil proceedings ware taken in tho Magistrate's Court before Dr. A. M'Arthur, S.M., yesterday afternoon, by Wm, Lunn against Alfred G. Manthel, flaxmiller, for £23 0s 2d, balanco of wagea due. Defendant paid £11 13s into court, and counterclaimed for £2 in respect oi goods alleged to have been obtained Iron* a storekeeper by plaintiff, and charged to defendant. His Worship, after hearing evidence, credited defendant with certain items, and gave judgment on the whole ess© for plaintiff for £16 Is 6d, Ices £15 13s, with £3 costs. 'Mr. P. Jackson appeared for plaintiff and Mr. Blair for defendant. Another claim of £9, for wages, was made against Manthel by Leonard 'ilardon. ■ Judgment was for plaintiff, represented by Mr P. Jackson* for £8, with JBJ. 16s costs. John G. W, Dalrymnle sued John Morris for £3 3k for professional eeryioes rendered. Judgment wa's for plaintiff for the amount claimed, with £1 7s costs. Mr. D, Jackson appeared for plaintiff/ and Mr o Hindmarsh for defendant. Peter Thomati Johns sought to recover from Lewis P, Pulsford £2 4s Id, amount alleged t<*. be due on a plumbing contract. Judg» ment waa for defendant, represented by Mr. P. Jackson, with 10s 6d a costs.. George Knopp, for whom Mr. Pethericfc appeared, sued Harold Curtis, represented by Mr. P. Jackson, for £6 0s 3d, for money alleged to have been lent. Jii&g* ment was for £5 7s 9d, with £1 lln costs. Last evening Mrs. A. R. Atkinson, in moving the adoption of the annual report of the Sockly for the - Protection* of Women and Children,' said that sho wished to include a reference to tho child slavery that 'prevailed in some dairying districts. The members of tho society were glad to see that factory inspectors had been appointed to make, enquiries and repoxt. 'Zfajy quite recognised that the question "was one oi very great difficulty. It was possible that comforts that children enjoyed at home might be due to the assistance, tnat. they gave their parents; but at the same time when, the Wanganui inspectors mentioned, that n child of seven and a half years res* before four o'clock in 'tho morning and milked seven cows before going to school, and seven before going' to bed, there was some need of interference on the part of someone. She trusted that the suggestion of the Evening Post, advocating the appointment of a Royal Commission, would be adopted by the Government. She urged tnafc it would be advisable to appoint a woman as a member oft any commission set up, as in these cases a- woman • could do more good than even a kind-hearted man. Subsequently Dr. Mason remarked that the attention which this society might give to this qu«tion of the industrial work fchab was being required of children, should bring about reforms which, in his opinion, wero necessary- in some cases. Mr. A. R. ..nAinson said tha* the question of child labour Avas oon« earned not only with dairying distrieta mentioned, but rural areas- throughout the co'.ony. Ho referred to the action of the Evening Post, wmch had for years striven to get batter treatment for the children effected. He men read portions of tho Wanganui inspectors' statement* which were published' recently in the Post. The state of things described, he added, was intolerable, and should bft ended without delay.

The Trade Roviow of to-day's date, in its article on the monoy mnrkst, comments on the fact that despite the abundance of, capital and the promise of the coming season tho price of money still keens high. It adds : "Curiously ■ihte flourishing condition does not bring with it any general reduction in the ■price of money, and the reason of this departure from the ordinary effect of tho law of supply and demand is to be found,^ still more strangely, in the action of the Government, one of whose aims and boasts has, in the past,' been to see that the settlers get cheap money. Tho effect of the higher cates given by the Post Office Savings B"ank may be gathered from a comparison of the respective results of the first six months ol 1906. The Government establishment,, with a total of deposits on 3lst December, 1905, of £8,662,023, added to this sum in the following six months £467,765, equal to 5.4 per cent. The united banks, with a total at 31st. December of £9,776,098 in fixed deposits (which may bo called the savings bank m'anch of their business), added only £91,275 in the six months, or less than 1 per cent. This fact clearly proves that an undue proportion of the savings of the community is being diverted to ins Government institution, owing to the high rates of interest that aro being paid. Under these circumstances it is, of course, out of the question to expect the banks to further 1 lower the rates for deposits and coELSo<jueutly for loans." , The movement for a direct steamer service Ib Rona Bay has advanced a further Stage.- At the meeting of the Eastfadurne Borough Council yesterday, the Mayor (Mr. F. G. Bolton) said that, ■tthough the sub-committee set up to consider* the question had not prepared a. report, he had had three boats offered to hi/n, in addition to those already offered, i deluding an absolutely new one. He had also received the- following letter .from 'Messrs. H. W. fihortt and J. D. Av^ry : — "In relation to a ferry service to the Rona Bay wharf, we beg to lay ■* proposal before the council. If we undertake to float a company to provide an up-to-date ferry service in every reepect, -mil the council on its part offer the Company the subsidy that was offered to and rejected by the Wellington Har1 tour Ferries? If the council can see its way to do this, it will materially assist the formation of a company that will be to' the advantage of the district. — (Signed) J. x). Avery, H. W. Shortt." The Mayor fcdded that tie subsidy offered to the Harbour Ferries was £50 a year, to be paid out of unauthorised expenditure. He did not see why the same unount should not be offered to any other 1 company which provided an efficient service. It was decided that the subsidy ihonld be paid if the new company is formed and provides the service. Yonr furniture packed, removed, or stored. Experienced and careful men. By road,. iai|, on 6ea. Anywhere. New Zealand Express Co., Cu3tomhouse-ouav f M. 1333.-Advt. / 4 - ' Nothing succeeds like success. The success of our goods brings us fame. Fame & attained by, two things, i.e., selling good quality articles at a lower price than anybody dlse, and keeping a good and varied essoi^ment of the latest and most styhih goods in the colony. We claim' both of these achievements, and" w want you to come along and test the truth of this statement. Ask to see onr ladies' muslin costumes at 25s lor a start. If the value does pot startle you then our name is not C Smith, The Cash Draper, Cuba-street.— -J.dvt.