LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 67, 20 March 1907, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

To-day the Corporation had a record number of informations read at the Police Court. Tho charges totalled seventy-five, and included different offences — wandering cattle, unregistered dogs, defective water fittings, etc. Inspector Doyle is making another crusade against owners of unregistered dogs, and a large number of offenders, in due coursa, will be asked to explain to the Bench why they disregarded warnings and persisted in ovadipg the law. Tho annual meeting of the Council of the New'Zeuland Fire Underwriters' Association was opened in Wellington this morning, and is expected to last until tho end of the week. The president is Mr. James Buttle, general manager of the Now Zealand Insurance Company. The tender of E. and A. Reynell, at £6600, ha.s been accepted for the erection of the brick building of three stories, which Mr. A. E. Kernot has decided to place upon his section on Old Customliouse-etrcet, next to the Aus- j tralian Widows Fund Life Assurance ! offices. The architects are Messrs. Crichton and M'Kay. A correspondent {" Anti- Humbug ") writes agreeing with the contention in an article in Monday's Post that it is high time that larrikinism in the streets was checked, though he thinks it would be unnecessary to increase the police force for this purpose. If ono or two examples were made, he thinks it would have a wholesome effect. As to the street-corner orators, the -writer claims that tho audiences are orderly, and need no special police supervision ; some of ths views advocated may be novel, but tho meetings can appreciate their soundness or otherwise, and frequently much information is gained. According to a Pross Association telefrani from Auckland, a syndicate has eon formed and registered for the purpose of taking up land in the King Country to prospect for gold, and in a short time to go in for thorough development work. Prospecting has been carried out and a reef located on Maori land, and it is intended to hold a meeting of directors on 3rd, April, after which it is proposed to push on with gold -mining operations. Although some fair specimens of ore have been obtained, enough quartz has not yet been opened up to test tho value of tho stone. The capital of the venture has been fixed at £2880. A meeting of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was held yesterday afternoon, Mr. J. Ilott presiding. Tho inspector reported having enquired into thirty-four cases during the past fortnight. Tho following subscriptions were acknowledged :—Professor Mackenzie, £1 Is ; British Empiro Trading Co., £1; Dr. Faulke, 10s 6d; Miss Rutherford, Mrs. Canton, Dr. N. M'Lean, Rev. J. K. Elliott, Messrs. L. Stowe, J. Clulow, D. T. Stuart, W. S. Latrobe, R. M. Griffiths and Co., H. Headland, "Friend," and "Supporter," 5s each ; Mrs. Underwood, 43 ; Mr. \Y. Latham, 3s; Misa Konayne, 3s; Mrs. Evans, 2s 6d; Miss Beoro, 2s 6d ; Mr. W. Munro, 2s 6d ; Mrs. Fell, 2s 6d ; Mr. G. Humphries, 2s 6d j Mrs, Chalfield, 2s 6d ; total, £6 16s 6d. The 1906-0? season of amateur athletics is to be brought to a close on Saturday afternoon next, when tho Victoria College Club will hold its second annual sports gathering on tho Basin Reserve. Everything points to a successful meeting ; entries aro good — the quality as woll as tho quantity — and the majority of tho athletes who have competed successfully and otherwise during tho Season are making a final appear- 1 ance. The time for receiving tenders for the purchase of the Hokitika Harbour Board's reserves ftas been extended to Tuesday, 2nd April. Mi-B. Sisson Hughes will hold a public meeting at Now Century Hall this ovoning, and will devote the whole evening to psychometry. Good news for ladies. A spocial offer of 200 smart tweed jackets in various stylos at 22s 6d each is being mado by Kirkcaldie and Stains, Ltd. These jackets are right up to date in stylo, woll made of good quality twoed, and ure remarkably low-pricea. See win- , dj»\L«irAdvt,

A correspondent (John Viptor) writes facetiously about tram cars and tram traffic. "Take the latest addition to the fleet — the 'palace car,' " he says. "Surely some one must have designed this car when sound asleep. First of all tho passenger makes a dash at the hinder part of the car, and vaulting lightly upstairs promptly butts nis cranium upon an obstruction placed there for the purpose. Some one has seen to it that the roof of the palace car projects over the stairway I more than is needed ; if it isn't the roof, at anyrate it is a part of the car ; enough, to raise a. cuss word end a bump anyhow. If a passenger, when going on 'deck,* during the five o'clock 'rush 1 cranes his neck so as to escape getting bumped, the man immediately in front of him generally manages to placo one of his boots in tho unfortunate person's face, so it's simply six of one and half a dozen of the other' " After complaining of the time-table system in vogue, our correspondent graciously admits that the Wellington service ("bar Auckland") is the best in the colony. A cross action in rbopect of a building occupied the attention of Dr. M' Arthur, S.M., yesterday afternoon. The plaintiff, John M'Callum, builder, sued Wm. Warden Wills for £109 8s sd, balance due on a contract, plus certain extras. Against this, defendant counter-claimed £22 12s 3d, chiefll, it was alleged, in regard to two walls, and damages for making a room ono foot and a half smaller than was shown on a plan. Mr. Blair appeared for plaintiff, and Mr. Gully for defendant. After hearing two witnesses, his Worship adjourned further hearing of the case for a week. A decision given by Judge Willis has (writes a London correspondent) produced a chorus of deep satisfaction among housewives, who have frequently lost pieces of their chinawaie and their tempers at the samo time through the carelessness of their domestics. A servant cued her mistress for arrears of wages and a Tailway fare promised under the terms of her engagement. The mistress counterclaimed for breakages of plates, jugs, and other things. It is always a difficult matter in such eases to ascertain whether there has been much or little negligence. Courts, as a rule, leave the employer to bear the loss, which may be considerable. Sometimes a substitute for a broken article has to be specially manufactured in Staffordshire or elsewhere. Judge Willis gave the plaintiff a verdict for the money due to her, but he decided that she must pay about one-third of the estimated valu* of the articles she had broken. A proportion of, accidents must be regarded as inevitable, but there ought to be a limit, he said, to the protection given by the law to servants. He appeared, however, to think that as a rule it was better for an employer to avoid the bother of pressing claims for da mag-? done by careless servants. The better remedy was to get rid of the offenders promptly. "I should employ a court for a, month," he remarked, "if I brought actions against all of my domestics who have broken my things." For several years the -Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has led a campaign against shippers of poultry who consistently packed birds into boxes several sizes too small to accommodate them comfortably. When referring to a complaint made at yesterday's meeting about six fowls being packed in a box 26in x 16in, the inspector stated that there had been a marked improvement in the conditions under which fowls were sent to the markets of late. The Haw-Bra Star reports that during hia recent visit to tho West Coast the Native Minister, the Hon. Jas. Carroll, addressed a large meeting of natives. A member of tbs Young Maori PaTly named Ngaruru said he wished to disclose the aspirations of his party. They were turning their _ minds in the direction of getting land 'to use it for themselves. They had a ■ strong desire for farming, especially dairy farming. They had but little land left, but still the best us© could be, and should be, made of that. They required assistance from the Gov- j ernm>3nt, financial and educational, so as to enablo them, to secure the very best results. As to finance, there need not be any, f ear on th« part of the Government on account of the question of security or safety in lending money ; for the land was practically in the hands of the Government, and was only set apart for the natives use and occupation. The Government had full security, and also had the means of ascertaining the character and stability of those requiring help. Then there was the matter of education. He hoped means would be found for enabling the natives to participate ; in technical education — that was an important matter for the proper education of the Maori people. Thsy felt that in these matters they had now xeachsd the parting of the ways. They had clung in yeans past to their old people out of respect and deference foT them, but they must declare that the. present time was one so far as they were concerned, foT taking a new departure. Therefore, they earnestly urged on the Government to aid them in ths matters he had referred to. In reply, Mt. Carroll said the Maori must first cure himself, build up his character, conquer the weaknesses which too often beset him, practise self-denial, and then, when h.» was placed on land to use j for his own benefit and that of his family, when he was assisted financially and otherwise by the Government, he would be rewarded by his improved condition and tha general betterment of the race which must follow. For having occasioned a breach of the pesos on Lombton-quay last night by fighting in front of .the Commercial Hotel, two men named EdwaTd Phipps and Percivol Keane were each fined 2Os. in dofault fourteen days' imprisonment, at the Police Court this morning. Chas Frank Edwards, a young man, was convicted and discharged for having behaved in a disorderly manner whilst drunk in Rox-burgh-street yesterday afternoon. It was alleged by tho. police that ladies had complained about the defendant using insulting language to them, but they had declined to come forward and give evidence. For insobriety Catherine Thatcher, Daniel Harman, and Choi*. O'Neill were each fined 10s, in default forty-eight houTß' imprisonment. Henry Taylor, charged with helpless drunkenness at Potone, was remanded for a week for medical treatment. Wm. Klein, charged with disobedience of a maintenance order in respect of a child, was remanded until to-morrow morning. A prohibition order was issued against George Henry Hall. The presiding Justices of the Peace were Messrs. H. F. Davis and J. Danks. The domestic cat was the subject of | some discussion at yesterday's meeting of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, as the result of a remark by a lady member in reference to the number of cases which came under her notice of boys stoning cats to death, j Ono speaker considered that the cruelty of some people was past comprehension, and another member remarked that the youth of tho city appeared to consider a cat fair game whenever they happened to see it. A suggestion was made that headmasters of schools might be induced to apeak to the boys. The inspector suggested that if cats were licensed, just as dogs wore, the trouble would cease. Tho chairman thought that tho inspector might have a talk with some of the schoolmasters, and see if something could not be done to impress upon boys the necessity of kindness to dumb animals. Messrs. Shacklock and Co., of Dunedin, have been awarded a gold medal at the ChrLstchuTck Exhibition for their cooking ranges.

Hie Honour Mr. Justice Button delivered judgment to-day in the case of Morrison and others v. the Commissioned of Stamps, an appeal from a decision of the commissioner assessing a deed of conveyance as liable to duty as a ''conveyance or sale" under section 3 of th« Stamps Act Amendment Act, 1886. Th« facts of the case were that Join Morrison, by his will, after giving hiß furnitufft and chattels and a legacy of two hundred pounds to his wife, bequeathed £4008 to each of his three daughters, an annuity of £500 to his widow during her life, such annuity to be feducad to £209 if she should re-marry. The testator gave all his estate to the trustees of liia will upon trust for sale, conversion, and investment, and to pay the annuity id r his widow oui of the income of tha estate, and, subject to the legacies, to hold both capital and income in trust for such of his sons as should attain the age of twenty-one years, or die under that, each leaving issue equally between, such issue, if more than one. Testator left seven children — three daughters and four sons. One of the sons (Alexander) died intestate and unmarried, and the share of another (John) was paid to him in the year 1900. The remaining sons (Hugh and Rupert), being desirouß that the lands forming part of the estate of tße testator should not be sold, requested the trustees to convoy the same to them, and the deed upon which duty had beer* assessed by the commissioner was a conveyance from the trustees of the estat* to the two sons, Hugh and Rupert, of the said lunds, subject to certain mortgages. It seemed to his Honour impossible to regard the conveyance ao any other than a conveyance of sale. Ths contention of the appellant's counsel, that fchß parties taking the estates onlyobtained what they were entitled to under the will, could not be sustained. The* parties obtained the whole of the lands* but they had to pay the charges in favour of the other beneficiaries. That, in his Honour's opinion, constituted, in ! substance, a sale. The appeal would be dismissed with ten guineas costs. Mr. Hialop appeared for appellant, and Mr. Myers for the Commissioner of Stamps. Having agreed to take a fare from A. E. Preston, on 24th December, and neglected to fulfil the agreement, led to an expressman named John D. M'Cott being convicted at the Police Court today of a breach of a city by-law, and ordered to pay 7s costß. Mr. Doyle, Corporation Inspector, stated that tho defendant had refunded his fare, and the informant being satisfied, the Corporation only asked for a conviction and costs. Christian Brasch and Paul Adolph Steen were similarly dealt with for having failed to cause a waste pips to be siphoned. There wet© about fifty in,formatious called with "regard to unregistered dogs. Three w«re withdrawn owing to th© poverty of the defendants, and the defendants in others were fined sums ranging from Is to 5s and costs. Tho Justices of the Peace (Messrs. H. iF. Davis and J. Dank*) increased the penalties in the cases against offenders who failed to appear. A number of people were also fined for having allowed cattlo to wander in the Melrose portion of the city. John Kinnky was brought before th« Chief Justice this morning on a charge of failing to comply with the conditions of his release on a charge of using ob scene language. The man, when he wan previously before the court, was warned that if he •was found in an' hotel or in. an intoxicated state he would be brought up for sentence. According to his conn, sel. Mr. Kirkcaldie, he fell into his old habits some days ago, and was twicci fined by the court at Foxton for drunkenness. Counsel asked that Kinnley should be given his freedom. He had made arrangements to purchase a flaxmill at Kopara, and four or five months priory to his last lapse had led a sober and iridnstrious life. His Honour said he would not send accused to gaol as h* had been behaving himself for some months, but if he was found in aa hotel again it would be the duty of tha polico to bring him before the court, and he could expect no mercy. Thai drink habit could only have one endit was a form of committing suicide. The steamer Arahura,, due from the West Coast and Nelson this evening, it bringing the Nelson Cadete, who are to leavs for Lyttelton to-night by thr Mararoa. The Te Anau, sailing to-night, will take the Wanganui Cadets South. Messrs. Wilkins and Cudby, Justices) of the Peace, occupied the Bench at tho Lower Hutt Court to-day. Nine boys, charged with playing football on a public road, were convicted and discharged i on payment of costs. On a charge of I having assaulted Robert Lucas, junr., Francis C. Ledbrook, was convicted anc\ discharged, O n the understanding that he pnid the doctor's fee of 21e. Benjamin Winch, for carrying pigs' feed along the main road betw«en the hours of Bl a.m. and 11 p.m., and also with driving a cart without owner's name and resi-' dence inscribed, was fined 10s in th» first instance, and 5s in the 6econd, with costs 14s. For being drunk and disorderly, Duncan M'Coll was fined 10s, in default forty-eight hours' imprisonment. The Webb-street Primitive Methodista commenced a monthly service of "At Homes" last evening in aid of the debtreduction fund. The young men of the Bible Class undertook the management. During the evening a hearty welcome was extended to the Rev. J. F. Doherty, the newly-appointed minister of the circuit, and a good-bye address vvas delivered to Mr. H. Waters, who is leaving for Sydney. The musical programme* was suppliod by Miss Jenny Luke, Mr. P. Cutforth, Rev. J. F. Doherty, and Mr Handley Wells, Messrs. J. Riddla and J. Leslie gave recitations, and Mr. J. Lomas and Rev. J. F, Doherty de> livered addresses. The Bishop of Melanesia will delivei an address in St. Peter's Schoolroom next Saturday evening on "The Church in the Mission Field." A number of interesting and appropriate lanter? slides will be shown. s According to the inspector of the So< ciety for the Prevention of Cruelty te Animals, the long spell of dry hot weather experienced this summer hat! played havoc with the feet of many horses. In a great number of cases, he stated, the attention required was not given to the animals. The quarterly meeting of Court Sir George Bowen, 5084, A.0.F., was held last evening in the new quarters, London Piano Company, Manners-street. Ihere was a large attendance. One member was proposed for membership. The court acknowledged the services of the trustees by voting a substantial honorarium. In a summary of the Wellington Rugby Union balance-sheet, published yesterday, the omission of a figure made the credit balance read £130 9s, instead of £1030 9s. Harry Stunell was convicted by Dr. A. M'Arthur, S.M., yesterday afternoon, and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon, on a charge of attempted suicide by taking chlorodyne. Holiday excursion tickets in connection with the Easter holidays will bit issued on tho Wellington-Manatratu railway as advortised eltewher*. Brave men have tried times over again To reach tho ice-bound poles in vain; Thero noeds yM more acute device To storm thoeo battlements of iou} Perchance by flying ships to be, They'll gain triumphant victory, Provided thoy, for coldt, secure A store of Woods' Great Poupcrmint Curb. — A.dvt.

Some time ago it was intimated in the Post that the Agricultural Department had decided to transfer the agricultural exhibit on the top floor of the Customs House to some other quarter. It has now been discovered by the Chamber of Commerce that the valuable specimens in the Museum have been consigned to the cellar of the building, and at a meeting of the Council of the Chamber yesterday the following resolution was passed : — "That the .Council of the Chamber has learned with great regret that the Government has decided, for the nreBent, to abolish the agricultural museum which has been collected by the de partinent in the past at great expense *nd trouble, and asks that at an early date it may be reinstated in a suitable building." Yesterday the Council of the Chamber of Comraerco gave further consideration to the question of the interrupted mail services. The following resolution was adopted : — "That in the opinion cf this council a weekly connection with the mail boats via Suez is eminently desirable, and would be sufficient for the present needs of the" colony ; while, as regards its future needs, an effort should be made to arrange for a fast direct service, doing the passage in not over 35 days." Members favoured tho subsidising of lines which have direct communication .with the colony. The recent ballot of the United Buildtng Society resulted as follows:— First g rou p Mr. J. B. Harcourt (ten shares), £1000; second group — Mr. A. J. Pateru«u (five shares), £500; Mr. R. W. Nicholson (three shares), £300. Your furniture packed, removed, or stored. Experienced and. careful men. By road, rail, or eea. Anywhere. New Zealand Express Co., Custombouse-quay. Tel. 1333.— Advt. With Easter les» Umu two weeks away, and every indication of a spell of cold weather, it is advisable to be on tho look out for Jour Autumn Dress. Thero are two teasobs why you should purchase your dress now. First to bo prepared for the cold weather when it does come, and, seCond, our dress departmont is now stocked with all the latest novelties for autumn .and winter wear. "We will guarantee our drosses to stand tho test of tho motor car or a long riil journey. We are showing a ver* special line in dress tweeds, suitable tor travelling costumes, 7s lid, 8s lid, lls 6d the costume length, at C. Smith, Tho Cash Draper, Cuba-street.— Advt. Miss Estelle Beere's dancing classes will peopen on Saturday, 6th April, at the Sydney-street Schoolroom, where classes •re held on Friday afternoons tnd Saturday mornings. Classes will be h3ld at the Masonic Hall on Tuesday and Saturday afternoons.