LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 146, 21 June 1907, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A sitting of tho Assessment Court will bo hold at the Lower Hutt at 11 a.m. on Ist July. The Post Office authorities have been advised of the departure of tho Waikau from Sydney for Auckland on Wednesday afternoon. She has twenty-eight bags of Australian mails for Wellington. They may be expected to arrive by the Manawatu express on Tuesday evening. Notice is given in this weok's Gazette of the Government's intention to compulsorily acquire, under the Lands for Settlements Act, tho Cmrington Estate, Wairarapa., containing 6178 acres*

The City Council was informed by ihe Mayor last night that Mr. Andrewatha had offered to give up the piece of land at tho end of the Kilbimio tramway section, required for this line, for tho sum of £50. His Worship thought tho offer was a very liberal one. Tho matter was referred to the Tramways Committee, with power to act. It is notified in this week's Gazette that tho returns showing the gross amount of tho premiums received by (iro insurance companies during the year ended 31st December*, 1906, .aro to be furnished by Fire Boards on or before the 15th July. The cold southerly snap of the past few days has enveloped tho Kaikouras in a very heavy mantle of snow, extending from the summit to the waterline. Viewed through tho harbour entrance this morning they presented a magnificent spectacle to tho passengers on tho early steamer from Day's Bay. If tho present clear weather continues tho sight will well repay a run on the car to Island Bay. Last night the City Council passed payment of the sum of £1283 4s lid to Mr. C. F. Pulley, for -epairs to tho Hutt pipe bridge, consequent on tho recent break in the main. The Government has recently issued amended regulations in connection with the entrance of children into the School ior Deaf Mutes at Sumner, near Christchurch The full chargo for board and education is fixed at £40 a year, but less is accepted from parents who cannot afford to pay this amount, and in case of necessity admission is free. By the Education Act the education of deaf children between tho ages of 7 and 16 is made compulsory. The following classes of deaf children are admitted :—: — (1) Children born deaf, or who have lost their hearing before learning to speak ; •(2) children who can hear a little, but are too deaf to be taught in a public school ; and (3) children who have lost their hearing after having learned to speak. The .department recommends parents or other persons acquainted with such cases above the ago of four to communicate with the Director or Secretary for Education. Hitherto it has been the rulo for the Post Office to accept inland letters and circulars posted in quantities of not less than one thousand, the postage fo bo prepaid in cash ; nstead of affixing stamps to each article. It has now been decided to i educe 'the minimum number to 240. Nine days havo now elapsed unce the Miramar trams began to run, in *.-onnis;tion with the Wellington City Council electric tramways service. Reference to the nistter was made at lust night's meeting of tjio Miramar Borough Council. "We have made a profit of £3 for the nine days," remnrked the Mayor (Mr. Cruwford) ; "and we iftive had just about the worst nice days ever known in the history of Wellington ! ' Speaking of the ceivice generally Mr. Ciaivford^ thought the borough had no. thing serious to take exception to. Thero had been one or two complaints as to the running of the cars, and these had ' been sent on to the City Council Tramway Gommittec; but so fur no reply had been received. The Miramar Council's committee now had the matters iv hand, nnd they proposed to :neet tho tramway traffic manager and discuss them with l!im._ Tho returns read by the clerk, furnished by the City Council tramways j ;>nd elect ri< :il engineer, showed that on j the opening day" (S>ataidny, Bth June), i 20G8 pnsrenjrers v.-ere carried, and en the ! next day tho nu>.ibo.- carried was 2653. .; Thereafter there wan <-t falling off, the ■ i'.i;aie» for consfculive days from lOtu ; J.-jiic io 15lh Ju«jo being 580, 616 513 i .',36, 404, and 739. OH "the 16th (Su'niiay l_is.t) there wns an upward, jump, 2376 passengers being carried. On the first two days the rtceipts totalled £15 iss Id, but for the sot'cn days following the total receipts .veio only £23 12s, ! i and of this amount over half was taken | on Saturday and Sunday last. j j Promoters of the proposed aerial tramway at Island Bay s&keil the City Comi- ! t.)l last night for an {'.Iteration of tlife route, to ne io make the distance shorter The proposal wss TefcrreJ to the Outlying Districts Committee, to report to a subsequent meeting. j Mr. 11. H. Crawford wrote to the j City Council las>t evening, intimating that condemned houses were being re-erected in the suburbe. Tho Mayor (the Hon. T. W. v llislop) stated that these buildings were alleged to ha^vo been taken from the city for re-erection The matter would be considered by the Public Health Committee. It Wa<S freely reported in Mclbourao j last week that Sir William Lyne, FedoIml Minister AnT —^uslorns,' would be • asked at the/ond, ot this year to accept • the position of High Commissioner for i tho Commonwealth in London. Federal I Ministers in Melbourne, according to ! tho Age, dechno to credit the story, ; but among some Federal members it o'btain.s credence. It is pointed out that | the Prime Minister's experience in Loni don has convinced Mr. Deakih that who? ! ever goes to England as High Commissioner must be in real and active sympathy with the progressive and fiscal policy of the Government of the day ; , and that, viewed from that standpoint, I Sir William Lyne's selection^ would bo most suitable, especially in the light of tho probability of a working understanding being arrived at between the Government and the Labour party covering the life of tho present Parliament. The fact that Sir William Lyqe's daughter, instead of sailing with her father in the Orontes for Australia, is to rnmain in England for some .months, is regarded as significant by those who favour Sir William Lyne's appointment. , The seventieth anniversary of the Girls' Friendly Society was commemorated last evening by a gathering of tho Wellington branch in St. Peter's Church, at which an address was delivered by Bishop Wall is. After reforring to the good work done by such friendly societies as the Oddfellows, tho Bishop [ said the society whose anniversary they were now celebrating was distinctively a girls' society, and its object was to provide friends for girls. Whenever a girl belonging to tho society went -to a strange town she was met b"y a member of the local branch, who helped her in every way possible ; and here in Vivianstreet, said tho Bishop, they had a lodge at which girls might stop. But besides this, tho society provided pleasant gathering's where girls could make friends for themselves. , Emphasising tho importance of this point, he dealt impressively with tho value of truo friendship, which was a possession that would double their joys and cut their griefs in half. He warned them not to be in a hurry to make, firm friends, but when such friends were made they should stick to them in rain as well as in sunshine The true friendship was the one where one forgot oneself and lejoiced in the good fortune of a friend even at one's own expanse. Thero was ono Friend who "sticketh closer thaa a brother." Tho beautiful pictures of e&rthly friendship were but tho faint representation of God's lovo to them. It was to Him they should look, and in tho hour of trouble His help would bo moro effective, more beneficent than even the stmnjrcst of human ties. To-morrow thcic will be another grand opportunity of securing a smart and prettily trimmed straw hat at tho modest pi ice of 7s 6d. Kirkcaldie and Stains, Ltd. — Advt

An undefended divorce suit, Thomas v. Thomas, was heard by Mr. Justice Button this morning. Mr. Weston, counsel for applicant, called his client, Frances Mary Thomas, nee Kinsett, who deposed that she was the wife of Joseph Thomas, to whom she was married in 1887, and with whom slie lived, at Wellington, until 1904, when s>he left him ou account of his cruelty to her. There are thiec children of the inaniage. Evidence was given by applicant and another witness. A decree nisi was ciantetl, petitioner to have custody of the children. 1 The Native Appellate Court was engaged on Tuesday and Wednesday on tho appeals from the decision of Judgtllawson at New Plymouth, deciding the-? succession to certain inalienable land belonging to one Roera Rangi (deceased) and also granting probate of her will. Tho validity of tho will wits contested on the ground of want of devising capacity in the testatrix. Mr. Weston appeared for the parties opposed to tho will, and Messrs. Young and Parata for others supporting it. Judgment was reserved. The proposal of the City Engineer ■with regard to the drainage of tho suburbs (already fully described in the Post) were submitted to tho City Council last nigut. It was referred to the Finance Committee, with instructions to take the necessary eieps to give effect to the recommendation!:. "I suppose some of us will have to mind the babies, while the ladies play bowls," was the remark passed at last night's meeting of tho Petone Bowling Club, when the advisability of letting ladies join the club, came up for diecussion. Ultimately it -was decided to leave the matter over until the next general meeting, to be held in a few months. The installation of foot-warmers in carriages of trains running on the New Plymouth-Wellington lino has for sometime been anticipated by travellers on these sharp mornings, but (says the Eltham Argus) the consummation is not yet, a delay having occurred in completing arrangements. A furnace, in out- ] ward appearance like the brickwork of I a wash-house copper, but considerably larger, has been built at various stations along the line, the interior being hollow. Into these a number of racks to hold the warmers arc fitted. A fire is lit underneath, and the warmers are heated for about four hours, and then removed to the carriage. The warmer consists of a brass casing abouo 18 inches in length, 8 inches wide, and about 4 inches thiough. The casing is filled with chemicals, which are acted upon during tho hoating process. . The heaters will keep warm for about eight hours, during which time they have to be shaken onto or twice. A special meeting of the City Council will be held on Friday evening .next to fuither consider the consolidated bylaws. The Mayor informed the City Council ' last night that Mr. Martin, one of the Sinking Fund Commissioners, had objected to carry on that duty any longer without remuneration. It was, therefore, decided that Mr. Martin's name be removed, and ho was accorded a vote of thanks for his past services. The Mayor, Mr. J. G. W..Aitken, and the Town Clerk were appointed Sinking Fund Commissioners. An application for an increase of wages was made to tho City Council last nigbt by refuse, broom, and scavenging employees. The application ivas referred to the Finance Committee. Regulations relating to the examination of ongineers in the mercantile marine are gazetted. Mr. C. B. Morison, of Wellington, applied to tho Ikaroa Maori Land Board, sitting at Hastings on Wednesday, that applications for consent" to lease certain laiu'is of land at Wairaarama to Miss j Meinertzhagcn should be dealt with. j Mr. T. W. Lowis opposed. The board i icsei-ved its decision. j Consideration of the electric fitters j by-law and the consolidated by-law s j was last night postponed by the City i Council to its next meeting. j Sonio timo ago a utilitarian lamp-post I v.as unveiled at Cheviot, as a memorial bOitha late Mr. Seddon, and there was a considerable ceremonial stir about the uninspiring monument, which found an honoured place in illustrated papeis. This record has, however, been eclipsed in the far North. "An interesting ceremony was performed ait the Lutle Hanna Settlement on Friday last," states the Auckland Star, "when a large koioseno lamp, pTesentsd by Mr. J. T. Stembridge to commemorate the memory of the late Premier, was,unveiled. Tho ceremony was performed by Mr. F. ILa wry. M.H.R., ai the request of the Government. The cgremony was a very impressive one, especially the singing of a Seddon memorial hymn by ihe school children. Subsequently a sumptuous repast was partaken of in the hall, and many toasts were honoured. A danco was held in tho ovening." A ratepayer complained to the City Council by letter last evening of the practice of motormen and conductors (going to or returning »rom duty) retaining their seats in the trams at times when the accommodation is limited. It was staled that the tramway employees had a right to ride in the cars by virtue of the agreement, but the Mayor added that it had been intimated to the men that they would be expected to always behave as men should towards ladies. Several councillors testified that tho motormen and conductors were invariably courteous and obliging when going to or returning from their work. One councillor said he had seen tramway employees making room for male passengers. Great interest is being taken at tho Thames in the scheme formulated by the May Queen Gold Mining Company for testing tho deep levels on that field. A company has been formed to unwater J the Queen of Beauty shaft (650 ft deep) j and sink the shaft to a depth of 1050 ft. The Thames Drainage Board has given j its permission for the carrying out of the work, and tho Government is to be j asked to allow the uso of the big pumping plant which it purchased from the Thames-Hauraki Company, two years ago. Tho Government is to give a sub- j sidy of £1 for £1, and the Thames Borough Council will assist with a contribution of £1000. Councillor Carmichael has given notice tc move at the next meeting of the City Council — "That all particulars be furnished to the council in respect to any claim the council may have for part of tho Mount Cook site." The half-yearly summons meeting of Court Epuui, No. 7314,' A.0.F., was held at St. Augustine's schoolroom, Petone, last evening C.R., Bro. Instonc presiding. An election of officers for tho ensuing six months resulted as follows:—C.R., Bro. Baumber; S.C.R., Bro. Holmes; S.W., Bro.. G. Lusty; J.W., Bro. C. Green; 5.8., Bro. K. C. Travels; J..8., Bro. L. Leadbeatcr; M.S., Bro. Gates. District officers are to be moved one step higher, and P.C.R., Bro. W. L. Smith was nominated as D.J.B. Four new members wete initiated, and two proposed. The secretary, P.D.C.U., Bro. Leadbenter, presented Senior Trustee Bro. Hepplestoiie with a gold albert, and Bros. W. Armitage and W. L. Smith with a marble clock' each iv recognition of their past sft'vi^v

The committee of the City Council set up to enquire into the subject is engaged in acquiring information on tho quesLion of supervising the milk supply of the city. Further paiticulars regarding tho proposed reticulation of Miramar Borough by tho Wellington Gas Company wore given to last night's meeting of tho council by Mr. Crawford (Mayor). He mentioned that the solicitor to th« Gas Company had returned to him that evening a draft agreement drawn up for the council by its solicitor (Mr. Dcvine) about a year ago when the proposed reticulation was mooted, Mr. Crawford had not yet had time to go carefully into the alterations suggested by the company's solicitor, but he noticed that the company objected to the provision that the borough should be entitled to take over tho local gasworks and plant at any lime, though it was quite willing for the council to have tho rijjHt to take over the reticulation conditional on it leaving tho company full right to continue manufacturing gas in Miramar Borough for supply of gas to Wellington City. Thera was a clause in the agreement that tho Gas Company was to supply street lighting at a charge of £3 per light per year. The Mayor considered the matter one of urgency for the borough, and he knew the Gas Company wished it to be expedited as there was suie to be some delay before a Bill could bo got through Parliament, and the company was unwilling to proceed in tha matter on a simple undertaking by the present council, having no surety as to what its successors might possibly do if not restrained by Act of Parliament. The proposed Bill would be promoted by the Borough Council, but the cost of it would be borne by the company. AJtor discussion' had taken place the council appointed a special committee to go into tho subject and report to a special meeting to be held at twelve o'clock on Monday next. Caught in the act. This was a police explanation of how a "brass boy" named Frank King, charged before Mr. Jtiddoll, S.M., this morning, on three informations alleging theft, got into their hands. According to Sub-Inspec-tor O'Donovan, the defendant was close on twenty-one years of ago. He came from Auckland, and had been employed on the Rotoiti for about four or five months as a brass boy. He got out of employment about a fortnight ago, and went to live at Nowtown. During this time ho had taken about £1 worth of goods from the shop door of Abraham Barsht. Last night he was seen thieving by Constable Kerr, and taken into custody. His Worship remanded accused for sentence until Mon--day, in order to give the police Uiuc to make enquiries about him. "Guilty of fighting in self-defence," said a middle-aged man named Edward Braham at the Magistrate's Court today, in answer to a charge of having assaulted Fredk. Johnson. Dr. Elliott deposed that the side of Ihe informant's nose was broken, and that both of his eyes were blackened. The informant gave evidence to the effect that bo had trouble with accused in tho Royal Hotel. In consequence of this, accused threatened to "pitch into him." Subsequently witness was walking along Wellington-terrace, at the back of tho hotel, when accused suddenly attacked him. Braham's version was that ho was struck first. Mr. Riddell, S.M., stated that had accused not been under tho influence of drink the assault would probably not have taken place. Ho would be fined £4, with £1 7s costs, in default twenty-one days' imprisonment. A meeting of the creditors of Anton Pouteen, hollow-block maker, was hejd this morning. The debts were set- down at £152 11s 2d, and there arh assets' valued at £40. The principal' creditors are U. Duthie and Co., Ltd., £81 3s od ; J., Kerr, £16 16s 6d ; Ktcaithly and Co., £10 13s sd. The bankrupt stated that he had been -in the business of hollow-building-block maker for about eighteen months. He had had a partner (Mr. Rasmussen), who was bought out by Mr. Kipp. The latter had gone out oi the country to obtain some money said to have been left him. Tho patent rights of the process for making the blocks belonged to Mr. tfeilfieß. No money was owing to bankrupt for blocks. It was not a fact that ho had told a creditor that a mat. had put £500 into the business. He might have said that Mr. Kipp was going to get that amount. He had never told a creditor that ho owned tho paient rights. The creditors present instructed tho Official Assignee to dispose of the blocks on hand. The case of tu© Wellington Loan Company v. John Bertie, a claim to recover £50 7s on a promissory note drawn, by Bertie in favour of Mr. W. G. Tustin, the hearing of which was adjourned a week ago, was mentioned at the sitting of the Magistrate's Court this morning before Dr. M' Arthur, S.'Al. Mr. Ncavo, who appeared for the plaintiff, said he had been requested by Mr. T. S. Weston, counsel for defendant, who was engaged in the Supreme Court, to ask for an adjournment till 10 a.m. on this day week, which was agreed to. ' Mr. Honisby, M.H.R., has delivered pre-sessional Addresses in the principal towns of his electorate, and has been accorded votes of thanks and confidence in the Government. Tho Land Bill has been the chief theme of his addresses, and (according to a telegram fiom our Featherston correspondent) there is undoubtedly a strong feeling in favour of the proposals of Mr. M'Kab as far as that electorate is concerned. The State Coal Department has purchased a Straher steam wagon for tho delivery of coal in Wellington. It is fitted with a hooded hopper capable of carrying five ton* of coal, and can climb tho steepest part of Woolcombe-street (a grade of about one in eight) at the rate of four miles an hour. Further agitation in advocacy of municipal markets for tho city is to be made by tho Trades Council. A kttor is to be sent from the council protesting against the sale of the old tramway tite in Adelaide-road, as tho city engineer had reported that tho land was suitable for a public market. Speaking "" on the subject at the Trades Council meeting last night, delegates said the matter was ono of urgency, as the tramway site had been loaded, and the block was practically ready for cutting up. The question which delegates now propose to put to tho City Council is; Are councillors prepared to carry out their olaction pledges in favour of a municipal market ? Misses Wakelin and Russell wore an. pointed at a meeting of Petonc Public Library subscribers last night to ropre< sent tho subscribers on the council's Library Committee. A deputation from the Trades Council and tho Single-tax League is to request an interview" with the Minicter of Customs for the purpose of placing before tho Minister the views of the two bodice on tho single-tax question and tho tariff. Have you mado up your mind what you would like for your costume? No matter what style, colour, shade you fancy most, you will find it here. So many Indies «ay, "Why don't you place these costumes in tho window? I could havo made up my mind long ago." Very true ; but wo cau't crowd our stylos into our limited window space. Just walk into our costumo department and ask to see costumes. We will do tho rest. Complete costumes from 2S». 30s, 350 to * guineas. C. Smith, the Cadi Draper, Cubt-strset.— Advk.