LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Evening Post, Volume LCCVI, Issue 126, 26 November 1908, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At to-day's meeting of the Exchange a stronger demand was in evidence, accompanied by a more liberal display of buying orders, than has been experienced lately. Sales were effected of Trust and Agency at 11s 3d, and of Leyland-O'Brien Timber at £1 3s. In the mining section New Zealand Crown scrip was accepted at 4s, a price on a parity with last month's rates, and Talisman changed hands at £2 Is 6d and £2 Is 9d, vvith the latter price on offer at the finish. Sellers, however, held out for sixpence more. In the ether departments of the call buyers of Wellington Gas offered the improved price of £16 2s 6d, but the market appears bare of fully-paid shares, whereas the partially-paids were available at ■»11 5b- Westports were wanted at £6 17s, but no sellers were announced. Ward s Brewery had a buyer at £5," and National Banks firmed to £5 0s 9d wanted. During October the arrivals in the Dominion numbered 3086 and the departures 1904. Another bankruptcy is announced in Masterton, that of Amelia Carrick, draper. This is the third bankruptcy within a week, telegraphs our Masterfcm correspondent. Mr. Justice Chapman yesterday reserved his decision on the motion for a new trial in the case of Williams and Kettle, Ltd., v. Wm. and David Morice. Tlie original claim related to commission on the sale of a sheep station in the Gisborne district. . A living and remajkably fine specimen of the spotted lizard" (Nantilinuselegans) has been« presented to the Newtown itfuseum by Mr. 3ff. H. Travers, F.L.S. It was found by him on top of the Wai-nui-road, his attention being called to it by the very loud and harsh sound emitted. The inside of the mouth is bordered by a line of deep violet colour, and the throat is a dark blue, almost black. The specimen is over six inches long. The Immigration Department has been advised that the Arawa, due in. Wellington early next week, is bringing 129 assisted passengers, of whom 94 are over the age of 12. Among the immigrants are 20 farmers, 13 domestic servants (6 for Wellington), 6 farm labourers, and one shepherd. Nine married women are coming out to rejoin their husbands. One of the assisted passengers is bring* ing £400 with him, and all the others have, also some capital. General Orders for the current mouth notify that Staff Sergt. -Major Thomas M'Cristell, late of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, has been appointed to the Wellington District Instructional Staff as Staff-Sergt.-Major, on probation, as from 26th October last. The orders fix sth to 12th December next at the time for holding the annual training camp of the Heretaunga Mounted Rifles, and 26th December to Ist January for the camp of the Masterton Mounted Rifles. A witness in an assessment case before Mr. Justice Chapman this morning admitted buying a certain hotel at Foxton just before the recent licensing poll. "You thought it was going to be a near thing with the license?" suggested Mr. T3ell. "I did," said the witness. "And paid accordingly?" was suggested. The witness preferred to express no opinion on that point. "You will feel more confident now," said his Honour, reassuringly. At the close of the Rose Show last night there was the usual scramble for floral trophies. Some persons had baskets handy and simply scooped in the flowers, regardless of the wishes of others. One lady was overheard to say to another, towards closing-time, "At ten o'clock, when the show is over,' just stand by and grab." The' wife of the exhibitor of the tempting blooms was standing by, and having previously arranged to give the flowers to her friends, she eyed the intruder with scornful indignation. The exponent of the game of "grab" fled in confusion. Looking into fire brigade organisation | and equipment at Home, Mr. J. G. Gilberd, secretary of the New Zealand Fixe [ Brigades' Association, found the Wellington and Auckland Brigades quite up-to-date, comparatively speaking, wfth any he saw at Home, and in some respects they were ahead of many brigades. The Manchester Brigade commended itself most strongly to Mr. Gilberd. There he found a perfect alarm system. The adoption- of the German type of fire escapes was becoming general among British brigades, and with manifest advantage in life-saving. Next Tuesday ihe Hon. W. HallJones is to be much entertained in Wellirgton. At 1 o'clock he is to be the guest of the citizens at Luncheon in the concert room of the Town Hall, and in the evening, at 8 o'clock, in the main hall, there will be a farewell public meeting in his honour. Addresses will be given by the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward), the Mayor Jthe Hon. T. W._Hislop), and other prominent citizens. Musical items will be contributed by Miss May Newman, Messrs J. Prouse, E. J. Hill, and Maughan Barnett. An advertisement in another column gives further details about the two functions. "It will come with regret^ to all who take an interest in shipping" (writes a shipping" enthusiast) "to hear of the passing away of a good old freightearner in "the barque Weathersfield, built in 1865 by R. Duncan, Port Glasgow. What reminiscences come forttt when her name is mentioned ! What of her Captains bold — Holcroft, Holm, Cooper, and last, but not least, Croker? How many youths of the Dominion have been broken in by her, such as Messrs. Hamilton, of the Hinemoa, Sewell, of the Shipping Company, Gibson, of the Jane Douglas, Robinson, late of the Wakatu, and a host of others — all of whom will hear with regret her delegation to that misery of a large number of high-class, speedy wind-jammers, that of an ugly but useful coal-hulk. May she prove as useful to the Union Co. as she has been to the youth of the Dominion as a training vessel of the mercantile marine in its truest sense." Reserved judgment was given to-day in the case George Alfred Read v. Hill Redmond, W. R. Jourdain, and R. J. Thompson, a claim for £6 13s 6d, half the cost of erecting a fence on a section at Island Bay. Jourdain and Thompson were joined as defendants, on the ground that the fence mentioned in plaintiff's claim was erected prior to 27th April, 1906, when either Jourdain or Thompson was the occupier. His Worship held that section 17 of tho Fencing Act, 1895, rendered each of defendants liable to the plaintiff ; that no one of them could divest himself of such statutory liability* to the plaintiff by an agreement between them. Judgment was given against the three defendants for £6 13s 6d, with costs. "Such judgment," commented his Worship, "I cousider to be not only according to the legal aspect of the case, but also according to equity and good conscience." Mr Bunny appeared for plaintiff, Mr. Weston foe defendant Redmond, Mr. Smith for Jourdain, and Mr. Wilson for Thompson. White Muslin Front, tucked and worked with Valenciennes insertion, handsomely finished with wide Broderio Anglais, at 10s 9d. Kirkcaldie and Stains, Ltd.— Advt,

Mr. F. Waldegrave, Under-Secretary for Justice, and Mrs. Waldegrarve, who have been in. Europe, ara aovr on their return journey, and are due in Wellington on December 19th. After an address by Captain Knox, R.N., at Palmerston North last night, a strong branch of the Navy League was formed there, telegraphs our Palmerston correspondent. A Kaituna farmer has sold 8000 bushels of barley (says tho Timaru Herald) at 5s lOd on trucks, and his crop averaged 60.45 bushels per acre. The re-< turn was thus £17 12s per acre. The Wallace Testimonial Committee met at Messrs. Brown and Thomson's offices yesterday. Mr. W. Coffey presided. As a result of the recent concert a sum of £54 was added to the fund, which now totals £320. A balancesheet will be prepared in a fortnight, by which time all lists must be returned. Owing to the plentiful milk and feed supply in this county during the present season (states a Southern paper), lambs have made rapid growth, and with favourable weather the next frozen lamb export season should be the largest for several years past. In all probability the "killing will commence earlier than it did last year. Renewable leases in the Raumati Settlement, near Dannevirke, will be available for application on Bth December at Napier. The land is situated on both sides of the Wellington-Napier line, and is described as first-class. It consists of seven sections, varying from 102 acres to 217 acres, of a capital value of from £1375 to £3275 respectively. i The choral members of the Weßington [ Musical Union are requested to meet for practice to-night at 8 o'clock in the Prim- | itive Methodist Schoolroom, Sydneystreet. The work to be rehearsed is • "The Messiah," copies of which the members are asked to bring with them. The executive will be pleased to welcome any friends who know the work. The performance will take place on Monday, 21st December, at the Town Hall. As mentioned in The Post yesterday, of the fifteen charges of housebreaking preferred against Milford William Burgess, at the S.M. Court, three were withdrawn by the police, on account of there being no evidence to offer. On eleven out of fcho twelve charges, accused reserved his defence, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. On the twelfth, as already reported, he pleaded guilty, and was committed for sentence. The Newtown Museum has just received an interesting exhibit of diminutive Japanese tortoises (Emp Lutaria), not much larger than a five-shilling piece and possessing a long slender tail. Mr. V. F. Phillips, of Sydney, who presented the tortoises, also sent along six fine specimens of Japanese nuits (Molge Vulgaris). The whole of the specimens are alive, and have taken kindly to their new ■quarters. At the Stipendiary Magistrate's Court to-day there were only three charges on the list. William Black, who appeared on a charge of drunkenness, was deemed to be an "habitual" within the meaning of the Act, and was sent to gaol for one month. John Shannon was convicted and fined 10s, with an alternative of forty-eight hours in gaol, and a first offender, who did not appear, was penalised with a 24 hours' alternative, both for insobriety. Mr. J. J. Bruce, who has just relinquished the position of leader of the Cape Labour Party, arrived by the Warrimoo yesterday. Mr. Bruce iB president of the South African Amateur Swimming Union, a member of tho executive of the South African Manufacturers' Association, and held a number of public positions in Cape Colony. When leaving Capetown, Mr. Bruce was the recipient of six public presentations. A native of Dunedm, and for years a resident of Wellington, Mr. Bruce is i now on his way to take up an important appointment in Bangkok. In addition to those mentioned yesterday the following have been elected delegates to the Wellington District Hospital Board and the Wairarapa Charitable Aid Board. District of Wellington Hospital Board — Wellington City, Council : Messrs. J. P. Luke, M.P-, James Godber, M. Murdoch and J. Smith (all re-elected). Wellington and Wairarapa Charitable Aid Board — Wei-, lington City Council : Messrs D.. M'Laren, M.P., F. Cohen, W. H. Mor-. rah and M. Kturdoch (all re-elected)., The first statutory meetings of the new, boards take place on Wednesday next, at the office of the secretary, Mr. George Willis. The Secretary of the Marine Department (Mr. G. Allport) has been informed by Mr. J. H. Bempton, Coltector of Customs at New Plymouth, that on, the 11th inst. the constable at Rahotu picked up on the beach there a ship's lifebuoy bearing a name which looks like "Houto, Sydney," upon it in old English letters. Two stars, coloured red, white, and black are also upon the buoy. The Collector at New Plymouth also reports that earlier in the month a bottle containing a small piece of paper with a message from, a man "who had left Ireland and his wife and six chili dren," was picked up on the Rahotu beach. Replying to a letter written by Mr. Chas. Earle, and republished in last night's Post, Mr. P. J. O'Regan publishes the following letter in this morn-* ing's New Zealand Times : — "Sir, — In your issue of to-day's date the following statement appears over the signature of Chas. Earle : — 'At the time stated I was sub-editor of the Evening Post, and I wish to state that there is not one word of truth in the statement of Mr. O'Rei gan so far as it refers to me.' The accuracy of the first clause in the sentence quoted I cheerfully concede. The last is without even the semblance of foundation. Mr. Earle not only made the admission to me in the presence of two other persons and in the editor's room, but repeated it there. I can give tha names of the persons mentioned if necessary, but, even should they corroborate the denial of the editor of iho Dominion, I shall still insist on tha dbsc-i lute accuracy of my statement, and for the simple reason that it is true. Ur.rier the circumstances, T am driven lo lh» conclusion that Mr. Earle is suffering from a lapse of memory. lam not ruda enough to hint that ho would ki p\vingly pervert the truth." So far as The Post is concerned, we cannot discover any evidence in support of Mr. O'Re-« gan's statement regarding Mr. Earlei The New Zealand Express Co., 89 Customhouse-quay, pack, store, and remove furniture at specially low rates. Only careful, competent men employed. Goods sent to any part of the world.i Tel. 1333.— Advt. Although the official results of th/ local option poll are now declared, in all, cases it seems doubtful if tho question is finally settled, for the next three years, in come districts at any rate, as fina points of the law may be made use of in an attempt to upset the verdict of the people. During the elections the ladios of Wellington have done their duty by; going lo the poll, and this week they will do their duty by visiting the store of C. Smith, Ltd., and inspecting ou* large stock of moreep underskirts ; special shipment just received direct from our London house; all the latest colours and prices ranging from 3s 6d, 4s 6d, 5s 6d» to 8s 6d.— Advt.