LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 99, 28 April 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Sales of Waitangi's at 4s 4d were effected at the second call yesterday in the mining section of the Stock Exchange, and a parcel of Wellington Gas shares were disposed of at £17 17s. This morning brokers reported the sale of Waitangi's at the above figure and Watchman's at 6d. In financial stocks, sales of Banks of New Zealand at £9 and Wellington Trust Loans were reported at £7. The business on chance was confined to Waihi's at 9s 2d. Quotations on the mining section were Big Rivers Is 8d (buyer), Is lOd (seller), Talisman's £2 6s 6d (b), £2 7s (s), Waihi Grand Junctions £1 10s 6d (b), £1 lls 3d (s), Waihi's £9 Is 6d (b), and £9 2s 6d (s), Waitangi's 4s 3d (b), As 4d (s). Banks were quoted at £5 6s 6d (b), Nationals, with sellers, £5 Bs. • New Zealand's £8 19s (b), £9 (s), reported' sales. Wellington Investments, T. and A.'s lls 3d (b), Wellington Trust and Loan, Ltd., £7 2s (s), and sales reported at £7 2s. Wellington Deposit and Mort- . gage 8s 6d (b), 9s (s) cum. In industries sellers were willing to part with Christchurch Meats at £10 ss. Gear's £4 were wanted at £10, and buyers were also anxious to take the £1 shares at £2 lls ; but there were no sellers. Meat Exports £2 12s 6d shares were to be obtained at £3 Is 6d, but., no buyers. In the shipping department New Zealand's were wanted at £6 14s, and Union Steams had sellers asking £1 15s 6d. In the miscellaneous section D.I.C. preference were wanted at £1 Is 6d ; but sellers' idea was £1 2s. Kauri Timber's 15s paid, were obtainable at that figure. New Zealand Portland Cement had buyers at £2, but no sellers. Sharland and Co.'s ordinary and preference were demanded at £1 cum, but' there were none offering. At the annual meeting of the Bank of New Zealand, to be held in June, the directors will recommend that in addition to a dividend of 10 per cent, per annum (5 per cent, of which was paid at the halt-yearly period in December), the shareholders shall receive a bonus at the rate of 2£ per cent. Instructions have been given by the Marine Department to take proceedings against the captain of >the steamer Cygnet for alleged overcrowding of his vessel at Akaroa on Easter Monday. In the Civil Court yesterday, before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., Peter H'Ardle, carrier, sued Alfred Cooper, dairyman, for recovery of £12 Bs, alleged to be owing for grazing fees for four horses, from May, 1907, to November, 1907. For the defence it was contended that three of the horses had not been in the plaintiff's paddock during that time, and that he was liable only for one animal. Accordingly, he paid into court tfie sum of £3 2s in full settlement. His Worship gave judgment for that amount, £3 2s, with costs Bs. A trial of the "Safeguard" fire extinguisher took place yesterday, near the King's Wharf. A barricade of kerosene boxes, each minus one side, lined with tar and sprinkled with dry tow and kerosene, was set ablaze. When the conflagration was at its height the apparatus got to work, and one hundred or more square feet of blazing timber was thoroughly extinguished in under d minute. The "Safeguard" is a chemical appliance of English invention and manufacture. The exhibition, which was witnessed by various leading business citizens, was conducted by Mr. F. Le Nowry. "Yes," said a barrowman to a Post reporter to-day, "times a«e not • too good. Where I used to sell in shillingsworths a few months ago, I sell in penn'orths now. No, it's not -the change of season. People are feeling the pinch. Nobody seems to have any money. Women used to be my chief customers, and buy three or four pounds for a shilling; now they take a look as they pass along, but they don't stop. Then I see 'em talking to little boys across the street, and the boys come over and ask me for penny apples. And business men as used to buy fruit to take home passes me by now. Look, I've had to alter me price-list. I used to have three pounds for a shilling; now it's fourpence a pound. That shows." And he turned to sell a penn'orth to a boy. Referring to the work of Mr. Harle Giles as Conciliation Commissioner, the Hen. W. A. Hogg, Minister for Labour, told an Auckland Star repie&sntative .that he thought the success which had 1 so far attended the efforts of that gentleman would not only please his friends, but those also who had been inclined to criticise his appointment. .Mr. Giles has, in the Minister's opinion, | managed his office in Auckland with singular ability, and the impression in the south now is that the appointment was a good one. Under circumstances' that were most trying to himself, Mr. Giles had managed to conduct the cases before him most satisfactorily, and he considers that thp work of the Conciliation Councils will be very successfully carried on with M-. Giles as chairman. A blind Chinese gardener who had fallen on evil days recently applied to the Benevolent Institution for assistance. It was resolved to grant him 5s a week if his countrymen would look after him, as there was no -oom for him in tho Ohiro Home. The Chinese residents have subscribed his passage-money back to Canton, where he will enter a Chinese Old Man's Home, but the trustees were appealed to further, to make up sufficient to pay his expenses on the way. Mr. Dong Hong, interpreter, who has interested himself in the case from a purely friendly motive, suggested that if the trustees gavo £4 they would save the promised 5s a week, and the man him self, would, no doubt, be better off in his own country. He suggested that tho money should be placed with the Chinese Consul on the man's behalf. This was agreed to The cluzel suede gloves, three domes, broad stitched backs, in black, white, grey, tan, brown, and beaver, at 4s lid » pair. Kirkuuldic end Stains, Ltd. — lArlvt.

Annual meetings of licensing commit tees for Wellington and suburbs will be held as follow : City, 2nd June; Wellington South, 4th June ; Wellington Suburbs, Ist June; Hutt, 7th June. "Where did accused strike you with the bottle?" asked the sub-inspectof of police of a witness in the Tohce Court this morning. "In the scullery," was the innocent answer. By scullery witness meant his head, which showed certain signs of ill-usage. The ladies of the Kent-terrace Presbyterian Churcb have recently formed a Reading Circle, and the subject chosen for study is the Life and Works of Robert Louis Stevenson. The session will be opened by a public lecture to be delivered by the Rev. J. Gibson Smith in the schoolroom to-morrow evening. "Are there any food inspectors in this belauded country?" asks a correspondent. His allegation is that on two occasions duiing the past four or five weeks he has bought chops at two shops on Saturday afternoons, and next mornina; found them "wholly or partially putrid." He suggests that "in the interests of public health and fair trading" the inspectors should be on the watch for the retailer of doubtful meat. The proposed abolition of the District Courts has caused a little heart burning on the West Coast. I n reply to a protest sent by Mr. J. Colvin, M.P. the Minister of Justice (the Hon. Dr. Findlay) pointed out that the purpose of the Government is, firstly, to save expense, and, secondly, to at least provide equally efficient tribunals. The Supreme Court nows^site at Hokitika, and sittings at Westport are to be arranged for at convenient periods. Robert Leeds, who pleaded not guilty, was this morning committed to the Supreme Court for trial on a charge of having assaulted John M'Kinnon with intent to do him bodily harm. It was stated in evidence that the trouble arose in a boardinghouse in Clyde-quay, and resulted in accused striking informant with a bottle. The police were called in, and subsequently M'Kinnon was removed to the Hospital for treatment. John Woulfe, who was arrested on the Trentham racecourse or Saturday, appeared before Mr. W. G. Riddel], S.M., to-day, on a charge of having stolen 2s from the person of James Thompson. It appears that Thompson, who is a, labourer from Wainui-o-mata, rose earlyou the morning of the races and made right away for the course. By the afternoon he became sleepy, and while resting on the lawn, accused was caught in the act of extracting money from the old man's pocket. A plea of not guilty was entered by Mr. O'Leary, and accused was committed to tho Supreme Court for trial. At the Karon Borough Council meeting last night a councillor wished' to know why the advertisement calling! the public meeting of ratepayers had' not been signed by the Town Clerk.' The Mayor explained that the advertisement had beeu sent to the press by) telephone, and as -the borough was noti paying for it, the clerk had evidently" ■considered it unnecessary to attach big name to it. After some further questioning his Worship said that he had! authorised the insertion of the advertisement, as ho wished tc render anJ account of his year's service. Moreover, three councillor^ had requested) him to call the meeting, and no doubti other councillors would accept the opportunity of giving the ratepayers an account of their stewardship. Before Dr. A. M 'Arthur, S.M., in his civil jurisdiction to-day, J. W. and P. G. Easson, timber merchants, sued T. Carrick and H. J. E. Dutton, contractors, for £16 4s 9d, for goods alleged to have been sold and delivered by plaintiffs to defendants at the latters' request. Judgment' was given for plaintiff against Dutton for £16 4s 9d, with costs £2 14s. Plis Worship also allowed defendant Carrick costs (£1 Is) against Dutton Mr. Brandon was counsel for plaintiffs, Mr. O. Beere for Carrick, and Mr. Dunn for Dutton. Fan Tv, /gardener, Lower Hutt, proceeded against D. Andrews, coal dealer, Toryhtreet, for £10, representing damages through the detention of a horse. Decision was reserved. Mr. Hindmarsh appeared for plaintiff, and Mr. Dunn for defendant. Mary Wilson, a middle-aged woman, and a recent arrival from Queensland, was, at the Stipendiary Magistrate's Court to-day, sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labour, for importuning in Molesworth-street last night. It was stated by the police that accused was a nuisance to the neighbourhood. Two young women— Cissy Knight, alias M 'Williams, and Sarah Larson, were both similarly dealt with for importuning in Taranaki-street last night. Peter Chalmer, arrested in a drunken condition on Lambton-quay yesterday, was fined 10s, with an option of 48 hours in gaol. An old man — John O'Donoghue, a prohibited person — was charged with entering licensed premises. He said he had thought the order only applied to 'the Wairarapa district. Thie Bench warned accused, and fined him 10s, with costs (7s). Default was fixed at seven days' imprisonment. "Why isn't something done by the police or other authorities to keep the side-walks down Willis-street and Lamb-ton-quay reasonably open for foot passengers?" writes a correspondent, signing himself "Move On." He complains that it is simply impossible to get through at an ordinary pace without stepping on to the street and risking a collision with a passing vehicle. "Why are people allowed to collect in knots and block the footpath all along the way?" he asks. "Such a condition of things woud never be tolerated for a day anywhere else. A visitor to Wellington gets the impression we aro a city of loafers when he sees men standing about yarning hour after hour, stopping foofc traffic and inconveniencing those who have business to do. Look at the number propping up hotel verandah posts. Where do you see anything like it! There- is no rule of the road on the side- walk, as there is in other cities. 'Keep to the right' is the rule in most countries, but if you^keep to the right here you are certain to clash with Fomebody keeping to the left. Each thinks tho other wrong, and then there is irritation. Tho whole state of things may bo good for the cars, but it's precious poor for the pedestrian," he concludes. A. W. Martm, Sole Gondolier of Dr. J. A. Sheimans method of curing mpturc will be at the Hotel Cecil, Wellington, from the Sid of May to the 13th.—— Advt. 'Ihe New Zealand Expices Company, 89, Custom House-quay, pack, store, and forward goous to any pint of the world. Safe, sure, and' cconom.v.al. Telephone loc>6. — Advt. Ono of the most important quc'.ong before tho men of Nrw Zealand al lh« present moment is the endotuour to Eliinulato interest in military training. The chief difficulties in the way of any f-c.'icms of compulsory training is the iaUo ininression that it means the formation nf a large standing army, but v,e aro fold that such will not be the case. Howooj-, whether you approve of military training or not, you will require warm ocmloi'table pyjamas for the coming cold winter nights. This week C. Smith, Ltd., are making special display of men's pyjamas in striped flannelette, 4s 6d and 5s 6d* a special line in btriped wincey, guaran. teed wear, from 6s 6d to 8s 6d ; al«o a good lino in Ceylon flannel, gnaranteec! fast colours and all wool, smart designs 9s 6d to 12s 6d.— Advt. a "'