LOCAL AND GENERAL,

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 111, 12 May 1910, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL,

It lias been decided by the Government that there shall be no holiday or celebration of Empire Day on 24th May this year. The 3rd June, the anniversary of the King's birthday, will be observed as a holiday. Between them, the steamers Mailai and Mokoia brought a fairly large consignment of fruit to-day, trom Sydney the Maitai brought .some 850 cases, and the Mokoia, from the Inlands, landed 2991 cases and 100 kits of bananas, and 486Q cases of oranges.

The Government has decided that tenders shall be invited at once for the installation of a ■wireless telegraphy system in New Zealand. In the course of his remarks on this subject at Winton last week the Prime Minister said these proposals would provide for high-power stations at or near Doubtless Bay and the Bluff, with a range of 1250 nautical miles, and three medium-power stations, one at or near Gisborne, one at or near Cape Farewell, and one at Sumner. These medium-power stations would command ships at sea for a distance of 500 nautical miles, and the Sumner one would reach the Chatham Islands. Doubtless Bay would command Sydney and Fiji, while the Bluff would command Hobart and Melbourne, Tbolb stations commanding vessels of the navy and mercantile marine as well. He hoped to see the wireless system completed and in working order within the next twelve months. The order of business at the Civil sittings of the Magistrate's Court has been changed in conformity with the Magistrate's Court Amendment Act passed last year. Mr. W. R. Haselden, S.M., made the announcement this morning previous to the beginning of the Civil business. Forms were now being supplied (said his Worship) towards that end. In future, judgment summons cases are to be taken first. These will be followed by the defended ca&es where notice of defence had been filed. Whilst these were being taken, those plaintiffs and solicitors in whose cases notices of defence had not been filed may apply for judgment by default, in the office. This new order of procedure, his Honour believes, will considerably facilitate the business of the' court as regards both Bench and Bar. Subscriptions are being taken up in Palmerston North (telegraphs our local correspondent), to engage counsel to defend Joseph Powelka when he appears in the Supreme Court on the chargesupon which he was committed. Foreigners arriving by the Maitai, from Sydney, comprised one Swede, who passed satisfactorily the education test, and one Chinese. The Mokoia, from Eastern Pacific Islands, brought two Chinese, who are going to Sydney tomorrow by the Moeraki After the arson charge has been disposed of in the Supreme Court, only four further cases will bo heard this week— viz., James Cartin (alleged theft), Martin Wm. Tier (alleged breaking and. entering), Ralph Balcombe (alleged offence on a girl), Henry Smith (alleged. theft). The charges of theft and forgery against Edward John Falkiner willbe investigated on Monday and Tuesday next. The complaint made last session by Mr. J. T. Hogan, M.P., regarding the. cutting down of the beautiful bush along the banks of the Wanganui River, was considered by Cabinet yesterday. It was decided that the Hon. J. Carroll should meet the Wanganui Citizens' Committee, as soon as possible after the funeral of King Edward, for the purpose of making full enquiries into the matter. In his will, the late Mr. John Jackson, of Timaru, provided for the payment of six months' salary to all those who had been in his employment for three years prior to his death. The employees of John Jackson and Co., Ltd., timber merchants, the Bedford Flour Mills, and all others entitled to a bequest, received their^ respective cheques last week. The. sum paid away amounted in the aggregate to some thousands of pounds. Messrs. Thomson and Brown yesterday sold by auction a section in Riddifordstreet, Newtown, measuring 35ft by 109 ft, opposite Newtown Post Office, for £700. Messrs. Menteath and Ward were the purchasers. Messrs. Thomson and Brown also sold a residential property at Wadestown, consisting of a dwellinghouse known as "The Mount," and occupied by Mr. F. E. Braddick, and land 1 rood 5 perches, for £500, the purchasers being Messrs. Meek and yon Haast. The adjoining vacant section, containing 1 rood 15 perches, was sold to the same firm for £150. "I have been tempted on many occasions to comment through your paper upon the method Mr. W. R. Haselden, S.M., has of dealing with the unhappy though generally honest creditor, who, expects justice at the hands of a Magistrate when dealing with a judgmentsummons against unprincipled people," writes Mr. Wm. Henr%, Bowden, storekeeper, of Kaiwarra. The writer proceeds to- assert that Mr. Haselden's statement that the Magistrate only refuses to make an order when the effect would be to deprive the debtor and his family of the means of livelihood is generally incorrect, as the slightest enquiry would show. In cases within his own knowledge the writer alleges that an order for a small weekly payment would deprive the debtor of nothing but excessive personal indulgence. A question as to the value of evidence given by seamen — and others engaged about the wharf — who saw the s.s. Duco leave on her trip to the Chatham Islands, arose in the Supreme Court yesterday, and was referred to again, today. Two witnesses, who had been seamen, stated that they thought the Duco seemed rather low down in the water as she steamed out. Mr. Skerrett contended that such evidence was of little value, because these witnesses and others had been accustomed to see the Duco "running light" as a ferry-boat, and on seeing her for the first time with cargo, they would naturally think she was rather deep in the water. Mr. Justice Chapman said he thought he must admit the evidence, because these men were accustomed to seeing st earners going out of the harbour, and if such witnesses expressed the opinion that the Duco was deeply laden he could not object to that. It would be for the jury to say what value they would put on such evidence. During the hearing of a case in the Supreme Court to-day a bank manager ivas giving evidence to the financial standing of an accused person on a certain date. The witness was giving the figures from a list prepared by one of his clerks from the books, but these apparently did not agree with certain figures in a bank-pass book. Counsel for the accused closely questioned the witness as to which was correct, and the position was further complicated by the Judge discovering an apparent discrepancy. However, his Honour was not satisfied, and after the witness left the box he took the bank manager's list and the accused's pass-book, and studied them closely while the case proceeded. "The witness's statement," he announced," while another witness was under examination, "was perfectly correct. Both the list and the bank-book show the same amount at credit on 25th January." His Honour handed the exhibits to the bank manager, and asked him to examine them, and the witness was subsequently recalled and stated that the two documents showed identical figures. Mr. Wilford asked how it was that the witness had admitted a discrep- | ancy previously. "I think I misled him , to a certain extent," hi& Honour inter- [ rupted. "If you do not think the figures I are correct you can examine them yourself." Mr. Wilford announced that he was too busy to make an examination at that moment. "It won't take you two minutes," said his Honour. "I will give you that time." '"My reason for suggesting I would have s>ome difficulty in doing it in that time," Mr. Wilford replied, "is because the bank manager coukl not do it while he was in the box .'" Silk Ninons for evening wear in all the latest French tints, 44m. wide, at 3s 6d a yard. A very fine silk.— Kirkcaldie 'aad Stains, Ltd.— Advt,

No less than four motor cars are at the disposal of. the Official Assignee (Mr. A. Simpson). What- is to be done with, them is a matter for future serious consideration. The latest, addition to tha Assignee's garage is a motor 'bus. Mr. Simpson went for an official 'our in the Hutt Valley in one of the cars of a bankrupt estate, but something went wrorjg with the bearings after a pleasant spin along the main road, and the car had to be finally left at the Hutt.. It is found rather difficult in the present state of the market to dispose of motor cars in bankrupt estates. Some Maori carvings, claimed to b« the oldest in New Zealand, have been pent to the Dominion Museum from tha Urewera County. They are certainly very venerable-looking effigies, especially, one which ha.s been lying in the open,' covered up with vegetation for n.i ny years. One figure is named after tha great- Tuhoe and the other after Puehu, one of Tuhoe's ancestors. The ago ascribed to one of the historical relicfc is six generations. There are also three or iour well-carved doorways, and one exceptionally well-treated piece of timber designed for a position over the doorway. Mr. J. M. Sinclair (Victorian Com* mercial Agent in the Far East), who has just returned to Victoria for a fevr weeks, stated that the recent coal strike in New South Wales has had a bad effect on ttio Australian export trade to all centres in Southern and Eastern Asia. The limitation and uncertainty of the supply caused many Eastern traders to transfer their business for the fttme to other countries. It also prevented the opening up of many new "trade relationships which were contemplated. Trade generally, however, in all , Eastern countries was showing an imrprovement in such products as Australian exports. "Referring to the sad death of an, .engine-driver, Thomas Pringle, mention* ed in The Post of 10th May, permit me,"writes W.E., "to say that many acci-* dents caused to Tailway men through, coming into contact with bridges could be largely minimised if our railway 'authorities would institute a simple and inexpensive, but very efficient, alarm in" vogue on the American railway lines. .At the approach to overhead bridges & wire is tightly strung across the lin« overhead, from which are suspended several swinging batons. These, coming into • contact with the one in peril, forcibly remind him of his approaching danger, thus giving ample time for escape." Mr. G. V. Hudson, in his lecture oa astronomy, drew attention to an interesting approaching astronomical phenomenon which should be well worth watching for. The solar and lunar eclipses often occur in pairs, the heavenly bodies concerned being in the same node. Monday's solar eclipse at Hobart will therefore be followed by a total eclipse of the moon on the 24th inst. Now the waxing moon will be — even under more favourable weather conditions than we have now — ■ a great drawback to the observation of the comet. Bnt, just when the moon is at its fullest and brightest, the beautiful phenomenon of the ediuse will occur, and as the luminary is gradually obscured the comet (which will then be visible in the western sky after sunset) should be seen to its greatest advantage (weather, of course, permitting). .When the new Federal Ministers took charge of their departments last week there was only one member of the old Ministry to receive them. Most of the Ministers just- walked into their departments, sat down, and started at once to work, says the Sydney Telegraph. ■ Mr. Fisher has settled down to the Prime Minister's office, though he expects to spend most of his time in the new Treasury Building, which is now luxuriously furnished. Its carpet alone transcends in monumental elegance anything in the Government departments of Australia. Mr. Fisher contemplates establishing a Prime Minister's Department, which shall absorb some of the work now romitted to other branches, and shall have also some special functions of its own. So are the departments in the Federation expanding. The rest of the Ministers found their officers awaiting them. Sir. O'Malley, who has the Home Affairs Department, began by addressing the messengers as "brother," a form' of familiarity that may afterwards prove embarrassing, suggests our contemporary. Mr. W. Corrie Johnstone writes to Tho Post on a' subject which he has been discussing in public recently. "When the Town Hall was first opened," states the correspondent, "I wrote from a distance to the then Mayor to see if the hall could not be used every Sunday for an out-aad-out evangelistic meeting for the people. I came to live in Wellington on purpose to grapple with this problem, and have oftener than once tried to enlist the press to help to bring it to pass. Lately, as especially opportune, I put the matter to the Ministers' Association, offering to continue the Town Hall meetings on the Sunday evenings during the winter, and forestall the Sunday evening concerts. This offer, was declined. I called a meeting to consider tho forming of a Laymen's Evangelistio Council. The attendance was nil. There is no offence or illfeeling. I can havt> patience, through grace, till less 'not understood.' But reminded of apostolic experiences the words have been ringing in my ears, 'Seeing ye put it from you, 10, we turn to the Gentiles' — to the nonchurchgoers themselves." Mr. Johnstone mentions book-publishing proposals on religious themes, and hopes for aid to enable him to do "preaching and publishing work in Britain and America." Ho will begin a mission, entitled ' fhe Great Trial,", in the Newtown Library Hall on Friday evening. Some interesting remarks regarding the policy now being pursued by the Tourist Department in regard to Rotorua were made by the Hon. Thoiruw Mackenzie, Minister for Tourists Resorts, at Rotorua. Mr. Mackenzie stated that he desired to work with the peor.l© of Rotorua in increasing the attractiveness of the district. In regard to the question of charges at Whabarewarewa, they had reached a period in the history of the Tourist Department when some returns must be expected, espuoially when these returns were to be devoted to the purpose of beautifying the immediate vicinity. Last year when the bath-house staff was reorganised, great exception was taken to his retiring several employees. The results had been satisfactory in that in this one bathhouse alone there had been an economy of £800 a year, to gether with an increase revenue of £1000. The people of Canterbury had complained ijy way of contrast- to what had been done at Rotorua that little had been done for Mount Cook, a place which, in his opiniou v would in the future, by reason of its unparalleled grandeur, and because it possessed by far best and most magnificent glaciers in the temperate regions, attract as many sightseers as Rotorua would do. Yet how did Mount Cook fare at the present time. They had not even a good supply of cold water. In reverting to the question of expenditure at Rotorua, Mr. Mackenzie remarked that it was strange, if it be true as asserted, that the Government was unpopular at Rotorua when' it was remembered that out of the earnings arising from the baths by reason of public expenditure the town was relieved of all rales except for water and lighting, and that the rent values had increased to the fortunate holders of land there by an average of 800 per cent.", thus enabling many people to now live comfortably on the profits of their sections.