LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 45, 21 August 1913, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

About the most interesting subject discussed in the House of Representatives was the increasing number of coolie immigrants (British subjects from India, via Fiji, usually). Enough was said to show that the Government had a difficult task to face. The Budget debate dragged on another stage, with only one lively time, when Or. Pomare replied to Mr. Isittfs charges as to the administration of the Cook lelands. The Minister's manner was regarded as off ensive, and his attempts at "bulldosing" put the Opposition in militant mood. The debate was not finished when the House rose at 11.40 p.m. The Legislative Council returned to duty yesterday, but after a mild ten-minute sitting the members dispersed for two days' quietness. / The committee of the Jacob Joseph Scholarship Fund recommended the council of Victoria College to place the sum of £250 lying in the bank to the credit of the fund, in the Post Office Savings Bank, and at the meeting of the council Dr. Prendergast Knight expressed the opinion that the money should be invested so that the money might bring in more than 3£ per cent. The council, acting on the suggestion, decided to recommend the Finance Gotomittee to invest the money on suitable security,., through the council's solicitor. Even ,if a man were a millionaire, he would still wait until the last few days of grace before he paid his rates, was the complaint made by a speaker at the Counties' Conference to-day in urging the adoption of a remit which proposed: "That a charge of 10 per cent, may be added to all rates rem&inihg unpaid at the expiration of two months from the demand thereof." ( It was said there were many people, in good circumstances, who could easily pay their rates within two months of their falling due, if there was any object in doing so. The "spur" should be applied to ratepayers of this order. The remit found general favour with delegates until a Taranaki representative told of the struggles of backblocks settlers to foot the bill. The county had to wait until they had a, "draw." This appealed to the humane instincts of the conference, and the remit was rejected in favour of an amendment, "That the present system is satisfactory."' k Very few people, if any, find their way into' the stand at Athletic Park "on the nod" during the first half of a game. When the second spell begins; however, a different tale is to be told, those accommodated showing a substantial increase. This is due to a regular custom of many "bankers" of strolling on to the playing area at half-time— ostensibly with the purpose of "having a punt." A few steps and the individuals are comfortably seated in the protective structure, to gain admittance to which those previously seated had paid their shilling. The matter Came up for discussion at last night's meeting of the Management Committee of ( the Rugby Union. Members were unanimously of the opinion that something should be done ijt the matter. It' was eventually resolved to erect trespass notices on the playing area, notifying that those who cross^he green to go to the stand will be prosecuted. The Chairman (Mr. E. O. ( Hales) said the committee was determined to act firmly, and the first offender caught would be prosecuted without further ado. They had a duty to perform to those who had paid for admission, and were legally entitled to the seato, and it was only by taking stringent measures that a recurrence of the trouble could be prevented. Two proposals which tended to ride rough-shod across the jealouily-guarded presets of private and public rights, respectively, received short shrift at the Counties' Association Conference yesterday. With mistaken !seal for the promotion of his council's interest a Rangitikei delegate tabled a remit to the effect that local authorities be given power to enter upon private lands and j remove firewood for the . purpose of burning clay for road-making. Immediately a delegate pointed out that if this was affirmed, a local authority could "go in close to a man's house and take his fire-wood," and without any further ado the conference emphatically consigned the proposal |d the limbo of lost remits. The other remit which delegates would not give a hearing to was a proposal that the powers cometred on counties for. the raising of loans over the whole county be enlarged, where such loans now have to be raised by poll of ratepayers. The mover said the object was to obtain authority for raising a loan for a work in the middie of a county, for instance, without first consulting the ratepayers at the poll. "Are you in favour of passing this remit?' r queried the chairman. "No!" shouted the delegates in unison, not owe voice being heard in the affirmative. The enterprise of the Gisborne and one or two other borough councils in the Dominion in embarking on the savings bank business .and receiving deposits from residents^ which are turned to good account ' in connection with municipal activities that would otherwise have to go short of funds has attracted the attention of the county councils. The latter bodies, however, have not sufficient scope to follow in the footsteps of borough councils, and with a view to removing this disability the Ashburton County Council yesterday asked the Counties' Conference to affirm : "That provision be mado in the Counties Act empowering councils to receive deposits in the same manner that is provided by the Municipal Corporations Act." After several speakers had spoken in favour of the remit, tho president (Mr. A. E. Jull) pointed out j that there was an element of danger in taking -large sums of money repayable at call. . Those municipalitioa that had adopted the system, and were extending it, would probably before long find themselves up against a problem. The only persons upon whom they would bo able to call in order to ropay depositors would bo primarily tho very people (the banks) whom they wero now competing against. Were the banks, asked the speaker, going to be ready to find the money necessary for repayments in times of financial stress? The attractive side of the scheme, howevor. appealed strongly to the majority ot the delegates, and the remit was adopted. Shipments of goods made regulatly. Melbourne every Thursday, Sydney and South Africa Fridays. Tha Colonial Carrying Company, Ltd., 107-109, Customhmuequay. Shipping and forwarding agenti to all parti of tht world.— Ativt.

The mails which left Auckland on the 2nd of August, per R.M.S Niagara, arrived at Vancouver, en ' route to London, on the 19th inst. The property in Courtenay-place close to the tram terminus and the Congregational Church, upon which the United Friendly Societies jDispensary Board intendu to erect premises of its own, waft purchased from Messrs. Dwan Bros. Two juvenile offenders were dealt with by Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., this morning. One, aged nine years, was charged with the theft of a handkerchief and the cum of 6d. He was discharged with A' caution. The other, aged thirteen and a-half, -4*as convicted of stealing a saddle valued at £2, and was ordered to com© up for sentence when called upon. In the course of his -annual report, the Secretary for Marine (Mr. G. Allport) say« of the boys on the Amokura: "It is clear that shipowners recognise the value of the training the boya receive on the ship, as there is no difficulty in obtaining employment for them on other Vessels as soon as they have completed their training. So far as can be ascertained, most of them remain at sea." Another arrest in connection with th« assault on a Chinaman on 18th August was made last night, and this morning William Edward Hastie wa* charged with doing grievous bodily harm to Young Wing On. Mr. P. H. Putnam appeared for accused, who, on the application of Chief -Detective Broberg, was remanded to appear on 27th August. Bai] waß fixed in the sum of £25 and surety for a like amount.' The Theatre Roya), which has been the home of vaudeville for bo long, will close its doors next month, and from then onwards the Brennan-Fuller Company will appear, at His Majesty's. The picture bliow at the latter place will be amalgamated with The King's Theatre, which is to undergo extensive " alterations, and is also to be redecorated. It is understood The King's Theatre will be closed for some weeks whilst the alterations are being made. The extension of the, Kent-terrace Presbyterian Church property has been under the consideration of the deacons' for some time past, and it has been decided to purchase a section adjoining the manse in Pirie-street, upon which a cottage is erected. The property, access to which can be obtained both from Home-street and Pirie-street, cah be let for sufficient to pay interest on the purchase money. The church in Kent-terrace is too small for the growing congregation, and as it cannot be ehlarged, because the adjoining land is not for Bale, the deacons will have to consider the question of erecting a larger place of worship on the manse site or* somewhere else in the district. The amount subscribed for the new building fund is £689 6s lid. Referring to the Hinemoa, the Secretary for Marine (Mr. G. Allport) 'eUtes in his annual report: "She is now thirty-seven years old, and has been nearly all the time in use. Although she ha« been kepi in a good state of repair she cannot be expected to last much longer. In fact, it would not be advisable now 1 to send her to the Southern Islands, where very bad weather is sometimes met with. It would, in my opinion, be advisable to take a vote during the coming session for part of the cost of a new «teamer, so that tender* may be invited and a contract for building one entered into. A steamer should be'doBigned specially for lighthouse &nd buoy work, with separate quartersi for lig"ht» keepers, but not much other passenger accommodation, and she should have good cargo-carrying capacity." "Dinha forget" might well have a place of prominence on our tramcs.rs, judging by the multiplicity of articles at the clearing sale yesterday afternoon of things left by forgetful people in the cars. Umbrellas of all sorts and sizes were on offer. "We have millions of them," said Mr. James Doyle, who acted as auctioneer, after half an hour's sale of nothing but umbrellas, which fetched as low as Is and as high as 5s for a lady's, while men's coverings, being very few in number, realised from 4s to 6s each, Having disposed fiingly of the best of the stock, tho derelicts were then offered in pairs, and went off quickly at Is to 2s 3d per pair. Included in the lost luggage were hand-bags, mackintoshes, purses, spectacles, boots, and even ft billiard cue. . There was & large attendance of bargain-pursuers and keen competition. The Government should, urged the president of the Counties' Association Conference yesterday, issue .instructions to Native land boards that no alienation or subdivision of Native land be permitted Until proper access is provided. The position, remarked Mr. Jull, required immediate attention, because a good deal of this sort of subdivision was going on. Cases were cited by delegates where it would be impossible for European occupiers of Native land to get on to their sections but for the courtesy of adjoining owners. There were not even surveyed roads on the blocks in question, and the only expedient for settlers was to est&blish a flying-machine service. On the other hand, several speakers pointed out that Europeans bought Native land at a cheap figure on account of the lack of roaaing facilities, and then turned to the County Council asking it to supply the deficiency. "By a narrow margin of votes, the conference decided to urge the Govemimmt to repeal the statute which at present absolves owners of Native land from the responsibility of roading land submitted for sale or subdivision. A complaint that the Victoria College \Council had been discourteously treated by the University Senate was made by Mr. T. R. Fleming at last evening's meeting of the council. Ml*. Fleming mentioned that at the meeting of the Senate in Auckland in January last, a committee had been appointed to go into the question of the reconstitutiOn of the University, which was a very important matter. He believed the order of reference was that the committee was to consult the varioul bodies interested, but as far as he knew the council had received no official notification of the proposa], and he himself, as chairman of the local Oourt of Convocation, hod certainly received no intimation. Such , a proposal as altering the constitution was a decidedly important one, and all the college councils should certainly have been consulted. The chairman (Mr. H. H. Ostler) said he had not received notification in his 'official capacity. Mr. Fleming remarked that, as one of the bodies affected, the council should be fiven a chance of expressing its views, lo had only been advised of the proposal in his capacity as a graduate. On tho motion of Mr. A. T. MAginm'ty it was decided to place the matter on the agenda paper for the next meeting for discussion. Pushing, progressive people employ, v* to ship, store, or distribute goods. They desire a good service, And we take care they get it. New Zealand Express Company, Ltd., 87-91, Cus-tomhouse-quay.—Advt. Undoubtedly tho Udic* of Wellington (ire the most economical in tha Dominion. To provo this statement to be right, we jutst need to follow olosely tun conversation ovar the friendly afternoon cup of ten, when in almost every case thfct familiM- subject, "Drew and Fashion" it fully ditcusted, r*nd invutobly it kfcds to the one fashion centre known all over the Dominion, namely, C. .Smith, Ltd., of Cuba-street, who are this week ole&ring otts thousand hats at ode shilling each. A whole window full is now on view «i their nremiwe, 96, Cuba-street.— Advt.

Mr. R. M'Nab was appointed to represent the council of Victoria College at the International Geological Congress m Canada, but at last night's meeting of the council a letter was received from him, stating that he had been delayed in Australia, and had 4>een unable to reach Canada in time to attend the congress. News from Te Puke states that a young man named George Mattson met with a painful accident \»hile bushfelling on Saturday. Bfe was felling a tawa, when the tree suddenly split, and leaving the stump shot back, pinning Mattson to a log which lay behina him. He was held there in agony till a mate arrived and released him by cutting the log through. It was then found that he had .sustained three broken ribs, besides being considerably bruised. It is stated that Mattson originally came from Wellington, and has friends here. | The corporation leasehold sections on which are erected the warehouses of Messrs. Johnston and Co. and Messrs. LeviD and Co., were offered at auction • in the Council Chamber of the Town Hall yesterday by Messrs A. L. Wilson and Co. Tho leases were secured by those firms for a further term of fourteen years, with right of renewal at the upset rentals. In the case of Messrs. Johnston and Co.'c section in Panamastreet (35ft lOin by 85ft) the upset rental wits fixed at £210 per annum, and, had the lease been sold to any other than the present lessees, compensation for the buildings, amounting to £3800, would have been payable to the firm. Messrs. Levin and Co.'s warehouse, fronting Featherstoo-street, is erected on a section 87ft by 66ft, and tie upset rental £200 per annum. Compensation for tho buildmg, in the event of a. sale to other than that firm, was fixed at £2838. A collision betweeu a dog-cart owned and driven by Mr. H. W, Moss, manager of Messrs. Johnston and Co., and Messrs. Wardoll and Co.'s motor*vair, occurred this morning at the junction of Wellington-terrace and Everton-tefrace. The trap, which was also occupied by Mr. Moss's^ two boys and Mr. E. B. Bristow, was coming down the Terrace when it collided witii the van, which had just come up from Boulcott-street. The van fell into an opening in the street made by corporation employees, and came to a standstill just as the other vehicle approached it. Mr. Moss was unable to pull up in time, *nd immediately his trap struck the van he and Mr. Bristow were thrown out, both of them turning a double somersault before they reached the ground. Mr. Bristow escaped with a shaking and some sc catches. . "Mr. Moss was not co fortan&te. One of hut hips was injured, and he 'was considerably bruised and shaken. After be had been attended to at Mr. W. M. Bannay's residence by Dr. M'Lean, he was removed in' the ambulance to hi» home- at Karori. An inquest was held by the District Coroner, Dr. M* Arthur, S.M., this morning, touching t/ie death of Mr. George J. Johnson, aged 70, who died in the Hospital on Tuesday. The verdict ■w&d that death was- the result of shock sustained by, deceased through being accidentally scalded at Wadestown on 21st July. Ktrkcaldk and Stains, Ltd., beg to armouce thai they are making their initial display of Model Coats and Skirts, Reception and Dinner Gowns, Blouses, etc., in their Mantle Showroom.—Ad**,