LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 78, 2 April 1914, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Cabled advice has been received by the New Zealand Postal Department that the R.M.S. Aoi'angi sailed from San Francisco for Wellington yesterday (Ist April). She is due here on the 23rd inst. Very strong coinplant is being made by shipping companies at the treatment lately meted out to them by the Railway Department. ( The stay of several steamers in Wellington recently has been unduly prolonged, owing to a serious shortage of railway trucks, and, an agent said, "to the bungling of officials when there are trucks "available." Colliers have been considerably delayed at Wellington through the continued shortage of trucks, and the owners have suffered in consequence. Serious delay has also been occasioned to Home liners, because there have not been sufficient trucks to bring the frozen meat from Petone and Ngahauranga to the wharves. It has been a very serious matter for us," aaid a representative of one firm, "and also for the freezing companies. One company has had practically to close down owing to the congestion. We bring in our ships to relieve the poaition, and are unable to do so. The Railway Department is unable to pro* vide the facilities. The shipping firms have complained time and again, but there has been no improvement. It is worse now than ever. We have become tired of complaining to the officials. They take no notice. Even when the trucks are there there is so much red tape and consequent bungling that we do not get satisfaction. The reputation of the port gains nothing by these costly i delays. Enquiries made of the Rail* vvays Department show that there has been very heavy traffic on the railways recently, and that the Department has done all that is possible to cope with the congestion. In connection with the Union Co.'s decision to Inaintain a bi-monthly cargo service between Australasia and Pacific Coast ports of North America, it is ill* teresting to note, a« recently pointed out by Mr. C. Holdeworth in Sydney, that the Union Company has been associated with the trans-Pacific trade for \ about thirty years. In the first place, there was the Saai Francisco service, from which the company wa-s forced to withdraw when the Hawaiian Islands were annexed by America, .and the trade thence to San Francisco was restricted to Americali'Owned vessels. The Union Company then bought into the Vancouver trade, and haa developed this from a very small beginning to the substantial line that is now operating. Some four years ago, anticipating that America must reduce it« tariff, the company re-entered the San Francisco trade by another route, namely, from Sydney, via Wellington, Rarotonga, and Tahiti. The two lutes to Vancouver and San Francisco now fuvnieh practically a fortnightly connection with the American Continent. Bereft of its sentiment, a romance of nearly three years' standing was brought into the cold judicial light of the Magistrate's Court this morning, when Kate Evelyn Krugw, of Kaiwarra, sued George Wright, a driver, for the return of a ring or its equivalent, J3l 15s. , Mr. A. Dunn appeared for the plaintiff, while Mr. J. J. M'Grath defended. Eleanor Kruger, mother of the plaintiff, said that she bought the ring three years ago for 35s and gave it to her daughter; who was keeping company with the defendant. Further evidence went to show that one evening defendant detached the ring from the girl's finger, but later he had the misfortune to break it. He thereupon put it in his pocket to get it repaired. The ring, which, he contended, was old and worn and minus all the stones, was, he said, worth only 7s 6d, which amount ho paid into Court. Mr. W. G. Rtddell, S.M., heard the case, and in remarking that the ring could not bo held to be worth what ifc was three years ago gave judgment for 255, with costs. The approach of Easter ia a reminder that Travelling Bags and Trunks will be in demand. Travellers and holidaymakers will find much to interest them in Trunk and Bag Department at Kirk* caldio and Stains,*— Ajly_t a ~ ,

A very novel manner of winding up an assigned estate camo under notice o£ the Auckland Star on Tuesday last. A little money 'had been received by tho private assignee appointed, but it soolt dwindled to nothing in expenses. The only other asset was an oil painting, which is-,roputed to bo of no inconsiderable value. After many unsuccessful efforts to dispose of tho picture, the creditors agreed to accept it in full settlement of all claims, and to raffle it amongst themselves, each creditor taking one share for each pound of his claim.,' The necessary permission was obtained, and the raffle was formally drawn on Tuesday, when the lucky creditor turned out to be Mr. T. Wells, of Cam* bridge. Considerable interest has been taken, by residents of Gisborne in a case brought before Mr. Justice Stringer there a few days ago. The proceedings were in the form of an application for a, writ of injunction to restrain tha tenant of a part of Mr. James M'Kee'a buildings _on Gladstone-road- from using the premises as a restaurant and fried fish shop. Plaintiff (M'Kee) pleaded that he would suffer serious loss if his tenant carried out his ideas, aa a, nuisance would be created and his other tenants would leave. The defendant de« mcd that he intended to open a fried fish shop. H ls idea was to establish re first-class restaurant, at which, of course, tried fish would be on the menu. No fish would be sold for consumption off the premises, and he would guarantee that there would be no smell. His Honour, in reserving \m decision, said it seemed to him that a writ of ihjunc* turn cpuld not be obtained just yet. If defendant committed a nuisance then M Kee could move for an injunction. The value of the social worker in the prevention of disease wa3 specially dwelt upon by Dr. Piatts-Mills in the course of her address at the opening of the new Salvation Army Maternity Homo yeßterday afternoon. . "The most successful practitioner from the standpoint of value to the community," declared the speaker, "is the one who does most to prevent disease by removing the cause. In private practice it is possible to know tho circumstances of the individual patient, ahd to arrange treatment accordingly, altering the conditions that have led to ill-health. But in dealing with the community, great social problems force themselves upon our attention, demanding our utmost efforts at solution. And here it is tliat tho social worker meets the doctor. I am thinking of all the diseases due to over-crowding, poverty, dirt, impure food, and various trades. 1 am recalling the campaigns against consumption and infantile mortality, for in-, stance. In all these the doctors find that \ their greatest allies are tho social work* ers. Indeed, we realise that, without a broad co-operation between the social worker and the doctor in every form o£ civic betterment, no great preventive work is going to be done." A recent cable message summarised an important statement made in Sydney by Mr. C. Holdsworth, managing director of the Union Steam Ship Company, in reference to the_ development of trade between Australia and New Zealand on the one hand, and the Pacific Coast of North America on the other. Further details are published in the Sydney Herald :*—"Tho Union Com* pany," Mr. Holdsworth stated, "has decided to initiate a regular bi-monthly cargo service between Australasia and the Pacific Coast ports of North America, that is, to Vancouver, San Francisco, and what are known as the Puget Sound ports, Seattle and Tacoma. The ships will carry refrigerated cargo— meat, butter, dairy produce, eggs, etc., and also fruit. We have during the last nine months been doing pioneering work on this route, and have despatched four steamers from i Australian ports. Wo have now decided to make the service a regular two-monthly one, and to extend this to a four-weekly service if tho trade warrants. So far we have provided ample space for all that has been going; indeed, we have not often secured full cargoes. The steamer Kent, now under charter to us, has visited Queensland ports, and will leave Sydney this month for the Pacific Coast with from 800 to 1000 tons space unfilled. We arc satisfied that the trade will develop, and have arranged to charter suitable steamers to maintain the new service. We are convinced that with some nursing a permanent trade will be developed in this direction, and we are building two very fine steamers in Great Britain, one by Sir JRailton Dixon, and the other by Swan and Hunter. These ships will represent the latest word in refrigerated cargo steamers." A deputation from the Seamen's Union waited, on the Minister of Marine (Hon. F. M. B. Fißher) last night regarding tho payment of wages on small vessels. Cases, it was said, liad come under tha union's notice where wages had been paid after the vessel had gone to sen, and if it was lost the \vage& had been lost to the seamen's dependent's. What they asked was that the wages should be paid in port, so as to give the men the opportunity of banking the, money or sending it to their families. It was suggested that provision should be made I for the insurance of seamen's effects and 1 wages through the year in the Govern* I ment Insurance Department. Frequent ly a man was paid Just before the ship sailed, and if anything happened to tho ship his wages Were lost. The result of n, system such as suggested would be to bring considerable revenue to the Department, but those who would otherwise have loftt their all would derive a direct benefit. \ The Minister thought that the union I could deyise a better scheme than that, I but the deputation replied that under the Friendly Societies Act the union waft debarred from doing so. It was stated also that the union knew of two cases in which men had been paid at sea. The Minister soid he did not think it was reasonable that in6n should bo compelled to take their pay on the ovc of their embarkation, when they had no chance of leaving the ship. He thought, too, that no one- should oe compelled to I take his pay at eea. Ho would ask the ship-ping companies to see if some arrangement could b& mado so as to carry out the desire of the deputation, naid if that wa» found to be impossible he would bring in a Bill. Incidentally, and as illustrating th© point made by the deputation, it was stated that when the Moa blew up out-side Wangnnui the firema.n had his wages under his bunk, and was blown up the companion-way, but the money did not go with him, and he lost ib all. Tho Minister also paid he would enquire- into the Board of Trade method by which a man could put his money away and draw upon it as required, and ii he could do something in that line he would be glad to help them. Value your furniture! Then get vs to move it. Packing, handling, romov* ing aro an art with \is. Our motor moves furniture into or cut of town. N.Z. Express Co., Ltd., 87-91, Custom-house-quay.— Advt. Tho colossal task of taking a census of tho stars by menns of photography is (utmost completed, and by the time the lines are read a total of 53 millions will have been ranched, the count taking two years to complete. There were 206 negatives to be dealt with, each representing twenty-five regions of tho sky and from 60 to 800 thousands of etnre. The counting has been carried out by n system of averages, as to count each stnr would lake about one hundred years. Few persons tet, out to count oven thousands ->f shirs, but to those people we give tho following bit of good advice : — Got a rooj good wool soarf from C. Smith, Ltd., of Cuba-street. They have them from Is to 1 12s fol «ach,— Adxfe

Sitting in Chambers at the Supreme Court yesterday, his Honour the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) heard an application by Hnrconrt and Co. for a summons against_ the Taungata Land Company (in liquidation) for an order to admit a claim for £122 19s. Leave to prove the debt was granted. Sinoe his arrival in Naw Zealand, the new General Manager of Railways (Mr. E. H. Hiley) has made a thorough inspection of the rail-way systems of both Islands. He is now preparing hie report, which, the Prim© Minister told a Post reporter this morning, wilL be of a mosb comprehensive character, and in all probability (if jvdopted) -would involvo the country in the expenditure of a considerable sum of money. Under the Judicature Amendment 'Act, passed last session, the Court of Appeal was divided into two divisions, the members of which are to be appointed by the Governor-in-Council, on the recommendation of the Chief Justice and two other Judges of the Supreme Court. The selection has been made in due course, and will be gazetted shortly. The First Division will sit at 'Wellington on 6th April, and tho Second Division in June, Before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., Watts Bros., builders and. contractors, sued Alexander G. Hutchinson, sheepshearing machine expert, for £12 for services rendered and moneys expended in the preparation of sketch plans for a house at Roseneath proposed to be built for the defendant. Mn W. F. .Ward appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr. J. J. M'Grath for the defendant. On the application of Mr. M'Grath the Magistrate nonsuited plaintiffs, with costs, £1 18s. The performing members of the Choral Society are, according to an advertisement appearing in to-night's Post, asked to bring their scores of "The Messiah" to the weekly practice to-morrow night in addition to "Maritana."_ It is the intention of the society to give a benefit concert in the Town Hall in aid of the sufferers by the Upper Hutt disaster. The concert will be of a miscellaneous nature, but choruses will be given out of "Messiah," "Elijah," and "Maritana," as well as vocal items by leading artists. In reply to a letter of complaint signed " Disgusted " in yesterday's Post in connection with the alteration in the fares over the Miramar Borough tramways under the new scheme proposed by the Tramway Board, and adopted _by tho City Council at its last_ meeting, the authorities point out a serious inaccuracy in the figures in our correspondent's lutter. " Disgusted " states that the new five-section twelve-trip concession ticket is to cost 3s 9tl. The actual cost of the twelve-kip five-section concession ticket, as reported in The Post of 20 th March, is 3s 3d. This works out at 3^d for a five-section trip, instead of 3|d as alleged by "Disgusted." At present the Miramar residents get a fourteen-trip concession, ticket ovev the same five sections at 4s 2d, or 3.57 d per trip. Instead of twelve trips for 3s 9d, as " Disgusted " states, he will be able with his new concession ticket to get nearly fourteen trips —fourteen costing 3s 9|d. Mr. 4 D. D. Macfarlane, of Lyndon, Amuri, Waiau, was brought into Christchurch yesterday, to receive, medical attention, but died last night from heart failure. The late Mr. Macfarlane was a son of Sir John Macfarlane, of Coldstream, Rangiora. He was a wellknown figure in the public life of North Canterbury. He was born at Loburn on 18th September, 1860, and was prominently associated with the agricultural and pastoral industry in North Canterbury, and was a member of the Canterbury Agricultural and pastoral Association, of which" he was president for several years. He also occu- ■ pied the position of president of the Canterbury Shipowners' Union. Quite recently, Mr, Macfarlane was elected by the A. and 'P. Associations of Canterbury for appointment to the Board of Agriculture. He served on many local bodies, and _ contested the Hui'unui at the last election as a Reform candidate. Captain O. Lambert retired from the Union Steam Ship Company's service to-day. It is nearly thirty years since he joined the company's staff, and during that time- he has had command of thirty different ships. He has an unblemished record, and has always been exceedingly popular, both with/travellers and those employed under him. Last night Captain Lambert was presented witb a silver-mounted oak liqueur-stand from officers and engineers on the Arahura, of which steamer he has had command _ for over eight years. The presentation was made by Mr. J. Cable, chief engineer, who spoke in glowing terms of Captain Lambert's character, and 4 mentioned the high respect and admiration all on board had for him. These /remarks were fully endorsed by the chief officer (Mr. A. Davies). Though regretting Captain Lambert's retirement, Mr. Davies wished him good health and a long life in the well-earned rest he was taking after a strenuous- career. Captain Lambert returned thanks, stating that he had always endeavoured to do his duty to his company and to those associated with him. In a circular to the vicars of all the parishes in the Wellington Diocese, Archdeacon Harper, general secretary, gives some information in connection -with the scheme to fittingly celebrate the Marsden Centenary next February. " Ifc has," says the Archdeacon, "been decided that the Marsden Centenary shall be celebrated by a provincial memorial and diocesan celebrations. The provincial memorial will take the form of a fund to be raised throughout the province. 0! this fund the sum of £20,000 will be applied, to the furtherance of leligious education of_ the nature of secondary schools, training of teachers or , candidates for Holy^ Orders or similar undertakings, according as may be determined by x diocesan authorities. t Any further sum collected will be applied in each diocese as! an endowment for augmenting the stipends of clergy. The ltev. P. W, Clarkson has been appointed organising secretary for the whole fund, and it is hoped that not less than ■ £50,000 will be raised, Our Wellington diocesan celebration will take the form chiefly of a missionary exhibition, to be held in Wellington next February, Other dioceses have agreed to further this exhibition by taking courts. The remaining courts will have to be furnished by ourselves. In furnishing a court it will bo necessary to provide everything which will interest and educate from the mission selected, also articles for sale, some person or persons to give short talks on the work and life of the mission, .and to arrange for tableaux representing the life of the country or nation, or at least provide dresses, and the Central Committee, will provide actors. The 1 Central Committee will supply hand- • books giving all necessary information about the several parts of the mission field. There will be in all fifteen courts. Of these five (Melanesia, Maori, China, Japan, and Africa) are taken up by other dioceses.