LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 12 February 1908, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Afc tho V.M.C.A. garden party next Saturday afternoon the various churches aro providing the refreshments, and Mrs Maginnity and the Misses Atkinson and Wilson have kindly undertaken to act as hostesses. The Bishop of Nelson and Mr Maginnity will be the speakers for tho occasion. This, in all probability, will be the last chance of hcarine the ' Bishop at a social gathering before his departure for the Old Country. Donors of refreshments are reo'iested to leavo tho gifts either wltK Mr 9. Hobbs, Hardy-street, or at S\ .'ohn s Schoolroom on Saturday morning before 10 o'clock. Mr and Mrs Henry White, of Pigeon Valley, who are leaving shortly, for England, wero .entertained by the residents recently, and made tho recipients of presentations. Mr F. B. Peart occupied the chair, and Mv James Bruce, on behalf of the settlers, presented the guestß with a travelling rug, and the chairman presented Mrs White with a travelling bag. Speeches wore made by Dr. Hamilton and Messrs Percy Baigent, E. Roberts, Thos. Higgs, and S. Hodgson (superintendent of the Sunday School). An apology for absence was received from the Rev. O. R. Hewlett. Refreshments were afterwards provided, and a pleasant eveni ing was spent. The entries for tho Waimoa Amateur Swimming Club's sports, to be held on Saturday, 22nd inst., close on Saturday next. At a meeting of the Committee of the Nelson Institute last evening the resignation of Mr Redgrave as hon. secreary was accepted with regret, and Mr Gilbert was appointed hon. secretary in his stead. Mr Redgrave is about to go on a trip to England, hence his reA strange fatality occurred at the Proprietary mine, Broken Hill (N.S.W.) the other 'day, a miner, Geo. Wearmouth, being blown to pieces by a premature explosion of a Wast. Six men, including Wearmouth, were sinking the Stewart shaft, Block 12, at a depth of 1276 ft, Peceased and John Barry remained below to fire five holes, but before they finished one charge exploded. Wearmouth was killed outright. In the darkness consequent on the blowing out of the lights, Barry called to his mate, but, receiving no response, signalled to the engineer, and was hauled in the bucket to the 1000 ft. level. As- ] sistance was obtained, and the men returned to the bottom of the shaft, where Weannouth's body was found, dreadful- ( ly mutilated Barry had a miraculous escape, as he Jiad not received a scratch. The roar of tlie explosion made him deaf in ono ear. The reason of the explosion is unexplained. Deceased, who was 35, leaves a widow and one child. 1 The Anglo-French Exhibition will at- ( tract a number of New Zealanders, but f comparatively few will go from Nelson, c and the bulk of our people will have I to be content with visiting the Great _ Exhibition Of Furniture and Furnish- i ings to be seen at Lock's. Emporium. 1 Mr Lock keeps this show np to date, I and the list of goods are of almost all styles and variety, made at his fac- « tories, or imported direct from English t •nd Colonial makers — and comprise _ suites, easy and occasional chairs, ta- s bles, duchess chests and pairs, Italian rt and other bedsteads, cots, fenders, etc,, v rattan furniture, lounges, eto., carpets, s linos, pile and mohair rugs, conches, f bedding, cutlery, crookery, sheetings, p towels, tapestries, velvets. Also the i, following special lines : Hat-land's and a other superior pianos, Carpenter's or- n gans, the Britannia air rifle, easibak t . lino polisher, Miner and Zealandia ranges, baby jumpers, and go carts, Atlas sewing machines — these and many , other goods are sold by Lock at the . lowest prices either for cash or easy f, terms. "Go to Lock's" is a house- *_! hold word. It will pay you to visit nr. -ts e-tSbibitJMf,* ni

At a meeting of the Building Cotnmil>e of the Nelson Institute last evening, he date of the statutory meeing of subcribers under the new Act of Incorpoation was decided upon. Draft new byiws were submitted by the sub-com-uittee, and it was resolved to consider hem seriatim on Tuesday week, for übsequent submission to the subscribes for adoption. The civil action Alfred Frost v. ihe Public Trustee as Trustee under :he will of the late William Foster frost was continued in the Magistrate's Court before Mr Eyre Kenny yesterday. Mr Maginnity appeared for plaintiff, and Mr Harley for the defendant. After hearing further evidence, counsel addressod the Court at considerable length, a number of authorities being cited. — Mr Harley contended that tho plaintiff had not shown that there was any express contract entered into by plaintiff's father to remunerate plaintiff for the care and attention bestowed by him on his father, and that being so the authorities were clear that the Public Trustee could not legally make any such payment without the consent of all the beneficiaries. Mr Maginnity argued that the law in such case was conclusive, but urged that the evidence was sufficiently strong to warrant the Court in 'deciding that a special contract to pay had been proved. The Magistrate, in giving judgment, stated that he could not say, looking at the whole, of the evidence, that the plaintiff had proved an express contract. In the face of the law, therefore, he was bound to give judgment for the defendant. As, however, in his opinion, the plaintiff's case was supported by undeniable equities, he would agree to the course urged by counsel for plaintiff, following recent decisions by the Supreme Court in similar cases, and order the costs of the plaintiff to be paid by defendant out of the estate. The costs awarded were £6 9s 6d counsel 's fee, £1 5s Court costs, and 16s witnesses ' expenses. The inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of Mrs Tilbury, who was killed in the coach accident at the ipleby railway crossing on February lst^ was resumed to-day. Mr Eyre- ■ tny, Coroner, and the jury drove out to the scene of the accident, and =the taking of evidence will be resumed tomorrow. Tho jury is composed of E. T. Trask (foreman), M. P. Webster, C. Bird, senr., H. Braddell, P. Topliss, and E. Grove. The annual meeting of the Sitter Art Society will be held at the Art Gallery on Friday next, at -1.30 p.m., when there will be an "at home" and an exhibition of sketches. Tho late Mr Stgley, whose death was announced recently. was advised on leaving Nelson, owing to heart failure, to seek a more restful life than the strenuous life of a town school toucher, and ho obtained the charge of the school at Te Ono. Chatham Islands, where intorest in education was at a very low ebb, only nine scholars being on the roll] and the average attendance about 3. His health was much improved by the genial climate and restful surroundings of the island life, and very soon the interest in educational matters increased, scholars rapidly coming in, and until tho public hall used as a school was found too small for tho numbers attending. The average attendance when Mr Sigley left tho island was about 50. His kindly manner, teaching ability, and the keen interest he took inhis work won him many friends, and tho young people under his charge became strongly attached to him. They were eager to learn, not pnly by reason of the value of education, but to ploaso their honoured master. He was instrumental in getting the present well-appointed school buildings on Chatham Island. 1 erected, not from a selfish motive, for ho said: "I shall ver teach in that school; but thoso who labour after mo will find their way made easier." On leaving the islands, Mr .'Jtgley was accorded a great send off by parents, children, and the public, who expressed their bost possible wishes for happiness and prosperity wherever his lot might be ca t. Some years ago the late Mr Sigley was appointed teacher under tho Native School Department at a large school at Tokomaru, north of Gisborne, and after doing excellent service year in and year out, his health failed, and after a brief illness he passed away in mid life, 'saving six children to mourn his untimely end. Mr Sigley, who was born in Nelson, wap very popular when at College, and when teacher at the Boys' Central School he was regarded as a man of sterling worth, and his kindly disposition endeared him to all who had relations with him. I A Press Association wire from Auckland says: — An important question concerning rebates of rent to Crown tenants under the Bush and Swamp Act came before the Auckland Land Board, fciettlers taking up leases under the Act referred to are allowed to hold the land rent free for four years aftar paying the first half-years' rent. 'f, however, they transfer th? lease, they are required to p\v the rent in full up till the date of the transfer, and il is optional with the Board whether the transferee shall be allowed a remission for the balance ot thi unexpired term of f<ur years. lt was th.*s latter print th.it cicpped up in ■oniiect ion withjlie transfer of several leases in the Opoliki district, which '.1.-tvj recently changed hands ut a considerable profit. 'lhj Commissioner (Mr M'Kenzie) said that the intention of the Act, as he took it, was to assist settlers in th-' back lorntry during the early years uf their occupation, and before the hind was producti\e. If, however, they choose to traiiic in land, the concessions' ought- not to b;> allowed to the incoming t/naiit. A number of the cases, he said, indicated that the land was being made use of for speculative purposes ,and a speculator could take up the land, pay half a years' rent, do a certain amount of improvements, and then sell out at a huge profit, the transaction being made ipore profitable from the fact that the land was rent free to the end of the four years from the time when it was originally taken up. This seemed to be the position if the trapsferees were allowed the benefit of the rebat. It wae agreed, after considerable discussion, to defer the matter untill the next meeting of the Board, in order that it might be discussed by a full Board, including the representative of the Crown tenants. Messrs Levin and Co., Ltd., have r»ceived the following cable relating to the wool sales from their London agents, the National Mortgage and Agency do. of New Zealand, Ltd., dated London, Bth February, 1908:— "The wool sales havo closed. Merinos generally have closed firm on a par with the opening rates and with keen bidding. Medium and crossbreds closed at a decline of 7i per cent on the opening rates — buyers ar& operating very sparingly for* this class of wool. An amusing story is told by a Napier gentleman who attended the recent show of tho Wairoa Agricultural and Pastoral Society. He arrived only on the second day, found that a progress, and inquired as to the conditions of the contest. The officials informed him that all competitors had to lodge a certain sum, that each had in turn to pace what he or she considered 22 yards, and that whoever '"t nearest to the exact distance won the prize. So far the thing was plain, but what puzzled the vicitor, Jays the "H.B. Herald." was an anlouncement that the Maori women vho competed mhst wear the divided ikirt only. An expanation was soon 'ortheoming. It appears that on the trevious day a Maori lady won the ' trize, pacing the distance to within i quarter of an inch, but that underleath her flowing robe she had, oxended from knee to knee, a bit of tring by which she could almost eat-v i ictly regulate her strides. One of , ter own people divulged the secret, nd hence the special condition for ; he second day. The unsophisticated ; Jaori, male or female, is a species ow practically extinct. _.