LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 11 April 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A special meeting of the City Council was held last night, when the matters which had been referred at the last- or dinarv meeting, to the Finance nJ Works Committee, were dealt with. The Council sat ill committee of the whole, and will report as such to the ordinary meeting to be held to-morrow evening. The special meeting took the place ot the usual committee meetings.

In order to keep in advance of the development of the Port, the Railway Department are erecting new offices on the Railway Wliarl. The new building contains five or six compartments, including stationma-ster's office, a commodious pub- | lie office, and ladies' and men s waiting rooms. The present offices will be utms(.•l to extend the goods shed accommodation. Tht improvements being carried out- are much needed, and will be appreciated alike by both the general public and the officials concerned. Ni.i cold feet for us; we're Loo busy! We've got the dandiest line of Dress Tweeds'out. comprising Harris and Donegal Tweeds, 43 inches wide, Is 6d yard will clear tlieni.— Ihe Auckland Clothing and Drapery Co.* Mr. A. Gould will hold an unreserved miscellaneous sale at the rooms. Hardy street, on Saturday next, at 11 a.m. How's this for "hot stuff" ! Smart ] Flannelette and Golf Bloi.sings, in all 'the newefct. designs. While they last, 4id yard.—The Auckland Clothing and Drapery Co.* The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., advertise particulars 'of the following sales: —Ngatimoti stock sale on Tuesdav next. Richmond Mock sale, on Wednesday next; Tapawcra stock sale on Friday, tho 19th inst. We're a live firm ! Right now we are selling smart. Winter Dress Tweeds, double width, at Is 6d yard.—Auckland Clothing and Drapery Co.* . Straight from Bargainville ! Smart Blouse Flannelettes and Golf Blousings, in splendidj designs, we are selling at 4£-d yard.—Auckland Clothing and Drapery Co.*

The Mongolia,. Moeraki. Maunganui, Wlmmera, and M iuama should he within wireless range to-night.

'flu; first ingleiieuk of the Nelson Provincial Scottish Society will be held in the Oddfellows' HalL on Monday next, lfath inst.- Members and intending members arc cordially invited to attend.

A eab'.c from Sydney states that Captain Amundsen leaves tor New Zealand next week in route tor liueuos Avves, to pick nn the iM'rtni:

The death is reported florid Sydney by Press wire of Mr Dacey, State Treasurer, who passed away suddenly this morning. He was removed to a private hospital yesterday, suffering from acute rheumatism, but'a fatal termination was unexpected. The labour cause, adds tho message, loses one of its most prominent and stalwart supporters.

At the Magistrate's Court this morning judgrrient by default was given by Mr J: Si Eviliis,"S.M;, iti the f(illmvjti&- iifule= fended cases: —A. V. Allport (Air Wise) v. Batson and Tanstock (auctioneers), claim £54 17s 3d, costs £3 17s; Mount Oweii Rising Sun Mineral Co., Ltd., v. Albert Roland i)urfaHlj fln-im £5, costs 8s : same v. George H. Wilstirtj cfhthn £b, costs 5s : same v. Alexander White, olrtl'tll £5, costs 7s (Mr Vercoe, secretary of the company, for plaintiff) ; Lilian Gorman and uohn James Stringer (Mr N. Adams) v. James Corby, claim £2 14s, cost 10s.

Excellent progress is beinpr made with the orrangemeiits ill connection with the dramatic reditai from Charles Dickens, "The Christmas Carol," to be given hi the Theatre Royal on Monday Sv iing next by Mr Maft'iis Hi. John, in aid of the funds of the proposed Nurses' Etohie. It is to be hoped that all will realise that the recital provides a very enjoyable arid profitable meftns ol doing something for the nurses. It is quite safe to state that none will regret having attended, and at the same time a full house will have the effect of considerably augmenting the fund. The recital will commence "at 7.45. The educational advantages of the recital are such that a. large number of students from the Colleges will attend in a body.

Professor John B. Watson, ill Hwrper'o Magazine for February, describes experiments made at Clark "University, Massachusetts, in rearing sparrows by canary foster-mothers. One sparrow, captured when a day old, was isolated from ait other sparrows and kept in a room AVi'th about 20 canaries. After a time it began to utter the "peep" natural to the 'canaries, and even joined in when the canaries sang. Another sparrow deA r eloned a song which or less resembled that of the canaries. When taken awav from the canaries the sparrows lost the acquired song.

Lessons by machinery at'e proposed by 'he Victorian Education Department. lb i? considered that at least some lessons —particularly history and geography—can with great advantage be illustrated bv moans of moving pictures. There seems to be no doubt, save the Melbourne "Argus." that school work would be more attractive with kinematograph il lustrations as part of the daily . pro arnmme. Tlve only doubt that lingers if whether tho pictures will not be too alluring ; but probably it will be found wiso to leave teachers to maintain a judicious admixture of pleasure and profit.

"Land transactions in .Hawke's Bay,' said a gentleman from that province to a- "Post" reporter, "have for some time past been assuming very considerable dimensions. As an instance, only the other day a buyer from the South Island completed J\ transaction "which brought his total purchases up to £170.000, all in less than twelve month." "The iargo landowners." he said, "are beginning to realise thrvk. it is not in their own interests to retain the holdings, and several have determined to cut up portions of their estates in the near future."

The question as to wliether freights from Europe are likely to be increased owing to the coal 6trike is not yet definitely decided upon, though such a movement does not appear to be unlikely, says the "Shipping Gazette" of 26tii March. A report received by the last mail states that a number of cargo steamer sailings have been postponed already, thoiig.li 011 the whole regular traders have not yet deviated much from their time-tables. Under date of London, Feb. 15, and before the commencement of the strike, "Fairplay" quoted the freight market as very firm all round. In the opinion of owners and many charterers, the writer continues, rates are still going - higher. Already the price of bunkers has advanced enormously, so that certain homeward markets will have to go without tonnage at anything like present rates, as it will not pay to run in ballast upon the price of bunkers. At Hull expenses are enormous, and are going from bad to worse month by month. Owners might not grumble so much over the advance in stevedoring rates if the despatch were gotxl, but they are paying more money for discharging, and getting, as it were, a result in despatch 50 per cent, worse than before the rates were increased. Since the above was written .1 London cable announced an increase of 2s, 6d per ton (approximately) on first and-second class goods and Is per ton on other classes.

Mr F. M. B. Fisher, M.P., in the course of a letter to the Marlborough "Express." says.:—"Mr Thomas Mac-' 1-nnzie may do better than his predecessor. It will be a difficult task- for him to manage a mutinous and rebellious crew. And Mr Mackenzie's past is against him • his "Hansard" past. I refer to._ Of course, there are two Mr Mackcnzies, I admit. There is the "Tom" Mackenzie that was, and the "Tom" Mackenzie that ;.s. The one that- is, is not responsible •for the one that was. Nor is the ono that was in an" way connected with the one that-is. It. is pracfcicall" certain , however, that the Mackenzie that is would much rather be the Mackenzie that was. for the Mackenzie that is knows full well that the-Mackenzie that was, was a. much better man than the Mackenzie that is. We all have that feel'rig. However, one cannot help admiring the bravery of a. captain who nuts' to sea with a mutinous and rebellious crew, in a- worm-eaten, rotten vessel, and with short suprilv of rations —probably not move than four months' supply. When we talk bargains we've got all Iho other Johnnies stung to a whisper. Smart, hard-wearing Dress Tweeds. 43 inches wide, at Is 6d yard.—Auckland Clothing and Drapery Co.* Messrs Bislev Bros, and €O. advertise pnvtii uiars of the following sales: Jomorrow at 1 p.m., clearing sale of live and dead stock 011 account of Mr. A. Lines, Hope ; on Saturday next-, at the rooms. ITard v-stri et, sale of Mr. Geo, Leighton's property; on Tuesday next, .•■tock sale at Takaka; and 011 Thursday, IStli iust.. stock sale at Happy Valley. Don't sLick in a groove! Come into our Store right now, and show you the smartest .Blouse 1' lannelettes you over saw —all yard.—Auckland Clothing and Drapery Co.* Local tre very pleased to know that so much of their finest wool finds it way into the popular Roslyn Worsted and Woollen Mills (largest iii Australasia), as they know from practical experience something of the comfort and lasting wear of Roslyn Blan kets, rugs, tweeds, worsteds, socks, jerseys. " flannels,- plaidings, "Delta" underwear. etc.

The poor tide at Motueka yesterday afternoon was responsible lor tne !Nikau being delayed there till early this morning, when".-he sailed for Wellington direct.

advice was received from Sydney to-day by Mr F. W. Fairey that his fat bullock, which won the championship at the Sydney Royal Show_, hadl been sold for £3l J-Os, and his fat cow, which gained a second prize, for £l2 10s. The price secured for t.hc bullock, it is believed, n record.

A gift sent by the city of Paris to the Tsar, and presented to His .Majesty afc TsVK-nUoc; Selo by the mayor of Paris, took tlie ehape of a superbly beautiful Easter egg oncrusted with precious stones. The egg i® surmounted by a small golden crown of delicate w.orkriumship. Beneath the crown is an almost invisible button attached to a spung. When the button is pressed tin? egg. flies open, disclosing charming portrait 01 Lhe little Tsarevitch

Tho Strand Cafe in Bridge-street,, whie/i hfs been under the managementof Mr Maddvin for the last four years, has just been thoroughly renovated internally. land additional looms hav» been requisitioned to meet the growing needs of the business'. A special feature of this C/a te is a special dining room for tadieson tlltf second floor, nicely furnished andJ very comfortable in appearance.. Tito cooking is under the personal supervisions of Mr and Mrs Maddren, and patrons ann rely on their wants receiving every attention. An advertisement appears m another column in reference to the Strand Cafe.

Who was to pay mortgage cost* in » lnud transaction, was the subject ol defended cn»e in the Magistrate's Convlt this morning, before Mr J. S. Evans, S.M. Wm. Graham) Vining, cycle dealer, for whom Mr Rout appeared, sought to recover from Alfred Thomas Thorpe, salesman, the sum of £2 16s, costs? of preparing a second mortgage in connection with the sale of' a piece off land at Tahuiifl. The plaintiff gave evidence to the effect that he sold tho land to defendant in 1903 for £95, £6(3 being paid down, and for tlie balance, of £35 he accepted a second mortgage. Thorpe "had told him that lie (defendant) would pay the costs of preparing tho mortgage. For the defence, which Mr J. Harley conducted, it was stated! that defendant had objected to pay any additional costs in regard to the transaction, and that the sale waa oil th° point of breaking off, when plaintiff verbally agreed to pay tho costs of a second mortgage given. Defendant, in evidence, swore he did not undertake to pay the costs. George M'Concliie also gave evidence for defendant. _ After reviewing tho case, Mr Evans' aaid tho weight of evidence was against ,tho claim. Plaintiff had not made out his case, and he would be non-suited, v>ith costs amounting to £1 2s.

Bishop Sprott, preaching at tlie •dedication of the new school chapel, W«uganui, said : In the school we arc called to "aim at" i-deals. On the playing lipids we "aim at" perfection of bodily strength, and it is essential to a. man to have a clean, strong body. In the el»s« room we "aim at" perfecting-the mind, and a keen, strong, well-furnished min« is also necessary to manhood. In the chapel we are bidden to aim at something more than body and mind, "the' tilings which are above." Without the chapel, the school training would be incomplete ; the thing wanting has to-day-been added. It is the gift of old boys throughout the world to the school which ut they love. The new chapel is the gift of old boys of all generations, but the suggestion of it came from one wihose namo will always be looked up to* and revered by all who truly love the school.

The Full Court at Perth last week directed its judicial intellect to a nroblem : Firstly, when is a man drunk? Secondly, w)iat is a "barmaid's blush"? Mr Justice Burnsido held that if a. in ail was not sober he was drunk. Mr J list ice McMillan held-that the best. definition of "drunk" was the condition in which a iraii could not lift a gl-ass to his lips. Plaintiff claimed that he could not be drunk, because he had drunk nothinrc Jbnt sarsaparilla and "barmaid's blaslu" The latter must be very rare. No information as to the constituents, of "barnvud's blusli" . was forthcoming, beyond defendant's counsel's .suggestion that .it might be quite an "intoxicating smile." No verdict was recorded.

Th? Governor's visit to Whangarei. itis stated, lias occasioned considerable* feeling among different local bodies (shy" a Wellington "Post" correspondent), and apparently 011 the point of precedence. Matters, however, came, to a climax during the course of the banquet tendered to"his Excellency 011 Tuesday night atthe conclusion of the toast, "Agricultural Interests of the Whangarei District,' which was proposed by Mr. Crane. Immediately Mr. Crane had finished speaking, Mr. C. H. Hutchinson (president of the Whangarei Agricultural and Pastoral Association) rose, and facing his Excellency, remarked somewhat bitterly that he had not been called lipon to reply to the toast. •In years gone by it was always, the president of the Agricultural and" Pastoral Association who wan a-sked to respond to'that toast at public gatherings. As president he claimed that he should have had tlie honour of replying. At the conclusion of Mr. Hutchinson's remarks there was a. painful silencq. The Mavor (Mr. T. H. Steadman). then rose and, speaking with evident lient, said that Mr. Hutchinson was away when .the toast list was _drawn up. The reply to the toast had been allocated to Mr.' W. Crawford, a leading settler in the district. All embarrassing episode was terminated by bracketing Mr. Hutchinson's name with Mr. Crawford's for the reply. The banquet terrr.ir.atcel short!v afterwards.