Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9263, 17 January 1889, Page 4

Great excitement was produced in Loin don by a report that the perpetrator of the Whitechapel murders, commonly known a3 "Jack the Ripper," had been arrested, buc unfortunately the rumour appears to have been without foundation. The Special Commissioners in the Times-Parnell inquiry have resumed their sittings. Several cases o£ contempt of Court were brought under _ their notice. Evidence of a very incriminating character was given by a Land Leaguer, who stated that he and another had committed a murder for which they were paid by the League. In the course of a speech in the Reichstag, Prince Bismarck defended the policy of Germany in East Africa and Samoa. Sir John Gorst it now appears, is not coming out to Sew Zealand. He is merely taking a holiday trip as far as Teneriffe.

The R.M.s.s. Tainui arrived yesterday evening, after a passage of 45 days from England, with 146 passengers and 224:7 tons freight for New Zealand ports. Among the passengers who arrived in Auckland yesterday from England by the direct steamer Tainui were Miss Campbell, daughter of Dr. Campbell; Miss Jessie Williamson, daughter of the late Mr. J. C. Williamson ; and Mr. Hart Lawry, nephew of Mr. Frank La wry, M.H.R.

An important question, defining thi powers of the local Boards of Health ig suburban districts, was argued yesterday at great length before His Honor Mr. Justice Gillies, in the Banco sittings of the Supreme Court, The Mount Wellington Road Board, which is the constituted local Board of Health in the district, applied for a writ of injunction to restrain John Vare from carrying on the business of a boiling-down establishment, which ho has erected in the district. The difficulty arose through the vague manner in which section 2 of the Publia Health Amendment Act, ISB4, was worded. The Act of 1876 only conferred the powen of the Local Board of Health on cities and boroughs, and the Act of 1884 was passed, no doubt with a view of extending these powers to suburban Boards, but the clause, through verbiage and other faults, was obscure, and Mr. Baume, for the defence, contended that being a penal clause, id must be construed strictly, and that therefore, although the defendant did erect? these premises without the consent in writing of the Board of Health, he waa entitled to do so, and did not infringe the Act. ffia Honor, however, ruled that the clause, though clumsily worded, did convey the meaning of the* Legislature to be that the powers conferred by the Act of 1876 on the Local Boards of Health of cities and subarbs should be extended to the Local Boards of Health of suburban districts, and he therefore granted the injunction, with costs £15 los. The decision is a very important one, and definitely settles the vexed question of the powers of suburban Boards of Health. It is the first decision given aa to the meaning of clause 2 of the Act of 1884, and therefore forms a precedent.

A quantity of pianos, valued at abouß £1000, were opened out yesterday at the receiving shed, Queen-street Wharf, for inspection, which had been recently imported. There were present the Customs' officials, the consignees, Mr. Shannon (Customs' Inspector), and an expert called in by the Government to make a valuation. The pianos have been imported from Germany, and it) seems that the Government decline to accept the German invoices, as the ships by which the instruments were imported only made the voyage from London, and they claim duty on the London prices, which are higher than those at the port in Germany from which the pianos were shipped. The Government had added 10 per cent, to the invoices of a previous shipment; but, from their present action, it does not seem as if they were satisfied with that advance. It is stated that the firm in question have placed all the documentary evidence in their possession at the disposal of the Government. They state that they have latterly been so harassed by the Customs authorities over ContinentaLimportations that they intend to retire from that branch of the business.

The annual criminal returns for the Auckland district have just been compiled by the police. There is a decrease of crime in Auckland as compared with the previous year, 1887. The offences reported for 1888 were 2298, and the arrests 2106. Of this number 1520 males and 328 females were summarily convicted, and 84 males and 5 females committed for trial; 150 males and 19 females were discharged. Arson appeal to be on the increase, bub assaults generally aro less in number. The committals to the Asylum are less by 19 than in 1887, and the offences against the Destitute Persons Act are less ny 26. Drunkenness shows a decrease, though the number of arrests for this offence axe still too large. Vagrancy, obscene language, unlawful gaming, lat" ceny, false pretences, forcible entry, cattle maiming, malicious injury to property, P e "' jury, resisting the police with violence, udlawful wounding, sheep stealing, threatening language, and Shipping and Seamen 3 Act, ali.eb.ow a diminution of cases. The high encomiums passed upon th 3 land in the North by the Minister of Land* have attracted a good deal of attention' Those who know the country generally en ' dorso thorn. Mr. G. W. Binney says that the views just enunciated by the Minister fle rms held for a quarter of a century. »& 1858 he disposed of twelve cargoes of whea' , from the Hokianga district in the mvbourne market; yet; to-day the people there do not grow enough wheat to supply then own wants. He attributes this to the indolence begotten of getting their living too easily, the genial climate, and the pro"" 0 ' soil. He holds that there is no better country in the world than in the Hokianga district, bufc the residents are simply lo eaters, with whom "it seemetli al«' a P afternoon." When the Canterbury settlers, and Federli's people were looking to tn North for new homesteads he strongly commended the Hokianga district to tneß as a suitable field for settlement.

Among the old colonists who I» rt ' cently passed away is the Rev. Jas. M"" Smith, who died" at Newton, at the aavanced age of 75. About a quarter or century ago he arrived here in the smp Ganges, and became pastor of the Presbyterian settlement. He became some what eccentric in his late years, ami v» always going about on some mission w other.

To refnedy the grievance under which number of our Waikato readers Ia?° ur dfl . consequence of only three mails being v livered during a week, we would sll ?S e ';: lv . those interested the advisability o app J ing through Mr. Eiss, to the Posbnuw" General, by petition, praying for a,av» service. The tri-weekly service was adoP K on the score of economy.

A somewhat peculiar phase of tho case. Bell v. the Court Eureka, A.0.F., came before tho Judge of the Supreme Court yesterday for argument. It will bo recollected that the trustees of the Court called for tenders for the erection of a hall in Wakefield-street, according to plans and specifications prepared by Mr. Skinner, architect, and Mr. Bell's tender was accepted. He proceeded with the work, and obtained the architect's order for a progress payment, bub when this was presented the defendant Court had no funds to meet it, having failed to obtain certain money on mortgage which they expected. Mr Bell brought an action in the Supremo Court against the trustees of tho Court, and obtained judgment for the amount of his claim, £300 odd, and proceeded to take out execution against the effects of the Court. These only'realised some £21, and the cost of distraint was £20, and he now sued certain of the members in their individual capacities for the balance of his claim, £800 odd The question at issue is whether tho members are individually liable, and Mr. Hesketh who appeared for the plamtifi, contended that they were so liable The address of pl ftintl^B counsel had only terminated on the rising of tho Court, and the further hearing of the caso was postponed until to-morrow (Friday), when Mr. Thco. Cooper, who appears for the defence, will be hoard. ! At an early hour yesterday morning ! » fire broke out in the above factory, Mount Roskill Road, and it was destroyed. Ib appears that about half-past twelve o'clock, as Mr. George Robinson was returning home, lie noticed that the hose factory of Mr. George I'ickard was on fire. From tho police report -o learn that when Mr. Kob-int-on lirst noticed the fire, the flames woro coming through the roof. Ho nb once run to Mr. Pickard's dwelling and knocked him up ; then, in company with Mr. Hamilton, directed his attention towards checking the progress of the fire. From tho first it was evident that the factory could not be paved, as the fire had too good a hold of it. They therefore turned their attention to the dwelling-house. This was saved, but tho factory with the whole of its contents wero burned to the ground. Mr. Pickard stated that ho carried on business in a workshop about 40 feet at the rear of his dwellinghouse at Mount RoskiH. All was safe when ho left the room at five o'clock on Tuesday night. During <ihe day he had no occasion to\ise any fire or light in the workshop. About half-past twelve o'clock on Wednesday morning ho was awakened by a neighbour, who told him that hia workshop was on fire. He got up, but was unable to stay tho progress of the fire. There were fourteen looms in tho factory, besides other machinery, lie employed four hands. Tho building was insured in the London and Lancashire Office for £75, the stock for £'JOO. and the looms for £125. Although the total insurance is £400, Mr. Pickard estimates that he has lost £'200 above that amount. Tho origin of the fire is at present unknown.

There arrived by tho ship Waitangi an eiffht-inch Armstrong riiled gun for the North Head defences. The gun is a fine piece of workmanship, and resembles with its tutings some of the guns on board if.-M.s. Orlando.

Yesterday morning s. sitting of the Native Land Court was held in the R.M. Courtroom, before Mr. G. Mair, for the purpose of considering a deed of lease of lands at North Shore for a term of 21 years by Hoh&ia Patuone, Etna Nohomai, Tawhiti, and Tamati Waka Nehua. Mr. \V. J. Napier appeared as trustee for the natives, -and Mr. Hammond was the interpreter. The contents of the deed were explained to the natives, but Tamati Waka Nehua appeared to have some doubb upon the matter, and the further hearing of the case was adjourned until Monday next, at the Native Land Office. A deed of conveyance of land, in which Hohaia Patuone and his daughter were interested, was certified to by the Commissioner.

The district meeting in connection with the United Methodist Free Churches was resumed yesterday morning. The report of the Preachers' Children's Fund was adopted. A discussion took place on the condition of the Mission Fund, audit was resolved to communicate with the Missionary Committee in reference to the grant made to the New Zealand Mission. The District Committee were appointed for the ensuing vear, comprising the district officers : — "kevs. H. B. Redstone, J. Edwards, and A. Peters, Messrs. Brown, LeadIcy, Cutler, Bouron, and Glanville. The Stationing and Finance Committee also met in the morning. In consequence of the pressure of committee work, there was no afternoon session. After devotional service in the evening, the session had under consideration the character and status of ministers. There was no charge against any minister. The report of the examiners appointed to conduct the examination of the Rev. J. Wrigley was adopted as satisfactory, and Mr. Wrigley advanced to the third year of his probation. The Rev. John Parkin requested to be made a supernumerary for one year, as ho is suffering from ill-health. The meeting expressed sympathy with Mr. Parkin, find it was resolved to comply with the request. Fraternal greetings were sent to the Primitive Methodist and Wesleyan Conferences, and to Australia, and the meeting then adjourned until this evening, DC seven o'clock.

The following resolutions will be brought forward by Mr. Samuel Vaile at the meeting of the Chamber of Commerce to be held this afternoon :—l. " This Chamber desires to reiterate the opinion it has twice before expressed—that it is not desirable to place the railways of the colony under the control of an irresponsible Board." 2. "That this Chamber strongly disapproves of the personnel of the' Board lately appointed, as neither the country nor Parliament contemplated continuing the present management." 3. "That as the powers granted to these Commissioners are of the most dangerous description, and capable of the grossest abuse, and as no safeguards whatever are provided for the public, this Chamber respectfully requests the Government not to bring the Act into operation until after Parliament meets." 4. "That this Chamber requests the co-operation of the other Chambers of Commerce in the colony in procuring the suspension of the Act until after Parliament meets." 5. " That copies of these resolutions be forwarded to the Government."

Yesterday, at noon, Messrs. Samuel Cochrane and Son sold by auction the villa Bites in the Pupuke estate, Lake Takapuna. There was a very large attendance, the mart being crowded, while the bidding was brisk for the majority of the lots. A large amount of public interest had been taken In the sale, owing , to the strides the Lake district has been making of late. The prices obtained ranged from £7 to £63 per acre, and over £1700 worth of property was disposed of. The following are the results of the sale:—Lot No. 1, £35 per acre; lot 2, £30; 3, £03 ; 4, £51 ; 5, £30; 6, £30 ; 7 (Here and house), £120 ; 11, £14 ; 12, £14; 13, £10 ; 14, £10 ; 23, £20 ; 24, £12 ; 28, £7.

The first entertainment under the auspices of the recently - formed Auckland Caledonian Society was held at the Protestant Hall, Karangahape Road, yesterday evening. There was a fairly numerous attendance. Dr. Walker (president) occu-p'-wi the chair, and in opening the proceedings, said that the society had decided to nietjt every fortnight, and as the number of increased, they would take another "*l'i though the present building was now Vc ' r y suitable. The society had been formed P n a proper basis, and he was sanguine that it would meet with great prosperity. (Applause.) An excellent programme of songs, recitations, etc., was contributed by the following ladies and gentlemen :—Mesdames (Jottingham, Michaels, Anderson, "tes Peace, Messrs. Robertson, Craighlinw>n, Simpson, Tait, J. Ewen, FotheringJJ ;i tn, and Tapper. A piano solo was played b y -Mits Cottingham. Two of the numbers v 'ere encored. Votes of thanks were accorded to the performers and to the chairman, and the entertainment was terminated by the singing of " Auld Lang Syne." Dr. >» alker said he hoped that, as there was talent in the ranks of the sociecy, a Glee Club would be formed. This suggestion is to be carried into effect, and Mr. Tait is willing to act as conductor.

With reference to the objections ot valuations to be heard at the City Assessment Court it was inadvertently stated yesterday that tho objections had to bo lodged by the 13th of February, whereas «t should have been the 15th.

At the Wanganui Police Court, on Wednesday, the captain of the Salvation Army was fined Is, and costs 14s, for obstructing a public place. He refused to pay the fine, out another Salvationist paid it.