LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12608, 24 June 1904, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The usual conference between members of Parliament and; the Auckland Chamber of '■ Commerce, prior to the session of Parliament, was held yesterday. Railway con-' ] struction was.dealt with" at)considerable ' length, : and an ; : important.; suggestion was mad© with the view of opening up native lands—namely, that native lands should be \ acquired by the Government under the Land ' for Settlement Act', in the same way as - lands owned i by ■ Europeans, and that the Public Trustee should hold the value of the land in trust for the native owners till this ■ titles were ascertained by the Land Court. The inequity of freeholders having to pay ; land tax while leaseholders escape was also I dealt with. Mr. P. Lawry, M.H.R., in the course of his speech, justified the action of ■ the Government in straightening the Hntt ; railway, but assured the meeting, with an ' air as if he knew mora than most people, that the duplication of .< the . Auckland-Penrose \ line will be provided for this year, and that •. the work will be completed four years before the duplication of the Hutt line. There wire no resolutions passed. A report of the proceedings will be found in, another part of this issue. On the recommendation of the Streets Committee, the City Council, last night decided to light the Albert Park with seven lights, at a first cost;of £29 16s, and an j annual cost of £24 10a. This? decision is : ' the outcome of a request from Mr. W. H. . Smith and others. Before it was arrived i at; Mr. J. T. Julian suggested 1 that (arc ; lights should be obtained for the purpose, •' and that no doubt an arrangement could bo come to with the Tramways Company;to supply them. The Mayor (the Hon. E. < Mitcholson) said the Council could light ' the park by electricity from the destructor ' if required. Both Messrs. L. J. Bagnall ! and 0. J. Parr strongly 'supported the 'J lighting of the park, and contended that ;i it was at - present in a dangerous state at ') darkness at night. l .' A letter on the subject of homes for im- I becile children has been addressed to the ■' Auckland Chamber of Commerce by Miss Jessie Mackenzie, of Auckland, who has for years petitioned Parliament on the same I subject Site expresses her approval of the • intention to build a home at Nelson for the j imbecile children now in the lunatio My- i lums, but adds that there are many feeble- i minded children* whose parents would con- - l tribute to their maintenance if a suitable " ! home was provided. £ She hoped i interest, , would be aroused in the subject, eo that the , public might aid the Government in erecting a large and fully-equipped establishment ;, where the inmates could be classified,: as ' is ? i done in the different institutions in Great • Britain. Arrangements were made by the Auckland ; University Graduates' Association to urge ';! on the Auckland members of Parliament, at ! , the close of the Chamber of Commerce Con- '; Terence yesterday, the necessity for putting ' the Auckland University College on a better j financial basis. The proceedings at the ] latter conference were, however, unduly pro- i: longed, and at the close Dr. H. Dean-Bam- ; ford, president of the Graduates' Association," • and Dr. McDowell, one of the representatives !•. of the association on the University College "■, Council, found that onlv one member of Par- : liament (Mr. A. E. Harding, MH.R. for ! Kaipara),; remained in the room. ■ In the ■ circumstances the representatives of the Gra- ; duates' Association decided to peek another; , opportunity of interviewing the members. ■ The matters which the association mainly i desire to bring into prominence are the need ! for more accommodation at the college, and for establishing additional : chairs to , meet the requirements of the syllabus re- ' cently submitted ■ by the ■ Senate, the most ' urgent need being a school of mines. '. 1 ' !; ; -.: " '' , '■.':."•■.■' ■" ■ •' '■.■■■>■. .V, '' l The current issue of the Auckland \ Weeklyi News contains a remarkable wealth of attractive illustrations. One of the chief features of the number is a fin* '■■} series of pictures, of the great St. ' Louis ' Exhibition. There are also views of the i Paeroa-Waihi" railway, the Grand Junction ; ( mine's surface works, and an admirable full- ! <' page picture of Karangahake. The Auck- , land Poultry. Show is well illustrated, and: there are scenes from the Maori opera ; "Tapu," and the war and many other sub- : jects are illustrated. Annie Dunn, a well-known Auckland iu- * < ebriate, whom Mr. C. 0. Kettle, S.M., has been wanting to commit to the Inebri- ;■■ ates' Home at Waitati for some time past, appeared at the Police Court again yes- ;' terday. Mi. Kettle said that since last i Court day h<. had been in communication with thu superintendent of the institution, and had been informed that the accused would bi» admitted and would receive everyl care anl attention. Ho considered that ':< that wijs very "satisfactory indeed, < and ' committed her to the home for twelve months. When Sub-Inspector Black mentioned that there r was really ho person / to i make an order against (or her maintenance, the magistrate said ? therewwars r no peed ■ to i make an order* 'h : :' ,] £r>^'-?'.s-»*t.-$$ .; A 4

I'll© drainage scheme 'crown tip by Mr.. R. Li; Metayer is to be discussed w.th' that gentleman by the City Council, at a tftaJfjuv.; ence to be held next Thursday. ?;: At last night's meeting of the Council It was decided to invite the Mayors and members of. the various suburban local botliet to attend the conference,.whilst the Mayor intimated that it .was competent I for? ratepayers also to attend. The conference is to be in committee.' A, request from the Newmarket Borough Council for a conference of local bodies on the subject was deferred until after the meeting with Mr. Mestay« r. The. Tramways Company applied to the City Council at last nights meeting-.for an amendment in the by-law : relating -to, the , overcrowding of.caw.V,. It was i asked : that this be suspended between five and haLf*past six p.m. daily, for one year, so that ■ at that time of the day the travailing public might have extra facilities. Twslve new cars are on order, and the suspenrion of the by-law was requested (for the. hours named) in the meantime. The only other way; the company could sea to obviate the c ifliculty would be to commence summoning people who overcrowded the cars. , The matter was referred to the finance and Legal Committee. , « Whilst Mr. T. 11. White, Auckland manager of the Kauri Company, as giving evidence before the Conciliation Board, in the carters' dispute yesterday, he made an interesting statement regarding holidays. The point was whether employers would pre/ fer to ] keep/Empire Day (May 24) ; as ; a , holi- ; day, or the Prince of Wains' Birthday (Juno 3). Mr. White favoured the former' date,, and in support said that m June 3 last the day happened to be a- : holiday/; under the carters' award,, but : not under that of the s&wmillere. The consequence was -that it! the absence of the cartenj the miil-worlterii had to lose the day, arid i some TOO men re} mained idle in consequence. The millers objected to paying the carters double time to work on the holiday—hence the deadlock, 1 The City Council's clerk of works told th* Conciliation Board yesterday that in York shire, where he came from, carters were'only: paid 3s 4d per day. i Mr. R. Way, who ! re- ; presented ' the < union, objected to such evi/ dence being brought out lay the other side, He contended that it had no bearing on the local dispute. * It wa« "■■ tho sweating; system, as opposed to the arbitration system. 'Mr, FawCue, a member of the. Board, concurred, and the chairman • (the Rev. Geo. Burgess]ruled the question responsible for the statement out of order, m having no connection, ■with the case under hearing. Mr. M. Cooney, of Walton, writes slating that on the 15th insfe a man named J. Scott, employed at Mr, R. A. W&tmm't flaxmtil, Waharoa, ,after purchasing provisions at the local store, left at nine p.m. The storekeeper provided him with a lantern and overcoat, as the night.was Very I dark and '■ it was■'; raining : ;heavily;- when f he ■';. left for the mill. He did not, however, .'reach th© mill, but instead he struck a ploughman's <camp about.; our, miles \ further on. , Here he was supplied with a candle, and left, but has not been heard.of since. A portion of the lantern and eome of the provisions which he carried were found on one of the hills on the Matamata Estate. Search parties have 1 l»en [ out {continuously, but no further trace of the missing *»«>i was found. Notice has been sent to the police. - . Mr. Beagle, a dredger hand, employed by the Harbour Board, was assaulted at-.ten o'clock on Thursday night in Nelson-street,, near St. James' Church. A representative of the B'Mui-n maw Mr. 'Beagle last night,, and heard his story, which was to the effect that he was/returning«home/ intending to take a short cut through the Upper Nelson-' street gully, "when," as he puts it, "my hat was bashed in over my eyes, and I .was Struck'violently on the jaw. I fell, and! I as 1 did so,; called out for-assistance. ■]'. saw my assailant make off as a- Mr". Radford and some of his friends, who live close by,. came to my assistance. There lf was another ; man beside the one who .'knocked me down;!, end ho: appeared to be 1 standing by. ' He, too, cleared.off when Mr. Radford and his friends came to my help." Asked if he had ! advised the police of the incident'; Mr. Beagle said he had been too busy to do bqj but that Miv Radford hid done so. As a. matter of fact, the police, on. inquiries bring made, stated that no report of the affair had been made to them. 'Mr. Beagle had; his fortnight's pay in his pocket, ■ which he thinks his attache? after. ■ ( \ Colonel Loveday, f officer in charge of the public school cadets of the colony, has bean. . inspecting the cadet companies of the Thames , public' schools during the past few *, days, and has expressed himself an being generally satisfied with their appear since and efficiency. His comments in some instances were highly \ complimentary. On Wednesday evening ho met a number of the officers and' head- ; masters for the purpose of discussing' mattersJin connection with; the formation of ■/it cadet battalion for the district. It wa*i decided •';;"■ the company officers uhould ■ confer at an early date, and if they definitely decided to form a battalion, then they should nominate the required officers. Yesterday* morning Messrs. Marsdon and Fisher, headmasters of the Kauaeranga. and. Barawa:i- i schools • respectively, met Colonel Loveday, ' and inspected sites for a rifle-range for the cadets of their schools. A suitable one was found at Parawai, and the necessary equipment will be proceeded with as soon as the ; weather becomes more\s< ttled. Several offers have been made . at times by companies and syndicates to light Waihl with gas or electricity, but the Borough* Council always declined; the overture!, a;} the majority of the councillors favoured the municipaUsation of the lighting. Lately, however, fresh proposal!; have been made, . in connection with the lighting of the new municipal chambers, and the whole question of lighting is novvto receive fresh consideration. At the Council.•'■'meeting last night Mr. K. W: Pcrritt, solicitor, placed before'' the members an important proposal made by, Messrs.* Atkinson , end Bailey, of Auckhind, to form a company with sufficient capital to provide at Waihi a complete gasworks, and all mains, reticulation, etc..,,the capital to "be divided into ; £1 shares, f and the shares to be first offered to the residents of Waihi in small lots, st» as to, as far as \ possible, make the company a. local one, with local shareholders j">■ the Borough Coun- i cil to "enter into an agreement, giving the \ right to break the streets and roads for the purpose of laying mains and reticulation pipes, effect*repairs, etc.';- the Council to i have the.right to purchase the plant and .works as a going concern at the expiration of siich time, mid on such terms as may be agreed upon. Proposalu have also 'been made regarding the lighting of the borough by electricity, and the Council have decided ' to • consider ; the whole v question ' of z lighting ; at a special meeting. The Sydney Daily Telegraph of June 7 states:—Mr..C. A. Valerius, who is doing a trip round the world for a wager, is at present in Sydney. He left Stockholm on January 1. One of the stipulations of the undertaking 'is that the tourist hasi_t» render , to' the Swedish authorities, in ■ the language of the country dealt with, an account of the social and economic f conditions of the people. ;, Besides touring for ,«. a ; wager, Mr. Valerius is spying out the tent in the interests of agricultural settlement. The Lands of West Australia are described as being generally, of no good to the Scandinavians. The West Australian Government are anxious to entice the Swedish agriculturists to their shores, and have set apart 10,000 acres for the purpose of a Scandinavian settlement i ; in the Harvey district. ;■ The- only piece of land in West Australia referred to as being good agricultural country Was in the Northam . district, where it was'- said to make » Swede's mouth water." The land is all .taken up in Victoria, and: in South Australia it is described as not being very good, - Mr. Valerius intends' to go over a considerable tract ;of .New South Wales/ i before he leaves for the northern State. '. I have found that there are too many unemployed here," said Mr. Valerius, " r to warrant immigration of our people. It pains me to see so many people out of work in Australia, where milliors could bo support- > ed. iWe oonld come J* immediately ; if there were not so many unemployed. ■ Our Government would like to see Australians give employment to themselves, and then we would come and settle with them." Mr. Valerius proposes ' going up the American continent, ana then proceeding through tha Eastern Archipelago 'and Asia, ' \ ;:■■:/:■;■. '**■■■■;■■■■' : -■.-■ ; : .;-•"..■'.'--;•.; :■■•.-. '..>■ mm '■•;;■■

A little discussion tools place at yesterday'* sitting of the Conciliation Board, between Mr. R. W. Alison, Ml, a member of the Board, and Mr.'. ; Way. . the union's representative. Mr. Alison asked » .witness (the It secretary of the. union) whether,- the union was guided by. awards in the South ;in ask* ing for an increase of wages. Whereupon- ;■ Mr. Way remarked that.. Mr. Alison'had no + right to put the question. Be was mifc of $ order in inquiring into the secrets of , the ; : union. He was lighting the matter on pvin-;r cipltfj and would do no a* long as he could ' stand up. Mr. Alinou rather warmly retorted that lie objected to Mr. Way's remarks. He would ask such questions as he thought fit, as a member of the Board, and would not be dictated to by Mr. Way. The altercation became' a little heated, but the chairman (the Rev. Geo. Burgess) interposed, and the subject was then dropped. * . 'At a conference between the Christchureh members of Parliament, and representative* of C'iivistchurch social organisations, resolu* til ins were carried in favour of making the m nishment of importuning conviction and discharge for a first offence »nd a maximum of, three months" imprisonment for subsequent : offences, extending: the 1 time '. during': •'. which informations may be laid; for criminal --assaults on young girl? to three months, fresh, legislation whereby young first offenders shall be, subjected to treatment of c ;; ; more deterrent character, apecial prison accommodation for juvenile offenders, special courts for hearing cases against children, S introduction of the principle of indeterminate sentences, and empowering. magistrates to clear courts during the heating of certain cases.' Dealing with colonial Customs returns, the Wellington Post states that in export*. it was Auckland's turn in 19034, as in the preceding year it was Wellii gtona. ... In i 1901-2 Wellington's exports were nearly £64,000 less, than Auckland's; but in 1902-5 % Wellingfcon'/i increased by over £897,0004 and were in that year nearly £603,000 in excess of Auckland's. This year, 1903-4, Auckland's figures have increased by over £239,000, arid Wellington's by -over £96,000, Wellington having ? still r a lead from Auckland in the total exports of £360*000.; Lyttclton arid Dunedin show great fallings off, probably due to decreases (in quantity' or value)) In the export*, of grain, frozen meat, tallow, coal and other things/ The fall in the S:'outh would, but for the rise M Auckland, have caused a decrease in the total exports. Auckland's increase of £239,000 wis equal to about 11 per cent.' on the preceding year's exports, and is ! proportionately ' very • much in excess of the 1 colony's increase, \rlich is nearly ! £134,000, I '■■■ The funerU of the late Arthur E.Lovdl|| Mathias, wl'o was killed in the W»aihl mine,; took place yesterday, and was one of the largest funerals ever seen in Waihi. Th* coffin was covered with floral]emblems, inij eluding : iths; from the Tauranga, ;^Waihi p f West, and Suburbs football clubs, Miners* ft Union, Con tea and party (contractors), andj his five mates in the contract in which he ; ,J was engaged, at the time of Jus death.' The all-bearers were Messrs. -D.'jWilson/ Earl,';, lange,, Kent, and W. Kinnon, his working - mates. Bel ore , the cortege left deceased's ; ; latereiiidenos, theßov. J. Paulloheld a short and very impressive service. He also officia-t ted at the grave, and gave an address, coo/ eluding with a, few remarks as to the high character deceased bore, and of the universal esteem in which he wis held by all with*' whom he came in contact. The Waihl Com« ? ■ patty's management: staff were well r*nv#' : Banted. , ■..■;. '; , : :/^ In regard. to the eflorfc' to- stop Sunday entertainments at Waihi, ,'a letter hit's been :' is.-*.':,!.!','; -if . j.,i received by the Borouj,* Council from the Auckland City Court nil', stating; that they; have no by-law,-on the subject."^:The letteri* .also states that the rule of the Council is'.> to decline oil applications for permits from '. professional companies, and to grant per- : mission '\ t in exception 1 : cases , (such jcfMfi? charitable aid performances), under- the! - ! i .conditions imposed* iriV'terinV/of- section 363 of the Municipal ; Corporation* Act, 1900, ; which is considered jrjjfisieritly/largej'irijUa^' scope to meet all retirements, Th 3 attention of passengers for New Ply* mouth by the Northern. Company s.steamer. Rarawa is called tit the alteration in the hour of the steamer's departure. The Rarawa will leave Ouehunga for New' Plymouth at ' ten a.m. on Sunday, . the connecting passenger rain. leaving the 'Auckland pay;| ■] .Station'at nine a.m. 'The"Rarawa-is rimed j l\ to reach New Plymouth at nine', p.m. on Sunday, and a special train will leave there'll •.at ten p.m., thus enabling passenger™ ;to*;'.i ,reach: Wellington on Monday "morning/!" 1 .;! if/ At 'a largely-attended, meeting of the con gregation of- ■ Devonport Presbyterian s Church last evenisg it was unanimous agreed that the •Rev/ 1/ E. -,Bertram;-01/ Hawern.,' should be appointed to tie.pastor ' ate of the church, in succession to the Rev Robert Ferguson, recontly appointed V'toUt I Invercargill.: . . ;', •'"' - -■'•'"",/'!'/. '■ • , The Conciliation Board : yesterday' 'conH--eluded the hewing of bhs masters' ease in &§ carters' dispute. - After an ; all-day tittißg the Boartl adjourned awtil this mornini;, j •when the case for the mien will be opened,:/.j-^ A slight outbreak of.fire occurred at the ,■■■ Grey: Lynn Ladies' CoUegeibu' Wedn*sd*yw: night, caused , through ae*te • wood left on% the school fire reignitiiig and falling out on ;- to the floor. Ceptuia Sandall, of toe ( iiey ■ | Lynn -Brigade^ together .with. •Wffirmw,':''.-; quickly extinguished v tbe:fire.7 ■•&J%'&ssm bfi A tramcar coming' to town on the Pon- ; : . sonby -section left the rails at ; the comer.-.-.. of Pitt-street lust evening, and blocked the '" traffic for about half-ai-hour. The following cat's : were sent : to; town ■by way ■ of, the. •■; Three Lamps-College-Hill route. ■,i'-i-£U'}j'-X-.* ': /The Mayor {the Hob.. .& MitohßlionJ^Jjw -~.j presented the; Domain-' with {seven '. large *;e. camellia;?, . which will form a* very liandsomV .? addition to the flowering shrubs there. At ■ last night's {meeting' of ;. tlie City Council,./ i Mr. Mitchelson waistliankcd for. his,dona- V, tion. Our Waihi correiipoiident writes: —A lad named N. Beage',:'cadit at the .Waihi Ipos't ,V; ■office, was out riding on Wednesday after* j noon,; and when Waitote .Creek, ;had ■ beair ; reached his horse fell. The rider fell partly : under the horse, and nsceived injuries to hss-S sjde and cheat. ; .-.-.,j -./,... The friends who contributed to "the fund': for the , purchase :of ■ a^ewi.harmonium': let * the Costley Rome be glad to hear that an instrument has,hi?«l purchased, and, Will ', be used lor the first ti : »ie tit-morrow, Satur*: ' day, when the AttjJ&san Bishop of • Anek», f land (Dr. Neligan) will .'conduct., a '.•short,: { dedicatory service. .i \ ,/ • .\ L On' Wednesday evening, in the AlcXAndni,{ Hall, Rotorua, a social gathering of the local'/.' branch of the Liberal and Labour League, was held in honour r of. the • Premier'* 69th : : birthday. Mr. D. Griffiths occupied wfjjl chair/ Toasts ■ honouring the King, QuWttr % and Royal Family,, 1 and the.new Governor (Lord Plunket), and others, were drunk-■ Th* .> Premier's health was drunk, followed byllwß thjLMjstsc cheers. ' ' . " : 1/" .•At. the Thamet Police Court -yesteraay,;^; before .: Messrs. , Rol>art Scott ] and» GeorS<» Wilson, J.P.'s, a young man naracd^ohl|^ Forest was .fined £1 and 1S» costs for, ft breach of } the' railway ' by-laws ■, in ; bowduyjiSi at the Shortland railway station a t^lPI whilst; the. latter .was : in ; riotloii;?^^™ : ' ' - ''■'."*'■■' ! A decree nisi in the case of William TV ;•;, Tlinrnton against Lily 'Agnes' Emma Thorß*^ ton and William Powell was made'absolutl -: yesterday by Mr, Qorihg Thomas, Registrar of the Supreme Court. John Thomas Nelson, bootmaker ef<: Whaugarei filed ii petition in bankrupted ;; yesterday. The - first meeting of creditors; will be held on Thursthy next. '■>■■■■' r-'fi- ■< The delivery of judgment in the SGW Lynn election petition case was again ; de« ferred yesterday": by Mr. ,: C. 0. Kettley^' «.M. ' - f ' l - - : -i-i . The police cells ~ were tenanted-lHk>afi|Mg| . by two persons clarged with druakennes«», } and ahio two stowawftyi! . -.:;■. 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