LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13114, 1 March 1906, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

In giving evidence at an inquest yesterday, Dr. Craig expressed the opinion that a person should not be allowed to take complete charge of a patient unless thoroughly skilled and educated. An ordinary person or the majority of nurses could not diagnose cases. It people continued to place maternity caees solely under persons who had not a complete knowledge of medical work they might be prepared to find death occurring sometimes suddenly. The doctors had no wish to make money out of poor people, on the contrary they would be pleased to see some method whereby poor women could be attended free of charge. These remarks were made by the doctor in consequence of a case in which a Mrs. Johnson had died, after confinement, froir. septic absorption. Another witness, Dr. Dudley, said that had a medical practitioner been called in early there would have been a chance of saving her life. The certificated nurse engaged, and others in the house, had failed to notice the symptoms of blood-poisoning, and consequently when the doctor was called in he instantly realised that it was only a matter of hours before the patient would die. The nurse had failed to do the most necessary thing in such cases, namely to count the beats of the patient's, pulse. It appears that a midwife has only to get two doctors to state that they have known her to do such work for a certain period, and a license is granted to her. The jury, in bringing in a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, added that, they were of the opinion that a midwife should have to pass an examination on the symptoms of blood-poisoning. .

During the hearing of a case in the Supreme Court yesterday, in which city water rates were referred to, Judge Edwards said he was not so sure, as the counsel addressing the Court seemed to be, that water was not charged for on consumption, but as a rate. " If you want to be cleanly in Auckland, you have to pay for it," remarked His Honor. "If you have one bath, used by yourself, your family, your groom, and other servants, then you pay the water rate, but if you wish to have your own bath, and letting the servants have their own, then you have to pay oil the consumption, although, of course, you don't use a drop more water. I don't know why the City Council adopt this system of rating, but it seems to me most unsatisfactory and discouraging to personal cleanliness."

The profit to be derived from poultry farming when conducted on proper lines, and the importance the industry is attaining in Auckland, was illustrated by the record shipment of dressed poultry despatched for London by the Kaipara yesterday by the Government Poultry Department. The shipment included 80 crates, containing a total of close on 1000 young ducks and chickens of an average net weight per bird of 4£lb. In several cases the birds were so well conditioned that only 10 could be packed in a crate, whereas the ordinary packing is 12. Three crates of Orpingtons from Messrs. Kemp Bros., at Mangere, scored top weight, oho crate of 10 black Orpingtone totalling 551b net, one of buff Orpingtons 511b, and a crate of 12 buff Orpingtons 551b, the birds in each case being only four months old. The ducks shipped were in no case over 11 weeks old, and the greatest weight was reached with a crate of 12 Peki» aHd Aylesbury cross, which scaled 601b net. In connection with the industry, Mr. Hyde, the Government . poultry expert-, addressed a large meeting at Manger© on Tuesday, and was afterwards interviewed by several persons with regard to a number of matters concerning marketing and breeding of poultry, and the encouragement of the industry generally.

The market price of tombstones engaged the attention of the Supreme Court yesterday during the hearing of a case in. which Mr. J. R. Reed stated that £114 had been paid for a funereal monument. Judge Edwards thought- that was a long price to pay for a tombstone. Mir. Reed agreed, and expressed his wish for ,a loss costly memorial ; but, he pointed out, the expenditure was generally incurred by relatives to express tlnoir sens® of loss. His Honor agreed that there ought to be something to mark the place of burial, but £114 seemed a good deal to pay for it. Mr. Reed said a monument costing £80 was by no means a lavish piece of work. On the other hand, these monuments would cost in, some cases from £200 to £250.

Mr. T. Cotter, counsel for King George of Tonga, received a letter from the king by the Manapotiri, which arrived from the islands yesterday. The communication gives practically no information regarding the trouble which is reported to have arisen between King George and the British Consul (Mr Hunter) over the construction of a road through the king's private grounds. The king merely states that he lias not given his consent to the making of the road, and he denies that he has abdicated. The cablegram received last week stated thai the king desired to abdicate as a protest- against the action of Mr. Hunter. Reports from Tonga state that there has been very little or no excitement there over the matter.

The business of thieving has its ups and downs, its different styles, degrees of skill, or otherwise, and its variations m fashion, like any other expert calling. Stealing from the person, assault and robbery, " sandbagging," pocket-picking, and shoplifting, have aM had pretty fair seasons, The Christmas holidays and autumn months opened with breaking and entering- and theft, and this favourite mode seems assured of a good run right, into the winter months. Houses in Grafton Road have been entered— one on Tuesday and the other about a weak ago. In the latter case a valuable gold watoh and chain were abstracted, and in the case of the entry on Tuesday, by means of a window, forced open with a jemmy, a number of valuable articles of jewellery were taken, and, as Major Brussel Sprouts sings in " Bill Adams," at His Majesty's, " The Police Have the Matter in Hand." The trouble is that such cases are becoming so frequent as to become monotonous. Curiously enough, householders and shopowners are not taking any extra precautions, but rather facilitate the business by leaving doors and windows unsecured. The degree of carelessness in this respect is remarkable, and it is a rare thing for a day to pass without threD or four reports being received by the cltief of police of doors and windows being found by constables either open or uhj secured. The other evening a resident of I the city walking up Queen-street, after mid- | night, heard stealthy steps on top of the j veraijdah of a large business firm, and, find- } ing a constable on the beat, informed him of j the fact. The midnight visitor, however, ' had taken alarm, and disappeared by the j time the constable climbed up to see who was studying astronomy at that hour. Windows in the premises, both at the front and rear, were found open, and probably the .'stranger walked through, and retired unobJ trusively by the back way. A few good | stout bolts might save the police many hunts ; after burglars.

The . only inmate of the police cells last night was one person, charged with drunkenness.

The Paeroa Police Court was occupied on Monday and Tuesday hearing u number of charges of assault arising out of the recent row between the natives at Awlriti. After some of the witnesses had been hoard, the Maoris decided to withdraw the charges, and to submit the dispute to arbitration. Mr. James Mackaj is to be arbitrator.

A meeting of the Auckland Co-operative Terminating Building Society was held last evening in St. James' Hall. Appropriations amounting to £2200 were allotted, being £200 more than advertised. In the first group No. 255 was drawn and the winner having one share took £200. No. 525, the next number drawn, held two shares, and took £-100. In the third group, by ballot, £400, No. 327 was drawn, but as the holder had already had an appropriation allotted, and had been paid off, another draw was made, the lucky number this time being 724, the owner of which held two shares and took £400. In the fifth group, by sale, for £400, £62 was the highest tender, and the holder took £200, while £59 10s, the next highest, took £200. In the sixth group, by sale, £57 10s for £200 was the highest, and the tenderer took £400. In the eighth group, by .sale, £56 per £200 was the highest tender, and the holder requiring £400 took that amount.

The military funeral accorded to Mr. Norman Pickering by his comrades took place at the Thames yesterday afternoon. There was a large attendance. The deceased was a member of the Hauraki Rifles, and also of the Hauraki Cadet Battalion Band. The companies present were: The Thames Rifles, under Captain Pearce; Hauraki Rifles, under Lieutenant Clark; Battalion Band, under Bandmaster A. Clark; Cadet Battalion Band, under Bandmaster T. B. Booth ; No. 1 Company Cadets, under Captain Hammond; No. 2 Company, under Captain Hewitt; and No. 3, under Captain. Ferguson. The Cadet. Battalion was under the command of Major Lucas. The firing party was provided by the Hauraki Rifles, under Sergeant Curgenven. A number of veterans were also present, under Sergeant Donnelly. The funeral cortege left the hospital at a-quarte: - to three, the coffin being conveyed on the military gun carriage, members of both volunteer companies acting as pallbearers. The service at the grave was conducted by the Rev. Mr. Henderson, who gave a very impressive address. The customary three volleys were fired over the grave, followed by the " Lost Post" on the bugle.

Miss Katie MoLeod, a young daughter of Mrs. Emily McLeod, Nuhaka, Hawke's Bay, forwarded to Queen Alexandra a little kit or basket ' made by her at the native school, Nuhaka, And lined with the Queen's colours in silk. The little girl m writing to Her Majesty (says the Wairoa Guardian) explained how the bark of the ribbonwoodthe Maori name for which is howiwas obtained, prepared, and used. By a recent mai Miss McLeod received the following letter from Miss Knolive :— Saadringham, Norfolk. November 27,1905,Mi5s Knollys is commanded by the Queen to thank Kate McLeod for her letter, and to say that Her Majesty was much touched by her kind thought, and to add that, although it is against her rule to accept presents from anyone with whom she is unacquainted, the little basket has been, offered in such a loyal and kindly spirit, that the Queen has no hesitation in keeping it. Miss Kbollts is desired, therefore, to thank Katie for this pretty pieoe of New Zealand work."

The potato crop on . the Hereteunga Plains, Hawke's Bay, . and - about Meanee and Taradaie, is practically ruined by the blight, and this, despite tl» fact that the growers have in some instances sprayed the plants two or three times. It is thought that the unusual amount of wet weather experienced this summer may be partly responsible for the inefficiency of the spraying, but whatever the cause may be fclte outlook is very serious. The 400 natives who assembled at Tokaanu on Monday, took great interest in the return of the members of the Tongariro Maori Council. No opposition was shown, and everything was unanimously ai ranged between the various tribes. The Council is composed of representatives of the settlements around Lake Taupo, also Taumarunui, and Moawhango. The conduct of the proceedings was under the sperintendence of Judge Johnson of the Native Land Court, and everything passed off in a highly satisfactory manner. A Mart in borough station! bolder has informed a Wairarapa journal t.liat wild pigs were becoming very numerous tetween. Martinborough aaid the coast. He gave one instance recently where, on a property of 3000 acres, no less than 400 pigs were destroyed in less than three months. He attributed the increase in pigs 'to the decrease in rabbits. When the rabbits- were plentiful phosphorous was used mout extensively to eradicate them, and the result was that the pigs, being carnivorous animals, ate tlie dead rabbits, and died from the effects of the phosphorus. Rabbits were being kept under by their natural -enemies, the stoats and weasels, and now one could travel for miles through the coastal portion of the Featberston County without seeing a single

The plant of the Howick Motor 'Bus Company, recently plying between Auckland and Howick, was submitted to auction by Messrs. Gabriel Lewis and Co. at their auction rooms yesterday. There was a large attendance at the sale, and the two motor 'buses were sold after fair competition at £875 and £750 each. The Wellington Education Board has resolved to take the advice of the SolicitorGeneral on two questions arising out of the Education Act passed last session : (1) Whether all members of the Board retire on an election taking place, or whether only those members go out who would otherwise have had to retire this year. (2) Whether in case of there being only one applicant for a teacher's vacancy it is necessary for the Board to send this name on to the committee before making the appointment. The City Fire Brigade received an alarm of fire from Albert-street shortly after eleven o'clock last night,, arid upon proceeding to the locality found the fire at ai boardinghouse occupied by a. M'rs. Locke. When the brigade arrived tie fire had a good hold in a downstairs room, but a good lead of water was turned on, .uid the flames were subdued before very much damage was done. The walls and ceiling, however, had been, very considerably chaired A fire had also been burning in another room, across the passage. The house is of seven rooms, in two storeys, and is somewhat old. It is occupied by Mrs. Locke as a boardinghouse, and there were three inmates of the house when the fire was discovered. Mr. George, the owner of the premises, resides at North cote. No particulars as to insurances could be obtained last night, and it is not known whether the furniture was insured or not. As showing the capabilities of the district as a beef-growing one, we (Tarana-ki Herald) may mention that there were recently sent- to the Waitara freezing works by Mr. G. R. R'.ddell, 82 bullocks, representing 336 quarters of beef, grown on that gentleman's farm at Warea. They averaged 837f'.b, and not one was condemned or rejected.

The new railway station at Dunedin will bo lit throughout with electricity, and steps are being taken to procure the necessary plant. A 70-horse-power engine (gas or oil), coupled to a 40 killowat dynamo, will be installed for the purpose, and will supply a current for the new building and the lighting of the station yards ami platforms. The plant will be erected in the station ground.

" Fetono" calls attention in the New Zealand Times to the number of instances in which syndicates have stepped in between a landowner and the Government, when the 'latter was desirous of purchasing homes for the workers. In many ca/*», he. says, the Government- has been compelled to purchase from a syndicate in lien of the original owner at an advance in price of many thousands of pounds, every penny of which is ultimately to be made up by those of the workers v?ln> take up the sections. What the total amount thiw extracted from the workers between CookStrait audi the Ritr.utaka during the past few years would figure out at goodness only know?. This sort of thing ought to be stopped, and the speculation abolished, "by a law which, while not placing the slightest restriction in th« way of an owner wishing to sell his land, will render it an illegal act for any person to purchase land for ether than his own use. At. the present time we have laws against dummvism in connection with all classes of Grown leaseholds, and transfers can only be made by consent of land boards. Why not-, then, extend the principle t« freeholds?"