LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13625, 19 December 1907, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

Special arrangements have been.made .by the Telegraph Department this season to transmit Christmas greeting* by telegraph throughout the Dominion The officer in charge at Auckland suggests that messages should be sent in early in the week, instead of waiting until the day before Christmas Day. Such a course would ensure an earlier delivery, and would be of great assistance to the Department, the operators usually having to work right through the night before the accumulation can be disposed of. An imporant decision was delivered by Mr. Justice Denniston. at the Supreme Court yesterday in an action brought by the Waihi Gold Mining Company to ascertain whether" certain articles of imported machinery were liable to Customs duty. The point at issue was whether the articles 'were exclusively mining machinery, or whether they could be utilised for other purposes. The case occupied nearly the whole of the day, and a quantity of expert evidence was given in support of the contention of the Customs Department that the articles were not necessarily used solely for gold mining, and had, therefore, been properly classified as dutiable. His Honor, in the course of an exhaustive judgment, wnich is reported fully iu another column, held that the machinery was exempt from duty, and gave a verdict for the company, with costs on the lowest scale. The Union Co.'s steamer Manapouri arrived from the Eastern Pacific yesterday afternoon with a large number of passengers and a full cargo of fruit and general Island produce. At Papeete,.Tahiti, the Manapouri connected with- the s.s. Mariposa from San Francisco, and about 90 passengers wore transhipped for New Zealand and Australia, - v >.

The special Christmas week is*ui' of »». < Auckland Wheklv News, which 'w w • published yesterday, has met with such a keen demand that the whole number promises to be speedily exhausted. The general excellence of the illustrated Hw. plcment, which has been enlarged to 24 pages of beautiful and interesting picture has been freely acknowledged, and as th* '•'•' issue is a limited one those dealrom of securing copies should order them with out delay to avoid being disappointed. * . Colonel Goring, president of the Deftae, League (writes our Whangarei correraon. '■'■'' dent), combats the Hon. U. McNsb'a »Ut*. " mont at.Otautau that the defences of the Dominion are in a forward condition. 1% volunteer force (on paper) is 20,000, ' 3000 of these being cadets, and at leant 130,000 modern rifles are needed. Auckland m.' *' vides only 3000 men for the defence of 'the coastline from the Bay of Plenty to'the North Cape, with no railway and very few roads of communication. This handfullit not equipped to take the field, having no transport, comniiKsiaint, medical staff, m«. chine guns, or field artillery. ::'.': y yfoS i An interesting case was before the Police Court yesterday, when a middle-aged man was charged with having used obeoene l»n. guage on the 4th inst. in Manukau Road, Parnell. It was alleged that the defendant was driving a waggon along the road,' when a tramcar came behind, and the gong was sounded. He, however, took no no- • tice, and the car collided with the waggon.The defendant then, it was said, used the language to the motorman, the latter laugh* * ing at him. The defendant admitted that he " blackguarded" the motoMnan,; ; and in. vited him to " come off the car," but he de* nied using the language. He felt like Uking the damage to his cart out of the motor-' man, he explained. "The motorman said the roadway belonged to the Tramweya Company, and I had no right to be there," he further declared. Defendant, however, was called upon to pay a find of 10e. For some years past a train has left the Auckland station for Onehunga every night during the week at 10.25, and it ha* proved very popular with business men . on account of their being able to reach" ■ their homes before 11 o'clock. But thou business men, and there wore over 50 of them, received a shock last evening when they journeyed to the station only to find that the Department had decided not to run the 10.25 p.m. train on Wednesday nights, and that the next one would not be leaving for Onehunga until 11.15 p.m,, Much indignation was expressed, but no answer was forthcoming as to the reason why the service should have been cancelled. On a notice board, however, there: was posted up an order stating that the; running of the train had been cancelled,! but no date was .attached to it. The cancellation of the running of this train on Wednesdays means that those person ■ who are unfortunate enough to be unable to make use of the nine p.m. train will, have to wait two hours and a-quart*r tot' ' another. , * '. , ,' i ■ New Zealand mining mm ate finding . their way to all parts of the world. Meiers, ■ Haszard"l.nd Banks, metallurgist*, Wiihi, have (says the No* Zealand Mia £**• cord) lately received lucrative aptoutt* ment* outside the Dominion.. letter t* cently received from Mr. Onnab Gere Adams states that he vraa getting Mady to leave London for the Republic of Oe-'i lom.bia, where he will act as metaUuigjst for'the Santa Isabel United Gold Mum (Limited). At the time of writing Mr, . Adams was learning Spanish* earn to be able to converse with the natives of Gs* lombia. ; ■.. Mr. , Adams was for some tim director Of the Thames School of Mipe, At a meeting of ~; imawhotdsre of tat Auckland Co-operative Terminating Bal- ■ ing Society last evening, the mat of tittt was appropriated, being £200 mote the* tie) advertised total. In the first grots* a ' ballot for £400, the first number drawn we» 389, and the holder having more than <m { share took the £400. In the taint gtwia. there was a sale of £400, the high t«e> der being £45 12s 6d per £200, and tfe ; £400 was taken. There was * sale' £400 in the second group, the'highest tender being £47 2s 6d for £200, and the £400 was taken. The sixth group was a aale fit £400. The highest tender was £63 per' v £200, and the £400 was taken." There was a ballot for £400 in, the seventh group, and the first number drawn was 387. The holder having two shares took the £401 ; v In the ninth group there was a aale of £400, the highest tender being £58 1C« 6d : \ ; for £200 only, and this was allotted. The next highest tender waa £58 5s p*r £300, and the holder took £400, making £600 for the group. The tenth group was * sale of £400, the highest tender being £60 2* 6d per £200, and the £400 woe taken. ' Then t was a ballot for £400 in the twelfth group. The first number drawn was 239," and ft* holder having two shares the £400 *»* taken. In the fourteenth group there *« a ballot for £400, and the first number drawn was 687. The holder, having t*» ' shares took £400. ' '* ■ ..

Surprise has been expressed by *«•»* visitors to Wairangi at the fact tint » <**• siderable portion of the vineyard at t*» Government experimental station there n** been rooted out. Some two or three •«*• of vines have been taken out, and it ** stated that it is probable that a forth**** will be similarly treated in the new futM*. It is understood that it is not on • of any disease that this step has been taken, ' - but that it is due to a decision on is* part of the Department to reduce the *«*.-' of its vineyards. , The Collector of Customs at Auckland j ' (Mr. J. Mills) desire* to bring under notice of persons interested" thereguWiMJ, • * under the Explosives Act, in which it.»«**\i forth that from January 1 next how*' (annual) must be held by carrier*, ligti**" men, sellers, manufacturers, and oWO *J*> ! , magazines, for the carriage, sale, «tor»F> and manufacture of explosive*, the foes (or; which range from 5s to £2. Heavy pea*-' ties for breaches of these regulation* •» 1 provided. Licenses fori earners, lgt*' men, and sellers, arc issued by the Collector. of Customs, and licenses 'for. the maounfr tuie of explosive*, manufacture of firewore* and magazines for the storage of aW I**1** may be obtained on application to *» , . Minister for Customs. J( r ■ The hesitancy of some witnesses eMfjJ • ed by the Tramways Company and *■* .»»J larity in the reports of a m «WJi t -j« • ; " conductor concerning a recent i o "* 4 .<...:' i Parnell, led to some comments iW *"' C. C. Kettle, S.M., yesterday, JtoMI hearing of a case in the Police Court. » said it was » very good thing for »• JJJ . ; pany to have reports sent in of * v * r rtß y dent, but he suggested the company i*»* get the motormen and conducted I out their reports separately and **•***]£ cntly, so that the truth could * •»" , : tained. It would be far betttf, ij». , interests of the company, m well a* ¥&*? ; he said. The motorman and had shown a good deal of unnecessary »£ -■, ; tation in giving evidence as to taken place. It transpired that iBMW, ways Company did not pay the waj* j employees when ■■ their' preiienoe ; >?."BM|| necessary. "I lose my wages for ****% \ said a motorman. His WorAlpj*JJJJ| astonishment at this, and to. both the motorman and «*»**£ M ,had given ' evidence ' - »K*&4tl |

( . ... ~ The Union Steam Ship Company has • decided to despatch the Manapouri to Fiji 'on Tuesday next in place of the Hauroto, nd on her return she will only carry i'"'\ passengers for Auckland, her fruit con- , ' signments being for Wellington and the South. The Largo Law, leaving Suva on Wednesday next, will bring the Auckland consignments of fruit. The Hauroto is ex;V- pected to leave Auckland for Lautoka, Fiji, direct to-night to load raw sugar ; • * for Auckland. Th« proposal of the Inspector-General of !■'. Hospitals (Dr. Valintine) to tabulate particulars of persons who are in receipt of charitable aid, was strongly commented on 111 at yesterday's meeting of the trustees of . the Wellington benevolent Institution by \ Mr. A. W. Hogg, M.P. "A more unwise it step I have never heard of," he said. "The " mere fact that this information is to be ' tabulated, and possibly made public, is calculated to destroy what self-respect these unhappy people who apply for relief may possess." The chairman (Rev. A. W. Evans) said the information would be treated as confidential, and it was required by the Government. Mr. Hogg contended that th« proposal cast a stigma upon the people of New Zealand as a whole. He moved, f "That in the- opinion of the trustees the steps proposed to be. taken by Dr. Valintine are unnecessary," but this was lost on fp the casting vote of the chairman.

The Auckland representative cricketers, who defeated Canterbury so handsomely, and won tl»e Plunket shield, will return home this morning via Onehunga. It has been decided that the cricketers sliall be ' given an official reception by the Mayor at 9.30 this morning, at the Council Chambers. All cricketers and followers of the game axe invited, so that a fitting welcome • may be tendered. The officials of .the association will meet the team at Onehunga, and they will be driven into Auckland. The - team will also be entertained at a smoke concert in the Federal Hall on Saturday.

A meeting of the creditors in the estate of W. L. Berliner, indent agent, was held yesterday at the office of Messrs. Devore, Martin, and Prendergast. A statement of the absent debtor's affairs was considered, Mid it was decided to ask all creditors to send in their claims immediately to Mr. C. J. Smith. An advertisement in connection with the matter appears in another column.

An inquiry was opened by Mr. Brabant, S.M., yesterday morning, respecting certain |. allegations made by C. H. Greenhead, in a petition to Parliament, proving for the reI hearing of a law case in which he was one of the parties concerned. The inquiry also .' involves questions relating to a very large number of documents. Mr. Brabant will re- | . port in due course to the Minister, who will then decide whether further proceedings II are necessary. At the Supreme Court yesterday Emily Sullivan sought for a dissolution of her marriage with Daniel Sullivan, on the ground of misconduct. Mr. Wynyard ap- %. peared for petitioner, and there was no appearance on behalf of respondent. After I hearing the evidence, His Honor Mr. Jus- \\ tice Denniston granted a decree nisi. ' It was stated the other day that a If strangqrtlsh, identified as a lamprey, had I been tnfcen from the Henderson Creek. £*■' Mr. "*nad-i. Williams, of Cambridge, writes ./ as follows on the subject:—"l have never . before heard of lampreys on the east coast ;;., of New Zealand, but 40 years ago lamil preys were a staple article of food for J'J the Maoris at Maung&tautare." sffe Determined resistance is, the Wanganui m£ 'Herald hears, to be offered by some of the ||. native race to the recent native land legisV-," lation, particularly to that part of it which Mi vests the administration of their lands in ;;, , the Maori Land Boards. A big korero is }[" to be held at Raetihi, when the whole question will be fully discussed. It is p > , stated that the Hon. . Jas. Carroll will be , * present. The Dominion mails which left Wel--17 lington, via Brindisi, on November 8, were !. delivered in London last Friday night. Aso When the Huddart-Parker steamer Vicpi toria, which left for the South on Tuesday evening, was some distance down the harbour it was discovered that a lady, >-: who had been seeing a friend off, had 'Mi tarried over-long, and had been carried :J'' on. When the Victoria was opposite Victoria Wharf, Devonport. Captain Waller || had the engines stopped and a 4 boat lowered, landing the woman at the ..wharf. The Victoria then resumed her -v voyage to the South. % There was a narrow escape from a seri- ■:■, ous collision between the Government stea- '. mer Tutanekai and a sailing vessel in the : middle of Cook Strait during the recent cable-laying operation. The Government ; , steamer was heading under easy steam from Lyell Bay (Wellington) to White's Bay (Marlborough), when a sailing vessel approached from the northward. As usual with steamers employed in cable-laying the :*« Tutanekai was flying the signal "disabled," "'t for with the weight of a long range of cable astern she was robbed of her mobility, and had to go steadily ahead, but the stranger bore down as if to cut across the steamer's bows, and .;:'■'• was within less than a hundred " yards of the point of what must inevitably ' have been a collision had she held on. She then paid off before the wind, and a few minutes later passed astern of the cablei " layer. The "disabled" signal flown by the Tutanekai might have been the cause of the sailers near approach. Another instance of " a woman at the bottom of it" cropped up at the hearing of the farm workers' dispute at Timaru. A ;- ; " witness had jtiht drawn a very glowing word picture of South America, extolling its virtues of soil and climate and labour laws in such a way as to make all present wish they could be immediately transported to such a delightful country. When Mr. Thorn rose to have his say, he put this question to the witness, And why did you not stay in this grand country, where money is so easily made and where everything is so lovely?" "Well," confessed ' the witness, with a blush, " I had a young lady in New Zealand and I came back to marry her." (Laughter.)

Broom millet has touched the highest price recorded for a number of years. Several sales of long hurl from the Hunter have taken place in Sydney recently at £35 per ton, which is an advance of - £15 compared with the prices ruling at this time last year. To ensure anything like a crop on the Hunter this season, a good ,- , downpour of rain is required, and even if this should come there will be a shortage, for the area sown was curtailed owing to the very dry spring. On the Richmond River practically no millet was sows, so ? ' , that Hunter farmers who are lucky enough ", ■ «> get a fair crop should get a big cash S return, as prices are likely to keep up. ,„" The duty on imported millet is £4 per ton. M :*V ' Two New Plymouth fishing men had s|fft rather an unpleasant experience at the breakwater last Sunday. They journeyed i, .to the end of the pier at seven a.m., but ■"'- had not bee*- fishing long when a large I! ,:'_ wave rushed over and carried them into the ; ; s Ma. Fortunately, the water was uot very •deep, mad they were able to .wad* out. K.