LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13690, 5 March 1908, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

Owing to the prevailing hot weather the Auckland City Council and the various local bodies are receiving a large number of notifications of diseases, principally oi typhoid fever. The Health Department advises that there has been a large increase in the fever cases reported, the infection being spread over a wide area. All this strongly emphasises the necessity for the carrying out of a comprehensive drainage scheme. The committee set up at the last drainage conference is to meet next Monday evening in the Council Chambers.

"Auckland now stands in the unique position of having won all the championship shields that have been offered for competition throughout New Zealand." said the Mayor (Mr. A. M. Myers) in his speech at the presentation of musical certificates last evening. " The most recent of these achievements, the winning of the Bosson challenge shield by the First Battalion Band, gives evidence that Aucklanders are not only able to hold their own in the realm of sport, but that they can give an equally good account of themselves in that of artfor music is an art." His Worship, continuing, said:—"Australia has already produced one of the greatest songstresses of the world, Madame Melba, and I trust the time is not far distant when we shall hear of New Zealandors attaining equal distinction. The situation and climate of Auckland pre-eminently fit our city to be the home of an artistic people ; and I hope that we may yet.produce in music a Padercwtiki or a lvubelik, a Mozart or a Beethoven, and in painting a Reubens, a Rembrandt, or a Leighton.'*

In replying to a resolution passed by the Auckland Trades and Labour Council to limit the export trade of the Dominion, in view of the high prices prevailing for the home consumers, the Waihi branch of the Political Labour League forwarded another resolution to the effect that, while the League sympathised with the Council in its efforts to promote the welfare of the masses, the Waihi organisation was of opinion that State-organised production for home consumption would be preferable to any interference with the export trade of our farmers.

The New Zealand Government training ship Amokura, which arrived from the coast on Monday evening, was visited yesterday morning by Dr. E. W. Shaman, the port health officer, owing to sickness being reported on board. Some days ago two of the boys were landed at Auckland suffering from measles, and the Amokura left again for the coast. A further outbreak taking place Captain Hooper, the commanding officer, decided to return to Auckland. After consultation Dr. Shaman communicated with Dr. Mason, the Chief Government Health Officer, at Wellington, and it was decided that the Amokura should be placed in quarantine at Motuihi at once. Consequently the Amokura went down to the island yesterday, where the whole of the crewwere landed under the supervision of Dr. Sharmar.. The Aniokura. will be thoroughly fumigated, cleaned, and painted throughout during her stay in quarantine. Dr. Sharmari wall pay an official visit again to Motuihi this afternoon.

It was alleged at the Auckland Trades and Labour Council meeting last evening that tho class of timber being put into most of the workmen's homes in Auckland, especially in the suburbs, was very poor in quality, and of such a nature that the health of the occupants was endangered. Mr. Peak, who introduced the subject, said the high price of timber had something to do with it. Some of the houses were built with rotten framing and medium quality weatherboards, but everything was covered up as quickly as- possible by scrim, paper, and paint. These houses were sold on easy terms, and after'a couple of years they fell to pieces. It was simply a case of defrauding the buyer. The president of the Council (Mr. A. Rosser) said he had seen the outside portions of logs which had lain in Freeman's Bay for some time, and so became soaked with sewage, being put into houses. Some years ago he had worked on a house in Eden Terrace, for a speculative builder, and it was erected in 11 days. It was decided that all local bodies be written to and. asked to instinct the building inspector to give a certificate as to the-class of timber used in all buildings.

Upon the arrival of the Laurel recently in Levuka the officers had a strange story to tell of the sighting on January 18 of a schooner high and dry on a. reef in the Gilbert Islands (says the Fiji Times). Captain Malcolm and the engineer, Mr. Dunn, went to in vest) and were met by two youthful men—mere boys—who refused to give any information about themselves or the vessel — 120-ton fine American-built schooner without a. name. On January 20, however, the men visited Captain Malcolm on board the Laurel, and asked to be brought on to Fiji; this the native magistrate would not allow, intending to send the men to Tarawa to explain their condition to the authorities there. At the latter interview iiluo captain was informed that the men's names- were J- Taylor (24), of Manchester, and G. Jackson (19), of London, and that the vessel had bean called the Puelohe, of Valparaiso, which port they had left on October 10 last, bound for Tahiti. They said they had no register, or clearance papers, and did not know what group of islands they were in. How they had navigated the vessel **> far was a mystery to the officers of the Laurel.

The Auckland Trades and Labour Council decided last evening to write to the manager of the Auckland Electric Tramways Company and ask if the concession regarding the carrying of collapsible gocarts, granted by Mr. Hansen, while manager, had been revoked. It was stated that numbers of mothers had been debarred from placing their go-carts on the cars, thus entailing a good deal of hardship. It was explained, however, that recently it had been decided that only those go-carts which could bo placed under the seats should be allowed on the cars, as otherwise the platform would get jammed up, thus preventing the conductor from reaching tha -trolley;, rone cfiisldx.

A piece of advice which the Rev. W. Slade gave during the course of his address to five newly-ordained mini iters at the Methodist Conference last night was the necessity foi making their future sermons interesting. "You cannot," he: said, " hope to persuade people unless you get them to listen to your message, and they will not listen to a message which is uninteresting. L know that people ought to. crowd the churches, even when the pulpit is occupied by an animated wood-block, but they don't, and will not. It is sad perversity, ol course, but human nature is perverse. They would forsake even the theatre if it ceased to interest them. Let the memory of your own early sufferings excite commiseration in your hearts, and resolve not to find in the pain you inflict on others compensation for your own. Good manners, assisted by four strong walls, secure you an audience in church, be you never so dull, and there are faithful souls whose determination to be saved carries them through everything; but to hold an outside audience you must be interesting. As soon as vol' drop into dulness your hearers move on without the aid of a policeman." Further, he said: — " Whether or not you become good pastors, not afternoon tea-drinking pastors, but pastors in the New Testament sense, depends on the kind of men you are. If you have right ideals you will not neglect any part of your ministry, and you will make one part help the other; if you have not right ideals nothing that I may say can mattei. You will degenerate into mere timemarkers, of whom the Church and the world will soon weary."

Strict attention to discipline 13 one of the strong points of the school cadets' camp now being held at Papakura. One of the regulations, of course, forbids talking in the tents after "lights out." There were a number of breaches of this on the first night in camp, when the boys were naturally somewhat excited and sleepless, and fell to talking to one another regarding their duties for the following day. On Tuesday night the number of offenders in this respect was reduced, but so thoroughly did the youthful sergeants in charge of the tents to their duty, that no delinquents escaped being court-martialled the .ollowing morning. No favour is shown, and in one case a boy was reported by his own brother for not conforming to the rules. Another boy who was reported for talking, had, it transpired on investigation, committed the heinous offence of talking in his sleep. Up till yesterday only one boy who had entered the camp on Monday, was absent, he having been sent home ill on Tuesday evening. A second boy was sent home the same evening, but he rapidly recovered, and returned to the camp by the first train yeeterday morning.

Referring to the cost of extradition proceedings in America Mr. S. Mays, of the Crown solicitor's office, said at the Police Court yesterday that those who knew anything about it could form a good idea of what the cost generally was. The cost to a number of creditors to bring a bankrupt to Auckland from Honolulu was about £200. That was nothing, however, compared with what it had cost to bring Dr. Orpen back from America, when the bill ran up to £1800.

We have received a 'communication from a correspondent at Karangahake in reference to recent accidents in mines in the district, in which he alleges that in some instances the mining regulations are not being complied with. There in, he says, a good deal of indignation among miners over the matter, but fearing dismissal they are afraid to -speak out. The correspondent suggests that the Minister for Mines should cause inquiries to be 'made.

The relations existing between the men employed in the Auckland Electric Tramways Company's service and the proprietary, judging from statements made at the Auckland Trades and Labour (Council last evening, are not yet of the most harmonious nature. Mr. A. Rosser, president of the Council and secretary of the union, in referring to the Blackball miners' strike, said that some of the best men in the Auckland tramways were discharged without being given a reason. It was time they, as labour people, threw all pleasantry to the winds and fought the employers with their own weapons. (Hear, hear.) The gloves should be off. He instanced the case of a motorman who was dismissed last year after giving evidence against the company's brakes, which were said to be unreliable. The day after the evidence was given at the inquiry the motorman %vent to the barn for his run, and was there and then discharged. He referred the case to the Justice Department,.and it was sent on to the Labour Department.' The whole machinery was put into operation, and it was found that no breach of the award had been committed. After a witness gave evidence in New Zealand the law did not protect him, but in England it did. Men were taken on in December, while the heavy traffic was on, and discharged in January, when the rush was over. He had asked the manager if such a proceeding was fair, but the latter replied, " We have to consider the interests of the company." The sooner they made a stand against such things the better.

One of the cadets at the Papakura camp has had a unique honour conferred on him. The cadet referred to is Colour-Sergeant William Friar, of the Onehunga High School, and a son of Mr. William Friar, indent agent, of Auckland. An invitation has been issued by Lord Roberts, inviting cadet rifle shots from every part, of the Empire to journey to England, and spend a month as his guests, during which time they will shoot oft' for the Lady Gwendoline Guinness trophy. Colonel Lovetlay has singled Colour-Sergeant Friar out as the best boy shot in New Zealand, and upon the Defence Department sanctioning his selection he will be sent Home. The cadet to receive this honour has twice been a. member of the Onehunga team, which has carried off the Ranfurly shield in the North Island, and has also won the cadet championship medal of the North Island, besides numerous trophies presented by Major Robb, the officer commanding the Onehunga corps.

A meeting of creditors in the estate of Mute Gasper, storekeeper, of Matakuna, was held yesterday afternoon in the office of the official assignee (Mr. E. Gerard). The debtor had absconded and taken his books with him, Mr. Gerard reporting that he had not yet been able to get hold of him. Th« realisation of assets had resulted in a sum of £87 being placed in the assignee's hands, but this would no mora than cover preferential claims for wages and costs of the bankruptcy. It was decided to leave the settlement of the preferential claims in the hands of Mr. Gerard.

The popularity of the Mayor's subsidised park band concerts was evidenced last evening, when some 3000 people assembled in the Albert Park to listen to a programme, rendered by the Garrison Band. lho uncomfortable atmospheric conditions indoors drove most folk out into the open air, and no doubt this was responsible for the largo attendance.

The borough of Newmarket has just completed its valuations, showing au increase of £2941, as compared with the last valuation, the figures being £20,647, as against £17,706. The valuations have yet to be sustained by the Assessment Court.

Mr. Mason's five-roomed' residence at Penrose was destroyed by tire at 2.50 p.m. on Tuesday. No reason, has fee&u givpJJ for "tho p.utbrea.kj ,-,.'.