LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13926, 7 December 1908, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

As English mail, via Suez, arrived from Sydney last night by the Mokoia. Personal items and other interesting news from our London correspondent will be found elsewhere in this 'issue, together with the usual budget of Australian news. v

The continuous press of business at the Supreme Court was very evident on Saturday morning, when, after disposing of four petitions for divorce, Mr. Justice Edwards took up the thread of a civil action adjourned from the previous day. At one o'clock His Honor glanced at the clock, intimating at the same time that the luncheon adjournment could be conveniently taken. "Your Honor," said Mr. F. Earl, one of the counsel engaged, in a deprecatory tone, "it is Saturday afternoon !" "Of that fact," said His Honor, "I am well aware, but what are we to do? A special jury is summoned for Monday morning, and a special jury is a special jury, Mr. Earl." Counsel, who adopted an air of passive resistance in regard to the proposal to sit in the afternoon, replied that there would be plenty of time to finish the case before the long vacation. "As a matter of fact, Your Honor," he said, "I am looking forward to having two or three banco arguments before the holidays." 'Mr. Justice Edwards smiled. " Would you care to resume at 7.30 a.m. on Monday?" Mr. Earl demurred, and it was finally agreed that the hearing should be continued at nine o'clock this morning and adjourned ul 10 a.m. to an available date..

The subject of compulsory training was touched upon by Mr. F. E. Baume, M.P., in replying to a toast at the Auckland letter-carriers' dinner on Saturday night. He said that the invasion of this country should be looked upon by his hearers in its true significance, namely, as the invasion of their own country. Being a solider was not an easy matter. It was not a case of just singing "Rule Britannia." It took some time in preparation. He declared that all young men who held dear their homes and die honour of their women ought to be prepared to give a certain period of their lives to fit themselves for defence. This should be the pride of every man. He hoped the question of compulsory training would soon become one of practical politics, but it could not until the people said it should. He urged that Parliament .should be forced to take steps by which the country should- be prepared with St force adequate to repel any possible invasion of New Zealand. This country had covetous eyes centred upon' it from nil parts of. the world. We certainly had the protection of the British navy, but that navy could not be everywhere, and if there should be an invasion, he asked them, as native-born New Zealanders, would they not be prepared to do all they„; could.: in defence of their home and country ? (Aplause.) • ' •"_ ' ~

The holiday traffic over the Main Trunk route would appear to have already set in. The train which arrived from Wellington on Saturday evening brought an unusually number of passengers. , Several booked through from Christchurch and even further south. Extra coaches had to be put on the train to cope with the congestion, which was somewhat relieved by the divergence of a number of travellers to Botorua. ;:

The professorial board of the Auckland University will meet this afternoon to select this year's Auckland candidate for the Rhodes scholarship. The task of the board will be light, only one applicant's qualifications having to be dealt with. This is Mr. W. G.Aldridge, and, provided the board consider him fitted for the honour, he will be selected.

;. Each Sunday quite a, number of launches leave Onehunga laden with fishing excursionists, but although a few big hauls have been made it is reported that the fish are not |as a rule very plentiful. The reason assigned for this is the number of sharks which now abound in the Manukau, many of which have been despatched of late. Bathers in the Manukau, should take warning and exercise caution.

In placing the Northcotc Borough loan proposals before the meeting of „ ratepayers, the town cterk, Mr. C. A. Cawkwell, asked them to seriously consider } the advantages of the loan. " Are you prepared to continue as in the past." said Mr. Cawkwell, " and wallow in the mud, or are you prepared to sanction the loan of £6000, at no increased cost, and enjoy the benefit of good roads, good footpaths, good drains, and a suburb that can be made beautiful, and an attraction" by the improvement, which the engineer says he will give you for the amount of the loan? It is a sheer impossibility to effect any marked or permanent improvement with the present rates, and I see no reason why you shoud not have the benefits detailed for your present enjoyment, and let posterity ..; help to.pay for it." ; ./■ ■ _

Further evidence for the defence was taken on Saturday morning at ' the Supreme Court in the claim for £100 damages in respect of certain land transactions by Gordon Agnew, a Tairua settler, against John SchUchka, merchant, of Auckland, and 'George Morrison, of Tairua. Plaintiff also asked for an inunction for restraint of sale, or £550 damages as an alternative. Mr. Burton appeared for plaintiff and Mr. Fail for the defendants, being instructed by Mr. Armstrong in the . case of Schischka. :\ The Court partly heard the evidence of defendant Morrison, after which an adjournment was granted to this morning, and, when his statement is completed, it is understood that a further adjournment will be made. '

It will be 18 years next month since Sir Joseph Ward first assumed office as Post-master-General. This fact was mentioned at. the letter-carriers' reunion at the Tiffin on Saturday night by Mr. A. P. Dry den, assistant-postmaster. He referred to the reforms carried out in that period, such as the reduced charges for postage, telegrams, and cables. The Government's policy in this direction had led to great increases in revenue, as evidenced by the facts' that whereas in 1890 the income of the Department was £335,000- last year it amounted to £822,000. In the former year there were 1400 permanent employees in the Post and Telegraphs, and last year the n umber was considerably over \ 3000. The, Department's surplus return last year was £113,000. Mr. Dryden, referring to post office extensions in ; Auckland, 1 said that sites had been sedured for the erection of buildings as auxiliaries to the new main post office in Wellesley-street, Upper Symonds-street, Newmarket, Kernuera, Ellerslie, Epsom, Mount Eden, Mount Eoskill, Mount Albert, and Grey Lynn. When the Government's plans weye ; complete everyone living on the isthmus would, he hoped, be able to reach a wellequipped post office within 10 minutes. Another improvement he hoped to see made shortly was the establishment of an hourly service, by means of the electric cars, with all the principal suburban -offices. About. 30 site? had been secured in the principal towns of the district, he added, where post offices were to be erected within a few years, in some cases to cost some hundreds of pounds and in some cases several thousands.

An example of rapid photographic work; was given on Saturday afternoon , by Mr. Fitzgerald, a well-known amateur photographer, of Auckland. Mr. Fitzgerald, who was present at the laying of the foundationstone of the new Epsom Sunday-school hall/ took a photograph of the proceedings during the laying of the stone,- and in a little over 30 minutes a finished photograph was handed round. : '

The : Northern ■ Steamship ; Company's Rarawa loft Onehunga for New Plymouth yesterday. After discharging at the latter port the Rarawa will proceed to Wellington in order to go upon the patent slip there for an overhaul. There will be no West Coaet steamer from or to New Plymouth to-morrow, but it' is , expected that the Rarawa will, resume her time-table on Thursday next. ""

During the fourth season of the nursing division of the Auckland branch of the St. John Ambulance Association, which has just closed, several instructive lectures were delivered by Dr. X. McDougall. Many accident cases were attended to, first aid being rendered, and the patients being conveyed to their, homes or elsewhere. All those who presented themselves for re-ex-amination during the j-ear were successful in passing. -' At a musical evening given by Mrs. C. Smith on the Ist inst., presentations were made to Dr. McDougall and to Miss Edmiston (secretary).

The intimation that the Masterton and Invercargill timber mills are* to be closed down, owing to the reduced demand for timber at the prevailing prices, caused an inquiry to be made sis •to the position in the Auckland district. The conditions here, are, however, different, as Auckland is the centre of the kauri timber industry, and kauri will always be in demand while it is available. Although the Auckland timber trade is not as good as it was, no depression to speak of is anticipated. Many of the Auckland mills have large orders to fill at the present time. . -■..■:

It is stated that the Government §will probably require to appoint two new Parliamentary Whips at the beginning of the new session. • Their senior Whip, Mr. Alfred Kidd, has lost his seat at' the elections, and it is understood that his junior, Mr. Colvin, M.P. for Buller, wishes to be relieved of the rather arduous duties of the position.

A movement has been initiated for the formation in Auckland of a Highland volunteer corps, and a meeting of those interested' will be held to-night at St. Andrew's Hall. Mr. P. ■M. Mackay is to preside, and will give' a short address upon defence. Financial matters ; will be discussed,' members will be enrolled, officers elected, and tartans chosen." -It is hoped that there will be a good attendance of Scotsmen willing to join such a corps.

i "A blot on the Superannuation"- Act" said the assistant-postmaster' (Mr ' A X ;■ '~\ Dryden) at the Auckland ktte,.' CMl Li; reunion on Saturday night, <« is j?wretchedly inadequate allowance made i : Widows of the officers of the wiyW* ' ' (Loud applauce, and cries of "That" " i right.") "The bulk of the service " i' ' tinned Mr. Dryden, "would like 'to L this put right. The Government £ done,as much as could fairly be expected but the officers of the service should V ' ashamed to take the liberal allowanc!" provided for themselves and permit the* " ' left to take what remains for them uhjZ the Act, Either the officers must con' tribute more to the fund or take srnalW; ' retiring allowances. Perhaps they will have to do both." Later in the evening Mr. F. E. Baume, M.P., said, « £? mg to a toast, that he was glad to heap Mr .Dryden's remarks in this connects/ Almost too much was expected from a" Government to-day. It did not tend ■£ improve the character of the individual ' to be "spoon-fed" by the Government,' The second instalment of Max Pember? ton's charming story, "The Show Girl" is published in to-day's issue. The story ' is told in a singularly attractive style and is certain of a wide popularity. '-TftS first instalment was published in Saturday's supplement. Daily instalments . will be given in the columns of the New Zjsaland Herald till the conclusion of the story. "The half-yearly meeting of the share: - holders of the Bank of New Zealand which was held yesterday ,was," says Safur' day's Wellington Post, "happily timed for the same day as the second of this season's local wool sales. While the chair- : man of the bank's directorate was rd ferring to the intimate connection. between the price of wool and the prosperity of the bank and the country, a gratifying it lustration was being provided in the is;! mensely improved prices at the local sales ' The altered relations of the banks and their customers,' said Mr. Beauchann? 'are brought about by the sudden and unexpected fall in the values of wool, and other of our primary products. ' ynOt prices and profit* were high, land, values both rural and urban, rose in sympathy and many wholesale and retail firms were ■ encouraged to trade beyond their means' It would have been a mistaken kindness of the part of the banks to continue the encouragement, in face of the danger «*. nals held out by a falling market. Better a present pinch than a possible crisiji in the near future." • , Preparations for the Whangarei Carni val, on December 30 and 31 and January 1 and 2 next, are well in hand. The list of; attractions is an imposing one, including" *, band contest, axemen's- carnival, regatta military school cadet sports, and oowlini and tennis tournaments. 'The" <a«nm]! grounds will be illuminated on each of the four nights, and Maori hakas and i« dances will be performed. A convenient area will be set apart for camping parties.--' Entries for the tennis tournaments doS, ~', on Saturday next, and lor the regatta, I military sports, and bowling on the following Saturday., • . t '■>'"■' ->X The New Zealand Government steamer Hinemoa, in charge of Captain Bollons, ar- /'' rived at Onehunga on Saturday,. and wiß ' .$. put in several days on the Manuka,, din* I ' ing which time she will attend to a number / of buoys, beacons, etc., and matters con-! "■■' nected with the harbour. . - . A constable on duty on the" foreshore at ;-■' 10.30 yesterday morning found a sailor- ; ' named John Tempi eton suffering from pain I 0\ and exposure. The officer ascertained 'thai'.! ■ the man had fallen off a fence in Custom- f street East on the previous nighty and was ] ; J unable to move, with the result that he had to remain in the open air all night, though;■'.•'/..•in the morning he managed to get as far as r ; the waterfront. The constable removed him iE a' cab to the hospital where hi* | injuries were not found to be very serious. :".'=';': On the petition of T. and S. Morrin, Ltd.,-;'/ j G. E. Plunkett, late of Mount Eden, buil- : ; der, has been adjudged bankrupt. The first meeting of creditors will be held next Friday afternoon. James Riley and William ! Phillip Robertson, contractors, of ~Cambridge,, trading as Riley and Robertson,. • have filed a petition at the 'Auckland assignee's office to bo adjudged bankrupts. . In this case the first meeting of creditors■"•' will be held at the Cambridge Courthouse ; ; on Wednesday afternoon next. •.',•-: . : -.' The following suggestion is made by. a' i country paper:"There can be no doubt that any country would be better go-'; verned if it were under the absolute con- • trol of one really competent ruler With » , practically - unlimited J power than under j a system of representative > government, i such as exists- in New Zealand. If, fo*, example. President Roosevelt could be' !;.'' persuaded to take charge of the affairs} ■;' of the ; Dominion for the next 10 yean. • it is most probable tha.t the country j would be in a far more prosperous coaffi- , tion at the close of his term of officii i than it will be whether the present . Ministry or the Opposition party are & , power.- : .•;.• A member of the Dumedin becs»ci«t,; trustees recently moved a. motion, which ' was carried • by the trustees, requesting! 1: j the Minister, when framing the proposed | Charitable Aid Bill, to make provision. 1 for a labour colony, and for the cocrckv ; ; of the loafer who neglects to support bin*.•:V • self and those dependent on him. Several Wellington residents later gave their views ;-' on the question to a press representative.' One gentleman, much interested in social questions, alleged that a large proportion of those 'who could be really styled loafewr - were imported, and that the native-boWi New Zealander had not the "pauper instinct" so highly developed. Evidencing the " thriftlessness" of many classes is New Zealand, he said he had attended many meetings of benevolent trustees *« the Dominion, and had been surprised fef : .; see how prosperous-looking a large proportion of the applicants were. There ' war - a growing disposition to lean against ■ either the Government or some constitute* association kept financial by the taxpayers, and,he was sure that pauperism was becoming too "popular" in this country owing to the ease with which 60 ? 1 * ,' might receive aid. ',; Maori women adopt some very cunning :•... devices to, hoodwink the police. One « the latest was discovered by Constabli Mclvor at New Plymouth the other day. For some time he had been watching three Maori women in Brougham-street, whose actions were very suspicious. One " sSa a kit, and in turn these three wom*& almost covered their head whilst t.ey apparently drank something from the» k. i which thev were anxious to conceal, to - stable Mclvor decided to investigate, »° when he got near the native- in Fusion of the kit, hurriedly smafihe '*. -! couple of babies' bottles on the paveffif' and endeavoured to treat a third in » like manner. The officer was too «g • V for her, however. He took the ¥>/!". c " contained a .pint flask half-fifled *JJ whisky. This had been fitted as a baby* feeding bottle. Through the rub• tjw the Maoris had bran consuming the wfl'.e* - Constable Mclvor took possession oi u kit and escorted th« woman who ■ ■«■ . charge of it to the police station. -. fij&*