LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14085, 12 June 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

At a, meeting of the General Council of the National Defence League, held in the league's rooms,, Security Buildings, lad. night, it was reported that Mr. McNab's campaign through New Zealand on "behalf of universal training is nearing its close, and it was reeolved to send the following telegram to the Mayor of New Plymouth, to be read at Mr. McNab's meeting there last night :—" The General Council of the National Defence League, now meeting here, requests you to convey to Mr. McNab the league** appreciation of his work for the universal training movement, and congratulations on the undoubtedly great effect of his campaign on public opinion throughout the Dominion. The Council looke forward to an early and satisfactory result, but should another campaign be neceesary, they hope Mr. McNab will again take the field and further advocate the cause."

The criminal work at the.Supreme Court has now been practically- disposed of, all that remains to be done being to sentence some 10 prisoners, two of whom will be brought, up this morning, while the rest will be dealt with on Monday. The trial of Frank Tate, upon a charge of havi..„' had illicit relations with a girl under 16 years of age, was concluded yesterday, and the jury brought in a verdict of guilty. A similar finding was returned in the case of a Maori named Paora Tiunga, charged with counselling another native to impersonate his grandson, and thereby attempting to obtain £27. Tiunga and Tate were both remanded for sentence until Monday. After the prisoners for sentence have been disposed of on Monday, civil business will be taken.

A Rugby football match that is creating an unusual amount of interest among the sport-loving public of Auckland will take place to-day, when the leading district teams, Ponsonby and City, will meet at Alexandra Park for the first- time this season. The football matches this season have not so far created much interest, the teams which meet to-day having won their games in an easy manner. Both sides will be strongly represented, and contain an unusual number of representative players, and, therefore, an unusually clever and exciting exhibition of New Zealand national game should be witnessed.

Those who have not yet visited the Art Society's Exhibition in Coburg-street should not miss the opportunity of doing 60 to-day, as this is the last occasion upon which it will be open, and the exhibition is generally acknowledged as the finest yet seen in Auckland. Tea will be provided in the afternoon and evening. The committee desire to express thanks to the public, for their liberal patronage, and to the ladies who have sent donations of cakes, confectionery, and refreshments for afternoon and evening tea, and those generally who have assisted to promote the success of the exhibition.

Two men, Henry H. Blundell and Rupert Double, appeared in the Police Court yesterday, charged with shooting imported game at Waikumete, on April 25, without a license. Mr. Spratt, who prosecuted on behalf of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society, explained that a member of the society was in the vicinity of the place referred to, and saw three men out .shooting— two accused and a third man, who could not be found. Blundell, it was stated, was seen to fire two shots at a pheasant, and the other defendant had his gun raised, but lowered it when he saw that he was observed. The accused stated that they were out shooting rabbits. They knew nothing about the doings of the third man. They were convicted and fined £5 and costs in each case. There is now on view in Mr. J. S. Dickson's shop in Queen-street the illuminated address which is to be presented by the Mayors and chairmen of suburban local bodies to Mr. .Arthur M. Myers in commemoration of his four years' occupancy of the city mayoral chair. The address, of which a draft copy was presented to Mr, Myers before he left on a holiday, has been beautifully illuminated and flamed.

In the supplement issued with to-daft Herald "Tohunga" writes on "Plenty to Come and Go On," and "America's Outpost" is contributed by Frank Fox. "Paraki* gives some of his impressions of the Urswera Country, and James Drummond F.L.S., F.Z.S., continues his " Natur» Notes." Continuations of the serials "Seymour Charlton," "Itie Girl From the South," and "Martin Eden,'' are given while Local Gossip, London fashion notes' chess and draughts, science, literary, arK musical and dramatic jottings are also present.

A mild sensation occurred in the Ma*». trate's Court yesterday during the crossexamination of a female plaintiff who had instituted proceedings against her husband A suggestion by counsel for the defence (Mr. J. R. Lundon) that his client had made a weekly allowance to his wife of a substantial amount, elicited an indignant denial from the latter, and to the surprise of everyone in Court, a female voi.e called out, "It's a lie. and I know it." The solicitor who held the floor gazed spellbound at the interrupter for a spate of several seconds, and then asked, " Did you say it's a lie?" "Yes," replied § young woman of excitable appearance, who was seated near the door. ''Then'a* 1 don't want to Heat you harshly, would you mind stepping outside," remarked the solicitor, as he held open the door. The interjector departed and remained outside until a later stage of the proceedings.

At a meeting of the Women's Political League, held on Thursday afternoon. Mi. Gresham's proposal to establish foundling hospitals in each of the four centres was heartily welcomed by the members, who believed such institutions would be of great use in checking the crime of infanticide. With reference to the new Charitable Aid and Hospital Board Bill the hope was expressed that it would decree that the boards be elected bv the direct vote of the people. It was resolved, in consequence of the numerous cases of assaults upon women, and especially upon helpless little children, to ask the Minister for Justice to enact some more drastic measure, by which a punishment could be inflicted - that would effectually prevent an offender from repeating his crime, and serve as a warning to others. Dr. Batchelor's recent outburst at Dunedin on the education of our girls was discussed at length. As a matter of course the members entirely disagreed with the doctor's conclusions, unanimously agreeing that girls should have tlig same educational facilities and opportunities as boys. ''-

A meeting of creditors in the bankrupt estate of Demetre George, a -Greek hawker, was held at the official assignee's office yesterday afternoon, and was adjourned pending the arrival in the Dominion of George, who is being brought back from Sydney by the police. Mr. Jos. Whitefield is the petitioning creditor and other creditors as far as known at present are Messrs. D, S. Dyer, Kerapthorne, Prosser and Co., G. A. Baker and Co., and F. Gormley. George left about three weeks ago, and is expected back on Sunday week. Bankrupt was a hawker in the Gisborne and Auckland districts. The petitioning creditor agreed yesterday to bear the expenses incurred in bringing him before creditors.

A letter received by an Auckland firm from England emphasises the need fcr a quicker and more regular mail service with New Zealand. After complaining that letters posted on January 29 had not reached New Zealand by March il7» the writer says:—"The mail arrangements between this country arid the Dominica will never be satisfactory until a fcrfe nightly service, via Canada or America, is '■■: established, so that letters should get through with some certainty in four or five 1 weeks." , ■ .> ~-.'■:

The very cold weather of Thursday changed during the evening, and became warmer, lain commencing to fall about eight, o'clock, and continuing at intervals throughout the night, and all day yesterday, causing the' roads and footpaths to become very sloppy. The rain was not heavy enough to affect the unloading of vessels at the wharves.

At a meeting of Auckland shareholder in the Taranaki Petroleum Co., Ltd., held at Mr. J. J. Craig's office, to consider a circular sent to shareholders, and to decide what action Auckland shareholders should take in the matter, it was decided after some discussion to appoint Messrs. Kingswcll, J. J. Craig,- and another gentleman to be selected, to represent' the Auckland shareholders at the general meeting of the company, to be held at New Plymouth on Wednesday next. In* meeting was not open to the press. %

At a meeting of the Kaipara Railway League it was resolved to wire to th» Minister lor Public Works urging .th* speedy completion of the Kaihu railway extension to Waima; also to the member for Kaipara, suggesting .'that he arrange a deputation of Northern members and the M.P.'s of the Timber Commission, to wait on the Prime Minister and the Minister for Public Works, urging the immediate completion of the named extension.

The prcsiJing magistrate in the S.M. Court yesterday (Mr. E. C. Cutten) wae subjected to a test of patience which showed signs of exhaustion when, after an allday sitting, following upon an over-night adjournment, counsel for the plaintiff in a case involving a claim for' £15 asked permission to supplement evidence. " V oti have had charge of the, Court for two days," Mr. Cutten remarked, "and 1 don't want to hear any more about the case." The major portion of the claim was not allowed, and witnesses "ere declined expenses on the ground that their evidence was irrelevant to the issue.

Among the visitors to the Poultry Show yesterday was Mr. F. Maxwell, secretary of the Waikato Show, to be held at Hamilton next month. Mr. Maxwell predicts a record exhibition this year, remarking that the society has spent £1000 on the property adjoining the' horse • bazsa', where the show is to be held, There are 800 classes, and entries promise to.be quite as numerous as on previous occasions, it not more so. The amount of game coming into town is not diminishing as the shooting season progresses, quite a number of birds arriving almost daily. Two very fair bags of pheasants were brought into the city during the week, one of 25 brace being the icsult of a week's shooting up NorthThe other was brought in yesterday, and comprised 15 brace, shot in the neighbourhood of Malakohe. Reports from the Waikato lakes state that ducks are there in thousands, but are very wild, canoes and launches being unable to get nearer than within 200vds of the birds. Pigeons are said to be plentiful in the King Country, Ohakune apparently being the headquarters for this class of sport.

The increase in the retail price of butter in Wellington to Is 2d b*ag it on a level with the Auckland price, which has been Is M » . a considerable time.: As a result ofJj rise in the South, local wholesale are finning a little. The ordmarv sale rate here is Is OJd per lb, «J , JJ to shops, but butter at the *»«$£ is from 10id to lid, according to quality