LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14345, 15 April 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

A serious accident occurred at the Mount Smart scoria pit yesterday, when a married man named William Wade, employed as pitman by the Onehunga Borough Council, got a leg broken, besides sustaining other injuries. Dr. W. G. Scott attended to the unfortunate man, and set the limb, Wade being subsequently removed to the Auckland Hospital.

The butter export season in Auckland is nearing,: its close, but the , factories are still turning out far.larger quantities than at this time last year. For the fortnight ended yesterday 6600 boxes, or 165 tons, were sent into cool store for shipment by the s.s. lonic from Wellington, as against 1135 boxes, or 28 tons, for the corresponding period of last year. This increased production, while in part due to the favourable conditions that have prevailed this season, is largely owing to the fact that many dairy farmers have seen the advantages that will accrue to them from winter dairying, and quite a number of Auckland, factories will continue operations throughout the winter, consequently there is little chance for speculators to "corner" the local market. A share in the increase of production may also be traced, to a weeding-out of unprofitable animals, and the breeding of better milking cows.

Informations have been, laid against a large number of mining companies for failing to gazette their annual statements of aflairs, as required by the Companies Act. Three of the cases will be heard at the Magistrate's Court to-morrow, and others will be heard later. Mr. S. Mays will appear for the' registrar.

The proprietors of several billiard-saloons in Auckland were charged at the Police Court, before Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., yesterday, that being the occupiers of billiard saloons : they kept and used the same as common gaming houses, and that they knowingly permitted them to be used as common gaming houses. The following are the proprietors charged :— James Chalmers, Joseph Cuthbertson, Timothy B. O'Connor, Frederick J. Williams, John Bartlett, Barnable H. Ford, John Jackson, and J. McGill. Mr. S. Mays appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. F. Earl for the defence. As counsel were not prepared to go on with the case a remand was granted until .-.next Thursday •at 2.15 p.m. : Mr. Mays announced that the facts of the case would not be disputed, but counsel would argue on questions of Jaw. The cases are understood to raise the question of the legality of playing the game of pool.

'.< The date selected for the official opening of Grafton Bridge is Thursday, 28th inst. The details of the ceremony have yet to be settled by, the Mayor, but it is proposed that the Mayoress should cut the ribbon, and the Mayor (Mr. C. D. Grey) declare the bridge. open and take his place in the first vehicle, to cross it. As the bridge was largely constructed during the term of office of Mr. A. M. Myers as Mayor, that gentleman will be asked to take part in the ceremony. •' , ',-'•. - : .. :; .',' ■ '"* ■-

Grocery shops m Auckland will, ;in future, close on Saturdays at 9.30 p.m. Ten o'clock has hitherto '.'. been the Saturday closing hour, but the new, award, which came into force on Monday last, fixes the, closing time at 9.."*° r |

The .-weather*, was somewhat unsettled along the, west' coast. yesterday, with a bad sea running,\ especially at the Manukau: Heads. The . Northern Company's steamer Rarawa loft • ■ Onehunga in the afternoon, bound for New Plymouth, but the signal at the heads was unfavourable, and the Rarawa dropped anchor to , await a favourable opportunity to get away, if possible, during the night. >.-.-■.. v

The volume of traffic on the trams at Auckland has been steadily increasing year by year, a fact which must be regarded as an indication of increasing population. Traffic upon holiday .occasions is also becoming greater. During last Easter, for instance, the number of passengers carried on the trams between Good Friday morning and Easter Monday night was 333,653, as compared with 331,471 for the corresponding period of' last year, being an increase of 2182 passengers.' During the year 1908, the Auckland Electric Tramways Company moved the population of that portion of Auckland over which its service extends (approximately 80,000 people) 330 times,' the total number of passengers carried being 26,000,000! Against this the total number of people carried over the tramways during 1909 was 28,736,965, meaning that a number equivalent to the population of Auckland was carried 360 times over. , With the extensions of the tram service which are continually taking place it is practically certain that succeeding years will witness steady increases in the traffic. ' ' , «

The Government has placed three contracts with Auckland firms in connection with the local postal service, the. annual cost of same, in the shape of subsidy, being £2948. These contracts, which terminate on December 31, 1912, are as follows : —Vehicular service between the chief post office, railway station, and wharves, delivery of letter carriers' extra bags, and of parcels in city and suburbs, Messrs. J. J. Craig,' Limited, £1649 per year; clearing receivers within a fourmile radius of the chief post office (three horses and carts, thrice daily), Messrs. J. Martin and Co., £1099; landing and shipping mails from and to vessels in the stream, Mr. Jas. H. Bradney, £200.

The executive of the New Zealand Licensed Victuallers' Association has just concluded a two days' conference here. No information is available as to what transpired, but ft is understood that only matters of trade, interest were discussed.

A letter has been received by Colonel Collins, executive officer of the Dominion Rifle Association, from the Commonwealth Council of Rifle Associations of Australia, congratulating New Zealand on winning the Gordon Highlanders' trophy. In order to mark the event, the council is sending a silver commemorative medal for the captain and each member of the team, and also one for Colonel Collins himself, as a souvenir of the occasion. Major Paine, the secretary, inter alia, says, "The splendid treatment that the New South Wales team received at your hands will long be remembered with gratitude."

At Perth (W.A.) last week Edward McLarty, M.L.C., was fined £5 and costs, for having obstructed the Pinjarrah Road Board election. The evidence disclosed that McLarty, who is - chairman of ... the Board, and was a candidate for election, recorded his vote,\and afterwards . entered into an altercation with the returning officer. '"','■ , -.'•' . . \ :/

Alice Maud Vigar, aged 12 years, ; was fatally burnt at Charlemont,. near Horselake, 40 miles from Broken Hill (N.S.W.), last week. The child was making tea :in the kitchen , waen \ her - clothes caught fire. She was burnt about the face and oody, and was being brought to Broken Hill for medical treatment when she succumbed. %