LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14392, 10 June 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

As elderly man named Wm. Pritchard was thrown from a gig and. sustained a dislocated shoulder while driving a mailman round the Newton circuit at about 11.45 last night. The horse slipped.i while going.down Newton Road, near] Manning-street. The driver was thrown out, but the mailman succeeded injump- : : ing- clear. The injured man, who is a resident of Cross-street, Parnell, was admitted to the District Hospital this morning. ' - •-• \

. • A ';■' request that : provision" be made for sending strawberries to Wellington . from Auckland by the Main Trunk express was made to the Minister for Railways (Hon. J. A. Millar) yesterday, 'by a ; deputation, consisting of; Messrs; J. Tonar, W. Johns, T. M. Shepherd, Parrish. Mr. Alex.

Alison I introduced the deputation. ' .■:-; Mr.' Tonar explained that it was impossible to send ; the strawberries by the goods train, which . ran at hours necessitating a . delay of 12 hours at each end. The Minister was asked to provide a van or half a. van two or, three days "a L week. Mr. ! Millar,' said that; last ; year : he k offered , the .; growers a van at £22, which just about covered, the cost of haulage, and this was the most that < he could give.them. He would like to do what they asked, both for their sakes and for' that of the people. of Wellington, but he did not think he would be able to alter his previous decision on the subject. He promised, however, to obtain another report on the subject.

Applications for trade exhibit space at the Winter Metropolitan Exhibition, to be opened in the Queen-street Wharf buildings on August 15, have been so numerous that all the applicants may not receive accommodation. Promises of general ' entries indicate a more comprehensive display than that of last year, , and the district courts' competition ; should ;be an attractive feature. General entries close on the 17th inst. * "

Special reference to, the necessity ; for a better system ;of handling goods at the Auckland railway goods shed was made by Mr. Arthur M. Myers in speaking -at the conference - between the - Minister for Railways and the Parnell Tunnel, Duplication Committee yesterday. Mr. Myers stated that amount of time the carters lost in getting attended >to was atrocious.. and had such a''far-reaching effect that he urged the Minister to look into the matter and devise some better method. Mr. L. J. Bagaall said some of the carters refused to take goods to the station because of the delays, and Mr. A. J. Entrican added that some of the carters in the afternoon were unable to get a place and had to take their goods back to the warehouses and return with them on the following morning. The Minister, in reply, said the suggestion made by Mr. Myers rather took his fancy. The traffic manager (Mr. T. W. Waite) stated that the delays at the goods shed were not always occasioned by the Depart-, ment, but very often by carters loafing. He quoted a return taken, showing that: some carters had loafed in the yard from ,af: quarter of an hour to an hour. " I think," said Mr. Entrican, laughing, "that we will have to get private detectives of our own to stop this." A statement of his attitude in regard to Sunday trains was made by the Minister for Railways (Hon. J. A. Millar), in replying to a request from a, deputation yesterday, for an extra Sunday train to ,Waikumete and Henderson. He said he was personally opposed to the running of Sunday trains except in those cases in which they were absolutely necessary. The railway employees, he said, had an arduous occupatidn, and he considered that their day of rest should be infringed upon as little as. possible. A reference was made by a mem- ! ber of the deputation to the Sunday trains between the city and Onehunga, but the Minister pointed out that these were run mainly on account of the shipping. "What ) aDout.the Sunday trains to the Hutt? There is no shipping there," remarked Mr.J. Bollard, MP. "No," was the Ministerial rejoinder, amidst laughter, but there is "a ? great deal :of golfing there." He pointed out, however, that he had had nothing ,to do with, the starting of this Hutt train, and that the only new Sunday train that he had authorised was , the one now running to Otahuhu. He objected on principle to'the increase of Sunday trains until such time as the interests of the public made such a course necessary.

• . It was suggested to the Minister for Railways yesterday by the suburban deputation "that in future railway stations should be constructed of brick instead of in wood. In replying, Mr. Millar said that a new form of ferro-'concrete, which was about 12£ per cent, cheaper than, either wood or brick, was under the consideration of the Department. ': ' L

The current number of the New Zealand Churchman has a finely-expressed article. on the late King, from which we extract the following passage"We remember our dead King with affection and pride. Not because he was of an ancient line and ruled over the greatest empire on earth, but for himself. He moved kindly amidst his kind, exalted above his/subjects by his arduous duties and heavy responsibilities; and by his daily life he taught us once more the meaning of th© very word King—the child and favourite of the nation. He made us know the power and splendour of < simplicity. For nine years we have been realising the half-forgotten ideal of our forefathers that 'a real King lives with, and for, his people, the embodiment of all that is best in the nation's life, the one leader not warped by the war of parties, but high above all selfish aims, and strong "in the hardy' hearts of his faithful subjects."

An interesting proposal regarding the time wasted on the North Auckland line in going round Newmarket in order to get to Auckland was made by Mr. A. J. Entrican yesterday. In speaking at the conference between the Minister for Railways and the Parnell Tunnel Duplication Committee Mr. Entrican said "the buik of people travelling by the North Auckland Jine in order to save the time in going round via Newmarket got off at Kingsland or Mount Eden, and so got to town in seven instead of 20 minutes., 'He asked the Minister if he had considered tho possibility of connecting the Mount Eden and Auckland stations by tunnelling under Khyber Pass and running down' Grafton Gully, linking with the mainline at Parnell' bridge. It would not be an expensive undertaking. The Minister replied that it had never been considered, and the Mayor. (Mr. L. J. Bagnall) remarked ■ that it was a big proposition.- The Minister said the scheme would be too costly, but the Department was considering the advisability of expending about £5000 at Newmarket to enable the North-bound trains to proceed without the loss of time now occasioned by backing and filling at that place.

Unpleasant weather was experienced at Auckland yesterday, heavy showers of rain falling at frequent intervals throughout the morning and afternoon. A strong north-; east' wind was also blowing, and the .departure of- the Northern Company's steamers Aunouri, < Tasman, and Kanieri. for Tauranga, Whakatane, and Whanga-. rei. respectively, was postponed until to,day. J ' . - . , mmwmmtmmmimm ••--.■.•....■•: :-rJ:^x

At the Magistrate's ' Court % Mr/ C. C. Kettle. : S.M., gave his decWJK'-' : ( in -the case of -the' Auckland ' I Union v. the Auckland MeattConibairt*M#SP§ which the latter were charged .*HyitJMlfflH *'' I ploying two men for two-thirds "of <&&s§« : time a.<) general.;hands without paying *tffi££l minimum rate of wages.' Mr. A E. SkeT '■ss ton, on behalf of the union, had asked leave I to withdraw.-the case, so that, an actio*>'.' might be commenced ■•: in the Court. Counsel had advised his clients.'&'■£ that in the event of the judgment of the : ,\ I lower Court going against. them on the j facts of the case no appeal oh the facta '»' I would lie from such judgment to the Arbi-"" "'; tration Court. The magistrate,said he Ht treated Mr. Skelton's remarks as amount-'*K r ing to an intimation that his clients elected to De nonsuited, and there being noobjec- 1 ";•''. \ tion- from the defendant company a noraHMj suit would be granted, with costs to the : company. _ _ ~ '/i^|!f|| , Some striking figures illustrative of--tftff»| rapid growth of 1-few Lynn ;as a residential ■ suburb were quoted by Mr. J; Gardner iit|w the interview that the Kaipara railway deputation had with the Minister for; Rail, : .ways yesterday. He stated that where there were no nouses four yeaTs ago there ; were now 62 residences, and in another part • ■'■ of the district 80 or 90 houses could now* be seen where there were only two or three four years ago. The Minister, in the course "*■ % of his reply, promised to give al2 months' '• ;; trial to the new early train from Hender- ' I ton, which is to commence running on Hon. : . ;; day next. : mw-. ■ ■.:.-;.> : ;.■;:'■;':■;:;;.;.■ ■'':':• :::■;:-.,:; ■ ■ : :JJ-~C At the annual dinner of the Wellington.'."; Accountants' Students' Society, the chair- • ' man (Mr. H. C. Tewsley), who is also ■ ; chairman of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, referred to the AttorneyGeneral's humorous remarks at the Cham- : .: ber of Commerce dinner in Auckland. Dr. ; -.-> Finclky, he said, had composed a menu : i from an analysis of the speeches of Cham-., ber of Commerce dinners in Wellington)' Coming to the entrees Mr. Tewsley i read':';';--.;: I " Stewed sea routes with Tewsley ; trimmings." "I strongly object to this," he ' • * said, " The Leader of the Upper House or i~*i Attorney-General has no right to introduce/ ;•] personalities in such a way, and it shows/-';'; bad taste on his part." . >;•; 'I In replying at Huntly last night tea .; ';j deputation which urged that the Main ..'I Trunk express should stop at Huntly, the ';> Prime Minister. (Sir Joseph Ward) made reference to the policy of the Department i; 5 in respect to express trains. He pointed 4'/f out that if - expresses stopped at every sta- v 'C& tioh they would cease to be expresses, and - '-.j it was necessary therefore to select a,-• -: ..i limited number of stations between the i : i;t starting ana stopping . points -of the ;ex»>-itS presses. The same demand that expresses should stop at every station had been re- 4 ceived in the South, but it was impossible .~" to grant them. He was speaking generally,"--;-]| and would leave the Minister for Railways ~ | to weigh the arguments for the particular ;-: "• •'? request made by the deputation. ;' '"?."'^ Although the conference of natives 00 %i 1 the land question, - which is being held at • Waahi will probably drag /on for. a day . | or two longer, it will be officially \ con-' ? 5 eluded to-day, when the practical work ; ? will be done. The Native Minister (Hon. ~}| J. Carroll) will confer with the natives to try and bring them to unanimity on':'--.'{ xt. x- I x 1 J L ljl/t?^^i the : question of what lands should be V thrown open -for European settlement. Ac [m x' ' \r ' a previous conference the Maoris arrived £i at .certain decisions which could not be given effect to during last session of Par- ; liament, bur- if an agreement is reached '-;;, Mr. Carroll is confident that. the existing legislation contains machinery to give M effect to their wishes. It is possible that '', Li -X J I' -xf XT. 1i other matters dealing with the : ameliora- t. j tion, of the natives and the sale of liquoi i (.will be . discussed, but they will not be - 'l. Lx U "»# « "11 « T. -' xx '■, ""'1 brought up by Mr. Carroll; who is attend-' . ing the conference primarily to deal '-.with v-.sj the land question. ,■* * , - '■ 1 ' , . • "- . '•, '",!'-« Another indirect illustration of - ; 'the;*J trouble which may fall on witnesses who ;! disobey the order to leave the S.M. ; Court hj when commanded to do so was cvcndmvsH ing the hearing of a civil action in Weil■xmj mi t ■ lington on Tuesday. The trouble . arose .-■ a xl t • x ■ ' \ on a statement by counsel for the plain- - tiff (Mr- A. K. Atkinson), i-who suggested»| Xt. I •'t i- 1 J « - x • I^3l -that information had been given to wij|l|| nesses ' outside by a person inside. -The, ,i • X X „ tit T> .TT U r, u '(^ magistrate, Mr. W. R. Haselden, S.M.y M immediately demanded who the man w«, ...' ir xxl - - x l xl. x x x 3--^\ Mr. Atkinson repeated the statement and [: 1 pointed out a man standing at the back '■ > of'the Court. The man was ordered: to >:| come forward, and he was questioned it closely by His Worship. He atsjlutdy!fe| denied that he had said anything to any- ■-'-? one Outside as to. what he had heard wit- *! nesses say in the Court. The man per-' .-, sisted in his denial, and His Worship then;-•; asked Mr. Atkinson;how he, became pos- > sessed, of the information. Counsel : then;.? ; .' '. -. i t xj: lks indicated, a second man, and he. in turn was closely questioned. He said he had .- been watching the first man and had seen- ~ liim more than once leaving the. Court .^ •ana going out to witnesses. He.had,iD; if fact, observed hipi in conversation with - three young men interested in ? the case.'^

For himself, he -had no interest K*sl case whatever. . When the first man again ..j absolutely denied having carried any'- in- J formation, to anyone, His Worship said it ; 3 was evidently a misunderstanding and he ■■■ J was very glad it was. ygSj The committee set up to; report to the 6 Wellington Philosophical Society upon the formation of an astronomical society /ha»vdecided to recommend that such a body be yj inaugurated forthwith as a section of : the• i Philosophical Society. Its aims will be the establishment of an .observatory Mn*;.j or near Wellington, and the promotion - and study of astronomical subjects generally. The first object which the Astronomical Society will set itself to achieve ;i will be to control the Carter bequest,.,; which on December 31st last amounted to : ;;j nearly £2900. Supplemented by dona- •,, tions* this will be sufficient to build and .; equip an observatory, while the «*• ■■ society will concern itself with the carff ,-j of the instruments and their proper.use. ■ '■ ■ ' ' , '.vV,;,-;; Five candidates were nominated yester-"; day for the by-election for a seat on the •' Parnell Borough Council which.has.been;-, occasioned by the death of Mr. G. poster. The candidates are Joseph Henry Brown, . Arthur Geo. Busby, Malcolm McArtnnr, Bartle L. McCabe, and GeorgeX§3§ij borough. The day fixed for the election..., is Wednesday next. V^S The WaikatO District Maori Lan«> Board met yesterday at the;. Government:,, Buildings, thcee present' being: The president (Mr. W. H. Bowler), and the «**-■■ «,„ 'm*™. T. H. Snedman and Mare, Teretui). Several transactions in name ■ lands were brought under review, max* 01 ~ the ,case 3 being adjourned. .. . ;'; j Beer duty paid in invercargill during the month of May (on beer manufactured* Southland) amounted to £145 10s. as jgjmrt ,;, £130 Us 6d for May of last year and -in ~ 14s 3d for May of 1908. The increase, (*» ; , 18s 6d) represents 1194 gallons o Miq™* For the first five months of the past ho years the amount of beer manufacturedl »M , 58,296 gallons, 57,544 gallons, and 60,750. ;| gallons respectively ; t ~, ~-■;;. ■ n A proposal ' for the * expenditure '/ : £70,000 of loan money, under, the £><*« Guarantee. Advances- Act, has oc^r.; ; ., »Mv ? aJ upon by the Wampu County C^ui^^