LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14692, 29 May 1911, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

An English and Australian mail arrived from Sydney by the Wimmera yesterday, consisting of 245 bags, 100 of which were dealt with at Auckland. The balance were sent South by the Mn,iy Trunk express last night. Personal items and other interesting news from our London correspondent, together with the usual budget of Australian mail news, will be found elsewhere in this issue.

The net revenue collected at the Auckland Cuetomshouse last week amounted to £12,245 4s 4d, which includes £11,337 13s 8d from Customs duties. The gold duty amounted to £302 19s 3d, the beer duty to £555 9s 2d, and light dues to £140 Is 7d. On Saturday the sum of £178 16s 6d was collected, Customs duties accounting for £53 8s 9d.

An inquest concerning the death of Mrs. E. A. White, who was found dead at her dwelling in Karangahape Road on Friday morning last, was held by the Coroner (Mr. T. Gresham) on Saturday. Dr. Murray, who made the post-mortem examination, said that the cause of death was lysol poisoning. Amy C. Graham gave evidence that the deceased was a very eccentric woman, and " was not very sane sometimes." The verdict of the jury was that Mrs. White took poison whilst of unsound mind.

The new system of handling goods traffic on the railways has now been in operation for four weeks, and although the period is too short for a decisive test the reports already obtained are sufficient to show that the prospects of attaining the desired results are good. Goods for the smaller stations are now despatched on fixed days of the week, with a. view to economising both time and railway rolling stock. Merchants in Auckland aro generally satisfied with the new method of dealing with their goods, and the consignees are apparently equally well satisfied, as no complaints have been made. The heaviest traffic in goods occurs during the few days preceding holiday seasons, and the system cannot be regarded as practically tested until one of these periods of concentration has occurred.

The president of the Canterbury Industrial Association (Mr. P. Hercus), "was asked by a Christehureh Press representative last week whether there was any likelihood of another industrial exhibition being held in Christ-church in the near future. "My own opinion," said Mr. Hercus, "is that either next year or the year following wo should certainly endeavour to organise an industrial exhibition similar to the last one held in Christchurch, when the Canterbury Hall was opened, and the matter is now receiving the attention of the Canterbury Industrial Association." Mr. Ilercus added that such an exhibition could not be held this year very well, for it would clash with the Wellington Exhibition, while next year it might clash with the exhibition proposed to be held in Auckland. In tho meantime, however, the Canterbury Trades and Labour Council were endeavouring to organise an industrial exhibition on a small scale in October, and the Industrial Association was giving its support to the scheme.

" Anywhere in the world almost you will get face value for a Bank of England note," said Mr. W. A. Redmond, M.P., one of the Irish delegates, at the civic reception in Christchurch last week, when describing humorously a local experience of his, " but when I come to New Zealand, to this great free country part and parcel of the British Empire, I have to pay 2s 6d on each note cashed. (Laughter.) lam not condemning that, for such a system as that of keeping yourselves independent and not dependent on any other part of the Empire has made you the country you are to-day."

At a meeting of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Labour party on Friday evening, the following resolution was passed" That while the branch recognised that if the country was properly governed immigration would bo necessary, it was strongly opposed to the Sedgwick scheme, inasmuch as it involved the scientific introduction of tract labour; i.e., slavery organised."

The American lecturer, Professor W. T. Mills, who is now in Sydney, is an advocate of the abolition of teaching dead languages in regular educational courses. While speaking on "Evolution" last week, he mentioned the necessity for progress in language. "We have men in our universities," he said, " who will not teach a language so simple that a child could learn it completely in a few weeks, but they preserve the languages of medieval and barbarous times." Continuing, he said it would be just as logical to continue ploughing with a wooden plough. It was necessary to modernise and simplify language. He sketched the evolution of human expression, and referred to the periods, perhaps millions of years ago, when pre-historic man sang songs without words."

" Notwithstanding the best endeavours of the curator (Mr. Ross), the raising of birds at the Game Farm has not resulted so satisfactorily as last year, owing to the depredations of stoats, weasels, cats, and hawks," states a note in the annual report of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society. "These vermin are increasing so rapidly.as to make it almost impossible to save the birds from destruction; 65

stoats, 12 weasels, six hawks, and three cats were destroyed by the curator. The question of continuing the breeding of birds at Paraparaumu should be carefully considered by the incoming council.' One hundred and fifty pheasants and 147 ducks were reared during the past, season, and there are now on the farm 60 pheasants and 70 ducks."

The criminal sittings of the Supremo Court will be continued by His Honor Mr. Justice Edwards at nine o'clock this morning, when some, prisoners will be brought up for sentence. It is probable that tho case of Tahi Kaka will be taken subsequently. This prisoner is accused of the murder of a gum-digger named John Freeman, at Puhipuhi, in the Whnngarei district, on April 5 last. The remaining cases on the list are:—Honi Wirimu Paki, perjury ; Hemi Ron go, theft from a dwelling at Rotorua ; Willie Comas, theft; Roderick Ryan, theft; and John Clark, indecency. His Honor will sit at. 9.50 a.m. on Wednesday for the purpose of settling the order of bearing of the civil cases remaining to be dealt with.

Probate has been granted by His Honor Mr. Justice Edwards, of the wills of the following deceased persons : —James Hindman (Mr. Miller), Joanna Mackay (Mr. McGregor), Thomas Jack (Mr. Cribbin), Richard Byrne (Mr. Clayton), Joseph Young (Mr. Cribbin), Frederick George Staff (Mr. Nolan), Selina Smith (Mr. Thome), E. W. G. Rathbone (Mr. Clayton), John Scott (Mr. Clayton), Sarah Wilson Kelly (Mr. McGregor), Elizabeth Ann Douglas (Mr. Thome), William Coxhead (Mr. Prendergast), Thomas John Jackson (Mr. Burnard), Thomas Hyde (Mr. Johnston), and William Smith (Mr. Johnston). Letters of administration have been granted in respect of the estates of James Hamilton (Mr. Button), Frank Cooke Hall (Mr. Prendergast), and Mar.v Ann Lynch (Mr. Napier).

An interesting ceremony took r>lacn , the Auckland St. Helens ospilal , week, when the birth of the 1000 th 'bat' in the institution was commemorated r> T. Inglis donated half-a-guinea to 'lJu the 999 th and 1000 th baby, and the C ing stafr gave a silver mug to Helen Tm, Tctlcy, lb. 1000,1, baby. Wishing £ babies all future happiness and success as citizens of Auckland, Dr. Inglis pre sented the bank-book and silver niu" on behalf of the medical and nursing staffs Subsequently, the two infants wore photo! graphed with the nurses.

After suffering for nearly a year from injuries received through being buried bv a fall of earth, at Parnell, on .July 5 ] as [ James Dalrymple died at the hospital on Saturday morning. The deceased was a single man, 46 years of age. He wa s a native of Scotland, but had lived in New Zealand about 12 years at, the me of his death, and came to Auckland some'' 18 months ago.

During .shunting operations at the R an . giora railway station one night last, weekfive truck* of live stock on the goods train from the north left the- rails. line truck containing cattle, and two double-decked trucks containing sheep were overturned The cattle scrambled out. of their truck and made off in all directons, but were recap, turn] the following morning little the worse for their mi'diap. The sheep were not so fortunate, nine being killed and others injured. The sheep trucks were much damaged, and the sides had to he broken out to release the animals. The permanent way was a little damaged by the accident and traffic was delayed for some time until the trucks had been got back on the line.

A rather unusual prosecution took place in the Magistrate's Court at <Weymouth, last week, when Keith Gordon Townend, general manager in Wellington of the Paparoa Coal Mining Company, wai charged on the information of Mr.- Pat, tison, the manager, with having committed a breach of the Coal Mines Act, by having on February 24, when visiting thai part of the mine in which it was necessary for safety lamps to be used, carried matches and cigarettes, contrary to section 40 of the Act. Mr. Guinness appeared for the company, and called Mr, John Hayes, manager of the mine, who explained that Mr. Townend had not acted wilfully, but having committed a breach of the Act through sheer carelessness, insisted upon being charged, as he Was liable to a penalty of £10, the same as a miner or anyone else. Mr. Guinness said the company did not press for a heavy penalty, and he should waive his claim for costs, so the Bench entered up a conviction with Court costs.

That beautiful bird, the native pigeon, has no doubt furnished many an appetising meal this season, and it may not help to the retrospective enjoyment of those meals to know that a great number of tho birds were badly diseased (states the Rangitikei Advocate). But the fact remains, and it especially applies to those shot about the Kaitieke and north of Taumarunui. So far the disease has not been definitely named, but samples which have been examined lead the Government Department to say it is a very acute form of parasitic disease. Further samples will be sent to the Department, and perhaps more light on the subject will ensue. The disease is very widespread, and it behoves all sportsmen to carefully examine their, birds. Out of 15 birds shot in one day only one was perfectly free. On far advanced forms of the disease a thin layer of minute white eggs will be found just under the skin, and a bird may be quite fat and yet noli fit to eat. . ...

A matter that is giving the Railway, Department some concern (states the Tannaki News) is the inability of the Harbour Board to cope with the drift sand that comes up with the south-easterly winds, and blocks the line at the entrance to the "New Plymouth breakwater. During the late gale the Department had men continually employed in clearing away the) sand to keep the line open for traffic. On Wednesday last men were employed all day and night up to the time the mail train left in the evening. On Friday there was a tremendous accumulation, three men being employed to clear it away. Practically natural reclamation is going on close up to the breakwater. A suggestion has been made that a sea wall should be erected by prison labour, the portion reclaimed to be utilised by the Railway Department for goods sheds.

One of the hardships of jurymen was mentioned at the Wellington Supreme Court. The Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) was discharging waiting jurors for the day when Mr. H. C. Tewsley, speak' ing on their behalf, complained of the lack of accommodation in the way of a waiting room in the. Court building. He said that during the cold, wet weather of last week the jurors had no place to leave their umbrellas and overcoats. It seemed to them that some accommodation should lx provided, especially when it was considered that frequently they were only relieved faom attendance for half an hour, and could not very well get away from the Court. It would be a great convenience if they could have a place where they might sit down and transact business. The Chief Justice said he quite agreed with what had been said, and he thought that one of the upstairs rooms could be re " served for the jurors. He promised to sea that the matter was attended to.

Some small local authorities, in occasional dealings with the Wellington City Council, apparently expect the' latter to display a most exalted generosity. Cases in point have figured in the aftermath o the recent half-holiday poll (says the Do* minion). Two at least- of the councils m suburban areas that unite with Wellington to form a combined district for half-bo. day polling purposes • have lately <'P proached the City Council with a, poll suggestion that it should refund their pay* mcnts to returning oflicers and poll clerk! who were employed in recording half-ho i day votes. Having pointed ont th» the cost of obtaining an express oll of local opinion must, in the naturft of things be paid with local money, the City Council carried . the w^ r into the enemy's country by proposing forward to each inquiring suburban aiM® little bill covering its share in the o o * of printing ballot papers and in *10 f° of general . advertising. Possibly _' e " claims may not be pressed, but it 1S any rate probable that the entcrpUS « suburbanites are now sorry they spo l ®"

Officials at tho Money Order ' Lambkin Quay, looked with suspicion " the signature upon a. i-ortaiirroceip ° which was handed to them last 1 111 by a young man who wished to Bank money from the Post OlHce >.a\i 6 j ign (says the Dominion). The app nlo took a fresh form and wrote . but again, and (so it is alleged) yet • »o ' ijulstill the officials had their doub -> timately the young man went. «.«■. aa . out the money. A day or two '.-book, other man came with the samo » - n.y , IS and this time theie was no tiim. • to the bona-fides of 'he (ie l ,0 ~ .j s fold appeared surprised when the o afterhim about the other caller, am wards repeated, their story to . • V a nJ The result was that Detectives y oU tf]j Andrews arrested on Satin clay man on a charge of forgery.