LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14767, 24 August 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

The settlement of the difficulty in connection -with the taking of; shingle from the, beaches in the Waitemata Harbour, was. followed by a prompt resumption ■; of work yesterday, and a good supply., of shingle 'will quickly be available. The telegram received from the ''Minister for Marine on Tuesday, cleared away all the obstacles that at the time had faced the Coastal Masters' Association, and the members decided to go to work at once. A few boats went out yesterday morning, and in the early afternoon there was a striking procession of small craft on the way to the beaches. The lock-out has affected about 200 builders, and the loss of wages has been estimated at about £2800.

An Australian mail arrived at Wellington by the Moeraki from Sydney yesterday. The Auckland portion, consisting of 37 bags, will arrive here by the Main Trunk express this morning.

The remuneration of the directors of the New Zealand Dairy Association was raised from £25 to £50 a year at the last annual meeting of directors. At yesterday's meeting it was moved by Mr. Maisey and seconded by Mr. Barriball, that the old system should be reverted to. There was a considerable discussion, in which several speakers said they considered the directors did not do much for the honoraria paid them. The reply of the chairman was that they gave up much time, perhaps 50 days a year, and a great deal of attention to their duty as directors. The motion was carried by 34 votes to 14. •

Pleasant memories of his visit to Auckland are held by the Hon. T. Mackenzie, and speaking in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon he paid a kindly compliment to the hospitality of the people/ " For a good warm send-off and a good hearty welcome," he declared, " let me commend Auckland." This remark was.followed by enthusiastic exclamations from the Auckland representatives, and the Minister explained that the reason for this cordiality was that the people did not overestimate the importance of internal 'dimensions, but stood shoulder to shoulder for the good of the community. The consequence was that the city was progressing. In five years its population had increased by 21,000.

A case under the Licensing Act was called at the Police Court yesterday, when Messrs. Knock and Hyde, wine and spirit merchants, , were charged, before justices of the peace, with selling liquor to persons in the Eden no-license district without forwarding the necessary particulars to the clerk of the Court. There were 11 informations against the defendant company. ; Sub-Inspector Hondrey pointed out that cases under the Licensing Act could only be dealt with by a magistrate, and he asked for an adjournment. The case was adjourned until next Wednesday,

"Immigrants to the 1 number :of .148 V were passengers by the Federal-Houlder-Shire liner Surrey, which arrived from Liverpool, via Capetown and Hobart, shortly after midnight and anchored in the ■ stream. Among the ■ immigrants are a number of domestic ■; servants, ; and ': there are a good many tradesmen, as <• well as labourers. Forty-two of those arriving will take up their residence in Auckland. Following are! the destinations of the other passengers: — Wellington, 34; ; Dunedin, 15; Lyttelton, 11 Bluff, 10; Gisborhe,'B; Westport, 5; Wanganui,, 5; Nelson, 3; Napier, 3; New Plymouth, 2; Port Chalmers, 2.

The inquiry into charges against a warder in the Mount Eden goal, was resumed yesterday at the Magistrate's Court, before Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M., and-Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M. Mr. Selwyn Mays represented the Justice Department, and Mr. Quartley the' : accused official. ; The Court sat all day, but will not Bit to-day, resuming probably to-morrow. It is understood that in consequence of the nonattendance of witnesses the Court is considering whether it has the power to compel witnesses to attend on warrant.

The annual meeting of the New Zealand JJairy Association, held' yesterday, took an inordinately long time to do comparatively little business, principally because the chairman's report took a full hour and a-half to read. Afterwards, when resolutions were being discussed, the meeting rapidly dwindled in numbers, for many of the shareholders had trains to catch; and several complaints were made that the report had not been shorter, or the meeting commenced earlier. In the end it was resolved that future annual meetings should be held at Pukekohe and Hamilton alternately, those towns \ being more conveniently situated for the dairy farmers than Auckland.

An accident occurred last Tuesday morning to the coach which had left Rotorua en route to Tauranga a few hours • previously. Just as the vehicle was between the 18 and 19 mile posts the front wheels seemed to take a sudden dip into the bowels of the earththe road at this point being in a very wet and muddy state—and the driver, C. Willmott, losing his balance, was thrown from his seat with considerable violence. He received three nasty scalp wounds. The injured man- had a narrow escape from sustaining a fractured arm, as he was dragged along for * several yards through having retained a firm hold of the reins when he fell out, while bis chest was somewhat bruised. The passengers, who escaped with a slight shaking, were Messrs. Tait, Wilson, Shields, Faitt, and Sims (2). It so happened that a trap with four people was following in the v rear of the coach, and the occupants made room for two ;of the other travellers, the mails also being taken on board. Meantime telephonic advices had been transmitted from Okere to Rotorua of the mishap,, and the Coaching Company at once sent out another coach to the scene -of the disaster .to convey the passengers on to their destination.

Birds which wander from their accustomed latitudes run a serious risk of ending their ; days in museums, and a great Frigate. bird, .which visited the Huntly district recently, died of a gunshot, and is now in the taxidermy : workshop Jof the Auckland Museum. Mr. George Clinch, of Huntly, saw the dusky stranger on some water in his neighbourhood, secured it without difficulty, and forwarded it at • once to • Mr..■ Choeseman.. The Frigate bird is quite a common inhabitant of tropical seas all round i the globe, 'i but its occurrence in New Zealand is very, rare, and this is. only the fourth specimen known !to have been found in the Dominion. The genus Fregata ; are remarkable ; for : their enormous wing-spread, and vthe.new specimen, while riot much larger than a wild duck,, has wings that stretch over. sft. The family is related to the pelicans, and lives >: much by robbery, compelling other Bea s birds to drop their prey. The plumage is very dark- in colour, but has "a bright sheen. In expressing • gratitude for the gift, the curator of the museum said he would be very ; glatl <if country ? residents; would send to him ; any examples of natural history . found by them, 'if they are known to be strange, or if they are not recognised as of ordinary occurrence. The museum can' be greatly increased > in value and interest i by more specimens, and the assistance of the public in increasing the collections would be a valuable aid.

' Two fortunes in bullion. were brought to New Zealand by the HuddartrParker liner. Ulimaroa from Sydney. Last Friday the vessel landed 25,000 sovereigns and £500 worth of silver coins at Lyttelton, and at Dunedin on Saturday she landed J another 25,000 sovereigns. . The steamer has taken on board nine boxes of gold from the West Coast, to be landed at Melbourne.

Some amusing evidence was given ~in the Supreme Court yesterday : during the hearing of a charge in which the parties concerned were Maoris. One witness said that the accused had been so much under the influence of drink that he had to; be turned, out of a dance. "Were you under the influence, too?" asked the Crown Prosecutor. " Oh, no replied the witness. "Are you a teetotaller, then?"— '" Yes, I am." "What did you have to drink that day"Water." "Anything with it?"" Yes, sugar." "A good drink to dance on, I should thinksugar and water," remarked the Hon. J. A. Tole.

The Manukau-Onehunga Chamber of Commerce is arranging a big dinner for September 14, at the Foresters' Hall, Onehunga. A large attendance "is anticipated, members of other chambers, leading public men (including members of Parliament and others), have promised to be present.

■ A statement in support, of the petition presented to Parliament last Friday by Mr. Massey, M.P., alleging that the work of the Public Works Department in Auckland is not efficiently carried out, was made to a reporter last night by Mr. James B. Hill, late foreman in the employ of the Department. Mr. Hill said her was foreman : for three years and eight months. On one occasion at the Newton police ; station he refused to take varnish and turps because the material was not up to the standard ordered. At the constables' cottage at the corner of Nugent-street and Boston Road, where he was working, he had to send scrim back as not.being up to specification. As regards the slumming of work at the Nugent-street job the work was specified to have four coats of paint, and some of itreceived two coats and other parts received three coats, and the scrim that was actually put up at the ; finish in three of the rooms was perished.: At the Parnell post office he was told by the overseer to paint over loose plaster walk which should have been pulled down. These walls, he said, stand to-day to bear him witness. » Mr.' Hill also showed to the reporter a copy of his letter of resignation, in which he stated "I here: with tender my resignation, as • I will not slum the work."' ' ~■

The Conciliation Council will sit at the Supreme Court at 10.15 a.. m. to-day under the presidency of Mr. TV Harle Giles/' hear a dispute ■ between the nurseymen and landscape gardeners and the employers. The Council will hear eight other cases in the course of the next three .weeks.) 7' >

";•■ The fifth debate: in the': athenae Um con - competitions, held under the auspices of the Auckland Literary and Debating 8 0 cieties' Union, takes place to-night SnK* ject: "That the British Empire Should " Now-Lead the Way Toward* National Disarmament." Training' College meets Ponsonby, at Leys Institute; jnd w Mr J. P. Grossman, M.A. Unitarian ■ University 8., at University judge, M* ; K. McVeagh. Marist Brothers meet W versity A, at Marist Brothers', Pitt-*,*.* " • judge, Mr. T. U. Wells, MA..; MO A ■ a bye. • ' V,A *» ; A curious point bearing on the scone of the Destitute Persons Act, 1910, cropped '■ up in the Magistrate's Court, at WellL ton. Two men were proceeded against £ ■ their sister to contribute to the SU pp o r t ' of her child, on the ground that they wernear relatives. -They were the chilrfv ' uncles Mr. F. P.Kelly, who a PPeS for the brothers, said that he did not think there was any power under the Act make an uncle support a nephew, whether the nephew was legitimate or illegitimate " In this case the child was iUegitimatc* he understood. He held that the defini ' tion of "near relative" did not 'coveuncles; it applied to ascendants and des ' cendants, but not to " collaterals." vr submitted that there was no power under" the Act to make the order, Mr Wfj ' Riddell, S.M.: "I don't think the'tenr' is covered by the definition."' His Wo ship dismissed the case. : "

A horse attached 'to a.carrier's car* which was standing in Queen-street out"' side the premises of John Court, Limited - yesterday afternoon, suddenly swerved out in front of car No. 60. The front of the car was considerably damaged, and the' cart had a shaft broken. The horse escaped injury. . '

Questioned as to the solidarity of the Government party, during a recent visit l to Christchurch, Mr. James Allen replied' • that the condition of the party could best be illustrated by what had happened in' connection with the Racing Commissions report. On the one hand there was one ' . Minister,. Mr. Millar, declaring that the / . Government would stick to the report, "and ■ ' on the other hand there was another Min / ister, Mr. ■R. McKenzie, . disagreeing,'/ strongly with the attitude of the 'Gov! f eminent on the matter. That seeded to* ' show the lack of cohesion and agreement which existed in the Government ranks/ » The question of the admission of repre.,' sentatives of the press to legal pro-', ceedings-'taken in the chambers of the judges of tho Supreme Court arose yester-f----day, when reporters were in attendance in " connection with a certain, action now brim; taken by the Auckland Law' Society ia respect of a solicitor in this city, ' a'gaia4 ■ whom it is alleged that he 'beta guilty of unprofessional conduct in connection with a case which will come fc fore the Court in its criminal jnrisdidiott in the course of a few days. Mr. Justice' Edwards sat in chambers yesterday morn. "■" ing to deal with a motion by Mr."% - Cotter, on behalf of the Law Society, fop a rule nisi calling upon the solicitor! in: question to answer certain affidavit*! .iiafc had been filed. Mr. F. Earl, who appeared for the solicitor, asked, thfli the proceedings should not be open to the : press. His Honor said the . practice in England was that all chamber basilica : : was taken in private, and regarded as ex.; parte to such an extent that the jndgo heard each side in the absence of thee ' other. But the practice had grown up in? ■ Wellington and elsewhere in the DotijuUoq.,: of throwing such sittings open, to th* ' . press, and, although he did, not approvaof it; he thought it as well that the prac* tiee should ': be uniform, as there; ties. . . could be no suspicion, of mystery;: orsecrecy. As there were gentlemen reprw senting the press present, he would not • exclude them; but as he had of ten dona before, ho would prohibit the publication of any report of the proceedings and o£ the solicitor's name, It was obvious thai the solicitor concerned might, be utterly ruined by the publication of his namo at this stage of the proceedings, yet ha might be able to show conclusively that* he was free from any shadow of blamer • in the matter. The rule was made retainable on Friday, the Ist prox. 'At the request of the New Zealand Federation of Labour Mr Scott Bennett

— . T.'~.-T ' ■ ■ •■-■■■■■■■■ .."! i; .'!:.''i'': has agreed to tour the Dominion beforo he) leaves for America in December. The? tour, which will probably commence in Oci j tober, is being undertaken in opposition to the Labour unity scheme on ' behalf of. which Professor W. T. Milla is now lector* ing. Mr. Bennett has also been commissioned by the Federation of Labour to arrange, on arrival in the: United States, i for some of the leading industrial unionists ; there to visit New Zealand. I I • Constructional work at the new Chi!-* \ j dren's . Hospital, in Wellington, is now alj most completed. The brickwork of tie I walls is practically finished, though a few bricklayers are still engaged in building | chimneys. The-roof is everywhere ready, ■ ■ j or almost ready, to receive its exterior covering of Marseilles tiles, and the build- - ing "will be covered in from end to ecu.; within a fortnight. A start will thenb. made upon the interior finishing work,: 'which will take several months to «™« . plete. The contractors hope ■to finish„. the building by the end of the y^r. Tenders closed at the office of f Mr. L W. May, architect, for Well esley foarding-house,-to be erected in Wellesey-streefc West, as under:—Lye and Sort, £2347;. Chappell and Woley, £2814; J J- Holland, £2822; G. Braithwait, £2835; McKinstry, £2875; F. Nelson. £2888. The lowest tender has been accepfcd. A young billiard player iamed McOom achie, who is said to be ii a fail " Wil * to rival even the champion Gray, has been • unearthed at Timaru. /The lad, only,'15 years of age, has alre/Ay made a bwtf off the red which is a r<?ord for New Zealand. He is spending/ considerable time in practising every //ay, and an effort is being made by several billiard enthusiasts to arrange a mM between Inland one of the leading players of the U* , minion. / '■' ' \ , Figures that the Councils, of Conciliation -a ; less costly than the old Boards of Mediation. The following totals were pen, in the Department of Labour's annlal report. brought down; . in the House Ist week, of the «*}*'/- • the board., councils, and Arbitration Court. la 19CX-9 the three combined cost the country £10 5s odd, in 1909-10 £6902 odd, wble for last year the councils and th* CourHthe boards having ceased to exist-cos? £6794 odd ,o administer* This/table of figures includes the annua, salaries of numbers of the Court (±-2800), . and' of the' Conciliation ComxawaoeeJ . . (£1500). tie expenditure for Conciliation . /Councils stows an increase of 335 over ~ last year/whilst the Arbitration Court ex penses less. A specif meeting of the Auckland Har- , , bour Boa'd will be held to-morrow .ft* noon at fvo o'clock, when the Board *iU discuss dth the Works Committee of the City Coincil the question' of a site to , ibaths, aid improvements to Customs-street, j .< ;;;;/'i