LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14924, 23 February 1912, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

The following nominations were received yesterday for the annual vacancies on tho Council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce —President, Mr. George Elliot ; vice-president, Mr. Sidney Nathan ; committee (six retiring members), Messrs. L. J. Bagnall, A. Burt, jun., S. A. Longuet, J. M. Mennie, A. B. Roberton, and J. H. Upton (two fresh candidates), Messrs. E. C. Browne and Frank Colbeck. Tho hearing of the waterside workers' case will be continued by the Comciliation Council to-day in committee. Other disputes to be considered by - the Council later are those in which the Auckland fellmongers, tho Auckland cabmen, and the Taranaki carpenters and joiners are concerned. The hearing of the lastmentioned case -will take place in New Plymouth. Several other disputes are ingThe demand for four and five-roomed houses in Auckland continues to be in excess of the 'supply. Land agents seen on the subject report that there is great difficulty in finding houses of this popular sizo for would-be tenants.' The trouble at present appears to be that the majority of those in search of residences want them near the Id tramways section. Fiveroomed houses, such as are available, are to let at an average rental of 14s, whilst for a six-roomed house, even in the suburbs, from 17s 6d to £1 can readily be obtained. In some of the outlying districts 25s is successfully demanded for the latter class of house. Owing to the comparative dearth of four and five-roomed houses it is quite common nowadays to find two families occupying one domicile. The question of overcrowding was mentioned at the meeting of the Grammar School Board yesterday afternoon. Tho headmaster reported that St. Paul's schoolroom was unsuitable to relieve the congeslion at the boys' school. In view of this and of tho fact that the matter of overcrowding was annually recurring, it was resolved on the motion of Dr. Roberton to call for tenders for the erection of four rooms on the present school cite. A committee was appointed to draw up a scheme of buildings for the Mount Eden school site, with a view to inviting competitive designs. The committee will present their report at the next meeting of the Board. A petition was forwarded to, the City Council last night by the pork butchers carrying on business in tho city, requesting the Council to fix tho closing hours for pork butchers' shops, as follows.-—Mon-days, Tuesday**, Thursdays, and Fridays, nine p.m.; Wednesdays, one p.m.; and Saturdays,, 11 p.m. The city valuer reported that the signatories constituted a majority of tho purveyors of cooked meats in the city. The prayer of the petition was granted. While the steamer Navua was on her way from Levuka to Samoa the officers discovered that the ship was carrying a man named Frederick Nicholls, who had no right to be on board. He was brought on to Auckland and handed to the police as a stowaway. When the case was called in Court yesterday Sub-Inspector Hendrey stated that the man was an undesirable immigrant, as he was suffering from a con-' tagious disease.. Xicholls was remanded> till Tuesday next, so that the police can make arrangements for him to be sent back. In the meantime, said the sub-in-spector, he would be able to get what he wanted in gaol—medical treatment.

The (Conciliation Council met yesterday to consider a dispute between the Auckland Coopers' Union and Hancock and Co., R. and W. Hellaby, Limited, and other employers. The Commissioner, Mr. T. Harle Giles, presided. The assessors for the employers were Messrs. S. Wing, H. Grange, and A. Nation, and for the union Messrs. Ashforth, Brown, and Wright. Mr. C. Groevenor appeared for the employers, and Mr. R. T. Way for the union. Two of tho firms cited applied for exemption, but neither application was granted. The Council went into committee to consider the claims. A. number of the union's demands were agreed to, but a few were held over for further consideration. Tho matter was therefore adjourned till Holiday, March 4. In connection with the Shelly Bead? Road extension of the tramways service, the City Council decided last night that it shall bo made clear that the fare from the Three Lamps to Point Erin Park shall bo id only A charge of having conducted a servants' registry office without being the holder of a license was brought against John Doherty in the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M. Doherty pleaded guilty. Mr. 11. A. Singer appeared for defendant, who said the offence was merely committed through an oversight. He was quite willing to take out a license, and had. otherwise conducted his office on the lines laid down by the Act. The magistrate said Doherty would be convicted and ordered to pay costs, and come up for sentence when called upon. Christianity was introduced into New Zealand by the Rev. Samuel Marsden in 1814. He landed at the Bay of Islands on December 22, and on Christmas Day, preached upon the appropriate text, "Behold, I bring you glad tidings of great joy," the first sermon delivered in New Zealand. The centenary of this happening is to be celebrated in December, 1914, and in the beginning of the following year,, and Bishop Crossley is engaged in making arrangements in connection with the celebrations. It is probable that a special service will be held at Christmas, ISI4, on the spot where Marsden first set foot on New Zealand soil. A great .Church Congress, to. be held at Auckland during February, 1915, has been proposed. Distinguished representatives of all branches of the Anglican Communion will be invited, and besides representativesof the Church in England, other famous churchmen will also, it iB hoped, be present. For failing to close his shop at the proper hour C. Costello was fined £1 and 7s costs, in tho Magistrate's Court yesterday. For a similar offence Percy Herrington was fined £5 and 7s costs, and Elizabeth Kane £2 and costs. The first meeting of creditors in the estate of Henry Bramwell Hollick, wine and spirit merchant, of Rotorua, was held at the official assignee's office yesterday morning. The bankrupt's statement (already published) was read, and the bankrupt was then examined. The meeting was adjourned until Tuesday next, in order that a .creditor's position may be ascertained in the meantime. Discharging a pea-rifle in York-street, Newton, was the form of amusement that brought trouble to one William Doherty who appeared in the Police Court yesterday. The offence was admitted, and the Bench inflicted a fine of £1 and costs 13s, in default seven days' imprisonment. Doherty took up his stand at an upstairs window and aiming at a mark on the fence shot off several bullets. Some of them -went wide and passed over a public place, to the danger of passers-by. \ '■..'•■ '■'• _ An accident occurred on the tramway line in Pitt-street shortly after 6.30 last evening. . A > young. man named Edgar Jones, who resides in Stanley-street, Archhill, attempted to board the front of a Grey Lynn-bound car whilst it was in motion, opposite Vincent-street. He missed his footing, and fell on the roadway, almost, but not quite, clear of the tram line. The wheel. of the car passed over some of the toes of his left foot. One toe was severely injured, and one or two others were bruised. Jones, who is a carpenter and a single man, was taken, to the District Hospital for treatment. It is probable that the amputation of the toe may be necessary. A singular accident occurred to a butcher named Harry Veal at the Westfield freezing works yesterday. He was taking some sheep out of a pen, when two of them ran at him, one striking him in the breast and injuring his heart, whilst tho other struck him on the left arm, and inflicted a painful bruise. Veal, who resides in College Hill Road, Ponsonby, was removed to the District Hospital. A matter connected with the affairs of the East Coast Timber and Trading Company has been heard in chambers before Mr. Justice Edwards. Miss Lily Rees (barrister and solicitor) appeared on behalf of her father, Mr* W. L. Rees, of Gisborne, who is the plaintiff in an action brought against • the company, and Frederick Hall. The defendant, Hall, has taken out a summon* calling upon the plaintiff to show cause why tho statment of claim in the action should not be amended or set aside on the ground that it included separate and distinct causes of action against separate defendants. Mr. It. McVeagh appeared in support of the summons. After hearing argument His Honor reserved judgment. The case of. James Scott Lennox, who has been committed for trial on a charge of breach of the Bankruptcy Act, was called on at the Supremo Court yesterday, before Mr. Justice Chapman. Dr. H. Dean Bamford said that ho had been instructed by the counsel for accused, Mr. F. Earl (who was prevented by indisposition from being present), to apply for an adjournment of tho case until next week. The application was granted. There are better countries in the world than Australia and better cities than Sydney, in the opinion of Mr. W. S. Keigwin, who after an absence of seven years abroad has just returned to his native city of Sydney. "The Old World is a bit'in advance of this place," he says, "and I intend to get back to it. It's good enough for me. Yes, I used to like Sydney very well, but there are better places. Take Paris, for instance. A man doesn't know what life is until he has lived there. It is a gay life j and no mistake. Perhaps it is the French- ; man's infinite capacity for enjoyment that j makes everything so pleasant in Paris. Now, Spain is very different. There is not so much gaiety, as tho Parisian understands the expression, to bo found in Madrid, or, any of tho other big cities just now. When I was in Spain last summer I visited.San Sebastian. A strike broke out while I was there, and threatened to become general. They don't deal with industrial troubles there with the consideration and forbearance which distinguish similar upheavals in Australia. Before the men could say 'Jack Robinson' the troopa were called out. That soon settled tho matter. There was a good deal of fuss for a while, but the crowds were orderly, and did not get out of hand.'.' .

lii the Magistrate's Com* vested , Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M., g« »*£ h , . . . ' "•'"■•; b«* V 6 nia reserved decision in a case, Auckland as ,£ * , pany (Mr. Richmond) v. Tvser £ jS' (Mr. Stanton), a claim for £32 7„ «?•« injury to 14 cast-iron plates landed l' i ■ damaged condition from the defend™**' steamer Star of Canada, and £3 Tor,"! hour dues on the damaged plates. £ plaintiffs alleged that owing to the not? gence of the defendants servant* I'' agents, and owing to improper ,to * and handling by such servants or Jg 14 cast-iron bottom plates for convey* being part of such good,, were deliS , in a damaged condition. M r . Kettle *Z that the evidence of the experts called bv the plaintiff on the question of « te w a quite outweighed the evidence r,rnH„ I - : by the defendants. The plates, wKI a flange on each side, had been stowed on the top of iron rods, and heavy ir ° girders were placed above them ft. had ' no hesitation in. accepting the evidence of plaintiff's witnesses as to such a method of stowage being wrong. Judgment*: given for the Gas Company or the fS\ amount of damages claimed £2 15 S l" hour dues, and £0 2s 6d costs. Tho work that the Canterbury t' ~ Office has in hand at present £ «,£* ion with the throwing open of J£, for closer settlement, should do something towards satisfying the " earth honger" Iho Sherwood Downs Estate, of 57 641 acres near Fairlie, South Canterbury ' will bo open for selection on March 20th and the ballot will be held at Tinmru on March 22. About a week later the Mount Peel Estate of 50,000 acres will bo'readv for selectors, and following on these two, during the next few months, land will be thrown open at Cheviot, where twelve sections ranging from 25 acres i 0 62 acres, near the railway station, will '''"'" be available. A charge of wilfully defacing the post office letter-box in Calliope Road, Devonport, was preferred against two youth named Albert White and Norman McKcitzie in the Police Court yesterday. M Napier appeared for White and pleaded not guilty, stating that lie understood McKenzie, who was in camp, had sent a' letter admitting the offence. . Sub-Inspector Hendrey said the youths had been painting a yacht, and after that they went up the street painting several gates, till they came to the letter-box. McKenziej who had the brush, painted some letters on it. White did not use the brush, but he stood < by with tho ammunition. The case was adjourned so that McKenzie might attend' V and give his version of the affair. •'',■' Our Samoan correspondent writes that the death of the chief, Mataafa (already ; I reported by cable), was unexpected. V 'Ah '' '' though he had several times been very ill during the past year, it was not thought that his end would he quite so sudden. For 12 years under German rule, Mataaf* ■ has faithfully supported the Admiiistra., tion, which has been exceptionally kind to I him and very considerate of all his needs. ' They even proceeded so far as to erect for Mataafa during hie lifetime a very elaborate sepulchre, which he occasionally superintended himself, for it was built within a stone's throw of his residence. The office of Alii Sili ,is purely nominal, and carries with it no especial powers, or draws . to it no particular high honours, and as such a figurehead is needless for the well- v being of the colony it will probably ho . wholly abolished for the future... Joseph. Mataafa died, as he had lived for many. years, a devout Catholic, and he, to buried from the local cathedral with all of the honours which the Church could be. stow upon Mm. All of the officials of the Government, and most of the foreign ' j lation, as well as large numbers of natives, attended, also Tamasese, ,a former warchief and kingly aspirant, was present, together with Tanu, who in 13$ was crowned at Mulinnu in opposition to Mataafa. Thus passes perhaps . the noblest savage of whom we have any record. A man, thoroughly honourable, steadfast in. his friendships, brave to a fault, patient under adversity, and humble and considers ate when in power. The proposed new by-laws regarding t»q preparation and sale of food, general esa tation, and the regulation of the speed of motor cars were brought up for further consideration at the meeting of, the Audi- - . land City Council last night. A number of amendments not affecting the spirit of the by-laws were recommended by tin By-laws Committee, and were adopted. The by-laws as amended were then formally confirmed. Upon the motion of Mr. J. Court, the by-laws dealing with water charges were referred to a special meeting of the Council, to be held on Thursday evening next. The dispute that has arisen between the wholesale dealers and the- local fishermen was referred to at the meeting of the (Sty Council last night. The Mayor (Mr, 1 & J. Parr) suggested that, in view of the present unsatisfactory state of affairs, the question of the fish supply should he referred to a committee, to see whether the) municipality could not devise some means., to meet the wants of citizens in this direc* tion. He moved, "That the matter he referred to the Finance Committee to re-' port upon the whole question." The motion was carried. The city engineer nas reported~to thq City Council that the sum of £430 authorised for Ligar Place and Ligar-street wp shortly be expended, and that to complete; the streets will cost approximately another £300. Tho Works Committee recommended that the work be completed. . This WM.. agreed to, but not before the Mayor (Mfc C. J. Parr) had entered a strong protest against tho additional cost. Ho said th* engineer was aware that £430 was all tM Council was originally prepared to devote to this work. There was too much of this sort of thing. Despite the fact that'll"* engineer scid the extra amount had been expended on permanent works,-Mr. Paexpressed tho hope that an excess. of eX< penditure above the amount set apart would|; ; ,: not happen again. ; The increasing popularity of the van" couvcr mail service is evidenced by the fact that the R.M.S. Marama sailed from the Canadian port on Wednesday for way . ports and Auckland, carrying 175 passen- . gers. Of this number 45 are travelling fit** saloon, 60 second saloon, and TO in the : third-class. Tho importation of Canadian merchandise is also steadily increasing by this sen-ice. the Mamma having on twajj 530 tons of cargo for Auckland, besides W. tons for Sydney. Another somewhat remarkable ruling has been given by a judge in Suva (says the . k Fiji Times). ' Tho case was one brought ...-. by a married woman for maintenance, ana tho presiding judge sat in the sacred pre- .;: cincts of tho Police Court. "Woman, said tho voung judge, sternly, "you seem to think that because this man married , you ho is bound to support you. That « | not tho law. There is no evidence before the Court that you are not perfectly aide to support yourself." The silence was only broken by tho scratching of the learned judge's pen. then, iu magisterial bass, he said, "Stand down." '' ';,"* '~« • His • Excellency the Covern*r, Lord • His Excellency the Govern*?,' wro Islington, was initiated at Wellington inM the membership of the LoyaL Kuban* Lodge, Manchester Unity Independent - Order of Oddfellows, on Tuesday evening, -