LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14947, 21 March 1912, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

TnERE has been a marked fall in the temperature in Auckland during the last day or two, cool days followed by cooler nights having been experienced. It would almost seem that the present spell of weather is the forerunner of the winter. Already the light garments of summer are being discarded in favour of warmer clothes, and overcoats are being freely used at night-time. The wind last night had quite a chilly touch, and at times was inclined to be boisterous. Throughout the day the sky was more or less overcast, but the threatening rain held off, save for a few light showers. Owing to a heavy south-east gale blowing the Union Cornpan's steamer Haupiri, which left Auckland for Gisborne on Tuesday, is sheltering at Cook's Bay. The Northern Company's steamer Paeroa is bar-bound at Whananaki. Mr. D. C. Bates stated yesterday afternoon that the cyclonic disturbance was now centred off Great Barrier Island, and ruled the atmospheric conditions northward of Greymouth and Kaikoura, and south-east gales prevailed at many stations, -with gloomy weather and rain in many parts.

An Australian mail was brought by the steamer Maunganui, which arrived at Wellington from Sydney yesterday morning. The Auckland portion of the mail, consisting of 34 bags, will arrive by the Main Trunk express this morning. -

It is estimated that the number of departures from New Zealand -will exceed the- arrivals during the present month. The Moana, which left Wellington for Sydney on Friday last, was a full ship, and the Warrimoo, to sail on Friday next, is now fully booked up. The lonic, sailing from Wellington for London direct to-day, will also take a full complement' of passengers.

A deputation waited upon the Mayor of Auckland (Mr. C. J. Parr) yesterday morning to urge the extension of the tramways up Upper Queen-street. The residents in the vicinity affected were strongly represented, and Messrs. Hudson and Harbutt spoke on behalf of the various musical societies using the Town Hall. Mr. Meikle also spoke on behalf of the deputation's request. The Mayor replied that he was personally very- much in favour of the extension asked for, and promised to lay the matter before the City Council.

An inquest was held yesterday by the Coroner (Mr. T. Greshnm) on the body of Axel Snertinge, the prisoner who was found hanging by the neck from a ventilator in his cell in Mount Eden Gaol on Tuesday morning. Evidence given by the chief gaoler and warders showed that deceased was a very quiet man, and there had been no complaints against him. In answer to a juryman it was stated that it was not usual to visit the prisoners in' their cells during the night. The nightwatchman did not carry a key, but if any prisoner put out a signal the nightwatchman would immediately call up the orderly on duty. After medical testimony had been given the jury returned a verdict that the prisoner Snertinge had wilfully killed himself by strangulation.

The convenience of distinctive marks on grain sacks indicative of the different sizes has been under consideration by the various branches of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, and a circular letter on the subject has now been issued by the Dominion secretary of the union. He states that the Wellington Chamber of Commerce has consulted the manufacturers, whose replies indicated that the marking of sacks with a figure would cost from Id to 2d per dozen, and that the work would not be reliably done by native labour. The manufacturers suggested that a better method would be to distinguish the sizes by the use. of coloured stripes woven into the sacks as follows—4 Bin by 26£ in, three blue stripes (as at present); 46in by 26£ in, three green; 46in by 24£ in, three red (as at present); 44in by one blue, one red, and one blue stripe. Tins method would not involve extra cost, if the manufacturers had sufficient notice (say, two months). The executive of the Auckland Union yesterday approved the proposed system of marking by stripes.

In respect to the complaint made by business men about the difficulty experienced in posting letters at the late letterbox on the Main Trunk train, Mr. A. M. Myers, M.P., who represented the matter to the chief postmaster, has received intimation to the effect that arrangements have been made to have the late letter-box at the railway station cleared daily (with the exception of Saturdays) at 9.5 p.m.— five minutes before the departure of the train. The new arrangement will prove a great convenience to business men and others who have late letters to post.

A young man was arrested by Detectives Hollis and Cummings at Otahuhu last evening, on a charge of false pretences, and he will be brought up in the Police Court this morning. It is alleged that he has been operating freely with cheques on, a bank account which he does

A post-mortem examination was made by Dr. Moir on the body of Margaret Lucas, the single woman who was found ' -' lying dead on the floor of her house on Tuesday afternoon. At the iuqueit yesterday the doctor stated that heart failure due to a diseased and fatty heart, was the immediate cause of death. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the ■>- medical testimony.

The big strike •in Brisbane haa not, according to Mr. S. \\r Brooks, a Brisbane newspaper pro l prietor, had any very great visible effect upon the city as yet. Speaking upon the subject yesterday, he said that such an event would probably not show its real effect for perhaps a year. Once over, things fell back for the time much into their accustomed groove. As to th« period of the strike iteelf, he said, "it was extremely inconvenient."

A meeting of creditors in the bankrupt estate of Nathan Phillips, jeweller of Waihi. was held at the office of the official assignee (Mr. Fisher) yesterday afternoon. Mr. W. M. Mowlem appeared on behali of the bankrupt, and about half-a-dozen creditors wero represented. The assignee announced that at an informal meeting 0 creditors he had been instructed to call for tenders for the stock and fittings, the tenders to close on Monday. Bankrupt's liabilities were £1657 lis 3d, and the assets £1550 12s Bd, leaving a deficient of £106 18s 7d. Mr. Fisher said he had received letters from three creditors ex. pressing strong sympathy with the bankrupt, as they considered his difficulties were brought about solely through mi* fortune. The assignee and one of the creditors (Mr. Price) wero instructed by Iho meeting to take steps to collect the book debts in the estate or to accept, a private offer for the same if they thought* fit. They were also authorised to com sider any tenders received for the stock and fittings.

A deputation waited on Mr. Geo. Bail* don last evening requesting him to stand for the position of Mayor of Grey LynnMr. Baildon, after returning thanks, Big« niiied that it gave him great pleasure td accedo to the request of the deputationShould lie bo elected to the position, hq would carry out the duties of Mayor to ths best of his ability.

A road has been opened through to the; West Coast from Mount Cook (reports d Greymouth paper). A footbridge has been thrown over the Huka River, huts have been built, and tracks cut to connect the Hermitage with the western system of roads. Tins will enable the more venture* some tourists to cross right through from Mount Cook to the West Coast. They will be able to see the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers, and they will then have 10 miles, of road to travel through beautiful scenery, to Hokitika.

Growing passion-fruit, for profit does appear to be a common industry in Aujw tralasia, but an experiment in that direct tion is being made by some residents ofi Cootamundra, New South Wales. One of the delegates to the Australasian Presa Association Conference stated yesterday that some high land, available at Cootan mundra, was peculiarly suited to thq growing of passion-fruit. It was easily, worked, and the plants needed very littlef attention. Already quantities of the fruiti were being sent to Melbourne; where there, was an excellent market, much better, in( fact, than was available in Sydney. M was intended now to extend the business in a large degree, and export the fruit ta New Zealand, in the expectation that it| would bo welcomed at the price at whicb it could bo supplied.

The shortage of domestic servants on the) farms in various parts of the Dominion has been very much felt for some considerable! time past, but it appears that the South! Canterbury Farmers' Union has set abontj relieving the stress to some extent in it? own particular district. By the Athenic, due from London to-morrow, a party of 20 domestics will arrive, having been in* duoed to come out by the arrangementa of the union in question. The destination of the party is Timaru.

Evidence of the prosperity of Invercargill has been brought out in a very curious way. The Old Age Pensions Court is to eitl there in a day or two, and the registrar (Mr. B. Murphy) informed a reporter yesterday that there would be a number pS pensions considerably reduced. Tho reason, he said, was that the inauguration of the new tramway serried had raised the value of the properties held by several pensioners to above the standard set. In one case the Govenunenfl valuer had valued a section of land all £90 in 1911, but its new valuation thia month had been placed at £275. Another, section valued at £190 had been raised in value to £565- In each case the land was held by pensioners, and the pensions would be considerably reduced, and in other cases would have to bo refused. ■ Not only, had the tramway service been the cause of the rise, but there seemed to be no end to the boom in property, which was at; present making the progress of Invercar* gill very marked.

Gladstone Pioad, Gisborne, will be illuminated by electric light from the municipal electrical powur-house fop the first time this evening, thud, marking the inauguration of another section cf the important loan works now in progress. The opening ceremony will bo performed by the Mayor (Mr. : W. Pettie) at the powerhouse in the presence of the members of the Council. Simultaneously the street lights in Gladstone Road will be switched on, and subsequently a public demonstration of toe utility of electricity will bo given at thflj electrical department's showrooms.

The hatpin nuisance appears to baT« been especially acute amongst the crowd at the Garden Fete held in Dunedin recently. Two young men were struck in the eye— so badly that he had to leave the ground in consequenceand a wellknown gentleman had his neck punctured to the extent of fully a quarter of an inch*, while an elderly lady had her face badly scratched.

A Hawke's Bay geologist writes to the Hawke's Bay Tribune as follows: —"Goodness knows how many parties have been, testing, if not oil, certainly gas, along the Dannevirke-Wainui Road, where there are many traces of gas, just as one sees them at Nuhaka, Waipoao, Waipiro Bay and a ■ score of other places along the coast west of Poverty Bay. It is said that wells are being put down in several places within a few miles of Gieborne, and should oil be struck as it has been at New Ply"' mouth the East Coast will become the most important commercial part of tn« Dominion. Hundreds of wells will be pi* down, and Napier, Hastings, and Dann£ virke will become as important as UW borne-for if oil should be struck » Poverty Bay and Nuhaka so sure it W» be struck in the district reaching W; Wallmgford to Weber, and the county further south. The symptoms are JU»» as common to the south of Hawkes V<V as to the north of it,, and should success, follow the efforts now being made tueij is no reason why attempts should ttW tornado even on the Heretaunfia ?**^|S