LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15306, 20 May 1913, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

Complications have arisen in connection with the proposed transfer of five acres of land from the Remuera to the Ellerslie district in order to enable the union of Remuera with the city to •, be proceeded with. It was stated at last evening's meeting of the Remuera Road Board that there were two householders instead of one, as previously stated, upon the land, while six. or seven of the allotments had been sold and transferred. It would therefore be necessary to secure the consent of these people before the transfer could take place. It was decided to , defer discussion of the Greater Auckland question until the next meeting, to enable the new - members of the board to have all the correspondence dealing with the matter laid before them. : ' ■. r.

A heavy south-easterly gale . was experienced by the Union Company's steamer Maheno for the first two days out from Sydney, to Auckland. The ; Maheno left the New South Wales port .at noon on Wednesday last, and reached Auckland at 6 a.m. yesterday, the passage across the Tasman Sea, which is usually accomplished by the vessel in thres days 20 hours, occupying four days ,' 16 hours. Long before the Maheno. had cleared 'Sydney Heads there was every indication of the storm raging outside, and precautions were taken to securely lash all movable gear on deck. As soon as her bows were turned for the open sea, the steamer met 1 the full force of the (pile. Very little progress could be made, and for the first 24 hours, only 49 miles were logged. The gale raged until Thursday night* when it moderated considerably, and by Friday the conditions were normal. From then on to arrival the Maheno was favoured by fine weather, and she was able ~to make up a little of the.lost time, logging just upon 15 knots an hour for the remainder of the voyage. . The Maheno was in wireless communication with the H'uddart-Parker steamer Wimmera, then bound from Auckland to Sydney, and , that vessel reported that v she was meeting with very rough weather.-. , :' . - ■■•'■ ■ •;.•■:•. ;' ,

; Arrangements' for-the. annual , inspection by the members of.the. Harbour Board of the big works in hand are now being made by the chairman (Mr. J. H. Gunson). In the course of the next week or two .the members , will >be,; taken : - to all ; points covered -by the board's operations. '

The several handsome pieces of plate, J including'the'.'■■large salver, which the Harbour • Board - presented to H.M.S. New i Zealand, on behalf of the port, are now out of the engraver's hands. The - engraying of the plan of the port and harbour works on the salver has been.} completed. : It is expected that the cabinet made from New Zealand woods to contain the plate will be ; finished next week. The chairman of the board (Mr.:/ J. H. Gunson) stated, yesterday that the board would give the public an opportunity of seeing' the port's souvenir, as arrangements were being made to have it placed on view in a Queen Street' shop window. The cabinet containing the plate is to be placed at the foot of the main hatchway of the New Zealand, when the vessel returns to Auckland next month. - ;. /;. A deadlock has arisen between the University College Council and the tenants of its endowment lands at Whakatane. The rentals of the various leases have hitherto been assessed upon a 2£ per cent, basis; but recently the council decided- that on renewal of' the leases the rentals should be adjusted upon a 5 per cent, basis. Strenuous objection to the / increase has been made by the leaseholders concerned, and as the outcome of correspondence; upon the subject a deputation representing their interests waited upon the council at its meeting, yesterday afternoon. For the tenants.it was argued that the leases were originally granted by the Crown, under the Land Act, as small grazing runs, and that the assessment of 2£ per cent, was understood by them to be unalterable. They: dispute the legal right of the College Council; to now increase the rents, and insist on renewals on the same terms as contained in the original leases. The council not being prepared to give way on the points at issue, has referred , the whole question to its solicitor. If advised that it is within its rights in raising the rents, it is more than likely that the council will allow the matter to go .to! arbitration, itstenants being determined to hold out for what they ; consider the terms -. of- their original contract with the Government— the first owners of the Whakatane lands.

As about 200 men were unable to attend the big territorial camp at Cambridge, a casual camp is now being held for their benefit .on the Avoridale racecourse. The camp is under the command of Captain Hawkins, staff-officer ? of the. Third Infantry Regiment. He has with him several senior cadet officers. ■ The week-end was spent in getting things ready for the week's work, which started in full earnest yesterday. The camp will break up on Saturday.■/ /// //

At the request of the ■Mayor (Mr. C. J. Parr) a "civic sermon" will be •preached by Dr. Crossley, Bishop 1 of Auckland,-at St. Mary's Cathedral, Parnell, on Sunday morning next. The Mayor and councillors have signified their intention of attending, and it is expected that many other official persons will be present. This is following on the lead of the Christchurch municipal authorities, at whose suggestion a similar service was held. > It is expected that a further supply of slot telephones will be to hand for use in Auckland :in about three months' time. Nine are to be erected, and the sites were announced some months ago .■; when the construction was authorised. The new telephones are being made in England, while those now in operation were made in the Dominion.' •'*:■< .

Reference to the state of Remuera roads was made at last evening's meeting of the Road Board. The chairman: (Mr. J. Dempsey) remarked that the metal being placed on the roads, from the point of view of size, was outrageous and ; ! a disgrace to the district. '"■: He stated that in his opinion nothing but 2in metal should be used for patching, added that ;on many of the roads in the district ;! 6in metal was to be found. Members of the board agreed with him, and Ait was resolved that it be an instruction to the foreman,■ of works ■ never to use metal larger than Sin, and that the rolling of roads be carried out as soon as possible. ;.

The death of Mrs. Eli Ckal, ; which was reported' by wireless from the Maheno, on Sunday, was due to the strain \ imposed by a Tough voyage upon a weak heart. Mrs. deal hod some years ago undergone an.operation;' and "her ; health was in a weak condition. The trying experiences of the voyage across the Tasman Sea were therefore too much for her. Dr. Scott, who was coming f rem :•■.■ Tasmania, ■;■. on '.- a visit to New. Zealand, attended her, ' but she collapsed and died of heart failure on Thursday. Mrs. Cleal was buried yesterday afternoon. She was '■ 51 years of age, and left a large family. ...

A start with the installation of the new clock at the- Ferry Buildings was -made I yesterday, when the 13cwt bell .was hoisted into position. The new timepiece is a gravity-escapement clock r with four dials, each Bft in diameter. Cambridge chimes of four , bells strike the quarterhours, the. total weight of sthese and the hour bell being over 1£ tons. It :is expected that the new electric two-dial clock for the Chief Post Office will be erected in about a month's time. Each dial will have a diameter of sft. ' ' '_ , , ~ " A cross-examination within the rules " was permitted at the Supreme Court yesterday. " The rules" in this instance provide that a prisoner may not be exam'ined as to any : previous convictions, unless by the leave of the Court; ! and the Court will not grant that leave unless the convictions have been of recent date, or so allied to the crime with which he is charged that a person guilty of the crimes for 'which the convict?/ ?• s; were made may resonably be supposed to be guilty of the crime with which \ he : : is v charged. ' This rule is made as a protection to prisoners, so that juries shall not be exposed to prejudice; and "previous records" are produced when the jury has brought in a plea of guilty. The rule has been in force in New Zealand only about two years, prior to which a prisoner could be examined as to his career without restriction. The corresponding English rule forbids such examination unless the prisoner produces evidence to prove that his character is good,' and it is desired to refute it. In the "' instance which occurred yesterday, the prisoner made a. very serious allegation against the character of a witness for. the prosecution,' arid the prosecuting counsel was immediately granted leave for the special examination.'. ■•■■•■.

When an elderly woman, whose age was given as 69 years, was charged in - the Police Court yesterday with insobriety and the use of insulting language, sis was given the option, according to the law, of being tried either summarily or by a ■ jury at the Supreme Court. The accused became much excited, and declared; that as she had not broken the law she refused to be tried by anyone at all. ' She was remanded for a !week. t '•

Eightyrsix . applications have ; been '{:, received for the position of city organist in Wellington which was .vacated by the. appointment of Mr. Maughan Barnejtt to the similar position in Auckland.. 1- Sixtythree of the applications are from, abroad.: .A committee , has been appointed-.by the City Council to select '■ four Siames! for, submission to the council, and from these the appointment will be made,. . I '■':' :':'■'■'•''■■."'.■''••'- ;.::■•, ';..• ;.'■■'-'.■• ■■"-!> : S•'>';■ .''^^^vJ.'v.V^ifc;-:

The district representative of the A.M.P. (Mr. J. Parkes): had a narrow escape from very serious injuries a couple" of days ago telegraphs our: Wanganui correspondent)?l He was motor-cycling a few miles ths other .side of Marton, and • when crossing* a bridge over a" stream he was caught ,by a sudden gust of wind and blown, togetheV with "his ■ machine, '. over/the side of ;•the structure, .the"bicycle smashing tie hand rail with the force of the collision. The fall was about 20ft and when Mr. Parkes cams to himself he saw the bicycle suspended 2ft above him and a stream of water 2ft below. ■•.■/.He was picked up by some motorists, and it was ascertained that none of his bones were broken, although the machine was badly damaged. .; A, promissory ■ note was the basis of a claim for £115, by Nathaniel R. Farnall (Mr. C. J. Tunks) against the Sportsman Printing and. Publishing Company (Mr. Hackett), the hearing of which was commenced by Mr. C. ;C. Kettle, S.M., 'is. the Magistrate's Court yesterday. ' Evidence was taken with regard to the transaction, and the matter was adjourned .at the suggestion of the . magistrate for - a week, to allow an examination of books to be made and a statement of accounts to be -' prepared.

• The tests at the high-power wireless station at' Awanui (North Auckland). have - B proved highly satisfactory, but as yet the -|" plant has not been handed over to the'.':"/ 'A_ Government. 'Apart from the usual ser-,i- :/f vice tests, the two high-power stations at Bluff and Awanui will have to undergo / ./ trials, known technically as " life" tests, /•/,■ with a view ,to ensuring a uniform working over a period of some months. The- Bluff station is now. nearing completion. The ■/ tower and aerials are in position, and, messages are being received. As yet, how- • ■ ever, no messages have been sent, as the/;///j transmitting plant is not adjusted. At the Chatham Islands, where a low-power station is being erected, good progress is V v being made with the work. A eang of - men is now engaged in putting up the V buildings, and shortly more men will be despatched to put the aerials and poles in ' position. '■■■ It is a low-power plant, only, two and a-half kilowatts, as compared;///! with 15 kilowatts at Awanui, but it is not: anticipated 1 that a greater strength will be /1 needed. The primary duty of this ocean outpost will be to keep in touch with shipping and report movements to the Dominion. ' ::■■'■;■■ ■■■i As a .recognition of the work done by// / the Victoria League of Auckland in caring ;-' for the graves of the soldiers who fell in : the Maori war, the Government has officially appointed the league's secretary '. to look after all the soldiers' graves in . the Auckland Province. The latest activity of the Victoria League has been the ,//? arrangement for the establishment at the Auckland Exhibition, of an information . > bureau. One of the officers of the league will always be in attendance at the bureau /. ■- and will supply visitors with any information required regarding the city and its///jf suburbs. t - A

In connection' with the Harbour Board's decision to concentrate ite energies upon the reclamation at Mechanics' Bay, and to cease operations for ; ' the time- being at' Freeman's Bay, the board's No. 1 dredger is now at work/ at the former reclamation.; Very fine shell is being obtained from the bed <of the harbour by the dredgerjY and deposited at Mechanics' } Bay. This material should make a splendid;reclamation. The No. 2 dredger will also be utilised for the work shortly. • • •

; ; The ; Government has * handed over•/-' >. a \ piece of land with frontages;oi'lsft to; Victoria Avenue arid Remuera Road, part of the '':■ Post ■•':Office; reserve, to the Remuera Road Board,*; so that the entrance to Victoria Avenue may be improved. The gift ''.}' was; accepted with thanks -at ;■">•■ the j board's meeting last evening, and it was 5 resolved 'to approach the;" Postal Department and .urge it to push forward the proposed erection of . a post office on the reserve 'in question. ;' It was pointed out that the necessary money, had been on the Estimates for the past two years. f

The poll on the proposal to form Taka- £■',-, puna, into a borough is to be taken on. Vj May ~ 28. The, returning officer' (Mr. A. t||| M. Pickford) received the roll from the |p Valuation Department, yesterday, and .?:■ hopes to have ;it; in the hands ; of ,-the ; printers within the next day or two. >: The '- jfj committee of the Takapuna Ratepayers' , p Association was to j have . met .last *. night, to decide whether any preliminary meet- : * ings are to-be held. v -tl : A well-known - resident of Wanganui had a u most unusual and exciting experience with a frost' fish on the South' Spit sea |£ beach on Sunday (telegraphs our Wanga- -,<•_■ nui correspondent). He noticed some )||| commotion in the water which had- at- ? || tracted a flock of. gulls, and on closer - .. observation found a frost fish about 2ft 6in • long struggling in the breakers. , He ran , | into the sea with his boots on, seized it by the tail, v and > the:: result was • scarcely | what he expected. -It made a snap at --;;< his leg and tore a piece clean out of the bottom of his trousers, leaving the mark • ■ of its teeth on his boots. He was not to " .] be frightened, however, and successfully - /,. landed the fish. " I

The • new pleasure yacht Onelua, built, ; ,. in Auckland for the King of Tonga, sailed on her voyage of 1000 miles to Tonga yesterday i afternoon. She is in charge/ ofofe Captain Stenbeck, who : has with;; him ;■ | Messrs. W. Swinnerton and E. Mansell. : Under favourable conditions the , Onelua • j should reach her destination in about nine ; days' time. ; A serious accident befel Mr. T. White- - j ley, J.P.,: a few days ago (writes our ; Otahuhu correspondent). Mr. Whiteley was cutting tea-tree with a sword bayonet when he slipped .and fell, the point of the • bayonet running into the upper part; -. of the right thigh. The wound was not., large, , but : one of the main arteries was severed. ; A friend of Mr. Whiteley happened to : be on the spot, and saved his -' life by prompt and effectual first ■ aid. Dr. . ; Rowley , was soon in attendance, and with ;- 'the 'assistance lof • another surgeon ; t t&e patient was placed out of danger. * ; Discontent with their conditions was the j reason .given ') by a number of telegraph messengers to a Wellington pressman who sought an I explanation for the fact that,|p 10 bovg •were required Immediately: for the p| service. An officer stated that the boys, j were wanted to fill vacancies caused by promotions,.; but ;a' number; of messengers |;- declared that boys were leaving the ser-I||| vice on '; account of ,•: the discontent;: which existed. \; There .was even some talk of & strike. J Several complaints were made by m the lads. : The scale of pay was not con- M sidered ; liberal enough, especially as/ m, s ~ the words of one lad, "they are always | taking something off it." h Another com- , plaint; was <that senior,boys were kept on m delivery rounds while new lads were given £;*£ inside work. The seniors : held that they , ought to be allowed to remain inside ;*,;;' that they could learn what there was to be learned. A third complaint , had tO; : do^J; with- ; a certain supervising officer, who was said to be continually; nagging at th«-' boys. "If we are five minutes laAe- . said one';messenger, ; ;" we are given ** hour's extra duty," but if ,we work ' fy* /g t minutes' overtime wo get nothing. Blesse* misers he added in a tone of .deep o* f , • . s mm . ' /■ . ' , ''"/'^^