LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15548, 4 March 1914, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

Sixteen newly-appointed justices of the peace were sworn in yesterday before Mr. C. C. Kettle, SIM., who congratulated them upon their appointment, and assured them of the willingness of the magistrates to assist them in any matter which gave ,them difficulty. On behalf of the justices Mr. Graves Aickin thanked Mr. Kettle for the courtesy he had shown them, and asked if they could be supplied with copies of the • Act and manuals of instruction. His Worship agreed to forward the request to the Justice Department

The Gillies Estate, Parhell, which it is proposed shall be acquired by the citizens for a park, will be thrown open for the inspection of the public on Saturday n-iU, and the two succeeding Saturdays, and also on Wednesday, March 18. The Mayor (Mr. C. J. Parr), who lias arranged thutdates with the trustees, Dopes tli.it ihe visitors to the opening of the Parneil baths next Saturday afternoon will inspect the estate after that ceremony, is over. A poll of the ratepayers is to be taken en the park proposal on Wednesday. Much 25, the scheme involving a cost of £1-5,00).

The commission appointed by the Government to inquire into and report upon '-he proposed inclusion of Remuera in the city consists of Messrs. C. C. Kett'c S.M., H. M. Skeet (Commissioner for Crown Lands in Auckland), and J. Mackenzie (district valuer). THe members of the commission will fix the date when they will sit.to take evidence.

The smashing of a window in the factory of J. M. Mennie, Ltd., Albert Street, on Monday night, led to the appearance of an Italian at the Police Court yesterday morning. Information received by the police shows that the window had only been put. in position on Monday to replace one that had been broken some time ago, and that Mr. J. M. Mennie had been the recipient of a letter, strangely worded, which referred to the police in uncomplimentary language. The Italian's demeanour in the court appeared to be peculiar, so Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., remanded him for a week to ascertain whether he is of sound mind.

In reply to the deputation from the Chamber of Commerce which recently waited upon Mr. A. B. J. Irvine, local manager of the Union Steam Ship Company, and submitted to him correspondence regarding the Islands service, Mr. Irvine has informed the secretary of the chamber that the correspondence was forwarded to the head office at Dunedin. The matter was. being considered there, but at the present juncture the office could not perceive any new point or practicable suggestion for the better arrangement of the running of the AucklandFiji, Tonga, and Samoa service under existing' trade ' conditions.

In Banco yesterday His Honor Mr. Justice ' Cooper gave judgment in the Thomas Hancock will case,-which, was argued some days ago. Various. questions were submitted for the opinio'n of the Court upon the construction ■of this will. The testator died in 1893, leaving several children, to whom he gave a life interest in his estate. The will provided that after the death.of the last surviving child the whole of the residue, should be paid and divided between and amongst all his grandchildren, being the children of his son and daughters, who should attain the age of 21 years, ■in equal shares. It appears that one grand-daughter died in the lifetime of the testator, and one grandson was born some considerable time after the testator's death. The. questions decided by His Honor were' shortly that all those grandchildren who survived testator and attained the age of 21 years should take the capital equally between them per capita and not per stirpes. As to a grandchild who died in testator's lifetime His Honor decided that the issue of that grandchild takes nothing in the estate, but as to the grandchild who was born after testator's death, His Honor decided that such grandchild, should, take with the rest, contingently upon his attaining the age of 21 years, he being now an infant. His Honor also ordered that the costs of all parties should -be paid out of the estate, which it is- understood amounts to over £25,000.

Having considered the respective merits of Home and colonial tweeds, the.Canterbury. Students' Association has decided'in favour of the colonial article for its.new blazer (says our Christchurch correspondent). The whole of the material previously used for the blazers has been imported from Home, but when an alteration in the system of awarding blazers at the university was being- considered it was suggested that the local woollen mills could probably produce as good a. matsrial if the order were placed with them. The sample pattern which has been submitted for Approval' has been found entirely satisfactory, and the Students' Association is confident that the new material will meet with the approval of the wearers.

The history most of us were taught at school was little more than blood and fire —battles, who won them, and isolated dates "—remarked Mr. W. H. Hemmingway, in speaking to students at the Auckland University College last night. "We heard nothing of the silent army of workers and businessmen, and what they achieved in moulding and developing the Empire." The speaker was referring to the value of a course in modern history

" Can a union legally claim dues from members when it squanders its funds upon strikes?" asked a member of the Auckland Painters' Union who "was proceeded against by his union at the Magistrate's Court yesterday for fees due. " Some of these legal gentlemen will tell you," replied Mr. Kettle The defendant stated that he had obtained only three weeks' work since Christmas, and the reason, he declared, was that he had worked during the strike, and, in consequence, had been black-listed by the union That seems pretty hard," remarked the magis trate. " Have you tried your old employers?" The defendant said that he had, but' without success. "If what you say is true it seems a wrong thing that a man cannot get employment because he objected to strike," commented Mr. Kettle. Another member of the same union who was also proceeded against for membership fees affirmed that the union would not have taken action against him had it not been for the fact that he worked . during the- strike. He, also had been unable to obtain work.

The exportation of fruit from Fiji was not a very lucrative business last year, according to the annual report of the directors of the Fiji Fruit Company. Owfng largely to inadequate shipping facilities and to the recent rise in freight rates there was a loss of between £600 and £700 on the year's operations., The losses on the first half-year amounted to £6000 but they pjcked up a good deal in the second half. The company intends in future to buy only from its European. and Indian contractors, and it is anticipated that with the fruit from the company's own estates better results will be obtained.

"- A splendid, selection -of illnstrauons. is-:;' % contained, in ~ to-day's issue of the "V: Auckland Weekly News. Among the :>fj most interesting are views of the Waitcmc 3 i% Caves, situated in the King* Country, about 125 miles from Auckland. Pictures -sf of all the different caves are shown, and, -Si in addition, there are illustrations showing" M the curious formations encountered. A -'■} page of snapaho.s taken at the New Zea- -f land swimming championship meeting % held in Blenheim, Marlborough, last week, is iucluded in the issue, which also contains a selection of views taken during the progress of the Dominion Rifle Association's annual meeting at Trentham, Wellington. The opening of the Waikowhai Park at Mount Roskill on Saturday last is illustrated. A picture of more than usual interest, is that showing the scenj of the recent alpine tragedy, and in this connection there, are photographs of two of the Mount Cook guidesone being of Thomson (one of the men lost) and the other being of Graham, who played ~H important part in the search work! Further illustrations deal with the Auckland Exhibition axemen's carnival. Mastei-ton Show prize-winners, the meat strike in. Sydney, including a cauoon, and the Prime Minister's visit to Hawke's Bay.

A well-known Wanganui banker had a peculiar experience the other day. Ha was walking down the street carrying some small cartridges in one of his pockets. He was smoking a pipe at the time, and, meeting an acquaintance, he put his pipe" in his pocket where the cartridges v.-ere. A little later he was startled to hear an explosion coming apparently from his pocket. Investigating, he found that cne of the cartridges had been heated by the lighted, tobacco, and had Exploded ' Fortunately no more serious damage than a hole in his coat was the result.

Explaining his reasons for retiring from the representation of Wellington Suburbs at the forthcoming general elections Mr. W. H. B. Bell informed a. Wellington reporter that two members of his firm are at present engaged in politics, tho result being that during the session the remaining three partners have been compelled to do the whole of the work of the office. Mr. Bell feels that it would not be fair to continue that position for a further three years. He pointed out that the position had altered since he contested the last election, because at that date he was the only member of his firm engaged in politics. " The Suburbs seat was not held -by a member of the Reform Party when I contested it," continued Mr. Bell, " but the. electors showed their appreciation of Mr. Massey and his policy by electing me, and I have no doubt that they will again return a supporter of Mr. Massey. and this, time by even a larger majority than they were good enough, to give m© at the last election.**

An anxious time was speit by the. five men • engaged in salvaging work on the wrecked liner Devon, at the entrance to the Wellington Harbour, last Friday night. , Early in the evening a heavy southerly sprang up, which brought with it a big ocean roll. Mountainous waves soon began to break against the stranded vessel, causing her to strain and creak in an alarming manner. The five'men who were on board were unable to get any help, and remained up all night pondering over what might happen before the morning. After a heavy- pounding the vessel's stern opened slightly, which caused a portion of the. deck aft; to fall away. Later the mizzen mast collapsed with a loud crash, arid, a steam winch msar by also fell away as'the deck sank in. When dawn broken the five, men lost- no time in getting-; „.. ashore by means, of the line, which wa&;"j found intact. The work of aging -the p Devon's cargo, it is hoped, will be com-' J. pleted in a week's, time. _

The centenary of the resumption of /the;; : |i; island of Java by the Dutch will be cele-J-|.'; brated by an exhibition, which will _•.*■■ opened . at' Samarang - in August. The -; Government of Holland is giving the, exhibition its support, and many exhibits will,-;,.| be sent on to the Panama Exposition. •"The£" sum of £5000 haii been donated by the v}; Javanese merchant*, and the Government .-! - is giving a similar amount. A . general executive ' agent • for Australasia was "'apl|l|| pointed in the person of Mr.. J. H. 'S.'gf' Stuart, and he is now in Auckland,' en- M deavouring to get the Government - and siSsome of the local exhibits in the Auckland S Exhibition sent,on to Java- Mr. Stuart's 'St? aim is to see that New Zealand and Australia are adequately represented, and he gr points out that so far as the Dominion is,.|| concerned there is a large market for, New' Pj Zealand products in Java. There s is littje or no land ■ available s for pasturage, the settlement. being very dense, and hence such products as frozen and tinned meats and butter • should have a«ready sale. Cattle are hand-fed, in stables, on food that "is . often ported - Mr. ■ Stuart i said the Exhibition authorities would like to see a typical New Zealand exhibit, including such articles as tinned meats, butter, flax, rope, kauri gum, and timber.

Skill with the rifle is apparently the possession •of families rather than of individuals. Of 350 competitors at Trentham a large proportion have fathers, brothers, cousins, or at least namesakes among the marksmen. A score of names each occur several times, some of them having five representatives. Another peculiar feature is the evidence of rural migration. Brothers who a few years ago all came from the same district, members most likely of the same rifle club or corps, are now to be found resident in places hundreds of miles apart. The development of the King Country and tho Upper Waikato has attracted many men, and names familiar among marksmen as representing members of old established clubs in long settled districts are now down as members of some freshly-formed club in what a few years ago was virgin bjjsh. Thus Trentham is often a rendezvous for a family as well as a rifleshooting reunion. ■

A considerable expenditure to bring the municipal tramway system of Dunedin up to the requirements of the city has been recommended by the town clerk and the tramways manager. A small car has been used in the service owing to the sharp- * ness of the curves in the lay-out of the '-, system, and the alteration of the curves -] to enable bogie cars to be run is esti- \ mated to cost £500. The opening of full length aisles in the 35 cars affected by the recent legislation will cost £960. It is not yet known whether the new tramway regulatione will prescribe 14in or 16in for each passenger. If the former allowance is made, the passenger accom- | modation of the present service will be reduced by 194 seats, and three additional cars will be required to meet the existing conditions, while if 16in is stipulated it will involve a loss of 492 seats and the .• provision of eight new cars. Three cars - will cost £4500 and eight £12,000, while , ; l four additional cars, costing £6000, are ■£ required to cope with the rush-hour traffic. %s The construction of a new line costing **■ £2300, alterations to carsheds costing , £3320, and three motor-'buses at £1000 - each as "feeders" to the existing sys- JS tem, bring the sum of the proposals tpjfg £20,850, or if eight cars are needed to :; make good ■ the loss of space by • alter*- .. turns, to £28,080. ?fjfl [.-• ■■-■.- - ■ - ■Mi - - Wk