LOCAL AND GENERAL MEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15645, 26 June 1914, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL MEWS.

An assault upon a referee in a football match, played under Rugby Union rules, was investigated at the Police Court yesterday. The offender was Ralph Craig (Mr. G. M. Stewart), and the charge of assault was brought at the instance of the Auckland Rugby Union (Mr. J. C. Mar in). It was explained ,Hy Mr. Martin -hat Craig had assaulted the referee after a fourth grade match on June 6. The Rugby Union was not desirous of seeing a heavy penalty inflicted in this case, but wished the public to understand that misbehaviour would not be allowed at matches. Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., said that such offences should bo dealt with severely, but as the union did not desire it in this case, Craig would be cautioned, and 'would be ordered to pay the costs of tho action, amounting to 28s.

The interruption ot the work in connection with the building of the new Grammar School at Mount Eden, duo to the recent trouble with bricklayers, was a subject of comment in a letter received by the Grammar School Board yesterday. The contractor, Mr. W. E. Hutchison, wrote stating that one of his foremen had been m the South, with the object of selecting some good men, and the result was that the contract was now fully manned, the new hands being very satisfactory. The work was being pushed forward, in an endeavour to make up the time lost owing to the trouble.

Four boys, all about 14 years of ago, appeared at the Polico Court yesterday on charges of being found in a billiard saloon without a guardian before they had attained the age of 18 years. The boys in question were found by Sergeant Rock, watching the games in a saloon. Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., decided that the present case would be met by a warning, and an explanation of the law on the matter. Tho owner of the saloon, Barney Ford, appeared charged with allowing the boys into the saloon, but when it was explained that the boys had been in the room only a minute or two, and that Ford was absent at the time, tho charge was withdrawn.

Tho numerous applications received by tb> Auckland Land Board yesterday for transfers of Crown lands from present occupiers to othor applicants were carefully scrutinised by the board. In one case, where about 8500 acres were concerned, questions were asked regarding the profit which the seller was said to be making, trafficking in Government lands being discouraged. As the applicant appeared *■: be satisfied that the property was well worth tho added value attached to it by the prospective seller, the application for the transfer was granted.

Two Gilbert (Mr. J. C. Martin) and Albert Henry Skelton, were charged at the Police Court yesterday with driving vehicles in Jorvois Road on June 1 in a negligent manner. It transpired in the course of the hearing of the chargo against Gilbert, who is a tramway motorman, that the cart driven by Skelton carried only one light. This war. entirely in accord with tho city by-lawß, which provide thAt a vehicle moving no faster than a walking pace is obliged to carry only a light upon the left side. Therefore when the right side of tho cart was turned to the oncoming tramcar, the motorman was unable to distinguish it, and a collision took place. The chargo against Gilbert was dismissed, and the chargo against Skelton was withdrawn.

An amusing incideni. occurred at the opening of Parliament yesterday. Just ■ alter the members of the House of Repre-J sentatives had left to attend upon His Excellency in tho Upper House, says our special correspondent, a young man, , armed with a ticket for the " floor of the House," strolled into tho chamber and coolly 6at down in a member's seat. The , particular seat that ho chose was the one belonging to Mr. McCombs, the new member for Lyttelton. He wap the sole occupant of the Lower Chamber, and he remained in possession for some considerable time, all unconscious of the miles of the officials, who quickly noted that there was "a stranger" in the House. Eventually a friendly messenger tapped him on the shoulder, said a word or two in his car, anl led him out of the chamber to take his chance of obtaining a less prominent seat,

In the course of a lecture to tho Young Wo mens' Christian Association, the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr. H. Holland) referred to lik travels abroad and said that in beautiful, sunny Italy, his heart was made sore ait the miserable, poverty stricken, priest-ridden condition of the people. This reference to the people being priestridden brought forth a spirited reply from Bishop Grimes, at a festival presentation to him. Ho said that he wanted to know what claim tho Mayor had for making] this statement. He (the speaker) had spent a considerable time in Italy, and he had gone greatly amongst the people. They were far from being priest-ridden. They were down-trodden because they were governed by men who were not fit to govern them. "I don't know why such things 'should bo said here," went on j Bishop Grimes, "or why one in his official; capacity should go out of his way to insult < other people. I am surprised at him, and I don't think it fair. I don't suppose he knows much of Italy."

The organisation of a permanent stall of waterside workers for Auckland is the ob-jf-ctive of proposals which are being considered by tho New Zealand Shipowners' Federation. A plan has been formulated for consideration by the federation at a meeting next month. Discussing the schomo yesterday, the president (Mr. E. A. Craig) explained that its principal purpose was to secure regular employment for tho number of men to which any permanent staff would necessarily be restricted. ' The scheme could not dispense entirely with casual labour.

Matters affecting the subject of permanent levels of streets were mentioned ,at last night's meeting of the City Council. In response to an inquiry from Mr. E. I!. L. Garland as to whether permanent levels for Arthur Street had been fixed, the city engineer (Mr. W. E. Bush) reported that the permanent city levels were fixed on .August 13, 1885, but all had not been set. down. The Deputy-Mayor (Mr. John Court) said that levels fixed 30 or 40 years ago had not been laid in many streets in. Ponsonby. Permanent levels were not wanted in rtnny side streets, but only in certain th'-n-oughfarcs, such as those through which the tramway service passed

A resolution of condolence with the relatives of the late Mr. W. R. Bloomfield and Mrs. and Miss Bloomfield was adopted by tho Auckland Land Board yesterdav. The Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr. H. M..' Skeet) said it was very sad to think of their fellow-citizens being cut down in such a terrible way in tho prime of life.

During the fortnight ended June 14, a total of 270,660 units of electricity were generated at the city powerhouse, and 207,880 gallons of water were used. Coal consumed amounted to 515 tons. Thirteen new customers were obtained, bringing the total to 1617.

Trouble has arisen between \ the City Council and the Auditor-General in regard to several items in the council's balancesheet for 1913, owing to the fact that unauthorised expenditure has been exceeded. The town clerk reported at last, night's meeting of the council th.it ho had instructed the city engineer that an item, "Plans, £1 13s Id," in the unauthorised expenditure was to be charged to, and collected from, the Exhibition authorities. The Auditor-General advised that he couid not concede an item of £38 4s 6d, but would remit surcharges for other items— one of £4, and two of £1 each. Ho would refrain from giving instructions to the Crown Law Offico to take proceedings, provided that the total sum surcharged, less the sum of £6 conceded, bo paid on or before June 30, The Financo Committee recommended that tbo information b« received. Mr. F. E. N. Gaudin said soma, tiling should be done by the council if order that members might not bo liable for surcharges. Mr. T. J. Nerheny rai marked that when hospitality was ex tended to distinguished people, such aj had been the caso in the present instancy councillors should not have to pay for it. Tho Government should indemnify the members who had to meet the surcharge. Mr. P. Mackay stated that an idea was abroad that the council had been "juggling" with money. Such an idea should be removed. The authorised expenditure had been exceeded in bidding farewell to Lord Islington and in welcoming the Earl of Liverpool, tho present Governor. The money had been spent practically on civic (unctions. When councillors gave their time—which was money —to the service of tho community, they should not be forced to pay extra sums. On the motion of Mr. A. J. Entrlcan, seconded by Mr. Gaudin, the matter was referred back to the committee, and it was decided to take steps to have the expenditure validated.

Tho attention of tho City Council was recently drawn to the curtailmont of tho facilities for chess and draughts in tho newspaper room of the Public Library. The librarian (Mr. John Barr) reported to the council last night that it was impossible to spare any more room, and tho playing of game;-; .11 the reading-room was deterrent to the primary purposo of the room. He recommended, and it was resolved, that the two remaining tables bo withdrawn until a separate room could be found.

A search was made in northern waters this week by the warships Psyche, Pyramua and Philomel, and the Government steamer Tutanekei for the missing fishing boat, Andrew. No trace of the missing boat was found, and the Philomel is returning to Auckland at noon to-day. A wireless message received last evening stated that the Tutanekei expects to arrive at Auckland late to-night or to-raorrow morning. The vessel is being delayed by rough weather.

" The Land Board likes to do things in regular order,' said the Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr. H. M. Skeet) yesterday, when presiding v er a meeting of tho board. It appeared that since the board took over the educat; on reserve lands, some years ago, from the School Commissioners, it had had to deal with a number of incomplete transactions which had been made during tho old regime in regard to the leasing of lands. In many casea occupiers of these lands thought they could transfer them to other people without consulting the board, as similar things had been done when the School Commissioners had to deal with the leasing of tho land. This was a mistaken idea, said th<) commissioner.

In regard to the proposed erection of a memorial to fallen soldiora in the reserve at the top of Wakefield Street, the Onehunga Borough Council advised the City Council last night that of the tenders invited by the Victoria League, Mr. J. Park, of Onehunga, was the successful applicant, and bold tho written acceptance of the league, which, so far, had never been officially countermanded. The Borough Council asked, on behalf of Mr. Park, that in view of the fact that the league had adopted another design, the City Council should reserve the original site granted until the matter had been carefully investigated. The council decided to reply that it did not desire to interfere between the parties. The Deputy-Mayor (Mr. John Court) stated that ',he City Council desired that any design which the >atruß might adopt, should be submitted to the council for approval.

A long-standing case was settled by a judgment given by Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., yesterday. The parties to the action were Winstone, Limited (plaintiffs) and McLennan and Boyco (defendants), and the question for the Court to decide was which of the defendants was liable for a claim of £60 4s 6d for goods supplied. Boyce, the magistrate said, had endeavoured to show that he merely financed McLennan in a bakery business at Cambridge, but this was borne out neither by his demeanour in the witness-box nor by the history of the business. In Mr. Cutten's opinion, there was no doubt that the business did belong to Boycc, and therefore judgment would be given against him for tho full amount. Tho question of costs was reserved.

A suggestion has been made that band performance? in tho city parks should he commenced a month eajlier nost summer than has been tho case formerly. The city engincor report-ad to the City Couno.l last night that he understood the band masters of the various bancs appioved '.f this course, and ho recommended it for favourable consideration. The report was received.

The Taxi-cab Proprietor?.' Association has approached tho City Council requesting that its members be exempted from the payment of 10a and the passing of a com potency test. The association pointed out that the certificate for which taxidrivers pay £1 per annum implies and pots out that' they ar« competent- The City Council deci'ltxl last night to replv tli.it no licenses will be issued until t.he certificate of competency hes been first obtained.

Consideration was to have been given by the City Council last night to a draft of by-lawa revised by the Finance Committee, but owing to insufficient time the matter was deferred to a special meeting to bo held at 6.30 p.m. on th« dav of the council's next meeting, In regard to the suggested by-law:, tie city engineer (Mr. W. E. Bush) advifed th.< one of the clauses approved by tt» committee would provide for advertisement? beirg allowed on builders' hoardings. It would bo desirable that the liv-laws lio strengthened sy as to prevent the pasting or fixing of paper, calico, or canvas signs on such hoardings and to allow only advertisements to he painted on the boarding of the hoarding, or on sheets of iron or other suitable material if securely fastened.

A Chinaman najned Chin Hon, residing at Ah Chee's gardens, Parnell, became suddenly ill yesterday. Medical aid was summoned, but the mail died before the doctor arrived. Death is thought to be due to natural causes. An inquest will be held at the mortuary, at nine o'clock this morning.