New Zealand Mail. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 1901.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1508, 24 January 1901, Page 34

New Zealand Mail. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 1901.

Cardinal Moran is expefflted to leave Sydney for Wellington on the 26th instant. Whilst in this city he will dedicate the newly-erected Basilica in Hill street, and lay the foundation stone of the cathedral to 'be built in Boulcott street. On Sunday, February 10, Cardinal Moran will lay the foundation stone of the new cathedral in Christchurch. On the experimental trawling cruise of the Doto round the coasts of the North Island, which will commence in the course of a few days, Mr L. F. Ayson, the Commissioner of Fisheries, will he accompanied, at the instance of the Otago Institute, by Mr A. Hamiltou, v marine biologist. Mr Hamilton is Registrar of the Otago University.

A verdict of death by misadventure was i-eturixed in regal'd to the drowning of John McMahon. In consonance with the policy of never employing people within the colony if the services of outsiders calling themselves experts are to be secured, the Agi'icultural Department has decided to bring four gentlemen over from Australia to take charge of the poultry export depots which are to be established at the chief centres of the colony. The depot at Wellington will be situated on the railway reserve at Pipitea Point, and will be opened in a fortnight. The Department will receive, grade, kill, pluck, prepare, supply cases,. pack, and freeze the birds at the following uniform rates : —Fowls and ducklings, 4d each; geese and turkeys, 8d each. The Department reserves to itself the right to reject any bird over the age stated, or in poor condition, or otherwise unsuitable, and all birds rejected must be at once removed from the depot by the owner or his agent. Should any of the birds sent be rejected, the officials will endeavour to fill up the crate with suitable birds and charge actual cost, or dispose of the odd birds at market price. The Department will pay railage or steamer freight to the depot on all birds accepted for export. The freight, railage, or other # charges on rejected birds will, however, be charged to the owner.

The returns showing the transactions in bankruptcy in each of the districts for which the Official Assignee (Mr James Ashcroft) is appointed, for the year ending December 31st, 1900, afford some interesting comparisons. Last year there were thirty-one petitions by debtors, as compared with forty-six in 1899. Adjudication by creditors’ petitions were four in number, the same as in the previous year. Only one case occurred in which composition was accepted, compared with three in 1899. Twenty-six immediate orders of discharge were granted, compared with thirty in the previous year, and only four orders of discharge were suspended, as compared with eighteen in 1899. Coming to the assets per statements filed (excluding assets secured to creditors), the figures are £9168 4s, as compared with £1094 7s 4d, while secured assets are less than a third of the previous year’s amount, viz., £5503 4s 4d, as compared with £17,373 8s 7d. The liabilities (excluding secured amounts) amount to £20,267 17s lid, as compared with £22,536 Is Id in 1899. The assets realised by the Assignee were £4783 9s 6d in value, as compared with £4105 10s 9d; debts proved, £16,871 15s 9d, compai ed with £20,975 0s 8d; dividends (excluding preferential and secured claims), £1653 19s, as against £3647 14s 7d; preferential claims, £1196 ils lid, compared with £266 13s. Nothing was paid during the past year for sectored claims, and only £43 11s in the previous year. Government commission amounted to £lB4 Is lid, compared with £147 14s 7d, and costs of actions £196 13s 7d, as against £459 7s Bd. The cost of carrying on estates for the benefit of creditors incurred an expenditure of £829 7s 6d, compared with £215 18s 7d; other charges amounted to £450 12s lid. The bank balance on the Ist inst., 1900, amounteed to £954 3s lid, as compared with £lßls 6s 8d at the beginning of 1899. On Friday night new helmets were issued to members of D Battery, and the result to at least one gunner of the battery was embarrassing. His name was Edward Batt. He and a companion in arms were passing by the City Hotel, where two boys named Sinclair and Meachem were seated on a fence, when the boy Sinclair roused accused’s ire., by a reference which he made to the uniform which the latter was wearing. According to the evidence of Sinclair, Batt came up to him and threatened to hit him; whereupon he told accused that he had better not do so. Then a hiatus crept into his life, and he remembered nothing until he recovered consciousness at home two hours subsequently. The story unfolded by Batt and a companion named Thompson placed a different complexion upon the story. It was stated by them, and partly supported by police evidence at the Police Court on Saturday,' that a gang of boys was wont to congregate in the vicinity of the City Hotel, and there pass insulting remarks to passers-by. The two men of the battery were annoyed at remarks ostensibly complimentary passed by the boy Sinclair, and Batt told the boy that he would hit him, and was thereupon invited to “try it on.” He did so, and the boy was by the blow knocked from the rail on which he sat and rendered] unconscious by the fall. Batt said he was kicked (perhaps accidentally) by the boy Sinclair, and a remark was passed that “they were — — pretty specimens to be out in khaki.” After further talk Sinclair was struck by Batt, who immediately took steps to see after the boy when he knew that he was ser'ously hurt. Batt said he had frequently been annoyed by a gang at the same place and he recognised complainant as one of its members. The above facts were elicited before a Bench of Justices consisting of" Messrs Gallagher and Fielder. The Bench considered the offence justifiable, and dismissed the case. Mr Moorhouse appeared as counsel for accused.

Ou Monday afternoon a Rangitikei team defeated Hawke's Ray at polo by four to one.

Surgeon-Captain Godfray, of Waip&wa, who was wounded in an engagement a few weeks ago. has cabled to a friend in New Zealand that he will leave South Africa for this colony next week.

A private telegram from Auckland states that two male and three female Virginian deor were landed yesterday from the Alameda. These beautiful animals are to be sent to Nelson, after being detained in quarantine for sixty days.

At a; meeting of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners last evening a resolution was passed on the motion of Mr Harry Warner (the president) requesting Mr W T ard, the ActingPremier, to forwaf-d a cable message of condolence to the Prince of Wales on the death of her Majesty the Queen. The resolution was carried in silence.

Yesterday was a bad day for the men under canvas at Newtown Park. The troopers of the Sixth are now thoroughly equipped and fit "for duty. They will commence their embarkation in the Cornwall to-morrow. Captain Smith, «f the Raglan Rifles, is to accompany the contingent to South Africa. VeterinarySurgeon McEaehern, of Auckland, will attend to the horses en voyage. Captain Cosgrove, of Canterbury, has been appointed quartermaster of the contingent.

The present engagement of the Cornwall to convey the Sixth Contingent to South Africa is not the first time she has been used as a troopship. She carried tho First Queensland Contingent to the Cape, and took from London one section of the Imperial Yeomanry to South Africa. The same officers have been with the vessel during the whole time, and the many complimentary references which have been made in Queensland to the ship and her officers augurs well for the comfort and good treatment of the Sixth while on their way to the front.

Apparently through some mis'understanding, Ministers did not consult the Mayor yesterday in reference to the proposal to constitute to-day a day of national mourning; neither was his. Worship officially intimated that that course was to be pursued. Therefore, when consulted at a late hour last night as to whether he intended" to call upon the citizens to close their business premises, his Worship said he could not see that he would be justified in doing so. However, Mr Aitken hopes that the Ministerial injunction will be faithfully abided by by citizens.

The Mayor of Wellington replied to Mr Wmrd yesterday that he presumed the death of the Queen would lead to an alteration of the arrangemen in regard to the Imperial troops. His W orship intimated that while he would assist ill the efforts which would undoubtedly be made to give a. warm welcome to the troops, he (as Mayor) could not call upon the citizens to pay for any part of 'the entertainment. Mr Aitken added that as the Imperial Contingent had been invited here by the Government, flhe men would, of course, he the guests of the Government,which would naturally be expected to provide for its guests accommodation while passing through.

A special sitting of the Magistrate's Court was held yesterday before Dr McArthur, S.M.,for the purpose of hearing objections to the valuations of new buildirigs in the city of Wellington made for the first quarter of the year. The Corporation was represented by Mr T. F. Martin, City Solicitor, and 1 Mr James Ames, City Valuer. Mr Ames produced a letter which had been addressed to the Town Clerk by Mr T. W. Hall, applying for a change of name in respect to two houses in Mulgrave street and also objecting to their valuation. No copy of the letter had been sent to the Court, but this informality was waived by the valuer. Mr Ames said he agreed to ’lie change of name, but was prepared to argue the question of value. The name against which the property w?s entered was by consent altered from T. W. Hall to David Hall, but in the absence of the objector the valuation was sustained. This was the only business before the Court.

A general meeting of the Wellington Poultry*,Pigeon and Canary Society was held last night. A volume of correspondence was dealt with. The selection of a judge was proceeded with, the result being the selection of Mr J. Maude, of Oakleigh, Victoria, to judge both poultry and pigeons; Mr I/. P. Christensen was unanimously elected canary judge; Mr £. J. Hill for ducks, geese and turkeys; and Miss Ivey for the cooking classes. A letter from the Auckland Society with reference to the appointment of a delegate to attend a conference at New Plymouth next month for the purpose of forming a New Zealand or North Island association was discussed. It was eventually decided to send the secretary, Mr L. J. Carmine, as a delegate with instructions to- support the formation of a New Zealand association, failing this, to support he fo rmatiou of a North Island association to take in Marlborough, Nelso'n and Westland. The schedule was also considered. The committee appointed to carry out the woik of allotting prizes has "given special consideration, to all sections, having allotted special classes to all known breeds of poultry, pigeons and canariee.