TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1681, 18 May 1904, Page 59

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

AUCKLAND, May 12. Tliis afternoon the Grover nor paid a visit at the invitation of the promoters to the line of mute- of the projected canal to connect Waitemata and Mannkan harbours. His Excellency inspected the line of the proposed cutting, and expressed - himself favourably impressed with the feasibleness of the scheme. This evening the Governor attended the annual "social” of the yacht squadron and presented. prizes won during the past season. , ■ ' • AUCKLAND, May 13. The City Council unanimously resolved to increase the Mayor's salary from <£3oo to <£4oo. Mr Mitchelson declined to accept the increase. lie said he believed that the Mayor of a city like Auckland ought to hove more than <£3oo, but at present he did not think it would be right to take it. Ho would much prefer to see the Council agree to fix the sum for this year at .£3OO. It was pointed out that when the salary was once fixed the Council had not power to alter it during the Council's term of office.but the Mayor adhered to his decision. While Val Rosa was being schooled over hurdles to-day he fell, and his rider, •T. Julian, had his collar-bone badly broken. At a meting of the Show and Finance Committee of the Agricultural Association, the question of amending the Slaughtering Act was discussed. A letter was read from the Hawke's Bay Agricultural Society, approving the proposal to alter the Act, so that cattle f ana other animals slaughtered at any registered abattoirs may be sold in markets. Mr Peacocks said the mistake was in municipalities being compelled to- put up abattoirs. He hoped the Auckland Council would never go to the expense of putting tip slaughterhouses. They were not required where freezing works existed. Mr Kingswell said already there were three good, private slaughterhouses near tho city, and it was absurd for the city to be put to the expense of erecting abattoirs.

Sir Eupert Clarke's yacht Carabine, with an Australian party hound for Samoa, put into Whangaroa on Tuesday, ten- days from Melbourne, to repair damage to spars caused by very heavy weather. The yacht will resume the voyage after the repairs have been effected. The Council has adopted the Waitakerei' and Nihatapu water-supply scheme. The proposal is to raise a loan covering the cost of the Waitakerci portion of the scheme (<£130,904), and the cost of land at Nihotapu and the Huia watersheds (.£5000), or a total of <£135,904. Thomas Lonergan, aged five years, wandered from his parents yesterday afternoon, and was picked up in-tke evening on a vacant allotment suffering from concussion of the brain. The lad was taken to- the hospital, where he died at midnight without regaining consciousness. It appears that he fell a distance of 20ft, landing on some concrete blocks. AUCKLAND, May 15.

When the Governor opens the bazaar in aid of the Maori Girls' 1 School on May 21st, at Bishopscourt, a farewell address •will be presented by Kiliirini Rewiti. on behalf of the Maoris of the K&ipara district, about fifty of whom will be pre- - sent.

The Government Viticulturist, Mr R. Bragato, interviewed concerning this year's vintage, said the vintage in the two principal centres of North Auckland and Hawke's Bay were said to be very satisfactory, and at the Waerenga experimental vineyard, the yield was a most abundant one. The qualitv of the wine produced promises to excel that of any previous year. Among the people up north and in the Hawke's Bay districts, the planting of vines is proceeding very rapidly and on abound basis. "There is nothing to fear from phylloxera," said Mr Bragato "so long as Sowers plant their vineyards with nerican resistant stocks. The GovernSent intends to establish another viticuliral station at Whakapirau, in the Kaipara district, this season and an extensive vine nursery for stocks will be at once established there. I hope this will be the last time that I shall have to look to outside ajd for supplies. The vine-growing industry has increased so rapidly that it has taken us by surprise, before we were ready to cope with the enormous demand for cuttings." THAME®, May 13. A seven-roomed house at Puriri -was totally destroyed by fire early this morning. It was owned and occupied by Mr O’Brien, who managed to save a few articles of furniture.

A, gTant of «£2OOO by Mr Carnegie for a public library seems assured. GISBORNE, May 12. During the visit of the Hon J. Carroll and the Hon J. McGowan to Te Karaka to-day Mr McGowan said there were sixteen districts in which railway construction was being carried out,_ and these included ■& couple of trunk lines. Many or these iijtes should be pushed on to completion, but to bring them to a paving point would saddle the country with a heavy debt. These were not times to go in for heavy borrowing. He thought the Government's decision in the direction of economy was justified. They were {prepared to push on steadily ana solidy. Then again should a heavy publio works policy be entered % into it would mean, shortness in labour, with the result that settlers would be crying out for more hands. The Gisborne-Karaka line, so far as it had been made, was a very good one. It was well constructed, and it would be easy to work and maintam. . gjsboßNE, May 13. Replying to a deputation from the Railway League, which urged greater expedition in the local railway, Mr McGowan, Aoting-Ministor v of Public Works said there were other railways of importance In the oolony on which suoh good progress haid not feostn rir&kie as on tic Ws borne line. Having soon tho dioteict, he realised its great potentialities and claims, and could promise that in the coining yoar greater progress would be made than last yoar. Mr Carroll said he had no boubt the line would be open to Tb Karaka in time to secure tbe wool freights next season, though it might not

b© sufficiently complete for passenger traffic. A deputation of fruit-growers waited on the- Hons J. McGowan and J. Carroll to-day in regard to thq services of an expert to advise as to spraying, etc., and for obtaining through' the Government supplies of pure chemicals for spraying; alsa assistance for obtaining laud for co-operauve fruit-growing. One speaker favoured a duty on imported fruit being enforced, but Mr McGowan said that this would prevent poor men buying. Mr Carroll said he would see if he could arrange for the expert to visit Gisborne, and if the department could supply pure chemicals. Mr McGowan said,lie thought the fruit industry required the Government’s finger. Some people might not like a separate department, hut it required more attention from the Department of Agriculture. It was the desire of the Government to assist tlie industry as much as possible. When at T'olago Bay the Premier and Mrs Seddon visited.the local school. Mr Seddon had his attention called to several local requirements. A trip was made to Cook’s Cove this morning, but tiie- party did not land. The Hinemoa continued her voyage along the coastal bays to East Cape at 11.30 a.m. Reports have been received that the Premier’s health is improving. Mr John Harvey, aged eighty-eight, who arrived at Gisborne in 1853, died to-day. He landed in Wellington in the thirties with stock valued at about .£20,0-00. A fire proved disastrous to a flourishing business. Mr Harvey was doing in Poverty Bay, and he was nearly ruined by a Hauhau raid. .Eventually he became storeman for the late Captain Reid. In this district last 3 r ear 4-0,000 acres of bush was burned, and the same area will fall this year. NAPIER, May 12.. A private letter received from Captain Voss, written at Capetown, states that the Til ileum took 123 days on the journey from Thursday Island to Durban. From Capetown Captain Voss'was sailing for Pernambuco, and thence to London, where he expected to be about the middle of July,

Mr Blow, Under-Secretary for Public Works, expressed the opinion that it would be very difficult to construct a line beyond Motu to Rotorua. Three high saddles.higher than Arthur’s Pass, would have to bo surmounted from Te Karaka. The line would, he thought, proceed through Wailiuka, the grade that way being very good. Mr Carroll said it would be necessary to skirt tho Urewera country. He understood there was a route up to the north of tho Waikoha Valley, which would bring them out at Opotiki. Mr Blow thought it would be twelve months before tho Te Karaka section was opened for traffic. NAPIER, May 15. The inqnest on the body of Charles Olsen, who died from injuries received in a railway accident at Hastings -on May 7th, was concluded yesterday, the jury returning a verdict of accidental death. They added a rider 'that the railway authorities be requested to take some extra precaution for warning traffic at railway crossings.” WANGANUI, May 12.

The District Court sessions opened this morning before Judge Ward. No criminal or civil business was set down, and tho bankruptcy business is proceeding. Tho protection afforded to debtors by the Village Settlements Act was exemplified in a case heard at the District Court to-day. A mau named Johnston applied for discharge in bankruptcy. His liabilities totalled <£2oo, and though he was offered in Court <£3so for his leasehold he refused to accept it. The Judge granted an order of discharge subject to payment of 10s in the pound. Judge Ward, who presided at the District Court to-day, was chairman of petty sessions here in 1857. MASTERTON. May 13. At the Stipendiary Magistrate's Court this morning four lads were each fined 20s, and costs 13s, for killing hares out of season, contrary to the provisions of the Animals Protection Act. A charge against a cab-driver of plyifag for hire within the precincts of the railway stations without a license was dismissed Counsel for the defence contended that the by-law was invalid as clauses 3 and 5 did not agree. Ine Magistrate took the same view, and dismissed the information on those grounds. PAHIATTJA, May 15. A settler named Timothy Quinn was arrested yesterday at Horoeka charged with the attempted murder of Thomas Clifford. It is said that Quinn and Clifford had a dispute concerning cattle, and that Quinn battered Clifford’s head and chest with a maul-, and then drew a knife and endeavoured to out his throat. Constable Oharteris, from Weber, made the arrest. No hopes are entertained of Clifford’s recovery. HOKITIKA, May 13. A boy, seven years of age, third son of Mr A. S. Sargison, jeweller, was injured yesterday afternoon by a heavy wheel, with which he was playing, falling on him. The boy died last night. CHRISTCHURCH, May 12. Recruiting is now proceeding for a permanent naval force in terms of last session’s naval agreement. Captain Robinson, of the Tauranga, now at Lyttelton, has selected twenty-four men in the Canterbury district towards New Zealand’s quota of 144. He purposes selecting a similar number at the ports of Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin, and allotting the balance of forty-eight to country districts. Recruiting for the naval reserve will not be begun till June Applications for the permanent force are coming in freely, and Captain Robinson expresses satisfaction at the stamp of youths offering. CHRISTCHURCH, May If At the Supreme Court thi® morning Louis Hamilton, for indecent assault upon a girl aged thirteen years, was sentenced to eighteen months’ imprisonment. Miohael O’Brien, William Gosnell ami Hugh Riley were convicted of assaulting Jas Armstrong and robbing him of «830 i a bank notes. O’Brien was sentenced to thro© years’ imprisonment, and Gosnell

and Riley to six each. Th© criminal sessions are now closed. At th© Magistrate's Court tins morning Thomas Richards was charged with •procuring Percy Seymour Eaton to perform an unlawful operation, and Eaton was charged with performing the said operation. The case was remanded, both accused being admitted to substantial bail. TIMARU, May Tho Borough Council this evening approved plans by Messrs Mea-son and Marchant for the sewerage of the borough. The total length of pipes will be thirtythree and a half miles, of which twentyfive miles will be Gin. and the rest larger. The total cost is estimated at <£45,52-5, but as the scheme will not be applied to the whole town yet, £20,000 will be s-wf-ficent to- meet present requirements. DUNEDIN, May 12. The Compensation Court. gave judgment to-day in three claims against the Dunedin Corporation for.land taken in connection with waterworks extension purposes. In Askoy's case, a claim for £542, the Court was unable .to agree, and the president discharged the assessors. saying a fresh Court would be constituted. In Galbraith’s case. £440 wasf claimed, and £340 awarded, with £25 costs. In Gardener's case, £fi49 was claimed, and £354 awarded, with £25 costs. In Mrs A. Proctor's case £1135 was claimed and £875 awarded, with £36 5s costs. May 14. When the case of Maurice Waiters, under remand on bail on a charge of deserting from 11.M.5. Mohawk, was called on this week, Walters did not appeal’, and his bail was estreated, a statement being made that he had left a letter indicating his intention of taking his life. To-day a coat was found on the Ocean Beach, containing letters and papers belonging to Walters. The police are somewhat sceptical about his having committed suicide. In addition to a bequest for a new Anglican Cathedral, the late Mr William Ilarrop, by liis will, has provided for the payment to the trustees of the Otago district, M.U.1.0'.0.F., of an annuity of £25 in perpetuity for the purpose of establishing a scholarship, tenable for two years, and open to the sons of Oddfellows in the Otago district. DUNEDIN, May 15. Intimation has been received that John Don, about fifty-five years of age, living alone at Oiioimi, near Seacliff. committed suicide on Friday by cutting his throat. INVERCARGILL, May 15. Tho foundation corner stone c’ St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, whi S is to take the place of the present bulling of the same name, was laid this afternoon with imposing ceremony. The church, which will be of the Byzantine order of architecture, is in the form of a Greek cross, with a dome 115 ft high springing from central arches. The seating Avill be for 700, and the building is so designed that by the addition of galleries it will accommodate 1200 people. It faces Tvne street and the public gardens. The Very Rev Father O'Neill (Milton) celebrated High Mass in the present church, from whence a large procession passed to the new site bearing banners and headed by the battalion band. The Right Rev Monsignor O'Leary, Mayor Scandrett, Mr Hanan, M.H.R., and others delivered congratulatory addresses. The day was fine, and there was a very large assembly ot citizens and country settlors.