NEWS OF THE DAY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVI, Issue 2130, 13 February 1894, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

On the fourth page’will be found articles headed as follows:—“A Whaling Story,” “ Hunting* the Panther,” “ The Eot Fly.”

The Colonial Treasurer left last evening by the Wairarapa for the South. The Australian delegates to the Postal Conference leave Melbourne on the 17th inst. (Saturday next), and are expected to reach the Bluff on the 21st inst. They will be met there by Mr Ward, who will bring them on hero in the Hinemoa, via the West Coast Sounds, The party are expected to arrive in Wellington about the, end of the month.

We are informed that the licensing elections will probably take place in the sec-o'hd or third week of next month. It ia not likely that they will all be-held on the same day, as in the case of the Parliamentary general election. The A ct contains no express instructions on that head, and the fixing of the dale of the elections will, therefore, bo left, most probably to tho discretion of the various returning officers, who may be expected to consult the convenience as far as possible of the public in their respective districts.

A Press Association telegram received last night states that His Excellency the Governor and party left Lyttelton for Wellington by the Hinemoa yesterday. The election of two persons to represent the ratepayers of Wellington on the Harbour Board was held yesterday, .and resulted as follows: —Mr J. Jack, 1330; MrJas. Petherick, 1078 ; Mr Jag. McLeilan, 743. Mr Jas. Ames acted as Returning Officer, assisted by Messrs C. Millward, Aldred and R. A. Marshall. Mr John W. Booth has been elected as the representative of the Wairarapa on tho Wellington Harbour Board.

The result of tho recent case brought by the Wellington Corporation water inspectors against Mr B. J. Nathan for wasting water by allowing it to run through a hose which he was not attending to, and which case was dismissed by the Resident Magistrate, has induced tho Public Works Committee to recommend to the City Council the propriety of requesting the city solicitor to frame a by-lav/ designed to meet such cases.

With a cheap enterprise tliat is becoming rather characteristic of the Manawatu Standard, that interesting journal copied yesterday morning from the New Zealand Times, without a word of acknowledgment, the summary wo published of Woddel and Co/s review for 1893 of tho frozen meat trade in the United Kingdom, Tho chairman of tho Wellington Hospital Trustees, Mr F. H. Fraser, paid a visit to the Palmerston Hospital on Saturday, says the Standard, and expressed himself as highly pleased with tho building, its surroundings, and the manner in which it is being conducted. Mr Fraser was especially impressed with the order and cleanliness of the whole building, and gave it as his opinion that the institution was distinctly creditable to the district. The Wellington Hospital- authorities ?iE,c.orely thank tho agents for the Shaw, Albion Company for the munificent sum of .£lO3 6s fid, the proceeds of Saturday and Sunday's inspection by the public of the Gothic. Thanks arc also expressed to Captain Babot, Captain Jennings and tho officers-of the steamer ;to Mr Jupp, who so kindly volunteered'"the services of his bend, and to Mr White, secretary of the Garrison Band. They' also thank the following donors to the Hospital fund:— Mpssrp'’'jftJ-vo and Richmond, £2 2s; Mr Hutchison/jPI ’j-V; Mrs W. Nathan, 10s; Mrs H. Rawson, iCsj Cashier, ss; Mr Church, 10s ; Mrs Swainson, JU Is ; Mr E. Pearce, <£2 2s; Father Goggan, <£2 2s; Mr Foster’s band collection, £2 3s 2d ; Mrs Richmond, *SI Is ;Mr Friend, .£2 2s; Mr Hutherford, .£1 Is j Dr Adams, .£3 3s.

At .ths tj’oiirned meeting of the General Committee of' iho'Leyiiv Memorial Fund on Thursday/ ‘ the £2nd‘instant, ' a proposal is to bo madq. to rescind'.tho^following resolution, passed on thelOfch'Octb■Berlqst:—■“ That the funds be devoted to the erection of a statue to the memory of Mr ievin/-’* 'This course will be adopted in whblq question ,tp be reggjfVfe'P'J.- ’ ’ r 1 At tfyj fqeejAifjjs the Wellmgton Gliainkii- of Coniinei'cS ye|i;er(li).y' fl;i? foll,Qwijjg was mia«in;ou.sf7«Cgpes4<S Mr J. DutLle, iCII-8.., sesoijdeif"')}j sjj: T, J- !W. Gale:—“That tiji§ Ohaifjbe? (Jesi,;qs to place on record its deop i/eerof at tho death of M- de Lostalot de Back out, Consul for franca in this Colony, and would recognise the warn interest that gentleman took in all matters relating to the commerce of New Zealand, which ha promoted by important despatches to the LSfjiTJ-Jiment 0 f Prance. Beyond this, ho pycr qpdeaped himself, by his courteous induct, not only to his own eofaffihft&'&g*' WW tO. t,ie citizens of ■Wellington, ana iU'js - 'dir£.ctod that copies of this resolution fee forwardhd de lostalot, and to the eonsviHronorat: fdi France in Sydney.”

Tho well-known Dunedin singer. Miss Rose Blaney, is about to leave for Melbourne to continue her musical studios.

o civil side of the Magistrate’s Court Mr Martin, R.M., entered ,up for judgment in the following cases:—,T. Hancock v, Tf- Li-r!:; '(to:], j>2 18s, costs 6s; Murray, Roberts apt Co. v. W. W.McCardle, £5703 7(1, costs £5 is j Stewart and Co. v. J. Thompson, £3 5s 2d, pee ts M 12s; Kitchen and Sons v. A. ‘Stewart, £o Us 9d, costs 11s; Bush and Thorburn' y. }. A. Maitland, £1 ss. costs 6s; S. Brown v? Gigvoley, £1 17s, costs 6s; same v. J. Atkinson/ Jj 3d, costs 6s; G. Goldstein 1 v/ Spiy; £3 las 6d, costs 6s; Blundell Bros’, v. .Walter ftico, £S J6s 6d ; costs 7s. ' . '

The Brough - Boucieault season, which lias been such an artistic and financial success, is now nearly at an end, much to the disappointment of many no doubt who would have preferred to see the company make a longer stay amongst us. Last night “ Niohe—all Smiles” was repeated to ;i good house, this very amusing piece going remarkably well; indeed laughter seemed to be almost continuous throughout the evening. This evening the season concludes with a performance of the late Tom Robertson's famous comedy “ Caste.” A very largo number cf scats have boon boohed for rho last production ct tho company, and there i? sure to be a very large audience to sec tho last of a most successful season.

By Gazette Extraordinary, issued yesterday, the General Assembly has been further prorogued till Thursday, 17th Maj'. A copy of Hescott’s Napier and Hawke’s Bay Directory for 1893-04 Is to hand. Tile present number of this well-arranged and excellently-printed publication is up to its customary high standard. The work contains, as well as the usual directory, those of the judicial, official, municipal and general societies of the district, and includes an almanac, gazetteer, Ac. It is neatly printed, and the design of the work

fj easy for reference purposes. At Thursday's meeting of the Wellington City Council the Public Works Committee will recommend as follows ;—That further proceedings in reference to the removal of the encroachment at Aurora terrace be postponed for one month, in order that further information may be obtained ; that in consideration of the exceptional circumstances of the case, the fine imposed on the two workmen in the employ of Mr P. Minogue for blasting rock on Clyde quay be remitted, the fine imposed on Mr Minogue himself to be paid; that the application of the drainage engineer for leave to take a pupil into his office be acceded to; that the Drainage Engineer be requested to furnish a report upon the cost of covering in the various' watercourses of the city ; that the matter of the cart stand at Jorvois quay be referred to the Electric Light Committee for consideration in connection with tho question of the erection of lamps in that locality ; that the consideration of the proposal to lower the roadway at Shannon street be held over for six weeks ; that the formation of the roadway and paving the footpaths in Harris street be undertaken as soon as practicable ; that further consideration of the request for the formation of Talavera terrace bo referred to the Private Streets Committee ; that a committee as under be formed to consider tho general by-laws of the city, now awaiting consolidation, namely : —The Mayor, and Councillors Devine, Harris, Tanner and Tatum ; that the report of tho City Valuer re the proposed widening of Fraser’s lane be referred to tho Finance Committee, with instructions to report thereon to the Council in a month ; that the use of the Basin Reserve be granted to tho Drapers* Cricket Club on tho afternoon of March 7th on the same terms as last year ; that accounts amounting to J 2460 9s Id be passed for payment. The Hutt County Council have appointed the following Registrars of Dogs:— Wharoroa, E. J. Howell, at Is per dog; Horokiwi, J. Robertson, lOd; Porirua, H. McManaway, 10d; Makara, W. F. England, Is ; Belmont, S. Menzies, lOd; Mungai’oa, S. Menzies, lOd; Epuni, J. Haywood, 8d; Walnui-o-mata, G. Mcllvride, Jun., Is. The tax for the year has been fixed at 10s per dog. .

Mr Hobhouse, one of tho masters of the Wanganui Collegiate School, who lias been on a visit to England, has returned to the Colony.

Friday next is tho last day for receiving applications and fees for the next Trinity College musical examination, and tho secretary, Mr R. Parker, notifies by advertisement that they may be handed in at the Dresden Music Warehouse on that afternoon from 5 to 0 o’clock.

In the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning, before Mr Martin, Resident Magistrate, three male and two female first-offending drunkards were dealt with in the usual manner. Geo. Rowley and Michael McNamara pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly, and were each fined 10s, with tho alternative of 24 hours’ imprisonment. A young man named Chas. Brown, charged with stealing a shirt from the shop of Messrs Dayls and Clater, Lambton quay, on Saturday, was remanded until to-day. During the visit to tho Tai’anaki district, from which Mr A; Barron, Undersecretary for Lands, has Just returned, an extraordinary case of determined suicide on the part of a bullock was described to him. One of tho contractors engaged in metalling the East Road beyond Stratford was working with two carts drawn by four bullocks each. Towards the end of one hot and hard day’s -work the two front bullocks were unharnessed from one of the drays and entered a water hole to drink, standing in the water up to the knees, After drinking freely one of the bullocks waded to the deepest part of the hole and placed his head under water. Having held it there for some time he raised his-head, looked about for a while and again ducked his head under water. The foreman of the works in alarm called out to the driver, who merely laughed at the idea of suicide. Again tho bullock raised his head and once more placed it under water and held it there. The driver now treated the matter more 1 seriously, and with the. utmost haste hitched on the shaft bullocks to the suicidal one and hauled it out of the water. It was then found to be quite dead. A boy named Oliver was drowned on Sunday whilst bathing to the Waiongona River, near New Plymouth. • MJ’ H A* F. Murray, Victorian Government Geologist, has completed his inspection of tho Thames mines, and is to arrive in ‘Wellington to-night. He goes on tomorrow to the Mahaldpawa, and from thence proceeds to the Lyell. From the West Coast ho will travel by the overland route to Canterbury, and after inspecting tho' Otago goldfields he will leave tho Colony by way of the Bluff fop Melbourno f A pioneer settler of Taranaki, Mr Richard Bundle, is. dead. He built tho railway bridge over the Wanganui River at Aramoho. He also built the first wooden store erected in New Plymoiith (in 1841), and inost : of the bridges in the district. Mr Randle was 88 years of age. The- first meeting of the creditors of Thomas. Mullan, railway employee, of Porirua, wag to have been held yesterday afternoon, but no creditors attended, Mr Tlaselden, however, represented the petitioning creditors. As -a matter of fact there ape only two creditors —-two com-panies—-of which one (the Waimangaroa Goal Company) petitioned to have the dobtop adjudged bankrupt. The debtor was present, and also his solicitor, Mr ,E. F, Hadfiqlc], A statement had been put in by tho debtop, and was read by the Assignee, It stated that Mullans had been employed by the Manawatu Railway Company as lino inspector at £l7 par month. He had a wife and four children, and what with household expenses .and sickness ho had been unablo to do moro than Just pay his way during the last five years. In 1890 ho Joined with six others ill taking a coalmining lease of the Waimangaroa Company’s land, and ho got scrip for 1000 shares in the company. It proved , a total failure. He had paid eight calls on tho 1000 shares, and tho amount still due to the company represented the ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth calls on his shares. The <£7o owing to. tho Union Stoanj Ship Company was connected with the same mining company, being the debtor’s share of a bond or guarantee given by the Goal Company to the Union Steam Ship Company, and which was signed on tho understanding that tho Union Steam Ship Company would take the whole amount out in coal from the mine. Under examination /by the Assignee, the debtor .said his wife had a section of laud at Westport and two houses, besides 15 shares in the Westport Building Society. He did nob Owe a single penny to anyone beyond these liabilities jbo the Qoal Com- - pany and the Union Steam Ship Company!! The debtor ’ was by the Official Assignee, and also, by Mr Haselden, who likewise examined'Mrs Miillan on oath. Two men named respectively George Cooper and Emanuel ’Cfiml were arrested by Mounted 'Constable Wilson yesterday on the charge or freing ‘deserters from H.M.S. Lizard. ' / ’ ‘ ‘ " Thq ciyil case of Miller v. Baldwin, a claim damage! for 1 trespass, hoard by the pegidqnt Magisfratfi* ‘ yesterday! The case arose qqf ‘qf the ‘exhibit!op of pictures given by Mr Baldjyin for Messrs JJcJtfifi"au4 on jiigHt of t]ie general ejectioa, and it alleged k tombstone in Mr Millers yard wag damaged, tp tho extent of .£3O. Mr BaloL win appeared for the plaintiff and Mr Jelljcoe for tho defendant. His Worship reserved judgment for a week.

A man named Samuel Alex. Pinkerton, a driver in tho employ of tho Westport Coal Company at Coalbrookdale, committed suicide by hanging himself in his hut. His head was affected by an accident he met with a few year? ago. He was well-known in Nelson and on the West Coast. A man named David Evitts was accidentally killed at Waitehuna, near Raglan, in tho Auckland district, on Sunday, while exercising a horse.

The Coroner does not deem it necessary to hold an inquest on the body of the infant Wm. Burke, which died on Saturday last, and has, accordingly, issued his burial Warrant. • * '* !

Sixiy have been received by tiro WanfciHiui Borough 'Council iat theposition of 1 atfsWtatttr sanitary inspector, : including some* from Wellington and-Auck-land. At a special meeting of 1 the number of candidates deemed 'most eligible for the post was reduced to three— Messrs T- M- Copeland, H. P.* Johns, and John !&.. Hajj'ke.’ A final selection is to be jaa&o pa Friday, v

At the weekly practice of tho Garrison Band in the Mount Cook Barracks last night, Drum-Major Davis, who is retiring from the hand after holding his present position in it for some years past, was presented with the photographs of the band, arranged in the form of a shield and handsomely framed. At the close uf the practice the baud played the funeral march “ Garland uf Flowers ” out of respect to the memory of the late Father Oarolan, whose musical gifts were well-known and highly appreciated.

A young matriod woman named Caroline Lowry, who lives with her huoband in ■ Green street*. Newtown, was taken to the Hospital yesterday by Constable Carroll, supposed to be suffering from the effects of a quantity of match-heads, which she is stated to have taken dissolved in water. Tho usual remedies were applied, and at latest accoimts she was progressing satisfactorily.

In a recent issue of the Otago Dally Times there is published a letter from its correspondent in Edinburgh, Scotland, in which some remarks by Sir James Crichton Browne on the subject of tho registration of plumbers are given. Plumbing registration, said the eminent physician, seemed to him to te not on a matter of national concern, but of national necessity. He advised every householder to have the sanitary apppliances of his house inspected every year. It may be remarked that the Wellington Citj' Council’s new sanitary by-law, which came into force on the Ist of this month, contains the following clause : —“ All plumbers shalUbe licensed annually under this bylaw by the City Surveyor, who shall under the 31st March, 1895, first satisfy himself of the fitness and capacity of the applicants. Prom and after the 31st day of March, 1895, no persons shall be licensed to act as plumbers under this by-law unless at tho time of applying they shall produce to the City Surveyor certificates that they have passed the ordinary examinations in practical and the theoretical plumbing held by one or more of the following bodies, viz: The Technical School, Wellington; the Technical College, Sydney; the Working Men’s College, Melbourne; the City and Guilds of London Institute; the Plumbers’ Company, London; or such other examinations as the Council by resolution may fromjtime to time approve.”

Mr Arthur Wilson, tho advance representative of the famous Lynch Family Bellringers and Vocalists, passed through Wellington yesterday en route to Wanganui and Auckland, where the company are to appear prior to their season here at the Opera House. Mr Wilson reports large houses in tho Napier district, and a very successful season so far in tho Wairarapa, the Masterton receipts for Friday, Saturday and Sunday totalling over o£l3o. Tho Lynch Family appears at Greytown this evening. A threatening letter has just boon received by the Survey Department in Auckland from Kcrei Kaihau, who last year distinguished himself by cutting down some trig, stations near Waiuku, which secured for him a term of imprisonment. He now announces his intention after the 20th instant of pulling up and destroying “ the Government things ” presumably those hateful trig, stations again—in the Lower Waikato. Being forewarned this time, however, the Government are forearmed.

Colonel Fox leaves on Saturday or Monday next for the South, in order to complete his inspection of the Volunteer corps there. He expects to return about Easter. The first instalment of five breechloading guns which are to be sent Home for chase-hooping are now being dismounted.

No one who is acquainted with tho details of tho murderous outrage committed in the French Chamber of Deputies, says the London Daily Chronicle, can entertain any doubt that the bomb would have had deadly effects if it had exploded on the table of the President of the Chamber. But, for some reason not very easy to understand, certain of the authorities in Paris have insisted on a demonstration of what a similarly-constructed bomb could do if exploded near living creatures. Of course, those authorities were not sufficiently enthusiastic in urging* on the proposed experiments to run any risk themselves. They ordered twenty or thirty friendless dogs to be tied to the branches of tress in a wood, and when the shell, made in the municipal laboratory, was exploded, tho luckless animals were riddled and mangled terribly. It was a cruel and barbarous experiment, of which those who were responsible for it might well have felt ashamed. There was not even the poor excuse that there was reasonable doubt as to whether Vaillant’s bomb was really dangerous to life. Corporal Robert Alcorn, of Manaia, has received from the War Office, London, a New Zealand War medal, for active service under General Cameron in the Waikato war in 1863-4, and under Generals Cameron and Chute in tho Wanganui and Taranaki campaigns 1865-6. It is well known that through the use of charcoal insulators on board frozen meat ships great danger arises of an outbreak of fire, by spontaneous combustion. That such a danger is a serious one was pointed out recently by Professor Lawes before the British Association of Nottingham. Charcoal has been used because of the want of an effective substitute; nevertheless, tho constantly increasing number of fires on board frozen meat steamers are arousing a very uneasy feeling amongst shipowners, insurance companies and the sea-going public. From an advertisement in the columns of the Times it will bo seen that Mr J. C. Firth claims to have discovered in his prepared pumice the most effective insulator known. Its lightness and cleanliness, its perfect freedom from fungi, germs, and microbes, its insulating powers, and above all the absolute immunity it secures from fire, Mr Firth claims, should make it admirable for this purpose.

The ordinary train from Te Aro" to Lower Hutt at 10.7 p.m, is not to leave To Aro tonight until 10.45 p.m. and Wellington until 10,53 p.m. Cook and Gray call for tenders in tho assigned estate of D. A. Nooney. J, H. Bethuue and Co. are to hold an unreserved sale of English-made furniture at 2.30 o'clock to-morrow, Townsend and Paul sell fruit at 10 o’clock to-day. An adjourned meeting of the Wellington Licensed Victuallers’ Association is to be held to-day at 3 p.m. Joshua Bros.’Australian brandy is obtainable from all wine merchants.