NEWS OF THE DAY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVI, Issue 2274, 2 August 1894, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The debate on the Financial Statement was commenced last night in tho House of Representatives, the Colonial Treasurer, contrary to precedent, opening with a speech, in which he replied to criticisms of the Budget uttered by Sir Robert Stout and others in interviews with press representatives. Mr Mitchelson opened the debate on tho Opposition side of the House, and after a speech by Mr Tanner, Sir R. Stout strongly attacked tho Government policy, and was vigorously replied to by the Premier. Tho debate was adjourned at 12.20 a.m.

On the fourth page will be found an article entitled “ Tho Totalisator and Racing,” and comments on current topics headed “ Hero and There.”

The ill-fated Miowera, which has just met with a second mishap, left Newoastle-oh-Tyne on 25th July on a special yachting cruise tp the coast of Norway, her third trip, where she met with the accident which has disabled her. The arrangements made by the lluddart, Parker Company for these trips, of which, there were to be fiye, were of the most complete character, and one of the most experienced Norwegian pilots was engaged for'the trips. His Excellency Lord Glasgow has signified his intention of attending the Opera House on Saturday evening, when “ Maritana” will be rendered.

The highest bond fide bid for the corner section of land :on which is erected Ryland’s Hotel, offered at auction yesterday by Geo. Thomas: and. Co., was .63750. The vendors' reserve being in excess of this amount, the property was withdrawn, and is now open for private sale. James Beard, hydropathic practitioner, of Newton, was arrested on a charge of having killed and slain the hoy Eric Hart McCullough, who died last week from the effects of narcotic poisoning. Beard was brought up at the Auckland Police Court yesterday, and bn the application of the Crown Prosecutor the case was remanded till Tuesday, bail being allowed, himself in jtSQO, and two sureties of .6100 each.

Tlje Union Steam Ship Company has heen adyised that the steamer Port Melbourne loft Calcutta for Singapore, Townsville, Auckland and ■Wellington on’the 25th July.

About 4 o’clock yesterday morning Constable Murdock, who was on duty in Molesworth street, was informed that a man named Charles Arnoy had taken oxalic acid at a house in that street kept by Mr W. Chowen. Arney, who is a waiter out of employment, Has bepn drinking lately, and about two hours’ after'going home yesterday morning a noise was heard in his room as of someone falling. He was then found in great pain on the floor, and. admitted having taken poison. Dr Grace was called in, and, having administered antidotes, ordered the man to be removed to the Hospital. Aniey is ju a:very precarious condition, hut bn enquiry at the Hospital at midnight last night we were informed that there is a slight prospeot of hie recovery, The usual weekly meeting of the Women's Social and Political League was held yesterday. afternoon, when there was a good attendance. A paper was read by a member on protection and freetrade, and an interesting discussion followed. A paper will be read next week on the injustice of sales of work.

The following cases have been added to the calendar of the criminal sittings of the Supreme Court, which begin on Monday next: John Beat, theft,- Frank Masters, indecent assault; Frederick Parsloe, alias Richard Pratt, forgery and uttering {five charges). Altogether there are 12 charges against seven persons.

A well-attended meeting of gentlemen • interested in the improvement of cage and singing birds was held at Messrs Townsend and Paul's auction rooms last night, Mr Christensen in the chair. The Chairman stated that for some time past steps were being initiated for the purpose of improving the breed of singing birds, which in almost every country were to be found, not only in the houses of the wealthy, but in the lowly cottage of the labourer. By having a society whose special aim would be not only to introduce feathered songsters hitherto unknown in New Zealand, but to improve the present breed of cage birds, many who were now lukewarm in their efforts to brighten their homes by domesticating singing birds would soon be sparred on to greater activity, and each one would try to emulate his neighbour. He hoped all present would join in forming a society for this object, and induce their friends to do likewise. (Applause.) After some discussion it was unanimously decided to form an association to be called the Wellington Canary and Cage Bird Association. The following gentlemen wore elected officers of the Association : —President, Mr W. Denton ; vice-presi-dents, Messrs J. Taylor, J. Paul, A. B. Clater, E. B. Bristow, Geo. Remington and D. D. Hyde ; secretary, Mr J. Taylor. A committee was appointed to draw up a set of rules and regulations to be submitted to a future meeting for consideration. Thirtyfive members were enrolled, and it is anticipated that tho number will soon be over 100.

Mr Ferguson was the winner of the first prize (Changing Pastures) in Mr J. M, Nairn’s art union, which was drawn last night, the Hon John McKenzie taking the second prize, scene in Horokiwi Valley. A list of the winning numbers will be found in our advertising columns. An inset is delivered with this issue of the Times, referring to the Pear Tree Brand of Waterproof Garments. Special attention is directed to the new Reinbo Proofing” on the inside of ladies’ garments, all of which are claimed to be free from the odour usually connected with waterproof goods. Mr Justice Richmond sat in Banco yesterday morning to hear the case of Smart v. Russell, an appeal from a decision of District Judge Robinson at Masterbon. Some time ago G. W. Smart sued G. Russell, who is a carpenter residing at Masterton, in the Supremo Court for a billiard table, and judgment was given him for the possession of the same. Subsequently, Russell told Smart he would charge him £1 a day if the table was not removed from his premises, and as Smart failed to remove it, Russell sued him in the District Court, and got judgment for .£35 ss, with .£9 11s costs. Smart now appealed against that decision, and Mr E. F. Hadfield, who appeared on his behalf, contended that there was no action on contract and no actionable tort disclosed either in tho pleadings or evidence, and that District Judge Robinson should have entered up a nonsuit. His Honor upheld the appeal, and allowed .£lO 10s costs, and costs in the Court' below. Mr Bunny appeared for tho respondent.

The Horetauuga Mounted Rifles held their half-yearly meeting at the Lower Hutt last evening, Lieutenant D. D. Hyde being in the chair. There was a good muster present. A large amount of business was transacted, and a lot was held over till a future meeting, including making arrangements regarding the forthcoming camp.

Mr Walker, of the New Zealand Alliance, addressed apublio meeting in the Methodist Free Church Hall last evening on the Prohibition question. He invited questions, and was asked whether ho approved of the language used respecting the Premier at a temperance meeting on Monday evening, which the interrogator quoted from a paragraph in Tuesday evening-’s paper, a very highly seasoned piece of defamation. Mr Walker said that he not only did not approve of it himself, but was also quite sure that not one person who heard it approved of it, and was certain that it only inflicted pain upon them all. The speaker (on Monday evening), he said, was an able, devoted man, tremendously in earnest, but that in his (Mr Walker’s) judgment, if the speech had been stripped of personalities, its force and influence would have been increased fiftyfold. The temperance cause was not helped but hindered by such unwarrantable speeches, and he sincerely hoped that no one would attribute to the temperance party generally any responsibility for it or sympathy with it. He was sorry that occasion had arisen to defend the party from such an implication. The performance of “..Elijah” is announced to take place at St. Mark’s Church on Thursday evening next. The proceeds will be devoted to the organ fund. A case of some importance to local bodies came before Mr Justice Richmond yesterday, when Mr Taplin, of the Wairarapa, appealed against a decision of Mr Hutchison, S.M. at Masterton, by whom he had been convicted of a broach of tho North Wairarapa County Council’s by-laws. The question was as to whether the by-law, which provides for the regulation of traffic in the winter months, was ultra vires. The by-law provides for the width of tyres of vehicles according to the number of horses used. His Honor held that the by-law was bad, on the ground that it attempted to limit the number of horses, whereas it could only deal with the width of the tyre used. He, therefore, upheld the appeal, with £5 5s costs. Mr Edwards appeared for the appellant, and Mr Gully for the North Wairarapa City Council. A man named Henry Morris, a sailor on tho s.s. Takapuna, was admitted to tho Hospital yesterday suffering from a fracture of the left arm, which he had sustained by getting his arm round the winch at which he was working prior to leaving Now Plymouth. . He is reported to bo progressing favourably. ■. A singular occurrence took place at Parihaka last week. A Native woman of some rank, who had been ill was supposed to have given up the ghost. Preparations were at once made for interment the following day, and the Natives gathered from all quarters for a tangi. Tho next morning, according to Maori custom previous to the burial of the dead, a gun was fired over the supposed corpse, when to the astonishment and terror of those present the woman sprang up and looked around her as though waking from a natural sleep.! The consternation of the Natives who were gathered in the village is said to have been very great, owing to the idea that there was something supernatural about the awakening. The farmers who wore in town on Saturday, says the Ashburton Mail, who realised the situation as regards the necessity they will be under of paying their land tax four months earlier than has been their wont, were in anything but good humour over it. They contend that longer notice should have been given them, as in many cases not a penny has been received by them yet for either crop or clip, and tho times are not such as to allow of any elasticity of tho purse. Sitting in Banco yesterday Mr Justice Richmond heard an application by Mr Jacob, caveator in respect of an unregistered sub-lease of property at Wavorley, which property had lately been transferred from the freeholder—who had been in the relation of landlord to Mr Jacob —to a Mr Hooper, the registration of whose transfer would have had the effect of annulling the sub-lease. The caveator sought to protect his sub)ease? which had a term unexpired to September 20th next. Mr Edwards appeared for the caveator, and Mr Hutchison for Mr Hooper, who consented to the application, costs being allowed the caveator of £5 ss. One of tho latest attacked by influenza is Mr H. D- O’Callaghan, secretary of the A. and P, Association, The secretary of the Education Board has been informed that the Ngatm-i School has been closed in consequence of an outbreak of diphtheria amongst the children. We are indebted to the Telegraph Department for the following cable message:— The Chinese advise lines to Chefoo, Tientsin and North restored.

Our Hastings correspondent telegraphs: On enquiry to day I find that Sergeant Mitchell has had no intimation of his rumoured removal to Auckland, and he seems surprised that the information should have got about. Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Trial by Jury” will be performed at the Skating Rink tonight. The only case on the charge sheet at the Magistrate's Court yesterday was a man named George I[enry Jorvois, charged with drunkenness. He had been in the Hospital for some time past suffering from injuries received from a fall while drunk, and was now. fined 10s, with the alternative of 43 hours’ hard labour. Mr G. Allen, ■ J.P., occupied the Bench. Mr Martin, S.M., dealt with a first-offending inebriate at the Mount Cook Police Station.

This evening’s train from Te Aro for Lower Hntt will not leave Te Aro until II p.m., and Wellington at 11.8 p.m. A. G. Taine and Co. advertise a sale of furniture at their rooms on Friday. Kirkoaldie and Stains announce an unexampled clearing sale of winter goods. ’ A few of the leading lines in each department, with prices attached, will be found in our advertising columns. The sale commences to-morrow. Tenders are invited by Mr L. G. West for the erection of a bntter factory at Wellington for the New Zealand Farmers’ Dairy Union.