NEWS OF THE DAY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVII, Issue 2410, 16 January 1895, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

A number of estates in various parts of the Colony are under offer to the Government, and these offers are now being considered by the Cabinet. Tho matters are, however, still incomplete. We understand that the Government will notify the Manawatu Railway Company before the end of the present month of its intentions with respect to the acquisition of the Manawatu railway. Yesterday was the latest time for putting in tenders for the leasing of the Ministerial residence in Tinakori road, which was formerly occupied by the lato Mr Ballanoe. Not a single tender was received. Tho Wakatipu, which is expected here from Sydney to-morrow, is bringing a verylarge English mail. Mr J. D. Ritchie, Chief Inspector of Stock, has been in tho South for a month past making his periodical inspection of stock, and enquiring into tha precautions taken for keeping down tho rabbit pest. He is now on tho West Coast, and may arrive from Nelson in a few days, j A neat wall calendar for 1895 has been Issuad fiy the New Zealand Times Company. We hay.e received from Mr A. E. Kernot, local agent for the Mataura Palls Paper Mills Company, a copy of their calendar. It gives well-printed views of tho interior and exterior of the mills. Tho fina} performance pf ‘‘ Ra Fille du Tambour Major'’was given at tfio Ppera House last night before an appreciative audience. This evening ■“ Olivette,” which was such a great success during the company’s last season in Wellington, will be reproduced. Tho cast appears in our advertisement columns. The opera will be played again on Thursday, and on Friday “The Princess of Trebizondo” will be performed. The following is tho annual report of the directors of the Wellington Trust, Loan and Investment Company, to bo presented at the twenty-second annual meeting at the Chamber of Commerce, on Friday, Ist February, at 8 p.m.;—“ The directors have pleasure in laying before the shareholders the usual annual statements of accounts for the year ended - 31st December last, from the figures submitted, it will be seen that the net profits, together with the balance brought forward from the previous year, amount? jtp .£10,16119s 6d, out of which there has already been paid an interim dividend absorbing £4050, and £IOOO has been placed to a special reservo account, leaving an available balance of £5114 19s Od. A further dividend of 4 per cent, (making 8 per cent, for tho year) is now recommended, which will leave a sum of £1064 10s fid to b,e parried forward to next account. During the cast year tho directors have, with regret, received and accepted the resignation of Mr Wm. Boyd, our late secretary, who was in the service of the Company over since its formation. Tho Chairman will nt the annual general meeting propose that a small honorarium be voted to Mr Hoyd in recognition of his devotion to the welfare :of the Company during a period exceeding twenty - one years. Mr B. E. Rawnsley has efficiently performed tho duties of acting-secretary from t.fis date of his appointment. On the, retirement of Mr George Allen from the position of managing director, Mr C. T. Richardson was appointed to that office, and has ever since been most assiduous in f}js attention to his duties. The following retire at tho present time by rotation, vjz., Me James Wallace and Mr Edward Pearce, and tfiey offer themselves for re-election." ...... , Mr Gilruth, Government veterinarian) has gone South to catch tho Kahn at Lyttelton, in order to proceed to the Chatham Islands, at the invitation of .Captain Ijtood, whose flocks are affected by some spinal njalady. Mr Gilruth, while at * tfio Gfiathams, will take the opportunity to inspnet tho .other stpclc tjiero. A young man named Andrew McKerrow was charged before Mr Martin, S,Af./yesterday, with attempting to discharge a pistol at Felix Parry Jones on the 10th instant. Dr Findlay, appeared for the defendant. Felix P. Jones, living in Vivian street, statgfithat on the afternoonjof the 10th inst. he was jp the bar of the Empire Hotel, and’ill’sl,6 .ftoijrs.a of conversation defendant-said, “I liaye sh,qp people in California, and I have a good mind to shoot you.” He produced a pistol, and said it was loaded. He could not say tho muzzle of tho pistol was pointing towards him or anyone else. At this stage His Worship adjourned the case until this morning.

Regulations are jjow being drawn up under the Public Trust Office Consolidation Act of last session for the adraiuistra. tion of the Public Trust. Office.” . An ordinary meeting of tfie Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was held yesterday afternoon in tbo Loan and Mercantilo Buildings. Present—Mr J. G. W. Aitken (in the chair), Mrs Lingard, Rev J. K. Elliott and Messrs Atkinson and J. S. Jame.sou (lion, secretary). The inspector reported that since the last meeting the following cases had been enquired into.;—-Nino oases of working horses with Sores, five of working lame horses, two of Ci?n®lly carrying poultry, one of withholding food from a ‘horse, twq of worrying a oat to death, two of furious rifling- UUfi 9f overloading an express, one of keeping two cows with broken legs, one of keeping birds in a dirty state. Mrs Tarn was elected a member of the committee. The following subscriptions were reported:— per Mr? Lingard—Messrs H. D. Bell, £1 ,1s; J. Dnthie, 41 }?.: T. W. flMop, £1 Is; A. de B. Brandon, £J isj’C. J. Pharazyn, 10s; J. Varcoe, 2s fid i O, IJ. Black, 2s fidGeorge Meo, 2s fid; Mrs H, D. Bell, 10s fid; Mrs J. D. Hewitt, 5?; Mr? Allen, 2s fid; per the lion, treasurer —Rev J. K. Elliott, 10s; per the inspector .■=«• Cl. Odell, 2s sd;-Mra Lamb, 5s j Mrs Fannin, fis; Mrs Graham, 10s fid: total, £] l.fis fifi. Tho committee ; qi tfie Wellington Cycling Club, ftt a mooting la?t‘ night, altered the.date of the 50-Mite Glut) Championship to the oth February, A telegram received by Inspector Pender ye?teyday states that Thomas Sittings had cut his throat at Spring Creek, four miles from Blenheim. Gittings was arrested for drunkenness at Wellington oh the 28th of Do.ceinfeer last, and, as he was in a very bad state,, was teipaffided fyf p week for medical treatment, ' ■

A charge of spearing trout in the IJCutfc River on Christmas Day was preferred by. Mr F. Moorhpuse, Wellington Acclimatisation Society’s ranger, against a young man named Arthur Jonness in the Magistrate’s .-Court yesterday. Mr Gray appeared for the Society, and Mr Wilford for tho defendant, who pleaded not guilty. Mrs Swaisland, wife of a farmer living at Belmont, identified- the; defendant as the person gfie saw standing in the river with a spear bn the afternoon of Christmas Day. He walked about 'in’ the water for about half an hour. She did not see any trout in ijg possession,, and he did-not do anything with tfie apeap^' hire Soodwln and Mr Swaisland, who wore with tfie last witpess. said they, saw Jehriess using the spear if to ,asitglj fish, but did not see him"‘speay Any. F. Moorljou'se, 'ranger, said on January‘2, lie told Jemichs qs had come, to see him about this, trout-spearing busipgss, Defendant owned io having speared two tr.qnf, which he folk home. Between 12 and i oteteckpn (Sfijdefjljas Day fie” saw defendant with a spear going tq Wards the river. Defendant deniott tho offcrjf.o, said he only took eels. -His Worship said ho would give his decision on Friday.

rpi/e xvcatbjn’ }fi Wellington and in tho country ■ district? * yptlfcfjjay was oppressively hot. Our Stratford corrfisp.clnijq'f l ' telegraphs “The weather to-day is intensely hot, and the glass in the shade at uuop elevation of tefi-Cffl- above the sea level. It was much hotter ou th§ fqwpc ground.”

The following handicaps have boon declare d for the. Cycling Club's road race, which tefces plage next Saturday afternoon: —Lucy, scratch s Ohegwiddan and Brand, 20seeT Brodie, SSseoj Smith and 47.&1 ! y, -Msec; Hermann Jessup, linint Henry Jessath Iffim 30seo; Nicol, Imin oOscc; fabiap, Sfniui Arnold, 3mm; M. E. Herbert, Jrhin'sbsec. Jfbo .coupea is from the •Lower Hiitt station, ty the telephone Exr

The wiekly meeting of the Trustees of the Benevolent Institution w-as held yesterday afternoon. Present—Rev H. Van Stavereu (chairman) and Messrs Willeston, Collins, Lancaster, Baylis, Bradey, McKenzie. A donation of a sovereign from Mrs W. B. Rhodes' was received with thanks. The Chairman thought the time had arrived to put a stop to the practice of finding passages to Sydney or other outside places for destitute persons. The consequence of finding those passages was that people wore constantly applying for them. Mr Baylis concurred and moved that no more free passages be pi-ovided to places beyond the Colony. Mr Lancaster thought each case should be dealt with on its merits. Cases sometimes arose in which it was far better to send people back to tho place whence they came than to allow them to remain a permanent burden upon local charity. Mr McKenzie took a similar view of the matter. Mr Bradey took it that the resolution would not absolutely debar them' from sending people out of the Colony, but merely that such cases should have very special consideration. Mr Baylis coincided, and in order to give effect to this view amended his motion so as to read that only under very special circumstances should persons be furnished with passages to places outside of the Colony. In this form it was adopted. The clerk of the Horowhenua County Council applied for the admission of an old man to the Home. Consideration of the matter was deterred till Thursday week. A number of applicants for charitable relief appeared before the Trustees and had their wants attended to. There are now 77 inmates of tho Home, viz., 59 males and 18 females.

The inmates of St. Joseph’s Orphanage were yesterday treated to a picnic at Island Bay by some of their friends. The children were taken out and back in brakes generously provided free of charge by Mr J. Lane. As the weather was delightful, the children had a very enjoyable time of it.

On Saturday an interesting and unique exhibition took place in the operating room of our Hospital, the object being to show to the medical profession of tho city an invention in medical electricity, the inventor and exhibitor being a young Wellingtonian, Mr Leslie, now'in charge of tha Telephone Bureau at Titoaru. Medical electricity is now placed alnong the accomplishments of leading physicians in Great Britian and America; but in tho colonies its use is known to very few, though many are interested in its application, and consequently Mr Leslie had an attentive audience. The exhibit was placed upon a table, and consisted of a complete set of appliances used in all its branches by the medica] profession, from minor cases to the most difficult operations, internal or external. This apparatus is fixed to tho table —a portable one—and is connected to a switch, by, which tho operator can change tha treatment as required for different cases without loss of time or inconvenience, he not requiring to leave tfie tq.blo in s 9 doing. The different currents are led to a disconnecting, reversing or combination switch, so that either the Faradic or galvanic currents can fie used, sfilgly or jointly; and the whole apparatus is also Under the curfi of a very unique controller and milleamporemeter. The inventor, who, by tho way, has applied for the protection of fiis work, explained to tho doctors that tho combination on the table simplifies the method of electricity treatment, os', it does away with all the complication of wives which has hitherto' been in vogue in medical eleotro-cabinots and installations. Mr Leslie is taking advantage of a holiday trip to introduce liis labour and pain-saving invention to tho medical faculty, and those members of it present on Saturday took not only the keenest interest in the exhibition, but afterwards expressed great satisfaction at tho results, and wo understand several of our doctors have instructed Mr Leslie, to supply them with tho apparatus. At a special meeting of the Wellington Trades Council last night, Mr A. Ward in the chair, it was unanimously resolved to register under tho Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. A man named Richard Apps was charged at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday with having obstructed the working of the Government railway by using brakes on the 2Gth December last while coming down the Eimntaka incline. Tho defendant pleaded guilty, and Mr Wilford, for tho defence, said the man had been a resident of the Lower Hutt for over 20 years, and had a wife and 13 children-to keep on a salary of £3 2s a week. On this occasion he hadj oontrary to his custom, taken more liquor than was good for him, and declared ho was absolutely ignorant of the act he had committed. His Worship pointed out that defendant was liable to a penalty of £SO but in consideration of the circumstances he would only impose a fine of 20s, with costs amounting to £1 8s 4d. The alternative would be ten days’ imprisonment, but he would allow him to pay the fine by three weekly instalments. At Mr Maughan Barnett’s first organ recital, to he held in -St. John’s Church tomorrow evening, Mr Prouse will sing " Book of Age?’(J. ,F. Barnett) and .Gounod’s well-known “Nazareth.”, . The . bearing of the charge against Henry Graham, alias Goodward, of extorting money from a man named Johnston on Friday last, was resumed before Mr Martin, S.M., yesterday..-- Johnston deposed that accused, who represented himself as a constable, arrested him near tho Catholic cemetery on a charge of indecent conduct, and eventually witness gave him £3 18s to let him go, and promised him £fi more ’ the/next morning. Witness'then came to the police station and reported the matter to the Chief Detective. Replying to Mr Wilford, who appeared for tho accused, witness denied that anything reprehensible occurred between a woman, who spoko to him before Graham appeared, and himself. He had not been drinking that day. He gave the man the money because he did not want to have to appear at the Court, but as soon as he hud done so ho folt lie had made a mistake. He was quite sure accused was the man who spoko to him. The offer to square it came from witness, and when accused said the £3 18s was . not enough, witness offered a further £5, which accused said he would get the next njorifing. The girl told witness tho man was'not a policeman, bqt fie took no notice of her at that time. A woman named Kate Spllivafi, who was with Johnston at the time, corroborated liV'statemefitl' fitfiep evidence having .also ;boon given, tfio aconsod, who reserved his defence, uras committed for trial, bail being fixed at two sureties of £35 each, and himself in a like sum.

i : With this issue is ' published another p inset relating to the important partnership - sale now/going bn at Te. Aro House, and i giving some of the special quotations in the E fancy department. . 1 / 4 5.04 tajeof domestic unhappiness was f told in the Magistrate's Court, yesterday, *■ when Thomas Poarman, a carter, was charged 5 by his wife with falling, to. support Her. ' Mr Skerrett appeared for the, plaintiff, and L Mr Wilford for the defendant. Mrs Pearihan stated " that she had been married to • the defendant for i() years. During the past month her husband had, haem constantly drunk, and had not provided her ; with as much as a Christmas dinner'. ■ When' the.poUoe'came with the summons ■ he was lying on his, bed dead 'drunk. On ■ Saturday night week lie assaulted her so : badly that even now she was one mass of bruises. He' polled her out of bod . throe i times, and since then she had hot bceii able , tp her right - hand. She had had to . feayg him bepausp she was afraid to live yiiV ijini qny longer. In reply to ,Mr , ' Wilferd, she (Jejjied tafeing .217 yyithher I when she loft the bouse, Whato VO V tre.-il: inoht the defendant got from his son he . deserved for his abuse of her. She couldi not go back to him again.' Mr Wilford, called the defendant, who declared that [ had always had enough money , ever since they had hpen married. /The day after Mrs Pearman: left him she told - him she had taken _£L7 with her. He had poyor gcsirpltod or hoaten her, and he was willing:ti) reeeiyp hpr back again. Ho ' owned to having boon on the drink lately,but he was a teetotaller for 10 month? out oflast year. Other evidence having been ' given. His Worship ordered the defendant to pay 20. s a week, the order to ho filed in the Supreme Court, The filing of the order makes the payment a first charge on the property of defendant, and, added His Worship, is a new terror to convey, anoers, who will have to search Supremo Court records to see if property is free. ■Mr W. P. Jamas, jury officer, has appointed the following constables to prepare Jury lists for the ont-distrlcts in which fhey -a« stationedConstable' Baskiville/ Kfiaujahuf; Go’i}S ; tahlis_ Xyster, batons; Constable MofeinUon, Upper'Hutff'OoiiT, stable" P’EarreH,“'7bhnsbuyino; and Cot' stable Opuigkshanka, Dower Halt.*'' Herkons Objecting fo their nanjes appearing' on the jul-y lists should call at tlpr police stations and state the nature of their objections/ • ■ Mr J-fartiu, S.M-, presided oyer yesterday's sicfiijg of tip) Magistiate’a Court. ] Two first offending di'JJijkardj Tyijre pum i ishod in the . usual manner. Daniel Davis and Wm. Maher, charged with fighting in j Manners, street the previous night, were j ijuod lOe each, with the nlternativo of 48 j hours iu gaol.' r fib,ey jyero allowed a week j to find this ‘ money; '‘4 ’ Babßp# pamod j Thomas Goss was, charged -with allowing i an unlicensed driver, 1 lieubeu Harris, to j li'iye I] is cab on Christmas Day. ,He was j jibed Es, witlf fa gqaty. Ppr failing to pro- j dime his lio'mso ‘95 £ ho"'§amp da j ho Ordered to pay the costs, Eovfbon Ifarris | was 'charged with di-i /mg *a cab without a ! jigenso on the same occasion, and fined -£1 ■ with 7g gojtg. • Walter Tyrell, charged ; with disobeying' an order pf tlje Psurf: fpr ,' the support of his - .wife, was sentenced to 14' days’ bard labour, but the warrant was suspended for a day to give him an opportunity of complying' with the order.

The Hon Thos. Byrnes, Attorney - General of Queensland, has arrived in Wellington, accompanied by his sister (Miss Byrnes), Miss Gogge and Mr A. E. Lilley (son of Sir Chas. Lilley, and Undersecretary for Justice in Queensland) and Mrs Lilley. The party came from Auckland via the Hot Lakes, Taupo, Wanganui and Palmerston, and were unfortunate enough to have bad weather all the way. Sir Patrick Buckley met Mr Byrnes on his arrival, and yesterday introduced him to the Premier and the other Ministers at present in Wellington. They visited yesterday the Museum, Parliament Buildings and Supremo Courthouse. A garden party is to be held to-day in honour of the visitors at Sir Patrick’s residence at the Lower Hutt. Tho Premier, the Colonial Treasurer, the Minister for Lands and the Minister of Labour are expected to bo present. The Hon Mr Byrnes and party leave at 5 p.m. to-day by tho Takapuna for the South, but Mr Byrnes’ sojourn in the South Island must necessarily be brief, as he has to he at Hobart in time for the opening of the Postal Conference. The remainder of the party, however, intend to “ do ” the Otago Lakes. The fortnightly meeting of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners was held in Richards’ Rooms, Cuba street, last night. The balance-sheet was received and adopted. The dairy factory dispute regarding wages was reported' as closed, the contractor having settled the claim. No communication having been received from the City Council with reference to the shelter shed dispute the matter was held over-. Several new members were admitted; It was decided to write to the builders and architects of Wellington suggesting that a board he formed for iho purpose of discussing trade matters.

The • Chief Justice sat in Chambers yes’ terday and. dealt with a puluber of applications for probate.

The Public Worts Committee, of the Melrose Borough Council will recommend as follows at the next meeting of the Council: —That Baker Bros, be informed that as soon as they have carried out the work of forming and fencing the roads at Eoseneath in accordance with the letters from the Council, a committee will be appointed to inspect tho work. That notice be given to all persons holding slaughterhouse licenses within tho borough, thatthey must keep proper books and furnish- returns in accordance with clause 34 of the Slaughterhouse Act, 1894; and that proceedings bo taken against all persons who are found to be slaughtering without a license after this date. That notice be given to Mr Chas. Collier, of Island Bay, that unless he removes all obstructions from the watercourse i-unmng through tho property occupied by him at Island Bay within 14 days steps will be taken to recover the penalty imposed by the Land Drainage Amendment Act, 1894. That sumps be fixed in Cleveland street, Brooklyn, in accordance with the report of the inspector of works. That the attention of the Telegraph Department he called to the position in which the telephone posts are being erected at Island Bay, and that they ho requested to arrange them in accordance with the formation of the footpaths, &c. That the Unemployed Relief Works Committee be informed that no portion of the cost of preparing a plan locating tho Queen’s Drive can be borne by the Council. That proceedings fio taken for the recovery of all rates outstanding after the end of the present, month. That Councillor Tait he placed on all committees on which Mr J. Collins was previously elected to servo. That accounts amounting to £4B be passed for payment. An involuntary short ■ distance race took place at the Palmerston Railway Station bn tho departure of the Wellington train on Monday evening, says yesterday’s Standard. An intending passenger arrived at the platform just as the train moved off, and eluding tho porter’s attempt to keep him away from the train, ho ran up the platform to get on hoard; bht the guard, Dan Mouton, was too much for him, as he cantered alongside tho lato arrival and fonded-him off, while the crowd enjoyed the fun. Thera is some advantage in having a sprinter for a guard. ■ ■, ■ -

The annual report of the directors of tho Wellington Gas Company, for tha annual general meeting on the Ist February, is as follows : —“ The directors, in presenting the annual statement -of accounts, arc glad to be able to report to the shareholders that there has been a steady increase in tho consumption of gas during the past year. Your direotors jiave decided to again reduce the price of gas, from the commencement of this year, to 7s lid, which, with a discount of Is Bd, leaves the net price 6s 3d per 1000 cubic feet, The result of the year’s working account shows that, notwithstanding an increase in the quantity of gas made, there has been a considerable reduction in the cost of manufacture.; The plant has been maintained in efficient working order during the year. The mains have been extended for 129 chains, while 20 chains have been replaced by those of, larger diameter, and 125 new services have been fixed. An interim dividend of 5 per cent, was paid in July, a similar dividend being now i-ecqmmended,_.inaking, 10 polecat. for tho year. A sum of £2OOO has been written Off the plant, and £1791 I2s 10d carried forward to next year. Mr. Pearce retires from the board by rotation, but,, being eligible, offers himself for re-election.” The Christchurch Press records the marriage at St. John’s Church, Hororata, on Wednesday, of Mr A. F. Lowe, of Wellington, to Mildred Phillips, eldest daughter'’of tho lato Mr Henry Phillips, juh., Eookwood. The bride, who looked charming in a white figured French silk, with lovely veil and orange blossoms, was given away by her, brother, Mr Herbert Phillips, and attended by Miss E. Phillips, sister of the bride, and two little cousins. The bridegroom was attended by Mr Wilfred Hall as best man.

Dr Newman, M.H.E., has addressed a large meeting at .Gisborne oh political questions. He said lie. considered the depressed state of; affairs was largely due to over-taxation and, harass-, ing legislation, pointing out the feeling of insecurity that existed at the present time. In view of tho labours of the Tariff Commission resulting in further Customs duties next session, he urged the formation of a National Party which would study wholly and solely the interests of the Colony. Dr Newman was accorded a hearty vote of thanks,

J. H, Bothuno and Co, have been instructed hy'the Registrar of the Supreme Oou’rt to sell Lots'4B and 47' oh'plah No.. 165'0f subdivision, of Section 1086, City of Wellington, and will offer tho land s.t their rooms on Wednesday, 6th February, at 2.30 o’clock; Fro“man E. Jackson’s Johnsonville sale takes place to-day, at 11.30 a.m. Kirkcaldio and Stains are offering excellent goods in their tailoring department.

'Townsend and Panl are to sell some horses on account of a client from Hawera, at their horse sale on Saturday. - Cook and Gray'call for tenders for the pnrehasß a? » P.qing cjmoerppf tho old established hnaihes? oarried on by the lato John Clung at Reefton,

Tenders' arc invited by Badham and Biss for the book debts in the assigned estate of ; B. Gascoigne, Shannon.The Public Trustee requests that' all amounts payable to tbo estate of the late John-Arnold, Wellington, shall bo lodged, and-that-aeconnts against the estate shall be rendered by Friday, 6th April. The: stewards of the Wellington Racing Club call for tenders for a hand for the Summer Meeting. .' The A-M.P. Society advertise for a medical practitioner, to travel with an agent. An advertiser wants a partner to take either a sleeping or an active interest in the development of an invention for branding ?fi e ep- : Tenders are called for the eroqtiqq. of fencing at the Wellington Athletic Park Oommany’s jyround at Newtown.

A plooo of land of 150 acres, Mangahao, near.Paln.erston, is for immediate sale.