TOWN AND COUNTRY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVIX, Issue 3006, 18 December 1896, Page 2

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

On page 4 of to-day’s issue wo publish a descriptive article on the industry so successfully promoted and maintained by Nelson, Moate and Co. It will well repay perusal. On the same page will be found reports of the Harbour Board and City Council meetings. On page 1 are given some further details of the mountain murders at, Glenbrook. down a house in order to exterminate bugs was likened at Court yesterday to cutting off a man’s leg so as to cure chilblains.

After the first of January a now Harbour Board by-law will come into force, providing that “ne master shall allow a steam or other siren or buzzer to be sounded within the limits of the harbour.” The chairman of the Harbour Board has been authorised to grant three months’ extension of time for the removal of the barque Coromandel, if all the sureties make a request to that effect. The Britannia Hotel, Willis street, has changed hands, Messrs Dwan Bros, having disposed of Mr Chas, J. McCarthy’s interest therein to Mrs Robert Reid, well known in Wellington, and who is already in possession.

Yesterday morning’s Court roll-call of indiscreet inebriates included the names of Thomas Law, Jouas Hardy, William Harris and Maggie Lamplough, each of whom was ordered to pay 5s and costs, or 24 hours’ imprisonment. Four children named Price, the eldest six and the youngest aged one year, spent yesterday playing, or crying, about the police etation premises. They had been brought all the way from Patea (Waitotara) under order for the Burnham Industrial School. It appears that the mother of the little mites had deserted them, and the father is unable to have them properly looked after. So they have been handed over to the State.

The case in which G. and M. A. Tattle claimed £93 from R, Martin in connection with a cottage alleged to be infested with objectionable vermin was concluded yesterday, when Mr Greenfield found for plaintiff for £26, with costs £2 4s, £3 13s witnesses’ expenses and £2 12s solicitor’s fee. Dr Findlay appeared for plaintiffs, and Mr Young for the defendant, who was granted leave to appeal. A slave to liquor named Eliza Blaine was yesterday charged with being an habitual drunkard. The customary application for release was made by prisoner, who said she had only been recently discharged after serving three months for vagrancy. The Stipendiary Magistrate imposed a sentence of one month, the woman plaintively murmuring M Oh my God!” as she loft the dock.

. The camping ground for the boys of the local Institute has been finally fixed at Porirua. A special train will leqvo the Manawatu Station at IX o’clock on the night of Christmas Eve, and the boys will return to town on the following Monday. While at Porirua the Institute eleven will play all comers, bathing and fishing will bo indulged in, an entertainment for the benefit of the inmates of the Asylum wIU bo got- up, and Colonel Nowall has promised tr> ipspgct the cadet corps j so the boys will have a very good time. The Trades Council meet last night. A letter was received from the Otago Trades and Labour Council congratulating the Council on the return of Mr J. Hutcheson, Labour candidate, at the head of the poll for Wellington. The Hon J. liigg and Mr J.Pawoua, president of the Auckland Trades and Labour Council, were present, and were awarded hearty votes of thanks for thoir attendance. Tn replying, Mr Fawcua gave a brief review of the condition of the unions in Auckland. Mr J. Hutcheson wrote acknowledging congratulations. and thinking tho Council for extending him honorary membership- The Council adjourod until December 7th,

. It is that the Harbour Board should ask Parliament for power to make a reclamation from the jetty to the Johnston street staging, and in view of this the engineer of the Board instructed ■to prepare the necessary plaus, Tho proposed reclamation will extend out about 100 feet from Waterloo quay at the northern end, and a staging will be erected outside the reclamation for the accommodation of small steamers. The engineer stated at yesterday’s meeting of the Board that he did not think there would beany necessity for some years to proceed with the construction of another tee for the Qacon's Wharf. The total births in the various boroughs in New Zealand la November amounted to 320, against 372 in October, a decrease of 52. The deaths in November were 116, a decrease of 52 oh the number in October. Of the total deaths males contributed 62, females 54. Twenty-eight of the deaths wore of children under five years of age, being 24’14 per cent, of the whole number; 22 of these were under one year of age. There were 22 deaths of persona of 65 years and upwards ; two men, 65, 71, and four women, 66, 67, 68, 83j died at Auckland ; two men, 85, at Wellington ; throe men, 66, 73, 74, and three women, 70, 74, 80, at Christchurch; and three men. 70, 72 (two), and five women, 68, 70, 79. 80, 99, at Dunedin.

A disputed gift, alleged to have been made by a deceased Upper Hutt resident to her son, was the subject of a Court claim yesterday, when Margaret Young sued John Thompson for .£llO. Plaintiff and defendant are related. The facts were Thompson, saddler, died possessed of certain stock, which he loft to his wife. Tho latter died a week later, leaving the property to her three daughters. The son, John Thompson, had been working in his father's shop and managing the business latterly, and, although he was not mentioned in tho will, ho avers that the property was given him by his mother before her death under certain conditions. Evidence was taken, but -the case was not concluded when tho Court rose. It will be continued on Monday next. Mr Ollivier represents plaintiff and Mr Gray the other aide. ; _

The Fioton hotel case, in jyhloh Annie E. and Edward R. Eoskruge sued Michael Ryan, -of J Pahiatua, and Philip K. Watty, of Wellington, for £506 damages, was continued in tho Supreme Coart, yesterday before Mr Justice Edwards.- Plaintiffs, who bought the' lease and furniture of the Terminus Hotel, Picton, based their claim upon the fact that the, defendants conspired together, and by means of representations induced them to buy and to pay £€6o for the furniture, whereas it was only worth £4OO. The de-. fendant Watty was valuer. Witnesses were in the box nearly the whole day, most of them being residents of Picton, and counsel addressed the Bench at some length. The Court rose' at 6 p.m., and it is intended to conclude at 9.30 o'clock this morning, when another witness from, the South will be called..

An accident which happened after the Hutt Agricultural and Pastoral show on the 19tb November was discussed at the Lower Court yesterday, when Henry J. Needham, carrier, sued Frank A. Majendio, of Ohariu, Johnsonville, farmer, for £3O. Plaintiff, who was represented by Sir Kenneth Douglas, averred, that while oomiug to the city he was run into by the defendant, the collision resulting in his being thrown off his horse and over the fence on the Hutt road. The animal was badly injured, and be himself got a shaking. The defence was that plaintiff’s animal bad shied, and defendant, who was driving a spring. trap bohinl, collided thr mgh the anima.l backing into bis trap. Mr Mvuce'ttb, appeared for defemlant, characterised the claim as a preposterous one, and called evidence vary*contradictory to that advanced by plaintiff Three witnesses subpeenaod by the latter did not appear. The Stipendiary Magistrate entered up a nonsuit, but refused to allow ooata.

The City Council on rising last night adjourned for a month. A proclamation was issued last night proroging Parliament until February ISth, 1897. Cheap excursion fares to Lyttelton are advertised in another columnby the Union Company. The Free Public Library is to be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Tear’s Day. Further regulations for the adjustment of compasses and the licensing of adjusters have been gazetted. The City Council intend to follow the load of the Government as to the observance of the Christmas and New Tear holidays. The members of the Wellington District Law Society will observe from the 24th inst. to the 4th of January as Christmas holidays, Tbo Government printing and stationery offices will be closed from Monday, December 21st, until January 2nd, both days inclusive. Permission has been granted to the Wellington Garrison Rifle Corps to use Newtown Park as a camping ground from January 9th to 10th. A civil claim, Borrougbs against Rawson, a matter concerning a building contract, will be tried before a jury at the Supreme Court to day.

During Mr H, D. Bell’s term of office as Mayor his partners in the firm of Bell, Gully and Izard have been appointed solicitors to the Harbour Board. The Kinetoscope is still a source of attraction in Willis street, and good business was done yesterday, many visitors patronising the wonderful little machine. The dog tax for 1897 has been fixed at 19s >er dog, the same as last year. Persons who ose valuable dogs are recommended to advise the Corporation officials of their loss. The Harbour Board’s additional by-laws as advertised were adopted at a special meeting of the Board yesterday, and will come into force on the Ist January. The regulations for exarainatijn of engineers in the Now Zealand Mercantile Marino were published in last night’s Gazette. They como into force oath© Ist January next; Tbo Defence Department has issued amended regulations under which commissions in the British Army may be obtained by officers of local colonial military forces and by students from the colonial universities. A report from the engineer of the Harbour Board in reference to the proposal to erect a wharf at Potone was laid before tbo Board yesterday, but consideration of it was deferred until next meeting. A parade of the Wellington Guards was hold last night, under Captain Paterson and Lieutenant Hareourt. The men were put through company drill, manual and bayonet exercises, and then dismissed.

We have received a copy of the Evercirculator of the Wellington Shorthand Writers’Association, edited by Messrs W. R. Whyte and F. H. Cramp. The little volume is got up in a very tasteful manner. Should the erection of the Thorndon baths be completed before the next meeting of the City Council the representatives of Thorudou Ward in the Council will make the necessary arrangements for the opening ceremony. A question as to how often hotel bodlinen was required to be renewed seemed to puzzle a professional valuator iu the Supreme Court yesterday. He eventually stated that a hotel would be - most extravagantly managed if renewal was required once a year! The second of a series of lectures on Political Economy, by the Rev Mr Hoggins, which was postponed from Tuesday owing to the inclement weather, was given in St. Peter’s Schoolroom last night, and was fairly well attended. The subject was dealt with in an able manner, and the lecturer was listened to most attentively. We have to acknowledge receipt of the December number of the Mutual Provident Messenger. This periodical contains interesting paragraphs on life assurance matters, as well as two excellent woodcuts, one of the Society’s office in Launceston, and the other a fine representation of the Cataract Gorge, Tasmania. Auctioneers’ licenses for next year have been gtantefi to Messrs G. J. G. Chapman, J. B. Hareourt, F. W. Haybittle, E. H. Little, A. Nairn, H. J. Reid, G. H.

Scales, W. F. Sbortt, P. Sidoy, W. D. Stowart, P, Townsend, and Now Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency (Mr T. H. Hanna). Councillor Lingard’s proposal, “ That as the day following New Year’s Day ia the usual Saturday half-holiday, and in commemoration of Her Majcsty’alengthened reign, all Corporation employees be granted a full day’s holiday and on full pay,” did not njeet with the unanimous approva) of the City Council last night, and it lost. There have been unusually heavy lists of civil cases presented at the Wellington Lower Court lately, and late sittings are the rale. The defended cases, of coprse, take up a great deal of time, and the postponement of causes low down on the list is of almost daily occurrence. Allusion was made last night to the amount of work the Stipendiary Magistrate has boon getting through lately. “And for very poor pay,” remarked a lawyer at the .table, “ Yes, not nearly enough,” put io I another.

The examinations for pupil teachers under the Wellington Education Board begin this morning at Wellington and at the morning the candidates wifi bo examined in school method and science, aud in the afternoon in geography and optional subjects. On Saturday the subjects will bo English composition and parsing and analysis. Mr J, T. Fowler, late Inspector of Schools at Madras, will supervise at Mastorton, and Inspectors Lee and Fleming at Wellington. There is at present on view in Messrs McGregor Wright and Co.’s window a fine large oil painting of the " Eruption of Mount Ruapehu/’hyMtGoorgeShorriff. The painting, which is boldly executed, is rendered all the more interesting by the fapt that the eruption was the only one which has ever taken place from the mountain within the memory of the oldest Maoris. The picture is framed in stained oak, the work having been done by Messrs McGregor Wright and Co,, and is the property of Mr A. Turnbull. It is intended by the Government to erect a light on Rooky Point, near Capo Palliser, at the eastern entrance to Cook Strait. The lighthouse, which is now i?> opursc of erection, will be ready about Juno next, The light will be 258Cfc above the level of tho sea at high water, and will be a dioptric revolving white light of tho second order, flashing twice every half minute, with intervals of throe seconds between the flashes. It will be visible to seaward over an arc of 214 degrees of tlie horizon fUP a distance of about 25 statute miles from tho deck of a vessel of ordinary height.

Christmas, the happy season, is approaching, and among those tradesmen who are to the fore in catering for the wants of a liberal public Mr Balph holds a prominent place. Ho has on hajid-4as h® makes known by an advertisement on our front page—a choice assortment of presents for his customers to select from. As those lovely presents are for Christmas time only, they will ho sold at cost price or given with drapery purchaees. In any case, the advantage is oi> the aide of the buyer, who gpts one of these gifts at very small cost. A telegram received in town yesterday from Mr John Kirkoaldie stales that ho has just completed the purchase pf Messrs Neal and Close’s extensive and well known business in Napier. This stroke of enterprise, combined with their contemplated extensive additions to their Lambton quay establishment, will isakp them one of the largest trading firms in the squtjjern hemisphere. No 'dbllbp tV public of Napier >ylll readily recognise that they nqw in their mifist one of the best trading drapers for Now Zealand.

Civil actions wore disposed of as follows by the Stipendiary Magistrate yesterdayH. Vale vW. Everest, .£3 4s Od, costs 6a; M. Tracy v A. Mitchell, 10s 6d, cost 8s; Commercial Agency v G. Gilbert, A 3 13s sd, costs Us; A, J?rondoyilj3 Y A. Sohoch, AH 15s, coats AX ; P. SiU V J- Waytoftk, M 15s, on a judgment summons, tp be paid forthwith or 10 days ; Wyatt, logo and Gould v J. J. Murray, A 4 13s, to bo paid afc the T& to of 10s per week ; Mrs Porter v H. Morloy, Al 16s 6d, to bp paid forthwith or in default three days; Commercial Agency v \V. Williams, A 7 13s, to be pala forthwith or 14 days.

. Constable O'Connell had an unpleasant experience with a man named Thomas Campbell in Little Taranaki street on Wednesday night, when ho was obliged to arrest him for drunkenness. The man was very violent, and resisted vigorously. He bod the officer down once, and kicked and attempted to bite him. Two charges wore formulated against the offender at ther Stipendiary Magistrate's Court'yesterday, when he admitted both, and was fined 6a and costs for intoxication, and sentenced to a fortnight's imprisonment for unruly behaviour.

Some people prefer to undergo a great deal rather than face the unpleasant ordeal and publicity attendant on going through tho Bankruptcy Court. A Wellington baker, v.Uon asked yesterday why he had not compiled with an order for payment of a halfsovereign per week towards clearing an old debt f6r flour, said be was unable to do so, things being very bad with him. When it was suggested by opposing counsel that ho should have filed instead of struggling on under a load of debt, be replied with a negative shake of the head. Ho would sooner continue under present conditions, he said, than publicly repudiate his responsibilities. Mr A. D. Eiley, director of the Technical School, in a.report to the City Council, states that the classes for plumbing at the Technical School have been well attended. There were 22 in the practical class and H' in the theory class during the last quarter. Tho cost to tho Council for the whole year’s work was £62 0s 9d. Valuable work hod been done in both branches, theory and practice, and evidence of the latter might be seen in the Technical School exhibits at the Exhibition. Ho trusted that the work would bo continued, as it was evidently now appreciated by those for whom it was intended. He asked what were the intentions of the Council in regard to the matter. The Council decided to refer the report to tho Public Works Committee.

Tho Opera House re-opens on Christmas night with Mr John Fuller’s New Myrioratna Company, which company goes to the Exchange Hall on Boxing night for a shot season. Mr John Fuller, whose name is almost a household word in Australia, is no doubt one of the finest tenor vocalists now travailing, having, what is a rare quality nowadays, a pure tenor voice, both as regards quality and compass. He brings with him a strong company of artists, and his ” New Myriorvna.” which consists of sight* of tho worl I—v torn of eut*-ct*iin n=jj.t mvdc popular by e. The. vocal part of the entertainment on • Christmas night will be puraly sabred, whilst the pictorial portion, besides illustrating numerous songs and recitations will bo “ A Day's Holiday in Windsor Castle” a.id ” Interesting Places in English History."

Copies of the Christmas and Exhibition number of the New Zealand Mail will bo on sale outside the General Post Cilice tod*y, ready wrapped for posting by the English mail leaving at noon. Consisting, as this number does of a most readable and attrac* tire guide to English friends and touristy, to the advantages of New Zealand as a health, pleasure and leisure resort, it constitutes a most seasonable souvenir. The postage to England on each number is 3jd. On the recommendation of the Drainage Engineer, Mr W. H. Evertou has been appointed assistant inspector of private drains, at a salary of £3 per week. Mr Everton has temporarily filled the position for the past three months, and his services will probably be required for about 12 or 15 months longer. At .the City Council meeting last night, Councillor Devine, seconded by Councillor Myers, moved that applications should bo invited for the position, but this was lost by S to 3. An unused ’bus in an enclosed yard in, Luke’s lane was utilised as a bedroom by a man named William Wallace on Wednesday night. The constable who visited this somewhat uncomfortable place of accommodation decided to tako the ocoupant in charge for being there without lawful right, it being the second time he had been caught in the vehicle. Yesterday Wallace told Mr Greenfield, S.M., that he had no felonious intent or anything of that sort, and as there was nothing suspicious about the ease accused was treated to a short lectureite and granted his liberty. Sergeant-Major Ramsay said there was always a danger of fires when men got into other people’s premises in a stupid or fully intoxicated condition.