LOCAL AND GENERAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 3263, 21 October 1897, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A report of yesterday’s proceedings at the Charitable Aid Oontoronoo and a letter from our Palmerston correspondent will be found on ourhack page. A Ghristahuroh resident, who has just returned from America, la an interview, stated that when in Chicago he went to a “ root concert ” on top of the Masonic Temple, whion is 23 stories high, Mr John Puller, the tenor singer, and his now myriorama, will arrive from the South by the Mararoa to-day. The company wid appear here shortly. Me Alt. Barton has already arrived to make arrangements for the season. A po}l of the burgesses of the borough of Potohe is tp RQ tajien qn Wednesday,'the 27th inst., upon the proposal of the local Connell to borrow £2OUU by way of special loan for the purposes of drainage and screet improvements. Four lads named W. Dobson, F. Oatrim, P. Smith and P. Wilshire, who were caught in the aot of stoning an elderly Chinaman the Other day, were yesterday, at the Magistrate’s Court, ordered to pay a fine and costs, the total being 2fis 3d each. With the nominations already ip the hands of the secretary for to-night’s meeting of the Natives’ Association, the number on the roll will exceed 200. No less than 68 new members have been elected at the last three meetings of the Association. The late train from Masteiton last night brought down a woman named Mrs Chaney, olios Richmond, who stands charged with the theft of a diamond ring, valued at .£32, the property of Messrs Littlejohn and Son, of Wellington, on the 14th July last. A' special case is to be stated to the Supreme Court in regard to the dispute as Iff the payment pf costs in the Horowhenua case. The Court will be asked to determine whether there is any property whiph may ho seined j and a statement of the case is now being drawn up.' Aoting-Dsteotive Cox has-returned, from Blenheim, where he has been investigating the mystery connected with the death of Harry Satherley. There are no fresh developments to report A oting - Detective Broberg is still in Blenheim, endeavouring to got the matter cleared up. A mapse, to be occupied by the Rev W. S. Fprnie. pastor of the Courtenay place Congregational Church, has been built jn Ellioo avenue, the land and house costing £760. The building, which is of two stories, was designed by Mr G.- A. Stevenson and built by Mr J. Nicholson. Wellington investors in the Emu Bay (Tasmania) Railway Company will no doubt be Interested to know that the directors of the cqmpanv visited Waratah by special train the other day to inspect and take over therailway. Prospectors are said jo be oyer-running the now railway company’s groundThe New Zealand Farmers’ Dairy Union has 400 hoses °f butter in the cool st jres at the Wellington Meat Export Company’s premises, awaiting shipment fur London by the lonio. Two hundred boxes of lasf sea, son’s butter, shipped by the Union, are on board the Tongariro, now about due in London.

The cotton powder explosive fog signal to bo erected at i'enoarrow Head will probably be placed on asitealmost belowtho lighthouse. 4-Wpll pf a -little more than 40tc will be required for the clockwork apparatus for the antomatio signal, and It lo likely therefore that a spot on the side of the olif be chosen, As the result of further search Constables Heather and Abbott brought an almost aom-, plote set of bones in from beyond Island bay yesterday to the Mount Cook Police Station. As the remains wo o very old and pvqtejdy ■ belonged to a one-time Maori pifyial grottSff, Mr Ashcroft, Coroner, diswithaa ihqugat-Tp-night will the end of t/fS scrips (4 epegjel meptings in aid of' thp SSJviitiqn Army sooi a l Wfd mission work.-" The 'Wesleyan Suhday-sohqql )g tp ‘ repeat its anniversary programme, apd if jspype.cted that some 400 children, accompanied py a splendid orchestra, w>U take part- The service commences at 7.30 sharp. w The Flying Jordans open their Wellington season on Saturday, 30th inst. These aoropats come with a brilliant reputation. Their feijis fyaye attracted crowded audiences whereysrthey have appeared, and so far the Itfpw Zealand tony has bpen pnp unvarying rpopyd ’o(' suo'ceßspp. Th? Wellington seasoif. is certain to prpye P 9 exception to tips rnje. Mr J. B. Mlair, chairman pffhe Bparfiof Education, leaves for the Wairarapa jthjs morning on business in oonneotion with the Board la that district. He wi l enquire into tbfl representations made for providing school ggnoimhodation at Tanheremkan, South FeShprgfioit npd The Camp, and also as to the desirableness or fjfe Morrison s Bush sojjoolbonap tp another Ship. The services In aonneotjon with the Bey D. O'Donnell’s mission wars ' continued yesterday at the Wesley Church, Tasanuki street. In the afternoon there was Bible reading, and in the evening the missioner g#.rg an address, chiefly intended for young ■people, based on the latter part of the 15th chapter of the of St- Luke. The services will bejcontinijoa tp-ijay.

The long-drawn-out oasa of Miss Kutp Dixon versus William Mo < errow, a claim for. the maintenance of an illegitimate child, was advanced another stage at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, when Dr Beard, of Masterton, was examined.- His evidence was principally :of a technical character. _ Another adjournment w?s then made until the 27th. instant,when the case wjll in all likelihood ho finally determined. Mr Jefiiooe i» appearing for plaintiff and Mr Gray for the defendant. The* Wellington Navals mustered oyer 70 strong for parade last night under Lieut.Commander Campbell and Lieutenant A. S. Biss. Four detachments were exercised in Nordenfeldt drill under Master - Gunner Eiohatdson, and a squad was given icatrnotion in signalling. The seven-inch gun detachment were drilled at the gnus. After -paradej .one new member was pleated, and arrangements were miSfle for afternoon tea in oonneotion with the first of the season’s boat racing on Saturday. Conditions for the race between the Wellington and Petone Navals for the trophy received from Captain Banks, of the Zealandia, were drawn np.

The Stating Kink was crowded yesterday afternoon and evening, on the occasion of the Garrison Band’s fancy fair. The takings up to last night totalled nearly i>lso, and every stall lyae kept busy until a late hour in the even* ing. The Asoot tables were so crowded that it was almost impossible to get near them. A " similar programme of xninnet dances to the previous evening was given. The is a Hat of prize-winners at the bazaar so far »—Mr Bennie, mirror; Mrs Allen, laoe work; Mr Haggett, pipe; Miss Nicholson, cosy; Mr Donovan, £i note ; T. Brown, J3l note; :Mr Pisher, wall?pooket; Mrs Tucker, cosy $ Mr Gtoodchild, doll-’a cradle; Mr Jones, cmctj Mr Gordon, butter-cooler; Mr Cross, £1 note ; Mrs Watkins, cushion; Miss Shortt, tea sett Mr Salter, doll; Mr Fiides, «Bl notei Miss Forrest, £1 note,; Mr. Carter, ousbion; Mr Walker, pln.oushlonj Mrs Ward, tea-cosy; Mrs Aiahar, cushion; Mr Stewart, cushion; Miss A. Clark, oosy; Mrs Everton, cushion; Mrs Shortt, cosy; Mr Williams, cushion { Mr Masters, bo* lollies; Miss Bussell, eatoholl. Tonight Professor J. P. de Blumenthal will give a novel and Mnnainy phrenological lecture and entertain* m 9nt,

The Hokitika Cycling Club has decided to appoint a number of ladies to its committee of management. The spring show of the Wellington Horticultural Society is to be h“M on Wednesday and Thursday, 24th and 25th November, in the skating Kink.

The Thorndon Tennis Club has accepted the tender of Messrs Oi* r k and Thompson for the erection of a pavilion on the club's grounds in Halswell street. The total number of arrival* in the colony during 1 tst month was 14 9. and the departures 933. In September of 1890 the arrivals were 1318 and the departures UOB. At Kketabuna the other day a man was fined £L and .costs for cruelly to his mob of working budocks. The evidence showed that they were not fed ani were in an unfit condition, five of them beiug hardly able to drug themselves along. Conviviality incidental to a brief holidav on shore was yesterday advanced by Andrew Sark as an excuse for forgetting to return to work on the barque where he was employed. The Bench ordered him aboard, inflicting no other punishment.

The Wellington creditors of Susan Goodall, of .Moaterton, draper, who has filed her schedule, are—Abbot, Oram and Co., £ 50; Barber and Co., £2O; Bing, Harris and Co., £lB 7s ; kargood, Son and Hwen, £93, The total liabilities in the estate are £303, while the assets are valued at £3lO.

Some laughter was caused at the Charitable 4id Conference yesterday by a proposal by Mr Roche to settle the question of wife desertion by-making divorce easy. Mr Roche said the wife was often to blame. If a man oould get a divorce for ill or so, he would not want to desert his wife.

Consideration of the question of providing a training-ship was one of the items down in the name of Mr o‘R.egnn, for consideration at the Charitable Aid Conference. Yesterday, however, the item was struck out, it being argued that it was not a proper subject for discussion by such a Conference. A country witness, who kept the Magistrate, counsel and press waiting some time yesterday, was treated by Mr Kenny to a short but forcible lecture on his want of punctuality. The witness apologised in most courtly style, but finished up rather badly when.he remarked that it was Wednesday, and he wanted to do some shopping before the business establishments closed. Professor Pannell having offered his services to the committee of the Newtown public school, the children, attended by their teachers, parents aud friends, are to assemble at the To Aro Baths on Saturday morning next at 11.30, when the Professor will give a valuable object lesson in the illustrating the best methods of rescuing from drowning, restoring animation, &c. Mr Pannell places his services free of charge in the hands of any school committees who choose to avail themselves of the offer.

The candid admission that he hadn’t a shirt to put on was made at Court yesterday by one William R id, charged with tho theft of au article of that nature, valued at seven shillings, belonging to William Blackie. Accused said that his own shirt was away at the wait, but owing to tho neglect of tho laundry people it had not returned to tirpe, so bp appropriated that of someone else As Rnd had got into similar trouble previously the Magistrate ordered him to wear Government apparel for seven days. The pawn ticket forgery base, in which the young man William MoLenuau is concerned, was taken at Court yesterday, when accused was committed for trial, Tbe tickets were alleged to have been stolen from the shop of Mr J Zachatiah, and filled in to represent that a sapphire ring aud a suit of clothes had been pawned at that establishment. These ticket? were then disposed of, one at ths Masonic Hotel and the other at the Hanfurly Hotel. Mr Wilford is counsel for accused. The family affairs of Anthony K. B. Watty and his wife Hetty Watty were ventilated at . the Magistrate’s Coart yesterday, when application was ■ made by Mrs Watty for a separation order, and for maintenance for herself and child, tho ground being stated to bo persistent cruelty. The Magistrate, after hearing the state of things that prevailed, made the order as prayed, and fixed 7a 6d per week as the amount to be paid the applicant. Defendant was also ordered to pay JB2 2s, the solicitor’s fee of Mr Wilford.

Mr Gully, Crown Solicitor, mentioned the Awacua seat case In the Court of Appeal yesterday. The Statute passed this session, the Awarua Seat Inquiry Act, is itself the special case for the Cqurt, and by clause 4 it is provided that tfie case shall l}a set down by the Crown Solicitor at Wellington, and that the date of hearing shall bo fixed by the Court. The Judges accordingly, in answer to Mr Gully, fixed Monday next for the argument, the case to take precedence of all others. Messrs Theo Cooper and Skerrett appeared for Mr Ward.

Good progress is being made in connection with the Wellington Horticultural and Society's Spring Show, which is to be held on Wednesday and Thursday, the 21th and 25th November. The Ladies’ Committee of the Society is invited to provide for the reception of His Excellency and Lady Ranfurly, who are to bo asked to open the exhibition, which will likely; be held in the Skating Rink. The show is expected to be quite up to the usual standard, and additions are suggested in some of ■ the classes which will tend to make it more attractive. Judges have been appointed for the different departments, the ladies of the committee judging the bouquets. An art union is to be held in connection with the gathering. The annual general meeting of the Hutt

Valley Amateur Swimming Club was held on Tuesday night, ..the president, Hr Purdy, in the chair. The report and balance-sheet showed the club to be in a flourishing state. The following officers were elected? —President, Dr Purdy ; vioc-nresidents, Messrs H. 0. Gibbons, P. W. Haybittle, A. Pringle, senr., 0. Trevethick, Laery and W. Ross j hon secretary and treasurer, Mr G. S. Pringle. The remaining office ra will be elected at the next meeting. It was un* animously decided. to instruct the club’s delegate to vote for the strict amateur status, being maintained. {sflx now members wore elected. The season will he opened with a 50yds hanjhoap duripg the last week in N'oyember.

The assault case in which Annie Olson, a married woman, occupied at the General Post Office as cleaner, charged John Henry Thomas and John Doren with haying waylaid her early on the morning of the 17th, was' determined yesterday, the investigation being conducted hy a bench of Justices, The comp)ainq.nt, ft will be remembered, blew a policeman’s whistle qfter the affair occurred, and Constable Thompson toot the pair to the station. Accused denied the assault in foie, alleging it was a case of mistaken identity. They admitted, however, being in the vicinity of Cuba street at the titpe (about 3am), but only appeared.op the scene with others after they hoard the whistle blown. The Court found defendants guilty, am} imposed a fine of 40s each, or seven days.

Two well-known characters, whose general appearance was not eminently prepossessing, wore yesterday before the Court on charge i of being vagrants and incorrigible rogues generally. Their names were William Wyllie, alias King, and Henry Jefferd, who also possessed a second appellation. It appeared that the pair had not long been out of gaol, which undesirable habitation they had at various times oooupied for divers offences. Their arrest on the present occasion was the outcome of ‘‘ ringing the changes ” in respect to getting change at Kenny’s Albert Hotel. It is a very old trick, but apt to oonf nse people at the time it is performed. Wyllie was tyiefi separately, and was defended by Mr Toung, bqt his explanation of the alleged r* ringing inwas not very Inch). TJ)| police gave him a h»d'character, and Mf' Kenny gave him six months. Jefferd was theh dealt witlfi aD d was awarded a similar term. The custom .Qf t|)C police aqthpritipj) in keeping a etyjot eye upon every person \?ho has been in gaol was ahnded to at Coptt yesterday in very bitter terms by two young men son tone ad fir vagraney. They had only been out a few weeks and had looked far work resultlessly, not only in t jwu hut in the country. When they reiarned their arrival at one country station was noted by the local poniitablp and the head office duly apprised,' a warrant being sworn out for their arrest subsequently. * The police prevented than from' getting work, they said, and dogged h(i» fjr'os ppsfto pjllar'il he bd'd been unfortunate ehongh to havg at any time been in trouble. The Magistrate •made'no comment, the remarks tendered being of a familiar character. A glance at the list of previous convictions at once showed him the character pf flje men h® waa dealing with, and j gefitly L -vttered “ gfx months ” demonstrated what lie tkp'jqht prpcnofß do is thfi }l3n}cfii4t9 fiftifi.c” '

The Court of Appeal was cpgageAy.ester.d%y in hearing the ease Reid and others (appellants) v. Wishart and another (respondents). This is an'appeal from a judgment in which Mr Justice Williams in the Supreme Court at Dunedin ruled that David Wlahart WPP cififHecj. to a share or interest as a bench* ciary under vijl of the Uto Charles Begg, mssic-seiler, Dunedin, aj thp interest of Janet Begg, who bd'cAmp Mrs Wishart, had been vested in her indefdisihly on her marriage. Mr Calvert (instructed by Messrs Duuoau and Maogregor) appeared for the appellants, and Mr W. C Maogregor for the respondents. After hearing argument, the Court upheld the ruling of Mr Justice Williams, and .dipejissed the appeal with costs. The question qf fixing the scale of posts paused some argument, Mr'Mpcgtegor, who claimed that the highest epale should be allowed, saying that the wljqje property was worth about 423,000, while. Mf Cftlvert, though agreeing that that might h e Spme* where near the valne of the business at thp present day, urged that the papers before the Court fixed the value of the estate, and that the total waa about -£OOOO or 47000, which will be reduced still further by debts aud payments. Ultimately the question was deferred.

The adventures of an ordinary njaokintogh cloak were related at Court yesterday, when some peculiar evidence was given. A welldressed young woman named Idly Garbes was charged with stealing the article, but she denied tbe accusation, and was represented by Mr Skerrett. The case for the prosecution was that after a _concert and dance at Petone a girl named Lily Johnston placed the mackintosh by mistake in a drag which was about to leave for the city. She never saw It again, Her mother interviewed the police, qmd the article w as traced to a second-hand dealer, Mrs .Guthrie, whp bad given Is §d for it. The outcome was that defendant was charged with larceny. The defence was' that defendant was asked m the shop in which’ she Is employed to buy % the applicant being a strange girl, S-nd the price two shillings. Knowing that Mrs Guthrie, a secondhand dealer, was on the premises, Garbes told the girl to oaU again ahd she would see. Mrs Guthrie agreed to pay. la 6d for the article, A number of wit* nesses were examined on both sides, and the oross • examination of various then; by Inspector Ponder was very searching. The presiding Justices (Messrs Altken, Haseldon and Aitchison) found that there was a tea# in tbe sate and it.

The Palmerston Bowling Club’s green was opened yesterday by the Mayor. The prizes won at the Eight Hours procession by the oomoetitora in the various competitions were paid out by the secretary last night. The Oddfellows* “ social ” to be held at Thomas* Hall this evening promises to be very successful. The committee met last evening and made the final arrangements. The following cablegram was received yesterday from the Agent-General by the Department of Agriculture : —Butter, IOUs, market dull; cheese, 475, market eta. tionary.

The Loyal Antipodean Lodge of the T.0.U.F., M.U., mot laatevening, Bro. A. H. Smith, N.G., in tbe chair. There was a fair atton lance of members, and after disposing of the usual business harmony was indulged in.

At a meeting of the creditors in the estate ot D. B. Harris, chemist, at Palmerston North, general sympathy with the bankrupt was expressed. It was decided that tenders be called for the purchase of the stock and goodwill of the lease. A very enjoyable gathering look place last night in SpiUer'a Hall, when the Catholic priests of Te Aro parish entertained the choirs of St. Mary of the Angels and St. Joseph’s Churches at a “social” to commemorate the opening of the new organ iu the Buckle street Church. An enjoyable evening was spent by the large number of guests. Several songs were given, and dancing was kept up till early this morning. Bepresentations have been made to the Hon J. McKenzie, Minister for Lands, by some of the settlors in the North Fortyrmile Bush, as to the serious position in which they have been placed owing to the late floods. ' These, settlers in the McKenzie Block formerly possessed a fairly good ford, and wore enabled to o.oss the river on the Tataekara ' road without much difficulty in ordinary weather. But since the floods which proved so destructive to many settlers the only means of crossing has been by trespassing really upon private property. This way has now been blocked, and the people ace confronted with a difficulty which can only be solved by the erection of a bridge if they are to successfully carry on thoir. humble industry. Such a structure, it has been ascertained, wiU cost .£3700, and the Minister has been approached with a view to his having a sum placed on the Estimates to enable the work to be carried out. It is hoped that Mr McKenzie will see his way to accede to what on the face of it appears to be a very reasonable request.

George Thomas Stephenson, who died in Mount View Asylum on Tuesday night, had been an inmate of that institution since September, 1805. He was taken there from the Wellington Hospital, where he had been under treatment. Deceased, who was a sailor, met with an accident on the wharf while helping to load a steamer in 1890, a bale ot goods falling on him and causing paralysis. Daring his evidence at the inquest held at/he Hospital yesterday, Dr Haasall, Medical Superintendent of the Asylum, stated that deceased came under his charge in January, 189c>. He was very irritable and troublesome, and au easy chair was provided for him on account of his being unable to walk. Subsequently he developed chair sores, and it was mainly for that reason that he was put to bed. His sores wore attended to, and they improved very considerably. Later on deceased was subject to severe fits of epilepsy, and eventually passed quietly away on the night mentioned in the presence of Dr Perry and the night attendant. The cause of death was chronic disease of the brain. Dr Perry, Assistant Medical Officer, and H. J. Tarrant, attendant, also gave evidence, and the jury, consisting of Messrs T. J, Brown (foreman), G. Clements, E. Weston, W. R. Hardoaatlo, W. C. Price and B. Love, returned a verdict in accordance with the Superintendent's testimony. Mp Ashcroft, Coroner, conducted the dhquiry, .

Messrs Dwan Bros, insert a list of new hotels which they have on their books for sale. Tenders are invited by Messrs Cook and Gray (or the stock-in-trade. &0., in the estate of Price and Ericsson, drapers, Cuba street. A notice in reference to the new tourist route to Auckland via the Rhine of Maoriland appears elsewhere. Tho time-table mav be obtained from Messrs Hatrick and Co., Wanganui, or Messrs Cook and Son. - , ■ Messrs Abraham and Williams announce an important sale of freehold property, belonging to Messrs Row Bros., for Saturday, November 13th. _ Messrs Francis Sidey and Co. sell furniture ana effects of a four-roomed cottage to-morrow, at 2 A notice to passengers on tho Wellington City Tramways appears elsewhere. . A sale without reserve of household furniture is to be hold by M o ssra Francis Sidey and 00. to-day, at 2 o’clopß. . . Messrs Haroourt and Co. sell to-day at auction tho household furniture and effects contained in the residence “ Bon Accord,'* corner of Willis street and Wordsworth street. The sale commences fmnctually at 1 o’clock, and on tho 350 items catalogued there is absolutely no reserve.