THE New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1897. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 3311, 18 December 1897, Page 2

THE New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.)

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1897. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

With which are incorporated the Wellington Independent , established IS45 t and the New Zealander, ■ ‘

Owing to great pressure on our apace we are compelled to hold over all editorial matter.

The full results of the Technical School examinations will bo found on our baok page. Membsrs of Court Sir William Jervois, A o F., are requested to attend the funeral of the late Mra Hutton this afternoon. Mr Joseph Soler has appointed Mrs Weiss, Willis atre’et, sole agent for his wines, which have taken prizes at several exhibitions. The Mana will run an excursion to Day’s Bay this afternoon, and the Duchess leaves the Ferry Wharf at 2.30 to-morrow afternoon for the same resort. Messrs Wollerraan and Co., Hunter street are now booking orders for sanderson a Ula Scotch” whisky, for which they are sole agents, a large shipment being expected in » few days. # A public meeting consider the Bating of Unimproved Values Act will bo held in the Foresters 1 • H.U Tory Btrojt on Tueaday evening. Meaars Hogg and Wilson, M. sH.U., will deliver addresses. ' A separation order was yesterday made at the Magistrate’s Court between a man named Michael Hayes and his wife, Hiyos being ordered to pay £2 per month towards ma ntenanoe and olt la legal coats. Gold to the value of £BO2B 14g, consigned to the Bank of Now South Wales, Wellington and throe boxes valued at £6963 3,, for tha National Bank of Australasia, Melbourne, was brought up from Greymoath by the Mawhera last night. There were no fewer than 13 people in tho Lambton quay police cells last night,charged with various offences. Thelpolioa have had an unusually busy time of it lately. No fewer than 130 people have been looked np during the last 17 days. Tho usual Sunday brake run by Mr Sinclair from the city to McNab’s gardens leaves Newtown at 1.45 p.m. and tho Government Buildings at 2.15 p.m. to-morrow. A number of Mr Sinclair’s hands have been laid low with the prevailing epidemic, and in another column the proprietor asks bis patrons to overlook any little irregularities that may have occurred through that cause. Tho Tost School of Shorthand, which has been so ably conducted by the Mi-sea Carr for the last 11 months, has now been closed for Christmas vacation. During that time over 150 pupils have received instruction in shorthand, many of whom have thereby received good poaitione. It is the Misses Carr’s intention to hold an examination of pupils shortly after the school re-opens, which will be on the 18th of January. A vary serious accident befell a little hoy named Francis Fuller, aged seven years, at Mount Cook yesterday. It. appears that another hoy was rolling bricks down a hill, and one of them struck . the boy Francis, fracturing his skull bn the left side and inflicting three scalp wounds' The injured boy was taken to his home and attended by Dr Alexander. Last night the hoy was reported to be in a serious condition. ' While standing near tho Union Clothing Company’s shop yesterday Constable Foley was attracted by tho aotiona of a man named Christopher Anderson, whom he arrested with eight shirts in his possession, valued at £2 4s. The constable took his man to the Lambton quay Station, and was rather staggered on alighting when his prisoner made a dash for liberty. The pair raced np tho street, Foley eventually collaring Anderson, who was speedily confined in a place which afforded very limited opportunity for sprinting exercises. The Dresden Piano Company’s hall has recently been thoroughly renovated and improved. and without doubt it is one of the best little halls in the city for concerts; musical society practices, &o. The eleotrie light has been .established throughout the building. The installation should be a vast improvement during the summer months. In addition to this the piano, warehouse, mnsio hall, 1 offices and teaching rooms hate'all been repapered and painted, the rafters in the hall being daintily docked out with filigree work. A handsome dark-hued daco surrounds .the hall to aheight of about 4ft, forming a striking contrast to the lighter tinted paper above, The idea of a muvio warehouse providing such a model little hall is a happy one, audit should be appreciated rby i all who require such a room for practices of any kind or chamber concerts.

A meeting of the Wellington Puliticil Sooiety was held yesterday afternoon in the Trooadero. It was decided to hold a, concert at the beginning of the New Year, and ask all known local talent to render assistance. The election of officers resulted as follows i—Mrs C. Hinsoh; ! president (reelected) j Mrs Chandler, vice-president (reelected ; Miss Harrison, -vice president (re-, elected). Two other vice presidents will be elected at next meeting. Mr H T. Downes, hon secretary (re-elected) i Miss Irwin, assistant-secretary; Mrs Boyle, hon treasurer. The foil iwiog committee was elected i Ueadames Whiteford, Hyams, Hi-lop, Rogers, Brown,' O’Langhlan, , Knigge, Osborn, Fleming, Duncan; Messrs Le Grove, Sullivan, W. 0. Fitz Gerald. After the basiness, the .president invited all present.to afternoon tea Votes of thanks were passed to all who had assisted in carrying out the work of the Society during the last. 12 months, also to the,New -ZeAlinp Times. To morrow, at St. Peter’s Chnroh, the fiftieth anniversary of the building ef: a obaroh in that parish will bo observed in the ordinary,way, it would have been celebrated at the dedication festival, but it wae decided to. postpone it until the return of Bishop Wallis from the Lambeth Conference. At the service at 8 a m. the Bishop will celebrate Holy Communion. At the 11 o’clook semco a church parade of the Volunteers" will be held. In the early days the troops used the then St. Peter’s Chnroh as a garrison obapel, so that a gathering of Volunteers at the jubilee will be very appropriate. ; His Excellency the Governor his signified his intention of being present with a party from Government House. At 330 p.m. the usual children’s service will be held, and the viear (the Rev W 0- Waters) hopes that a large number of children, exclusive of those who attend St: Peter’s school,''will attend. "At evenaqng the Bishop .will, again be preseht, and preach. The service will oonoludo with a solemn To Doum, An important decision was giyen by Mr Justice Denniaton in the Supreme Court yesterday, in the matter of a summons by Tepohe Mokoare and another calling upon the Public Trustee to show cause why oaveat No. 233 lodged by him in the Land Transfer Office, New Plymouth, should not be withdrawn. Mr Skerrett appeared for the natives, and Mr Treadwell for the Public Trustee. Argument was-held on Wednesday,. when His Honor reserved judgment. The question raised was whether the effect of the ‘ proviso to subsection 3 of section 3 of the Native Reserves Act Amendment Act of 1895 was to validate orders made by the Native Land Court ! allotting interests in certain native reserves to various natives. His Honor held that the effect of the subsection was only to preserve the orders in the position in which they were at the time of the passing of the Act, and not to give them any validity that they did not otherwise have. : The question involved in the case was,; i therefore, determined in favour of the Public Trustee, with ilO 10s costs. The decision is important as establishing the title of the Pabuo Trustee to all reserves made in favour of natives on the cession of their lands to the Crown. The adjonened charge against Mrs Elizabeth Stennett for having, it was alleged, used: an unlawful instrument on a young woman named Constance Davis with intent to procure abortion was beard at the Magistrate’s' - Court yesterday, the prosecution being oohdnotod by Sergeant-Major : Mason, Mr Wilford appearing for the defence. The principal witness was the young woman alleged to have been operated upon. She swore that she had had intimacy with one Thomas M. Collins, and subsequently visited the accused, whoberfomea on her, and to whom she paid .£5. Tbe operation was unsuccessful. Cross-examined by Mr Wilford the witness admitted she knew that Collins bad issued a writ against her mother, claiming damages for stating that he had seduced witness. She'was also aware that her mother had afterwards commenced an action against Collins, claiming £SOO in connection with the alleged seduction of witness. A quantity of evidence was taken, and accused, who said she hod a complete answer to the charge, was - committed for trial, bail being allowed, her- I self in £IOO and another in >BIO9, . Sail was forthcoming.

Several neat little calendars of varied designs for 1898 have reached us from the National Fire Insurance Company’s office. The la--t consignment of butter sent to London by the New Zealand Farmers’ Dairy Union, 1709 boxes forwarded by the Eimutaka in November, make* a tolal of 3i26 boxes bhipped by tho Union from the commencement of the season till data. Intemperance and tlnpid conduct iu the street secured a man named John Clobesy a fine of .£*l or seven days’ imprisonment at Court yesterday. Griffiths Fleming, whose second offence it was for drunkenness, was mulcted in a penalty o! 10s, or 48 hours’ imprisonment. Undoubtedly tho bobt Christmas number yet issued in the Australasian colonies is that of the Otago Witness. There are 93 illustrations, many or most of which are really works of art. The whole number is beautifuby printed and should have a big sale. The following commutes has been formed for the management of the affairs of the Natives’ Association orchestra; Messrs Frank Willis, T. Pelham, W. Cimino and Johnson (secretary). Mr Axel Newton, conductor, will also be a member of the committee. homo excellent music is iu rehearsal by tho band for the concert on the 26th January. Two special jurors, who did not appear when thoir names were called in the Supreme Court yesterday, were each fined 40s by Mr Justice Edwards. Hia Honor said he believed it was the practice of the .Chief Justice to impose flues of £5 on absent special jurors. He, however, thought it w*s better to impose smaller fines, and enforce them. It was only natural that the Magistrate’s Court-room should be packed yesterday morning by a crowd desirous of hearing the nauseating details in connection with the abortion cose. Bsfore commencing, however, Sergeant-Major Mason asked that tho room be cleared. Tula was ordered by the Magistrate. and all intruders subsequently wore waved out by a constable. Tho sitting of the Magistrate’s Court yesterday was of a protracted nature, and a number of eases had to be adjourned. There were 10 Corporation informations on the list, one of which was adjourned pending the settlement of a Supreme Court action. Ihe other was a minor case, J. Monaghan being fined 2s 6dand 7s coats for allowing a drain to be out of repair. It is probable that two or more charges will bo preferred against tn© young ma-i Jackson, who stands remanded ou a charge of having broken into a house at Pakeran and abstracted a quantity of articles, which st ere found upon him by Constable Hutton near Porirua. It has transpired that other houses have been broken into up the line besides the one already mentioned. . A meeting of members of the No. 2 Cooperative Building Society of "Wellington was held at the Society’s rooms last evening. -Mr Koley presided, and there was a fair attendance ol members. Messrs K. Gray and H. Q. Mills were unanimously elected scrutineers and Miss Woodward was appointed to draw the ballot. The number drawn was 115, held by a member who holds two shares in the Society. We have to thank its editor, Mr J. G. Scoullar, of Dunedin, for a copy of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society’s “ Annual. Journal,” a record for the year 1897 of the doings of the Society in question. Much care has evidently been bestowed upon tho work, which this year has an especial value owing to the fact that it contains a full report of the opening of the Agricultural Hall at Dunedin. The growth of tho dairying industry in the West Coast districts has necessitated the placing of large orders for tho tho necessary machinery, many of which have come to Wellington. Misers Luke and Son have been particularly busy with this class of work lately, factory owners as far north as New Plymouth and Stratford having entrusted them with the task of supplying tho necessary plant, i The Society for tho Prevention of Cruelty i to Animals, represented by Mr Atkinson, yesterday preceded against E. Arnold for oraalty to a dog by leaving it looked up in a yard when suffering from distemper, without ’ giving it attention, the result being that it died. The evidence of tho defendant and his witness, however, was iu total opposition to that adduced by the prosecution, and the Magistrate dismissed the case. Mr Wiiford 1 appeared for the defence. [ While a man named Coffey was unloading , some bars of iron used for railway purposes from a dray on tho Queen’s Wharf yesterday the end of one of the bars suddenly shot oat, alighted on a girder of the wharf, and ’ bounced up again and fell on the man’s foot, 1 crushing it badly. ,He was attended te tom--1 porarily by the Gothic’s surgeon, who after ’ an examination, at once ordered him to the ’ Hospital.whither he was convoyed in a cab by ’ Constable O’Halloran, * Clerks employed iu tho Post Office are bound to secrecy in connection with departmental matters, and when an official was 1 asked yesterday at the Magistrate’s Court 1 concerning a depositor in the Post Office . Savings Bank, he mentioned the fact, stating 1 that he did not feel justified in answering the 1 question. Mr Eyre Kenny decided that the witness need not answer any questions rela- [ tive to tho Savings Bank under the circutn- ‘ stances, and the subject was not further pro- < oeeded with. . Mr David A. Watt, secretary of the Mana- ■ watu Agricultural and Pastoral Association, ; has forwarded the following letter to the i directors of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company : ‘‘Gentlemen, —I am instructed by my committee to write and convey to you thoir thanks for your excellent train services in connection with the late show ‘ at Palmerston North. In doing so I would like to mention that the public, and more particularly exhibitors, highly appreciated . the zeal and energy of your officials and the obliging services oi your employees.” It was stated in a maintenance case at Court yeate.day that a young man named 1 Bobert Ooulson, against whom proceedings were taken because was due, was only earning 25a a week, and had a widowed mother who was devoid of means. The old order was varied after the Magistrate hoard all the evidence, the defendant being called upon to pay 6a per week towards tho support of the child, and instalments of 10a at luter- ; vale, until the arrears were liquidated. Mr , Gray appeared for the complainant and-Mr Young for the defendant, i Through the absence of some and the illness —it is almost needless to specify the complaint iu these influenza-stricken days—of other special jurors, only II instead of the customary 12 good men and tuje could be got together to try the case Carnegie v. Darrooh in the Supreme Court yesterday afternoon. By-consent of counsel the case proceeded with a vaoant*seat in tho jury benches, and also by consent it was agreed that if necessary a seven-elevenths verdict should be accepted. Such a proceeding was said by some members of the Bar to bo unique iu * their experience.

The circumstances attending the theft by David Hurley of a Gladstone bag containing wearing apparel from the steamer Tatawera on the 9th December, the property of S'. Neave, were narrated at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. It appeared that the owner of the bag gave it to a lioensed porter to take from the Penguin to the Tatawera, and the accused, who is a boats, took it ashore and sold it at alooal pawnshop for ill. The. value of the goods was eet down in the information as being £ 15, but this was altered to >65, and the accused was asked to plead to the charge. He then said that he was guilty. Mr Eyre Kenny sentenced him to three months’imprisonment. A sale of work in a{d of the Melanesian and country distriofcs* missions is .being held in the Art Gallery. It was opened yesterday afternoon by the Countess of Ranfurly. Bishop Wallis welcomed Her Ladyship,• and expressed the gratification which the promoters felt at her presence. The Countess, in declaring the sale open, expressed her hearty good wishes for its success. ■ Before leaving sho visited the stalls and made several purchases. The allotment of the stalls is as follows; —Art stall, Mrs Frank Sarrand j St.' Pam’s work stall, Mrs Sprott; toy stall, Mrs Wallis; doll stall, ’Miss Williams; cake and sweet stall, Mrs Knowles: tea stall, Mrs Edwin and Mrs Duacan. An accomplished staff assist the ladies named. The stalls are conveniently placed, and the goods offered for Bale are tastefully and temptingly displayed. The sale will be open this afternoon and evening. The vital statistics for the month of November in the boroughs of Au ,-kland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, and their respective suburbs, show that the total births amounted to 371, as against 371 in October, a decrease of 3. The deaths in November. were 137, a decrease of 19 on the number in October. Of the total deaths males contributed 63, females, 71. Thirty-one of the deaths were of children under five years of age, being 22 63 per cent, of the whole number; 21 of these were under one year of age. Tnere were 31 deaths of persons of 65 years and upwards; three men, 70, 71, 80, and eight, women, 66, 67, 73, 76, ’'7, 81 (two); 87, died at Auckland; two men, 82,85, and three women, 74, 76, 77, at Wellington; four men, 63, 73 (two), 85, and three women, 63, 72, 75, at Christchurch; and six men, 65 (three), 66, §O, 83, and two women. 72, 78, at Dunedin. The total births in Wellington and Suburbs was 111, and total deaths, 23. One of the largest : stepl boilers ever built in the colony has just been completed and fixed in position by Messrs 3, Lake and Sjon at the Gear Company’s works. Its dimensions were of snob proportion that conveyance through the streets was practically an impossibility, and a special permit bad to be procured from the Railway Department to place the monster on a truck, this being successfully accomplished at night time by means of hydraulic jacks. The carrying out of this work and the construction of a number of cylinders for the Bangitikei railway bridge—some of which are being despatched by every steamer for Foxton—besides the manufacture of about 100 tons of the same class of material to be used by Mr J. Saunders on a contrast in the Palmerston district,' has necessitated the employment of a large number of workmen, of whom from 120 to 130 have been on the firm's wage-sheet daring the last six months. An action tor slander, in which Andrew Carnegie, a Cook, claimed ,£505 damages from Robert D itrooh, licenses of tho Club Hotel, in this city, was heard before Mr Justice Edwards and a special jury of twelve (Mr C. P.' Powlea foreman), in the Supreme Court yesterday. Dr Findlay appeared for the, plaintiff, and Mr Skerrett for the defendant. It appeared that one day in September tho defendant demanded an explanation from the plaintiff as to what had become of a piece of beef. ' The plaintiff showed a bone, and said he had made the joint go as far as possib'e, bnt that there was nothing except tho hone left, as all the orders at the msal in question had been for roast beef. The defendant thereupon called the plaintiff a thief an la liar. By way of defence, it was urged that the words complained of, though abnrive,' were not raeint to convey the idea that the plaintiff had converted the b-ef to h ! a own use. : The jury found for the defendant, for whom judgment w a enticed, with costs Apcordiag to scale.

Some very pointed questions wore put to the complainant in an affiliation case yesterday by Mr Wilford, who appeared to oppose the application for an order against H. Webley for the maintenance of an illegitimate child. The young woman, who entered the box to make out her case, had her te.tiraony badly shaken under cross-examination, during the coarse of which she admitted intercourse with men other than the defendant, as well as other conduct of a disreputable nature. The Magistrate, without calling upon the defence, dismissed the case, and expressed himself in rather strong terms in doing eo. The complainant was represented by Air Eobinson.

Mr Edward Anderson, china merchant, "Willis street, has this week received further special supplies, which are now on view. They comprise the .latest novelties for Christmas presents. Hia show rooms ate open until 9.30 to-night. Our readers are reminded that a great removing sale of music is now on at Te Aro Musis Warehouse, CO, Manners street. Mr E. J. King, sen., tunes pianos personally. Mr B. Pearce, of the Boot Arcade, Cuba street, is now holding a grand Christmas sale of boots and shoes. Boot buyers patronising this sale can save from 5s Co 7s Gd in the pound this month. By announcement in another column attention is drawn to an important sale of very superior household furnishings at the residence of Me Frame Allen, Quid ford terrace, off Hill street. Messrs Harcourt and Co. are instructed by Mr Allen to soli without reserve tho entice contents of his largo residence, comprising over 900 lots, amongst which are a quantity of silver and electro-plated ware, costly and choice articles from Liberty's famous warehouse, London, specially imported oak bedroom suites and other very substantial and good household effects. The sale will extend over Tuesday and Wednesday next, while on Monday the house will be open for inspection. Messrs Harcourt and Co. sell this day the contents of the Panama Hotel, Vivian street, by order of the lessee. As delivery of all goods must be made during the day tho sale will commence ajt 10 a.m. The contents of 10 bedrooms, three sittingrooms, billiard room, Venetians, gas fittings, &c., are to be sold without any reserve. . The same firm announce a sale of Mr H. N. Anderson’s pictures for the 2Srd inst, the collection being on view at Messrs McGregor Wright and Co.’s gallery on Tuesday and Wednesday. An assistant medical officer is wonted for the Seacliff Asylum, Mr W. P. Shortt sells toys, fancy goods and miscellaneous sundries this afternoon. There are vacancies for three new inmates at the Inebriate Homo, Ashburu, near Dunedin. Mr A. T. Bate advertises grazing run of 3000 acres for sale in the Wanganui district; also 453 acres in Taranaki. Messrs Cameron and Christie publish a notice of thanks, and announce a continuance of their ironmongery sale till the 31sfc instant. Japanese goods, electro-plated materials and Dayton bioyoles, besides all descriptions of fancy goods, are now being exhibited at Messrs Wilkin and Field’s, , .. A reminder is Inserted m our advertisement columns of the pawnbroker’s sale of the City Loan Office at Sidey’s rooms to-day. New jewellery, «&a., suitable for Christmas presents, has. been received by Me J. A. Chisholm, 33a, Cuba street. The Citizens’Life Assurance Company makes a special feature of the “ Triple Alliance Policy,” particulars of which are advertised. Quarter-day of the Liverpool and London and Globe Insurance Company falls on the 24th inst, Messrs A, G. Xaine and Co. hold a sale of stock at the Lower Hutt yards on Thursday. Tho hours of service at St. Paul’s Pro-Cathedral to-morrow are Advertised, . A sale of work in connection with the Melanesian Mission will be held in the Art Gallery to-day. Mr W. F.. Shortt . sella new and. seoond-hand pianos on Monday, . . . . Tho attention of insurers is drawn to the fact that quarter day of the .Victoria. Insurance Company falls on the 24th inst. • Mr W. Campbell, of the Oriental Tea Mart, advertises the prices of Christmas goods. Cyclists’ cameras and all descriptions of photographic necessaries are obtainable at Sharland and Messrs Freeman R. Jackson and Co. soli stock at Jobnsonvillo on Tuesday. There will be no sale on the 2Sth inst. m 4 „ . In our supp’oment to-day To -Aro House has an advertisement calling attention to a flue shipment of Japanese novelties lor tho Christmas trade. Te Aro House is justly famous for the wonderful inducements held out to purchasers during the present month, and judging from the quotations given, their Japanese goods will have a very quick sale. Ladies in search of drapery goods of all descriptions cannot do better than pay a call at Te Aro House. ' ,