LOCAL AND GENERAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 3648, 26 January 1899, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

There are 18 licensed auctioneers in the Wellington municipal district. Constables Lynch and Williams have returned to Wellington from Auckland, where they have been engaged on special duty at the Exhibition. At the Salvation Army Citadel, Vivian street, last night, a “holiness convention ” was led by Colonel and Mrs Estill, assisted by Major and Mrs Birkenshaw. There was a large attendance, and several interesting addresses were given.

Tho Australian Mutual Provident Society has subscribed for the loan of £150,000 at 4 per cent, required by tho Wellington Harbour Board. The matter has been under negotiation for some days past. The Treasury has intimated the Masterton Borough Council that after tho facts disclosed in certain correspondence which has passed, it would be compelled to refuse the Council’s application for a water loan of £20,000. The Council is making other arrangements.

“How do you do it?” was a question elicited from Mr Bishop, S.M., by a Canterbury applicant for the old ago pension, who stated he was living on 3s a week.. The applicant replied that was living rent free in a Maori whare, and he managed to “ rub along somehow.” Mr Harold F. Johnston, of the firm of Baldwin and Johnston, solicitors, has been nominated for the Thorndon seat in the City Council. The nominations have now closed, the other candidates being Messrs T. Orr, sen., R. M. Tolhurst and C. W. Tanner. The election takes place on tho 6th pfox. c Miss Elsie Hall elves her first piano recital in Thomas’ Hall to-morrow evening. Her programme will include, amongst other works, Schumann’s “Carnival.” a Liszt Rhapsodic, and a Prelude and Fugue of Mendelssohn’s. Mr Mozar will contribute vocal items. The box plan is at the Dresden rooms.

The Consolidated Goldfields Company of New Zealand intends to open up some new mines at Reefton at an early date. Mr Pearce, the general superintendent of the company, passed through Wellington yesterdav in charge.of 30 miners engaged at the Thames to work in the southern mines. -

The piece selected by Her Majesty’s Dramatic Company for the opening performance at the Opera House on Tuesday evening— ‘‘A Gilded Sin”—is said to he a drama having many sensational incidents and situations; Miss Ethel Grey, the leading lady, will be remembered as an actress of considerable repute. The prices of admission have been fixed! on an extremely moderate basis. “Is the-claimant of good character?” asked the Stipendiary Magistrate at the Kaiapoi Old Age Pensions Court .the other day of a 'witness. “ Yes, your Worship, he has never been before the Court,” was the ' reply. “ That,” observed Mr Bishop,- “ is not a conclusive answer. There is many a man who has never been before the Court that ought to be in gaol.” - . Arrangements are complete for the complimentary excursion arranged for the members of the. Roman Catholic Synod) now in session here; and, should the weather be fine to-day, there will doubtless be a b*ge attendance. In addition to the local and yisitiing clergy, invitations have been issued to the members of Parliament residing in of near Wellington, and to other public men; while, as before stated, the public may attend and join in the afternoon tea at Day’s Bay. The Duchess, with the excursionists, is to leave the Ferry Wharf at 11 o’clock.

The Antipodean Lodge of Oddfellows, M.U., met last evening, Bro. N ( . Seddon, P.G., in the.chair. It was resolved to present Bros. Seddon, P.G., Parnell, Couper and Watkins for their respective degrees at the lecture meeting of the district, to be held at Petone-during February. The sum of £4 was voted ,to a brother in distress. During the evening, Bro. C. Davie, of the Loyal Albion Lodge, Dunedin, paid a visit to the lodge, and was accorded lodge honours. It was resolved, on the motion of P.P.G.M. Bro. J. Smith, junr., that letter of condolence be sent to the widow of the late P.P.G.M. Bro. S. Waters.

' A remarkable case of spontaneous com-'” bustion in a ship’s hold has been reported to the New Zealand Marine Department try the Board of Trade in London. , Last year the ship Hollinwood, with a registered tonnage of upwards of 2000 tons, and a crew of 32 all told, under the command of Captain W. R. Kidd, sailed from Sydney with a cargo of 4000 tons of general produce, including tallow, cOpra, timber, glue pieces, &c. Near latitude 35deg. 38min north, and longitude 40deg. 46min west, a fire was discovered in her hold, and ultimately she was abandoned. Dr Draper, an eminent authority on such matters, certified that the fire was attributable to hair being mixed with glue pieces, which had caused spontaneous combustion.

St- Thomas’ Church, Newtown, was officially reopened after the recent additions, and the new organ built and erected by Mr A. Hobday (which is to bo used for the first time next Sunday) consecrated by Bishop Wallis last events- The new curate, the Rev John Alexander McMickle, was also licensed by the Bishop. (The church was decorated for the occasion, and special hymns were sung by the choir, under the conductorship of Mr H. Spademan. The service was read by the Rev Otho Fitzgerald, the first lesson by the Rev Wilnam Ballachey, and the second by the Rev Joshua Jones. The Bishop also preached an interesting sermon., There was a large congregation. _ The claims made by the Wellington Iron and Brass-moulders’ Union have by no means been conceded by the Conciliation Board in its recommendations announced yesterday. A 44-hour week was asked for by the union j the Board recommends that the hours per week be 46]. The Board has also declined to recommend the substitution of an hour for the midday meal spell instead of half-an-hour. Generally, the rate of pay for overtime claimed by the union is favoured by the Board which, however; puts the pay for Labour Day at time and a-half instead of double time. In place of a minimum wage of la 4d an hour for journeymen, the Board recommends one of Is 3d an hour for competent workmen. The rate of pay for apprentices set out in the Board’s recommendations its less 'than the union claimed. And no notice Las been taken of the claims that no boy over 15 years of age should be admitted to the trade, and that all apprentices should be indentured. The union asked for a straightout preference to employment for its members; it gets a recommendation which, to put it shortly, means that there is to be no such preference. And the* recommendations of the Board, which were not all unanimously come to, are qualified by the important stipulations that, in respect of wages and apprentices, the conditions of employment in platemoulding departments, and also brassfoundries doing small work, the conditions of employment shall continue as at present.

The Wellington Technical School will be opened on February 9th. Two ladies graced the meeting of the Gear Meat Company last night by their presence. The 'Education Board yesterdav decided to increase the salary of Mr Vamham, its Truant Inspector, to £175. It is reported that Sir George Clifford, M r George Lawrenson, and Mr W. Jacques, in addition to the sitting member (Mr Joyce), intend to contest the Lyttelton seat at the next general election.

One of the deepest wells in Christchurch has just been sunk on a private property in Colombo street. The well is a 3-inch boro, and has been put down 4Goft, giving a strong flow at a height of 28fb above the surface of the ground.

“ I hope,” writes “ A Yankee,”- “when the Postmaster-General is making fresh arrangements re ’Frisco mail, that he will stipulate for more reasonable passenger fares to bo charged,. I have an impression the Government promised to look into this Question some time ago. The present would seem a very good time to do something. lam very sure every one will admit that the present fares are ridiculous and prohibitive.” With reference to the paragraph which appeared in our issue of yesterday stating that several petty garden and backyard thefts had been reported to the police, it is now to be recorded that Chief Detective Campbell yesterday arrested a man who was subsequently charged with being concerned in suchlike offences. The police have recovered a lawn mower, a length of hose, a garden fork, a spade, and a clothes line, all of which are believed to have been stolen. Some of the articles recovered await identification. A 10-guinea diamond medal has been promised by Mr C. H. Gorrick, of Sydney, for the - first championship match held under the auspices of the newly-formed New'Zealand Gun Club,Association, officers for which were elected last night. Mr Gorrick has suggested that not fewer than 21 nor more than 50 birds for each man should bo shot at in connection with the championship, and that the medal should be open only to bona fide residents of New Zealand of at least two years’ standing. The monthly parade of the Wellington Navals was held at the Drillshed last evening, there being 80 present to number off. In the absence of Colonel Newall, Captain Duncan acted as inspecting officer. After the inspection the company was marched out into the open, and put through company drill by Lieutenant Bell. On returnin gto tho Drillshed the corps was informed of the arrangements made for the annual fortnight’s camp at Mahanga Bay, which commences on Saturday. Tins is expected to be the most successful camp the company has held, as no recruits have been enrolled who could not promise to attend the outing. A very complete routine of drill has been arranged by Major Messenger for the men, who will be instructed in the nature of the work they would be called upon to perform in case Wellington were attacked by a foreign cruiser. .. Legal argument in the skylight case was heard yesterday before the Registrar of Patents, who gave bis decision in favour of a grant of letters patent to tho applicants Bedell and Welsby, with costs against the opponents, Wade and Ballinger Bros. Mr Hislop, with Mr Baldwin (of the firm .of Henry Hughes) appeared for the applicants, and Mr Skerrotfc, with Mr Hall, for the opponents; The case and the decision thereon have aroused considerable interest in the plumbing and building trades throughout the colony, owing to the effect ISey will have.upon the manufacture and supply of skylights constructed of galvanised sheet iron. A great amount of evidence was tendered on both sides by expert witnesses and others. It is probable that farther proceedings will be undertaken before the litigants are satisfied as to their respective positions. ' t .

The will of the late Grand Duchess Maria Antonia of Tuscany, who died the other day at Gmunden, contains a touching proviso that proves she still entertained a hope of the return of her missing son, the Archduke Johann. It will be remembered that, as plain John Orth, skipper of a trading schooner, he was supposed to have been lost with his ship off the coast of South America. The mother still included him among hei heirs, bub directed in a codicil that, in the event of his death being clearly established, his share - should be divided between the other beneficiaries. But it is also provided that, should it be proved that he made any valid testamentary disposition, no portion of his bequest should pass to a third person outside the circle of the imperial family. This clause, of course, had special reference to the claims put forward by a woman of humble birth who professes to have been the morganatic wife of the vanished Archduke, and has made several efforts to gel her position recognised. An extraordinary general meeting of the Gear Meat Preserving and Freezing Company of New Zealand, Limited, was held yesterday evening at the Chamber of Commerce. Mr James Gear, chairman of directors, who presided, said the business of the meeting was of a formal character, namely, to confirm the special resolution passed at the extraordinary general meeting of the company held on the 4th instant. The articles of association were then explained and discussed, and several amendments were made which were incorporated in the copy signed by the chairman of that meeting. He therefore begged to move the confirmation of the following resolution, which was duly passed at the ‘ extraordinary meeting on the 4th instant: —“ That the new articles of association already approved by this meeting, and for the purpose of, identification subscribed by the chairman thereof, be and the same are hereby approved; and-that such articles of association be and they are hereby adopted as the articles of association of the Gear Meat Preserving and Freezing Company of-New Zealand, Limited, tc the exclusion of all the existing articles of association thereof.” Mr Harold Beauchamp seconded the motion, which was unanimously carried, without discussion. This was all the business.

The annual report of the Wellington Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Society to be placed before-members at the meeting to be held to-night, says that the annual show held in July, despite the fact that the new committee had little less than three months in which to get all matters connected with the show in order, and that it was new to the wort, was the best ever held by the Society. The total nuoiber of entries was 1007, and the judges, Messrs A. Johnson, F. Dacre, T. Sowman and W. O. H. Tonking, came as near to satisfying exhibitors as it is possible for judges to do. The only drawback was the poor attendance of the public. The committee extends its sincere thanks to Mr J. Dutbie, MII It, for a donation of -£0 5to the Plymouth Sock trophy, and to Messrs Rogen, Gapes. Etskine, Murphy, Fulford, Bradley and Lowoay for donations of medals, &o. The incoming committee, the report points out, will have to take into consideration the necessity of arranging with other societies for the proper fixture of dates of shows to avoid clashing, and also establish a fixed standard for breeding so that exhibitors will know exactly the type required and breed accordingly. The committee deplores the fact that so little interest is taken in the Society by old members, especially at the trying period of show time. The total number of members is 52. It will also be necessary for an effort to be made to get rid of the existing debt if a show is to be held this year. In conclusion, thanks are recorded to the “ New Zealand Times,” “Evening Post” and “New Zealand Field ” for references made to the Society.

His Excellency the Governor and suite are expected to arrive in Christchurch from the West Coast on Sunday next. Of the 91 passengers that arrived from Sydney by the Oonah yesterday morning’, 62 landed here.

Consideration of further claims for pensions under the Old Ago Pensions Act will ho heard to-morrow morning-. The Wellington Provincial Gun Club will probably clear about £SO over Tuesday’s meeting at Patone. E'.M.S. Tauranga, which sails for Sydney at 5 o’clock this afternoon, will undergo a 24 hours’ steam trial during the trip. ~ Sprays of flowers took the place of the time-honoured rice at the send-off of a bride and bridegroom in this city yesterday. ,j

The Horowhsnua Boating Club has decided to place an order in Wellington for the construction of two clinker fours for use on the lake. A conference of delegates of the various Caledonian Societies of the colony has been convened, and will probably be hold in Wellington shortly for the purpose of drawing np rules likely to find universal acceptation. With reference to a letter from " Hates ” in our last issue, we are informed that permission was given the Thorndon Baths keeper to close the establishment after 12 o’clock on Anniversary Day. The custodian is only allowed two days in the year as holidays, and it does not seem that a very great hardship could have been inflicted on anybody by closing the baths on the afternoon of the public holiday referred to.

The very beautiful shower bouquets made for the bridal party at Miss ; Boss’ wedding yesterday were much admired by visitors to Messrs H. O. Gibbcns and; Co.’s, shop. Some of the choicest blooms of the season were used in the • bouquets, which, were arranged with much taste ip the latest style, the feature of which is that the beauty of no single bloom is lost by crowding. Mr A. McHardy, president of the Manawatu Agricultural Society, who is engaged in booming Palmerston “for all iit is worth,’’ is agitating for the establishment at that place of a Caledonian and Hibernian Society, and bis proposal is reported to be meeting with a great deal of support. It is proposed if the project prove successful to establish two scholarships' in connection with the Society for competition by the local schools. !

The election by the School Committees within the jurisdiction of the Wellington Education Board of three members to fill the vacancies on the Board caused by the retirement by rotation of Messrs W. C. .Buchanan, W. W. McCardle and James Robertson is to take place on the 28th proximo. Nominations close bn the 31st inst. Already the Vogeltown Committee has nominated Messrs J. Robertson and W. W. McCardle, who, together with Mr Buchanan, are eligible fbr reelection. It is riot yet known whether or not there are other educational Richmonds in the field. '

SCHOOL STATIONERY. | At the meeting of the Education Board yesterday, Mr J. Robertson expressed the opinion that the Board would bo able to save money if it bought its own stores and stationery and retailed to the committees, instead of allowing them full capitation as at present. The chairman said ;other boards had tried the system, and found it work out disastrously in praetico. Mr Young pointed out that the Victorian authorities had adopted the idea, but failure had ensued. Several other mem- ■ bars were opposed to the propositi on, which was not, however, greased in the form of a motion. COUNTRY SCHOOL ATTEND IN GE. There are twenty-five schools under the jurisdiction of , the Wellington Education Board, showing a falling off in attendance. The question' as to whether or not the sals ries of the teachers shall be redact d in accordance with capitation will bd discussed by the Board at its next meeting. Mr Hogg, with a roguish twinkle in his eye' and insinuation in his voice, and with the evident intent of drawing his hereditary political enemy and foeman Scot, the member for Wairarapa, pointed out at the Board’s meeting yesterday that ;at a school in ]Mr Buchanan’s' district which; had been built recently to accommodate' 1 . 30 children only five wore in attendance. On the question of responsibility the discussion took a somewhat personal turn; but when members of the Board got back on to the rails again Mr Buchanan explained that the paucity of attendance was more likely to be duo to agricultural exigencies and the recent holidays than to anything else. The Chairman, however, expressed the opinion that there had been instances in which to obtain a school settlers had deliberately overstated the probable'attendance," He was impressed with the necessity'' of making the most careful inquiries into ail future applications of the kind. NAVAL AFFAIRS. H.M.S. Mildura, which visited New Zea: land about twelve months ago, dropped anchor in the stream at 9.30 a.m. yesterday, having left Hobart last Thursday afternoon. The warship experienced fine weather generally throughout the 1 trip, with occasional showers and squalls. She is still commanded by Captain Henry Leah, who has with him the following officers First lieuienant, Mr H. Qre--1 villa ; navigating lieutenant, Mr R. W. Kiddle; surgeon. Dr Miller; paymaster, Mr C. Johnston ; chief engineer, Mr Gibbs. It is not known definitely how long she is to remain in "Wellington. Now that the Taurauga’s relief ship has arrived that vessel will lose no. time in leaving for Sydney; and as everything is to be aboard at noon to-day it is presumed she will .weigh anchor during 1 the afternoon. The Westport Coal Company is supplying the warship’s bunkers with 303 tons of coal. EDUCATIONAL REFORMS. The Wellington Education Board yesterday considered the following resolutions passed at a recent sitting of the Bush School Committees’ Association : —“ (1) That inspectors of schools should be placed under the control of the Education Boards, and removed to new districts, say, every five years; (2) that the Department should discontinue tho present system of conducting pupil teachers’ examinations, and that they be examined by the Education Department; (3) that tho Board take into consideration tho advisableness of increasing the capitation by at least lid per head per quarter on the average attendance, as the present amount, is quite inadequate in most cases to meet expenditure, and members of school committees have often to put their hands into /their pockets to meet liabilities.” The chairman and other members of the Board denied the latter statement, except in so far as it related to money expended by committees in prizes. It was decided that the first and second resolutions concerned the Education Department. In respect to the last it was resolved to reply: “N S F," DE ROUGEMONT AS A “MEDIUM." ' “ Louie ds Rougotnont,” or rather Henri Louis Grin, appeared in London recently in a now role —that of a spiritualist. It was at an “experience” meeting of Spiritualists, held in the French Room of St. James’ Hall, where about 60 believers in materialisation were gathered together to give their various experiences. Mr Guinness Rogers, the editor of “ Light,” presided, and after his introductory speech Mr Page Hopps followed, and after Mr Page Hopps came Grin. He wished to testify to his belief in Spiritualism, be said, because he had lately had evidence as

to his powers in that direction. The adventure that he had to relate took place when he was coming from How Zealand. He was on the ship Matauro, and, urged thereto by a spirit’s forecast that he had experienced, warned the captain (Captain Millward) never to go through the Straits of Magellan. The message had come to him from the captain’s wife, whom he had never seen ; bnt so impressed was ho that he told the captain 'to be ware. Of course, the natural and anticipated result occurred; when passing through the Straits the ship foundered, and the boat was a total wreck. Speaking after the meeting. Grin declared his long-standing belief in Spiritualism ever since ho had been among the savages, in fact.

A QUESTION OF LIABILITY. 0 * :A point of considerable interest to proprietors of conveyances was decided at the civil sittings of the Magistrate’s Court at Christchurch the other day. The defendant was sued for .£lO as compensation for damage caused by his runaway horse and cart dashing into the verandah of plaintiffs shop and smashing one of the posts and a quantity of the glass roof.; The defence set up was that the -wheel of the vehicle was looked when defendant left it at the roadside, and a dray passing with a load of straw frightened the horse so as to cause it to bolt. The driver of this dray, counsel submitted, was alone responsible for the damage, as but for him the horse would never have bolted. After hearing Mr Kippenberger for the plaintiff, Mr Be-itham, S.M., said there was no difficulty at all about the case. The defendant took up the position that if ho locked the wheels of his vehicle that action relieved him from all responsibility. If ho Jleffc his horse and vehicle in the public highway it made no difference if be locked the wheel or tied all ids horses’ legs together, he was still responsible for any mischief which might result. Judgment would go for the plaintiff with costs.