LOCAL AND GENERAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 3677, 1 March 1899, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

His Honor the Chief’Justice • sat in Chambers yesterday, when a number oi oases in arrears was dealt with. ” -

A meeting of. Court Sir. George Grey il,WJhold last night, the ■ C.R., Bro. G. W. Key, presiding. It was decided to pay a fraternal visit to Court Epuni (Petone). • -Three candidates 'were initiated and two proposed for next court night. , . 1A first-offending inebriate had his bail estreated by Mr: Kenny, S;M., in the .Magistrate’s Court yesterday; 'The charge of drunkenness preferred against Frederick Lynes was withdrawn, as’he is'not -likely to leave the Hospital foi some time. , • : ; *

During ~thq month . of, February • ‘ 203 criminal cases were dealt with.-in the Wellington Magistrate’s Court, making a total of 413 for the two'tnonths of the year. The civil 'plaints entered during thb month numbered 294, the total for the two months being'622. - ■ |loseph; Myers; late of this city, was yesterday: adjudicated a bankrupt.on the petition of the Te Aro Loan and Discount Company, Limited. Messrs ’ Levi and Bolton * were, the; petitioning . solicitors. The first meeting, of creditors will be hejd on the Sth'Marbh, at 11 o’clock.a.m.

' Nearly,the whole, of* yesterday was occupied: by Mr Kenny, S.M.-, in hearing f urther. evidence ■ in- the case of Duggan and.,Kennedy v. R. T. Turnbull, claim £7l-for, damage, ovving to an alleged breach of contract to construct a drain and gully at the Wellesley Block, Newtown.' Mr Jellicoe . appeared' for the plaintiffs _ and Mr 'Myers for 'the- defendant. The case was eventually further adjourned until Friday. .

'The barquentine Garin, which the Tulahe km discovered at-Perseverance Marhour, Campbell Islands, awaiting the arrival of the Borchgrevinck Antarctic expedition with stores, is under orders to remain there until the 20th inst. If by that time there is no appearance of the Southern Cross, the uarin is to leave for the Bluff, dispose of the stores and provisions to tho best advantage, and leave for Kaipara to load timber for Warrnambool.

■The “Otago Daily Times.” understands that as the result of a mee ting of some local business men this week, the rights for the manufacture of silica cement, sold by the Miiburn Lime and Cement Company some months since tc the Sydney firm of wnich Mr J. Vv. Brindley became a partner, have- been reacquired .by Dunedin investors. It is considered that there is a successful future for the manufacture of this cement in Australia, and it is intended fihat sufficient capital shall be subscribed to undertake the manufacture of ordinary cement, of which the silica cement is partly composed.

In the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr Kenny, S.M., judgment was given for plaintiffs in the following eases:—Masonic Newspaper Company v. M. R. Yarnham, 6s 6d, costs 6s; J. Duffell v. M. McMahon, £9 4s, costs 10s; Cook and Gray v. E. McKenna, £lB 9s 6d, costs £1 15s 6d; A. R. Atkinson v. W. E. Tyson, 10s 6d, costs 11s ; Jones and Co. v. R. Dunstall, 7s, costs 6s. In the judgment summons case of R. Auty v. J. Wi Neora,, £ll 12s sd, defendant was ordered to pay 10s a month. ‘ In the defended case of Harcourt; and Co. v. Porter Bros.-,, claim £SO, -judgment was given Jor 1 plaintiffs lor the amount claimed, with £4 12s costs.

There were 138 births, 36 deaths and 48 marriages in the city of ‘Wellington during the month of February.

The Melrose Borough n Council last night selected Mr Greeks, one of fifty-live .applicants, as ranger and dog-tax collector. Seventeen Chinese arrived from the West Coast on Monday night, bound for the Flowery Land, with, no doubt, the results of years of toil in old claims. A man named John McMillan was arrested by Constable Poland on a charge of stealing a ring and other articles from the house of Mr John Setter, in Grainger street. The members of the Arbitration Court, after considering in Dunedin the disputes in the tailoring trade and the printing trade, will go to Westport, thence to Wellington, Auckland and New Plymouth, and hope to get through with the references by Easter. Touching the “relic of old Wellington 1 ’ unearthed at the site of the Empire Hotel, a correspondent writes :—“ The property in question was let by the Hon John Martin to the Bank of New Zealand. He gave me many years ago his copy of the lease, thinking it would interest me.”

The New Zealand Philanthropic Society acknowledges with thanks the following further subscriptions in aid of the Girls’ Institute : —Messrs Moss and Glendining arid. S. Diamond, £1 Is each; Messrs Briscoe, Mac Neil and Co. and Dresden Piano Company, 10s 6d each; Messrs Thomas Ballinger and Co. and J. T. Glover, 10s each. On learning that the launching of the Mapourika had been fixed for Wednesdaynext, the executive' of the Westland Agricultural and Pastoral Association at once communicated with the Union Company with a view to having the date altered to prevent the event clashing with their show, with the result that the launching of the steamer has been deferred, and will now take place either on the 9th or 11th inst.

The number of sheep being purchased in the North Inland by Canterbury buyers this season is phenomenally large. Scarcely a steamer has left this port for Lyttelton during the past six or eight weeks but has carried away a hundred or two. Mr J. M. Greenaway, of Clones, Canterbury, has completed the purchase of 1850 sheep from up-country station-holders, 1500 of which will bo forwarded to Lyttelton by the Ohau to-day and the balance by the Kotomahana.

The fortnightly meeting of the Society for the Protection of Women and Children was held in the Alliance rooms yesterday, Mrs >W. A. Evans, M.A. (president) in the chair. Accounts to the amount of £2 3s 6d were passed for payment. Mrs Findlay was elected boa treasurer. ' Several very distressing cases were discussed, and are to bo further investigated. Two maintenance orders had been obtained through the society, and others were proceeding. Th j secretary acknowledged with thanks parcels of clothing from the D. 1.0. and a number of subscriptions of 5s each and under.

The advantages of Lake Horowhenua as a course for the championship regatta were strongly urged upon the delegates of the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association last night by Messrs M. Fosella and S. Wilkinson, representing the Horowhenua Boating Club. They stated that a straight two-mile course could be procured, and the water, unaffected by tide, was always smooth. Mr Bethune, who had visited the lake, said it was all it was described, and Mr Field expressed the opinion that an ideal course could be obtained on it. The meeting decided to instruct the Management Committee ito send a deputation to inspect the lake. , - A sad case came under the notice of the Benevolent Trustees yesterday, when ail old man applied for some assistance. It was stated that he had worked for his wife and step-children for years, but recently, when he began to show signs of failing health, he had been heartlessly turned out-of-doors by his relations. The old man’s story was that Ins wife’s son had got married, but had been unable to support his wife. He took both pf them in. They “ ate him out bf' house and home,” arid finished up; (with the assistance of his wife) by'throwing him out-. ,of-doors. After a long discussion, it was decided to allow the old man to go to the Ohiro Home for a fortnight to get up his strength,'and that inquiries .be made in the meantime to find out whether his relations were in. a position' to do anything towards his support.

A female inmate of Ohiro Home- appeared before the Trustees in an abject state of penitence yesterday. She explained that some days before she had “ been to an Irish wedding.” The result was’ that she had arrived at the Home in a state which had led to her being severely taken to task by the matron, upon which she had “cut up rough ” and had said to Mrs McCleary, “ If, you ’ take ‘ me before the Trustees I will go’there'myself.” She was very sorry, however for what she had done, and “with God’s help she would never touch a' drop of drink again in her life.” Finally she added, persuasively, “Pardon me, for I am quite destitute, gentlemen.” A Trustee: “Are you going to sign the pjedge ?’’ Supplicant (ecstatically): “ I will sign anything in the world.” (Laughter.). It was decided not to turn the old woman out of the Home, but to cut; off her “leave ’’ for six months.

- A young-looking widow, who has been receiving 5s a week and a ration from the Benevolent .Trustees for the last four or five years, called round at the board meeting yesterday to record a grievance against her landlady. The treatment she had received in a “so called Christian family,” she alleged was simply scandalous. She had been “An Apostle Paul, if ever there was one on this earth.” Turning to the members of the board who were clergymen, she declared that some of those who preached the Gospel knew nothing of Christianity, and their general conduct was “ enough to make a person turn infidel.” Later, she accused the people with whom she had been living of having stolon her clothes, etc. She had kept that dark, “so as not to give them the satisfaction of knowing that she knew ”; but when they “cut my throat behind my back, and stabbed me in the dark " it was abouc time a poor woman like her had some protection. It was decided to grant rent and rations as usual, the applicant to be medically examined so that her capacity fOT work may bo ascertained.

The Lands Department has just issued plans of two estates in Hawke’s Bay Land District which are shortly to be open for selection. The Mahora estate of 1116 acres is situated close to the borough of Hastings, and is all firstclass agricultural land. It has been subdivided into thirty-four sections, varying in size from fifteen to seventy--0110 acres in extent, and is to be offered for lease-in-perpetuity at rentals ranging from £1 5s 7d to £1 13s 4d per acre. This estate is to bo open for -selection on Wednesday, 22nd inst., and the ballot if necessary will be taken on the Friday following. The other estate, which is called the Willows Settlement, consists of 760 acres of good agricultural land, situated three and a half miles from Gisborne. This land is cut up into fifteen sections, from seventeen to fortyseven acres in extent.’ It- is to .be offered on lease-in-perpetuity at rentals ranging from 14s 2d to £1 5s lOd per acre. The dates of selection and of ballot are the same as in the case of Mahora. - The plans are clearly printed, shotting Toads;'fences,‘rivers, wells, etc., and are accompanied by full printed descriptions of the land.

The return polo match Christchurch v. Wellington will be played at- Miramar today, commencing at 4 o’clock. A rumour, which some credence last week, to the effect that tne Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was about to be dissolved, is absolutely without foundation.

Hop-picking was commenced at the hop gardens near Hastings on Monday morning. At an early hour in the morning, says the “ Standard,” women and children were seen flocking in dozens to the scene of operations. Most of the orchardists in and around Hastings have had a particularly profitable season this year. The yield of all kinds of fruit has been very heavy, and the prices obtained in outside mark-its have been exceedingly good.—“ Standard.”

There seems to have been an unusually prolific crop of peaches in Hawke’s Bay orchards this year, consequently the gigantic turnip and Brobdingnagian pumpkin attract but little attention in a community -which can purchase peaches having a circumference of ten inches. A ladies’ cricket match was played at Lancaster Park, Christchurch, on Saturday last. The contest, which seems to have been wildly exciting, is said by a cynical “Press” reporter to have been a riotous parody of the game “calculated to make a batsman’s hair stand on end, and give him a nightmare of the worst type for a month.” Some of the more ambitious and enterprising of the Melrose Borough Councillors are anxious that preliminary steps should be taken for the establishment of waterworks for the borough. It is thought that the necessary storage may be obtained by damming a water-way in a gully some distance back amongst the hills. A visit will be paid to the spot by those Councillors who can make it convenient on Saturday, the 18th inst.

The Finance Committee'of the Melrose Borough Council last night brought down a report showing that the sum of £246 was outstanding for rates. It was recommended that immediate proceedings should be taken to recover the amounts owing, as non-payme(nt would have a prejudicial effect on the amount of the Government subsidy. The committee also counselled that the greatest caution should be exercised in bringing forward proposals for new works until the council’s overdraft had been reduced. The report was adopted.

At a meeting of the Melrose Borough Council last night, attended by all the Councillors, a plan was submitted by Mr Beere for a proposed new road at Kilbirnie. The matter wgs referred to the Public Works Committee for the production of specifications of the work. An application from My Luff in reference to a fence at Vogeltown which he had been called upon to remove was referred to Councillors Frost, Fulford and Key to report to next meeting of the Public Works Committee. The Clerk was instructed to make inquiries, and to prose-, cute if carters do not' comply with the by-laws within one Week. At the committe meeting of the St. John Ambulance Association, held yesterday, it was resolved to commence a course of lectures again during the first week in April. The secretary, Mr J. B. Gould, has had his house, Gainsborough, Boulcott street, connected by telephone, and he, aswrell as any members of the committee, would be glad to receive subscriptions and donations towards the funds’ of the association. Mr C. P. Powles has kindly consented to receive subscriptions at his office, Phcenix Chambers, Lambton quay. The association is now endeavouring to raise funds for the purchase of a much-needed horse-am-, bulance.

Through the bounty of Mrs T. G. Maccarthjr, one hundred children belonging to Sti Joseph’s Orphanage, accompanied by tjio Mother Superior and_ several sisterp, left Wellington for Plimmerton yesterday morning by special, train. Mrs Macafthy was present, and, with the .help of Mrs Waldegrave and Miss Amelia Smith, contributed materially to the children’s enjoyment. Many, valuable prices were presented to the winners of the races in an impromptu programme. On the return of the picnickers, who looked tired, but happy, the children were drawn up on the platform, and three 1 hearty cheers were given for their benefactress. The Sisters of Mercy sincerely thanked Mr and Mrs T. G- Mac-, earthy for the splendid outing given to the inmates of St. Joseph’s OrrjThauage. ; '