LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4130, 18 August 1900, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Agent-General cabled to the Premier yesterday:—''‘Tin merry market-is gruudally improving owing to tbo brighter outlook in China..” Tho Premier yesterday stated that ho hoped I o ho able to bring in an Early Closing Bill this session, and also would deal with the question .of the long hours worked in.banks and luerciMililo Institutions. The Mayor is in communication with the Premier wilh a view to arranging for a conference with tho deputation on technical education. Tho deputation will consist, of representatives from the City Council, the Education Board, the Employers’ and Industrial Association and tho Trades Council. , The chief inspector of machinery (Mr Robert Duncan) in his report for the bear ended the 31st March, 1900, says that no fewer than 431 defects were discovered in boilers and their fittings, of which 87 wore dangerous, many of which, if neglected, would have undoubtedly Jed to accident to life anti injury to property. In his annual, report*. Captain Blackburn e-, principal examiner •of masters ami mates, says:—“lt would be very little expense to the country', and, I believe, would give an impetus to proficiency in navigation, if prizes were given every’ year for the best papers produced in each grade of flic ordinary examination for masters any! mates.”

Sir .George Clifford, unpointed by (lie Racing Conference to arbitrate in the dispute between the Woouviilo District Jockey Club and the Manawatu Racing Club us to the dates of their autumn meetings, lias decided, that- AVoodvilleClub is entitled to February 37th and :;Klh. The Manawatu Club- will' therefore rcouiro to submit another date for approval. The,Chief Justice yesterday gave judgment for fhe'dcfenclants in the case of Hu; Wakamariha_Oolden Bar Gold-min-ing Company v H. Itaivsou, A'. Gerritseu and H. Gully. This was a, claim for £-132 10s for alleged breach of contract in the defendants failing to carry out an ' agreement to expend £4O nor month for a. period of nine months in developing the property of tho plaintiffs, and to -pay legal manager’s salary arid rent of office. Costs wore nofc allowed. At tho S.M. Court yesterday morning.,' Charles Bahrman, a steward on the s.s. Mirimo, was sent to gaol for fourteen days for .having used obscene language in a.'public place.. Andrew Cassell, on remand for having deserted from the ship Corryvrechan, was sent to gaol. Accused, who admitted that he had deserted from H.M.S. ilodnoy at Glasgow some months ago, will bo' delivered to. the authorities in duo course. A charge against Eugene Connell Murphy, of failing to provide for the, support of his wife, was dismissed without prejudice. Judgment was given yesterday by the Chief Justice in tho motion of tho Mclroso Borough Council for the removal of an interim injunction obtained by G. H. Bavlis to restrain the plain tiffs from removing sand and gravel from tho Island Bay Esplanade. Mr Skerrett appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr T. F. Martin for the defence. His Honor granted the application, foil the dismissal of the injunction on.tho ground that tho council was within its statutory powers. Costs were not. allowed, his Honor being of opinion, that, the,council could have avoided proceedings in the first place by proposing plan of action with regard to the road. • Jh'V. A. Thompson.,, who was formerly in tho employ ot tho-D.1.G., and who is now »v trooper' in the Smith African Light Horse, has had recently some exciting. experiences. During an engagement in Northern Natal ho had tho feathers of his pat shot-away; and a bullet' pierood tho left ear of his charger. Among the souvenirs of . the campaign he has sefib to his relatives in AVellinglim is a eberiuo drawn on tho Standard Bank of South* Africa -(Dundee) hy',‘ - F. Mayer” for the sum of £3B,Cs 7d in, favour of “Hunt Lericliars' arid Hepburn.’’ - ■ It line! been paid bv the bank: arid doubt leys cam o i nto. ttfp-, ha ndp of. .a cßrior whe n ,tb e, looting of. Dundee look place towards the end-of. last year.. .* > Yesterday after noon-,,before Mr W. ; Ilf HusoWcn; S.Mi. Martin ,iHld.l'\ Carlson, Mvo wharf labourers; sued Cftptaiu- Me-’ Isaacs, of the bng-Visienj"frir'£s ? lfls’6cl and £5 9s 3d respectively,-:ou account' ofservices rendered- im locking* .afteih a Shipand for -labour done.."-. Tlfo captain said he was .-willing’to rpayrtlve -men 10s .per day fortho four days!: work clone by each,hut ho- disclaimed'any'furthor'diabllity. On behalf of. tho m,en it- was' Urged that thev had been kept employed looking after the brig during heavy weather m the Wellington: roadsteajfcrrind that'they were therefore entitled' t<> extra nay ; also that they were engaged at Is 3d per hour, with extra rates for overtime. Judgment wak given, for £3 15s in Martin’s case, and for £3- in Carlson’s, with costs totalling £3 16s.

Tho Napier papers continue to complain of the remarkable apathy of the City Council with regard to the recommendations of the Health Commissioner. The “Daily Telegraph” regrets having to «av that some of the insanitary; dwellings -which have been condemned find defenders nn the local body invested with tho control -of these matters.- -It also appears that-in connection with the outbreak of scarlet fever at Napier the resident surgeon at tlip hospital wrote to the council pointing out that as the disease is highly contagious the law in regard to disinfection and isolation should be .strictly enforced. Ho also asked, for information as to what was being done relative to disinfecting cabs and other vehicles- As a matter, of fact the council. know nothing whatever about. the question, and nfteria ■■discussion-which was noticeable for its levity decided te ask the doctor whether a : room inhabited by a Scarlet fcvCr patient should be disinfected! Tho spectacle" of such grotesque inaptitude.in dealing with a matter of grave public importance surely passps beyond even the domain of scandalous.

Robert Anderson was yesterday afternoon committed for trial on a charge of ;w uniting two children aged ten and twelve years respectively. Bail was allowed in two sureties of £SO and one ot CiOO. ' The popularity of the ambulance lecture!! at tho Missions to Seamen is ’Town bv the splendid attendances. Mr J. Moore spoke on “The things you ought to know.” The competitions created much interest. ■ .Ur Dfelandes brought ■i strong party, wno gave valuable help iu a musical programme. They were •ls follow;—Miss Cl. L, Bell. Messrs Beil, Geary, Sharlantl and Hogg. Tho ’Wellington City Council publishes this morning a schedule of the lands it 'imposes to acquire under tho provisions of various Acts ot Parliament for the purpose of carrying out. city improvements. Those who desire to enter an objection to any of the proposals must do so in writing on or before tho 37th of September. The) parts of the sections to be acquired arc all on tho reclaimed land adjacent to Willis and Harbour streets.

Tho water main opposite Mr Milton’s butcher’s shop in Upper Willis street burst at about 1.20 o’clock yesterday afternoon, and for ton or fifteen minutes threw tip a- column of water shout seventy feet into the air. which cmild bo scon from any part of To Aro flat. Tho prismatic hues caused by the sun’s in vs striking this colossal fountain Uigli in tho air were of a very beautiful description. The immediate cause of the burst was tho pressure of the si cam roller on tho ground above the pipe. There was a. faixlv large attendance at St. Andrew’s church-room last evening, when Sir Robert Stout _dclivorcd his lecture on “Ancient Civilisation. The Rev. C. B. Ogg presided. - Tho lecture dealt with the nigh state of civilisation attained in the very earliest-ages by the Uit tites. who were believed to have been a, Mongolian race, exhibiting as they did most of the peculiarities of the Chinese of to-day. A number of instances were also given of tho similarity' of ancient land and property' laws to those existing nowadays. On the motion of Mr J). M. Buckie- a veto or thanks was passed to the lecturer.

Tho Hurd annual “social” .of, the Wellington Meat Export Company’s employees; held iu tho Sydney street schoolroom, last evening, was very' successful, over 150 couples ncing present. The hall was tastefully decorated .with bunt-’ ing and patriotic devices, and the floor was in excellent, condition. The supper was provided by wi.r J. Gcdber, and the music b.y Fischer’s ball-room orchestra. Mr Diliiot.BJn.dden, secretary of the company, was among the guests present. The general arrangements were in tho hands of a. committee, of which Mr W. E. Wells was an assiduous secretary. After thp dance a special train loft for Hie Lower Hiit-t, and’ a brake for Johnscm-HIo, for the convenience of tbe i largo number of suburban guests present.

Tho annual me cling of the Karon Rifle Chib was held last night at the Shepherd’s Arms Hotel. The report for the past season presented by tho secretary (Mr A. W. Venn ell) showed that the dub had had a most successful season, and that its financial position was sound. Twenty-nine trophies had been won right out during Iho season, twelve of which were paid for out of tho club’s hinds and the remainder donated by citizens of Kurort and of IVollington. Mr Lissington was captain of the club. Grca’t interest is ocitig evinced .in tho. matter of shooting for the forthcoming season, and with a view of further jiopnlarisimr tho club it is proposed to institute Wednesday shooting squads for the' convenience) of‘those who‘aro'unable to leave they* business on Saturday afternoons. '

Tho annual meeting of tho-Wellington Amateur Athletic (Jkd>, held last' night, well-attended. Mr J. W. Davis occupied the chair. It was decided that steps bo taken afi once by tlio incoming committee to ■•form a 1 Public Schools Association. ‘ The cups won during the year were then presented. Mr Larkin announced his intention of donating a cup to the, club, to.be called the Broome Memorial Oup. A hearty vote of thanks was given to Mr H. D. Bell, the-retiring 'president,.for his past services, and also to retiring officers.' The following officers woro elected;—Patron, his Excellency the Governor; president, Mr C. A. Knapp; vice-presidents, Messrs H. D.-Bell, J. H. B. Coates, L. 0. H. Tripp, J. M. Marchbanks, P. J. Nathan, J. M. Davis (re-elected), J. H. Hempton and C. W. Tringkam ; honorary secretary, Mr A. J. Rintoul; honorary treasurer, Mr M. C. Dodwoll (reelected) : committee, Messrs W. F. Larkin, S. Hawthorne., A. M. Stuart, H. Goodwin (re-elected), and A. S. Henderson. G. Murdoch. A. Cameron. J. Prendeviilc: honorary auditors, Messrs F. Beamish and J. G. Boachc; delegates to NZ.A.A.A.. Messrs L. W. Harley, F. IT. Harley and B. 0. Duncan (re-elect-ed). ; .