LOCAL AND GENERAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4131, 20 August 1900, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr E. Johnston has. been appointed manager of the Potone Co-operative Stores, and will begin Bis duties to-day. Messrs D. McKellar ■ and E. Martin have been appointed officers--to carry nut the provisions ofT 'the>lmniigration Restriction Act. ' Mr J, A. Kinsella. the Dairy Commissioner. will leave this! morning for Inglewood to commence the butter-making classes. His assistant, -Mr Coddle, who will conduct the testing,-.will leave tomorrow. A man was- before the Court at Waipawsi for neglecting to provide for his wife and family. Ho was discharged as lic'Tvas tlio wrong man. Ho had changed names with his mate, who was the individual wanted. While a daughter of Mr Hills, of Colelon, was being driven in to Eeilding on Friday forenoon, in -a fit of coughing slip burst a blood-vessel. She was taken to Dr Johnston for treatment, but died about ten minutes past two o'clock in (he afternoon. Last winter Mr Allen, Williams, on behalf of. Archdeacon Williams, of Xc Ante, Hawke’s Bay. purchased in Australia two pedigree heifers, which are -expected to arrive in--a - week or two. They were the pick of Sir Kufiort Clarke’s and the Hon J. IT. Angus’s studs, and cost 550 guineas. The Premier yesterday received a cablegram from the Agent-General dated London, 18th ‘ August, as follows: “Iho nows that Pekin •is relieved and' that the Legations are ' safe has been officially confirmed—Lord Roberts reports that Hoare’s post -on Elands river was relieved yesterday, the 17th instant, by Lord Kitchener.”

A meeting of the candle manufacturers of the colony will be held in-Wel-lington on Wednesday or Thursday to consider what shall be done in view ol the reduction, by GO per cent, of tnc ditty on imported Caudles. It is already stated that the reduction or tne tariff is a serious menace to the continuance of the industry.

Tho Mayor of Christohyrch has received a telegram from Captain Alexander stating that owing,to its. oeing found impossible to obtain a house in Christchurch for the November carnival week, ho regretted that Lady-'Ranfnrly would not be able to be present in'Christchurch during that period The Mayor has re,plisd"regrefctiug the, circumstances, and expressing a hope, that some way may be yet seen out of the difficulty. .

The reduction in. thpjrt}}jty--On imported matches is likely to; have a very serious effect on the local industry. The conditions previously obtaining made it just possible for the New Zealand article to -compete with success with the Italian and British goods, and the reduction now, made, which amounts to about 50 per cent, on- all kinds of matches, will probably lead to -the cessation of 'the industry in the colony. A lad named Albert Couchman found the) body of a man floating m the Hurt river near■ Pctono yesterday afternoon. It had evidently been for three weeks in the water, and way dressed in dungaree trousers, heavy dark shirt, with'tie, blucher boots, no coat. Deceased was apparently forty years .of age, and had a short beard. The police know of no one misting. in the district. An inquest on tho body will, bc‘held this afternoon. : :

The Premier of. New South Wales has held a consultation with the PostmasterGeheral .with a view to ’seeing whether it is practicable to establish a telephone service between Sydney'and Melbourne. It (is thought that. with.the.ad.vcn.t_ of federation telephonic communication will he of great service/ and it is likewise believed that the increase of business between tho two cities will very shortly render such fa service imperative. Cabinet is to discuss the matter at ian early date. " .

At' to-morrow night’s .meeting of the Melrose Borough Council the Mayor wiU move that—-under certain restrictions—f‘The inspector ... of .nuisances for thd borough may issue a permit in writing authorising any person .to keep not more than two head pf svvino in a.properly' constituted stycE dr house, winch nujst be situated at. a'greater distance thqn 250 feet .from any dwellinghouse or plreet-T Tho applications for the position of foreman, of works will bo considered at the same meeting. The following is the complete cast of characters for the drama. “Arrah-mi-Pogue,” which is in'preparation by tho Fabian Dramatic Society : —Colonel Bagohal OGradv, W. P. MeLachlau: Beamish. McCoul, It. Marshall ; Major Coliin, W. L. Dickens; 'lrish Secretary of State, C. King;- Sergeant,W; Knox; Yv’lntorbottom,: J. - Pike,;. Miehaol Jb.eenevi W.-Healev; Shaun the-. Post, E. A. Keenan , O’Farrell, : J. , King Andy Regan. A. „S- Ballance •; Lnn Coogap, C. Gamble ; Lahagan, J. A\ bson ; Arrah Meelish, Miss Agnes Marshall ; ‘Fanny Power, Miss Ada Marshall; Katty..Miss Regan... ...

Before Mr W. R. Hasclden, S.M., on ( Saturday morning; Frederick Soobie was charged with having stolen an nnlhreba .(valued at 10s), the property of r John O’Brien. The case was -proved, and accused was sentenced to fourteen davs’ ■■imprisonment. - A i first -offender was (’mod 10; for being drunk while in charge of a horse. Another first offender was fined 7s and costs; • -Samuel Andrew Cav'cll-., who, when charged with having deserted from the ship- Corryvrech4in. asserted that he was -a., deserter from 11.M.S- Rodney, -was- again brought before the Court. His -Worship said that from information, .-received' he was of opinion that the statement of accused was untrue. Ho was remanded to Timaru (at.which portyflie" Corryvrechan is now lying), to appear there on Monday. , ~' . .....

Mr J. Grattan Grey will be entertain* at a farewell “social” this evening at the Carlton Hall. The July tie for the Wellington Golf Club’s monthly cleek was played on Saturday between Mr Coom and Mr Dalziell, and' resulted in a win for Mr Dalzici! with a score of 113-20-93. Mr Coom went round in 109-1-1-95. The Wellington City Tramway authorities notify that in future trams will stop opposite the Newtown Post Office. and that the stopping place previously observed at Donald McLean street will be discontinued. His Excellency the Governor has been advised by the Foreign Office of Great Britain that British commercial agents, have been appointed in Russia. Switzerland. Central America and the United States of America. Inquiries will bo made on any commercial question on behalf of private linns. A reasonable fee for such services will be charged. By a printer’s error in the Financial Statement the Premier wars represented as saying that (lie prosperity of the colony was "in a great measure due to the energy, perseverance and indomitable pluck cl our sturdy colonists,, assisted as they have been by just and progressive laws, which enervated, and not, as in years gone by, crippled, their efforts.” In delivering the speech Mr Sodden rod died the sentence, replacing the word “enervated” with that of “invigorated,” as was obviously from the context meant.

Particulars of the mortality caused by the bubonic plague in the one city of Bombay have been published. The first epidemic of. 1896-97 lasted 139 days, and slew 28,418, with a maximum death rate ol 226 per 1000. The . second of .1898 lasted 115 days, ana swept off 28,869 human beings, at t-toe rate of 163’per 1000. The third visitation, beginning January, 1899, lasted 131 days, with a total mortality of 31,269 and oath rate of 169 per 1000. The present epidemic began in November last, and up to 30th April killed so many as 50,383, with a maximum deatli rate of 200.1 per 1000. It is still going on.

The secret as to which articles the Government proposed to remit duty upon was well kept in Wellington, and several wholesale linns are extensive losers by the change. Quite a number, made clearances of goods during the past week that will involve them in losses ranging Irom .050 to £SOO. In one instance, indeed, the sum of £IOOO is mentioned as tlio amount a well-known linn will lose by the tariff reductions and remissions. Another firm passed through the Customs kerosene on which £SOO hud fd he paid two clays before the remission of (ho duty on that commodity was announced.

The committee of the 'Wellington .Kennel Club has had a busy week receiving entries for the show on Friday and Saturday next. No fewer than GMO entries have been received, this being the largest number yet catalogued fur any show in the colony. Exhibits arc coining from all parts of the colony, and almost every class will be represented. A feature of tho show will ho the photographic competition, subjects for which , the New ■oealaiul Drug Company is giving special prizes, in addition to the club prizes. An exhibition by a troupe of performing dogs will also bo given on each night. . The show will bo open to tho public during juuging hours. Tho manager of Hannan’s Proprietary mine, West Australia, was awakened at his residence. the Boulder, at 3 o’clock one moping recently by three masked men, with a revolver and jemmies, and bull’s-eye lantern. They threatened Mrs Flarris _if she and her husband did. not keep silent. Tho men then held Harris down, while the third ransacked his clothes, found tho keys, and went to the office, whore they opened tho safe. When they returned, they said they.regretted they had been misinformed, iri to the quantity of gold kept there. Mr Harris said tho gold was now kept at the mine; and asked them to return his watch, as it was a memento. The'trio complied, and then decamped,'afterhaving bound iur Harris with strips of sheeting and tied Mrs Harris’s hands. They only got 10s. The burglars were apparently wearing cloths round their boots, made to baffle the trackers.

Mr C. Arthur Pearson, proprietor of the new London daily paper, the “ Express,” .in denying a statement to thp effect that he is contemplating floating a “ Daily Express” Company, with a capital of £350,000, says ho. does not imagine the public would be wildly anxious to come in and pay for the privi-lege-of losing, £250 a day or so, which tho “Express” is at the moment costing him. Apart from the marvellous ■ appreciation '■which the new venture has received, Mr Pearson says the fact remains that to found the will not cost less than £250,000, and prill not require ‘less than two years of very hard work. The cost of plant and preliminary work generally made tho first copy of tho paper worth just about £IOO,OOO. Mr Pearson’ adds that* there is no truth in the statement that Sir .William Ingram has -any interest in the new. paper

The following are the Wellington prize-winners in the Christchurch Kennel Club and New Zealand Collie Club’s annual show held -last week in Christchurch : J. Horrax Collie bitch, Honeymoon,, three first prizes ; He.rcwood, . collie dog, one first, one second. J; Rennie Collie puppy, Viking, one first and gold .medal.. JA P. Mills— Collie -d.bg,, Harbinger, one second, and one v.h.c.;; ■■ Poneke , Ariki, one third.; fox terrier, dog, Veno. v.h.c. A.' K, Newman—-Wavy-coatcd retrieve’! 1 dog. Tame, one -first, and cup; Buckler pno ; third.; „ Airedale - : do & ! Hobson, lest, one. first. A, -G. King— Airedale terrier dog, puppy, Hobson’s Choice, one first. G. * Cloake Airedale, Jerry,, one second.. J. >H. Coates—Wayy-vniat eel ' retriever, .. Beau,’ one' third. J. 11, St. .Hill—Eox terrier,, dog, Torero, ,one third. Mrs Casolberg —Collie dog, Major, h.c. Mrs G. TI.. Hume—Collie.clog Sweep, one first.. Tu all, sixteen clogs were sent,from Wellington for exhibit- They return with iiino first, three second,, and- four ’bird .prizes.. whilst two other exhibits were, verv highly commended, and -highly .commended,.' ‘ I-.'-- - ;---. -