LOCAL AND GENERAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4132, 21 August 1900, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

An English nil'll .via Brlmlin «rriml at Auckland from Sydney by the Idmga.milc yesterday morning-. the Wellington portion should arrive oy me express to-night. The animal meeting of the Wellington Poultry. Pigeon and Canary Society is vailed for to-morrow night at the Troeadero, at 8 o’clock. The report* and balance-sheet to he presented to the meeting are. it is understood, of air interesting and satisfactory character. ; The Police Pensions Board has granted the following pensions:—lnspector McGovern (Napier), thirty-six years’ service, .6210 per annum: Sergeant Greene (Onehunga), thirty-cigjit years, £120; Constable Howard (Uunedin). retired on medical grounds, twenty years, £54 per annum.

Mr W. K. Salisbury, J.P., presided at the Mount Cook Police Court yesterday, and disposed of three firstoffending drunkards by fining them each os, the alternative being twentyfour hours’ imprisonment.

Yorkshire people may lie interested to learn that Airs S. V. Bracher, of the London Sanitary Institute, who is giving lectures in the Sydney street Schoolroom, is a Yorkshirewoman, and jins lectured on health subjects in the East and North Hidings. Mrs Mracher’s last lecture in Wellington will be deliver! d this evening, the subject being “ The Breathing Organs and L’reven(ion of Consumption.” Sir Robert Stout will preside, and the lecture is to bo illustrated with lantern slides.

Captain Hutton, curator of the Christchurch .Museum, has just rci eived from Europe casts of fossil human hones and skulls, representing different ages of man There is a .skull of the ape-Jikc man (Pithecanthropus orcctus) belongmg to the Pliocene Age, which was lound in Java. The Paleolithic man of the Pleistocene Age is represented by skulls and bones from Sty. in Belgium, and Nearadertbal, in Germany. The Neolithic man of the recent age is represented by skulls and bones irora I’iloury, England, from Sligo, Ireland, and from Engis, Belgium. An inquest was held at Pctono yesterday, before the Coroner (Air J. Ashcroft), and a jury of which Mr Win. Inglis was foreman, on the body of a man found in the river Hutt on Sunday afternoon as reported yesterday. The evidence went to show that the man, who wa.s a total stranger in the neighbourhood, was lastseen alive about a month ago. A postmortem examination, by Dr Purdy, disclosed no signs of violence, and that deceased’s organs were all healthy. There was food in the stomach. There were abundant signs that deceased, who is unknown, bad met death by drowning. A verdict of “Alan unknown, found drowned” was returned. It is staled that the Californian thistle is increasing at an alarming rate in some parts of the colony, and united action is likely to be taken by the farmers in the South island for its eradication. Many fanners have been using means to clear their lands, only to find their elforts frustrated by the inaction of blieir neighbours. Another cause for the spread of noxious weeds besides the careless manner in which some lands are farmed is the rank 'growths which accumulate in riverbeds, which, by the way, are the property of the Government, so that it bdhoves the latter to pay some attention to this phase of the matter.

Tho Petonu Borough Council last night considered the question of the water supply for the tovpi very fully in committee, and eventually decided to obtain a fuller report on the matter from tho engineer. On tho motion of Councillor Price, it was decided to take a strip of land 26ft wide along Regent street, in order to make that thoroughfare one chain wide. Councillor Mothes drew attention to tho necessity of providing a morgue for Petone, and instanced a recent case where aliody had been allowed to remain uncoffincd in an outhouse of a local hotel for two days. lie gave notice that he would move that a morgue for Pctouo be provided immediately by the council.

A lively debate on the perennial apprentice question was stirred up at the Wellington Industrial Association’s meeting last night by the innocent query of a member : “What is the use of the State providing technical education for our . children if the -Arbitration Court steps in, at the instigation of the unionists, and limits the number of apprentices ?” It was pointed out that, while boys .were being restricted from learning a. trade, men were being brought from other countries to fill up the gaps at the work benches in this colony. As usual, the discussion closed impotcntly, members remarking sadly that, in view of recent events, the industries themselves would soon be a thing of the past.

Dairy-farmers in the Poliangina district have at last had a thoroughly up-to-date creamery established in their midst. The creamery in question has been erected by Messrs J. Nathan and'Co., of Wellington, and is one of a. string of “skimming stations” which are being established by that firm in different centres in the Manawafcu district, in order to feed . their Wellington factory. Poliangina was cn fete on Friday last, when the creamery was opened, prominent settlers from Palmerston and the suppliers to the creamery being entertained at an excellent luncheon. ‘’Prosperity to Poliangina and District,” “Tho Dairying Industry” and “Mr Lang” (the manager for Messrs Nathan and Company’s dairy produce business) were tho principal toasts honoured." Messrs Thomas Ballinger, William Cable, David ■ Robertson, William Chalmers, P. Hutson and John Murrell have been making visits of inspection to tho Wellington Technical School on behalf of tho. Wellington Provincial Industrial Association. They last night reported that students from twelve to fifty-three years were in attendance at the school, their registered occupations being as follows:—Students, 93; plumbers. 59; engineers, 53; clerks, 35; carpenters and joiners, 25; scholars, 20; teachers, 18; carvers, 7; cabi-net-makers, bricklayers and surveyors, 6 each; law students, salesmen, butchers and dressmakers, 5 each; cooks, 4; architects’ assistants, moulders, lithographers and draughtsmen, 3 each; office boys, saddlers, blacksmiths, fit- ' ters, mechanics, coachbnilders, signwriters and electricians, 2 each; saleswomen, opticians, interpreters, tailors, dairymen, photographers, printers, farmers, telegraph messengers, coachpainters, 1 each.

A careful analysis of the figures given by the Chief Registrar of English Friendly Societies on contracting out in connection; with the Workmen’s Compensation for Accidents Act affords instructive reading. It- seems there wore thirty-two mutual workmen’s compensation schemes in operation during the year just ended, and the total number of workmen employed whore these schemes wore m operation was 104,235, of whom 96,226 were voluntarily included in the con-tracting-out schemes. The total number of accidents in the return is 14.166, which is equal to 171 in every 1000 employed, 101 being cases of fatal injury. The average duration of incapacity of those injured was 23 1-10 days, and the average compensation per case £2 3s. But the important fact revealed is that over one-half of the accidents, 50.41 per cent., representing 20.32 per cent, of the total duration of incapacity and 18.63 per cent, of the total compensation paid, arc accidents in which tho duration of incapacity is less than two weeks. The weak spot in 'the Workmen’s Compensation Act is that these are not covered by tho Act. It is thus obvious that, as the Workmen’s Compensation Act at present stands, fully half the workmen actually injured arc out of court, as their injury may not incapacitate them for a fortnight or over. This is a matter which Loudon newspapers think deserves to be promptly remedied.

The New Zealand Kenned Club will hold its annual general meeting at the Trocadero, Willis street, at 4.30 p.m. on Friday next. .Mr Samuel Gilmer was yesterday fined C-j and coats for failing to 'appear when summoned as a juror in the Supreme Court. Tin- ease of George Sigglckow, charged with, a criminal assault at Greytown, will he heard at the Supreme Court this morning. The annua! general nieeling of the Civil Service Cricket Club will be held a,t the National Hotel. Lambton quay, at 8 o’clock this evening. Ratepayers are reminded that the voting (in the question of a loan of 020,000, to enable the City Corporation lo purchase ilio tramways, wall take place to-day-Uv the steamer Pakoha, which arrived last week, Mr MeKellar Wicks received a pure-bred bulldog from England. The animal was ■ released from quarantine yesterday. Air J. AlcGcorgo has (says the ‘‘Cromwell Times"',) received a letter of congratulation from' Lady Ranfurly on the occasion of the dredge mimed after her breaking the record return. One summoned juror who wished to ho excused from duty at the criminal sessions yesterday pleaded that, ns a Harbour Board official, he had been sworn in as a special constable. The excuse served.

The Coaclnvorkors’ Union has determined to conform to the terms of preference set forth in the recent award . Air Justice Martin, of the Arbitration Court. Any competent workman may now become a member of the union without ballot or eleVtion on payment of an entrance fee of 5s and a subscription of 6d weekly. The fifth and last of the winter course of lectures that are being delivered under the auspices of the St. John’s Young Mon’s Literary and. Social Club will bo given in the Schoolroom, Dixon street, on Thursday evening. The lecturer will be Sir Robert Stout, and the subject “What John Knox did for Scotland.”

The Wellington Provincial Industrial Association has been supplying copies of the “Art Journal,” “TMe Plumber and Decorator” amt “The Architect” to the Wellington Technical School. Last night it decided to add “The Journal of the Society of Chemical Industry,” ••Tho Journal ol Engineering” and “The Illustrated London News” to the list.

Following what has become the settled policy of this colony, the Victorian Government has entered into a provisional agreement for tho purchase oiMhe Wanner estate, near Horsham, at £3 5s nor acre, for closer settlement purposes. There will be 13,700 acres available, and this has been over-applied for by sons of farmers resident in the district. In returning thanks last night to his sympathisers at tho meeting at the Carlton Hall Mr Grattou Grey said, in reference to the personal sacrifice lie had made in the cause of freedom of speech, that he would never regret having done so if it proved the means of helping the people of New Zealand to realise what true freedom of speech meant. *

At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr W. 11. Haseldon, S.M., Mary Richards was charged with having sold liquor to one Henry Herbert Hancox, she not being licensed so to cio. _ A further charge was preferred against her of keeping a. brothel. The hearing of the cases was remanded to the 24th inst. William Edlen, who was last week convicted of gross indecency .and remanded, for sentence till yesterday, was ordered to go to gaol for _ one month. Two first offenders wore lightly fined for drunkenness. The following tenders have been accepted by th.e Public Works DepartmentAdditions' to Nelson Asylum, Messrs Miller and Sons, Nelson ■ sunply of ironbark timber for Auckland, Gisborne and Wellington, Messrs J. Burns and Co., Auckland; do. for Lyttelton and Greymouth, Messrs Murray, Arnold and Co., Westport. Only one tender was received for the erection of a post and telegraph office at Weraroa (Levin), and, being considered too high, it was declined. Fresh tenders will shortly be called for the work. For the supply of fencing and 'cattle-stop timber for the WaiparaUiieviot railway three tenders were received, hut declined as being too high. An interesting presentation has been prepared; remarks the “ Ashburton Mail,” by the employees of Lagmhor estate to their own design, for despatch to Minor-General BatVen-Powell, consisting of a useful and handsome desk paper-weight, manufactured from greenstone, mounted with silver. The article is oblong in shape, and,surmounted with an oxidised silver boar, and upon the front, engraved on a silver plate, is the following inscription:—“To MajorGeneral Robert S. S. Baden-Powell, from the employees of Lagmhor Ashburton, N.Z., as a mark of their trout admiration of his noble and suecessful efforts to uphold the British flag during the siege of Mafeking.” A complimentary “social” was tendered to Mr J; Grattan Grey, Into chief of “Hansard” staff in the House of Representatives, on flic eve of his departure to the Old: Country, by his sympathisers, in the Carlton Hall last evening. The hall was decorated for the occasion, and the floor, which was in capital condition, was occupied by between sixty and seventy couples. Mr J. H. Jackson, who presided, road several letters of apology. Mr J. Hutchosen, M.H.R., presented the guest, of the evening with an illuminated address (by Mr W. R. Bock) and a cheque for a substantial amount. Mr Grey made a feeling reply. Mr A. R. Atkinson, M.H.R., in the course of his speech, said that, vvbilo he did not agree with Mr Grey’s views on the Boer War, ho had a profound admiration for his sturdy independence. Messrs F, T. Moore. M. H. McCarthy and others made some appreciative remarks. A considerable amount of enthusiasm was shown during thespoechinaking. Songs, were rendered during the evening by the Misses Chalker and Hargood, also by Messrs Grey, Moore and Burton. Supper was provided by a committee of ladies.