LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4207, 16 November 1900, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Thursday next will lie observed as a special bank holiday. The increase in the value of draughi hoi-,es in the South is said to be pair.', due to the introduction of gold dredge-. Several mobs recently taken from Can terhury to Otago arc said to Lave brought from CIO to £6O each. A threc-inch artesian pipe has jud been sunk to a depth of 401 ft at Lancaster Park, Christchurch, and the water rise:-; in the pipe 40ft above ground level. This is believed to bo the highest rise yet obtained in the district. The “Wyndham Farmer” says it has the best authority for saying that a nor them sharebroker is about to proceed to London, there to place on the market a largo number of dredging claims, located principally on the West Coast, that have been acquired by a colonial syndicate. The troopship Harlech Castle, whir is bringing about seven hundred Aus- >■ alien and New Zealand troops from South Africa, left Capetown on the 3ro List. The Sydney agents for this steamer are advised that she will call at Albany, Adelaide, .Melbourne and Hobart cu route to Sydney. A concert was held on board the Waikaro on Monday evening on the trip across from Sydney, a capital programme having been arranged through the energy of Mr F. AV. Haylhttle. Tire ,um of £4 8s 4d was collected in aid of the funds of the local branch of the Missions to Seamen.

At the annual meeting of the Polynesian Society, which will be held here in January, a proposal to remove the headquarters of the society to Now Plymouth will come up for consideration. Tho reason for tho proposal i-, that Air S. Percy Smith, has taken up his residence in New Plymouth, and intends to take an even more active interest in.the work of the society than ho has taken in the past. An enormous number of whitebait made their apearance in tho Grey river last week, and so dense was the column Unit the Ushers scooped them up literally by tho gallon. One successful fisherman filled twenty kerosene tins in an incredibly short space of time. There lias been nothing like this during the season, though something similar was scon on the Teremakau a few days ago. The statement which has been published that Dr Mason’* salary as Chief Medical Officer of the Public Meal, Department will ba £ISOO per annum is incorrect. Tho salary and travelling allowances which it is proposed thar. Dr Mason shall be paid will amount to considerably less than the sum named. However, until the Estimates are passed next session, tho salary payable to Dr Mason, whose appointment will take effect on the Ist December, will be a tentative one.

Her Majesty the Queen has been graciously ploasol to accept a copy of the now musical novel (published oy Sands and Co.), entitled “A 439, being tho Autobiography of a Piano,” written gratuitously by ‘Twenty-five Musical Scribes." The profits go entirely to the Orphanage of tho Incorporated Society of Musician* which was founded at the time’ of Her Majesty’s first jubilee. A letter from tho Private Secretary, Sir Arthur Bigge, to the editor, Air Algernon Rose, says that "me Queen desires her thanks to be returned for tne book.”

The funeral of the late'Mrs W. Gray, wife of the Secretary to the Post Office, took place yesterday morning, the interment being made at Karori. The Eev T. H. Sprott, of St. Paul’s Pro-Cathe-dral, read tho burial service. The cortege of mourners included the Post-master-General, the Minister for Public Works, the Minister of Justice, all tho officers of the Post and Telegraph Department who could be spared from duty, and many private citizens. Among tho numerous floi'al tokens of sympathy wore some from the various branches of the department of which Mr Gray is the official head. The head office of the department was closed for two hours out of respect to the memory of the deceased.

Mr William Burton, of Auckland, who is an enthusiast on* the subject of art and culture in everyday life, is at present in Wellington. Ho lectured vesterday to scholars of the Bintoid street State School, and during his stay in the city he intends to visit other schools. An admirer of Ruskin, Lubbock and. other high thinkers, Mr Burton aims at enforcing their teachings on. his youthful audiences. About six years a"o, Mr Burton paid a previous visit to Wellington. His recent tour clown west coast of this island convinced him that much might be done, and at very little cost,in money, to make some of the school buildings, especially as regards their interiors, more artistically attractive.

The bacon-curing industry is assuming largo proportions in Taranaki. TJic season just opened is said to have a bright outlook for the settlers of mat district. A New Plymouth paper states that tho markets for Taranaki bacon are extending day' by day, and there is every prospect of a considerable trade being done with England- Witly a view to experimenting in this direction, Mr 'Drake, of Fitzroy, recently submitted a narccl of bams to the test of freezing, leaving them in one of tho chambers at the Waitara works for two months, after which a party of gentlemen were invited to taste one of the hams cooked for the purpose, and pronounced it not only more tender than the unfrozen meat, but of superior flavour. Our contemporary adds that as there is no difficulty in keeping hams after they have been frozen and thawed, the prospect of placing Taranaki hams and bacon on the Home market seems to be as promising in results as in the case of butter and cheese. A case of much interest to aerator.

wafer manufacturers was heard yesterday afternoon by Mr W. Tv. Easeldcu. S.M. Murdoch and Strike- (as proprietors of the Zcalandia Aerated Water Manufactory) sued W. Hiklrotu, a mar-; inc store dealer, for the return of a number of glass-stoppered bottles bear-, iug the trade brand of plaintiffs; also; for l-ls damages. Mr Dunn appeared, for plaintiffs, and Mr Skerrott for defendant. Plaintiffs argued that the d. - . fendaut had no- right to buy bottles; hearing plaintiffs’ brand : the latter sold, tho contents of tho bottles to custom-j ovs; the bottles were worth more than. tin, price they received for tho contents. | Defendant said he had an arrangement 1 with several cordial or tho citv whereby Uo purchased their hoitles from hawkers, and returned them to the owners at an advance upon ,!n price which he paid to the dealers Icr M-.ein. Tliis charge plaintiffs had declined to pay. Hildreth" said that when lie bought bottles not hearing a regU(ered brand ho considered tnat they became his absolute property. Tho articles which wore sued for by plimtuU bore no registered trade mark, and defendant therefore considered them to he his own property by right of purchase. After counsel had quoted at length from authorities, his Worship reserved judgment until Tuesday next.

Permission has been granted by the Council for-thc Garrison Hand to play at the Jervois quay rotunda on Sunday evening next, and to fake up a collection.

Detective Cox yesterday arrested a woman named Mrs Kate Vincent on warrant charging her with performing an illegal act upon herself at Nelson in July last year. Tenders for the Masonic Hotel, Nelson, which will be received by Mr S. Gilmer up to December 13, will include purchase of lease, goodwill and furniture, stock, license and insurance extra. The lease will bo for a term of ten years from December 13.

The weekly meeting of the Literary and Debating Society of the Marist Bros.’ Schools Old Boys’ Association was held in St. Patrick’s Flail last evening. .nr J. Kays Was in the chair. The evening was devoted to impromptu debates, several of the subjects, notable, “Imperial Federation,'' evoking considerable discussion.

On the motion of Councillor Townsend, the City Council has decided to have the dangerous spikes on the fence round the band rotunda on Jervois quay protected. The work is to bo done at once. Councillor Townsend stated that such a fence should never have been erected. The fence in question is one- upon which a, horse was recently impaled. Councillor Barber, who represented the Wellington City Council at _ the opening of the Christchurch Exhibition, renortc-d on his visit to the Council last evening. Ho said the whole thing was summed up in the words “that the opening ceremony and the Exhibition itsoll was a brilliant success.” There was a very large attendance of visitors, and there were many excellent exhibits, hie was thoroughly pleased with what he had scon and the courtesy extended to him by the officials.

Numerous changes arc expected to h c ' made shortly in the Post Office staff on the West'Coast. Mr Douglas, chief postmaster at Hokitika, is to be transferred to West-port, Air Sheath, of the latter office. replacing him at Hokitika. A movement is afoot at Hokitika to protest against the removal of Air Douglas. According to a Westport paper, five of Iho local officials—Messrs Blakely, on, Afurdoch, Boyce and Mangoes—will shortly bo removed to other stations.

The lion J. G. Ward left yesterday evening for the South, where ho will remit in till about the end of the month. There aro numerous railway, postal and telegraph matters awaiting the Minister’s attention in Canterbury, Otagu. and Southland, and ho expects to have a very busy time while away. Among the mo v e important matters to he considered are the site of the Dunedin railway station and tho duplication of the railway lino between Dunedin and Mosgicl. Included in tho public buildings which Mr \Vaid will probably open is tho new, railway station at damaru. He wi l also, look into tho question of the site "or the post o;:ico at Ternnka.

A resident of Haiuing street has written to tho City Council directing its attention to the condition of that locality. The writer alleges that tho street is a disgrace to the city owing to the presence of Chinamen and prostitutes of tho worst type. He hoped the Council would do something to purge the locality cf these undesirable residents, as no man could bring up a family, respectably with such objectionable neighbours. Councillor Winder moved that the letter bo referred to the Inspector of Nuisances, but the Mayor said it was a matter for’ the police. It was decided to forward a copy of the letter to the Police Department.

Under the patronage of Her Royal Highness the Princess of'Wales, the, Westminster Orchestral Society is about to commence its sixteenth season. H the forthcoming orchestral concert, the programme will, as usual, include several now works of interest by British composers. In response to the wish of many music lovers resident in Greater Britain to assist in the patriotic and valuable work the society has so long carried forward, the committee has decided to enrol a limited number of colonial members at a nominal fee of half a guinea a year, in return for which subscription such members are entitled to receive tho society’s publications, and when visiting London, tiie privileges of one guinea members. Applications should lx. addressed to the non secretary, Mr Algernon Rose, Town Hall, West-mu-ster. Such membership should be found of especial benefit to conductors; and secretaries of New Zealand musical societies desiring information concerning suitable orchestral works by British composers, 'or information regarding British soloists and players generally. Mr Donald Macdonald’s book, “How We Kept the Flag Flying,” was published in London on October 23. consequently copies will bo available for colo- : nial readers by tho end of this month, i Messrs "Ward, Lock and Co. write that I the “got-up” ’of the volume is engaging their "special attention. The merits of [Mr Macdonald’s work have been quick- | ly recognised by the literary staff of the I London house, who state: —“Mr Mac--1 douald represented tho Melbourne (■Argus' at the front, and since his rcI turn all Australia has flocked to hear his j lectures, which have been the talk of iho country. lie possesses a remark[able power of painting stirring battle i pictures, and his work has at once obi rained for him recognition as the com--1 ncer of such famous correspondents as | Aipliug and Steevcns. The cold details ’at" facts so pronounced in the work of : most correspondents are by Mr Mac- ; douald invested with tho_ glamour of I realism. By graphic writing and bril(limit and humorous anecdote, the readier is carried outside Himself,‘and seems l in fancy to bo an eye-witness of tho ' whole thing.”

Mr TV. R. Hasolden, S.M., disposed of (lie following civil cases yesterday : United Farmers' Co-operative Society v. Patrick Maloney, claim for £4 18s 2d on account of provender supplied. The defence to tho action was that defendant had never ordered chaff from the plain- . tiff; he always dealt with Fisher and Co.' Tho plaintiff company asserted ; that tho chaff had been supplied to Ma- ; lonoy on the order of Fisher and Co., and urged that the books of Fisher ana !Co.. which had become plaintiff’s property, showed that Maloney was still inMcbtVd to Fisher and Co. Maloney do uied that ho owed Fisher and Co. ;money; ho had paid them every month, iFurther, ho had no recollection of such a quantity of chaff. The carter of the I plaintiff company deposed that ho dci livorod thirty sacks of chaff to Ma|loncy’s stables. Judgment was given, | Tor plaintiff for amount claimed, with I ICI ISs costs. Judgment went hy dc-i 'fault in the following cases: —Commer-i eial Agency v. John Reardon. £3 2s. I costs ids: same r. Hugh Wall, ID, costs os : Feist and Co. v. Henry Sainsluiry, £1 12s lOd, costs ss; Halley arc! Ewing v. A. St. Romain, £2,3 8-. ’ costs £3 Is; S:\rgood, Sou aud Ewca v. T-f. S. Dixon, £24 Is Sd, costs £2 14s; C. 1 ifaselhnrvt sued J. Dunne on a_ judgmeut summons for £2 7s. Defendant was ordered to discharge the debt within one month, or go to gaol for fortyeight hours.

An extraordinary request was received by the Grey Education Board from a Airs Hansen, who ask»cl “that- no gambling or sale of intoxicating liquor be allowed in any public school under the Board’s jurisdiction.” The astonished Board referred the- matter to the Secretary for Education.

The nauseating and insanitary practice of expectorating on the city footpaths is already punishable by fine (not exceeding £2) under the by-laws in existence in Hobart. A similar by-law i„ being drawn up in Sydney, and now the Wellington City Council is about to take action in the same direction. Letters from Hobart and Sydney on the subject hare been received and referred to the By-laws Committee. Coloured cartoons of large size, anti showing much cleverness in their conception and execution, formed a conspicuous port of the Liberal campaign during the recent general election at Hr me. Several of these have been sent us, and will be exhibited from time to time at our publishing office. The first, which lias for its subject the use made of Lord Roberts by the Unionists, attracted a considerable amount of attention yesterday afternoon.

Mr A. H. Cooper presided at a meeting of the Trades and Labour Council last night. Owing to an -amendment made in section 21 of the Conciliation and Arbitration Act last session, debarring. the Council from registering under that Act. xho committee of management was’ instructed to go through the rules of the Council in order to qualify it for registration under the Trades Union Act. A notification was received of the fact of a strike of miners in connection with the Taitapu and Golden Blocks Gold Alining Company, and asking for information as to the best method of organising a union to cope with the difficulty. It was decided) to advise the miners to 'form, a union, and register it under the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and also to call the attention of the Westland Trades and 1 Labour Council to. the matter. It was decided to congratulate the local branch of the Amalgamated! - Society of Carpenters and Joiners on the election of one of its members (Mr H. Warner) to represent Australasia and Smith Africa on the general congress of the society to be held in England shortly .