LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4300, 8 March 1901, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Customs returns for yesterday amounted to £3805 4s 7d.

Since tho beginning of the year 850 dogs have been registered in Wellington city.

Dr Mason, director of the Health Department, is expected to return from Wanganui to-day. The Arbitration Court will probably sit at Dunedin for the hearing of industrial casesi before it sits in Wellington.

Monday, the 18th inst., will be observed as a holiday in* the public offices throughout the colony for the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. Among tho intestate estates which the Public Trustee has elected to administer are those of the late Henry Pearson, tailor, of Masterton, and John Young, carpenter, of Wanganui.

In accordance with the amended Act of last session, the year commencing on the Ist prox. is gazetted a close season for native pigeon, pukeko (swamp hen) and kaka throughout the colony.

lb is notified In this week’s ‘'Gazette” that for the senior civil service examinations in January next, “The Tempest” may be read as an alternative to “King Lear,” ami the papers set will contain alternative questions on these two plays.

A large room on the second floor of Mr Jacob Joseph’s building, Lambton quay, is being prepared for use in connection with tho compiling of the census. It ijj not generally known, however, tbat'the work of compilation cannot begin till about- tho end of April.

A shipment of fro/,on poultry will ho spnh to South Africa in the steamer Otavama by the Department of Agricuh tore. There is reported to be an excellent market for poultry there, and Victoria is said to he doing well with the birds which arc being sent thither from the colony. The Education Department on Wed nesday telegraphed to the various Education Boards', acquainting them with the Government’s decision in regard tithe allocation of money for increases to teachers’ salaries. Some of the Boards’ secretaries, in -acknowledging iho telegram, have intimated that their Boards will hold special meetings for its consideration.

The last train to the Lower Hutt to night will be delayed for an hour, leav in<r Te Aro at 11.5 and Wellington a( llTlo.

A meeting of tho Wellington Districi Milk Suppliers’ Union will bo held al the Oddfellows’ Hall. Lower Hutt. tomorrow evening.

The Palmerston North Borough Conn, cil is taking steps to have the sewerage system thoroughly inspected by an outside expert. This (says our correspondent) should end all , discussion on the matter.

At the Mount Cook Police Station yesterday, before Mr W. Hildreth, J.P.. two first-offenders were each fined os. in default twenty-four hours’ imprison, meat. Lizzie Briggs, for drunkenness, was fined 60s, or sixteen days’ imprisonment.

The Wellington Education Board had not; up to yesterday evening received any communication from the Department in regard to the latest decision of the Government as to the allocation of money for increases to teachers’ salaries.

The authorities of the New York Public Library have asked tho Wellington City Council for copies dt any official documents relating to Wellington, to be pfnoed in their reference library. It has been decided to send any duplicate copies in tho possession of the Conn, cil. Mr Thos. J. Wright, a well-known Wairarapa sportsman, who has purchased the lease of the Princess Hotel, Molesworth street, was, prior to his departure 1 from Greytowu, entertained by his friends. Good wishes for his future success were expressed by various speakers.

The Wellington City Council receipts for'fhe month of February amounted to £6706 15s 2d, induuiug £4274 19s 6d from rates and £659 5s 9d from rents. The expenditure amounted to £15,92Q, 0s Gd. Of this sum repairs to streets absorbed £1449 18s Bd, the interest account £7664 17s Id, and hosp’tal and charitable aid £1366 Ils 6d. “I can assure you, without any exaggeration, your Worship,” Councillor Townsend informed Mr Aitken at the City Council meeting last night, “that some of the stones put down in the middle of Majoribanks street are as large as your head.” In view of this statement, the. engineering staff will probably inspect the locality. The following additional subscriptions have" been received for the Queen’s Statue Fund:—Her Miss Hustwick— Mr Hustwick, £l Is; a Friend, ss; a

Friend, 3s. Per Mrs Cohen—Mr Paradise, 10s; Mrs A. E. Gasooine, £1 Is; Mr J. W. Jack, £1 Is. Native Land Court Department, 17s 6d. The total amount received to date is £1322 10s lOd.

At a meeting of the Trades Council last night, it was decided to circulate petitions for signature calling upon the City Council to take a vote of the ratepayers on the question of taxing on the unimproved value of land in. the city. Messrs A. H. Cooper, W. Naughton and A. Collins were elected delegates to represent the council at the annual conference of Trades Councils to be held in Dunedin at Easter.

When thd Imperial Representative Corps was hero, Sergeant-Major Bezar, who hails from Wiltshire, presented each member of the Wiltshire Yeomanry with a copy of his book, “Reminiscences of the Die Hards (the 67th Regiment).” By the Australian mail Sergeant-Major Bezar received a letter of thanks from Lieutenant Fuller, who_ commands the Wiltshires, and who conies from Mr Bezar’s parish.

The following are. among the appointments under the Post and Telegraph Department gazetted this week: —Permanent : David R. Strang, cadet. G.P.0., Wellington; non-permanent.: George G. Aickin, .telephonist. Thorndon railway station; Amy Hutchinson, postmistress and telephonist, Makuri, The post office at Kawatau has been closed, and the telephone office at Paikokariki. A money order office and savings bank, have'been opened at Moawhanga. The name of the Manuhara post office has been changed to Maku. At Messrs Macdonald, Wilson and Co.’s land sale yesterday afternoon, there was a large attendance. The whole of the allotments adjoining McNab’s Gardens and Ludlam Park, at the Hutt, containing a quarter of an acre each, were sold at prices averaging over £7B each, equivalent to £315 pec acre. Ten allotments with frontages to Owen and Lawrence streets were submitted, some being sokKat £/ 15s and £6 5s per foot. Town acre No. 843, Daniel street, Was submitted, but not reaching the reserve price, was passed in. The suburban building, site of nearly three acres, adjoining the main entrance to McNab’s Gardens, was also , passed in. A correspondent signing himself “Hiram Gunn” asks: —“Does a man paying a £lO rental have a vote in the election of a Mayor, and does his wife have a vote on the same qualification? Kindly reply so that I and others who are in the dark may be enlightened.” The reply is:—Any person being and having been in occupation of a house or part of a bouse, at a rental of £lO on over per annum for three months previous to an election of Councillors or Mayor is entitled to vote. Husband and wife are each entitled to a vote on the same qualification. The roll is closed at 5 p.m.. oil the fourteenth day preceding the election. Applications for enrolment must therefore be made prior to that date. The monthly meeting of the Women’s Social and Political League took place at the Oddfellows’ Hall last livening. After the routine business, a paper was read by the vice-president on the subject of the indifference of ratepayers in municipal matters. It was "contended that purely on account of apathy “the landed and capitalistic classes were the classes represented on municipal councils,’’ the result being that towns were badly laid out and overcrowded. Thel remedy for this, the writer contended. was “the introduction of the political or party element,' and the exercising of the power conferred in the vote.’’ If this power was used the right class of men would come) forward, monopoly would be broken down and. there would bo a gradual improvemeftit in the conditions of life in the cities. The paper occasioned considerable discussion. In the detail of promises, as at February 9th, to the Wesleyan Century Commemoration. . Fund, the particulars affecting ■ the Wellington district <are as follows: Wellington (Taranaki street), £616 18s Cd, Sunday schools £l5O, South Wellington £169 9s 9d; Hutt, £B4 11s. Id; Groytown, £73 14s 4dj Mastertoii, £2Ol 11s 9d;Napier, , £247 6s 4d; Hastings, £96 18s 3d; Gisborne, £56 16s 2d: Eketahuua, £67 2s 9d; Otaki, £56 3s; Dannevirke, £37 17s ; ‘ Waipawa, £152 19s 2d; Woodviile, £9l 18s 8d; Pahiatua, £45 IGs; Onnondville (no return). The report generally showed the following amounts had been promised to date by the several districts:—Auckland £4365, Wanganui ■ £1586, Wellingtonv£2l49, Nelson- £970, Canterbury £5479, Otago £2503. From Melbourne £3 had been received, from Fiji £9 6s, and from England £ll 11s, making a total amount of £17,075 for the fund.

The tender of Mr G. Brenton has been accepted for tho erection of a post office at Alfredton. Mr W. N. Dempsey, of the Hastwell School, has been promoted to be headmaster of the. Eketahuina School.

Arrangements are being made for a demonstration to be given by upwards of 4000 Maoris on the-occasion of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall’s visit to Rotorua.

A proposal, by Mr George Hogben, which will come before the Seismologies! Congress to be held at Strasburg next month, is in the direction of having local earth tremors recorded in a uniform way. Writs have been signed by the Governor for the election of councils under the Maori Lands Administration Act of last session. Nominations will be received in April, and any contests which may be necessary will be held in the third week of May.

Three specially-constructed railway carriages, specially furnished, lighted, fitted and heated are to be prepared for the use of their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York, and placed upon the Aucldand-Rotorua, Welling-ton-Napier and Lyttelton-Duncdin sec-

tions of railway. At n, meeting of the Convalescent Home Trustees there were present Mesdames Joseph (in the chair), Williams, Grady, Moothouse, Miss Payne, .Miss Boyle, Mrs Barron (treasurer) and Mrs Newman (secretary). The matron reported that thirteen patients had been received and seven discharged. The statement published in certain Southern papers that the staff of the Dunedin branch of the Bank of New Zealand is to be increased is not confirmed by the authorities at the head office. The general manager stated yesterday, in reply to a representative of tho “New Zealand Times,” that beyond the ordinary transfers which are continually going on, no special increase of any of the staffs is in view. The District Coroner (Mr James Ashcroft) and a jury cf six held an. inquest yesterday on the body ofMakaTe Hawe, a Maori girl, who died suddenly at tne Manawatu Railway Station on Wednesday afternoon. The evidence given show-v ed that the girl had suffered from consumption, and had been in the Christchurch Hospital jfor some time. Dr Cahill, having testified that death was due to phthisis, the jury brought in a verdict accordingly. Copies of the memorandum and articles of association of the proposed Federation of Chambers of Commerce have now been sent to the various throughout the colony for their consideration. The opinions received from these bodies on the subject of this federation have been uniformly favourable, but some time must elapse before they will be able to pronounce a judgment upon the articles of association. The headquarters of the federation are to be in Wellingtcin. The nresident of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce will bo the chairman, and Mr S. Carroll tho socctary. •

Dr McArthur, S.M., presided at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning. George Kelly was fined £1 for having refused to quit the Duke ■ of Edinburgh Hotel when requested to do so by the owner. . For having assaulted a plainclothes constable while the latter was

in the execution of bis duty, Kelly was fined £2, with the option of fourteen days’ imprisonment. Four first offenders were convicted of drunkenness. One was fined 7s, one fet off with a caution, and two were ordered to pay each 17s 6d medical expenses. Milly Myers.was sent to prison for fourteen days for having importuned passers-by in Taranaki street.

It has been suggested that the wait-ing-room near the tramway stoppingplace in Courtenay place should be provided! with folding-doors, to’ be locked at night. The Rev W. A. Evans brought this matter up at last night’s meeting of the City Council, and recommended that the doors should be locked by the guard of the last tram-car passing at night and opened by the guard of the first one passing in the morning. Mr Hounthwaite said he had, suggested that sliding-gates should be provided, but the committee had decided to leave the waiting-room open. Mr Evans said he hoped the committee would reconsider their decision.

A number of cab proprietors wrote to the-City Council last night objecting to the shifting of the Manners street cab stand to Cuba street . Councillor Winder moved, “ That the cab -stand in Cuba street be abolished, and a more suitable position provided.” He thought the Council should allow three cabs to remain, on the old site in Manners street, near the Royal Oak Hotel, and hdded certain words to his motion to that effect. Several members declared that with' the cab stand " in its present position there was risk of serious accident. Ultimately Councillor Winder’s motion was carried in its amended form, so that three cabs, instead of one, as at present, will now be allowed to stand in Manners street near the Royal Oak Hotel.

George Fisher sued Mary, C. Fisher, the wife of bis son William Fisher, for £lO at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday,' before Dr McArthur, S.M. Mary C. Fisher counter-claimed for £ls. The case for the plaintiff was that he had advanced £lO to his son to enable him to discharge a debt owing by the wife. The counter-claim was made up of money alleged to have been lent to George Fisher to enable him to discharge debts incurred some years prev ously. Mary Fisher deposed that she looked upon the transactions between herself and the Fisher family as gifts. William Fisher expressed his willingness to “ cry quits.” George Fisher “wanted his pound of flesh.” His Worship reserved judgment until Thursday next to enable him to consult Court records with a view to establishing the authenticity of a cheque which formed in part the substance of the counter-claim.

Judgment was giveii by Dr McArthur, S.M., yesterday morning for plaintiffs in the following cases, defendants failing to appear:—R. L. Caldwell, £lB 3s 6d, costs £2 18s 6d; Conn mercial Agency v. W. H. Southcombe, £lO4 7s 6d, costs £3 12s; same v. John W. Long, £l7 6s, costs os; same v. H. Levers, £3 12s 6d, costs 10s; same v. Williarai J. Morton, £l3 3s 4d, costs £1 10s 6d; Hollis Cycle Company v. Joe Gett, £1 10s, costs ss; H. Fielder v. H. Mantaan, 17s 6d, costs ss; same v. William Mason, £2 13s; T. N.' Adams v. Thomas Tyree, £5 Bs, costs £1 3s 6d; Wellington City Council v. Thomas Meyer, £22 3s 9d, costs £1 3s; Commercial Agency v. George L. Stroud, £2 ss, costs £1 10s;, W. Smart v. Cecil E. Harcourt, .£ll, costs 15s; Wellington and Manawatn Railway Company v. Elias Leonard', £26 10s, costs £3 13s; Hancock and Co. v. R. L. Caldwell, £lB 3s 6d. costs ss; Wellington City Council v. Maria E. Broun, £8 6s 3d, costs 8s; Adams Star Cyclp Company v. T. Iremonger, £6 2s, costs 8s; skme v. J. Bolstad, £3 2s 6d, costs 6s; same v. A. H. Smith, £3 12s ‘6d, costs ss, On a judgment summons by the Wellington Loan Company, James Gillespie was ordered to pay, a debt of £lB 17s 2<l at the rate of £2 per month. George-Bradley sued William Woodmoro for £1 10s Id on "aocomxt of rent alleged to be due, and for value of articles supplied. Judgment was given, for 17s lOd, with 6s costs.

The knowledge of New Zealand geography is not quite so extensive in the Netherlands as it might be. A postcard received by Mr S. Carroll from The Hague by yesterday’s San Francisco mail bore the following quaint address—“ Administrator of the ‘New Zealand Trade Review,’ Wellington and Wanganui, Melbourne.”

Our Carterton correspondent writes: —The inspection and compulsory im. provement of the cowsheds of milk suppliersi are likely to obliterate the small trader. An instance is forthcoming in a story that is told of an inspector who visited a small farm in this district tho other day. On this farm, the settler’s wife has one cow, from which she had Bupp'lied to a solitary resident one quart of milk daily for a period of seven years. After viewing the cowshed, the inspector remarked that improvements were necessary. He departed, and the settler’s wife formed herself into a committee of finance. She found that as tho alterations would cost so much, she would have to supply milk to her solitary customer for one hundred years before she could .fairly claim any profit for herself. Under these circumstances she decided to sacrifice the solitary customer.

A deputation from the Wellington Ministers’ Association, consisting of the Revs Chas. Dallaston (Baptist), A. Reed Glasson (Congregationalist), William Shirer (Presbyterian), Thomas 6. Dawson (Primitive Methodist), was received by the Wesleyan Conference yesterday. The speakers congratulated the conference, which had their entire sympathy, on the excellent work it was doing, and on its choice of a president (the Rev C. H. Garland). Mr Glasson referred to the differences between the various denominations. They were not now regarded as so great as at one time. Mr Dawson also referred to the prospects of union. He rejoiced at the coming together of the Presbyterian Churches. The Union of the Methodist churches in South Australia had furnished them with a great object lesson. He would welcome ono united force. The Rev J. N. Buttle and Rev William Harding were appointed to welcome the deputation. Mr Buttle mentioned what an important part the evangelical press had played in educating public opinion on the subject of church union.

lii the Supreme Court yesterday, before Mr Justice Cooper, and a jury of ■ twelve, an, action was partly heard between Samuel Tnrkmgtcm. of Cross's Creek, schoolmaster, plaintiff, and William John Turkingtun, of _ Hinemoa, farmer, and Elizabeth Turkington, his wife, defendants. Mr E. B. Williams appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr Skerrett for the defendants. Mr W. H. Ballinger was foreman of the jury. The: subject of the action was Section VI., Block Y., Puketoi Survey District, known as “Riversdale,” which had been leased by the plaintiff to- the defendants. The plaintiff claimed (1) possession of the land and premises and of certain cattle and sheep; (2) £2OO compensation for breaches of agreement and covenant; and (3) £3.5 arrears of rent and for use and occupation of the land and premises from the Ist January, 1901, to, the day of recovering possession. The defendants counter-claimed £5Ol damages for trespass and alleged false and malicious publication. The plaintiff was the defendants' son. The defendants came from Ireland, and after they had been on “Riversdale' 1 for about eight years the lease in question, one for fifteen years, was executed last year. The plaintiff, after giving verbal notice of. his intention on the 22ud December, 1900, re-entered on the Ist January, on the ground that the farm was being neglected. The case; stood as part heard when the Court adjourned till this morning.