LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4307, 16 March 1901, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Port Nicholson. Yacht Club will bold an “Afc Home'’ to-day, the Duchess leaving at 10 a.m. and 2.30 p.m.

A sitting of the Assessment Court will be hold on Friday, 29th inat., to hear objections to the valuation list for the City of Wellington.

St. Patrick’s College Band will render a programme, principally of Irish national music, at the College grounds at 3 p.m. to-morrow.

The Wellington Fire Brigade has received the sum of £lO from Messrs ocowart and Co. a.s a contribution towards the funds of the Members’ Club of the brigade.

The question of setting apart land for Now Zealand troopers returning from the South African war is to- bo introduced to the notice of Cabinet by the' Hon Mr Duncan, ns indicated in a speech which ho delivered while in Auckland. No scheme has been drafted on the subject, as the '‘matter has not yet been considered: by Ministers.

The St. Patrick’s Day sports will be held at the Basin Reserve to-day. The programme includes running, jumping, wrestling, cycling, dancing ,etc., and most of tbo events have attracted good fields. As a number of well-known athletes will compete, good racing is expected. An art union will bo held in connection with the sports. A procession will he formed at Hill street at 10

A recent number of the “Toi Kairanga,” published at Rarotonga, contains an article attacking tho methods of dealing with the trade of the Cook gionp. Tho article concludes:—“lt is indeed time that wo came under the jurisdiction of the Right Hon R. J. Seddon, who will probably find means to prevent a subsidised lino of steamers from playing ducks and drakes with tho trade of the group,”

\ summons, Corporation of Wellington v Mery Ellen Johnston and Fanny 'Ramsay Lewis, came before Mr Justice Edwards in Chambers yesterday. The summons was cno for the removal from the file of an award filed in the Supreme Court under section 44 of the Public Works Act. In this case a claim for compensation in respect of the taking of land at the corner of Willis and Harbour streets had become an award by effluxion of time. By consent, the summons was moved into the Court of Appeal.. Mr Martin appeared for the Corporation, and Dr Knight for the claimants.

As a result of the Bishop of Melanesia’s visit to Petono on Wednesday evening .some members of St. Augustine’s Church have decided to undertake tho cost of educating one of the Melanesian boys at Norfolk Island at a cost of £lO per year. On the resumption of the hearing of tho adjourned case Commercial Agency v. Searl, before Dr McArthur, S.M., yes-

terday, counsel for plaintiff intimated that the person, on whose behalf the case was brought now asked leave to amend his claim, and would accept the £5 which the defendant offered in satisfaction of the services rendered by plaintiff. No costs were asked.

On inquiry at the Hospital last night, it was that the victims of the curious poisoning case in Tory street on Thursday night—Mrs Kutncr and her four children—were all progressing favourably. It is now stated, though not on the authority of the Hospital doctors, that some soup, which had stood for a day and been warmed, of which the family had partaken, was tho real cause of the mischief.

There was a good attendance at the Chess Club’s rooms last night, when Air Alason (tho champion of New Zealand) and Mr Barnes (an ex-champion) mot to continue thair match. It being Mr Mason’s move, he opened with a Queen’s Gambit, which, however, his opponent declined. Early in tho game Mr Mason won a pawn and subsequently he got tho exchange. After about twenty moves Air Barnes resigned. Each player has now won three games. The ferry steamer Duchess made her first trip to tho Miramar Wharf yesterday, carrying 400 passengers, and mak-

ing the run across in sixteen minutes’ actual steaming time. The time of the vessel from ‘Tot-go'’ to “make fast” was about twenty-five minutes which is,_ of course, a great improvement on tho time .of the’ average cyclist for tho • journey. Many of tho visitors who saw Miramar for tho first time, were astonished at its extent and adaptability for recreation purposes. It is safe to say chat every boat which in future brings back passengers from the wharf at “the cutting” will also have on board eloquent converts to tho City Council’s Aliramar acquirement scheme.

Pluck, presence of mind, and athletic agility combined, resumed probably in tic saving of a human life on the '.Vellington Polo Club’s grounds during the

course of the representative match yesterday. A wee-, toddling baby had strayed into the field of play unnoticed. .Suddenly a turn in the fortunes of the game brought the ponies galloping furiously in that direction. Next moment a spectator flung himself out of the crowd, and on top of tho child. A second later a pony, with almost human intelligence, sprang high in tho air and over the prostrate figures, while the ruck went sweeping past. A cheer went up as rescued and rescuer retired into safety. Tho latter—Mr Phil ■ Nathan, of this city—was, naturally, the hero of thie afternoon.

The Chief Health. Officer (Dr Mason) has informed Mr H. G. Ell j M.H.R. for Christchurch, that tuberculosis, or phthisis, or pulmonary consumption, has been placed on the list of notifiable diseases. This moans that any medical practitioner attending upon any person suffering from tuberculosis must announce the

fact to tho District Health Officer, who may, if it is thought necessary, order the isolation of the patient. The occupier of any house in which a patient is suffering from such a disease must at once notify the District Health Officer. In Now Zealand there are more deaths from tuberculosis than from any other disease. In 1899 it claimed the following numbers of victims in the different provinces:—Auckland 153, Otago 151, Canterbury 97, Wellington 96, Nelson 30, Hawke's Bay 25, Taranaki 21, Westland 12, Marlborough 8.

Our Palmerston North correspondent writes:—Mr Wm. Park has decided to stand for the Mayoralty. It has always been generally recognised that in Councillor Park the town has had a representative who has enjoyed- the fullest confidence of the burgesses, and one who has shown himself capable of upholding the right, according to his convictions, in the face of the opposition of the whole Council. The! late prominence given to the drainage scheme has shown, without a doubt, that Mr Park is still doing his duty to the utmost of his ability. Mr Edwards has also decided to allow himself to bo nominated for the Mayoralty. Mr Edwards was the moving spirit of the introduction of the rating on unimproved value system into Palmerston; he was also instrumental in' securing the passage of a Bill-through the House enabling Palmerston North to become a separate hospital and charitable aid district, thus laying the foundation for a hospital in our town. Mr' Edwards is an ex-Mayor, and should be conversant with the requirements of the community.

The report and balance-sheet of the ; Metropolitan Permanent Building and Investment Company show that the i gross profits for the year ended February 15th (including a balance of £370 3s od ; brought forward from last year) amounted to £2755 7s 2d. After deductiug £783 Is lOd for interest on fixed deposits there is a net profit of £1972 os 4d. The interim dividend of ot per cent, for the six montlis ending August, 1900, absorbed £7lO 18s lOd. Of the balance the directors propp.se to pay £361 8s 8d to holders of B investment shares at 3V per cent, for the last six months, and £350 in. payment of a 3) per cent, dividend for six mouths to holders of A £lO shares (paid up); and to carry £SOO to create a reserve fund, leaving £49 17a lOd to carry forward to next year. The figures show a steady expansion, and all available funds wore readily invested upon first-class securities. Deposits showed a slight increase. The report states that the directors arc considering the question of issuing another series of 1000 A £lO shares. The retiring directors arc Messrs J. G. W. Aitkeu and Henry Hume, who both offer themselves for re-election at the annual meeting to be held on Tuesday next. Judgment was delivered by Mr Justice. Edwards in the Supreme Court yesterday in the matter of a summons issued at the instance of the Wellington District Land Registrar calling upon T. G. Maoarthy and R. P. Collins to show cause why they should not deliver up their certificates of title of certain land in Tory street and Courtenay place in order that the descriptions might be reconciled with the occupation. Mr Martin Chapman was for the Registrar, Mr Ollivier for Mr Macarthy, and Mr Stafford for Mr Collins. It appeared that the certificates overlapped, and that the Registrar wished to amend them. Mr Collins* resisted on the ground that he was the rightful owner of all the land included in his certificate of title. His Honor said ho could not try the respective claims of Mr Collins and Mr Macarthy to the strip of land in controversy, and he held that the Case was not one in which the Court could assist the Registrar to deprive a registered proprietor of land included in his certificate of title. The question of costs was held over in order to allow Mr Chapman to consult the superior officers' oi ri-e department. His Honor expressed the opinion that the Registrar had misconceived his powers i in the present case.

r A number of natives owning land surrounding the township of Kawhia have suggested to the Hon Air Duncan that the Government should take over-this land, which is at present practically lying idle_, and lease it on behalf of Die owners. The matter is to bo considered.

An effort is being made by the Palmerston North branch of the St. John Ambulance Association (which is under the jurisdiction of the Wellington Centre) to raise funds for purchasing various ambulance appliances for public use in the Northern town. A grand concert has been organised for' the 10th April by Air E. Hatchings and others interested in tho project, and arrangements have been made under wnich the local volunteers and school children will assist. It is anticipated that a sufficient sum of money will be raised to .Delude tho purchase of a patent Ashford wheeled litter on delicate springs for tho transport of persons injured by accident.

Air Just oe Cooper, in the Supremo Court yesterday, gave his reserved" judgment in the matrimonial .suit, Ada Francos Jane Mitchell v. William Gandy Mitchell. His Honor, after staling the circumstances disclosed by the evidence, said, “ Where, as in this case, a husband with the consent of his wife, leaves the colony with the intention of forming a home for himself and his wife, and after a short interval suddenly ce. ;-cs to correspond with his wife, and continues for a long period to neglect to eiihar write to his wife or to provide her any means of support, there is, hi my opinion, evidence of an intent’o i fo desert from the time he breaks cif his correspondence with her. In my opinion, therefore, the respondent deserted his -wife as from the month of August, 1892, and such desertion having been continuous since that date, the petitioner is entitled to the relief she asks.” A decree nisi for dissolution of marriage to he made absolute after tho expiration of three months, was granted, and it was ordered that the petitioner have custody of tho child, and costs aga’nst the respondent (who is now residing in British Columbia) on tho lower s<-ale.