LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4312, 22 March 1901, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Mr V. L. i Gasbemaille, an employee of the Assets Board, has been appointed ; clerk and typewiitar on the Harbour (Board staff. The Otaki Athletic Club will hold its annual sports meeting on Wednesday next. TLo entries received are satisfac- ; tory, and include the names of several ■; well-known competitors. The handicaps ■! will appear in the “Times” Supplement . of Saturday next. The programme includes the usual athletic events, also a tug-of-war, tilting in the ring, climbing greasy pole, quoits and other competitions. The Otaki Maori Brass Band has been engaged, and given fine weather a good day’s sport can be anticipated. | j

The Corporation officials charged;with the housoto-houso inspection of ; the City of Wellington have reported !tha*. the result of their investigations sin far have proved highly satisfactory. Householders everywhere are showing a 'comxnondablo anxiety to keep their premises clean and in good order. I Judgments for plaintiffs in the fol. lowing civil cases wore given by Hr McArthur, S.M., at the Stipendiary Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning; —Commeroial Agency, Limited, v. Felix Tanner, £8 7s ild, costs £1 'is, 6d; same v. John Doig, £1 7» 6d, costs 7s; same v. Hilton Brown, £0 15s, costs £1 3s 6d. Tho Court of Appeal did nob sit yesterday afternoon, in consequence of the non-arrival of counsel engaged in Christ, church oases. The Court adjourned till this morning. The Chief Justice remarked, before leaving the Bench, “If counsel nro not ready then, I suppose the cases will have to bo struck out.” Some of tho Christchurch counsel arrived in Wellington during the afternoon.

The hearing of the charge against George Thomas Ross of obtaining £3O from Mr Coleman Phillips by false pretences was resumed yesterday, at the Magistrate’s Court, before Messrs R. Lovoi and H- L. Davis, J.P.'s. Mr Gray again appeared for tho prosecution and Mr Coopor for the defence. After counsel had addressed tho Court, accused was committed for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court, bail being granted in two sureties of £25 each and accused in £SO.

A rehearing ef tho case Mrs i). Lindsay v. John Lindsay, in which Dr McArthur, S.M., 'had dismissed Mrs Lindsay’s application for tho possession of a piano in the possession of her husband, was heard at tho Stipendiary Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Mrs Lindsay called several witnesses to prove that she had paid for the piano with her earnings. After hearing the evidence- of defendant and several mem, hers of his family, his Worship considered tho piano had been paid for by money earned by defendant, and there fore nonsuited the plaintiff. Mr Lnckio appeared for plaintiff and Mr Wilford for defendant.

“Gardens are becoming very popular in a number of districts/’ says Mr H. Hill, inspector, in his annual report to the Hawke’s Bay Education Beard.,“but Ormond excels all others m this important aspect of school training: 135 named varieties of plants and flowers wora under cultivation by the children, and I have seldom seen a prettier sight than the school gardens presen led'when visited by me in March. Gisborne, Patutahi, Woodvillo, Dannevirke, : Makotaku arid Takapau l present grounds of exceptional but there are far tea many that supply evidence of much indifference on the part of teachers and committees.”

American text-books are , now frequently cited in argument in the New Zealand Courts, especially in commotion with, matters in which the conditions of the colony and; the United States boar a close resemblance. Dur. ins a discussion in the Court of Appeal yesterday, the Chief Justice remarked on the absence from; the Wellington Supreme Court library of the series of reports called “ American Decisions.” His Honor said he thought they had the reports in question in the libraries at Dunedin and Christchurch. The Wellington library had the “ American; Reports” and tho “ American State Re. ports,” but not the “ American - Decisions.”

The breakwater question is leading to more trouble at New Plymouth. A'the Harbour Board meeting on Friday, a motion by; Mr Hienett, that immediate representations bo made through Messrs Byrnes and McGuire, M.H.R.’s, to the Government as to the .unfairness attaching to the prelsent appointment of Gov ■ ernmont nominees to the Board; and that it bo pointed bub that the country provides five-sixths of the revenue, an 1 is entitled to a proportionate rOpresentation of at least two nominees, was lost Three of the four Government nominees voted against it. Mr McLean said it was the duty of the country members to protect themselves and save bloodshed,.! "for as sure as he lived, if the loan wascarried for extending the breakwater no extra rate would 1 be collected in the country except at the muzzle of a gun.* 1 The hatching-out of the salmon ova 1 which was brought from America to the order of the New Zealand! Government last year has been attended with success. Half a million ova was imported. Three hundred thousand was sent to the hatcheries at Hakataramea, a branch of the Waitaki river, and. 180,000 fish were hatched out.. The balance of the shipment (200,000). was sent to Lake Ohai for incubation, andl 175,000 fish have been hatched out. A report received by the Minister of Marine (Han. W. Hall-tTonei) shows that the results of the operation'--at Hakataramea would, have been moiv successful but for the. rubbing off of soina of the asphaltum varnish on the wiregauze trays on which the ova was brought from . America.. The gauze rusted in parts, . .and the eggs on. those particular spots, wore destroyed.

At the meeting of the City Council last night, a .deputation from the Ratepayers’ Association ' attended, and preferred a request that the tramway question should be discussed by itself at a public meeting, and should not be considered in conjunction with ether proposed works. ' The members of tne deputation (Messrs Hurroll, Wilson, MdAlpine and! Arnold) said it was felt that if threo large works were discussed at the one meeting the result would bo unsatisfactory. The tramway question, involving an expenditure of about _ a quarter vi a million of money, was big enough to have :a meeting to itself. L it wore discussed with other works it was probable that it would hot receive duo consideration, as it might be hurried over.* The Mayor informed the deputation that its, request would! have duo consideration. He. said the only point that struck him was that two meetings would cost more than one. Mr Hurrell: The extra cost would no* - ,be velry much. The Mayor: We have got to keep down the; rates, you know, (Laughter). ; , ~ ; i , ... .

Four tenders for the year’s supply of: ironmongery have been received by the . Wellington Harbour Beard, and that of, Messrs E. W. Mills and Co. accepted." Three tenders wore received) for timber and glass, and that of Messrs Stewart and Co. accepted. Three tenders were received for the annual supply of .coal..' The right of supply under schedules "A" and “B” was awarded to the Westport Company, and under schedule “C” to' Mr Richard Duigan; ; Three tenders were received for, iron-foundry work, and that of Mr E. Seager accepted. Four tenders were received for brass-foundry work, and that 6f Messrs Jenkins and; Mack accepted, tho same firm securing the gastittlng from one other competitor. No'tenders were received for litho- ■ graphing and printing office! stationers Of the four tenders received for letterpress printing, that of Mr W. J. Lank-; shear was successful. Two tenders were received for manufactured stationery,Mr F. G. Ralph's being successful; two tenders for cartage, Messrs Fletcher and Co’s accepted; two tenders for the removal of rubbish, Mr P. McArdle’s accepted; five tenders for hoop steel, the lowest, if in, order, will be accepted.

Tho Langdale Settlement has hcoii constituted a local land district, ’vitn its office at the Courthouse, Mastortoh. At tho instance of Councillor Smith, the City Council has decided to got tho City Solicitor to give an opinion as to the rights of persons whose shops or other buildings are set back from tho street lino, and wffio use the space; thus given (for ihe paving of which they have paid) for the display of goods. A meeting of the City Council will bo held on Friday next for the purpose of confirming the resolution in regard to tho abolition of wards. In consequence of this, the ordinary meeting of the Council for the .week will bo held on Friday instead of on Thursday. It has been found that it will not be

possible/ in any circumstances, to let a contract for the erection of tho Town Hall before, the Duke of Cornwall arrives in Wellington. The City Council last night decided, however, that the City Engineer should be instructed to prepare specifications for pile-driving and brickwork at tho corner where the foundation stone will be set. The expenditure necessary will be small, and tho preparations ’ will enable the ceremony to take place. At tho dispersal of cue of the most noted Hereford herds of Australia—the ToCal stud Hereford^—held, at West Maitland, New South Waleb, on tho 7th instant, Mr. J. Stuckey, of Opaki, purchased no fewer than eighty-sight stud Hereford^—cows and heifers. Included in Mr Stuckey’s purchase were—Lioness 56th,. calved 1894, by Sardredon, dam Lionels, 30gs.; . Minerva 246th, calved

1897, by Knight ‘ Errant (imp.), dam Minerva 117th, 90gs ; ■ Maritana 32ud, calved 1900, by! Rossmcre (imp.), dam Maritaria 21st, -25g5., Some of the animals were brought over by Mr Stuckey in the Mokoia, Tho first quarterly meeting of the newly-formed : Canterbury Society was held at the Trocadero last night, the attendance: being large and enthusiastic. Mr W. G. Foster, a vice-president, was in the chair. Mr Dilnot Sladden, another vice-president, was also present. The president, the Hon W. C. Walker, telephoned his regret at not being able to attend. At the invitation of the two vice-presidents. the company cordially drank to tho toast of ‘‘ouccess to the Canterbury Society of Wellington.” The musical programme was of an excellent character, contributed entirely by old Canterbury residents. ' ■ Our Carterton correspondent writes/ as follows: —There is a rumonr that the Bank View Estate, Gladstone, which lias been on tho- market for some time, has been sold .to a Wellington buyer for £12.500. ; cash.—Scarlatina, in a mild form, is prevalent, in isolated cases in Gladstone, Masterton and Carterton.— A female applicant informed the Com-

missioner of the Laugdalo Estate that she could, reap, plough, and on one occasion had shorn a sheep.— I The Martinborongh Rifle .Club, .of which Mr J. Kennedy is captain, has announced its' intention of securing .303 rifles. The club is in a sound! financial position. During the interview which he granted to members'of: the City Council on Monday, in regard to the question, of welcoming the, Duke and! Duchess of Cornwall to Wellington, the Premier remarked that if the account of what was said at a. ■ recent meeting of the Council . reached the hands of their Royal Highnesses they would naturally ask the (question* . “|s it safe to go there? Is it safe for us to visit such a , pjaoq ?” • Councillor Izard, . at the Council meeting' last night, to the Premier’s remark; He said his view was different from Mr Seddon’s. Ha thought that the future King, if he read the reports of the meeting, would be mere likely to say, “ These are people who obey 6ur laws-. With them, I' think, wo will bo safe.” •

The correspondence generally received by ft Minister,. especially if that Minister be the Premier, is usually of a dry and formal oharaoteh, being largely composed of departmental and other business letters, and -requests for “billets.’’ The appended letter lately addressed to the Premier by a young lady, and which is sufficiently self-explanatory to need am introduction, jist the exception which ■iftakeS the rtflb l thd to' endure : “Dear Mr Seddon, —-You must not mind my;. writing- -to you/ but I < am’ sure you won’t, when I.'tell.,you how We all love you: for letting the Second and Third Contingents .come-home again, I have ,a brother,and two.friends in the Th rd ; and every letter we get . they, say they are just yyaiting; for your word to fit them come; home; so you can imagine how happy you have made us'all. lam only eighteen, so . you ,must, not nrnd my writing, but, I wanted to. toil you that we -all, think- you -are the biggest old dear that ever breathed, and I with I could thank you personally, so with heaps of love believe me ever your loving subject, -, ,

-;- 1 A'well-attended meeting of the Wellington Poultry, Pigeon 'and Canary Society' was hold last night. .The principal business’of’the meeting'was the allocation) of some valuable trophies. The Suratura Tea trophy of £lO 10s was allotted for the .nlost points in Langshans; ..Mr' A. ‘H. Fullford’s.trophy of £5 ss, for tho.'m'ost points in Minorcas; Mr F, Townsend’s trophy of £5 ss, for ' tho'most points in white Leghorns; Mr R. E. Bannister’s trophy of £5 ss. for the most points in modern game; and Mr G. Pinnock’s’trophy of £5 ss, for the most points' in'Malay, Indian and English game. - The _secretary’s trophy of £5 5s was allotted to the l?est bantam in the show/ arid TMfc.J.'Dl Irempnger’s trophy -of £5.55, to moist points, in silver and. golden"Wyandottes/ All -these trophies arc to bq won three times, and to be open td Imembera of the Wellingtoai Society only. The,tender of the ‘fNew Zea-r Jand, Times” Company, for the printing of the schedules and catalogues was accepted. -More’-trophies are to be allotted "at the*'next meeting of the' society, te bo hold on the 11th proximo. ; - Some discussion took place at last night’s meeting of the City _ Council in regard to a statement contained in the annual report of the director of the

Wellington’ 'Technical School, that, one way - out of-the .difficulty, in regard to want of accommodation for the classes would „bt> td accept the assistance: of the CounciL - The statement was taken to imply that the'Cbuncil had offered to grant a piece of land, which'would enable an extension of the Technical School to be made, Councillor: Evans assured the Council ;'that; its. Technical Education Committee ’had .not. made an offer of any kind to ‘the Technical School -authorities.lt’-was explained that an impression might 1 have been conveyed 'in cOnsequeilce of the fact that the Town ■Hall plans showed a possible reserve for a technical- school. -The -Mayor pro- : mised Councillor Luke that 1m would get the ’ to find 'oat >. how; the plans-woro marked in the way iu- ■ dicatcd. Councillor McGill’ said ho thought it was .done when the site for the Town Hall was: being considered. . It ; was-thought, that somo landrmight bo required for .extending :the schoo;, and ‘ therefore thee ground was limited- that ■ shoalct- be for a Town Halil He'did not know that there was. any de- ■ dication, but it was thought that the ■ area marked off might be required at , some future day for additions to tho Technical School,

Mr John Johnston has been appointed a trustee of the Mangaweka Cemetery, vice Mr W. F. Stephens, resigned. A resolution that the Mayor should in future wear robes was last night carried by the City Council in committee. The robes will be obtained before the time of the Royal visit. Letters of naturalisation nave been issued to John Barber, labourer, Wellington; Johannes Johansen, labourer, Palmerston North ; George Make res. labourer, Patea; and Socrates Mauzari-., fishmonger, Wellington. When taken, to task by a member of tho Court of Appeal yesterday in regard to a technical phrase used in argument, a well-known counsel, whose polished diction is the envy of younger members of tho bar, excused himself by saying that he might have been led away by “ a morbid anxiety to be strictly accurate.”

Tho following lands in Wellington district have been temporarily reserved: 1 acre 2 roods, section No. 4.5, block 9, Ongo Survey District, for a public school site; 1 rood in Pongaroa township for pCst and telegraph office site; 5 acres 2 roods, section 94, block 13, Belmont, for an endowment for primary education. A few acres of land are also reserved m the Umutoi village for Government on tidings, endowments for primary education, public hall site and recreation ground. Mr Colvin, M.H.R!, has received a promise from the Minister for Public Works that an immediate survey will be made of the proposed section of the Midland Hallway between .Heeftoru and In-; angahua Junction. It is represented that when the . work of railway construction between the places mentioned is carried bout some good agricultural and coal-bearing country will be ape'ned up. Westport and Mokihiriiii being already connected by rail, the construction or a line between the latter place and Iteetton would enable* trains io h 6 through from. Westport to the Otira Gorge.