LOCAL AND GENERAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4315, 26 March 1901, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The garden party vhicii was to have been "lield in Mrs Levin’s grounds tomorrow in aid of the Levin Memorial ami Alexandra Homo has been postponed to Friday. .Messrs K. I). Crawford. J. Mead and T. Highetfc will stand for election for the dvilbii’rii<? Ward in the Melrose Borough Council. Dates of addresses to electors v.ill be announced later. Tho following additional subscriptions havo been received towards the Queen’s Statue Fund:—Per “T.N.5.,” 11s; G. White, os; Scholars of Rintoul street School, £3; Mrs Levin, £10; per Mrs Eden; Mrs Evans, 10s; '‘S.C I .,’’ £2 2s. Total to date, £I3BO 13s 4d.

The Minister of Mines left for the South last night, with the object of being present at Skipper’s, in tho Wakatipu district, on the 39th instant, oh the oc-cic-irn of tho opening of tho now bridge, towards tho cost of which tho Mines Department gave a large subsidy. Councillor Tolhurst has given notice t'-nt ho intends to mevo at the meeting of tho City Council to be held on Friday next:—“That tho Wellington City Council petitions tho General Assembly to provide a site for Victoria College out of tho sixty-threo acrera of the Wellington College site.” Tho tender of Thomas Ballinger and Cc. (Limited) at £4207 has been accepted for the supply of hoop steel required by the Harbour'Board. The unsuccessful tenderers wore—J. Nathan and Co., £4307 us; J. Duthio and Co. (Limited), £4310; Briscoe, MacNei! and Co. (Limited), £4345; E.W. Mills and Co. . (Limited), £4359 10s. Tho Minister of Lands, accompanied by the Hon. James Carroll, is to visit the Poverty Bay district early next month. They will visit, amongst other places, tho fumed Motu forest. Mr Martin Smith, Crown Lands Banger, has been instructed to furnish tho Government with a report upon the forest referred to.

TJie members of the Hairdressers* and Tobacconists’ Sports Association intend holding their fourth annual.meeting at Hay’s .Bay to-morrow. The outing was to have been hold last Wednesday, but owing to the unfavourable weather, it was postponed. The s.s.' Duchess will leave the fiierry Wharf at 10 a.m. and 2.80 p.rn,, and loaves the Bay at 11 a.m. and 6 p .xn. ’ ,

At the Stipendiary Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning, Dr McArthur, S.M., granted a separation order against’E. A. Little, ;on the grounds of cruelty to his wife. Complainant was givdn the custody of three children, and ordered to receive 10s per week maintenance. Defendant was directed :to pay 9s costs. Tasman Steinmuller was ordered to pay arrears of.a maintenance order within a week, in default seven days’ imprisonment. For drunkenness, two fast offenders were convicted' and discharged. For a similar offence), W. Cunningham was lined 20s, in default three days’ imprisonment. .. ,

The , “Grey River'Argus’’ states that EOiud very interesting evidence was taken on the West Coast.by the Midland Railway Commission, ’ “much of-it-not Such as the majority of the Commissioners expected, oi’ tiobably desired; bub it was allowed. ’Jh'deefJ, the Commissioners did, orv The whole, display a commendaWy prd'pk' Spirit in taking evidence bearing bn the case. Of course the only effect of such evidence is that it. may ‘impress the 'Parliamentary tribunal more, favourably towards the'company and !ho debenture-holders. than miglit otherwise have been the ease. That, however, is a'feature of the case that no one who 'desires fair play will object to.’’ • .

Tho annual report of the. United Hockey Club, to hc the meeting .on Thursday ■'evening;,- states that* the senior team last season 'won the whole of tho eleven' matches played', scoring in championship matches 30 goals, as against its opponents’ 6. The junior team played 8 match os, of which it won 6 and drew 2. The record for the whole club is— Matches played, 19; won 17, drawn 2, lost 0. The club had five representatives in the Wellington-Canterbury match, and four, in the junior, representative match with Palmerston North. A suggestion is made in tho .report that chib races should be arranged at an earlier date this’season, than last. If,is also stated that the practicability of a Northern tour this season will bo considered. The balance-sheet shows that the club commenced the year with a credit balance of £5 Os 9d, and closed with a credit of £3 2s.

At a farewell social last evening the! .members of tho Wellington Rowing Club presented Sergeant J. Calnan, of tho Seventh Contingent (a champion oarsman and prominent member of the club) with a parting gift in the shape of a case of silver-mounted pipes, cigar and cigarette-holders. Tho presentation was made by the captain of the club (Mr R. F. Smith), who spoke highly of'the-ser-vices Sergeant Calnan had rendered tho club. As an oarsman, Mr Smith pointed out, ha hadi an unbeaten record for pair-oared' races, having won the championship of New Zealand for that race four years'in succession. Mr Smith also eulogised Mr CalnanV, personal qualities. In toasting. Sergeant Calnan s .health, three ‘hearty .cheers Were given for their old club-mate by those present. Other toasts honoured were those_ of “Tho King and the Royal Family,’’ “The ‘'Wellington Rowing'Club,” |f Our Visitors,” “ New Zealand Amateur Row. ’ing Association,” and “The Ladies.” Messrs Furness, McAlpine, Jeffries. C. Jones. A. Duff, A. G. Johnston,'Houghton, G. Read, J.' Hand, Gn Tyler and Hranplmes contributed to the evening’s amusement. ■ ■ ; ■ •

In the Court of Appeal yesterday argu- 1 merit ' was heard in the case between' Richard John Whittle, appellant, and Edmund Can-oil, respondent. Mr G. Harper, with him Mr Byrne, appeared for the appellant, and Mr Stringer for the respondent. The action was One with reference to the Sale of the lease and goodwill of the Masonic Hotel in Christchurch. . Carroll brought an action I for specific performance,’ and in the alternative for damages; Mr Justice . Denniston gave judgment that Whittle bo orderdd to perform so much of the agreement as referred to the purchase of the lease and goodwill. The appeal was on the law and the facts. One of the ! grounds of appeal was that the judgment was erroneous in point of law, inasmuch

as it was thereby determined that the valuation of the stock, furniture and fixtures a non-essential part of the contract for sale, and that, therefore, the contract or agreement was separable, and that specific performance could be decreed of so much of the contract as related to the purchase of the lease and goodwill. After Mr Harper and Mr Byrne had addressed the Court, Mr Stringer was heard on the law. The Court reserved judgment.

The motion for a new trial of the Styche case will be heard by tho Court of Appeal to-day. One of tho principal subjects for discussion at the Ratepayers’ Association meeting to-night will be tho question, of rating on unimproved values. The battalion of Bangitikei school cadet® now comprising 209 boy. 3 attending the public schools in Upper Bangitikei are doing remarkably well, they paraded the other day for inspection, and acquitted themselves well in the physical extension, manual and firing exercises.

“Ratepayer,” commenting on Mr R. G. Knight’s letter on the Mayoral election, says that the criticism contained in it is" “impertinent,” because at cne last Parliamentary election for the Suburbs Mr R. G. Knight asked the electors by vote to choose between him ana Mr Milford. They did so and awarded Mr Wilford 2200 votes, and Mr R. 6. Knight'9 votes.

Mr R. Heaton Rhodes, M.H.R. for Christchurch, has brought up from th*> South an artistically designed petition for presentation to the Minister lor Public Works. Tho petition bears the signatures of 1150 electors in the Akaroa district praying for the extension of the railway from Akaroa to Little River. Accompanying the petition are photographs of Akaroa, tho harbour on regatta day, and other attractive spots in "the locality.

‘ One Concerned ’ wishes to know why the Wellington Harbour Board imposes an extra charge of one shilling and fov.rpeucc half-penny on each bale of hemp that is over tour cwt. He says tho fact that they dump two halos into one before shipping it away shows it cannot bo 100 heavy to handle. think,” he concludes, “the_ ilaxmillors have enough to contend with without tho Harbour Board imposing such an extra charge.”

A denotation from the Workers' Union, introduced by Mr J. O’Brien (president), waited upon Mr J. O’Dca last evening, and requested him to come forward as a candidate at the municipal elections in the interests of the workers of this city. Mr O’Dea informed the deputation that he would fcs inclined to stand for election providing that a "ticket” was agreed upon. Ho had not given the matter much consideration, but ho would let the deputation know his decision in the course of a few days. Delegates from the Ratepayers’ Aseociation and the Municipal Association met last night, Mr Huitoll occupied the chair, and there were present: —-Messrs J. McAlpino, A. L. Wilson, J. Arnold, D. Prydo, J. Hutcheson, McLood and Hawaii. During the discussion the opinion was generally expressed that the associations could work harmoniously together for the good of the city. It was ultimately decided that when both associations have completed their municipal programme the delegates would meet again and discuss the question of taking common action at the forthcoming elections. The delegates will meet on Monday night, and in the meantime there will bo meetings of the respective associations.

At a largo meeting of Mr J. G. W. Aitkon’s supporters lor the Mayoralty, held in the Oddfellows’ Hall last evening, Mr John Duthie was voted to the chair. Strong committees were formed to secure Mr Aitkcn’s re-election. In resnonding to a vote of thanks for presiding, Mr Duthie remarked that he felt the greater pleasure in taking the chair after having read some electioneering nonsense in one of the Wellington pa. pers suggesting himself as a candidate. To this, of course, no one attached, any importance. The fact that he - was present at that meeting in the chair showed his view of the matter. Mr Allan, of Yeitch and Allan, was appointed permanent chairman, and Mr J. W. Williams, of Aoooks and Williams, general secretary of the committees. At the invitation of Messrs Joseph Nathan and Co. a large number of the friends of Mr J. J. Reich, who lias been connected with the firm for a number of years, and who, accompanied by Mrs Reich, is about to’ pay a' visit to the Old Country, attended a dinner at the Empire Hotel last night. A- most enjoyable evening was spent. . Amongst the toasts proposed was the health of Mr and Mr.> Reich, Which was proposed by Mr D. JNathan, supported by Messrs G. Wilson, M. Cohon and) T. Ballinger, and drunk with great enthusiasm ; “ Messrs Joseph' Nathan and C 0.,” proposed by Mr Reich, and responded to by Mr Phil. Nathan; and “ The Dairy Industry, ’ proposed by Mr D. J. Nathan, and responded to by Messrs Beattie and Lang.