LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4316, 27 March 1901, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

It was decided at a committee meeting of the Wellington Chess-Club last night, that Mr Mason and Mr W. F. Barraud should represent the club at Christchurch during the championship meeting at Easter. Mr Justice Denniston was nominated by the club for the presidency of the annual meeting, and the Hon F. Arkwright and Mr Charles Benhow as vice-presidents. - Tlie hairdressers and tobacconists intend holding their fourth annual picnic at Day’s Bay to-day. The a.s. Duchess is advertised to leave the Ferry Wharf at 10 a.m. and 2.30 p.m.. returning to the city at 11 a.m, and G p.m. A sports programme on a somewhat larger scale than is iisually drawn up for such gatherings will , be held. The last event on the programme is a men open, to all comers.

& The latest local Police Court bull: f* Counsel (to witness): ‘‘His Worship can’t hear what you are saying if you only nod your head!” In connection with the Easter holidays excursion tickets will be issued on tin; Government railways from the t'ml to the Bth prox., available for n-! turn up to May 7th. i The tenth game ih the match be- ! tween Messrs .Mason ami Barnes was /played at tin; Colie-ss Club’s rooms last j night, and ended, shortly after mid-* night, m a draw, after some sixtv i moves. A property in Majorihanka street, having a frontage of 60ft, with nineroomed dwelling-house, was sold yesterday in the. estate of tho late "Mr John McKenzie by Messrs J, 11. Uethniie and _ Co. 'lke ],rjeo realised was .L'BoO. Five reetions at Vogel town were v l| -old for £250. / , 9 int *‘ vo . sixpence should be charg- / *°r a pair of fowls in the lowest tender lor poultry sent in to the Hospital Trustees at yesterday’s meeting was unani- ■ inqusly condemned by members as ini- ( quitous. It was resolved not to call an- , otficiy tender, but to establish a poultry . ‘‘run” on ona of the many suitable spots : in the hospital grounds. Yet, with a : local market not half supplied, farmers J b \ : V'° urged to send poultry to tho ' Cane and London for “more satisfactory I prices’’ ! t

Mr Hurrel! mentioned at last night’s of flip Wellington Ratepayers’ Association that tho “New Zealand rimes” had that morning referred to Hie association in a very kindly way. ‘■l think,” he continued, “that tho thanks of tins association are due to the newspapers for the way in which they have treated ns of late. There was a time when they would not look at ns, or Imvo anything to do with us, but now they are inclined to trout ns as a body of respectable men at least.” I ho Trades and Labour Council is making a canvass of the city in order to secure signatures to tho following petition: “lo his Worship the Mayor of the City of IV ellington. Sir, —In terms of the Hating on Unimproved Values Act, 1800, wo undersigned ratepayers of the City of Wellington demand of you that a proposal to adopt the provisions of the Hating on Unimproved Values Aet, 18j fo, lor tho City qf Wellington, and thereby to rate property upon tho basis of the unimproved value, be submitted to a poll of the ratepayers.” The teaching of practical agriculture in the schools of South Australia receives considerable encouragement from the Government. The Minister of Agriculture has now arranged that if teachers who uro conducting experiments in agriculture will furnish to tho Agricultural .Bureau'particulars as to the areas of land, character of the soil, etc., under >cultivation they can obtain small quantities of fertilisers, such seeds as may be, available from time to time, and, if required, any advice flio}' may need in regard to the treatment of seeds and plants.

The .Boiinvoloiii Trustees mot yesterday. There wore present—The Iter J. K. Elliott (chairman) and Messrs W. . Evans, G. Wcbii, IT. Cook, E. Mothes A. Sample, C. W. Willoston and 1). Robertson. The number of inmates in the Ohiro Horne was stated to bo: Females, -18; males, 48; total, (iG. Two-old men from the Pahiatua Comity district were admitted to the Ohiro y Horae, the applications for admission ' in each case being accompanied by the : necessary medical certificate. Both men, it was stated, were able to- attend to themselves. The usual routine bush ness was gone through, and several applications for relief dealt with. A letter was read from the Australasian Training Nurses’ Association at the Hospital Trustees’ meeting yesterday. It appears that a nurse trained at the Wellington y Hospital applied for registration by the association named, and that her apnlication was refused, as the Wellington Hospital was not recognised as a training school for nurses. The secretary of I the association enclosed a circular covering a schedule of instruction for nurses appointed by the association. If, lie continued, thei Wellington Hospital was prepared to carry out the schedule Its name would be added to the list of hospitals already recognised. The letter referred to the Medical Superintendent of the Hospital., The secretary (Mr Purvis) was instructed by the Benevolent Trustees yesterday to wait on the United Districts Charitable Aid Board, which wiil meet to-day, and furnish that body with any information it may require in connection with the £ISOO balance in hand, which the trustees have decided shall be devoted to building purposes at the Ohiro Home. The charitable aid grant to the Benevolent Institution . '• in 18E)!) was £7500, and in 1900 it was £6OOO. The £'lsoo was saved during the year 1900. This year the trustees arc only asking for £‘sooo.\Thc large reduction in expenditure, as the trustees have already shown, is entirely duo to the admirable methods of management of the present trustees have, from time to time, adopted during their tenure of office. f On tho 27th of December last the President of the French Republic promulgated the Amnesty Bill voted by the French Chambers, which applies to det- / serters from the army and navy, also to tho men who have not complied with their military duties (“insoumis”)( and to seamen belonging to the “Inscription Maritime” who have deserted from trading ships prior to the 15th December, 1900. Tho Consul for France informs those of his countrymen residing in New Zealand j who may be in the above-mentioned * categories, and who desire to avail themselves of the dispositions of the Amnesty Bill, that they can call at any time from this day, but before the 27th December, 1901, at the Consulate in Wellington (office hours 10 a.in. to 12 noon, 2 tc- 3 p.m.), or at the French Consular agencies at Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin.

Mr Thomas Orr, a member of rho Ratepayers’ A m; :.;r i• 11 1, got up jA last nil'll!'.--,' meeting ami proceeaecL to .speak earnestly ami fluently on'tho electric tramway question, when all the others present were vexing their minds as to tf.o respective merits or demerits of the, contract system as opposed to day labour in the general Corporation works. Tired ratepayers sought to bring Mr Orr back to the subject of debate, whereupon he raised his voice in angrv protest, “Why are you all talking •when I am speaking?” ho demanded. “Cor Heaven’s sake let mo have my say. The chairman has been on Ids 'feet' about fifty times to-night, and the moment I stand up yon all cross-question me. It’s this that makes im> sick of coming to those bloomin’ meetings.” Then he entered into an explanation of the different classes of worlc required in the construction of an electric tramway. Somebody else ventured to point out that the tramway question had already been dealt with when Mr Orr informed themeetin<r that he intended to speak for only five minutes, and that his interrupter could then talk till morning if he pleased He was allowed to continue till thc’ond. When the chairman rose, ' more hi sorrow than in auger, and protested against the remark of Mr Orr concerning himself, 11 10 latter inconsistently exclaimed—"Oh, you mustn't think anything of what I say!”

The Minister for Public Works will leave for Stratford to-day for the pur- 1 pose of turning the first sod of tho light; railway which is to run from that town! by way of Whangamomona to Kawakawa,! on the North Island Main Trunk Rail-1 way. ) j Mr George Jenkins, Clerk of Parlia-| merits in Victoria, has been appointed * by the Federal Government to manage! 1 the ceremonies in connection with the; , opening of tho Federal Parliament anti, j the entertainment to be given by Cabi.l ' not Ministers on that occasion. j In reply to ‘‘Ratepayer,” Mr R. G. I Knight sends u letter in which hn seeks" i lo revive allocations regarding the tactics of Air Wilford or his friends during last Parliamentary election contest in the suburbs. We cannot see that this is at all pertinent to the present discussion, and the letter is declined, with thanks.

Tho following players have been selected to represent the Petono Club in its match against Newtown Club at the Newtown green o.n Saturday next: Reid, Fraser, Austin, Lawrio (skip); Carter, Barlow, E. B, Horne, Gilmour (skip); Reynolds, Price, J. Horne, Johnston (skip). Emergencies; Castle. Mothes, King, Thompson, McLean and Hutcheson. The Management Committee cf Carter’s Infirmary has decided to approach the Supreme Court to annul a portion of tho restrictions imposed upon admission to the institution, by tho late C. R. Carter, so that aged persons from the whole of the Wairarapa electorate, and that portion of the Masterton electorate lying between Wairarapa and the Runmahanga river, may bo admitted. The committed will also a-k for an order which will allow the admittance of suit-

able men—even if under the ago of sixtylivo years—if £‘loo is subscribed on behalf of such applicants. A useful benefit association among farmers in South Australia is the farmers’ seed wheat fund. The farmers themselves contribute to the fund, and tho Government allows a subsidy of bushel for bushel, tho object being to assist farmers who are in poor circumstances. This season an equivalent of 8500 bushels has been presented to- the fund, and this, with the subsidy, will give 17,000 for distribution among needy farmers. It is estimated; that a further 10,000 bushels will be requir. ed this year. Farmers who receive assistance from the fund havV the option of repaying-the wheat when in a position to do so.

At the Stipendiary Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning, one first offending drunkard was convicted and discharged. Patrick McGuire was ordered to pay 20s .medical expenses, and: fined 20s, in default three days’ imprisonment. A man named George Cruicksliank brought a charge of the' theft of a coat and vest against a fellow lodgdr named Michael Ready. The evidence adduced in the case went to that the coat and vest ware given by complainant to accused. The Magistrate held that the case had been brought out of spite. After referring in strong, terras tc the action of complainant in the matter, his; Worship dismissed the case. Accused ; was given possession of the coat and vest, 1 and, said the Bench, loft the Court with-1 out a stain on his character. Mr Wil-1 ford appeared for the accused. There was a large muster of bowlers'

on me vvanganui green on monciay ior the purpose of bidding farewell to Mr James Paul, of Now Plymouth, and Mr John Bennie, cf Wanganui, who arci about to leave on a visit to the Old Country, where they will join other representative bowleirs in doing battle for Australasia against teams in England and Scotland. Mr Paul is a noted bowler,! and was formerly a champ ion in Scotland. He has always been a staunch friend of tho Wanganui. Club's, and, as Dr Hatherley said on Monday, “helped to give it its first start and its first diefeat.” Mr Bennie was referred to as the foundelr cf the Wanganui Bowling Club. He was presented by the Wanganui bowlers with an ebony walking-stick, handsomely; mounted in silver, and having an en-: gravel:! inscrintion. To’ Mr Paul they! gave a pair of field glasses. | The Hospital Trustees aiefc yesterday, when there were present: —Aiessrs lieu, i Webb (chairman pro tem.), A. Sample,! John Banks, R. C. Kirk, C. W. Willesten ami G. W. Brown. The number of inmates at the Hospital was stated to be—9o males, 07 female's; total, 157. Tho receipts for the past fortnight were also stated to be £99 11s, and the expenditure £l7B 7s Id. The following tenders were accepted for twelve months:— Eggs, Wairarapa Fanners’ Co-operative Society; butter and ice, Fresh Food! Supply Company; burials, E. Morris, junr.: aerated waters, Mrs Bacon; maat. Barber and Co. ; fish, H. B. Littlewood; bread, F. Tonks; chimney sweeping; RrH.’ Smith; vegetables.; W. Burbidgo; coal and wood, Thompson: Bros.; wines and spirits, A. E. Kernot; tea and groceries, T. P. Coveney. It was also resolved to accept the D.l.C.’s tender for draperies for two years. j Tree-planting and: beautifying the!

city is a recognised portion of the policy : of the Adelaide City Council. To facilitate tree-planting operations the' Council eighteen months ago. established two nurseries. The Frome Nursery,; near the Zoological Cardens, consists- 1 of about two acres fenced in with barb-1 wire. All the plots are 100 ft long andj half a chain wide. Only a certain por-i tion of the ground is cultivated each! year, and at the present rate of pro-: gross two years or more must elapse before the whole block is under cultivation. Although the nursery has been in existence only eighteen months the trees are well grown, especially the white acacia, wiiite osdars, English elms and planes. In the property the Corporation has a good asset, but. on the ; other band, one member of the Council recently said that the £4500 spi nt last year —it was reduced by £350 this year—on the nurseries and tree-plant-ing was far in excess of what it ought to have been. Tlio twentieth annual report of the Wellington Sunday School Union states that the steady falling-off in attendance of scholars which is engaging at. tention in Great Britain applies also to Wellington. Of the thirty-eight scho.'h concerned twenty-four reported a loss

nine schools gained fifty-fivo scholars. In the total average attendance, there was a loss of 231, the percentage being 06, or \ per cent, less than last year. There was reason for congratulation, however, in an advance of 302 in the number of scholars of fifteen years and upwards. In the forty-six schools affiliated to the Union, there are 6256 scholars, with 621 teachers, connected with which are 18 Christian Endeavour Societies, and 12 Bands of Hope, with an attendance roll of 915 and 805 respectively. There was a fallmg-oif of I 200 in the membership of the Inter- 1 national Bible- Reading Association,! which now numbered 2100. The follow-, ing officers for the union have been! elected lor the ensuing year;—Presi. 1 dent, Mr W. J, Bnrdsley; vioe-presi-:dent, Mr R.. B. Davis; minute secre. I tary, Mr H, D. Grocott; correspond- | ing secretary, Mr H. J. Thompson; j treasurer, Mr W. w. Holdswortli; secire tary of the International Bible-read-ing Association, Mr IV. J. Persons; lanternist, Mr T. Sims; visitor, Mr T. 'll. Gill, M.A.; auditor, Mr T. Sims.

The-chairman of the Ratepayers’ Association has communicated with Mr P. J. O’Regan asking him to give a lecture before the association on the question of the rating on unimproved values.

A Ratepayers' Association is to be formed in Petono, and Mr Hurrell. president of fhe Wellington association, is to visit the borough and give an address on the subject, at tlic invitation of those who arc promoting the now organisation.

At the weekly meeting yesterday the Benevolent Trustees decided to accept tho following tenders for stores lor the ensiling twelve mouths:—Meat, Barber and Company; funerals, J. Flygcr; boots, shoes and leather, R. Hannah and Co.; printing and stationery, J. B. Lines; bread, H, Tonks; clothing and drapery, Te Aro House; coal, R. Duignan; milk, W. Broad.

jit was mentioned last night by Mr W. H. Bennett, secretary of tbe Builders’ and Contractors’ Association, that as Judge Backhouse, of New South Wales, who had been appointed by the Government of (hat State as a Commissioner to inquire into the working of the New Zealand Conciliation and Arbitration Act, was now in Now Zealand, it Was the intention of the president of the association to give evidence before the Commissioner on the latter’s return to Wellington next month.

Some practical work was done at the coiifolenec of the Government dairy produce graders, which terminated on Monday. The Dairy Commissioner called Ids staff together at a time when a largo quantity of transhipment cheese was in the. Wellington stores, so that graders in the different districts would have an opportunity of comparing other makes with those 1 which passed through their own stores. Considerable discussion took place on prominent mechanical defects in the cheese “bored,” and tho information contained in the Produce Commissioner’s report from London regarding the quality of the output of individual factories was brought under the notice of the different graders by the Commissioner. Altogether the meeting of Mr Kinsella and his staff should result in still further level-liug-up grading standards.

A meeting of tho Thorndon branch of tho Liberal and Labour Federation was held at the Primitive Methodist Schoolroom, Sydney street, last night, Mr A. Collins was in tne chair. Twenty new members were elected, and it was decided that women be admitted to membership without payment. In respect to forming a Parliamentary Union fur the city, it was decided tO‘ substitute a social debating club, and that the other' branches of the federation bo requested to give this their consideration. A long discussion took place in regard to the municipal elections, the majority of the speakers being against taking any part in the Council elections. Ultimately it was decided that owing to the .branch beingport ion of a political organisation, and that the constitution docs not provide for municipal contests, the branch should take no action m them. The secretary reported that a s>cheme_ would he suhmi'‘<-d at the next meeting to crguir-e the ward

The Wellington Builders'’ and Contractors’ Association hold its annual dinner last night at the Trocadero, there being a muster of over forty members. An excellent dinner was provided, and a mghly enjoyable evening was spent. The following toast list was honoured —“The King,” “Our Guest.” (proposed by Mr A. Johnston

and spoken cc by Messrs I). McLean, J. Russell and J Ewing, responded to iy Mr Harbol' ie)j “Kindred Trades,” (proposed by Mr Walter Thompson and responded to by Messrs Jackson and Fnllford); “ Builders'’ and Contractors’ Association” (proposed by Mr Intosli), “1 be I’iiss" (.proposed by Mr Luke). ton >s w'ere contributed by Messrs Cooper, Martin,, Howe. Wilson-, Trevor, T.meny and Bennett, and recitations by Messrs Brown and McIntosh,. Advantage wa.s taken of the gathering to l ay farewell to Messrs Hnibottlo and Druiiimond, who leave for England shortly. At the meeting of the Masterton County Council on Saturday a letter was received hem 1 lie Lower Hutt Borough Council in regard to the new bridge at Lower Hutt. The clerk stated that the letter was addressed to the Wairarapa North County Council, which was non-existent, but ho haA opened it. Among the bodies that would bo called upon to contribute towards the work was mentioned the Wairar§pa North County Council, its share being onc-forty-eighth, £302 Is Sd. He assumed that the letter was intended for cho .Masterton County. It was unanimously decided that the Council should resist to the uttermost any attempt 'to include Masterton as a contributor to the erection of the bridge over the Hutt River; that the Council be appointed a committee to meet on tho 12th April, that Messrs A. W. Hogg and J. T. M. Hornsby, M.H.R.’s, be requested to attend, and that the matter bo, fully-discussed and determined. After further discussion it was resolved to consult the Council’s solicitor on the position.