LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4427, 6 August 1901, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL

News was received in Wellington last night that Sir John McKenzie's illness had assumed a critical phase, and that ho was not expected to live many hours. Mr W. R. Haseklcn was unable to conduct the business at the Magistrates Court yesterday, having contracted the prevailing epidemic —measles. In the action E. J. Riddiford v. W. A. Warren and others, in which £250 was claimed for tho non-delivery of a number of lamb 3 under an alleged sale, tho Chief Justice has given judgment for the defendants with costs. It was announced yesterday hy the chairman of the Conciliation aboard that the Wellington Iron and Brass Moulders’ dispute would not be taken till to_ morrow, and that the tin-plate and sheetmetal operatives’ dispute was adjourned until Monday next. .

A meeting Eighty Club and friends of tho Hon W. C. Walker was hold last night, a large number of persons being present. A committee was formed to carry out arrangements for a banquet and presentation to the hon gentleman to congratulate him on the honour recently conferred on him. At a meeting of Seatoun ratepayers and residents on Saturday night, Mr F. Townsend it was decided t 0 purchase a steamer suitable for passenger traffic to and from tho city. Practically every ratepayer in tho room handed in his name as a potential shareholder in the new concern. It was stated that the Seatoun people would have a choice of several available at ealners -

The Department of Agriculture has received the following telegram from the Secretary of the Western Australian Department of Agriculture :—“ After the 4th instant, if any .one fruit in a case is found diseased with codlin moth tho case and its contents will be destroyed. Please notify exporters, and instruct them not to ship any fruit infested with disease. Kindly communicate this to the newspapers throughout the colony.”

Notice of the following motions has been given for to-night’s meeting of the Melrose Borough Council: —.By Councillor Heginbotham, “That applications be invited for the position of overseer to the borough.” Councillor Jennings, “ (1) That the motion passed re formation of Shannon street, Island JJay, be rescinded; and (2) that an estimate of the proposed works and tho subsidy to be received from tho residents be ascertained.”

Mr J. G. Gow, the travelling representative of the Department of Commerce, intends sotting out on his world tour about the 17th inst. Large numbers of merchants and manufacturers throughout the colony have complied with Mr Gow’s request to supply samples of their manufactures, and he is busy putting them up into convenient parcels preparatory to his departure. Those persons who have promised samples, and have not yet sent them along, should communicate with Mr Gow immediately. Mr P. T. Moore writes as follows: The proposed scheme for the organisation of producers is that two organisers be appointed to assist fbe union’s secretary ,one to work in the North and the other in tho South. Island- A prominent Pahiatua farmer has offered his services for the North and a Wellington suburbs resident, who is a Southern landowner, has offered to organise in the South. A provisional set of rules has been drafted, and it is expected to comprehensively start organising early next week.

The Garrison ball takes placa on the 20th inst. "Nominations” close this evening.

There were ."16 cases -of cancer in (he various hospitals of the colony in the vear 1000, and 86 of these proved fatal. The case* of phthisis numbered 817, and tho deaths 90.

'lhe Maori bouse presented by the women of Wellington and suburbs to the Duchess of Cornwall and York will bo on view in tho Dresden Company’s window until Monday. With regard to the Police Provident Fund, Inspector Gillies, of the Wanganui and West Coast district, in his annual report to tho Commissioner, suggests that as the large contribution required pres.-cs heavily on the men, each member of the forco should be allowed a suit of uniform every year.

The following amounts have so far been received from residents in the pro. vinco of Wellington towards the Quccp Victoria Memorial School for Maori Girls at Auckland: — £'B4 17s ; Wanganui, £BB 3s; Otaki, £32 5s ; total, £2OO os. Up to the end of last week the total collected was £2070. The Rev F. Bennett hopes to visit Wellington in October in order to awaken further interest in the school. Dr:, Mason and Purdy attended a meeting of the Hutt Borough Council last night. Dr Mason suggested that the Council should adopt a new scheme for the disposal of nightsoil. and with Dr Purdy, urged upon the Council the necessity of adopting a scheme similar to that followed by Petone. The matter was discussed at some length, but no decision was arrived at. It v/r.s ultimately decided to adjourn consideration of the matter until tho Mayor makes certain rcco m m e ndat ion s. The Wellington branch of the Socialist partv at its last meeting dealt with the organisation and programme of operations. The branch is a strong one numerically, and in all other respects, and is confident of doing good work in promoting and supporting progressive measures. Officers and committee were elected, and the details of work were settled. Periodical meetings will bo held, and will be duly announced A manifesto will also be drawn up and published, setting forth the aims and programme of the party. Several new members joined the branch.

There have been some large transactions in wheat in the South Island. Th e “North Otago Times” says • An Oamarui speculator has agitated tho wheat .mark'et considerably within the past day or two. He has purchased 18.000 sacks 0 f wheat at 2s 6d on trucks at aiding. The wheat was purchased in this and the adjoining district. This is th e largest purchase of wheat made by one buyer for a considerable time. Messrs Bruoo Christie and Co. have sold 40.000 bushels of prime milling wheat, a mixed lino of velvet, Tuscan and rod chaff, at equal to 2s Bd, f.0.b., sacks 5JdThe annual report and balance-sheet of the Sun Insurance office comes to hand from tho local agents, Messrs J. H. Bethune and Co. The premiums received for the yaar 1900, less rc-ineurances, amounted to £1,070,556, being an increase of £42,910, as compared with those of the previous year. The total of the sums insured during the year, after deducting the amounts reinsured, exceeded £450,000,000. The losses paid and outstanding amounted to ±,630,385, or 58.83 per cent, on the premiums received. The expenses .of management, commission and working charges wore £372,212, or 34.77 per cent, of the premiums received. The income from investments was £80,674. After providing for the usual reserve of 40 per cent, of the premiums to cover liabilities under current policies a balance of £131,464 was carried to profit and loss account. Dividends amounting to 8 ' per cent, were paid during tho year. A Wellington household has had a se. riea of interesting experiences lately. Fust of all the housewife missed a lot of nick-nacks and useful household articles, and located them in the servant girl’s box. Irate, but calm, she gave the offending one a week’s notice, against which Mary Ann protested vigorously. A little later the mistrcs s of the house perceived a strong smell of burning, and going, downstairs found tho drawing-room sofa blazing merrily. When she went to draw Mary’s attention to the fact, the latter had locked herself in the kitohen. When tho person who supposed ho was master of the house arrived homo he ejected the maid-of-all-work, with some show of anger. That night by some unreasoning coincidence a shed at the rear of the premises was destroyed by fire. Tho mother of Mary came up to inquire why her daughter had been dismissed. When it was explained that it was because of her defective sense of menm and teum, the mother waxed wrathful, and eloquently declared “You wouldn’t send the poor girl to gaol for taking a few scraps of things like that!” A well-attended meeting of the Wellington Single Tax League took place in the Exchange Building last evening. It was decided to circulate a statement of tho league’s aims throughout the colony. Satisfaction was expressed at the progress of the movement to levy rates on unimproved values, and it was resolved to communicate with the Government requesting certain amendments in tho Bill now before Parliament, notably in the clause which says that the measure shall not oome into operation until March 31st, 1903. As illustrating the misconceptions prevalent regarding the system, several speakers pointed out that an impression existed that it would not apply to land leased in perpetuity, while, as a matter of fact, rates would he leviable on such land precisely as on freehold. The meeting was adjourned till the 21st inst., when a definite programme will be drawn up, the leading principles of which will he uncompromising opposition to the alienation of Crown lands, tho periodical revaluation of all land leased of the Crown, and an increase of the land tax, together with n corresponding remission of Customs taxation.

A curious question has bean raised in the London press in conneotion with Lord Milner’s title. The grandfather of the new peer was a German merchant of Neusa, who married a German lady nee Von Kappard. In JB3O his son Karl was born. Karl received his education at Bonn, where he matriculated in 1852. In 1853 be married, while still a student, and studied medicine in Bonn. Giessen and Tubingen, taking the degree of D. Med. at the last-named place in 1856. He practised as a doctor in London from 1861 to 1867. In the latter year he returned to Tubingen, and became “ Lektor der Englischen Spraohe” at the University there, and in 1872 " Ausscrodeut. licher Professor.” in which year he married a German lady, his first wife having died in 1869. The question now arises whether Lord Milner is an English subject by birth, or whether he has been naturalised. “Truth” refers to a statute of William and Mary which divests the Sovereign of all right to create a naturalised subject a peer. It was passed because William was flooding the peerage with Dutchmen who had been naturalised Englishmen, and does not appear to have been repealed. It is pointed out that unless Karl Milner was naturalised during his brief residence in London, his son would have been born a German subject. If so, and the son was naturalised, he cannot be created a peer.