LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4636, 15 April 1902, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

“Is a Colonial Navy Desirable?” This is the question discussed by Mr W. J. Napier, M.H.R. for Auckland, in a special article to be published in the “Times” of to-morrow (Wednesday). The subject is of interest at the present time, when Australian newspapers and public men are urging the formation of a navy by the Commonwealth, and when New Zealand is proposing instead to increase her contribution to ti imperial squadron in Australasian w -rs. The following subscriptions hhvo been, received during the past fortnight by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals:— Sargood, Son and Ewen, £2 2s; Kirkcaldio and Stains, £1 Is : Kempthorno, Prosser and Co., £1 Is; Dr Faulke, 10 s ! J- ”• Dutch, T. Morrison and Miss Chatwm,, 2s 6d; total, £5 Is 6d. Since the temporary shutting-dowu of the boiling-down works, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has been put to an expense of id for the burial of horses condemned at the society’s instigation. Formerly there was a small monetary return from this source, but as the boiling-down works will not re-open for some tune there is likely to be a continued drain on the society’s funds for burial fees. The funds of the society are not large, and for this reason the society has at present a special claim upon the public for help in the good work it is doing. Judgment in the mining company case of Hawkins against the Slate River Company was delivered yesterday by his Honor the Chief Justice. The judgment of the Court was that the Supreme Court had no jurisdiction. Cases had been decided by the Court of Appeal which bore out that finding. By the Act governing mining cases the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court wn* held to apply only to cases where titles to' land were in dispute. The appeal would be allowed, and the case referred for hearing to the Warden’s Court at Collingwood, Nelson. As the mining company did not raise the question of jurisdiction until after the case had been begun, no costs would bo allowed it as against Hawkins. ■ In conclusion, his Honor said the position was an extraordinary one. There was now open an appeal from the Wardens Court to the District Court, and the result was that there «would be two bearings of one matter of fact instead of it being decided by one jury. However, his Honor’s place ■ was only «.d administer the law as ho found it. Acting on behalf of Messrs G. H. Bavlis and James Reid, ratepayers of the city and also of the borough of Melrose, Mr T. M. Wilford has token the necessary steps to bring about an inquiry under the Tramways Act, 1894, into the loan proposals of the City Council relating to the construction of its electric tramways. Messrs 33ayli® and Reid contend that the loan consolidation proposals were not validly put before the ratepayers, because of the omission therefrom of the provision for the extension of the tramway to _ Island Bay, which appeared on the voting paper when the . vote for tramway alone was put before the ratepayers. A copy of the petition praying for an inquiry has been forwarded to the Minister for Public Works, and also to the Governor, and notice of the pro* ceedings has been given to the Mayor of Wellington. The Act provides that the Governor is to consider the appli-; cation, and may order an inquiry to be! held before dccirlinir vliflfW nr,nnU»:

An election will bo hold on May Ist for the return of two members to the Mukara Road Board. A mooting of tho Wellington Cab Proprietors’ Union will be hold at tho Exchange Buildings this evening. Tho floral decorations of tho saloon of tho troopship Drayton Grange, which wc.ro much-admired by visitors yesterday, wero carried out voluntarily by Messrs H. C. Gibbons and Co.’s floral artist. Tho Education Department has been advised that tho Nelson and Taranaki Education Boards havo granted leave of absence to teachers selected for work in South Africa for tho period specified in the departmental circular, which allows for one year’s service and tho journey to and fro. Tho case of Tamald against Baker will bo hoard in tho Supremo Court this morning by his Honor tho Chief Justice. Judgment will bo delivered in tho appeal case of O’Connor against Hammond, which concerns tho conviction of O’Connor on a charge of vagrancy. Tho introduction at recent public functions of lady vocalists is an innovation that reflects on those who made it. At tho valedictory gathering tendered to tho Tenth Regiment on Saturday, Miss H. Lorraine Tansloy, of Dannevirko, was very well received by all present, and her contribution, “The Motherland,” was vociferiously encored. A visitor to Wellington from Wanganui told a member of tho Society for tho Prevention of Cruelty to Animals that there are some shocking equine wrecks about Wanganui just now. Tho opinion of tho Wellington Society is that if they are any worse than some of tho horses that at times stagger along the thoroughfares of Wellington they are very bad indeed. A man named Joseph Charles Clapham, aged sixty-five years, died suddenly yesterday morning whilst being removed from the house of his nephew, Mr A. W. Dei hi, of Crcswick, Karon, to the Hospital. Ho had been complaining of ill-health, but could not bo persuaded to see a doctor. The Coroner (Mi? James Ashcroft) notified the police that an inquest was unnecessary. Heart failure was tho cause of death. Tho privileges in connection with the forthcoming autumn meeting of the Wellington Racing Club wero submitted by Messrs J. B. Harcourb and Go. yesterday afternoon. The following are the names of the successful bidders: —Grandstand publican’s booth, Mr I. Dwyer, £SO; outside publican’s booths, Nos. 1 and 2. Mr P. Dwyer, £6O; outside refreshment booth, Mr H. Brown, £18; fruit and refreshment stall, Mr H. Brown, £7 ss; correct cards, Mr T. Marshall, £B4.

At tho request of a number of people in tho Awarua electorate, Sir Joseph Ward yesterday afternoon made the presentation to tho Premier of a handsome dressing-case with silver fittings. On behalf of the donors, Sir Joseph expressed tho hope that Mr Seddon would have a safe voyage to London and a successful trip. The Premier, m reply, asked Sir Joseph to convey to the people of Awarua his warmest appreciation of their gift and their kindlyexpressed good' wishes. Tho proposition for holding the next Industrial Exhibition in Wellington was referred to at last night’s meeting of tho Industrial. Association, and on the motion of Mr P. Hutson it was resolved “That application bo made for permission to hold the next industrial exhibition in Wellington in 190.4, or as near thereafter as consistent with the completion . of ■the now City Hall.” Mention was made of the fact that practically the whole of the ground used for the exhibition of 1896 was still available for the purposes of the proposed exhibition of 1904. In the course of a discussion on technical education matters at last night’s meeting of tho Wellington Provincial Industrial Association, Mr J. P. Luke opined that technical education was going to lead up to a very important point in municipal life. Tho municipal bodies would have to take it up in time and make provision for it, for the present system of overlapping was objectionable. To have one body to manage technical education would bo much bettor than to have three or four —and to have the subject properly administered it must be, said Mr Luke, taken away from the Education Boards. During Mr Seddon’s absence from New Zealand, Sir Joseph Ward will bo Acting-Premier, and wall also act as Colonial Treasurer, Commissioner of Taxes, and Ministerial head of tho Public Trust Department and the Land and Income Department. Tho Hon. W. Hall-Jones will act as Minister of Defence and Minister of Labour. The rest of the Premier’s portfolios will be temporarily allotted as follows Government Insurance Department, Hon. W, C. Walker: Cook Islands, Hon. James Carroll; Land for Settlements Department, Hon. T. Y. Duncan: Old Ago Pensions Department, Hon. C. H. Mills. At a meeting 6f the Wellington district branch of tho Now Zealand Edusational Institute, the following motion ■was proposed by the president (Mr MaoMorran), and seconded by Mr Gill; — “That this institute, while regretting the retirement of Mr Mowbray from the active work of teaching, and the loss to education thereby entailed, desires to congratulate him on tho attainment of his well-earned leisure; hopes that many years of good health may yet remain to him; and further trusts that tho institute may still from time to time have the benefit of his long experience and wise counsel.” Tho motion was carried unanimously. The statement of affairs in the estate of G. H. TTmfreville, of Wellington, merchant, a bankrupt, who is at present in England, has boon filed with tho Official Assignee by Mr G. W. Minter, attorney for the bankrupt. Tho amount duo to unsecured creditors is put down at £3411 17s lid. To secured creditors £2582 4s 5d is due. Tho estimated value of thoir securities is £3998 5s lOd, leaving a surplus to contra of £1416 Is 3d. In addition, there is £8459 4s 3d secured against English properties, which possibly may cover the liability. On tho assets side, tho book debts, £1123 16s 2d, and the bills receivable, £1353 Os 6d, making a total of £2477 5s Bd, are estimated to produce £2077. There is £53 8s Id cash in hand. £4B 17s 9d at the National Bank, and £2 18s 4d at the Union Bank. Furniture is given at £lO, and 5.0 Kaituna dredging shares at £2 10s. A half interest in Karori sections is stated at £7O 7s 9d. Including tho surplus from securities in tho hands of secured creditors, the total assets are £3681 3s 4d. The statement thus shows a surplus of £279 5s sd, hut this does not take into account any possible deficiency on the English securities. The unsecured creditors include tho following:—J. R. Dodd. York, £1248 18s 4d; New Zealand Loan arid Mercantile Agency Com- *>'*«•»♦ I’Rai'ffAi' T.ormcr a.rw4 Rrm<3 I

Mr R. B. Williams is a candidate for tho Mayoralty of Onslow. Tho annual mooting of tho Wellington Chamber of Commerce is to be held to-day. Miss A. L. Roes, M.A., daughter of Mr W. L. Roes, of Gisborne, has been selected by tho Education Department as ono of tho teachers for tho Boor concentration camps. She was granted the degree of Master of Arts at tho meeting of tho Now Zealand University Senate on Saturday. Miss Roes, who is at present in Dunedin, has had private school experience. Tho Missions to Seamen on Sunday evening gave a farewell tea to the crew of the troopship Drayton Grange. Captain Bennett kindly granted leave for tho occasion. After tea, tho men took part in tho evening service. When they returned to their ship they carried with them about a hundredweight of books, Testaments, almanacs and periodicals, presented to them for tho voyage.

Twenty-seven candidates for tho North Island section of tho Native Contingent for tho Coronation wero paraded yesterday in front of Parliament House, where they wero inspected by tho Premier and the Native Minister. Tho men, who were in charge of Captain Taranaki, had to stand at ease for about two hours before Mr Soddon arrived. After expressing his views on the matter, tho Premier loft to Mr Carroll the task of making a final selection The selected men will proceed immediately to tho camp at Addington. The Commandant was present during tho parade. ‘A deputation of representative Maori chiefs waited upon tho Premier at his residence yesterday morning. Whilst wishing Mr and Mrs Soddon a happy voyage and a safe return, the natives asked that messages of loyalty ami* congratulation might bo conveyed to his Maiostv. Included in tho deputation wero Messrs Wi Pero, M.H.R., Koronihu Rangumato Moana, Hori Ngatai, Putihoro, Wi Wahawaha, Te Pone Ma--11. Te Kahu Pukoro, Teira Takunga, HotV to Kam, Taipari, Rere Tutangia and Tamahau Mahupuku. The Native Minister (Hon James Carroll) was present during tho interview. A report from a committee of the Wellington Industrial Association was road at last night’s meeting of that body in reference to technical education matters. Tho relations between the association and the Education Board with reference to the grant of £ISOO made by tho association to thc Board was dealt with in the report. By corrospondeilco mentioned in tho report, « appeared that the Education Board had passed a resolution to tho effect that the Industrial Association was not ° n " titled to let tho room' which it held in tho Board’s _ building. ie was expressed in the report that the association was entitled to hold its rooms by virtue of the grant made by it to the Board,; and it was urged that if tho Board wished to dispossess the association, it would have to return the equivalent of £ISOO. On tho suggestion of Mr Bannister, it was decided that a letter be sent to the secretary of the Education Board, repudiating, on behalf of the association, any inference that it was to be bound by any resolution passed by the Education Board. An indignant discussion took place at tho meeting yesterday evening of tho Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals regarding the a Bench of Justices in a case of cruelty brought by the society against a driver who, in Ellice street, flogged a horse attached to a dray laden with sand until the animal fell down from exhaustion. The ground given by the Bench for i dismissing the case was that there wah no intention of cruelty on the part of tho driver; he simply flogged the horse in order to get his load up the hill. A letter was read at the meeting from a resident of Sydney street, referring to the decision as “a shameful dismissal.” The writer wont on to say that the action of the Justices should bo brought before tho Governor-m-Council. and assorted that tho Justices in question should be indicted for cruelty themselves on their verdict. In the course of a discussion that ensued on tho letter, the members of the society waxed wrath at the decision. Mrs Dr Adams spoke of the decision as being the most dreadful blow the society had had for a long time. Mr Watson thought it impossible to disturb the decision arrived at by the Justices, but he thought it was equivalent to saying that if one man murdered another for his money he could not bo convicted or murder, because his intention was to get money, not to murder. Eventually, it was resolved “that the receipt of the letter be acknowledged, and that the writer ho informed that the committee regrets exceedingly the decision given hy° the Justices in the case in question, to the effect that the object of the driver in lashing the horses was simply to get them to pull the load up tho hill, and that, therefore, there was no cruelty involved in the occurrence.” It was further decided that the writer of tho letter bo informed that tho society was consulting its solicitor as to what further steps might bo taken in the case by tho society. The sale of the late Mrs Hall’s furniture. to be held to-day by George Thomas and Co. at 31, terrace, will commence at 1.30 p.m. Thfurniture will bo open to the view of purchasers from 10.30 to the hour of sale. A. notice to consignees of goods by the barquo Enthwell, from Glasgow, appears in this issue. ' Messrs Sidey. Meeoh and Co. 'Will hold an important sale at their rooms at 2 p.m. to-day, of a largo and valuable consignment of Australian and Tasnianian furs and fur goods of all descriptions.

Messrs Abraham anti Williams Trill sell stock at Palmerston North on Thursday.

The Bngineer-in-Chief calls for tenders for the supply of ironbark timber for bridges and culverts on the Mangaweka section, of the North Island Main Trunk Railway. The professional and business - men’s class at the Wellington Physical Training School will commence to-day 5.15 p.m.

Messrs P. E. Jackson and Co. will sell stock at Jolmsonvilla at 11 n.m. to-day.