LOCAL AND GENERAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 5230, 21 March 1904, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Thi) quarterly summoned meeting of Court Sir George Grey, A.0.F.. will bo hold at the hall; Tory street, .to-night. :; A meeting .of ratepayers will ho held at the Rechabites’ Hall, Johnsonville, tQ-night to discuss the proposal to form a borough, t f The Waimangu geyser gave a fine display on Friday. The up-throw is said to have reached the height of a thousand feet. :

To prevent the destruction of trout by eels, the Wellington Acclimatisation, Society has instituted payment (by weight) for all large eels captured in Wellington rivers. A reward of Ifl per lb is given for any eel over 51b in weight, and in the case of eels over 101 b an additional bonus of 6d' each is given. On Saturday Mr von Stormer, acting for the society, bought from some 'pper Hutt Maoris four cels, the heaviest of which turned: the scale at 301 b. the oth&ra being respectively 251 b, 201 b and 121 b.

Tho thirteenth annual general meet* ing of “ The Now Zealand Times ” Oonopally will bo held on April 2nd.

Tho Health Department reports that during last -week one case of scarlet fever, one of tuberculosis and one of diphtheria wore reported in WellingtonA deputation will wait upon Air WH. P. Barber, AI.H.R., this morning to request that ho allow himself to ha nominated for tho office of Mayor of Wellington.

Tho Ruapehu, which arrived from Loml-bn on Saturday eventing,, brought a 23{-ton boiler, consigned to tho Eloo< triqxl Construction Company for the Wellington tramways. A tender 'has been accepted for the orect'ioii of a now theatre at Gisborne, to bo -built on the site Of the old promises known as Maefarl-auo’s Hall. The oast of the theatre will bo a little short of £4OOO. , Tho Chief Justice heal'd a motion, on Saturday to an mu 1 an interim inju.no* tion granted in the Palmerston North case of Aliokleso-u v. Himro and Murray to restrain the defemhertts from removing certain timber. Tho matter wa* allowed to stand over, on condition that tho question involved in "tho action should be hoard.awl determined inWolliugton within ton days. Mr .Weston appeared for tho plaintiff.

On Saturday morning, the Chief Justice, sitting with Air Rhodes, one of tho assessors in the adjourned compensation case of John Fanrolly, farmer, Konini, against tho Pahiatua County Council, heard 1 the evidence of Robert Rc.aney, surveyor. The claim wa« brought-, to recover. £7i>o compensation for flooding of lauds alleged to lie duet to the erection of certain works by tho defendants on an outlet of the Alangatainoka'river. Tho second assessor in the case, the Hon. T. Jv. Macdonald, was unable to ho present, as he wan stated to ho absent from Wollingtiiß. Tho hearing of argument was fixed for Thursday morning. Dr Findlay appeared for the claimant and Air Bell for the respandonts. A telegraphic message sent by the Native Alinister to Sir Joseph Ward, from Auckland states that his Excellency tho Governor and party hod arrived v,“safely back to civilisation.” Their trip through itho Urowora Country was one made under primitive but, enjoyable circumstances. Tho scenery encountered after leaving Wairoo.. says Air Carroll, was -majcHticailly grand, While the incidents by tho way were novel and unique. His Excellency got through safely, though subjected to severe trials in negotiating the rough country, hut the compensations "were very, great, and the trip eclipsed anything ho had ever experienced before. The trip was a viceregal record, inasmuch as Lord Rant-fu-rly is *tho ' Uriah Governor to go' right through-the Urewera Country. The, ret 1 ooptian given him by the natives all along the route was somethinw i lio wiil never forgot. • Hia Excellenry leaves Auckland ito-day on a trip to the north, proceeding as far as tho Pacdfio cable station (Doubtless Bay) by the stoeutne* Iris.

“Wairarapa” writes wanting to know the storage and killing capacity of th« companies •exporting frozen moat from New Zealand to Home markets. . The following figures should; prove of interest to vour cori'cspondentAuckland , Freezing Company, killing capacity of sheep par day 2000, storage capacity, 30.000; Waitara. 1100, 30,000; Gisborne Shoop-faimers’ Company, 2000, 60,000; Nelson. Bros;, Gisborne, 2000.; 45,000; Nelson Bros., Tomoana. 3000, 90,000; North British and. Hawke's Bay Com-, piny, 1500, 30,000; Wanganui, 2000.' 40,000; : Aramoho, 900, 33,000; Longburn, 1400, 20.000; Gear Company, Ben tone, 6000, .180,000; Wellington .Meat Export Company, Ngahanranga, 5000, 150.000; Pioton, 2000, 40,000; Hornby, 1000, 55,000; Belfast. Canterbury, 600 ft ', 90,000; Fairfield, 5000, 80,000: Pareora 4500,, 100,000; Islington. 8000, 140,000; ' Srnitihfield, 6000, 100,000; Burnsid&o, 2500, 50,000; Oamaru, 1000, 20,000; Ocean . Beach, 1200, 50,000; Mataura. / 2500,' 110,000; Wallaicotown, 250(7, ■ ; Bluff, , 55,000. On a subject of considerable public interest Air J. Afartin writes to tha editor as follows:—Your correspondent “Londoner” deserves tho thanks of tha community for again drawing attention to the scandalous neglect in providing ■' proper fire-escapes from some of thfl hotels in tho colony. On a'fecent visit to Christchurch I put up at one of the leading hotels, and, on arrival, made inquiry from the porter as to fireescapes. Ho seemed much surprised at such an nnnccessarjil question, and in- ; fonned me that there was no exit by rope or rope-ladder from the bedroom, but the jump down was only a short ; distance. This short distance is at least 20ft on to a hard pavement. However, ho finally escorted mo to the “real fire-esca pe’’ t hrough two or three winding passages, and when we arrived at our destination, found—nothing ! Thors was a window without rope or anything and the same 20ft jump as from the bedroom. When I mention that on thi* same floor aro a number of bedrooms, targe and small—many of which arg probably occupied by women and children—the danger of a serious calamity will bo easily understood. What ■ are tho “powers that bo” thinking about t* allow such a stats of things to continue , after tho sad lessons wo have had.

The : Chief Justice gave judgment cm Saturday morning on a motion heard on the previous, day to have the Hon. T. Kennedy Macdonald discharged an assessor for the Diocesan Trustees in an impending compensation claim against the City Council. His Honor said:— In this case I am asked to« proceed under section 57 of the Public Works Aofc, 189-1. which provides that if either party objects to the appointment of an asses* son, the President may, .unless th© ob< jeetion appears to be frivolous or unreasonable, order the assessor so objected to to bo discharged. The ground of objection is that the award which was mado by_ agreement in the case of Skene against the Corporation (in which Mr Macdonald, the assessor in thin case, was ono of the assessors) is askejl to be discharged on the grounds raised in the summons issued for that purpose. The further ground is that the Corporation having appointed Mr Macdonald their assessor in several bet torment cases, ho reiusod to. act for the Corporation in these cases on the ground that his bona lidcs was attacked in Skene’s case. The Court has not dealt with the matter in Skene’s case, aufl I cannot prejudge it. The only ground left is that Mr Macdonald has refused to act far the Corporation in other case* because of tho charge made against him. E do not think that this is a reasonable or valid ground of objection. I think it is unreasonable, and therefore I do not-think it proper to proceed under section 57 of the Act. The more fact that an assessor refuses to act in other cases for another party because: of , a question ...or misanderstaivUng between them is rot. I think, a. reasonable ground for objecting to him as an assea* sor. I therefore refuse the motion..

Residents of the Hutt and Pctone .'ho make ucio of the road loading to iVollingbon may safety anticipate a bad limu during the corning winter. Even with the rain that fall Inst week ' the Hutt road is in a bad state.

Excellent arrangements have been made for the banquet to bo tendered to Mr W. H. Field, AI.H.R., at Jolmson-i-illo on Wednesday by his constituents, u'nd tho function should bo a groat success. Invitations have been issued to tho Mayors of Wellington and neighbouring boroughs, and to tho chairman and inontbora of (jie Hutt County. Council. ,

Tito conference of the New Zealand branch of tho British Musical Association "'as brought to a close on Saturday morning. Amongst tlio papers tor oho by i>r A. W. Lsard on “Some Oifiiciri ties in tho diagnosis of Appendicitis.'' Dr Collins was re-elected chairman of tho council and Dr Mason editor of tlio “ Journal.” The president-elect- is Dr Robertson,

Mr A. C. Thompson, of Timaru, who recently returned from a trip to tho Did Country, secured tho agency fertile South Island of tho Stirling Company, Limited, of Edinburgh, and has imported one of their motor ’bases for use in Timunu and tlio district. The’bus will carry sixteen passengers inside and about as many more outside, and is driven by a twenty-four horse-power motor.

Tho Engineon-in-Chief paid a visit of inspection last week to tlio G inborn c-T.? Karaka section of railway now in course of oansbru.ct.ion. Ho ■ expressed hinuilf satisfied with tho progress of the Knitenatalii bridge and the work done on tho line. Ho considers that the ono tunnel on this lino should bo completed lu about three months, and live months -Should see tlio lino completed to To Kanaka.

A?b tho Uiriclic'au to him the t>fchor day at Teimika (says the “ Lyttelton Times”) tho Premier mail© a stato m©nt with regard to local government. “If iiioro is on© thing that wants reform to-day,” ho naid. “it is the system of local government.” Ho favoured the wtablishiiioiit cf district councils, which ft'oulcl do away with the necessity for so many publip bodies, and greatly ease the work of Parliament,

Speaking at tho St. Patrick's College luncheon yesterday. Sir Joseph Ward made reference to tho present tour of Lord Ranfurly. It said much for tlio ittractivencss of New Zealand, remarked Sir Joseph, when his Excellency, who during his. term of office liiyl travelled through tho length and breadth of this hind, could yot find, in tho last days, of his sojourn hero, new places which he had not hitherto visited.

The accommodation-house at .Day's Bay, erected by the Wellington Steam Ferry Company, will, as already stated, bo shortly ready for the reception of guests. Tlho furniture is being procured in Wellington, and not imported from England or elsewhere —tho company being desirous of encouraging local trade ind industry—and tho result will prove that handsome and luxurious furnishings ean be supplied here.

Some tamo ago Air G. IV i*l'y, AI.H.R,, Jroiv tho attention of tho Minister of Railways to the danger incurred by statioiii masters and others in handing the tablet to Onginodrivers of non-stopping trains, and suggested that an automatic appliance shouild be erected in order to obviate the present dangerous practice. Mr Witty (it is stated in the ”Lytteiton Times”' has received 1 a.reply from Sir J. G. Ward stating that the matter will rooaivc the consideration, of thb department. The Hon Colonel Pitt, who has charge »f lunatic asylums during the: absence of the Hon W. Hali-Jones, paid a visit to Mount View Asylum on Saturday afternoon, in company with Mr id. Arnold, official visitor. Colonel Pitt was pleased with the general appearance of the place. Tlio fire alarm was sounded, to jnablo the visitors to sec how the attendants would act in case a tiro occurred, and in one minute every man was at his- post. Tlio whole of the place was found to bo very clean. Colonel Pit iri- ' tends to visit all the asylums iu the jolony before Parliament meets. Tho steamer Taviuni this trip (says die Cook Island correspondent of tho 11 Alow Zealalnd Herald ”) makes her first . nail for the year at tho French islands >t Raiaitoa and Kuahinc, to obtain - granges, to compot e against Cook Island fruit in the New. Zealand market. Tho jtoamor will call at these islands from this trip. on throughout tho year Until the orange season is: over. , Many thoujandb of cases arc shipped every trip, ( which will glut the market, and the aonsequenoe will probably be again dilaetrous to Cook Island shippers. We have plenty of oranges hero to over and above supply Now i Zealand’s wants, without going to tho French island's. Our local growers are very sore on this point. When the Parliamentary party were hero last year a petition was band»d in to them asking for protection in this line. Where is tho Preferential Tariff Committee, alnd why were not oranges put* on the list, especially when tho members had full cognisance of the position? New Zealand lias taken-up the burden in, annexing these islands, slnd there should not be tho least hesitation in protecting our produce against foreign importations. Fruit is our principal export, and Now Zealand is our nearest neighbour, and it behoves Now Zealand to help ns to its utmost. .The time far receiving tenders for .the loan to bo raise! by the Christchurch Tramway Board for the purpose of installing an electric tramway in the Kiccar. tou-Sockburn sub-district has* been extended till noon on March 31st.

Da April 27th Messrs- Gorton and Son jfil-l sell at Feildimg tho Burnside Estate, which has been subdivided into if teon. farms of varying size. An eight-roomed house, with.every, conrculeuco, standing in three and a half lores of■ well-lai(l- 1 out grounds, is advertised for sale by Mr IT, E. Leighton, .F each erston street.

H. J. Woodfield's drag; will leave the offices of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, at 3.30 a.ra, to-day; for the purpose of taking buyers out to Mr F. B. Watson's sale of pedigree Jersey and dairy at,Kingiton road, Shannon. Tho drag will also meet the trains at Shannon and take buyers to the gale. Mr Watson has offered to milk '.purchasers’- cows on tho night of tho sale and next morning, if necessary. ,

Messrs Macdonald, Wilson and Co. soil to-day, at 1 o’clock, at the farm of Mr Max Deckston, known as Captain Mann's property, Orr’s rood. Lower Hutt, thirty, head of dairy stock. trap, dog-cart, horses, etc. To-inorrqw, at the residence of Mr Frank Stevens', Hay street. Oriental Bay, the firm will soil the whole of his household furniture, eto. i ’

Messrs Craig and Co.'s second annual gale closes next Saturday, The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company will sell stock at Palmerston. on Thursday. Mr TV. B. Chennells, auctioneer: and estate ageist, Masterton, advertises on page 8, livery stables, a general store and a caittying business for sale. These arc said to bo investments. A "Land ■ Guide” will be posted on application. / Bmadwood pianos are stocked by . the Dresden Piano Company.