LOCAL AND GENERAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5311, 24 June 1904, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The libel case of Seddon v. Taylor made its first appearance in the Bunromo Court at Christchurch on Tuesday morning, Mr Russell making application for the provision of a more explicit claim. Mr Justice Denniston granted the application, Mr Stringer, for the plaintiff, consenting. The first half-yearly meeting of the Australian Natives’ Association Friendly Society was hold on Wednesday evening. The report showed the society to be in a flourishing state, the number of members on the roll being over sixty. The following were elected office-bearers President, Mr T. W. McDonald (reelected)'; vice-president, Captain Hennah (re-elected); secretary, Mr J. M. Izott (re-elected); assistant secretary./r 0. Bush (re-elected). A novel method of drilling horses to disregard the electric cars is being adopted by some of the Newtown carriers whenever opportunity offers. During recent trials some of the more courageous drivers have forced their horses to trot alongside the cars, and whenever the latter stop they dismount and lead the horses close up to the cars. The beasts usually roar alarmedly at this proceeding at first, but after a time the desired effect is gained, and they take no more notice of the electric cars than they do of the ones about to be deposed. The keeper of Lake House, Waikarcmoana. reports to the Tourist Department that of late Waikarcmoana has been subject to a plague of yellow-ham-mers. which have interfered. seriously with his efforts, to cultivate a lawn and raise vegetable seedlings. When the report was despatched the official was evidently on the verge of despair, and how to combat the feathered pest he knew not. When the grass sown raised itself Half an inch above the ground, the birds swooped down and pulled the shoots up by the roots, and*’ this practice was followed in the vegetable garden.

Tho general manager of the National Bank of New Zealand, Limited, has received a cable message from his London board, advising the declaration of a dividend of 0 par cent, for the halfyear, and a bonus to shareholders of 2 per cent., equalling 12 per cent in all, for the year to March last. Ihe sum of £30,000 has been added to the reserve fund, making it £210,000, and £B4OO will be carried forward. The directors have allocated £SOOO in reduction of bank premises, £2500 to pension fund.. and are granting the staff a bonus of 7.J- per cent, on salaries. The annual meeting is to be held in London on July Sth.

An Order-in-Oouncil has been issued conveying the following now regulation under the Preferential and Reciprocal Trade Act. 1903: —“Without in any way limiting the requirements of the Preferential and Reciprocal Trade Act. 1903, that, in order to escape the full duty thereby imposed on the articles mentioned in tho schedule to that Act, the articles must be the bona fide produce or manufacture of some part of the British Dominions, it is hereby declared that no manufactured article will be so regarded unless a substantial portion of the labour of one or more specified parts of the said dominions has entered into the production thereof, to the extent in the case of each article of not less than one-fourth the value of the article in the condition in which it is ready for export to New Zealaud.h

The laying off of the main streets in the Township of Johnsonvillo at a width of GOft instead of 09ft, as prescribed in the Land Act of ISO-, has been authorised. With regard to the appointment of chief detectives, it is gazetted that all Mich appointments will bo made from the detective branch by the selection of Those officers whese abilities, energy and general lilnos qualify them for the position. 1 ho Wellington Dearer Corps paraded in good strength last night. An interesting lecture on *Tiacmorrhagc and how to Check It” was delivered by Surgeon-Major Purdy. Tho new court*: of lectures is proving of great interest. Intending recruits are reminded' that the year’s training is just beginning, “Conscience money”' amounting to Cl 4 has been received by tho Colonial Treasurer in four envelopes, bearing rlie Invercargill postmark, two containing, each a bank nolo for To. and two each two £1 bank notes, or £l4 in all; and in each envelope a half-sheet cf note-paper with the words. “To ba paid into the public account.” . It lias been found necessary by the Government to take additional land at Petono for the purposes of tho Wel- ! Hngton-Napier railway. Six parcels of land, tho approximate area of each being 30. l perches. 20.2 perches, 2 roods 1G perches, 24.0 porches, 1 rood 10.7 porches, and 1 rood 7.2 perches situated in tho survey district cf Belmont and in tho borough of Petono, have been proclaimed taken for the purpose. The patent letter-stamping-machine, tho invention oi Air E. Aloss, of Christchurch, which got out of gear when last on trial in Wellington, has been set up onco more in tho portico of the General Dost Office/ to undergo further trial. The machine on similar lines, that was forwarded for trial to the Postal Department by tho inventor. Air Hebert Wales, of Dunedin, has boon sent back' to that city, and will bo given a trial at tho post office there. Tho Labour Department has to deal with some curious correspondence. A letter has been received from a person in Capo Colony, who desires the department to advise him whether there are any “spare bank managerships” in New Zealand, as he has recently withdrawn his services from the Hank of Africa. Among personal qualifications for such a position tho .writer mentions that he “neither drinks nor smokes, and is English.”

Mr J. A. Gilrutn, Chief Government Veterinarian, and Mr O. J. Henkes, veterinary surgeon, vent on a tour of inspection of the Palmerston North slaughterhouses A yesterday morning. Speaking to a “Neyr Zealand Times” representative concerning tho results of hia visit, Mr Gilnith said he was more than ever convinced of the propriety of the stand.be had taken in regard to tha abattoirs question. It is probable that as a result of the tour of inspection, notice will be given to the owners of' certain slaughterhouses that it is intended to enforce the demand that the meat should bo slaughtered at some Central abattoir, subject to proper inspection. '

It has almost become’an axiom that nothing artistic or literary that is produced the’ colony lias any chance here unless it has first received the hallmark of London success. This does not seem to apply to song-writing, however. The “Song of Empire,” written and composed in Wellington—tho words by Mr J. L. Kelly and the music by Mr Alec Hill—has achieved marked success here, before any news has arrived about its reception in London. It was sung for tho first time at the farewell conversazione to Lord llanfurly last week, and Mr E. J. Hill again sang it on Wednesday at the complimentary banquet to tho Premier. On tho latter evening it was also sung by Mr Tustin at tho Seamen’s Mission entertainment, and on each occasion it was received with enthusiastic marks 'of approval'. It may bo noped that this denotes the beginning of a new and bettor era for colonial authors and composers.

Yesterday morning the body of a man was found floating in the harbour between the Queen’s Wharf and the Railway Wharf. Later in the day au inquest was held at the morgue. Evidence showed that the dead man was William McKenzie, .formerly a member of the crew of the collier Poherua, and ■latterly engaged in doing odd jobs about the shipping. Ho was last seen by two of Iris friends about a fortnight ago; ho was quite sober then, and said he could not get a bed at the Salvation Army Hotel. An officer of the Army said that on May 34th deceased was turned out of the Home for creating a disturbance aud it was quite possible he had been refused a bed since. When the body was' taken out of the water it was found to have been in a considerable time. There was only threepence in P the pockets of the clothes. Deceased, who was about forty years of ago, had a brother in Glasgow. A verdict of found drowned was returned.

Cases are constantly being brought into the Magistrate’s Court for trial in which ■ claims are made against builders who have erected houses for people, and have erected them, so it is alleged, very badly. In a sentence, it is the protest against the “jerrybuilt” dwelling. Yesterday, in the Court, a witness, giving evidence against the alleged unworkmanlike manner in which his house had been put up, said some of the doors would not shut, some would not open, and some would'only open partly. The sashes in the windows were not weighted. and when he pointed out to the builder that the lower sash was liable to come down and break somebody’s fingers, that worthy replied that it •would teach somebody to keep their fingers out of the way. All the available rags and bags had to he used during wet weather to mop up the water that leaked on to the floor; and when the wind blew- the house rattled and creaked to an extent that would - lead one to believe a band was playing outside. .

The examination branch of the Education Department has received the last of tho papers in connection with the South Kensington examinations for tho current year. It has been- decided that the examination period throughout the colony shall extend from Wednesday, the 2Dth inst., to July Sth, and examinations will take place at tho following centres;—Auckland, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Palmerston North, Wellington, Masterton, Napier, Blenheim, Greymouth, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill. _ The subjects embraced in these examinations are;—Drawing from tho antique, memory drawing, blackboard drawing/ architecture, modelling the head (from life), freehand light and shade, perspective geometrical drawing, painting still life, des'gn, drawing of common object from memory, painting or. nament, anatomy, practical plana and solid geonfotry, machine construction, [building construction, magnetism., steam, agricultural science, physiology, chemistry, mathematics, applied mechanics, botany, sound, light and heat. Of tho 275 candidates that are to sit, fourteen are from .Wellington.

Tho adjourned annual meeting of the Employers’ Association v,i 11 ho held tonight. A sitting of the Assessment Court for hearing objections to valuations in tho borough of Cower Hntt will he held on July full. Idai Distinct Grand Lodge, L.A.0.D.. nf the North Island received anothofl addition to its ranks last week, v. hen .i. new lodge was inaigMirated tit Okaln (Taranaki) with a, membership ol thirtyi hree. The committee that had charge of the demonstrations of Monday last, on the occasion of tho farewell lo Cord Ranfurly ami the welcome to f.ord (Miinket, is highly satisfied with the manner in which dir A. 0. Johnson discharged tho duties of marshal, and at its final meeting will place on record its appreciation of his services. A thirty-mile road race under the auspices of ,lie Dunlop Tyre Company, for Iho purpose of selecting a representative to take pen in the te-t l ;k-o in C anterbury, to decide Now Zealand's representative in tho big Australian race at tVnrrnamhool, in August I.ext. will he decided on the road l>eIween John-onril!; and Paikakanki tomorrow. Commissioner Carroll, of the United (states Department of Labour at Washington- has wa it ten lo -Mr Edward Pre.-g-slr .Secretary of Labour asking him lo forward all the available criticisms published in the colony on Dr X ictor Clarke's report on tho condition of l abour in New' Zealand. 'The report is an excellent review of local conditions, and the American department is anxious to -eo how it has bean received by those of whom it is written, with the view of niakiii" more comprehensive the detail dealt With in tho ably-compiled pamphlet. The request is being complied with. One of tho members of tho Wnngaolm deputation to tho Acling-Olimsior of Public Works on Wednesday pointed out. in reference to the damage caused hv the la.to floods in tho Wanganui and Rim'dtikei districts, that as tho country Was cleared, of its bush tho water canto down tho river with greater force. “Wo will havo an action for manslaughter against tho Minister of Lands, if ho allows this sort of tiling to go on.” said tho speaker, who farther emphasised tho fact that, soon there would he nothing but hillsides for settlers to acquire, a.Wtho flats were for the most part being reserved by tho Scenery Pre.et ration Commissioners.

Country deputations that wait upon Ministers at times afford some amusement in tlioir eagerness to urge the claims of their districts upon the iavourablc consideration of tho Government. On Wednesday one member of a deputation to tho Minister of Justice and Public Works, from Ltiku way (on tho Main Trunk lino), offered ‘to hot anybody in the room a hundred pounds to a shilling’ that what ho said was ijisolutelv correct. There was general laughter "at tho expense of the enthusiastic individual who had offered the warrer as tho Minister gently reminded him, “You can't bet in the presence, of tho Minister of Justice. It is illegal. A. deputation representing tho Wairau Gold Mining Company, introduced -by tho Hon C. H. Mills, waited upon the Minister of Mines yesterday, and asked for aid in putting in a low level tunnel for tho purpose of testing an extensive area of land at Top Valley, Marlborough. About £IO,OOO has already been spent in testing tho ground, with encouraging results, and it was now proposed to drive for a distance ot some P'COft which it was estimated would cost over £IOOO. Tho work was too great for the company to undertake, and it asked either for a subsidy or for tho uso of Government plant. Mr McGowan said private companies were not subsidised by tho Government. Howover ho promised to obtain a report on tho work at Top Valley, and also inquire whether any air compressors were available from the Public Works Department. On receipt of the information, he would decide whether any assistance could bo afforded to tho company.

Under the provisions of the Maori Land Administration Act, 1900, the Government has secured the control from the natives of land at Waiotapu,' on the route from Taupe to Rotorua, and also of six suburban and rural sections and three small grazing runs m the Taraivera and Paeroa survey districts. These will bo otfomi for sale on lease by public auction at the Rotorua Courthouse on the 28th prox. The available area at Waiotapu—well known to all who have done the overland tnp —has been subdivided into sixty-nine sections, ranging in size from three roods to over throe acres. These will bo sold on a lease of twenty-one years, with the right of renewal for four further terms of twenty-one years, while the suburban and rural sections and grazing-runs will bo disposed of with ono renewal of twenty-one years on the original term of tho same period. Waiotapu township is situated only twenty miles from Rotorua, on the mam road to Tanpo, and is within a mile of the Waiotapu hot springs, and seven miles from tho famous Waimangu goyE er With the Government making special efforts To attract a tourist traffic, already promisingly heavy, the possibilities of tho place are great, and it is anticipated that tho sale will create an eager competition. Messrs Davis and Clater have a largo itock of seasonable goods displayed in their new premises, Evans’ Buildings. Some hints on tho value of the Giant Heater are set forth in an advertisement in this issue. Special prices for blankets and down guilts are advertised hy the D.I.C. Messrs Thos. Turnbull and Son invite tenders for alterations to a shop front. Pringle’s Lambton quay, notify tho arrival of a fine assortment of shades m pearlines. Messrs Macdonald, Wilson and Co.sell to-day, at 1.30 o'clock, under instructions from the Official Assignee, in the bankrupt estate of W. W. Bock, timber merchant, at tho yards. Victoria and Tory streets, oposito tho To Aro railway station the whole of tho stock of kauri timber (as detailed), to ho sold in lots without reserve. Messrs Warnock and Adkin’s sale price list of real Maltese goods will bo .found over onr "wanted” column. Messrs William H. Turnbull and Co. advertise elsewhere a list of city and suburban properties for sale. Tho advent of tho tunnel through Mount Victoria to Kilbirnio has boon causing a largo demand, and Messrs Turnbull and Co. advertise that they are agents <g for 99 per cent, of tho properties in the district. The New Zealander Hotel is for lease lor ten years. Particulars aro advertised. Tenders are invited for pipe drainage works on the Kelhnrno estate.