LOCAL AND GENERAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5483, 11 January 1905, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tho prospects of the Preferential Trade Campaign in Great Britain is the subject of a letter from the Right Hon Joseph Chamberlain, which we are enabled. by the courtesy of that gentleman, t ; o publish elsewhere in this morning’s issue. "The letter has arrived in response to a request mad© to Mr Chamberlain some three months ago by tho editor of this journal that he should state personally his view of how the campaign was proceeding. Our ora immediate readers, and tho people of New Zealand as a whole, will be pleased to have at first hand the 1 opinions of the author of tho preferential trade scheme on such an important question. •

The tender of Mrs J. M. Pool has been accepted for the lease of the Ivelbumo tea kiosk for five years. The kiosk is to be opened to the public next week.

During tho past four years 1,907,323 .trees have teen planted at Waiotapu by prison labour. Since the operations were started 780 acres have teen cleared of scrub.

Speaking of the Now Plymouth Exhibition, Mr J. P. Luke, president of tho Wellington Industrial Association, says he was esxiecially struck with the energy displayed by the chairman and tho committee. He never saw a set of men work with greater harmony or spirit. There were twenty-eight exhibitors from tbo Wellington district represented there, and all tho exhibits were very creditable, though he could have wished that more of tho manufacturers had taken space.

At tho Police Court yesterday, James Thompson appeared, on remand, charged with breaking and entering the dwelling of the Rev James Thompson, at Pongaroa. He was remanded to appear at Pahiatua on the 18th test. Reginald Vail, deemed to be an idle and disorderly person, was remanded until tho 17th lust. For disobeying the lawful commands of the chief officer of the lonic, a seaman named Humphrey J. Lewis was fined 7s and 7s costs, in default three days’ imprisonment.

Everybody knows that trees are felled to make the wood pulp out of which tho paper used in the printing-office is manufactured. A German paper manufacturer at Ebenthal has just mado an experiment to see how rapidly it is jrossiblo to transform a tree into a newspaper. Three trees in tho neighbourhood of his factory were cut down at 7.35 in tile morning. They were instantly harked and pulped, and the first roll of paper was ready at 9.81. It was lifted into an automobile that stood waiting, and conveyed to the machineroom of tho nearest daily paper. Tho paper being already set, the printing began at once, and by ten o’clock precisely the journal was on sale in the streets. The entire process of transformation had taken exactly two hours and twenty-five minutes.

Vory interesting is a description of her travels by Miss Jessie Ackerman, who, in the interests of the Peace Society, has now made six - journeys around the world from London. Much of what she has seen relates to Australasia, more particularly to Oceania, her journeyings among the islands, and communion with the islanders being really fascinating. Touching upon the South Seas, and referring to the cannibalism which was once so prevalent there, Mies Ackerman says:—“l can tell you a particularly interesting story of 'ho cannibals of the South Seas and the old Maori missionary, Kakala, who went out to New'Zealand to preach to them. The savages captured the mate of an American sailing vessel, who had incautiously ventured ashore in search of water. They were about to make a feast of him, and all preparations bad been made in front of the unhappy victim’s eyes, when the news cam© to the Maori’s ears. He rushed unarmed into the meeting, and after a long and desperate argument with the cannibals, persuaded them to abandon their horrible plans. For this the brave missionary, now a very old man, was sent a watch by President Abraham Lincoln, and when I saw him m Honolulu, ho showed me the dead President’s present . with much pride."

The potato disease which has been so destructive in the Auckland district has broken out in South Taranaki. The Wellington branch of the Navy League is organising a reception (o Vice-Admiral Fanshawo on his arrival next month. It is proposed that the gathering shall be held in the Town Hall. The Hutt County Council, at its mooting yesterday, fixed Wednesday as the day for observance of the statutory weekly half-holiday in the separate district over which the Council has jurisdiction. H.M.S. Phocbo. which has taken the place of tho Tauranga as recruiting ship for tho navy, is now at Port Chalmers. She is endeavouring to fill a few vacancies for stokers. Lieutenant Pickering is still enrolling men for tho Royal Naval Reserve.

At nine minutes past 4 o’clock yesterday morning a slight earthquake was felt in Wellington. Telegraphic advice shows it was generally experienced along tho West Coast as far north as New Plymouth and inland as far as Fkotahuna and Pahiatua.

Tho ladies of the Canterbury 'branch of the Navy League have presented a challenge shield to the Australian squadron. Tt has been allocated by Admiral Fanshawo. for heavy gun-firing. It will be inscribed for tho “annual gunlayers’ competition,” and will bo presented when the Buryalus is at Lyttelton next month.

The Wellington Accountant Students’Society will hold its monthly meeting in the Chamber of Commerce this evening. There will bo a discussion on 1004 examination papers. Messrs A, A. Gellatly, F.1.A., N.Z., and G. 13. Hull, A.1.A., N.Z., will open the discussion on the Trustees and Mercantile Law papers respectively. A full attendance of members is requested. The relationship of the State Fire Insurance Department’s tariff to that agreed upon by the other insurance offices is attracting attention. It appeal's that the State Office .charges are about 10 per cent, lower than the general tariff. There is some speculation whether it will bo possible for tho department to carry on successfully at the lower rate, and some curiosity to see what steps the competing offices will take.

At last night’s meeting of the executive of the Wellington Industrial Association—Mr J. P. Luke (president) in the chair—two resignations were received. but tlie secretary stated, that ono would probably bo withdrawn. Messrs G. Finn, J. B. Harcourt, and James Russell wero appointed a second committee to visit tho industries of the city. Tho president of tho Builders’ Association was appointed a member of tho executive.

Tho Hospital Trustees mot yesterday morning, when there wero present.— Messrs O. M. Luke (chairman),- R. C. Kirk, G. Nash, J. Smith, R. Lee, H. Cook, G. London, and J. Banks. The report showed that there wero 165 patients in the institution, as compared with 162 for the corresponding pei'iod of last year. There wore seventeen cases of fever and three of measles under treatment, and tho inmates included twenty-four children. The Trustees decided to convert that portion of tho building formerly occupied by the nurses into a ward. It was stated that the alteration would give accommodation for twenty-five extra hods. In view' of the inquiries now being mad© by th© people of Karori in regard to a scheme of rapid communication between that suburb and the city, Mr Samuel Brown made investigations when in Auckland recently concerning a service of steam motor ’buses running between North Shore and Lake Takapnna, Ho considers that for towns not big enough for electric tramways, this service is tho best he lias seen. There are some steep grades upon tho road between the North Shore and Lake Takapuna, and these ’buses travel up the steepest grade at from six to eight miles an hour. The average speed for the whole .ionmey is about twelve or fourteen miles an hour, including stoppages. The ’buses travel very easily, and seat sixteen people. Th© fuel is kerosene. Mr Brown gave a description of tho service in a paper read at last night’s meeting of the executive of tho Wellington Industrial Association, and received a vote of thanks. He mentioned that Mr Hansen, the 'managing director of tho Auckland Tramway Company, had inspected, when in Europe, the electric ’buses running on the Continent, to soo if they could he used in an auxiliary service of the Auckland tramways; and had informed him that on a good level road they were all right, but hill work was rough on them, and in addition to this they used a lot of power. Tho Berlin police have arrested a remarkable swindler, who for some years past had boon carrying on an extensive business as a fortune-teller and preparer of love philtres. "This woman, the wife of a labourer, was,” says the London “Daily Telegraph” correspondent, “attended by seventy-two spirits, each of which had its ‘sign - —a star, crescent, cross, triangle, etc. Her opinions and vaticinations she engrossed on parchment, surrounding them with the cabalistic signs representing the spirits whoso aid she had invoked. The least price charged for these documents was fifteen marks, and that her business was a flourishing one is evidenced by the fact that the police found over 2000 marks'in cash in the house. Her most lucrative practice appears to have been with these clients whose love affairs wore in an unsatisfactory condition, and her cupboards were full of recipes for tho forlorn individuals. One of these is as follows. It is for young ladies Procure three hairs of the object of your desires, and put these, with three drops of your own blood-, on a slice of quince. This is to be eaten on the street at full moon with your eyes fixed steadily on tho moon.” Her chief philtre was some grains of a white substance. These, with one of the parchment exorcisms, were to Ire brewed in a tea-kettle ; the sediment was then to he taken out and worn on the naked breast for seven days. To secure the love of her swain a girl did not require so strong an infusion as the swain required under similar circumstances." Mr J. S. Swan wants tenders for the purchase and removal of buildings in Panama street. A new advertisement respecting the International Correspondence Schools will be found in another coloumn. At their rooms this afternoon Mosers ,T. 11. Bethune and Co.' will hold a sale of household furniture, removed for convenience of sale. Amongst the articles to be submitted are an nprignt grand piano by Perrina.

The premises of Messrs Stewart Dawson and Co., jewellers, will be open all day today, and will close at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The names of prize-winners in th; Castle Tea Company’s half-yearly competitions appear on another page. A hundred and fifty pounds is distributed in cash bonuses. Further competitions are announced

Messrs Macdonald, Wilson and Co. will submit to auction at 2.30 p.m. to-morrow a valuable freehold corner business build* ing section, having a frontage of 32 feet 5 inches to Courtenay place and 85 foot 5 inches to Taranaki street. Tho sale is an absolute one, and is held by order of the Trustee in a deceased estate, and the joint owner, in order io'tdose t ho accounts in tho estate. Details appear. Messrs llatrick and Co.’s two new steamers built far the Wanganui River service to Tr.umarnmii have boon launched, and are now making their maiden, trips. During this month the present, twice-weekly service between Pipiriki and Taunmruuui will be increased to three times a week from tho 15ih inst. The proprietors find Increased running is required to cope with the large number of passengers who are making use of this route. Mrs Glover Faton, Wellington terraoe, will resume ringing and pianoforte lessons on the 23rd inst. Miss Mabel Hardingo-Mnltby, teacher of elocution ami expression, nas resumed, the practice of her profession nt the Aldons Building, 107, Lambton quay, Mr Frank Grady. Willis street, has an excellent variety of watches, jewellery, etc. Abraham and Williams, Ltd., will sell slock at ’ Palmerston North to-morrow, and at Levin on Friday, and horses at Palmerston on Saturday. The New Zealand Flourraillers* Co-op-erative Association warts a general manager. Several junior stewards are wanted at the Commercial Travellers’ Club. Front, oflico accommodation will be available for leasing in the “Now Zealand Times” building early next month. The Loan and Mercantile Agency Company publishes entries for to-morrow’i stock sale at Palmerston North, Messrs Sidey, Mooch and Co. will hold a sale of stock, horses, saddlery etc., at McGovern’s Hotel, Wallaccvillc, today, commencing at 1 o’clock. Entries appear on page 8. Messrs Harcourt and Co. announce tho following auction soles of valuable pro* perries to take place at their rooms:— Next Friday they will sell for removal the buildings latoy occupied as the Oriental Dining Rooms, 46, Lambton quay; on the 20th instant they will submit that well-known private hotel, “The Hansums,” having a frontage of 50ft to Ghuznee street by a depth of 100 ft. On February 3rd, under instructions from tho trustees of tho estate of tho Into duo. Mclvelvie, the firm will offer several good town properties in tho Arlington Estate, having frontages 1o Thompson street, Arlington street. North avenue. South avenue, s,.juivicled iuto six sections, on four oi which are erected a> family mansion and several villa residences.