LOCAL AND GENERAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5558, 8 April 1905, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Johnsonville Town Board will sue for rates not paid by the 19th inst. Mr J. 0. Bidwill. of Pahiatua, has liberated four Canadian geese which wore recently imported by the Government.

Tho annual meeting of Victoria Collego Debating Society is to be held in tho Girls’ High School at 7.30 o’clock this evening. Tho second “korero” of tho Savage Club will take place in tho Masonic Hall this evening. The chair will be occupied by Professor Easterhold. Mr James Ashcroft, Official Assignee, has been appointed to administer the estate of the lato John Russell. Tho creditors are to meet nest Thursday morning.

At tho Mow Century Hall to-morroiv evening, under the auspices of tho Wellington Association of Spiritualists, the Rev. F. L. Prior, of America, will lecture on “Beyond tho Horizon Lino.” Tho visiting students who are to take part in tho New Zealand University tournament at Easter will ho accorded an official reception at tho Town Hall on Saturday morning, the 23nd inst., by tho Victoria College Students’ Association. Tho Mayor will welcome the visitors.

Yesterday tho Chief Justice heard summonses to fix costs and damages in the Wanganui divorce case of William Parker v. Toia Parker and another. His Honor fixed costs on the highest scale, £45, and directed that costs and damages should be paid into Court within seven days. At His Majesty’s Theatre to-morrow evening Mr O. W. Leadbeater will lecture on “Reincarnation.” Tho lecture will be under tho auspices of the Theosophical Society. Meetings of the society, for members only, are to be held this afternoon and evening, and to-mor-row afternoon.

The Chief Justice granted yesterday a decree nisi in the petition for divorce brought by Benjamin Carlow, seaman, Wellington, against Frances Louise Curlew, she having, failed to comply with an order previously obtained for restitution of conjugal rights. Mr B. B. Williams appeared for the petitioner.

The voting for the employers’ representative on the Conciliation Board yesterday resulted in Mr Henry Inniss being returned. He received twelve votes, and the other candidate, Mr Frank Bedford, received three votes. Of the twenty-sis unions in the district. seven availed themselves of the opportunity given to vote.

The lighting of Khandallah. and Crofton by electricity is to be completed within a month. The tion is now in hand, and the poles and wires have already been put in place along the main road from Kaiwarra to Crofton. The Electrical Syndicate, which is providing the light, will supply twenty electric lamps in Khandallah and twenty also in Crofton, and these are to be maintained at an annual cost to the borough of £3 10s per lamp. The price of the Wadestown lamps, installed some time since, is to be reduced to the same figure, under agreement between the Borough Council- and the Electrical Syndicate.

In America on ceremonial occasions everyone salutes the American flag. Men and boys stand to attention with the right hand touching the forehead in the. usual military style. A muchvexed question has been, how should girls salute, and the President himself has declared it difficult to answer. In a discussion liiicli has taken place some suggest girls should curtsy, how, or slightly incline the head towards the flag, while placing the right hand on the heart. To-day the “ American Political ■ Study Club ” comes to the rescue, with a decision sanctioned by a large majority that the proper way for girls to salute the flag is in precisely the same fashion as men. A small minority favoured an alternative suggestion that a salute waved by a woman’s handkerchief met the necessities of the case. Maidenly bows to the flag were discouraged on the ground that the banner-bearer or someone else would possibly misconstrue the courtesy. . A somewhat remarkable case was tried a few weeks ago at Nen Runpin, a town in the province of Brandenburg. A large landowner, named Von Rohr, was placed on trial for attempting to murder his steward, named Lemcke. After a serious altercation. Von Rohr fired his revolver at Bexucke, and. half an inch difference in his aim would have killed the steward. Defendant’s counsel pleaded that Von Rohr was not responsible for his- act, as he had been drinking. The Court ordered several leading authorities on psychiatry to give an expert opinion on this point. They declared unanimously that Van Rohr was suffering from “ pathological delirium,” in consequence of free indulgence in intoxicants, and on the plea set up the accused was acquitted. The case has attracted wide attention, as it establishes the principle, not jecognisod in English criminal Courts, that crimes committed under the influence of drink must be treated in a separate category, and that “ pathological delirium can./ be pleaded as a ground for acquittal. Messrs Dwan Bros., hotel brokers, report the sale of the following hotel properties;—Mr TV. Aubrey’s interest in the Makuri Hotel to Mr Robert Crarer, well known in the Pahiatua district; the lease and furniture of the Empire Hotel, Hawera, on account of Mr Mcßolland, to Mrs Todd, late of the Railway Hotel, Palmerston North; Sir 0. MoMannus’s interest in the lease and furniture of the Criterion Hotel, Reefton, to Mr H. C. Green, late of the Argyle Hotel. Hunterville; Mrs Moynihan’s interest in the leas© and furniture of the Foresters’ Arms Hotel, Greytown, to Mrs Roberts, late of the Commercial Hotel Blenheim; Mrs Mary White’s interest in the lease and furniture of the Masonic Hotel, Wellington, to Mr M. ,1. Donnelly, late of the Railway Hotel, Eketahnna; Mr Martin Ryan’s interest in' the lease and furniture of the Porirua Hotel to Mr Joseph Wareham, late of the Empire Hotel. Feilding; Mr J. Olnlow’s interest in the lease and furniture ,of the Railway Hotel, Bower Hntt, to Mr Cornelius McMannus, late of the Criterion Hotel. Reefton; also the lease and furniture of the Occidental Hotel, Palmerston North, on account of Mr H. J. Woodard, to Mrs Mary White, late of the Masonic Hotel. Wellington; the lease and furniture of the Post Office Hotel, Wellington, on account of Mr E; Wilson, to Mr Dave Sullivan, late of the Egmont Hotel, Hawera: and Mr E. Woolright’s interest in the lease and furniture of the Cafe Hotel, Palmerston North, to- Mrs B. Kennedy, who has sines resold to Mrs Tabor. New Plymouth,

At the Magistrate’s Court, Masterton, yesterday, a settler was fined £5 and costs for failing to_ clear Californian thistle off his land, the weeds not haying teen cut till after seeding.

At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Boxing Association at Christchurch on Thursday night it was decided to allot the Now Zealand championships to the Wellington centre, to bo hold at the end of June or the beginning of July, provided Wellington could arrange for the use of a suitable building.

At the Wellington Baptist Church to-morrow tho Rev J. J. North will preach his first sermons as pastor of tho church. On Tuesday evening Mr North will receive a public welcome at a gathering presided over by the Mayor. Tire meeting will ho held in the church, and tho ministers of several of the city churches will he among the speakers.

Tho Hon J. McGowan laid the foundation stono of tho Public Library at tho Thames yesterday in tho presence of a large number of spectators. Ho congratulated the district on its progress. Referring to the mining industry, he said tho Government was anxious to assist towards tho development and improvement of the industry, but tbo districts would not be nursed, and would have to adopt a vigorous policy themselves.

In tho Police Court yesterday, the young girl who was taken from the residence of a Chinese fruiterer named Hong, in Willis street, last week, was again brought before Dr A. McArthur, S.M. Sbo was charged under tho Industrial Schools Act with having no means of subsistence. Mr Weston, who appeared for Hong, said his client had had the girl boarding out, but owing to the woman who had charge of her falling ill, he took the girl homo, pending tho finding of another boardinghouse in which to place her. Tho Magistrate stated that be bad received a letter from Mrs Wallis offering to give the girl admittance to the St. Mary’s Home at Karori free of any rorauneratiop. On Hong agreeing to tho offer, the girl was formally committed to the Home.

Among the visitors to Wellington is Mr William 0. Ord. travelling representative for Read Bros., Ltd., Kentish Town, London, the well-known bottlers of Bass’s ale and Guinness’s stout. Mr Ord recently arrived in Wellington from London, having visited en route Bombay, Kuraebee, Lahore, Madras, Colombo, Calcutta, Rangoon, Singapore, and all the principal cities from Fremantle to Rockhampton. Mr Ord has so far travelled 28,000 miles r to further the interests of the company. Mr Ord intends to spend about two months in New Zealand,, which, he states, is the most satisfactory market in Australasia, despite the heavier duty compared with the Commonwealth. Of all the case ale and stout imported to' Wellington,’ the “Dog’s Head” brand comprises 90 per cent, and for the whole of New Zealand 80 per cent. On th© question, “Should!sermons be shorter?” the Bishop of Melbourne (Dr Lowther said recently:—“l have no sympathy with the proposal so often made to shorten the sermon to the smallest possible limit of time.- The Christian Church has her great function of teaching, and to a very largo number of people the Sunday sermons are the only religious teaching they receive during the whole week. People will listen to sermons just in proportion ns they are worth listening to, and no interested hearer ever complains if ho is asked to listen for twenty minutes, or sometimes even half an hour, to an address which is orderly in argument, and aims throughout at some definite object of thought. My remedy, therefore,, would be, not shorter sermons, but better ones, and a fuller realisation on the part of the clergy of their office as teachers of Christian faith and conduct.” . The abridged prospectus appears in another part of this paper of the McLeod Patent Fire Stand Company, which is now being floated with a capital of £12,000, in £1 shares. The object of the company is to acquire and take over the patent rights of McLeod’s patent brand and improved burner, to manufacture and sell such brands and burners, and to dispose of the patent rights in various parts of the world. The brand has already been extensively used in this country, and numerous testimonials in its favour have been received.’ It is anticipated that the sale of the patent rights in different countries will yield about £87,00t), which would ensure a handsome profit for investors. Applications for shares will be received up to June 30th next. Mr George Ross, of Hunter street, is secretary pro tem, and the brokers are Messrs Harcourt and 00., O. B. Bendall, and L. H. B. Wilson.

Parents in Victoria are being encouraged to take a deeper interest in the local school. The inspectors are making it a practice to ask the parents to meet them at the school after the inspection visit, and reports which have reached the department show that in most cases these visits have proved very helpful. For example, a successful meeting of over one hundred parents was held at Swanston street, Geelong. The outcome should be a provision for many minor school comforts for the children. At another place a school library has been established for the use of the children and the youth of the district. At still another the parents promised to plant the school reserve; to provide seats in the school ground, add to cut a track through the scrub which will insure the attendance of a large family who have never been inside a scMjfcol. This track will enable them to reach school in two miles and a half, while the existing road compels a journey of live miles. A meeting of the committee of the proposed Garrison Artillery Corps was held last evening at the Buckle street depot. Further applications for enrolment were received. Major Johnston, artillery staff-officer, explained that the headquarters % staff was anxious to have the new company formed as quickly as possible, and as soon as the minimum of sixty-three members had been enrolled the company would be officially recognised. Some inquiries having been made of whether members of the new company will he called upon to provide any portion of the expense of uniform, it was announced that it would be unneoessary to make any call for such purpose upon members. Lieutenant lees, recently of the vnrrison nrmlery, explained the method by which the Auckland corps was raised and financed. It was resolved to push on with recruiting, and to call a meeting of all persons who have signified their intention of joining for Friday evening next at the Sin gun pit, Buckle street, when the gun.'its mountings, ammunition, etc., will be explained to members. The progress made with recruiting is considered satisfactory. The meeting adjourned until Tuesday evening at Buckle street, when further applications for enrolment xitt be received, ~

The Umpires’ Association will hold a smoko concert in tho Druids’ Hall Ibis evening. All cricketers and supporters of t}ie game are asked to attend. Tho Chinese Mission of tho Anglican Church has secured a piece of land in Frederick street, at a cost of £330, subscribed by the Von. Archdeacon Williams and the Chinese of tlm district. It i» intended to erect a mission hall at an early date.

Tho annual meeting of parishioneru of tlio Anglican churches will bo bold this month to elect churchwardens, vestrymen, and auditors. Tho triennial election of synodsmen falls duo this year, and will probably take place at tho parish meetings. Deerstalking has not attracted nearly' so much attention this year in North Otago as is usually the case. Mr A. E,Leathern, the • well-known English' sportsman, has gone to the Hunter Hills, South Canterbury, and the Rot W. C. Oliver, formerly of Wellington, to Lake Ohau.

Tho Railway Department has pro* claimed the taking for railway purposes of fifty-three acres cf laud on the hillside of tho railway between Potone and Lower Hutt. This embraces practically tho whole of tho hillside area fromi the Lower Hutt Railway Station halfway to White's line. Madame Nila Steele, who met withl a serious accident last Saturday, is recovering, but it may still bo some weeks before she can bo back at hen studio. 'Jins is most unfortunate for! Madame Steele, as she was hoping to.' present pupils at her next rending,’ which was intended for an early date. She has many sympathisers who will look forward to her early recovery.

At a meeting of tbo council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce JO torday, Mr G. Shirtcliffe was appointed to succeed Mr D. J. Nathan as president for the ensuing year. Mr John Dun* can was appointed vice-president. It was resolved that the secretary should make arrangements for the deputations which are to interview Ministers, aa agreed to at the annual meeting of tlid Chamber on Tuesday. The Bible-in-scbools Council intends to pursue a vigorous campaign in view of the forthcoming general ; election, and lias asked for a sura of £COO for.' expenses, including the salary „ of the organising agent. Of this sum the committee considers Wellington Provincial District should provide £250.. Bishop Wallis has guaranteed £IOO oil behalf of th© Anglican congregation, and Mr J. G. W. Aitkeu, M.H.R., a similar amount on behalf of the Presbyterians. There is thus a balance of £SO to be obtained by subscription.

A mooting convened by Mr James’ Moore, of th© Missions to Seamen, will bo held in the Town Hall to-night, in connection with the movement to obtain better provision for saving lives of shipwrecked persons. Addresses will bo given by the Mayor, Mr Hall-Jone» (Minister of Marine), and Mr.'Moore (who promises new expert evidence). The Garrison Band will play,’ ballads will be sung by Miss May Gloiidini-ng and Mr D. X- Lillicrap, and string music will be provided by Misses Elsie Hennah, Barber, and F. 0. Meadows.

Tho-ladies to whom has been allot*■'’'l fcho task of canvassing the city foi* subscriptions to the Consumptive Hospital Fund have already commenced their work. The object is distinctly a popular one, and as th© sympathy of all classes is desired, nobody need refrain from giving on the ground of inability to give a largo sum. In Taranaki the sura of £205 was collected in shilling subscriptions alone, and no objection will lie tak<fn to similar small amounts in Wellington. It is desirable that subscribers should make their' donations to the ladies who are cane vassing their own particular, locality.

There is no intention whatever ont tlio part of the Government to introduce the metric system at any definite date. The authority of the Weights and Measures Act, 1903, is merely permissive. enabling the Government . toi proclaim the decimal system at any time after January Ist, 1906, that it may think fit. But, as Colonel Pitt explained when the bill was before Parliament, New Zealand would not Ixa likely to set up an isolated decimal system without, say, England or Australia doing the same. The action which the Commonwealth now proposes to take may forward the oijoct in view, but at present tiro proclamation of the metric! system is quite indefinite.

Replying to an objection to valuations that arose in the Nelson district, the Valuer-General stated that it waa the practice of the department in oases where there was considerable objection to arrange for the valuer to see and confer with objectors, and the chief clerk of the department would arrange a time and place for the conference. There are something over two thousand entries on the roll of the borough, and the Valuer-General ha* received objections from about two hundred persons. Ho expresses tho hop* that all who wish to discuss their valuations, besides those who have lodged objections, will not consider the absence of an objection as a bar to their doing so. ' The following riflemen will comprise the team to be sent to Bisley to defend

the Kolapore Cup:—Rifleman W. J■Milroy (champion), Private W. Ching (ex-champion), and Colour-Sergeant Ir-, vine, Nelson ■ Rifleman George Hawthorne, Wellington; Sergeant Hruinmond, Dannevirke; Private T. Jack, Christchurch ; Rifleman P. Wilkie, Upper Hu tt; Rifleman O. Craw, Ohorlton, Banks Peninsula, Canterbury Lieutenant Martin, Timaru; Priva% Percy Brown, Waihi; Rifleman W. Loveday, Mauriceville; And Colour-Sergeant McKenzie, Oamaru. Six other riflemen —H. Hawthorne and A. Ballinger, Wellington; G. Hyde and R. J.'King, Masterton; Sandford, Christchurch; and Smaill, Kaitangata—were offered places, but are unable to go. Major Hughes, of Wanganui, will be in charge of the team.

A winter cruise in sunny seas! The. prospect is certainly alluring, especially when there is a new and splendid three-thousand-ton steamer like the s.s Navua in which to make such an ideal excursion. Those who wish to avoid the winter weather, and at the same time take a most enjoyable holiday, can hardly do better than avail themselves of the delightful cruise among the South Sea Islands advertised in this issue by the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand. At this time of the year, and for several months to come, perfect weather is to be met with in these enchanted seas. Life in the Islands is, moreover, full of romantic interest. There is a glamour about these tropical regions which a visit almost invariably enhances. The trip has health and pleasure inseparably associated with it. Pull information concerning fares and steamers will he afforded by the Union Steam Ship Company on .applies,Hon.

IV.yment of a dividend of 8 per cent., t!) orb 'll" £1282 3s 7<l, is recommended ,ii l i e annual report of the directors of tiie Wellington Opera House Company. '! lie retiring directors, -Messrs Barber mid Giliner, offer themselves for ro election.

A proposal lias been made that a hospital district, separate from that of Wellington, should bo formed, on the West Coast of the North Island, and at a mooting at Shannon on Wednesday night, resolutions in favour of that course wore adopted. At tho Onslow Bazaar, now being hold in St. John’s schoolroom, Dixon street, is a lino-looking, clevorly-constrnctcd working model of a modem steamship. Tile model was made by Mr Thomas Kao, who had tho misfortune to lose an arm in tho South African campaign. Tho model is for sale.

A doiuitatien from tho Kainmga County Council, consisting of Messrs S. Lnxford. S. Clrccr, and J. S. Nathan, will wait upon the Minister of Public Works this morning, in reference to tho control and upkeep of tho Manawatu Gorge road. Tho deputation will he introduced by Mr W. T. Wood, M.H.R. An appeal on behalf of tho Maori Mission Fund has been addressed to all Anglican clergy in tho Wellington diocese. Tt sots forth that while tho contributions from the Maoris themselves aro sensibly increasing, thoro will probably ho a shortage of £IOO for the year. Tho sum required from the Wellington diooeso is £550 per annum.

The proposal of the Wellington City Council to borrow £249,_5C0 for water supply extension, public lighting, now dosimeter, additions to Public library and other works, will he submitted to a poll of tho ratepayers next Wednesday. Detailed information regarding the works to be undertaken, together with a list of polling-places, will ho found in another part of this paper. •

According to tho “Otaki Mail,” the infant child of Mr R. Ewart, of Rikiorangi, apparently died on Sunday evening, tho heart ceasing to heat and tho body becoming cold and rigid; but about two hours and a half later the nurso was astonished to hear tho child crying. Next morning tho infant again relapsed, and died. It was ten days eld, and had been weakly from birth.

Abraham and Williams, Ltd., will soil stock at’ Johnsonvillo next Tuesday, at Waikanao on Wednesday, and at -Palmerston on Thursday.

Tho D.T.C. will bo open till 9-30 tonight. Holiday excursion tickets will be issued on Government railways in connection with tho races at Masterton.

Tho time-table of tho WeTUngton Steam Ferry Company's steamers is advertised this morning.

Messrs J. H. Bothuno and Co. will soil Dr G. W. Van Slyke's furniture at his residence. No. 103, Willis street, next Wednesday morning. Catalogues may be obtained from tho auctioneers, and the furn turo will bo on view on Tuesday afternoon.

The D.I.C.* makes combination skirts for riding cycling, or walking. A pattern is now on view in tho firm’s temporary warehouse.

Messrs Wardoli Bios, and Co. have an advertisement in another column pointing out to heads of families how money Is to bo saved.

Tho Wellington Education Board will receive applications till tho 25th- inst. for tho position of third inspector of scliools. The salary is JBOO per annum, with travelling allowance.

The Dresden Piano Company sots forth in our advertising columns the merits ot tho Lipp pianos. Messrs Harconrt and Co. direct attention to their fresh list of town and conntry properties for immediate sale on easy terms.

Messrs Stewart Dawson and Co. draw attention to a largo shipment of silver and electro-plated goods just to hand. Mr C. Aitken’s "pictorial post cards.” which ho is disposing of along the Wel-lington-Napier section of the railway, are well designed, and give a vivid representation of the Rimutaka incline, and other places of interest. The views are really very striking and novel, Mr J. W. Braithwaite, Johnsonville, has a poultry farm to let oh long lease. Messrs Radford and Co.. Petone, have several good building Sections for sale. Messrs Sidey, Meech and Co, will sell horses, vehicles, etc., at the Nag's Head yard, Dixon street, this morning. At their rooms, this, afternoon, they will sell furniture, drapery and other goods. The Wellington Education Board invites applications for aaaistantshipa in the Secondary Department of the six District High Schools opened at the beginning of the present year.

Messrs Macdonald, Wilson and Co. announce the sale by auction, on the 27th instant, of forty-one building sections at Kelburne. They are situate at the southern end in close proximity to Aro street, and the electric tram service there. Plans are being prepared, and will be available in a few days. Also on the 27th instant, the firm will submit a magnificent block of some 1800 acres of swamp land, recently drained, situate in the Mungaroa Valley, and within two and a half miles from the Wallaceville railway station. Full details appear.

Messrs W. H. Turnbull and Co.’s fresh list of city and suburban properties advertised for private sale contains particulars of several houses situated on the Mount Victoria slopes; also a newlybuilt house at Kilbirnie on a large secticji (said to be a bargain at ,£500), and some attractive city investments. Twenty allotments, the balance of the Berhamporo subdivision, are particularised in a separate advertisement, also thirtyfive sections at York Bay. This property adjoins Lowry Bay, and will in the near future, be one of the most desirable seaside residential localities in the environments of the city. The Monaghan Estate (Tvarori) is also dealt,with in another advertisement.

Tenders are invited for purchasing the freehold property of the Hawke's Bay Woollen Manufacturing Company, with plant and fixtures. '■. ’ Abraham and Williams, Ltd., will hold an important land sale at Palmerston North next Satnrday. Details are given on page 8. The Dunedin Drainage Board invites tenders for the supply of a locomotive crane.