LOCAL AND GENERAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5598, 26 May 1905, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Parliament will meet for the despatch of business on Tuesday, June 27th. The Harbour Board has instructed its solicitor to prepare a consolidation of the Board’s local as desired by the Department of Justice. Tlie Harbour Board has accepted tho tender of Messrs Donald McLean and Co. for the construction of a wharf at Bona Bay. The contract price is £4145 Os 1 3d. Tho tender of Messrs Hcnshall, Thomas and Son; of Christchurch, at £6310, has been accepted hy the Government for additions and alterations to the Christchurch Post Office. Sir J. R. Blair has been appointed a School ■ Commissioner for Wellington, Messrs A. Fanil and J. Wade for Taranaki, and Messrs ,J. J. Patterson and Thomas Tanner for Hawke’s Bay. On Empire Day a wreath of chrysanthemums was laid on tho stops of tho Queen’s monument in front of the Post Office/ “in affectionate remembrance from someone who loved her.” Tho envelope attached bore tho quotation “■She wrought her empire lasting Tood.”

S. B. Greendalc, a solicitor, and a remittance man from England was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday night in an unconscious state. Sergeant Griffiths found him in a dazed condition in Taranaki place near the rear of the Royal Oak Hotel. Two young men who saw Greendale fall state that his head was bandaged before the accident. His injuries consist of a slight fracture of the skull.

deputation from the Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce will wait upon Sir Joseph Ward at Palmerston to-morrow asking that steps be taken to lay a light railway to Foxton, so as to give access to the land already held by the Government there as a pleasure resort for the people of Rangitikei and Mnuawatu. At present there is no convenient watering-place for these districts, and the object of the movement is to provide one.. The trouble caused by people not keeping correct books was the subject of some comment by Dr A. McAithur, S.M., when delivering judgment in a civil case yesterday. “The Court,” ne said, “ has had several cases before it of Tate. Such laxity is not fair to alleged debtors, causes great trouble to the creditor’s own solicitors, who cannot tell where they are, and prevents the Court getting at a correct estimate of affairs. Those who, by their ncgleot, bring about such au unsatisfactory state of affairs deserve to suffer. Plaintiffs who bring cases of this kind must be prepared to satisfy the Court up to the hilt of the .righteousness of their claims,”

At yesterday’s meeting of the Harbour Board, the Wharfage and Accounts Committee recommended: “That on the next revision of the by-laws an amendment he made in the wharfage rates providing that the outwards wharfage on ballast should only he charged on ono shipment in each year.” Mr Ferguson stated that some small boats running between Wellington and Australia had to. go back in ballast perhaps four or five times in the year.' In Australia they were not charged wharfago on ballast at all, and they were billy charged in two Now Zealand ports besides Wellington, Estimated on the baris of last year, the revenue .would only suffer to the extent of £GO. The recommendation, was agreed to.

Bsceatly in Christchurch an industrial union sued some of its members for subscriptions due, the amounts claimed including fines 1 cried in accordance with the rules. The presiding Magistrate gave judgment for the actual subscriptions , due, but declined to include in the judgment fines for non-attendance at mootings. Several cases were brought before Dr McArthur, 8.M., yesterday t by the Wellington Drivers’ Union, and in three instances judgment was obtained by tile union where 10s fines had been sued for. Buie 36 of the union’s regulation provides: “Any member who becomes thirteen weeks in arrears with his subscriptions subjects himself to a fine not exceeding 10s, at the discretion of the committee.” The resolution of the committee agreeing to fine was presented for inspection by the secretary. In one case tile defendant absolutely denied that he was, or ever had been, a member of the union. Ho also denied his signature in the membership blockbook (attested by the (secretary), and stated that he was constantly being pestered to jj»in the organisation. The Magistrate asked him_ to write his signature on a blank piece of paper, and on comparing.if with that in the book declared that there was not the slightest difference between the two. Th’is particular defendant, he said, and the others sued would be ordered to pay the full amounts claimed, Section X sof the 'lndustrial. Conciliation and Arbitration Act provides that unions may claim from members fines levied in accordance with their rules.

“Elector” writes:—A large number of people are in a fog as to the differ cnee in the moan.tig between “no license” and “prohibition.” Will Mir Fisher or Mr Taylor, at the meeting tonight at tho Town Hall, kindly explai* tho difference, if any? On Monday his Excellency tho Governor and a party paid a visit of inspeo. tion to tjio Kaiapoi monument erected by the natives to the memory of tho defenders of Kaiapohia when tho place was besieged by Te Bauparaha. The soft stonework was found to bo disgracefully disfigured. Steps will have to he taken to protect the memorial from vandalism. Tho Wellington Education Board does not deem it necessary to order fresh, elections of school committees at Taratahi West and Epuni, against which protests had been lodged on the ground of certain informalities. The protests were regarded as trivial, and it was considered that the informalities would not have affected the results of tho election. At the Supreme Court to-day the following prisoners will be brought before the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) for sentence:—George Hick ton, forgery, Taihape; Joseph Iliffo, breaking and entering, Wanganui; Frank W Howell, theft, Palmerston North; and Francis Henry Jeffrey, forgery, Napier. His Honor will sit in Divorce at 0.39 a.m., with the view of clearing as many undefended cases off tho paper as possible. The monthly meeting of the Oolleg* Governors was held yesterday morning. Tho following statement of finance was presented :—Balance at bank last month, 1 £lO 2s Cd; payments college, £403 17» 9d payments Girls’ High School, £l4l ,10s 8d: total, £553 10s lid. The reoeips from the college amounted to £173 12s Bd, and from the Girls’ High School £67 11s 7d, which, with tho rents due (£159 15s M), leave a debit balance of £157 10s lid. It was decided to call for tenders for the laying of a 4in watermain from Hie corner of Ellice and Brougham streets to Wellington College for fire extinction purposes. Yesterday morning a police constable noticed a body floating in tho harbour near tho Star Boating Club's shed. Tho body, which was clothed in a sae suit and mackintosh, was taken to the morgue, and in the afternoon was identified as that of a journeyman tailor named David ‘Thompson, : about fortyfjvo years of age who has been in tha employ of Mr Ncwson, tailor, Lower Cuba street. For about two years do ceased had boon residing in Wellington, at Mr E- Redmond’s boarding-lmnso, Hopper street. Ho left his home on Wednesday evening, about 7 o'clock, and did not return. A letter found oa the body indicated that, deceased was a married man, whoso family reside at Cromwell, Otago.' An inquest will hi held to-day. v

Search is still being made by the police for tho; man Digby Hunt, for merly of Reeftbn, who disappeared from bis place of residence, Banks terrace, a week ago. It was reported to the police that ho had similarly disappeared some years ago,, hut his wife, who 1m come up to Wellington, denies this statement. The harbour, in tho vicinity of the Railway Wlmrf, was dragged by-the police, and a diver wont down and examined tho bottom in that locality without result. The description of the man supplied to (bo police roads: -“Thirty-eight years of ago, sft Blin in height, fair’complexion, strong build, light brown hair and mouetorhc s middle finger, missing from knuckle joint 'on right hand, dressed in light brown sao suit, grey cap, and lace-up boots,” Two young men—Frank QTlagan and Henry Stetohrnan wore yesterday thanked by Dr McArthur,: S.M., in tins. Police Court, for assisting a constable to arrest a .woman and a man who created a disturbance in Adelaide road on Wednesday evening, / Too often, -ho said, conduct of a very 'different kind was met with. . In this city—and in other cities for the matter of that,, fm Wellington was not a partieular exception— the police were : often hampered in their duty, people sometimes going tho length of hooting. Constables frequently had uncomfortable duties to perform, and it was well that they-'could roly on. tho support of tho law-abiding, section of the community when necessary. “On behalf of tho police I thank yen,” he said to tho young men, as they lent the. Court.

The chairman of the Wellington Education Hoard iMr J. Robertson) S':'a king at the Board's meeting yestt'dav with reference to tho separation of the offices of Inspector-General of Fchoola and the Secretaryship of Education, thought that tho-'step taken in this matter by the Government tvas n very wise one. Mr Hogbon's absence from headquarters was frequently given as an excuse for corrospoadonoo not being answered. Mi Hogbon had done a good deal for the ethical part of ednoatiovi. In regard to tho cry about Education Boards _ misspending pnbljo nianey, th«, Wellington Board hod never had an opportunity of misspend ing, tor it never had the money. If ho had the reorganisation of tho Edit cation Department, he would make it "tho Audit Department, becauso there was no department that looked more closely into the spending of public monoy than tho Education Department. When tho Premier declared that Education Boards misspent publio money, he did not know what tv is being done. j

Little Barrier Island, hitherto controlled by the Auckland Institute, has been placed under the jurisdiction of the Tourist Department, and is to ha used, as formerly, for tho preservation of native game.' Tho last report from, tho curator _ (Bobert 11. Shakospoar) states that tuis and bell birds were in th# greatest numoer. The black-beaded tit and whitehead were also present in fair number, flocks of the latter being mot with in different parts of tho island, though now extinct on tho mainland Tho stitch-bird, another species now extinct upon the mainland, was incrcan ing, and was constantly met on thci lower slopes of the hills. 'Kro Tattle Barrier snipe still exists: so does tha small striped rail, one specimen of tho latter having been seen. A tuatara lizard had been captured, and it was supposed there were numbers of tlierx on the island. Tho report concludes: — “It is satisfactory to note that the* above, report speaks of tho increase of several of tho birds found on tho island, including some species not found on the mainland. There can be littl-v doubt that if a resident curator, is maintained on the island, thus prevent. ingjtJic access of collectors, tho Little Barrier will long remain a secure rf> fuge for no small number of tho avi fauna of New Zealand.”

Tho prohibition campaign is about to commence in real earnest, and will prove interesting and instructive- We have still bargains to offer—Xeat too* curtains 3s 11. .. indsoma bamboo chairs 9s, attractive mirror-hack sideboards £1 Xus. Henry Holder and Co.—Advt.

A no-lircnso meeting will bo held in {]'<■ Town Hall to-night. The speaker* will I m .Messrs Fisher and Taylor, SI.JI.RAs. The annual meeting of contributors to tlio. Wellington Sailors’ Rest will ho hold at tlio Rest next Wednesday afternoon, when five members of the committee aro to bo elected. Tire Otago Acclimatisation Society (says a Press Association mcs.sagc) has had a. successful year. Tho revenue was £1473. and the expenditure £MOR, leaving a credit balance of £6-1. During the year the Iry distributed vas ■ jsrown trout 910,000, Dock Devon 156,000. Scotch burn 103,000, American brook 8000, rainbow 15,500. In addition, yoarlings liberated wore— Brown 000, Loch Levon 2200, Scotoli ■burn 5700, rainbow 2000, salmon 1200. The Resident Magistrate at Fremantle Australia) had a lively experience on the oth inst. A prisoner named Hannis, serving iivo years for robbery witli violence, was brought before him, and sentenced to two days on bread and water for threatening a warder, lirci'cnpon the prisoner seized a heavy inkpot, and hurled it at “tho Bench," whom it just missed. Tho act gained /or the man a month’s "solitary,” and twelve strokes of tho “cat.” The Education Department has intimated its intention of replacing Hie Booth Wellington school by a budding of two stories in brick. The Board yesterday welcomed tho _ department s 'intention to rebuild in brick, hut hold Hiat owing to tho exposed position of tho site, there was objection to the school being of two stones. Further, it was thought tho work of tho classes on the ground lloor of a two-story building was moro or loss hindered by tho sound of feet overhead. The Salvation Army Biorama Company intends to visit Wellington for a /ow days. Tho company includes a brass band of twenty performers, a full orchestra, and a singing combination. X’ho opening performance is to be given for is. very worthy object. On tho Basin Reserve to-morrow evening tho band and orchestra will give a concert, and a collection is to be taken up for tho Consumptive Hospital. On Sunday morning and afternoon the company will appear at tho Army’s Citadel, in Vivian street, and in the evening at the Town Hall, whore pictures illustrative of tho life of Christ will be shown. Interesting and unique entortoinmoxits nro announced to take place in the Town Hall next Monday and Tuesday evenings.

Tho Premier told a deputation from tho Dunedin Society‘for the Protection of Women'and Children that he was firmly of opinion our laws should he brought up to date in respect to tho period during which informations can ho laid. Ho thought tho least should Iks three months, as in 33ngland. and ho jvould consider the propriety of making it oven longer. In tho meantime, ho tvas against tho deputation’s propostMon that a girl on registering an illegitimate child should state the name of dio father to the Registrar, because some girls might uso it as a means of revenge, but lie thought a girl might disclose tho name to a Registrar, leaving tho latter, before putting the name on record, to call on the person earned to meet the charge. Acting on the judgment of Mr Stanford, then Stipendiary Magistrate at New Plymouth, that the Licensing Act recognised the existence of a bonn-fido traveller. Herbert Hay, landlord of St. Hellers Bay Hotel, served a party cf Auckland excursionists on Sunday, December 25th, He was charged at Auckland yesterday, before Mr McCarthy, Stipendiary Magistrate, and pleaded guilty to keeping his hotel open and (serving beer during prohibited hours. The (Sown Prosecutor said he recognised Hay had been misled by Mr Stanford's judgment, and he did not press for more than a nominal penalty. The Magistrate imposed a fine of Is and costs, remarking that the defendant committed the offence under tho sanction of a Magisterial judgment. The license was not endorsed.

A meeting of women sympathisers with Father Hays’s temperance crusade was held in the Trades Hall last night. Mr P. J. O’Regan, who was present, read several letters from Father Hays, in which tho reverend gentleman explained that h© was now engaging halls personally, in order to prevent misunderstandings arjd misrepresentations to injure his work. At tho samo time he intimated that ho would cordially accept the co-operation of citizens’ committees. Under these circumstances A was decided that a special committee of women was not required, but all those present decided to join tho Citizens’ Reception Committee, already formed. Tho meeting adjourned until Tuesday evening next, when the executive of the Citizens’ Committee will meet. Several women who spoke expressed strong sympathy with Father Hays and his work. A deputation representing the Otago University was told by the Premier, at Dunedin yesterday that the payment of tho £730 grant to the School of Mines would only ho continued three /ears, but tho Government would continue one such school in the North and another in the South Island. He approved tho curtailment of underground service for mining certificates, thinking five years tee long. In reply to a deputation from the Schools’ Association, Mr Seddon said tho actuaries’ report on superannuation gave only £lO after paying increased contributions between fifty-fivo and sixty-five years, but be thought tho difficulties were not insuperable. He intended to convene a conference of teachers and school managers and thresh out tire question with a view to legislation this session. Ho approved of Education Boards being elected on a more popular basis, and favoured tho adoption of the Parliamentary franchise.

Last evening the Rev. Dr James Gibb delivered'a lecture in St. John’s Hall, Dixon street, the subject being "Some Experiences of a Traveller in Italy.” The lecturer limited his discourse chiefly to Naples, and to the long-buried city of Pompeii. The earlier part of the lecture was mainly devoted to an amusing description of the impressions made by the Italians upon tho mind of a stranger, and the adventures which befell travellers in a foreign country. In the latter part of the lecture, Dr Gibb eloquently de<oribed his ascent of Mount Vesuvius and his visit to Pompeii. He also sought to interpret the new Roman civilisation in the light gleaned from the discoveries of tho old Roman houses, temples, theatres, and pictures exhumed at Pompeii, and pointed out the striking contrast 'between the civilisation of the work! under the "teachings of Ohrist and that which obtained in tho days of paganism. Tho lecture was listened to with very marked interest. At its conclusion, a vote of thanks to Dr Gibb was carried by aoVlamation, on tho motion of Mr IV. G. Glasgow. Mr G. H. Troup occupied tho chair.

Pending tho decision of the higher Court in the pak-a-poo cases in which Wellington Chinese were convicted by tho Stipendiary Magistrate, tho game is still being conducted by tho Chinese “banks” in TLaimng street.

Tho Accountants’ Institute at Dunedin was advised by the Premier yesterday to get a private member to introduce a hill to make the public accounts subject to audit by certificated accountants. Tho Government has decided to hand over tho native school at Papaw'ai to tlio 'Wellington Education Board, and tho transfer will take effect as from September Ist, to allow necessary notice bong g aii to tfle prevent teacher. Tho school slto is part of a Church of England reserve, and is held by tho dox>artinfcnt at a peppercorn rout under a lease of twenty-ouo years, dating from November 2nd, 1880. Hie trustees sug r ,- < tho leas© he allowed to rim out. and they will then bo prepared to grant the Board a renewal. Tho Board has accepted tine transfer. Messrs Stewart, Dawson and Co. draw attention to a shipment of silver and el. ctro-platcd ware, comprising vegetable, chafing, entree and butter dishes, etc. The WelTngton and Manawatn Railway Company announce holiday fares in connection with tho Utaki races on Juno Urd and sth. Messrs Humo and Son, Willis street, announce tho arrival of now season s Ceylon tea. Messrs Scott and Co. have offices to let. It. Hannah and Co., Ltd., announce a special salo of sample shoes at bargain prices. Messrs W. XI. Morrah and Co. will hold an important sale of silverware and cutlery at their rooms this afternoon. Tho goods comprise what is described as one of tho finest collections ever offered at auction in Wellington. Details are set out on our eighth page. Tenders are invited by the Railway Department for tho lease of the railway refreshment rooms at Mastorton, Christchurch and Palmerston South. The New Zealand Clothing Factory has a good stock of overcoats. Reduced prices of sugar are announced in our advertising columns by Messrs Wardoll Bros, and Co., Willis street. Colonial and English blanlcots are advert. sed at special prices by Mr C. Smith, Cuba street. To-day and to-morrow Messrs Sidey, Mooch and Co. will hold an unreserved sale of boots, shoeo and slippers at their rooms. Details appear on page 8. Messrs T. Turnbull and Son want tenders for roof-painting and for the erection of technical workshops in Mercer street. Messrs Levien, Shalicracs and Co, will sell boots, drapery, clothing, etc., on behalf of Mr Darcy Ford this afternoon. Messrs J. H. Bothuno and Co. will sell in their auction rooms, Peatherston street, at 2.30 this afternoon, the leasehold property No. 25, Hobson street, in tho estate of the lato C. B. Izard, Esq. The residence contains hi rooms with every convenience, and tho land has an area of 1;J acres fronting Hobson street and Thorndon quay. The lease has 14 years to run. Tlie property is one of the best family residences in tho city, Messrs Bctiiune and Co. will also sell a sevenroumed dwellinghouse, No. 10, Percival street, having ail conveniences and commanding an excellent view. The section has 10ft frontage and the property lets at 38s per week.