LOCAL AND GENERAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5668, 16 August 1905, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tie Native Appellate Court appears to be a body possessed of unique judicial functions and powers. According to Sir Robert Stout and Mr Justice Cooper it stands alone its an independent tribunal, whose decisions are in all respects final. Their Honors yesterday concurred in a reserved judgment in winch they said that if the Native Appcuatc Court was “seized” of a dispute between natives and natives affecting a title to native land, that Court could do as it pleased. It might proceed contrary to what was called "na. turai justice” or adopt a course of procedure that au English Court, or the Supreme Court, or the Court of Appeal of this colony would not adopt, and it could not bo interfered with. Indeed, the Legislature had clothed this Native Appellate Court with more power than the Supreme Court of Now Zealand. Their Honors declared that this is tiie position of that Court as the law r at present stands.

The schedule for* tho twentieth agricultural show and industrial exhibition of the IVlanawatu and West Coast A. and P. Association, Palmerston North, is to hand. Tho classes, totalling 691, arc comprehensively set forth in a hook of some sixty pages. The prizes offered amount to £1650. In addition, there is £IOO offered in cash prizes by the Manawatu Kennel Club, which holds its show in conjunction with the exhibition. Tho association offers many valuable inducements to exhibitors at the forthcoming show, which is to be held on November Ist, 2nd i and 3rd. Prize-lists can be obtained free on application to the secretary.

The flag of the American Vice-Consul (Mr John Duncan) lias been flying halfmast over Levin and Co.’s building for tho past few days, and the carious have been asking why? The reason is that instructions wore received from Washington that the flag was to ho flown at half-mast for ten days in respect to the l memory of the late Colonel John Hay, the -Secretary of State.

In tho course of a statement before the Police Commission yesterday, Commissioner Dhinie produced a list of offences committed in the four largo centres of tho colony during last year. This showed that the police work in Dunedin was not so heavy as in the other cities. The figures were as follows: —Auckland, 4GSS ; Wellington, 4C29; Christchurch, 3913; Dunedin. 1730. An unusual case was before the Dunedin Magistrate’s Court yesterday. A mar. was charged with driving a vehicle in front of an electric tramcar for a quarter of a mile. The prosecution contended that the whole tramway service was delayed as the result of such practice, which was too common, and would probably end in a fatal accident. Tho accused was fined 20s and costs (28s). The Public Works Department is calling for tenders for the construction of the Alexander’s Bluff road bridge, to be erected, across the Motneka river (Nelson) about seven miles from the wharf. The bridge, which is to be constructed on tho truss system, will have five spans in all—two of 110 ft, one of 80ft, and two end spans of 20ft each. The bridge will be supported by concrete piers on cylindrical foundations.

A light buoy which has been fitted up by tho Harbour Board is now lying on the Queens Wharf undergoing a lighting trial preparatory to being taken out and moored on the Falcon shoal. This is tho first light buoy that tin Wellington Harbour Board has used. It ifc fitted with a V igham patent light which should burn continuously for thirty-one days. The buoy will not bo taken out to its mooring: until it ha-s undergone a satisfactory test of its efficiency.

Mr J. M. Moorov will hold a meeting in tlie New Century Hall to-night under (ho auspices of the Association of Spiritualists. The evening will -he devoted to "tests.”

At the sitting of the Police Commission yesterday Commissioner Dinnto mentioned in the course of his evidence. I bat in Wellington at present the proportion of police to inhabitants was one f.i 137 A. The maintenance co«t of the, local force ■ was L’s 10',<1 per inhabitant per annum. Tasmania'* cast per head was lie said, ibe next lowest, namely 3s 2d. Mr.Poynion asked Mr Dinnio for returns showing the proportion of police to in--habitants for twenty years back at census periods. This' the Commissionerof Police undertook to furnish.

Tho following are some of t-ho- price* realised at Messrs Bethnno and Co.'r sale of books yesterdayC. F. d« Hebron's "Histoire de I’F.xpedition do Tmis Vaissaux (17211,'’ Dos: BligbV “Voyage to the South Sea," 17s (id; High's “Mutiny of the Bounty,” 10s Bd; Broos’s "Pictorial Illustrations of New Zealand,'’ 245; Burkes works (3 vols.V, ISs -, Claret's "Discoveries of tho French in 17tsW 17s Gel; "Drake's Voyages.’ 1.75; “FUtulors’s Voyage,” 20s; “Hochstetlor's Now Zealand,” 2Ssj "Hume’s History of Knghmd,” in ten. largo -volumes, £j os; “Captain Hunter's Journal," 2os The sale will be resumed at 1 o'clock to-day. At the fortnightly meeting of (ih» State Schools’ Defence League, held yest erday, it was resolved; “ That- the executive desires to thank those members of tlio House of Representatives who championed t-ho rights of conscience against tho clerical tyranny which is threatened hy Mr Sidey's Biblo Plebiscite Bill, and trusts that, if the bill cannot bo entirely defeated im committee, the proposal to bo submitted to tlio popular vote will bo altered to tho following form; 1 .Are yon in favour of tho leaching in the Stat« schools remaining entirely of a secular character as at present.’ ” A copy of this resolution is to be sent to each, member of Parliament.

The Wellington sitting of the Police* Commission concluded yesterday. Tho chief feature of the proceedings was tha evidence tendered by the Commissioner of Police (Mr W. Diiinie), who made a good deal of interesting comment upon tho statements and suggestions of witnesses heard in various parts of tho colony by tho Commission. Mr Dimiio also put in, in the form of a letter to tho Minister for Justice, an important document containing recommendations arrived at by himself, after conferring with tho inspectors, for tho improvement of the sujwrvision of the colonial police force. . Further evidence wan taken of members of the force, a largo proportion bearing upon the system of control aud supervision in Dunedin, ami tho police thefts there which led to tli® appointment of tho Commission. The subject of the friction in Auckland between the inspector and sub-inspector also cropped up. Tho Commifisigncrfl will this morning pay visits of inspection to tho Lambtoii quay and MountCook Police Stations, there having beoui evidence that both are sadly lacking m accommodation. A full report of yesterday’s proceedings appears in another part of this issue.

Their Honors Sir Robert Stout, C,J. t and Mr Justice Cooper, in delivering their reserved judgments in a native land appeal case yesterday, took occasion to make striking reference to the fact that, although many matters principally affecting title to lands were governed to a largo extent by what is termed “native custom,” there is no authoritative definition of whit Maori custom or usage was or is. Their Honors aro strongly of opinion, that these custom-s of the New- Zealand aborigines should bo codified and actually passed into law. As things aro at present, property of enormous value is practically dependent upon laws which find place in no statute, code, or judicial decision ; and the difficulties of Native Land Courts are added to by the fact that they have to adopt Maori, ideas, so far as they can bo determined, to tho varying stale of native civilisation and the changing laws of Europeans. Although the remarkable system by which the Maoris perpetuate knowledge of their flolk-lore enables many of their ancient manners, ceremonies, and customs to bo handed down from father to son with wonderful accuracy of detail, it is found that ns tho old people pass away many usages aro hut faint-Iy remembered.

It was stated at the sitting of the State Coalmines Board yesterday that Point TClizaboth coal, as it is supplied to tho Bailway Department for the working railways, burned in quantities about 30 per cent, greater than Brunner coal. The chief reason for ibis is undue proportion of “slack” in the coni, but the Point Idizaboth article is also stated to be lighter than some other West Coast coals. At tho sitting progressed, Mr Green endeavoured to show that an alleged system of dual control at Wellington and. the mines was productive of bad results; and some interesting evidence on this point was adduced. There was also a good deal of discussion on the action of the Mines Department in refusing to supply State coal to certain dealers in the city, for reasons which are set ou<'. in the full report of the proceedings. Before the sitting closed, the chairman referred, with a suggestion of regret, that the Board liad not tho powers of a Royal Commission. It had no power to command witnesses to attend, but. any person who oamo along to give evidence would be gladly heard. Tho Commission sits at 10 a.in. to-day, when, it is understood, two or throe* dealers will be in attendance. So far, no representatives of “the people” have put in an appearance.

A vastly interesting collection of an* cic-nt publications, mostly back-dated newspapers of the time when the press! of the day was very immature, is at present on exhibition in the window of Mr James U. Speed, on Larabton quay., There is a little paper with queer advertisements called “The Timas” (of London), dated Juno 22nd, 1815—“ Tho Thunderer” of ninety years ago. The early part of the eighteenth oontury is, represented by a quaint little sheet about the size of modern noto-paper, called Iho “ Northr mptou Mercury,” or “ Monday’s Post.” It makes trying reading for modern eyes owing to the alterations made in the configuration of some of the letters since the date ol its publication—May 2nd, 1720. The press of over half a century later is represented by a faded yellow sheet branded “The Glocefter Journal,” which moans “ The Gloucester Journal.” Its date is November 3rd, 1783. .America, where printing has made amazing strides, is represented by a copy of the “New York Evening Post” of November 10, 1801. A hand-written paper, or the fac-similo of one, is th® “ Melbourne Advertiser,” written for and published bv John P. Fawkncr, at Melbourne, in January, IS3B. Three years later a paper was printed in Wellington, papers of local interest on exhibition consist of copies of the 1\ oliington Independent ” and “Spectator” of tho forties.

TTm Afhenic., which arrived from .London yoK* cnluy. \)i % ttu<'h \ ‘J. VJ. /><•'■ <<•..- lor Nctv /cul nml Tim ,-i‘vciit.li .innuni iu.ll nf llic LcjL, ''‘oil Lrrn-M Vidnol !■ -r ion tool: pin- - ;if. tL- Syo'my f>‘!ioo(rooMi Inst rvo'ii.n‘4. N•ry f 0:0; o fu*ra.rwm f -nt,s Jhm] 1>» on ni.i<!<* lor toy 1 1 crtuiiinicnt r>i‘ t'ur , >.fs hy tin nrjji n : o Vfj/n mil t ro. njjfl un> InnrMon. u'liic;i v.o ; largely jjad-od off pl*'Gisantiy. A );u-j4(; mimh'T of (‘nine-. linvc alroo./lv }>rnii ifMM’ivdJ ior tin.; iorl nnoauiio v.nrmul show of tin' V\ on iyiincl Club, Lo ho }h-M on iho UM.I. arni ASm insL, at 1 h<' !>ri!M.o<J. 'J h<- rommittn* v/ill moot 10-nh'ht «o ario.nyy* ionlmr iJ.;Ui!w for tho man. o.ononi oi Ur f.hu-.v. tM,t ri« ch>-v. mxl .SMunUy ' hi. A (imputation rcTirf'sontiri" -ho Alai; [ioroiioji lain'l ami Kaih'.iiy ii otyoio. tin* I ilen’iej Tll (.'luunbcr Ilf < ’T.mmei-i e. Til,,; Hie Oral boibc, I.f .Marlborough is Hi nail, uji the I’i<• 111 icf and tin- .Mmi-tr for Public AVorl.s this evening, at 8 o'ehiek, regarding the extension )rnm Beililon of Hie Sont li Maud Mam I milk railway, and other matters. The Hon V. li.' .Mils, member for Wniran. and jMr A. W. Rutherford, member for Hnruuui, will accompany tiie deputation. The. lambs nio-t suitable ior In-ezmg ami for Hie Hendon market whii/h were exhibited at the M-.e-teriou show in i‘ebruaiw bust were l sent to Bondon in in. frozen slate, ami judged by .Messis ,IL H. Filler and Sous, wi' li the followin'' results: Umi, 1 and 2; AV. V. Rmhaiun (C.,Merton). 3: AV. H. Hoot h (Carterton), 1. Thee rentli.s have just I"™ teeeived he Hie .Ma-terfon A. and P. AssoeiaI ion. At Hm show the awards were as .follow:—Perry Pros, 1; W. C Burhaiiaii, 2; Perry Pros., >i; W . hi. J loot 1 1, nnplueed. "The Aiiilual Provident Messenger" Jfor August, in the course of an article headed “New Zealand,'' quotes with apyirovnl the figures published hy the Registrar-Geneva,!. deal!n; wit li Hie progress of the colony from 1891 to 19(H. and adds: —'‘.Naturally, we would expect life insurance also to expand under these conditions. The Government Lite insurance Department increased its husinos.s in the ten years .Irom jai.aaa.WX) to ,CU.251,000 as-sur-vd, including bonuses; whilst tho .New /e-ahuul lira licit ol our own society increased its business from £7,433,000 to jC10,52b,01j0 assured, including bonuses. Uur meiulx-rs will, we bulieve. bo pleased to observe these ovidonees of progress all rouiul, and particularly in regard to our own progress, in comparison with those of the New Zealand Government Into Insurance Department." Air Poyntou, one of the Cotnmisiiiouers, at yesterday’s sitting of thePolico Commission, spoke ol tho urgent necessity that ho considered existed lor induoiiig young men in the country ■districts to join the police lorcc. Tie mud that very few ul tln-m knew anything about the conditions of the ser•cioo. Pollco Commissioner Diimio said tUro probablo reason why no great elibrt had been made ill the past to attract these young men was that Hie applications fully mot ail requirements. Air Poyntou mado tho rejoinder that it was desirable to secure a better class of men, whereupon. .Ur .Dinuie contended Hart the majority of tho force •would compare most favourably with uny oUier force. Air Poyntou said that was no reason why a better class istill should not be induced to come for■ward. Ho thought they should be advertised for, and the benefits of joining the foroo, conditions, etc., mado known in that way. Air Diiiuio agreed ■that tho idea might bo worth putting into practice.

“The Excursion Journal*” published by T. Allnami and Sons—the “Cooks” of Japan—-is a sample of the enterprise that characterises the Japanese. ibis ti'nely-illustrated periodical gives full details of the methods of travel in Japan ami the faeihti.v. "it rad '.•» • i- 1>t,ors to see the wonders of the country. Among the facilities there is mentioned i!ho fact that, tourists arriving by Pacific steamers arc allowed to travel free or at greatly reduced rates over the Government railways. On the Sanyo railways all trains except local ones are made up ■of fine corridor carriages, lilted with ■electric light and heattxl by steam, ■while each train carries several attendants to minister to the convenience and comfort of travellers, 'there are no fewer than seventeen electrical tramway companies in .japan—the first lino to he constructed being that built in 1895 in Kyoto, eight miles in length. The total extent of electric tramlines now open is 120 miles, and there arc 85 miles more in course of construction. ‘‘The hxcur<;ion Journal” is published lit English.

In an article on “the Opening of the (Seoul-Fusan Hallway,” tho “Korean Review” refers to tho work as ono of international importance, as it marks a definite period in the construction of a ■hlirough line that will connect Pusan ■with the whole of Europe. Tho trip from Tokio to London will then require lout a few hours of sea travel. The Korean Straits and tho Straits of Dover are the eastern and western sen barriers which separate the two Island Empires from the great continent, and only a few miles of track require to bo laid to complete tho through communication ■xif land. On the Scoul-Fusnn lino tho •trains arc to be drawn by 120-ton Baldwin engines, and tho permanent way, bridges, culverts, and tunnels are all ■of most substantial construction. Tho speed will ho equal to thirty miles an hour, including stoppages. The formal (opening of tho line was made the occasion of a great demonstration at tho Seoul terminus, when speeches wore delivered in Japanese, Korean, and English. Prince Fashion of Japan presided •over the ceremonies.

The allegations ventilated at Monday’s sitting of the Police Commission by Constable Simpson, of undue preference being given to Roman Catholics In connection with appointments to the •force, -were met yesterday by Commissioner Dinnie. Ho stated in evidence that there was no foundation for the .statements that had boon made. In support of his contention, ho handed in •to the Commissioners lists showing appointments made since 1877. Roth •Commissioners expressed themselves as aatmtied that tile lists disproved the allegation that any preference was shown. .At the close of the sitting Sub-Inspector O’Douovan desired the Commissioners to recall Constable Simpson, and ask him whether, having heard their remarks and the extracts read from Mr Dinnie’s lists, ho was satisfied he had been in error in supposing preference did exist. He wanted the constable to say publicly whether he had now changed his views. Ilm Commissioners ruled, however, that they had nothing to do wiMi what Constable Simpson did or did not think. It did not matter whether ho was satisfied or not. The returns furnished by Mr Dinnie proved conclusively that There were no grounds for the assumption that positions in the force were given preferably to persons of any particular denomination.

.Mcs-rs Thomson and Brown, aciingicries to I lie -NVw Liberal party." roporl thin the gi ovs takings at Ihe Tow n Hall on .Monday evening were sif, PH. The expcii-.es. inclmling hire ol hall, ad vert is:iig, etc., were P2U 2s od, leaving a net linlanc'i of L'-ltl lbs bdThi- amount has been equally 'hvi'led amoai.' 11 ■' - Home lor Aged .Nec-oy, Af •■( her Alary Joseph AnhertH Home for Incurables, and tiie I’risoiieru' A-id Solieiy. cadi receiving XlPi 12s 2d.

An evidenee of the ‘•up-to-datoness’’ of the Japanese is afforded by the •■AtonHily Peport" of Hie Yokohama thainber of ('oininerce, oi which :n'‘ .luiie issue bus been sent to this ofiiee. This is a bulky iliu-.t rated periodieal tiie numlier hefoie m, emit inning about fort v pages in Knglish and sixty-four in Japanese eharaeims. The eonienis inciude, in additaiii lo s( a listdeal matter, quotat ions of si oe'ns. bonds, a.id nioilime, a number of articles on subjects of ini cre-t In the eoinmereial ooiniiiunilv. such as The China-Japan Trade." ‘■Korean and .Manchurian Adairs, "I ne Money Market, ’’ "Dock Accommodation in Yokohama,' "Japan and the Liege Kshihii ion,’’ etc.

Me-tms Veili-li and Allan. Cuba sired, are nuking a specialty of ladies’ fadorill". An anliouiii-einent eon ecru ill): tins hi am >1 of Hie firm's business will be louud in anollier column. ".Sicro” is recommended as a cure lor cmii-iiii! pf ion. Tim solo a coney tor New Zealand is id 3U, King's Chiuiibem.

I in I her cull ies are. ndvertijed by Hie I,nan ami .Mercantile Agency Company for tn-nioitow’s sioek sale at Palmerston N'ort h

T'te .Noilliern Alpling Coinpanv has a new adverl isi-iiK-iji in another column.

Abraham and Williams will sell stock at Palmerston North to-morrow. KnI Hit. are advertised.

.Messrs Macdonald. Wilson and Co, will sell, ut their rooms to-day. at 1.30 o'clock, the contents of a six-roomed residence removed for eouvenieneo of sale, also new and secondhand luriiiinie on account of oi her vendors, and fifty dozen glass tumblers.

Messrs Levien. Shnllcrass and Co. will continue Hie sale of drapery at their rooms to-morrow on account of Air Darcy lord.

A business notice is inserted in another column by Messrs William' Hyland and Co,, shop litters, etc., Ohuznee street.

lenders are invited bv the 'Wellington Harbour Board for contract No. 3G—timber breastwork. Waterloo quay reclamation north

ihe City Council invites tenders for about ten tons of old broken waterpipes ami other scrap from burst mains, etc.