LOCAL AND GENERAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5669, 17 August 1905, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The House of Representatives last night was occupied with a private member’s bill, the Rating on TTnimprovcd Taluo Amendment (Mr Ell), which was recently ''counted out,” that is, not sufficient members could be mustered to carry on the second reading. When the measure was called on again last night tile proceedings became very dreary. It was with the utmost difficulty that a quorum was maintained, and the “House'’ bell frequently rang, Two reasons kept a quorum on the premises—one, obviously, to prevent the Bible Lessons in Public Schools Plebiscite Bill (.Mr Sidey), next on the orderpaper, getting into committee (where it would have had a stormy passage); and the other evidently was to keep a House as an act of courtesy to the member for Christchurch, who is a consistent supporter of the Government. The bill, after all, did not get through its second reading, as the adjournment was carried by a majority of six at 12.30 a.m. The bill is dead for tbo session. The Bible Lessons Plebiscite Bill is in the same position, for yesterday was the last private member’s day, and, unless by special grace of the Government, the bill is not likely to make another appearance this session. Before the House rose, the Premier, commenting on the dreariness of the night’s proceedings, said he thought be

was justified in saying that the resolution of which he had given notice that day, that it should ho the last private members night, would ho received unanimously by the House. ‘*l agree witli the ban. member," -aid the leader of the Opposition, '1 think this has been a waste of time.” . •

A formal inquiry is to he held by the Wellington Education Board into the destruction hy fire of the school at Jiukanui. The cause of the fire is set down to a defect in the chimney. At the City Police Court yesterday morning ;i draper was charged with causing a curtain to be suspended from his verandah. As tho City Council is considering tho by-hnv relating to sunblinds and verandah curtains, the case was adjourned till the 23rd inst, A paragraph appeared in our issue of yesterday to tho effect that the chairman of the Stale Coalmines Board had on tho previous day referred, ‘‘with a suggestion of regret,” to tho fact: that the Board had not the powers of a Royal Commission. When the Board met yesterday the chairman Dir Joint Hayes) referred to the paragraph in question, staling that there was no question of regret in the matter, but purely a statement of fact as to whether the Board should call certain persons as witnesses.

A visitor who has just returned from Rotorua stales that for weeks past the Waiotnpu mud geyser, situated close to the groat mud volcano, has been in an unusual stale of activity, exploding at intervals of from ten to twenty-five minutes, ami throwing mud to a height of from 30ft to GOft. On the nth inst. a verv good “ shot ” was witnessed at 10.15 a.m., and at 11 a.m., without warning, a huge column of mud rose to a height of about 150 ft. A second and larger “ shot ” took place a few minutes later, and a third followed closely.

There wore 794 factories registered in Wellington for tlio year, an increase of 49 over last, year, employing 8030 persons—viz., 5G78 males and 2352 females, an increase of 024 males and 85 females; there is an increase in the number of boys employed under sixteen years over last year of 33, and a decrease of 14 girls also under sixteen years of age. There is a considerable falling-off in the number of certificates of fitness issued—viz., 30 boys and 36 girls—the figures being 1903-4, 180 boys and 195 girls; 1904-5, 150 boys and 159 girls. Considering the number of vessels which visit Foxton, it is not considered necessary by tho Minister of Marine to appoint an assistant pilot. The grounding of vessels which has occurred has not been owing to the need of an assistant pilot, as the piloting is done by means of shore signals, and the present pilot is able to attend to them. It is not at present proposed to make any improvements in the river, Except as to tho Kailway Wliarf, if any definite proposals arc submitted they will receive the consideration of the Government.

With regard to shop assistants, Miss Hawthorne, Inspector of Factories, in her annual report, remarks; —'‘A question I am often mot with is, why women shop assistants should have to work fifty-two bonus per week as against forty-five worked by factory workers of the same sox, and it is a question I have no reply to. as my own opinion is that a shop assistant who has to stand all day, very often in cold, draughty shops,’requires the short hours as much as the factory workers, who are sitting in clean, well-lighted, and well-ventilated workrooms. And, further, with regard to assistants who are employed in refreshment-rooms, there should be some stipulated time for starting and leaving business. As tho act stands at present, an employer can have his workers back to business at •' o’clock in the morning if he wishes to do so.

The Government Biologist, Mr Kirk, reporting on representations made by members of Parliament that a blighthas attacked tho bluegnm plantations in South Canterbury, states that the damage is being done by an imported scale insect, winch is kilhng the trees. Caving to tho height of many of the tiees, it is impossible to spray; but there is a small ladybird beetle,_ a native of Australia, known as Rbizobius vtr-tralis, which dees a great keep tho scale in chock. On the loth August of last year ho wrote and made arrangements to receive successive supplies of this ladybird, and received several letters from the experts in Australia regretting that owing to the extremely unfavourable season they had nor been able to collect. _ In a- letter received on the (ith ultimo, it was stated that the ladybirds would not be available till tho end of tho present month. Even then, if tho weather is severe, ho may have to hold them in the laboratory, as to liberate them in the Soiilli during bad weather would he fatal. He is, however, promised a succession of consignments, and this should meet tho case. Should the natural enemy fail, then the only way to prevent the spread- of the sealo would ho to cut down tho infested plantations, let tho trees break again from the stumps, and spray thoroughly.

His Honor tho Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) yesterday gave judgment in tho case of the Wellington Loan Company, Ltd., y. F. Loudon, which was an action on an “account stated,” and in which evidence in support of plaintiffs claim had been taken on the previous day. His Honor, in describing the circumstances of the case, said there had been transactions between the plaintiff and defendant for some years, and on July’ 17th last the company wrote to defendant asking for payment of £132 14s 5d for money lent with interest at 30 per cent, per annum, making in all £1(14 17s 3d. The defendant replied that ho was prepared lu give the company his bill at three months for that amount without further interest, and if that was not satisfactory they could “go on with the music.” Tho question was whether the defendant’s letter was an admission of an account duo, that is, of an account stated of £lO-1 17s 3d being due. His Honor said there were many’ cases on what an “ account stated ” was, and they all agreed that there must be an admission of a debt due. In this case there was no admission of an engagement to pay on request. On (he contrary, the claim was made, and (he defendant replied that he would settle it in a particular way by giving a bill at three months Without interest. Interest was payable between the parties, and if the defendant was not to pay for three months after the date of the bill, then ho would have been liable to payinterest at the rate of 39 per cent. That would mean (hat at the due date of the bill he would have been liable to ; pav £l2 7s 3'.d beyond the sum of £l6l j 17s 3d He, therefore, made an oiler of less than was claimed. H could not) be said that this was an admission that i the amount was payable. In his Honor’s opinion it fell short of an ad-ra-sHon that £164 17s 3d was due, and the plaintiff was nonsuited, with costs according to scale, and disbursements.

Air P. J. o‘Eegan will lecturo oxs. '‘Commerce and Tariffs’ 5 at the Trader Hall this evening.

Tho Wellington branch of the Vetera aus’ Association will hold its quarterly meeting at tho Silver Grid this evening.

Some business people in Now Plymouth are raising a fund to erect * place of entertainment on tho sea shore near the town.

Tho Independent Political Labour League will hold a special combined meeting in the Trades Hall to-morrow evening, to consider the nomination oS candidates ami other business in connection with tho general election.

A woman with a very had record waf befeno the Police Court yesterday morning to answer a charge of “drunkenness.” ‘‘Three monthswas tho pronouncement from the Pouch. Th<v' woman began to argue, and the sentence was minced to fourteen days. Tho Warrimno, with the Australia** Rugby football team on hoard, was expected to arrive in Wellington ahodfe 2 p.m. yesterday, hut had not been sighted at a hue hour last night. Tlu?i weather was thick ami misty, and it is probable the vessel was slowed down. The Warrimon should be berthed aV an early hour this morning. At the Auckland Supremo Court yesterday William Taylor, a prominent resident at Ahuroa, was found not guilty on a charge of stealing twobulls. The Judge ami jury expressed strong disapproval of the arrest of such a well-known settler when he could have been dealt with hy summons,, there being not tho slightest chance of his going away. Brigadier-General Gordon, in th* course of a lecture at Sydney, said that, it “made him sick - ’ when he saw 30.00 C loafers sitting on a rail cheering during tho course of a football match. He wan a sportsman, but when out on Iho Sydney Cricket Ground he saw thousands of youths lolling hack smoking cigarettes' ho felt ill, and thought “Poor Australia! Your sport won’t last long.” A gang of labourers has started worlr in connection with the extension of llw electric tramway service to Island Bay., Tho men arc employed at the present, terminus in Adelaide road, near Duppa street, and are merely engaged in preparatory work, prior to the arrival of' the first shipment of sleepers from Australia, of which something is expected to he heard to-day. The City Engineer expects to go on with the work in earn--cst next-week.

Tho representations regarding the ap-. proach to the Ekotahuna railway station have been carefully looked into by the Kailway Department, and it is considercd that tho approach road, which rat from 15ft to 17ft wide and in good order, reasonably meets the requirements of the business at Eketahuna. What is desired is that the road should ho. widened. There arc, however, no funds available for such a purpose at the pro. sent time, and the work is not, tha Minister believes, regarded as a necessary or urgent one. Messrs J. H. Kethuno and Co. con, eluded their auction sale yesterday afternoon of a largo consignment of books from England. There was a largo ati tendance, and considerable interest wat evinced in the sale. The following arc some of the prices realised:—“WilkcsT: United States Expedition,’’ £1 17s Gd “Wakefield’s Adventures in New Zealand” (no map), £1 Is: “Taylor’s New Zealand and its Inhabitants,” £1 Is; “Koss’s Voyage of the- Discovery,” £1 ss; “Savage’s New Zealand,” £1 2s; “Dr Scherzcr’s Narrative of the Circumnavigation o S the Globe,” 18s; “Pob acids' New Zealand,” IGs.; “Nicholas's Narrative.” £1 2s Gd; “Whitehead’if Treat' j on Surveying,” 13s Gd; "Kcauty Illustrated,” £1 Is; “Shaw’*) Dresses” and Decorations of tho Middle Ages,” 12s; “Kay’s Original Portrait® and Etchings,” £1 15s. Tho students of Victoria College, win; have been particularly generous in them efforts on behalf of tho college furnishing; fund, made a suggostio" that the 27th inst., which will he tho anniversary of the laying of tho college founda-tion-stone, should bo celebrated by another offoit on behalf of the fundThey also proposed holding a sort of “Victoria College Saturday” to raise money. Tho College Council hardly knew how to deal with tho matter. 14 hesitated to discourage the enthusiasm of the students, but felt, at tbo sa.m« time, that such an effort as was proposed “might dry up some larger and more important avonno of revenue.” Soma of the members doubted whether suck avenues did exist, or would ever be ap> parent. At any into, the Council appointed Messrs Wilson, Evans, and Richmond a committee to confer with tbo Students’ Association on the subject. Something may be done on tho ojiening day.

The only case set down for hearing ba fore tho Supremo Court in its civil jurisdiction yesterday was that of Martin Kennedy v. Henry- Ranisb, which was a claim for £751 and interest, or damages. On tho Court assembling, Mir Skcrrctt, who appeared for the plaintiff, informed his Honor that tho case had been settled out of Court, and asked that it should be struck out of the list, This was done, and the jurors who had been summoned to attend were dismissed until the following morning at 10.30 o’clock. His Honor intimated that tho Court had decided the question of costa in two cases in which judgment had been delivered on the previous day. In the matter of the Attorney-General v, Seth Smith, there were practically twu 'separata defences, and the costs had been fixed at ten guineas to each defendant, and their disbursements. In the case of Hakopa v. Seth Smith the Court allowed ten guineas costs to dffr. fenclant and his disbursements.

The Minister for Railways, replying in tho House yesterday to Mr Wood., who asked whether it is true that signalmen in Wellington receive Is per day more than tho signalmen at Palmerston North, and if so, why are the rneh at Palmerston not entitled to the same wage, stated that signalmen in all important signal-boxes are paid a special allowance of Is per day under the Classification Act. The signalman in charge of the north signal-box at Wellington, which is an important signal-box. ro ceives the allowance accordingly. Tho Palmerston North signal-box is not con sidored to bo of sufficient importance to warrant the payment of the extra It. per day, and it cannot he specially classified in the meantime. The hours of .signalmen at ‘-he principal centres arc limited to forty-eight per week, ix accordance with the promise given to the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants. Where signalmen at such, centres work more than forty-eight hours per week, they are given time off or paid overtime as circumstances necessitate. At less important signalboxes the forty-eight-hours limit does not apply, at tho duties cf signalmen at such stations are of a less onerouv nature than at the important centres where a largo number of trains have St be dealt with every day.

■Mon in tiro tra/lo stato that owing to thu incroa.wd importation of inst-ohinn-niatlo many rongli wnifchs aro boing thrown out of work nil over Now Zoalaml.

A sjjocial mooting of the Miramar Borough Council, i::i.llod Vo lnrth<*r disa proposed sclioim* lor clout no tramwuyß, was hold last evening. On tho stiggostdon of the Mayor, Urn hnsinoss ot tho mooting waa taken in column it too.

To show tho difficulties that local ynanufactuicrs havo to struggle v.'ith. a inomhor of a deputation that waif-od upon tlm Premier yt.s'erday .said that numbers of American buggies were being sold in VvVhUa-ud heio.v rhe uf landing.

Tho report of the architecU on the V’ietoria t diego building, received al JasL niglil’s meeting of the (’olJcge Council, slated that the sialc.s weie. betug put on tiie root 01 t-he ajws building, and Lire internal plastering was being done.

With, reference to a Press Association •cablegram from London, d.iM (I Angus •Sill, slating that a portion of a uoiiiuign.iiieiiti of meal by tho steamer Somerset was rond* aimed ai Liverpool Cts ‘spot I y, v Iho Mew Zealand end African .Steamship Company, agent, for the steamer, lias made im|iiirics ami has found that only one hundred iambs out of the entire cargo wore Jane (iged al all, ami them apparently prior ■Jo shipment. 'i.his wifi remove any impression that may have been drawji from the eaoiegrain as to the steamers xefj-iyeiMt ing machinery not being perfectly ellective.

A committee inerting of tho Wellington Kennel Club was held last night to fnrlhep arrangements tor- the forthcoming show, Dr E.miko nre.siding. A progress report fro in tho trophy committoe was favourable. Ai r J. \\ elister was elected a vice-president and a member of (he committed. A motion was passed for the purpose of facilitating the issuing of p:iKs-ont pel-mils for exhibits a| the conclusion ol the show. It was decided to invite the commander and officers of I’l omethems to ultt'nd the opening ceremony. Air E. Hniclien was appointed ring steward, and -Mr I. M. Levy weighing steward.

Queensland Inis ju t commenced the grading of dairy produce on the hues followed in New Zealand, the new regulations coming into force list month. The grading is, of course, compulsory. Besides tho grade tickets there are forms for liliing in tho analyses of samples of dairy produce for the information of the factory manager. New South Wales is also likely to follow the Mops of New Zealand in this respect. Mr Graham, who was formerly manager of the Waikonaiti Dairy Factory, and is now on tho Agricultural Department’s staff in that Stale, was called upon recently to giro evidence on tho subject before a Parliamentary committee.

Under the Wellington drivers’ award the Inspector of Factories has experienced very great difliculty in getting employers to pay their men lor time occupied in going From and returning to their stables. In most cases Lho '/non do not keep a record of time so -occupied, and, although they complain ■that this time is not being paid for, fjh-ey aro not able to give a record of this time, and, therefore, it is imposoiblo to prove these cases before the Court. Tlntsc men also, says the inspector, have an erroneous idea as to the manner in which their overtime should bo computed, and arc in the habit of computing such time daily. For example, if a man worked ten hours in a day he would count two hours’ overtime, whereas the next day ho would perhaps only work six or seven hours, and at the end of the week he would not have exceeded the .number of hours which constitutes a week’s work. Overtime under this jiwarcl can only bo counted after fortyseven and a half hours per week have been worked.

There was a short sitting of the City Folico Court yesterday morning, the presiding Justices being Messrs H. ■ F. Davis, J. Dunks, and T' Dwan. Lizzie (Jriggs, who has a very bad record, was wont to gaol for three months for using obscene language in a public place, ■for insobriety, a ■fast-offender was convicted and discharged, and another was lined 10s, in default forty-eight hours imprisonment. For a similar offence, Ellen Anderson, Emma Hastings, alias Taylor, and Clara Algar, all old offenders, were sentenced to three months 1 , jeven days’ (or 20s), and fourteen days’ imprisonment respectively. For leaving n horse, harnessed to a vehicle, standing in Wordsworth street without proper control, Charles Craig was fined ss, with costs (7s). The Truancy Inspector to the Wellington Education Board proceeded against six persons for failing to send their children to school. Fines ranging from 2s fxl to 7s Cd wore inflicted, the total being £1 10s, with ;c«rts (£3 3s). For doing plumbing work without being licensed, Benjamin Ack•royd, John Cnsoy, Charles Rogers, and William Chvler wore fined sums ranging from Is to 2s 6d, the costs in each case being 7s. For keeping unregistered dogsc nine persons were arraigned by the Citv Council. In tho majority of eases offenders were mulcted in costs oniy, but, in ono or two instances a fine of 5s in addition to costs was imposed.

Some attractive farm properties are advertised for sale by Messrs G. A. Treece .unci Co.. Palmerston North. Messrs Seaton and Sladden want tenders for fencing work on the Wilton estate.

Tenders are invited by Mr F. cle .1. Clere (ill noon to-dav for the removal of Messrs E. Feist and Co.’s buildings. Tho Official Assignee gives notice that he intends to apply to the. Supreme Court for an order releasing him from the administration of a number of bankrupt estates, particularised in our adcolumns. Tho hospital trustees are advertising for tenders for indenting of drugs for one year.

A fourth sale of trees and shrubs, pot .{hints, etc., from the nurseries of Messrs H. C. Gibbons and Co. will be held next Monday afternoon by Lnery and Co.. Ltd. .Oetails appear on our eighth page. Special train arrangements and holiday fares on the Government and MnunWatn lines are announced in connection with Saturday’s football match Australia y. Wellington province. Abraham and Williams, Ltd-, will •jell stock at Otaki next Wednesday. Tenders are invited by the Education for the erection of four rooms in brick, at tho Masterton school. “Salv-ova Champion Egg Preserver’ - ’ jonay be obtained wholesale from John Newton and Son, Limited, Kaiwarra. Messrs Levien, Shallcrnss and Co. will jell drapery at their rooms to-day. .Applications are invited for the position of matron to the Pntea District Hospital.

Messrs Sidey. Meech and Co. again advertise particulars of silver-plated ware to be sold at their rooms to-morrow.

Mr J. Collins, proprietor of the Clarendon Hotel, Christoliurch. has a notice In our advertising columns, Tonfciag'e .Linseed .Emulsion relieves the chest, iibtftiuablo from all chemists and grocers. 1