LOCAL AND GENERAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5678, 28 August 1905, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Lambs are doing very well this season in Lower Manawatu, between Horowhenua and Paraparaumu.

Stock saloyards are being erected at Waikanao, olosa to tho bridge, by Abraham and Williams, Ltd. Major Hume will give a lecture at the Garrison Officers’ Club to-night, the subject being “ On special service in South Africa and England.” Tho effects of the mild season are very evident at Paraparaumu, whore vines aro already shooting, plum trees are in bloom, and even roses aro flower, ing.

Last week two' cases of scarlet fever and one of tuberculosis were reported in the city. One case of scarlet fever and one 'of diphtheria were reported in Hutt county. There are other winter sports than football, A country player travelled fifty-seven miles on horseback' on the “off-chance” of playing in the Welling-ton-Wairarapa hookey match at Carterton on Saturday afternoon. He was rewarded for his enthusiasm. 1 The farmers on the Darling Downs, Queensland, are making great preparations to cater for the export lamb trade in the coming season. _ They are going chiefly for the Shropshire-merino cross, ■which they have ascertained gives the best results in size and early maturity. Thot Submarine Miners, Wellington Engineers, and Cycle Corps attended service at tile Missions to Seamen Institute yesterday morning. The Garrison Band played the volunteers to and from church. The sermon was preached by Mr James Mocre, ms subject being “ Blessings—Thanks.” Councillor Trevor lias given notice to move ■ at the next meeting of the City Council ‘‘That the resolution of tlw Council of April Gth, authorising the track-work in connection with the Island Bay tramway extension to be carried out by day labour, be rescinded, and that tenders bo invited for levelling and. ballasting the track and for the cartage of metal and gravel required on the work.” The new Church of England at Paraparaumu is completed, and will he opened at an early date. It is situated close to the railway station. The building alone, which will accommodate about a hundred persons, cost £2">f), or with all furnishings £3OO, and almost the whole of this sum has been collected in the district. The. Rev G. P. Davys, vicar of St. Peter’s, is expected to perform the opening ceremony.

On Saturday morning just before nine o’clock tho trolley head of a car caught in the overhead wiring, and caused the circuit-breaker at the power-house to blow-out. The result was that the current was cut off from Manners street, Willis street, and Lambton quay, and traffic came to a standstill. Quite a collection of oars, loaded with “9 o’clock people” for the city, gathered'at the Royal Oak corner during the quarter of an hour which it took the workmen to remedy the mishap. The extension of the carsheds, for which the City Council is now calling for tenders, is to be situated in front of the present carsheds, and is to serve as a temporary workshop until the permanent workshop is erected. It is estimated to cost £350, and will be equipped with about £SOO wox*th of woodworking machinery, to enable the Corporation to proceed with the construction of oars for itself; For this purpose a permanent workshop, measuring 110 ft by 51ft, will be erected; and when that is completed the makeshift will ho turned into a messroom and offices for the cash-clerks. As the outcome of an action heard in the Supreme Court last week, Frederick Hilton, bookmaker, and John McWilliams, contractor, were charged at the Magistrate’s Court on Saturday morning (each on two informations) with betting together at total:sator odds on certain races held at Feilding last April. Mr Wilford appeared for McWilliams, and Hilton was represented by Mr Weston. The accused pleaded guilty. Air Wilford said nobody could contend that to bet at totalisator odds on the machine was more moral than betting with a man “at totalisator odds.” He said the State guarded its interests in the concern because ,it was a trust run for the advancement of the Consplidated Fund, and no private individual was allowed to interfere. There could, ho declared, be no lapse from morality as far as the prosecution was concerned, because those interested in the prosecution legalised the same kind of thing. His client was ignorant of the fact that the investor at such, odds committed an offence, although he was aware the “ layer ” committed an offence. As the First Offenders Act could bo extended to persons committing grave offences, there was nothing more wanted from the Magistrate than an announcement of a conviction, and au indication as to how similar offenders would bo treated in future. Air Weston concurred in these remarks. Dr McArthur said the section of the act referred to made no distinction whatever between the two charges, and ho (Dr-McArthur) said the penalty for offences was very severe. On this occasion accused would each be fined AOs, with costs (7s), on the first information ; and on the second charge they would be convicted and discharged. In order to facilitate the straightening and matching of our stock of boots and shoes (owing to the enormous rush and business of last week’s Fire Sale), our Boot Department will not be open until 10 a.m. to-day, at which hour the “ Fire Sale ” starts on its last week. 20 per cent, discount off all Boots and Shoes purchased .for cash before Saturday next, September 2nd.—Kirkcaldie and Stains, Ltd.

Good congregations attended the son vices conducted by Dr C. North, a medical missionary from India, in the Baptist Church yesterday. At the evening service Dr North referred especially to tho position of medical missions in India at present. A number of instances were given of tho utter disregard of the in habitants to tbo pain apd suffering of child-life. In the district of Eastern Bengal alone there was an army of 42,000 child-widows, ovefy one of whom was under ten years of age.

. Yesterday a number of delegates arrived from Canterbury and the West Coast of the South Island, for die purpose of forming a joint deputation to waiv on tho Government apd urge speedy completion of tho East and West Coast (Midland) railway. The delegates are to assemble at the Hutt County Council Chambers at 10 o’clock thu morning to fix their programme, and arrangements have been made to inter, view the Premier at 5 o’clock in the afternoon. Apart from the members' of Parliament representing tho several districts, some twenty-four delegates appointed by local bodies and represen tativo institutions in Canterbury and Westland will be present. * A telegram which appeared in tin. Melbourne papers last week stated that an old man named Joseph NutV. was found dead in his hut at Glen, darnel. Deceased, who was about eighty years of age, had lived a lonely and miserable life for many years. It was known that ho was possessed of considerable moans, and documents now in tho hands of tho police show that the sum of £3700 was standing to his credit in tho bank. It is not known whether deceased had made a will. had often boon advised to do bo by friends,, but always misinterpreted them motives. Ho acted as caretaker for scmio property at Gloudaruel. It in supposed that deceased has relativer living in Ireland. Tho fortnightly meeting of the Victoria College Debating Society was held on ' Saturday night. Mr F. A. de 1m Mara presided. Tho debate was opened by Miss Fruhauf, who moved, “That early specialisation in technical subjects is inimical to the development of the highest mental power.” Mr A. Tud. hope seconded. The leaders on tho no. gative side were Messrs I. Davey and W. Gillanders. After a lengthy disono sion, the motion was carried by a largo majority. Mr J. W. Joynt, Registrar of tho University, rvho judged tin, speeches, placed the first five speakers in tho following order:—Mr E. j. Fitsgibbon, Miss Fruhauf, Messrs H. Banks, Thomson, and Gillanders,

When “A Moorish Maid” was produo. ed in Auckland last June by Messrs Alfred Hill (composer) and J. Youlin Birch (librettist), it was favourably compared by several people who had recently come from the Old Country, to “The Cingalee” and “The Orchid.’ Those who have had the opportunity of hearing the new comic opera in re. hearsal in Wellington prophesy for it A definite success. It is claimed (hat in no opera of modern times is there to. be heard such a number of bright and tuneful musical numbers. The ‘.‘book’ 1 ’ is described as being remarkable foa its entire originality. “A Moorish Maid” will bo staged at the Wellington Opera House on September 25th and! the five following nights. The Independent Political Labour League candidate, for the three city seats and Newtown are new definitely decided upon, as follows Wellington North, Mr G, ,D. Macfarlane, well known as a progressive member of' the Petone Borough Council; Wellington Central, Sir A. H. Cooper, secretory of the Trades and Labour Council and workers’ representative on,the Concilia Eon Board; Wellington East, Mr D McLaren, member of the Wellington City Council; Newtown, Mr A. H„ Hindmarsh, barrister and solicitor ami member of tho City Council. The political campaign is to bo opened by the Independent Political .Labour League at an early date, when the candidates above-mentioned will occupy one platform before starting tho canvass of their different electorates.

At the Supreme "Court at Dunedin on Saturday Mr Justice Williams gave judgment in the case of the Federal Portland Cement Company, a summons’, by the liquidators for direction as to distribution of assets. The facts were that the company had wound up voluntarily. The assets had been realised and debts paid, and the sum of £I4GSf Is Gd was in the hands of the liquidators. The question was how this sum should be distributed amongst the different classes of shareholders. His Honor decided that there was only one fund to be divided. That fund, so far as paid-up shareholders was concerned, was the amount now in the hands of the liquidators. They were entitled t«. a certain portion of it, and the other shareholders had also a right to a certain proportion of the same fund. Un. less there were two funds, distribution must be in proportion to tbe capital already paid up, and there was only one fund.

Says tho “New Zealand Herald”;—The “miserable” salaries which are, paid to first, second, third, fourth, and fifth-year pupil teachers were, referred to in very strong terms at tho meeting of tho Education, Board. Mi' C. J. Parr, in bringing the matter forward, pointed out that tho salaries were' regulated by the Education Act of 1904, and not by the Board, as some people seemed to , think. TJnaer the act first, year pupil teachers only received £2O per annum, second-year £3O, third-yew £-10, and fo.urth and fifth-year £SO. “I consider,” said Mr Parr, “that this h sweating of the worst type, and there is no greater sweater of labour than, flic Education Department.” These pupil teachers who received such miserable pittances often had to do the work of assistants who received upwards of £l5O a year. It was not at all sur. prising that they could not get young, men to go in for teaching. “I quite agree with you,” remarked Mi- Greenslade, “it is white slavery.”

It is a matter for regret that excursionists on schooners and other vessels have been in the habit of destroying birds on .Resolution Island and other localities in the Sounds (remarks the Acting-Superintendent of the Tourist Department in his annual report). The heads of the Sounds and the wooded islands are natural preseiwes, and will conrinuo to afford shelter and food for native birds when some of the rarer species are extinct on the mainland. The birds in these localities arc often exceedingly tame, and no true sportsman would think of shooting them. The ooast-liue of Resolution is so large that the custodian cannot patrol it all, and it appears to be desirable; in the interests of our native bird life, that some regulation should be brought into force to prohibit excursionist* and others taking guns with them when visiting Dusky Sound, and. in fact, any of the other Sounds and islands within the bounds of the Fiordland National ; Park.

A large number of people journeyed /.o the Hollcvuo Gardens ye-stcrdny. jupp’s Laid played a number of selections in tbo afternoon; and ub the day vix-i bright and warm the crowd of people thoroughly enjoyed themselves. At present the gardens are looking »ory well.

An invitation has been received by tho members of tho “Now Lil>cral party to address mootings in Sydney. In view of tho sitting of Parliament .and tho the invitation cannot bo accepted for tho present. It is probable that tiio request may bo acceded to after tho elections. Tho modal presented by Lord Plunkct to tho Victoria College Debating Society will bo competed for at tho meowing of the society on Saturday, September 9th. Tim following members have been selected to compete-Messrs Graham, Fitzgibbon, Logic, Kelly, Dixon, Mason, Hanks, Collins. Drailsiord, and Do la Mare. The rules drawn up by the committee provide that tbo winner shall bo elected by vote of members present at tho contest. At a general meeting on Saturday, however, tho committee •vas recommended to alter tho rule so as to leave the selection with three expert judges.

In moving tho adoption of the report at tho annual meeting of tho Kaiapoi Woollen Company, tho chairman expressed satisfaction at tho result of the years working, and tho success of the board’s policy. Itcferring to tho mcreiiso of shoddy, he said that according %o tho Government returns tho apparel And slops imported during the past year amounted to £003,89-1, an increase -of £20,897; woollens imported totalled £>153,271, an 'increase of £lO,llO on last year, although that year had been a record ond. During a period oi ten years, the imports referred to had more Shan doubled.

On Saturday his Honor tho Chief Justice, sitting in Chambers, had before brui tho caso of Mitchell '*■ the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile .Agency iGorapany. lids matter refers to the proponed sale of tho Arainoho breezing Works, which are situated in the district of Wanganui. Tho proceedings hy tho plaintiff for a postponement of tho proposed sale of these works have now been abandoned, pending, os it was stated to ids Honor, the carrying out of an arrangement under which the plaintiff may purchase tho property it it is bought in by tibo defendant company at uny time before the end of the year. A deputation from tho Merchant Service Guild waited on the Minister of Marine on Saturday monring, and urgjd that tho Poncaxrow light should bo supplemented by a low-level light. They did not wish that the present light should bo interfered with, hut pointed out that shipmasters otteu suffered inconvenience through the high tight being obscured by a fog and a lower light was tho. one most required, in joggy weather. The Hon Mr HallJoncs said the Marine Department held the view that as a coastal light tho present light could not be improved upon, and that if a harbour light were required the Wellington Harbour Board should provide it. He promised, how»trer, to again look into tire question. In connection with tho New Zealandtiouth African steamship service, Mr J. ■a, Gow, New Zealand’s trade representative in South Africa, calls attention, i\n a report to the Government, to the ‘necessity of making Delagoa Bay a port . of call for the delivery of our produce. The Hand trade is fast going in that direction, and tho Rand interests are 50 extensive there that it is not at all dkely that the port will bo overlooked or allowed to go down. The Transvaal Government will require a certain por- ' tion of next year's oats to bo delivered via Delagoa Bay. When he was at the , Cape he met Mr Rose, tho travelling representative of the New Zealand and South African Shipping Company, and discussed tho question of the steamers calling at Delagoa Bay; he fully recognised the importance of the matter, and promised to bring it before the directors.

The Government Balneologist, report-, ing on the year’s results at Rotorua, nays:—While from a variety of causes the season has not been as good as had been anticipated, yet this resort undoubtedly continues to grow in favour, and perhaps the-most striking feature of the year has been the unmistakable manner in which Botorua as a spa has outgrown its equipment. This has been evidenced both at the baths and at the .Sanatorium. It is not merely that the number of bathers is much greater than formerly, but a higher standard of treatment, involving the use of more complex apparatus, is expected, and a much higher standard of comfort is demanded by the publio, so that the machinery which could easily cope with the work five years ago is to-day hopelessly .inadequate. The decision of the Government to proceed at once with the erection of a largo portion of the new baths ■will be hailed with satisfaction by the ever-increasing number of visitors to Botorua. The portion to bo erected ■vill comprise by far the most expensive ••lection of the whole, tut, while involving a considerable expenditure on first eonstruction. there will be a real economy in maintenance, for, owing to the state of decay into which the old baths have fallen, and the generally makeshift nature of the appliances now to use, the expense for upkeep and repair hqs been unduly heavy, and this expenditure is hardly likely to decrease so long as the existing buildings are utilised.' There has this year been a considerable falling-off in the quantity of butter received in London from the Continent, which Las naturally been of the greatest advantage to the sale of the increased shipments that have been coming from New Zealand (reports the New Zealand Produce Commissioner in London). There are buyers of New Zealand .butter who are so highly satisfied with Uhe quality of the brands they have iteen handling, and whose customers are ,«> pleased with it, that they are desirous of obtaining supplies all the year round. That steps should be taken by produces in the colony to attain to supplying this demand, he considers advisable .The fact of New Zealand butter being placed regularly on the market all the year round, as is the case with Danish, would be, the Commissioner believes, an important point gained in the attempt to realise prices approximating those of the latter description. Ho is sorry, however, to find that some of the factory directors in New Zealand apparently do ■not consider this material, for he noticed last season that some consignments, arriving subsequent to March shipments, when the New Zealand contract leason ended, were sent to agents other ihan those who had been handling these brands throughout the season. This .may have been done for immediate gain, but it is a bad policy for producers to adopt if they wish to get their brands firmly established on the market. No agent can be,expected to push and work up a reputation for- any factory's 'butter if he may feel he is likely to lose control of it immediately he has secured outlet for it.

Tho meeting of the Council of Churches, which was to take place tonight, will not be holdOn and after Friday, September Ist, tho train leaving V* ollington at 5 a.m. for Woodvillo will leave Upper Hutt at 0.20, and reach its destination at 1.13 p.m.

Mr G. Baylis, a candidate for the vacancy on tho O.ty Council, will address the electors at Kilbirnie this evening. Air Noot will speak at V ictoria Hall to-night. Fivo thousand nine hundred people paid for adinission to tho Athletic Park on Saturday afternoon to witness tho match between tho Auckland and Wellington representative Kugby teams. The gatcmoney taken amounted to about £idu. Tho Aucklanders were to leave for tho north this morning. They will play Wanganui to-morrow.

A notable exhibit at the Wellington Kennel Club’s show on Wednesday and Thursday will be an Esquimaux dog, born in tho Antarctic during tho voyage of tho Discovery. The animal is tho property of Sir Joseph Ward. Judging is to commence at 9.30 on WednerHay morning, and the exhibition will bo formally opened by his Excellency the Governor at 3 o’clock. Dogs from all parts of New Zealand will bo bendbed.

The erv for railways is undiminished in volume. A Stratford public meeting resolved that it is a matter of the most urgent necessity that more rapid progress bo made with tho StratfordWlutngamomona works, as at the present rato of progression it will bo many years before any relief is afforded tho settlers of tbo Whangamomona, Whitianga, and Tahora districts in tho hardships they suffer from tho want of access to markets. Tho “North Otago Times” understands that in the list of electors that is being prepared for th© Oamaru district for tho general election there will ho 800 young voters, whoso names appear for the first time on a roll. This enrolment gives piquancy to tho election. Tho paints are (says our contemporary 7 ) whether these young male and female voters will go with the Young New Zealand party or vote license or no-license. In tho meantime they are supposed to he a disturbing element. But has it not been the same at every election? We have to acknowledge receipt of “St. Toler’s Club Magazine” for August and of tiie Girls’ High School “Reporter” for tho second term of the present year. Both are good numbers, full of interesting matter. There is also to hand tho first number of “Hidden Springs,” a now periodical, edited by Nurse Leo. and devoted to the Interests of little children, and to the work of preserving infant and ohild-life throughout the colony. It is published at tho price of sixpence, and it is intended to give at least 20 per cent, of the profits to the proposed Hospital for Children. There are a large number of most helpful articles in the number now before us, and more are promised, that should be of great value to mothers. Referring to the proposal to establish a Children’s Hospital in Wellington, “Hidden Springs,” the paper started by Nurse Lee, says:—“it seems a pity that there is no separate institution in the colony for the treatment of children. In fact, Tasmania and New Zealand are the only two countries in the world where no such institution exists. In Sydney, the Glebe Hospital for Children has three hundred cots, supported by public subscription. Infant mortality is very high, so that it behoves us to exert every possible effort to check the ravages of sickness and disease in the young. One important step towards securing this end will be the establishment of hospitals in the principal centres, where special attention and nursing can be given to tho little ones. At present they can only be accommodated in the wards of the public hospitals, which in many cases are crowded with adults. In a hospital properly equipped for children, and with nurses whose training is specially suited to the care of the young, our little ones would receive better care and attention, and recovery would be thereby hastened.”

A company is in course of formation among the sheeptarmers of Hawke’s Bay for the purpose of purchasing the freezing works of Nelson Bros., Limited, at Tomoana. The title of the new company is to he the “Tomoana Co-operative Freezing Company, Limited,” and the capital is set out at £IOO,OOO, of which £60,000 is to be issued in fully paid-up shares. The new company on flotation will (says the “Herald”) take over all the freezing buildings, machinery, boiling-down works, fellmongery, woolshed, manure works, preserving works, machine repairing shops and tools, railway trucks, and all working plant, besides fifty acres of land, sheep and cattle-yards, etc. The business of the new company will be to freeze sheep and cattle on behalf of shareholders and others at lowest possible rates, and the company will also undertake to find purchasers in London. It will also continue the meat-preserving business and manure works. If is proposed, after paying a dividend of 7 per cent., that all-profits be divided with shareholders on tiio basis of amount of stock frozen by each individual. At present 15,000 shares have been applied for, while guarantees have been given for the freeing of 100,000 sheep annually for some' years. Some interesting remarks regarding the effect of alcoholic indulgence on the human constitution were made by Dr Chappie in his lecture, “The Romance of the Nervous System,” delivered at St. Peter’s (Hub on the 17th inst. As reported in “St. Peter’s Magazine,” the lecturer pointed out that certain drugs have affinities for certain brain centres, such as strychnine for the spine, alcohol for the brain, and numerous others. (Ist.) When a man is under the influence of alcohol the first thing noticeable is his manner. He becomes less reserved and more noisy; wants either to “treat” everyone or fight them. (2nd.) Should he be “pretty well on,” the next performance is ho tells everyone his secrets about his best girl, and very often divulges information of serious nature about his office or business. (3rd.) Then there is that state which is described aa “paralytic drunk.” This is a condition in which the man loses all control of his muscles. Ho cannot move with any judgment, and finally lands in the gutter, or gets home between the arms of two friends. Fourth, and lastly, there is alcoholic poisoning: when a man has taken sufficient alcohol it finally poisons him. A recapitulation of tlie foregoing facts will show;—That alcohol attacks the brain centres in their inverse order of development. It is better to have a real good drinking bout once a week than take a moderate amount every night. A« showing tljo unusual degree of interest evoked by the lecture, it may be stated that nearly Ivory member present had some question to ask, and they were all courteously and' lucidly answered.

Tho steamer Panama, vhich left Auckland tor Wellington on Thursday night, returned to the Auckland anchorage owing to trouble with the firemen. One of the men was put in irons for insubordination and assaulting an officer, and the others refused, duty unloss the man'was released. Their request not being acceded to, the steamer had to return to port. At the Police Court on Friday two of the men \coro brought up and sentenced to forty-eight hours’ imprisonment.