LOCAL AND GENERAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5734, 1 November 1905, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It is the intention of the Government to institute a system of wireless telegraphy between Australia and New Zealand, and if the Commonwealth Government will pay half the cost, it will not be long before such communication is available. The establishment of stations in New Zealand will enable the steamers trading between Australia and this colony to utilise the 63'stem for the convenience of passengers. The Government has received an offer for the establishment of the system 1 . For this purpose a preliminary vote of £2OOO appears on the Supplementary Estimates on account of a vote of £7OOO. The inward San Francisco mail left Onehunga by the Rarawa ,at 3.50 p.m. yesterday for New Plymouth. The mails will j.rrive at Wellington shortly after 7 o’clock to-night by train. The Southern portion of the mail will be taken on by the -Viararca. which is to sail for Lyttelton at 8 o’clock. The Government has purchased the Waitomo Caves (in the Waikato district) and adjoining property, including the accommodation house. It is intended to place a competent caretaker at the caves, and light them with electricity. The Tourist Department took possession yesterday.

There are now in tho Victoria Chrome Hospital eighteen female and fifteen male patients. Tho last of this season’s scries of frofli lectures at tho Newtown Public Library will bo given this evening by the Rev W. A. Evans. His subject will he “ Joseph Mazzini.” Special orders passed by tho Onslow Borough Council last Saturday night, declaring a number of thoroughfares to be public streets, will come up for confirmation on December 9th. details are set out in another part of this paper. The City Council has received the following tenders in connection with the Melrose tramway extensions:—Ovorlioad material and feeders—J. McLollan (accepted). £6737 13s 7d; Birks and Taylor, £6911 11s 7d; Noyes Bros., £B9iB Is lid.

During the passage of the Sonoma, winch arrived at Auckland from San Francisco yesterday, one Gifford, saloon passenger, hooked for Honolulu, jump, ed overboard from tho upper deck on tho evening prior to tho vessel reaching Honolulu. Illuminated lifebuoys were thrown into the sea, a boat was lowered, and tho steamer cruised slowly; around for two hours, but nothing more was seen of the man. In reference to the mishap to tin. steamer Alameda, reported by cable a. few weeks ago, the Sonoma, which arrived at Auckland yesterday from San. Francisco, reported that on September 30th tho Alameda was proceeding down tho San Francisco harbour, cn route to Honolulu, when she ran on to tho rooks at Fort Point in a dense log. Thera was no loss of Hfc, and the vessel remained hard and fast with several! holes in her hull. In a week's time tho vessel was floated off. Tito repairs to tho steamer, which will probably occupy about two months, will cost about'. £12,000. Aar inquest was held yesterday into tho circumstances attending tho death of Charles McDonald, of Newtown, while fishing last Sunday. Evidence, was given detailing tho statements which have already been published. Medical testimony showed that death was caused by drowning, and the verdict of tho jury was to that effect. The, funeral—a military ono— is to take pluoa this afternoon. The Highland Rifles, of which the deceased was a sergeant, will parade at tho Newtown Public School at 3 o’clock, and twenty men are to be detailed as a firing party at the graveside. Members of garrison corps are invited to attend. The deceased was an enthusiast in shooting matters, and waai shooting secretary to his corps. Mails- dated London, September 30th v arrived at New York on October 7th by tho Etruria, and were sent westward on the same day, arriving in San Franciscoon October 11th. The Sonoma Railed on October 12th, and arrived at Honolulu on the 18th. The voyage was rev sumed on tho following day. Pag® Pago was reached on Ootoljer 3otli. Tho Sonoma sailed on tho following day for Auckland, where she arrived at 10.30 a.m. yesterday, after a passage of 17 days 22 hours 34 minutes. At tho commencement of tho voyage a strong head wind and u heavy head sea retarded progress. This, together with delay owing to a possengor jumping over-board, a seventeen hours’ stoppage at Honolulu, and nine hours’ stoppage, at Pago Pago, accounted for tho length, of the voyage.

Commenting on the announcement’ that Mr Brindley, manager of tho New; Zealand State Fire Office, has gone to England on a business visit, the “Australasian Insurance and Banking Record” says:—“ It will bo. remembered that the Government (in fulfilment of a promise made when the .act was passed) did not actually begin to issue policies until it had obtained reinsurance facilities, which were secured from some of Lloyd’s underwriters. I’t is an open secret that there is likely to be difficulty in securing a continuance cl that arrangement after the end of the* present year, and the State Department will probably find. itself considerably hampered in its operations unless it succeeds in obtaining fresh accommodation elsewhere. There is little doubt that the object of Mr Brindley’s mission is the making of reinsurance arrangemcn ts with„_Brit-ish or foreign underwriters on behalf of the State office.” An exhibition of British manufao, turos was proposed to be held in Egypt this year; but as the scheme has assumed larger proportions than was at first contemplated, the date of opening baa been postponed till November, 190(5. The promoters of the exhibition, which is to bo held both at Cairo and Alexandria, think that the public of Egypt have never had a proper opportunity of knowing and seeing what can be pro. duoed in tho United Kingdom and tho colonies, and, therefore, is unablo to appreciate tho excellence of their manufactures, with the result that cheaper Continental goods continue to he largely sold in this country, even in. instances where the British article would very probably supersede them wore it more generally know-n. They are further of opinion that tho time is' ripe for such an exhibition, in view of the present prosperity and enormous development of Egypt. It is unfortu- , nate that the date coincides with the> holding of the New Zealand International Exhibition at Christchurch, iu, this fact will probably prevent our manufacturers from being represented at tho show of British manufactures in the ancient land of the Pharaohs. Discussing in “The Gas World” the statistics of gas consumption in New Zealand, Mr Albert Ford makes some interesting; remarks on ;tho connection between temperature and gas oonsumpt. He points out that tho town with tho lowest mean temperature does, not show the highest percentage of ga« consumers, or the largest consumption per head of population- “On tho contrary, the three towns with the most equable and mildest climates, Auckland, Napier, and Nelson, record the highest consumption per head of population, with 4550, 4480, and 3750 cubic feet respectively. Nelson and Napier, the two most salubrious residential towns, claim 21.4 per cent, and 10.6 per cent., of their respective populations as com. sumers; Wellington ranks next with 16.1 per cent, (thank* to tho' electric ‘jackall’), and Auckland is fourth, with 15.7. Little Marton is deserving of honourable mention, with 15.6 per cent. To carry the matter a step further, there is a mean difference in temperature of 6.6 deg. Fahr. only between Auckland and Dunedin, yet in Dunedin the consumers amount to only 8.8 per cent, of tho population, against Auckland’s 15.7 per cent., tho consumption per head of population for Dunedin being 2280 cubic feet, and for Auckland 4550 cubic feat—almost double. Possibly one explanation of the difference is that tho Auckland undertaking is owned by a company, whilst that of Dunedin belongs to a Corporation, and .there is a wide difference in their respective commercial methods.” Our Great Clearing Sale now in full swing,; Chests Drawers 27s 6d. Occasional Suites £lO. H. Fielder and Co. 1

Thi) first meeting of tho Colonial Cooperative Building Society. to distribute ruliis and pass-hooks and receive tuhveription.s, will he held this evening. Lightning struck a house at Westport occupied, by Mr K. Rowley, and did considerable damage. It made a hole of about J ft- in 1 one;tlt in tbc roof, knocked down a chimney, smashed a tilo grate, ami ran along the rpont ing. Tho lightning al.-o scorched tho end of tho house and knocked down a fowlhouse,

The statutory conference of delegates from the Haven hodiw contributing to the Wellington Hospital will he held on Monday, December <Uh, to elect six trustees for the ensiling year. Tho delegates so far appointed arc— Karori Iloroagh Council, id. Cook: Petono Hnrongh Conned, G. London; Rower Hafl Borough Council, T. W. McDonald.

Sitting in Chambers yesterday, Ins Honor the Chief Justice dismewd the taiit for judicial separation brought by Lucy Annie August Pybus against her husband, John Bryan I’yhiis. This mallei- wa« heard at Palmerston North. The Court of Appeal will sib this morning. when judgment in the case of Kells v. Rhodes, which was argued a few days ago, will bo given.

Burglars during the year have had "•nod hauls on the dim iinui-lilut! section of railway. On the Supplementary Estimates are the following V( dcn. Cash stolen hv huighir.s at Jlnrnl.y Ca,'don, £10; Ami.eriey station, £201; linike’s station, £3; llavensV.ournestation, £8; Morgiel _ station, £11; Waitati station, £4; Kaiapoi station, £ I.j; /■ash lost, in transit, Omakau to Dunedin, £IOO. The Arbitration Court, yesterday was ixicupiod all day hearing 1 ]* rco :i]>p! .v<\(dons for enforcement _of awards, detailn of which appear in another colunui. The case Cooks’ and Stewards; Union v the Union Steam Ship Company is sot down for hearing to-day, vomiuencing at 10.30, after which tlu-ro are still on tho list sovoii similar jipplical'iiiti l * u> bo tloalt with a I'™° 'o bo fixed. It is probable that the industrial disputes, of which there are seven ponding, will he eoiunio.iK'od ioMiorrow. Yesterday afternoon, on the iavita'lion of tin- lady editor of the “New Zealand Mail,” a large assemblage of ■ladies lock place on the premises of tho " New Zealand Times” Company. ATUmnoon tea was dispensed in a large room hi the recently-erected addition to the company’s building, u string and reed hand nionivwh.de discoursing_musical scfeetions, after which the visitors were shown over the premises, and evinced groat interest in tho working of tho linotypes and the Goss rotary printing machine. The members of the Y.M.C-A. were ■entertained by Mr T. P. Luke at the association's moms last evening. There was a good attendance of members, jand l.n excellent programme was presented. Among tho items wore songs by Mr A. TV. Gray and a conjuring performance by Mr Raymond. In tho course of a speech. Mr Luke referred to the association's now building, urging all members to do their utmost to Forward tho scheme about to bo inaugurated, and so materially assisted by tho generous gilt of Mrs IV. R. Williams.

At yesterday's meeting of tlie Wellington Hospital Trustees there were present—Messrs K. C. Kirk (in the chair), C. W. Brown, H. Cook, J. Banks, and G. Nash. Accounts amounting to £ll9O were passed for payment, leaving a credit of £109" in the bank. 'Tlui tender of tho Wellington. Dairy Company for tho supply of milk for two years was accepted. Two male applicants were admitted to the Victoria Chronic Hospital, and three others were approved for- admission a«i soon as vacancies occur. It was reported that there were 153 patients in tho hospital, as against IG-I at the same date last year.

A special meeting of tho Karori Borough Council was held lastnight in connection with street-widening and tramway proposals. Present —tho Mayor (Mr A. 0. Pearce), Messrs J. F. Lisnington D. Murdoch, H. Coot, W. 11. Tisdall. J. Hassell, W. J. Clark, S. Kirk'Hildio. C. J. Dasouri Tho proceedings Were taken in committee. Tho proposal under discussion, in connection -with which the engineer had prepared plans, vs to borrow the sum of £IO,OOO for the purpose of street-widening and regrading. The objects in view are to invito closer settlement, and to supply bettor communication between, the city .and Karori. The full proposals wore considered in detail. Tfc was decided that discussion of tho road-widening scheme should ho postponed until Friday, tho 10th fast. There was considerable discussion in committee on a suggestion by a .syndicate to construct a tramway from the terminus_pif the cable tramway at Kelbnrno to Karori. It was decided that a deputation consisting of tho Mayor, Councillors Murdoch and Daseut -wait upon the promoters of tho syndicate with a view to gaining farther information.

Th» customary "Mock Parliament” at tho close of the 1905 session was very "tame.” Members wore much too tired to display anything like hr. motor. The session had been extremely trying. Many members had left for their homes, and so tho concluding business was left to an empty House. When daylight had long taken the place of tho electric light, and the sun had already risen in the heavens, Mr IVi Pore was voted to tho Speaker’s Ohair. Ho commenced a loud declamation against tho Legislative Council for flhrowing out the Maori Laud Claims Adjustment Bill (what is known as tho Maori "washing-up” bill, dealing with the petitions for redress that have been presented during the session). Ho called the Councillors some hard names, said they were "bald-headed old people,” and wound up by saying, “I shoot you all.” There were several Councillors present at tho time, but they did not take tho threat very seriously. “Get out, yer,” he ejaculated, ns ho raised his fist at tho members of tho Upper Chamber. The early trains yesterday morning conveyed many members to their electorates. Yesterday tho Chambers which had been the scenes of wordy combats for eighteen weeks were descried. The occupants had flit, and glad they all wore to getaway from tho vitiated atmosphere of Aho Buildings. Kirkcaldie and Stains, Ltd., are showing sunshades in new shapes and styles. Particulars are advertised. Messrs Macdonald, 'Wilson, and Co., will sell, to-day, at their rooms at 1.30 o’clock, under instructions from Sir Winks, who is leaving for Auckland, the whole of his superior household furniture, piano by Urard. etc., after which they will offer two upright grand piancs, by Carl Schumann. Messrs Turnbull and Son invite tenders for additions and painting at Kelbitrne. A country medical practice is advertised for sale.

The Drapery Supply Association. Cuba street, advertises charming millinery. A tow of the now hats are described in another column.

Messrs Macdonald. Wilson and Co., in. sort the advertisement of the sale of 66 seaside, building sections at Day's Bay, which they will submit to auction on extremely easy terms on Wednesday evening. 15th November. Fresh lithographic plans, which include an additional area of flat, hind, situate at the northern end of f he eompaav’s estate, to be submitted, can ho obtained on application to the auctioneers or al the pavilion. Messrs X'carson and Co., Manners street, ;innoinice that (heir drapery premises will he eiofifd to-day in preparation for a clearing sale to commence tomorrow.

Kops ale, a beverage described as absolutely free from alcohol, is advertised in this morning's “Timt-s.” L. Caselherg and Co., Harris street, aro wholesale agents frir the colony. Caere ami Co.. Ltd., have for sale a compact farm in the Auckland district. Pearson's “ Peptoclilor” is described as a real nerve tonic. The agents for New Zealand are Messrs Ponn-Bradly and Co., f'hnpiro Chambers. Tull particulars are inserted in our advertising columns hy.Mcfi&rfi J. 11. Methane and Co., of UieTurnitiiro. piano, and household appointments to he sold to-dav at the residence of Mr Joseph Lachnian ftl, Webb street. Tho sale is to (Oinrp.uico at It a.m. Catalogues of the 326 lots arc available. Messrs Sharne Bios., of Cornhill street. Wellington (also Christchurch, Dunedin, Auckland, aud .Sydney), have a notice in our advertising columns giving particulars of iioa-intoxieat iag beverage;; manufactured by thorn. They claim to have discovered a simple process whereby tho natural flavours of fruits and herbs used are retained, and claim to supply a pare article at a low price. Mr D, Milligan, tailor, Kclhurne. avenue, has a new advertisement in another column. An hdvertisemeut regarding “Pe-rii-na,” for which Messrs Sharland and Co, are wholesale agents, appears in another column. Businesses of all hinds are advertised for sale hv the Globe Proprietary Company, Willis direct. The Ihiilwav Dcnartment invites tenders for laundry work in connection with the dining-cars’on several sections of railway. The City Council will receive tenders til! December Ist, for the lease of porlirui of reserve “(I,' 1 Town licit, off Aro street, 'containing about R acres.. The New Zealand Institute of Architects. and tho Federated Builders’ Association. notify that they have agreed ii]K>a a. sot of conditions of contiact to ho used throughout Inc colony. The new conditions are to come into force on or before December Ist.