LOCAL AND GENERAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5736, 3 November 1905, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At yesterday’s,.sitting of tho Stipendiary Magistrate’s Court, Hector Urquhart was remanded until to-day on a charge of false pretences. The city of Osaka (Japan) has decided to construct an electric tramway under municipal ownership. This will be the first nmnicipaily-owned electric service in Japan. The Premier, Sir Joseph Ward, and other Cabinet 'Ministers will speak at the Opera House this evening. It is expected that the Premier will announce tho future policy of the Government, and that he and Sir Joseph. Ward will reply to attacks made upon them during the recent session. Everybody is invited to attend. .

The Court of Appeal will sit at 10.30 o’clock this morning, when tho case of Ryder v. Hall will ho taken. It 'S expected that this matter, which deals with riparian rights in tho district of Mastcrton, will occupy their Honors' attention for several days. The Union Company’s new steamer Mah.ono. the first turbine steamer to appear in New Zealand waters, is due at Wellington from Sydney on tho 22nd instant. A full description of this fine vessel is published on page 3 or this issue. A record run of seven hours and d half from Nelson to Wellington was accomplished yesterday by the Union Company’s now steamer Arahnra: The distance is about 100 miles. Tho usual time occupied by West Coast steamers is nearly ten hours. A flaxmilling syndicate has purchased; a block of 3500 acres of tho Mnkerna swamp from tho Makerna Company,; and intends erecting mills, and working it as a flax farm. The price of flax.,, having reached the high rate of £3i 10s, has given a fresh impetus to tlnv ; l industry. Tho sale was negotiated by Messrs Parata. Moffatt, and Company, and Messrs Stevens, Jones, and 8011. At a meeting of the Convalescent. Homo Trustees—attended by Mesdames Newman (in the chair), Grady, Bran- 1 don, Miss Coates, Mrs Barron (treasurer), and Mrs Pearce (secretary)—tho matron report,..l that eleven patients had been admitted' during the month and twelve discharged. The following gifts are acknowledged:—Mrs G. Wilson, books and papers; Mrs Snaddon,linen and magazines; Mr? Rotherhamand Airs Charlton, flowers. Tho following Is taken from the Tokioi (Japan) “ Socialist In Tokio there are large demand of female labourers,, and their wages are going u|K As a, result, house-wives are com plaining the difficulty of getting maid-servants., There are also largo demand of female clerks in various offices, who are gradually occupying men’s ’places.” Woman! appears to bo asserting herself in goahead Japan, but it is refreshing ta know that tho yellow' peril will not descend upon us in the form of geisha girls. Charles Newton, who was serving sj sentence of six years’ imprisonment at the .Terraco Gaol for burglary at Nttnier. eluded custody on Wednesday whilst working with a number of other convicts on Mount Cook hill. Han escape was not noticed till tho x-01l was called prior to the men returning to tint gaol. He was seen late last night id Taranaki street by Detectives Brobcrg and Quirke, who captured him after a quarter of a mile chase. Newdon had dyed his light-coloured hair and moustache black. As the result of tho actuarial investigation into the affairs of the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society Limited as at 31st December last, tho sum avail*, able for distribution as bonus to members shows a very substantial increase over! that for the previous quinquennium,. The reserves have also been considerably strengthened. This result has beenl achieved in spite of the facts that the) valuation rale of interest has been re-’ duced, and that now and most stringent’ tables of mortality have been adopted. The valuation balance-sheet appears ia; another column.

A letter l was road at tho Miramar Borough Council on Wednesday evening from a Mr J. L. Earquhar, who stated that whilst driving along tho_ Mira-> mar re:id on Friday last he was nearly shot. So close did a.riflc-bullefc pass his face “that had he been a little fui-ther ahead, or had ho leaned forward, h« must have received tho ball in the sido of the head.” Ho could see that tho shot had been fired by a youth on thoi hillside. Tho writer wished to know if there was any law against carrying firearms in the district, and urged that the Council should take steps to pre< vent' anyone roaming about and firing at . posts or anything that took his fancy. The gravity of the offence was admitted by the Council, and it will ga hard with the first youth who shoots promiscuously over tho hills and dales’ of Miramar.

"Notwithstanding the creation of a; Smoke Nuisance Society” (says a correspondent of tho “Manchester Guardian") “the atmosphere of London seems to have steadily deteriorated during the last few years, chiefly as a consequence of tho erection of numerous huge chim-ney-stacks attached to the electric-gen-erating stations. Quite recently, as though by a common understanding,thoir owners have thrown off all pro' tenco of observing the law, and from; almost any point where observation is possible a dozen or more of those monsters can bo seen at various times—i some of them at all times—sending out thick clouds' of smoko. . . . Not very long ago wo were told that tho; era of electricity meant that wo should have no more smoko arid soot to darken our spirits. In my observation eleo; tricity has deepened the horrors of Loudon."

Dr McArthur, S.M., gave judgment, yesterday at the Magistrate’s Court in tho case Edgar Hyde (Mr Hindmarsh) v. Otto Edward True (Sir True), claim for £47 XOs for commission on the sale of property at the Hutt racecourse,. Plaintiff, being commissioned to 155 U tho property, negotiated with W. G v Somerville to take it on lease with right of purchase, at £I7OO. Defend-; ant approved this arrangement. The Magistrate said there was a conflict of evidence, and ho felt bound to rely up. on the authority to soil given by defendant to plaintiff, which was only for a week, and was signed at plaintiffs request, at a time when tho negotiations for a lease were practically completed. The lease was not arranged for under the authority to sell. All that plain-, {IS did was to negotiate tho loose, accepting as full payment for same one guinea. Judgment was for defendant, with £fi 7s Cd costs. Mr Hindmarsh was granted leave to appeal.

In connection with tho facilities en. joyed by foreigners for engaging in trade in Japanese territory, it is point, ed out by '‘Engineering” that since the war terminated new laws have come into force, removing obstacles which have hitherto prevented the investment of foreign capital in Japan. In the part, trading, mining, and transport companies wore unable to raise funds by , mortgage, as the laws then in force did not authorise tho establishment of trust companies, or the nomination ' of ■ trus-, tees in whom mortgag d propertied could be vested as security ior deben-ture-holders. Under the new laws, railway companies and mining manufacturing corporations may not only mortgage their movable and immovable assets, and vest the mortgag. od properties in “trust companies,” the formation of which is now authorised for the first time, but they may also invite subscriptions for debenture issue« in a foreign country, and conclude trust contracts with foreign companies, whicl must, in that event, appoint a representative in Japan. The latter con. tracts possess equal powers with Japan. , ese trust companies.

At the reque-f of the Hutf. Borough Council, Valentine, Fitzhcrherl, and Buckley streets have beer, exempted from tim provisions of Motion «3 ot tho Public Works Act, 1003. At lust evening’s meeting of tlio City Council the City Engineer was given iniUioritv to take land at Brooklyn under iho Public Works Act lor the purpose of a water supply reservoir. Country newspapers are henceforth to have the privilege of receiving press telegrams at the rate of 150 words for one shilling. Only one message dady, however, may he sent at this into. Owing to the number of leOors sent Us by correspondents canvassing the merits or demerits of particular candidates for Ihe forthcoming elections, we uro compelled u> again inform our readers that considerations of space forbid us inserting such correspondence. For scenery preservation 'purposes two small .wotions of land in liauiapu Survey district, held under lease-in-per-petuity, have been resumed by the Government. For the same purpose several sections of Crown land in the Ongo district, near Marten, have been reserved. Among the decisions of the Commissioner of Trade and Customs a.s to rates of duty imposed by tariff acts is the tallowing:— Uniforms lor volunteer corps for which individual measurements have been sent to tailors abroad ; as apparel made to order —rate of duty, -10 per cent. Mr T. K. Taylor's action against tho Dunedin “Star” has been settled, Mr Taylor accepting payment in Court of £2.1 plus costs. The paper makes an ■apology for having published correspondence inadvertently hinting that the member for Christchurch helped a certain minister to escape justice. A sitting of tho Native Baud Court is to be belli at Otaki on tho Kith hist. Thirty applications for confirmation of alienations are to bo hoard; also twenty-one adjourned and lifty-cighi ■now applications for partition; twelve applications for removal of restrictions vnd three for appointment of trustees. A letter was received from Air W. McKean by the City Council last evening asking for a return of the hotels in Wellington and their unimproved value. Tho Town Clerk reported that he li.nl replied, stating that thcro wore at present fifty-threo hotels in Wellington, as against fifty-five ten years ago. Ho had referred tho writer to tho Government Valuation Department for tho value of tho hotel pro.Vcrties.

In last night’s “ Gazette” appeared an Order-in-Council vesting a reserve of 501110 fourteen acres in the Petonc Borough Council for sanitary purposes. Tho land is section 24, block 13, Belmont S.D. It is bounded on tho northvast by a public road, on the east by u line 151.5 links distant from and parallel to the -right bank of the Hntt fi'-'cr; on the south and south-west by a lino 151.5 links distant from and parallel to the high water-mark of tho harbour.

The question of drainage of part of tho racecourse property at Island Bay was again before tho City Council last evening, in tho shape of n report from the City Engineer recommending tho construction of a drain at a point on the oastem side to tho south of Mr W. C. Chatficld’s property. At that point tho drainage of about a hundred acres of hillside finds its way on to tho flat, owing to tho old drain being broken, and tho engineer suggests constructing a drain to convey tho water to tho creok flowing seaward through tho flat—at a cost of £2OO. Tho matter was referred to tho Finance Committee.

The balance of the Town Hall organ material arrived by the Indralema on Wednesday, and hifs been transferred to the building, where the erection of the instrument is proceeding satisfactorily. The material includes two five-horse-power electric motors, which drive fans for the supply of wind for tho organ, each with a voltage of 220. with 900 and 850 revolutions to tho minufo respectively. There are two ' fan-shafts, one with six and the other with four fans. Tho six-fan shaft develops 200 cubic feot of 16-inch wind or 000 cubic feet of 8-inch wind per minute, and the fourfan shaft develops 1500 ft of 4-irich wind per minute. The motors aro being set up in separate rooms at tho back of tho main hall under the organ. Mr H. Tustin, who represents Norman.and Hoard, is quite satisfied with tho progress that is being made with the erection of tho organ.

We are in receipt of two educational publications from Messrs Enoch and Sons, London. “The Elements of Pianoforte Technique,” by Dr Ralph H. Bellairs, is to be commended. It will be found useful for assisting simultaneous study of rhythm and technique. The finger exercises are arranged in an easy manner, and can bo grasped by very young pupils at a glance. Tho simple charts of fingering should servo Vo save time. Exercises for tho wrist aro clearly indicated, and should prove a boon to pupil and to teacher. The book also contains exercises for weak fingers, and tho entire work bids for popularity, on tho grounds of completeness and simplicity. A “Monnot Caprice” by tho Now Zealand composer, G. H. Clutsnm (No. 19 amongst four grades of modern pieces), has a bright little air. It is written for the most part, staccato in the key of F, and has A very pleasing change of harmony in D(a legato movement). Tho minuet is written well within tho scope of very young pupils.

During the winter months a large mumher of ladies wore instructed by' Dr J. H. Kemp in tbo duties of "Homo -.Nursing,” at tho Newtown Public Library, under tho auspices of the St. John Ambulance Association, and on 'Hie termination of tho lectures a very searching examination was conducted by Dr R. A. Cameron. The candidates were subjected to written, practical, and oral tests, and according to tho report of tho \ examiner, tho majority acquitted themselves admirably. Three examinees (Nos. 6,7, and 13) obtained 9-1 marks each out. of a possible 100, while Nos. 10, 16, and 23 secured second placo with 91 marks each. If tho candidates had sat for a professional examination they could not have attained a higher standard. Tho following is a list of those who were successful:— Emma Barltrop, May Barnard, Elsie E. Boxall, Lucy Bowie, Florence A. Blyth, Annie R. Broad. Catherine L. Campbell, Isabel A. Crowes, M. E. Davies, Gertrude E. Davidson. Henrietta Harvey, Elizabeth A. Hayes, Edith E. Hayes, Margaret F. McLean, Isabella McPherson, Catherine Preston, Ada Shinn-, Fanny Thornton, Rose Thornton, Isabella C. Smith, Emily K. Wilson, Mary A. Wilson, and Jessie I. Wilson. Tho foregoing will receive certificates signed by bis Excellency the Governor, who is a Knight of tho Order of St. John.

Our Great Clearing Sale now in full swing; Chests Drawers 27s 6d. Occasional Suites £lO. H. Fielder and

Them arc a few unallotted (shares in file Johnsonville. Co-operative Building Society. Tho date of the first appropriation by ballot will be announced at tins monthly meeting of directors next Monday. Tho total amount paid per ■sfiaro to date is 12s Cd. Tho proprietors of Cailler’s Swiss mill: chocolate—a very palatable confection—are pushing its sale by means of prize competitions. For the Christmas competition two ladies’ and two gents’ gold watches are offered, in addition to two hundred ladies’ and seventy-two gents watches for distribution among those persons who send in the largest number ot outside wrappers taken from the tablets of chocolate. Messrs Jlarcourt and Co, will sell this afternoon at 2.30. at their new rooms. 46, Uamblori quay, a valuable suhdivisional building alto, being town acre 1060, having a frontage of 132 ft (o Adelaide road, IJerbainpore, by a deptli of 330 ft. Air R. Marlin, of Manners street, is chawing wall papers in now designs. Clothing and drapery arc being sold by Mess is Mark Green and Co. at special prices. Mr J. W. Braithwaito, Johnsonville, advert ines a number of poultry farms for -ale. Tenders are wanted for the supply of coal to the Newtown Building Company, also for removal of about 1000yds clay. Tho odiers of the University of New Zealand are now situated in llarcourt’s Buildings, Lambton quay. Mr J. C. iladdison invitee tenders for alterations and additions to Messrs liarcourt and Co.’s premises, Lambton quay. Messrs At array. Roberts and Co., Napier, are instructed by Mr W. Shrimpton to offer for private sale portion of bio Matapiro property, comprising about 3.VKI acres, situated about ten miles from Hastings. An advertisement appears in another column. K. Bell and Co., Ltd., want a number of girls to work at their match factory at Newtown. Abraham and Williams. Ltd., will hold their slock sale at Palmerston North next week on Wednesday instead of Thursday, on account of the King’s Birthday falling on Thursday. Present entries are advertised. Messrs Lewis and Co., Wanganui, have a ehinaware business for sale as a going concern. -Mr C. Smith, Cuba street, is making a special display of ladies' underclothing. Some particulars appear in our advertising columns. Messrs Bast and Bast, Exchange Buildings, advertises several suburban properties for sale. Tho Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Auckland, has for private sale Captain A. Crawford’s property at Tuakau, comprising 478 acres. Mr ,1. W. Route. Cuba street, has an advertisement in another column of interest to bicyclists. li. Hannah and Co., Ltd., advertise smart footwear for the Cup carnival. Homo prices are quoted in another column. An excellent assortment of photographic Christmas cards is being shown at Pringle’s, Lambton quay. A big clearing sale of unredeemed pledges will take place to-day and tomorrow at Messrs Lovlen, Shallcrass and Co.'s rooms, Willis street. Tho lines are exceptionally numerous and valuable. The auctioneers have definite instructions to sell every line.