CURRENT TOPICS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6178, 9 April 1907, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS

SECRETARY FOR POST AND TELEGRAPHS. The Government lias appointed Mr Donald Robertson Secretary for Post and Telegraphs, in succession to the late Mr 'William Gray. Mr Rohortson’s promotion has been rapid. Only recently he succeeded to the position of Inspector and Assistant Secretary on the death of Hr W. Rose, after holding the Chief Clerkship of the General Post Office for many years. The new Secretary is a native of Now Zealand, having been born in Dunedin in 1860. Ho was educated at tho State schools and privately. After leaving school Hr Robertson entered the Post Office in Dunedin as a cadet, and was trained in the service by Mr Archibald Barr, of Dunedin (under whom many of the senior officers graduated), rising to the grade of clerk some five or six years later. In 1881 ho left Dunedin, and for a short time acted ns mail agent on board the San Francisco mail boats. Hr Robortson. was then ' appointed to Wellington’, holding the position of senior monoyclerk for two years, after which ho hold a similar position in the Auckland Post Office for upwards of nine years. In December, 1892, Mr Robertson was promoted to tho post of Chief Clerk in tho General Post Office. Ho is the author of “Early History of tho New Zealand Post Office.” His son proceeded to Oxford a couple of years ago as a Now Zealand Rhodes scholar. KAPITT ISLAND. Tho Minister of Public Health has informed Air Field, H.H.R.. that tlio Government had reconsidered tho question of placing lepers on Kapiti Island, and had decided not to use? tho island for that purpose. This decision ■will bo received with general satisfaction by tho people of Wellington and Manawatu. Kapiti is such historic ground, hallowed as it is in To Rauparaha traditions, that its conversion into a leper station would have given offence to Europeans and Maoris alike. “Tho forest of Kapiti, as seen from tho exterior, presents a study in greens,” remarked Dr Cockayne, the well-known naturalist, to . the writer not Jong ago, after spending a fortnight on tho island, which ho visited on behalf of tho Government in order to make a botanical survey. “There is tho dark, glossy green karaka ; tho pale, yellowish green nialioo; tho bright, glossy green ‘mclicopo tennata’; and large areas of the dull, almost brownish green of tho manuka, while here and there tho scene is brightened by the wealth of white blossoms of a species of olearia. t The majority of the trees of Kapiti bear juiev berries, and this is a most important matter in an island where the protection of native bird life is an essential. The morepork owl is wont to sit on tho roof of tho caretaker’s house. On neighbouring trees congregate tho beautiful -pigeons; everywhero in tho hush, can bo .hoard tho songs of birds and the whirl of wings. Tho robin —tho ‘bushman's friend’ as ho is called—is, strange to say, the South Island, and' not tho North Island, species. On the lagoon at tho north end of tho island are ducks and teal. Mutton birds make their home near the summit of a mighty precipice which flanks the whole western sido of tho island. In holes near tho shore tho blue penguin has its nesting place. It may be said that this plant and aninial sanctuary is not merely a most important asset to New Zealand, but its being sot apart for that purpose lias been applauded and welcomed by tho scientists of many nations. It is sincerely to bo hoped that no stone will bo left unturned to keep it intact, and as nearly as possible in its virgin condition.” 1 THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. So far as can bo ascertained all but two of the sitting members of the Wellington City Councilintend to seek re-election at tho coming elections. Some councillors have received requisitions from ratepayers asking them to allow themselves to ho nominated. In addition to tho candidates who are being run by tho Labour party there is a now aspirant for .municipal honours in tho person of Mr F. M. B. Fisher, M.H.R., who lias decided to stand for tho Council. The mayoralty promises to bo a straight-out issue between tho Hon. T. W. Hislop. the present Mayor, and Mr T. M. Wilford. M.H.R. Nominations, both for Mayor and for conn-

rillors. close on tho ISth hist, at noon, and tho elections take place on tho 24th hist. TEACHERS’ CLASSES. Arrangements are now being made by the Wellington Education Board for tho holding of Saturday morning classes for teachers, in drawing, handwork, and singing. 'When tho instructor takes up tho work in Juno next it is proposed to hold Saturday classes for teachers in woodwork and in cookery. These classes will bo held at tho Thorndon training college. Twenty lessons this year will qualify in practical work for tho City and Guilds of London Institute examination, and that number of lessons will therefore bo given, Tho Saturday classes in agriculture in tho country, under Mr Davis, ,will begin at Grcytown next Saturday, and will bo followed by classes at Masterton and Pahiatua, if possible ton at each centre. Teachers will note that tho proposed classes will bo limited at first. ATTEMPTED SAFE ROBBERY. An attempt was ir.ado early yesterday morning to burglarise the railway safe at tho Upper Hutt station. It was found when the staff went on duty that tho lock of tho safe had been tampercd with, and a closer examination revealed the fact that gunpowder had boon used in an endeavour to forco it. Tho attempt was a failure, although tho lock was badly shattered, and took some time to reopen. Tho tliief, or thieves, had tho burglary been successful, would have* mado a good haul, as thoro was £IOO in cash and valuables, including postal notes, etc., deposited in tho safe at tho time. All tho Government railway- safes aro embedded in concrete, and cannot, therefore, bo attacked by the chisel, Lilli only from the front. Last year tliero was quite an epidemic of burglarious attempts upon railway station safes, but, as on tho present Occasion, the perpetrators for the most part wont empty-handed away. Tho matter was reported to the police, and two detectives were sent out to the Upper Hutt to investigate. Tho fact that the railway, office is also the post office and money order office no doubt encouraged high expectations in the minds of tho burglars. Residents near aro alleged to have heard tho explosion in the night. THE ENGINEER-IN-CHIEF. Mr Robert West Holmes, M. Inst. C.E., Superintending Engineer for the colony, has been appointed Engineer-in-Chiof for the colony, vice Mr P. S. Hay, deceased. Mr Holmes has been in tho service of the Public Works Department for thirty-five years. Ho was born in London in 1856, and received his education at a private school there. In 1871 lie came to Wellington with his father, and worked at tho Government Print--1 ing Office as a clerk for a few months. In the following year he joined the Public Works Department as a cadet, serving on tho West Coast of the South Island. He was promoted to the position of Assistant-Engineer in 187 G, and took charge of tho railway works' in the Manawatu district in that year. When those works were completed he surveyed tho lino between Bunnythorpo and tho Manawatu Gorge. He was appointed Resident Engineer in charge of tho Taranaki district in 1879, a position he held until the Taranaki and Wanganui districts wore amalgamated in 1883. Ho then took charge of tho Hawke’s Bay district for a few months, and left there to supervise tho exploration surveys in connection with the Taranaki trunk railway route. He next located tho Woodville to Ekotahuna railway route, and subsequently made detailed railway route surveys 'in Taranaki, and did some important survey service in the Lake districts of Otago. Mr Holmes was next appointed Resident Engineer in Wellington. In 1893 ho was engaged in the Huntervillo district, and made detailed surveys of the trunk line in that part of the North Island. About seven years ago ho was appointed Inspecting Engineer, and on Mr Hay’s appointment to tho position of Engineer-in-Chief last year, he became Superintending Engineer. In his younger. days Mr Holmes was a volunteer in tho Greymonth Rangers, the Taranaki Mounted Rifles, and No. 1 Company of Taranaki Rifles. He was elected an Associate member of tho Institute of Civil Engineers (England) in 1886. \ NEWS NOTES Customs duties -collected at Lyttelton for tho week ending April . sth amounted to £5934, of which spirits accounted for £3170, tobacco £lOl6, and ad valorem £1442. ' Mr T. R. Race, Canadian commissioner at tne Exhibition, on Saturday afternoon distributed nearly ten thousand cakes of sugar made from Canada’s maple syrup. Every child visitor received a cake. Tho Seddon National Memorial Fund has benefited by tho following subscriptions:—Bookbinders 1 and Pa-per-rulers’ Union, £5; Wellington College, £5; Raglan County Council, £5; W. R. Haselden, £5 ss. An inquest will be held at Masterton on Friday morning on the body of Miss Howell, which has been twice exhumed recently. On the second occasion the contents of tho stomach were sent to Dr McMaclaurin for analysis. A deputation, representative of the local musical bodies, is to wait upon tho Finance Committee of tho City Council at the Town Hall at 4 p.m. to-day, with a request that the scale of charges for the use of the Town Hall bo reduced. Cabinet yesterday decided to grant to the younger children of the late Mr W. Gray, Secretary for Post and Telegraphs, the maximum amount of compassionate allowance, equivalent to two years’ .full salary, in token of the long and faithful service rendered to the colony by the deceased. John Thomas McKinnon was charged before Dr McArthur yesterday with haring sold to Marion ‘ Thompson, on March 26th, sundry copies of tho “New Zealand Truth” newspaper containing an article headed “Likefl ’Em Stinking, 1 ’ which "was alleged to be indecent, immoral, and obscene. On the application of Mr Dunn, the case was adjourned till next Monday. Tho monthly meeting of the Wellington division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade took,place last night. A good practice of triangular and roller bandaging' was held. The hon. surgeon (Dr Gibbs) demonstrated many useful points in bandaging and 4 rendering first aid. With tho winter months approaching, tho brigade would bo pleased to see any men holding first aid certificates attending the meetings. Particulars can bo obtained from tho hon. sec., 10 Oxford road, off Tasman street.

Tho Moeraki, duo early to-morrow morning from Sydney, is bringing 340 bags of English and Australian mails. The colonial mails which left Melbourne by the Marmora, via Brindisi, arrived in London on the night of the sth inst., one day early. All tenders received by the Government for tho purchase of tho Exhibition buildings as a whole have been declined by Cabinet. The annual meeting of tho Wellington Ladies' Hockey Association will bo held in Dr Izard’s rooms, Lambtdn quay, on Thursday evening. Alteration of the rules will bo one of tho subjects to bo discussed. Holders of shares in the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company may obtain warrants for dividends for the half-year ending February 28th from the company's head office on Thorndon quay. It lias been agreed by a conference of representatives of Lower Hutt and Petono borough that a local Bill he drafted providing for the vesting of tho Hutt Park and racecourse in a joint standing comipittee of the two districts. The following additional subscriptions towards the Scott fund are acknowledged:—J. W. Honro (children’s boots), Sis; sympathiser, 10s; received by E. A. Palmer —Employees of R. Hannah and Co.. £2 17. s 6d; Mr R. Hannah, hoots for family; A. H. Smith, 2s 6d: G.G.P., Dannev-irke, 10s; friend, Is; J.W.P., us; goods from R. Holliday; goods from E. Anderson.

The Lower Hutt Borough Council is about to enter upon a campaign against tho motor which exceeds tho speed limit. A committee was set up at last night’s meeting to draft a bylaw to regulate tho speed of motor cars, motor cycles, and steam waggons. Mention was made of a certain contractor’s motor-waggon which the engineer announced had that day gone through tho bridge into the Wainui river. It was decided to debit the contractor with tho damage ’to the bridge. The Council appeared to bo indifferent about tho damage to the 'waggon. '

The Humphries Patent Scaffold Bracket Company received by the last San Francisco mail communications from three diiferont sources in America containing offers to negotiate for the purchase of the rights in their patent bracket. It is, however, the intention of the proprietors to thoroughly introduce the - bracket into tho United States of America and Canada before disposing, of their patent rights, Mr Leonard Humphries leaves by the next steamer to join his brother and Mr Copland, who left some little time ago for America, to assist in placing tho article, to the best advantage, on the market there. A confectioner and rofreshmontiroom keeper named Josiah Towerscy, trading as Towerscy Brothers, in Willis street, was charged before Dr McArthur, S.M., yesterday with having worked three traitresses —Janet Bice, Louisa Millington, and Martha Sweeney—during meal hours,, and having employed them for fifty-nine and a half hours per week instead bf fifty-two, in contravention'of tho Shops and Offices Act. He pleaded guilty, and was fined £4 and 14s costs. His Worship warned him that the fine might bo increased to £5 for every of. fonco -in future. He should bo careful to -arrange his business so that the proper hours could ho kept. A meeting was hold at tho Hotel Cecil last evening to form an amateur •dramatic society. The project was enthusiastically taken up, and it was decided that a society, to‘ho called tho Thorndon Amateur Dramatic So : cioty, bo formed. The following officers were elected . (subject to their approval):—Patron, tho Hon.'Dr Find, lay, AI.L.C. ■ president, Air W. H. P. Barber, M.H.It.; vice-presidents, Messrs C. Izard, AI.H.R., T. Y. Seddoh, AI.H.R., McFarlano, T. Duran, A. S. Watson, C. Eagar; secretary, Air F. H. Wood; stage manager, Air Aitken. Thirty-eight members were enrolled, and it was decided to stage a drama some six or eight weeks hence. A case affecting the rights of leaseholders on tho Town Belt was heard before Dr AlcArthur yesterday. It appeared from tho evidence that men employed by Air Cornelius Hickey in search of some branches of pine trees to boil tho bitumen used in the construction of ■ the Kilbirnio tramline, lifted from its hinges a gate loading to land leased by Air Henry Wright, and took a horse and vehicle through. Air Wright p rosreuted Air Hickey for theft of tho wood, his desire being to. assert the rights of Town Belt tenants. After hearing evidence for the prosecution, his Worship said the offence was apparently a trivial one, and -ho would dismiss the case. At Pahiatua on Saturday night Harry Pearce, champion wrestler of Australasia, undertook to throw Gus Carlson, a local man of considerable athletic fame, twice inside half an hour ,in catch-as-catch-can style. Carlson was tho better, conditioned man. Pearce, who stands about sft Sin, and weighs 13st, has won 782 wrestling competitions within tho last twenty years, while Carlson, who has held the North Island championship for fifteen years, is 6ft 2in in height and weighs 16st. Carlson secured first fall in six rain, utes, and Pearce tho second. 10 the third bout Pearce had only seven minutes to throw his and, failing to do so,. Carlson was adjudged the winner.

The Hon. Dr Collins, M.D.C. (chairman), Messrs George Toogood, E. J. Do Grove, E. Arnold, and J. B. Coates were present at a meeting of Seddon National Memorial Committee, hold yesterday afternoon. One or two apologies for non-attendance were received, and it suggested that) the day of meeting should be altered. The secretary was instructed to write to the Athletic Park Company regarding the dates for the performances of tho Besses o’ th’ Barn Band to he given in aid of the fund. Arrangements in connection with the sale of tho tickets was left in tho hands of the secretaries. The following names were added-to tho General Committee:— Messrs E. D. Hoben, A. S. Watson, A. Wilson, R. A. Loughnan, M.L.C., P. J. O'Eegan, and Dewey.

At a meeting of creditors yesterday of Thomas O’Donnell, Government nightwatchman, tho debtor gave evidence that both ho and his wife had been sick, and that the doctor _ had been in the house a number of times. For the past two years he had been night watchman at tho Customhouse at £2 12s Cd per week. He had been out of work for a considerable time, and was in debt when he secured Government employment. Mr Cook appeared for the bankrupt. In tho liabilities of £B6 16s 2d, the principal creditors were:—VWord and Devi, £10: Darcy Ford, £8 us 3d; J. Devlin, £7 12s: 13. J. Walsh and Co., £6 Is 3d; Jamieson, £6 8s Gd. The assets, consisting of furniture, are valued at £lO. Tho creditors separated without passing any resolution.

At last night's meeting of tho Lower Hutt Borough Council the Mayor (Mr T. W. McDonald) announced that ho had received a cheque for £lB3 as the result of the post office clock bazaar. Tho secretary of the bazaar fund (Miss Price) requested that any surplus from tho amount should be devoted to tho fire brigade. This was agreed to, and it was decided to thank Miss Price and the bazaar committee for their trouble in the matter. Teachers of music are reminded that entries for the Associated Board’s theory examinations close on May Ist at the 'Wellington Piano Company’s premises, 16!) La mil to n quay. The examination will bo held on Saturday, Juno Ist. It should be remembered that candidates for local centre theoretical subjects have an equal chance for the Board's gold and silver medals with candidates for practical subjects. A temporary assistant medical officer is required for tho Porirua Mental Hospital. Bfringe,r and Bridge, Christchurch, invite tenders for n draper’s assigned estate. Tho Christchurch steam laundry is offered for sale by tender. To-day at noon .7. 11. Betliuno and Co. will sell on the ground, Lower Hutt, tho schoolmaster’s residence, opposite the school, for removal. Mr W. R. Scholefield, optician, etc.. Manners street, notifies that he can supply spectacles to suit all sights. Stewart Dawson and Co., jewellers, Lambton quay, invite those interested in approaching weddings to inspect their selection of solid silver and electroplated ware, etc. An auction sale of household furniture, piano, billiard dining table, etc., will be conducted by Hurcourt and Co. on the premises, "Tho Knoll,” Upland road, Kolburne, to-duy, at 1,30 p.m. Catalogues may he obtained from the auctioneers. To-morrow, at 2.30 p.m. tho same firm will offer a sixteen-roomed residence, with all out-offices and convenisituated on Brougham Hill, and occupied by Mr IV. F. Ward us a boys’ boarding school. The land .contains nearly half an acre, being 06ft x 184 ft, and has access by a Oft 6in right-of-way from Brougham street. An eight-room-ed residence situated in Tinakori road, near Thorndon quay, on land 36 x ISiift, will also he submitted. Full particulars and cards to view may ho obtained on application.

A five-roomed dweliinghouse and outbuildings, situated in Wingfield street, Thorndon, will be sold by auction for removal by Ilarconrt and Co. at their looms at noon to-day.