NEWS NOTES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6314, 14 September 1907, Page 6

NEWS NOTES

The Christchurch Labour Bureau reports that there is a scarcity of brassmoulders in that city at present, and that vacancies exist for several of this class of tradesmen.

Jn her lecture on "Russia'-* last evening, Miss A. L. A. Murcutt remarked that only 50 per cent, of the Russian army cpnld read or write. The soldiers are taught military tactics by means of "penny-dreadful" pictures. The question of uniform school books throughout the colony is being taken up by the Now Zealand Bookbinders and Paper-rulers’ Society. This body, has issued circulars to school committees pointing out the disadvantages 'of having different sets of books in different districts, and asking the committees to pass resolutions in favour of reform and press them upon the Government.

Mr A, H, Vile has given notice to move at the next meeting of the Wellington Education Board :~ ff Tbat, in the opinion of this Board* it is ; desirable that the Education Boards pf the colony shall arrange for a synchronous examination of the sixth standard pupils in the primary schools of the colony in the month of December." An examination of this nature was conducted last year by the Hawke's Bay Education Board.

/ Some of tho men charged at the .Mag? istrate's Court yesterday with negryent driving at street corners in the city put I forward novel excuses. One said he oould not go slowly because his(■ breeching was broken, a second pleaded that his horse was hard, in- the mouth, and a third said it was impossible {or him to have driven at more than a walking pace (or the reason that his horse did not possess such a turn of speed. The Trades and Labour Council is protesting- to the Minister of Labour and Mr Tanner, chairman of the Laoour Bills Committee, against the committee making a recommendation on the tactorv Act Amendment Bill without sailing evidence from the parties concerned; also against the clause m the Bill gives power to empleyeis to nx the weekly half-holiday on any day other than 'Saturday.

lii answer to a request from the Progressive Society and the Traues Council to cp-operatß with them in doing something in the direction of preventing the importation of goods manufactured under sweating conditions,, and also with a view to preventing any possibility ot the sweating evil being introduced into New Zealand, the Dunedin Council of Churches decided to wait until further evidence was forthcoming before arriving at a final decision. "May I ask, Mr Chairman, exactly what species of noxious weed that is on the table?" said a member at a meeting of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s committee on Wtones? day. There was stolid silence for a few seconds, while everyone looked anxiously at a small pot of green stuff. . Mr Murphy then said that the noxious weed was real shamrock, of which he _ had imported the seeds from Ireland. And I’ll he happy to take orders for March 17th next, he added, and all the members laughed. In the concert chamber of the Town Hall last evening Miss A. L. A. Murcutt, P.R.G.S., delivered the final of her series of lectures under the auspices of the New Zealand AUumco. Mrs A. ±tAtkinson presided. There was a good attendance. In a graphic manner Miss Muroutt described the Russian Empire, its • people, customs, and policy, and painted a fine word-picture of the terrible fortress-prison of Saglialien Island. Miss Muroutt exhibited a quality not often .ascribed to lady lecturers, that of humour.

A curious cae© of mistaken identity occupied the attention of the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning. A charge against one Fred Parslow, for failing to provide for the mamceqance of his child in the Wellington liecemng Home, had been called, and a man was put into the dock. It was, however, explained bv the police that the man who appeared had been brought from Hamilton, hut when he had reached Wellington it was found that ho was not the man wanted, but another closely resembling him. The charge was therefore withdrawn.

The English sweated industries exhibit will be open to the public at the Town Hall to-day for the last time.

A lecture will be given in the Town Hall (concert room) on Monday evening by Mr J. Thornton Nott, M.A., on “Old New Zealand; Peeps into the Untrodden Past"

Despite the unsettled weather yesterterday, the show of the Wellington Kennel Club was well attended, afternoon uud evening. The secretary. Mr Adams, ami the committee deserve praise for tho satisfactory manner in which their duties have been carried out.

The weekly meeting of the Y.M.C.A. Literary and * Debating Club was held lust evening, when there was a good attendance. A debate took place on the question “That protection is in New Zealand’s best Interests, ** Mr Long affirming and Mr Bruton opposing. The vote resulted in favour of the affirmative argument.

Tho services in connection with St. John’s Church, which I*s still closed for repair, will be held to-morrow in the largo Town Hail. Leaflets containing the words -of the hymn will bo distributed among the congregation. Special music and singing have been arranged. In the evening Dr Gibb will deliver the second sermon of the oouree, “On certain kinds of fools portrayed in tho Bible.*'

At the Y.M.C.A. rooms last evening a pleasant meeting was held in connection with the junior department, when representatives of the Wellington Football Association were present. The Junior department committee entertained the members.of their football team and the captains of the competing teams in the junior league. Mr AY. C. Hemery, chairman of tho junior department, presided. Medals were presented during the evening to the most meritorious players during the past season, and Mr George Adair, tho coach, was presented with a greenstone pendant.

The Y.M.C.A. is specially active in the colony at this moment, due, mainly, to the presence of Mr Lyman Pierce. 'There was on Thursday night a very large meeting of ladies interested in the work of the association, at which arrangements were concluded for tho conduct of the banquet to be held in tho Town. i-Jul ou September 19th. On Monday mghc there will be a banquet in Christchurch, to inaugurate the building campaign, and Mr Pierce will bo present. This gentleman was for six years generi-.l secretary of the Washington (U-S.A.) branch,, which has tho finest building in the world. .

There was an * enthusiastic and largely attended meeting of the Wellington District Branch of the Liberal end Labour Federation at Qcxtber's .rooms, Cuba street, last evening. Mr G. Winder was in the chair. The organisation embraces the five electorates in the city and enbnrbs of Wellington. Mr Winder was unanimously elected president, Mr Edwin Arnold treasurer, and Mr W. D. Gorham secretary. The general secretary (Mr E. Gallichan) gave an'address, outlining the objects and aims ©f the organisation. The election of vice-presidents was held over pending tha receipt of reports from sub-committees making recommendations.

The fifth annual dinner of the Wellington letter-carriers' staff was held at Seari's rooms last evening. There was a very large attendance. Mr J. Johnston (clerk in charge) occupied the chair. Among those present were the Right Hon. the Premier, the Mayor, Messrs lie her and Izard, M.H.E.’s, D. Robertson (Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department), and J, A. Hutton (Chief Postmaster). Apologies for non-attendance ; were received from Messrs Aitken and Berber. M.H.R/6, and G. B. Bell (Chief inspector). The Auckland letter-carriers* staff telegraphed goqd wishes. The toast list included the following: —" The King" ; ** Parliament/' proposed by Mr B. O. Gannaway. and responded to by Messrs Fisher ana Izard, M-li.R/s; "The Government/' proposed by Mr J. A. Hutton* and responded to by the Premier; "Post and Telegram Department/' proposed by Mr W- D. Jenkins, and responded to by Mr D. Robertson; *' Progress of Wellington/' proposed by Mr H. V. Waters, and responded to by the Mayor; and the " Letter-carriers Staff/' proposed by .Mr fWV Jessup, and nee ponded to by Mr J. Johnston. Instrumental selections, songs and recitations were contributed by Messrs rJ. Brodie, J, Hannan, G. B. Dali, J. A. Hutton, J. Johnston, J. McLean, C, A. Whiston. H. V. Waters, G. Redmond, C. W. Bell, J. Brooker, 2k C. Bu Richardson. K. Harre, T, Leyden, E. H, R. Ryan, W. Mozham, J. oculley, ajid J, Tamer, Tlie weekly change advertisement of W. II; Turnbull and Co,! will be found elsewhere. , , r East and East advertise details of a farm near Eketaliima for sale. Barr, Leary and Williams have town and country properties for sale. Gualter, Dykes and (Do. advertise properties for sale .and land for lease. Nolan, Tonks and Oo.'s annual spring horse fair will be held air Hawera on September 25th to 28th. About a thousand horses are catalogued. Of this number about one-half are heavy and medium draughts and lorry horses, the balance being carriage and light harness horses. Messrs J. H. Bethune and Go. have an important announcement In our auction columns with regard to the sale of a central city property which they arc holding at their rooms, Featherston street, at 2AO *p.m on October 9tlr. XJpder instructions from Mr 0. H. Fletcher, they ; are submitting his well-known property. Nos. 1 and 3, Willis street. The land has a frontage of 28ft 3|n to Willis street, by a depth of 163 ft Sin. and the back portion of the land for a distance of 76ft has a width of 45ft. On the land stand model'll buildings, three stories in front and four stories on the wider portion at the back, and tbe whole property is let to good tenant* at a total rental of £1719 per annum. With the freehold there is being sold an Bft right-of-way Held under a 999 - years* lease at a small rental. Situated as it is next to Stewart Dawson and Co.’s, and opposite the Bank of New Zealand, at the very hub of the busiest part of Wellington, this property must largely increase 'in value in the near future. A. M. De Costa and Co., Nathan’s buildings, advertise a fruit farm and a sheep run in the Hawke’s Bay district. An extensive sale of unclaimed goods will be held in the Harbour Board’s P store by Thompson Bros., Ltd.. on the 25th lost. The lease of a business site at Hasting! is to be sold by Mr A. McQlashan on October Ist. Abraham and Williams, Ltd-, have for sale a farm of 470 acres near Otaki. Residential properties at Petone are advertised by Radford and Co. Mr W. Scholium, Auckland, has hotels, farms, and businesses for sale. The spring flower show of the Hutt Valley Horticultural Society is to be opened by Sir Joseph Ward in the Lower Hutt Drillshed next Wednesday. Sidey, Meech and Co. will sell furniture, etc., at their rooms this afternoon. Bodham and Biss invite inquiries from, firms needing a partner. Tb© next term at Chilton House School, Woolcombe street, will begin on the 24th inet, Mr? Henry Smith, the principal, will bo at home on the 23rd. R. Hannah and 00., Ltd., are selling smart city boots for men. David Jones (Ltd.), Sydney, advise persons needing drapery, furniture, etc., to shop with them by post. The Equitable Life Assurance Society has a notice to policy-holders in our advertising columns.