NEWS NOTES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7024, 12 January 1910, Page 5

NEWS NOTES

Tho postal authorities advise -that tliu Mnrama, wb# leit Sydney. on baturday for \\ eliiiigtofi, is bunging Lug - Uali and Australian mails. ibo Mafaijia i. H dim in Wellington early this morning.

Tho contents of Lord Plunkct’s stables will Ix 3 sold at Government House stable* (adjoining Parliament Buildings) at 1 p.m. to-day. Tho list to bo ottered included ail ilia Excellency's horses* carriages* harness, oto.

“Blue and White," for 190 D, tho magazine of St. College, Wellington., ;s to hand, it contains many interesting reviews of the year's work* the movements of old boys, and college chat generally. Court JKobiu /Hood, A.0.F., held Ha fortnightly meeting at St. Peter's Hall fjn Monday might, Bro. H. Whitcomb, C. 8., presiding. Tho quarterly balancesheets, which were adopted, show that tho court is making steady progress. The retiring C-1L installed his successor, Pro. P. F. Hodge, into ollice, and ho in turn installed his subordinate officers.

At tho St. John Ambulance examination held late In December last the following ;.memcers» of the Tramways Bervico wore successful in passing the required examination : —Messrs W . K* Uixou, third year; M. Cable, 11. Leah, lr. Simoon and J. Waters, second year; E. Crouiie, H. Liardet, C. Hobbs, it. J. Pentecost and G- Sturzaker, first y. eal * The highest number of marks attained wa4 btk

A labor war on a mild scale raged at Waikokopu last Wednesday, when the e.s. Woka was there loading up wool (says the ,c Guardian Without any preliminary muttering*, as to what was coining, tho wharf lumpers suddenly struck for an advance of wages from 8s to Its a day. Capital would mot budge, and Labour was equally determined to got tho extra 2:> if possible. However, by working short-handed tho vessel got away, but two days later than she should have been. Further developments are awaited.

A case of gross cruelty to a draught jiorse was reported to the meeting of the S.P.C.A. yesterday. Tho animal was found dead in a t>addook at Miramar soma three weeks ago. It had a broken fetlock, and from what could be ascertained hud been deliberately led to tho place while in this maimed condition and callously left there to_ die. As there -was no means of ascertaining the identity of tho individual who was peen at night leading the limping horse to the paddock the society decided that it could take no action.

The committee of the S.P.C.A. mot yesterday, Mr James S. Jameson presiding. Donations were received as follows:—E. \V. Mills and Co. -SI Is, Evans Day Timber Co. and sympathisers -SI, Mr G. Webb 10s, Mr Harland 2s Cd, "A ■Friend'* 2s Gd, total -S2 10s. Overtures arc to be made to the Minister of Agriculture to permit officers of the veterinary department to assist tho society when bringing xjrosGCutions against owners of animals for alleged cruelty. The inspector reported an owner for starving a horse. The society's solicitor is to be consulted in regard to Court proceedings being* taken. Considerable interest is being displayed in tho summer show of the Rose and Carnation Club, which is to be held in tho concert chamber of the Town Hall this afternoon and evening. The secretary reports excellent entries in tho majority of classes, sweet peas in particular promising >an exceptionally good display. < Moat of tho well-known enthusiasts a!ro competing, and there should bo very keen competition. Ladies* decorated tables, one of tho features of the shows held by the club, have had to bo limited to eight in consequence of tho amount of space required for other exhibits. Tho show' will bo opened ut 3 o’clock and dose at 10 p.m. For some months past there has been a steady advance in the price of leather, ond it would appear an though top prices had not yet been reached. A Wellington boot manufacturer informs the "jEitham Argus** that the increase in prices has boon brought about by the presence in Now Zealand of representatives of American and Canadian firms, who are buying on a very large scale; in fact, it looks as though they were endeavouring to " corner ** the hide market in tho Dominion. The same informant states that the New Zealand manufacturer© have boon trying hard to keep their goods at former prices, but the advance in hides and leather has been so serious that an increase in the manufactured article now seems inevitable.

At the meeting of the S.P.C.A. yesterday a communication was received from the Palmerston North branch stating that pigs were frequently railed through Palmerston to a firm at Petone In a very crowded condition, and were sometimes in the trucks. for four or five days without food or drink. In one instance a truck of 46 pigs had been railed through from the Waver ley racecourse, and wore in such a condition that five of them were lying on the floor dead. Several members of the society commented upon the heartless manner in which stock generally was treated when being _ consigned by rail to its destination,, it being admitted that pigs generally fared the worst. The inspector was instructed to make inquiries and report to the next meeting of the committee with a view to some action being taken.

A novel fishing equipment is now being •used by Northern Wairoa campers on the West Coast, by means of which splendid hauls of deep-sea fish are being obtained. It has been patented by Mr A. Costello, of Dargaville. The line is fifiOOft Jong, and its mode of working is by driving a 3in peg into the beach at Jngh water to a depth of 3ft. Then at i\ distance of 500 ft seawards, two similar pegs axe affixed at an interval of some 301 t. A pulley is affixed to each peg, •through which tho endless lino’ is wove. ,On two portions of the lino 12 to 15 hooks arc baited, and ono of these is always in deep water, nsi on tho line being hauled in the other baited attachments aio mechanically carried out to the other seaward peg. On open roadsteads, where tho magnitude of the /waves and the breadth of stormy billows (Prevent a single lino being cast into deep water, the innovation is of distinct fvalue, and its use is becoming general Bn the northern coast. The Trustees of the Benevolent Institution met yesterday for tho first time this year. There were present Mr J, Smith (in the chair). Miss M. E. Richmond, the Rev. W. A. Evans an'd Messrs R. W. Short, J. Wakeham and g, Robertson. Tho master of Ohiro bmo (Mr A. H. Truebridge) presented Various papers showing tho state of the Ohiro Home and its inmates during the past twelve months. There are at tho moment 76 men and 30 women in the Homer During last year 195 people of both sexes were admitted. Of those 14 were women.. A total of 179 people were discharged. Eight persons died, two being women. The Homo relieved the necessities of 301 persons during the year. A table showing the ages 1 of persons who have accepted relief is interesting. Between the ages of 25 nnd 35 the total ns 20—all men; between tho _ ages of 35 and 45 tho number is 36 —all men; between tho ages of 45 and 55 the number is 47, only four of whom are women; between the ages of 55 and 05 tho number is 71. eleven of whom are women. Of persons relieved or who gained sanctuary above the ago of 65 only 29 were women out of a total of 111. There were eight deaths during tho -year. Of this number five were regular inmates. Two when admitted wore in a low state of health, nnd ono was in a dying condition. Tho following subscriptions were acknowledged towards tho Christmas expenses of the institution :—Messrs Staples and Co. .£5 ss, George and George .£1 Is, Rev. Father Bowden £1 Is. As far as tho Benevolent Institution is aware there is not at present, a glaring amount of distress in the city.

At Napier yesterday John Harlmg, who had pleaded guilty to two charges of stealing bicycles, was sentenced. to six months’ imprisonment.

Tho Victoria College Office r.s' Training Corps will go into camp at TreuUiain on February 19th. Menibers are looking forward to the camp coinciding with tho vitdt of Lord Kitchener. Mr W. Leech, of Ohariu, has bean appointed registrar it>r the dog tax in the Hu ft County. His commit-sion will be threepence per dog, while the registration fee has boom fixed at half a crown. -Within the next ten days the Government will make appointments of bacteriologists at Auckland and Dunedin, and a statement regarding tho icorguuisation of the Public Health Department will be made public. Tho Taranaki County Council proposes to make an experiment with waste petroleum from the Taranaki Company’s works at Motnroa. A chain of metal will be lifted and two or three inches of tho crude oil will be spread over the road. The metal will then bo replaced and rolled, tho oil thus being forced up between the stone to bind it.

The Undcx-Secrefttry for Mines has written to the secretary of the Ohincjuuri Elver Silting Association stating that the Government proposes to sot up a Royal Commission to report, for tho information of the Government, what steps it would be advisable to take in reference to the question of tho silting of the OMnomuri river. The St. John’s Young Men's Association. has been granted the use of the Karo-ri Kec real ion ground for a exports gatharing and picnic on Anniversary Day. Tho association will bo called upon .to pay a fee of half a guinea to cover .the cost of cleaning up tho ground after the gathering. The association will bo held liable for any damage wilfully done, and no fires will be permitted ou tho .playing grounds. Intending competitors at tho Feilding /V. and P. Association's Show, to bo held on February Ist and 2nd, are reminded that entries close on Friday next. A liberal xirize list has been allotted to .this popular fixture. Schedules may be, obtained at tho ofiioo of this newspaper, from secretaries of land red associations, or from the secretary, Mr E. H. Fisher, X r eildiiig.

The steamer Whakatane, which left Loudon on November 27th, has on board 50G Queensland Government immigrants, made up as follows: —Nominated 381, assisted 08, indented 0, free (domestic servants) <l3, and full-payers 8. They comprise GO married men, 75 married women, 153 single men, 8G single . women, and* 320 children. Their nationalities are :—English 315, Scotch 101, Irish TO, others 17.

Tho Hutfc County Council intends to take action against all persons who have not paid their current year’s rates by .February 23th next. It may not be generally known that the Government ,pay» a subsidy of 5s in the £ on all rates collected'by the county up to June 30th. This should be borne in mind by the ratepayers as the greater the amount of revenue received the smaller tho rates will be.

We ("Taranaki Herald**) understand that the Government is about to take, as a scenery and historic reserve, the great Pukorangiom pa, on the cliffs overlooking tho Waitara river, inland of liuiratigi. The rcservC will embrace not only the old Pukerangiora pa, but also the To Area, tho site, held and occupied by Hapurona Pukerimu in 18G0-1. This is one of the most historic spots in middle Taranaki, and its panoramic is acknowledged to bo one df the finest in the district.

The Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. D. Buddo) who has under his control the administration of the new Racing Act, is having regulations prepared for the operation of the measure on April Ist, His attention having been drawn to the newspaper reports of tho scenes of disorder at the recent Miramar meeting, he replied that they did not seem to point to a very satisfactory state of affairs. The, new regulations, however, would operate beneficially in regard to tho sport. During 1909, 2331 persons were naturalised in tho Commonwealth. Of these 1091 were Gormans, 295 Swedes, 182 Danes, 167 Italians, 132 Russians, 138 Norwegians, 81 French, 76 North Americans, 71 Greeks, and one Chinese. New South Wales claims 6H of the new citizens, South Australia 600, Victoria 507, Queensland 378, West Australia 221, and Tasmania 81. The naturalisations in 1908 were 1190. Part of the increase this year is attributed to tho right which naturalisation gives to old-age pensions. This is particularly noticeable in South Australia, where there is a large German population.

Several matters were considered by the Management Committee of the Wellington Cricket Association last evening, in committee. Amongst them was an allegation preferred against a prominent senior player by the Empire's Association concerning remarks said to have been made by him when playing in a recent match on a suburban ground; also the alleged misconduct of some members of the representative team which visited Auckland at Christmas time in quest of the Plunket Shield. No communication regarding the decisions arrived at was made to the press.

A nasty obstacle, when end-ou, for a email steamer to run on to was sighted by the Pateena on Monday afternoon near tho Wellington entrance, in the shape of a 30ft spar, with a diameter of about 2ft 6in. , Captain Aldwell, of tho Pateena, which returned to Wellington from Nelson and Picton last night, said that the spar looked like a ship’s topmast. It was drifting about four cables south-west of the western ledge of Lyall Bay. It seemed to be painted mouse colour, and as it had. no sign of barnacles it oould not have come from tho Penguin, which went down about ten months ago. There was no visible gear attached to (die spar. As there was a light southerly breeze 1 and swell there was a considerable chance of the spar drifting ashore in tho vicinity of Lyall Bay. The Lux Light Company wish it known that tho Lux Incandescent Kerosene Gas Lamps give the Cheapest and Most Brilliant Light on Earth. See To Aro House, Bates and Lees’, Wardell Bros.’, Leyden. nnd Co., Caterer and Carey, E. Pearce and Co., R. Hannah and Co., Petone Workshops (where Lux replaced the latest devices in lighting). House Lamps 22s 6d. Lamps up to 2000 candlepower. 35, ’37, 39, Old Customhouse street (back of Opera House), Wellington. . °