CURRENT TOPICS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7026, 14 January 1910, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS

AEOLUS MISQUOTED. .~ 1~~ l ~~ Two separate .and .'■ wrongly-coded weather cablegrams received by the Government .Meteorologist yesterday morning, which, strangely enough, fitted .in with other reports and weather possibilities, ware responsible for the early issue of a. special storm warning sent to the Northern stations. The non-develop-ment of the usual prognostics of a tropical disturbance by the afternoon caused tlio Meteorologist to make inquiries oversea, by which the errors were discovered and rectified. The warnings were then cancelled, as far as possible. The alarm, though amply justified, and indeed necessary to meet the apparent position of affairs, would cause considerable uneasiness, especially at this time of the year. To escape.from a storm of such magnitude ae occurred at Christmastide and In the South at the Not Tear is a subject for congratulation for everyone. JAMS AND THEIR SECKE.TS. ' Steadily the Public Health Department is carrying on its campaign against food adulteration. Jums'have just received attention, and this is'opportune, in view of the nearness of the season.' Additional regulations were gazetted last night, which require that every package of jam, marmalade, or jelly, must be distinctly labelled to show the contents, and the manufacturer's name and address. Mixed or compounded jams must | give . away their secrots in distinct and bold type. Whore a mixed or compounded jam does not contain more than 20 parts per cent. o£ apple-pulp, it shall bo sufficient to state on tho label the amount of such pulp in tho following form:—"This is- a mixed jam, containing not more than 20 per cent, of lipplo." Apple-juice or gooseberry-j'uice may be added to jam to an amount not exceeding 10 parts per cent., and in such case it shall not be necessary to indicate on tho label that tho jam contains such juioe, or that it is a, mixed or compounded jUm. The penalty for breach of the regulations is not; exceeding .£2O. THE FINANCIAL OUTLOOK. The fact that no less a sum than ,£33,000 .has beran deposited with , the City Council during the past few months at -3i per cent, for short terms shows that the financial outlook is bright, and that Sir Joseph Ward was quite right when lie remarked at Invercaigill a few days ago "that the corner was well turned." • ."There' is plenty of money, available at the present' time," remarked a financial agent yesterday, when approached on ihe subject by a "Times" .repiesentative. "I have no hesitation in .saying that interest wiW drop from 6 to 5 per co.nl. very shortly, as there in any quantity of money about. People : desiring accommodation, however, will not give- 6 per cent., but would be quit 3 willing to give 5. Many men. have 'deposited money with the City Council at 3£ per cent, because the security is gilt edged, but the terms are very short, and anv amount of money will be let out at "5 per' owit. before long.' The .moneyed people are endeavouring to keep the rate at G per 'cent., but they are finding, that people won't take it up at the pric-3. The banks, too, are not nearly fo 'tight' as they were, and if a parson has anvthmg behind him there, js no difficulty about getting an overdraft." TEACHERS "FROM NEW SOUTH WALES. The party of New South Wales School teachers who have been on a tour of tho southern portion of New Zealand return to Svdney by this afternoon's steamer. They left Wellington on December 22nd for Picton, and Christmas Day was spent in Queen Charlotte Sound. From Nelson they went to Westport, and thence by coach through tho Uuller Gorge. "This Gorge is absolutely the last woid so far as scenery is concerned. Wo havo the Hawkesbury, but the Buller beats it out of sight, remarked one of the enthusiasts visitors. From Greymouth the party proceeded through the Otira Pass to Chn&tchurch, and thence to Timaru, Dunedin, Invercargill, and the Cold Likes. Last vear the visitors saw tho beauties of the Hot Lakes region, and they were glad on this occasion to meet the other extreme of New Zealand scenery. During their tour they played seven cricket matches, of which they won five. The finest score was 158, made by J. H. Rose, and 11. E. Allman secured the bowling honours, taking 11 wickets for eleven runs at Queenstown. Fifty wickets fell to his bowling in the seven matches. "We have had a delightful tunc, says 'tho manager of the party, and. take back with ua very pleasant memories ot our tour through your fine country. Arrangements have, been definitelv made for a party of Now Zealand teachers to visit Sydney next Christmas. ABSCONDING HUSBANDS: UECIPRocrrr with Australia. A very important phase of legUl reeip- ! rocity with Australia was mentioned by the Minister of Justice (Hon. Dr Findlay) to a southern interviewer. Ho ex- | pressed his regret that owing to the pressure of business towards the ond of last session, it was found impossible to place on tho statute, book the Bill consolidating and extending the law relating to destitute persons. Tho now provisions contained in the Bill were designed to benefit women 'and children. One most useful provision was that pro Tiding for reciprocity between New Zea- J land and Australia in regard to abscond | in-? husbands. Under this provision it is proposed that absconding Australian i husbands apprehended in New Zealand j should be dealt with by the New Zca- ; land courts, whilst the Australian courts would take similar action in respect to absconding New Zealand husbands apprehended in Australia. This, of course, could only be effected by the Australian States pass-1 ing similar legislation, and it was con-! I templated that they would do. so. Ifii

this legislation in ' New Zealand and in Australia were passed, it would save tho hoavy expense at present .'involved la dealing with absconding husbands. Dr Findlay's explanation brings to mind tho case of a Stratford womun who received u refund, by means of• a grant on the Supplementary Estimates, of. the sum of A'2o, which she raised ,by mortgaging her furniture, to bring her husband to justice. He had deserted her, and could not be brought back from Australia until the police obtained a deposit sufficient to cover the expenses. AVhen tho'erring one rotuxned, the woman, 1 who had beggared herself for this-purpose, fo'und herself without redress after all,-for th» man . was convicted and sent to prison* as a bigamist. NEWS NOTESThe postal authorities advise that ths Maheno, which left Sydney on Wednesday for Auckland, is bringing Enyjlisu. and Australian mails, which are duo here next Monday afternoon.-, A man was arrested last night at Newtown, by Detective Cassells' and Sergeant Jlatheson on two serious charges against boys. ~... A man weighing about thirteen 6tiraa attempted to clamber through an opta port of the Mararoa at the. Queen's wharf last night as she was leaving for Lvttelton. He got his head through the port, and then a constable helped him ashore. ■ " . -,'., The Master-tan A. and P. Association will hold their twenty-third annual show on February 15th and 16th, and a rani fair on the 17th and 18th. Entries for the show close on the 29th. inst., and for the ram fair on the ■ 31st. Entry forms . and schedules may , be obtained at the office of this paper. Lists containing the names of persons, firms and companies qualified by the payment of dues to vote for tho election of a member of the Wellington Harbour Board, and of owners of shSps so qualified, have been prepared, and will bo open for inspection at -the board's office from the 15th to the 20th. instant. A special meeting of the board will Ija held on the 27th instant to hear objections. ■ - _ . ;.'■-.' Tho Wellington-New Plymouth mail train' was delayed for nearly- an hour at Otaki yesterday morning through the engine being put out of commission by a burst steam-pipe. ' No damage, was done, and the only inconvenience was the long wait until a' relief engine arrived, at 12.30 p.m., froni Paekakariki. Time was being made up during tho journey, and tho train was expected to reach New Plymouth about halt an hour late. , February 14th lias been fixed as the day on which the Wellington Chamber of Commerce will elect its memte'rs to represent the , Chamber on tho Harbour Boacd. Tho secretary. Mr S. Carroll, has compiled a list of membei'a entitled to vote and this will-be-open for: inspection from J ajiuejry ':lsth, to 20th. In the ipast tho has been toxjloct the chairman of thst Chamber/; to tho position, and if this: custom is again carried out it will mean.:that;Mr \V. G, Duthie, will sit on the board in placo ci the present member, Mr J/G. Hatrkness. Indisposition of some)members and absence ironi the city of others prevented a. quorum attending the meeting oi "the Committee of- tho New Zealand Kragby Union called for lasi evening to oonsid&s- the order paper fo» the conference "SI delegates of the, Nefl South Wales, Queensland, end New Zealand Rugby Unions, to 1 be held at, Sydney at the end of this month. -.-> A.meeting will be held when the. delegates to the conference assemble in Wellington prior to their, departure for Sydney on Friday next.,:: ■•;' ' : '* The.following official, intimation of the result' of the military; inquiry into ! charges against. Captain iKnyvett, of Auckland, aivpears in this "\ week's *,"Gaz--1 ette":—His, Excellency, the. Governor has 'been pleased to: signify" his- pleasura under section 5& (2) of the Defence Act, 1908, upon the dismissal from' the' New Zealand Defence, Forces 'of ; Captain Frank Berners Knyvett, No., 1: Company, Auokland Division, New Zealand Garrison Artillery Volunteers, he having been found guilty of an act to the, prejudica of good order, and, military . discipline, and with effect, from December 31st, 1909. ' „;-„.,. , '..;:i; According to,:a church paper, many people at Ballara.t. regret' the error they •made of missing hearing, the Ecv.-H, S. Woiol'combe, who is on a world tour, and who will speak in tho big Town Hall, Wellington, on the 23th and.3oth instant. In. other places where thousands hav« listened to this . inspiring speaker, , the J have been charmed. with -his personality, and have come to the*cohejuskm- that a London speaker was right -tfhen he soid"He is one of the best platform, speakera of to-day." At a big: meeting:' held in Wellington last night men' pledged thempcftves to work each district; in: such a manner as to ensure the .Success; of Mr Woolcombe's visit. '*-':-,,:,:pf : ', ■Three statutory meetings.,"of,; contri- : butors for the election'of-trustees were i held in-the Town Hall yesterday nfter- - noon. : Miss Coatee , and 'Mrs \Ves,t i KnWles were elected' trustees of tha ; Hospital Convalescent Home.' Mrs ; Newman, who presided,: explained that ' Mrs Grady, a former trustee,., had rei signed on account of her leaving for a trip Home. The Mayoress made eulogistic reference to this lady> work as a trustee in the past. Mrs;Annie Anderson and the Eev. J. Peterson. were reelected trustees of the Wellington Ladies Christian Association, and ,- Messrs T. W McKenzie and W. Allan, were" reelected trustees of the:Wellington Society for the Belief of the Aged-Needy.

A creditors' meeting in the bankrupt estate of ]<*gi)iald Bell, chauffeur, convenod for yesterday, was adjourned by the Official Assignee, Mr A. Simpson, sine die, no creditors putting in an appearance, and no proofs of debt having been filed. The bankrupt_s statement shows the amount of his liabilities to be j>s2 Os id, whilst his assets are nil. The creditors (all unsecured) are:—O. Andrews, engineer, Palmerston Aortn, .£l6 12s; E. Arinit, tobacconist, Wellington,' JCC; B. A. Coley, stable keeper, Palincrsfon North, i»; Menteath and Bocre, solicitors, Wellington,, £8 3s id; Whiting, livery stable keeper, Wellington, £1 ss; Stantoa and Ashbury, motor experts, £G.

-Under statute, the Defence Department is entitled to tlio use of Hutt Park fot twentv-eight dayß por annum. _\\hen the D Battery encampment 19 concluded, seventen days out of tho total will hav« been availed of. The committee received notification last night from Captain Chosney Assistant Adjutant-General, that the'No. 4 Company New Zealand. Engineer Volunteers would go into camp on 'ihe park from January 29th to February 13th. Another letter containing an application from the Dominion Scouts for permission to hold an encampment waa also received. The committee resolved to inform Captain Dalrymple, of the latter corps, that tho park would have been used tho statutory number of daye for 1910 on February 13th, and that the application could not bo granted. "All your schools and colleges will mot produce a capable commander, unless with his theoretical instruction there is combined an adequate amount ■of ■ practical work," said a prominent artillery officer when questioned yesterday by a "T3m.es" reporter as to his views on the military science cliur proposal. "Such a provision as that proposed would be most advantageous—probably it is tho easiest and most efficient way of supplying tho means for tfieoretical instruction—but I disagree entirely with the tendency to view theory as though it was th© "only training an officer requires. Tho study of military history, for ichlance, is most necessary, l>ut acquaintance with field "work is more so. But tho scheme, if 'ever it is adopted, does not want to be burdened with three chairs —one is sufficient." Another officer thus summardaed lis views: "You may rest assured a military officer believes in practice, not itheory.*"

There is a vacancy for one man in the Homo for the Aged -\ec<l;.-. The service- ot (lie MM' lil JJcfcnce Rifle Club (Wellington < have been accephd. by the De.euce department. The tender of Messrs Tiriw-oe and Co.. Ltd \V'ellin"ton. has been accepted tor the'supply of gallons of varnish t«. the New Zealand Jtaihvay Department. Jf. 11. Watson, of Sydney, has coint under the ban of the I'ost Office, which will not is.-suo money orders or delivc; postal packets to that individual or linn. Conscience money to the extent of X'l li'is been lor "aided to the Lambton "t'ltioiii'imsl'cr by some individual who has apparently wronged the Kailway Department. Yesterday !'.dv.-ard John Falkiner was arre-ted bv Detective Lewis, ellar;;cd with the theft of three pianos, lie will 'bo broiiKht before the Magistrate's Court thus uiorniuir. At a meeting ot creditors of William Georpo Somerville, solicitor, it was decided "That the creditors be asked to nuairantcp the amount of expense "P."> ,£l5O for the investir;ation oi the ainurs of the bankrupt, and that a circular. bo sent to all creditors not present, iiivitmc them to co-operate in such Kjiaranteo, and that each creditor coutriibuto pro rata." The four-weekly return of railway traffic to December 11th shows that on the North Island muin linos and branches tho revenue from passengois was JJ-ll.OSj, parcels .£B3-19, and gowls .£71,208, making, with other receipts, n total of .£125,853, un increase of .£26,G-lfi compared with tho corresponding period of 190 S. Some excitement ivns caused in Brooklyr. lust night by a big jjorso five on the su<lo of tho tramway cui tins' near tho Ohiro road junction. Tiic volunteer fire brigade turned out, but their services ■were not required. th& lire burning itself out in about an hour. A larjio number of residents wen, attracted by tho flare, but the- fire looked more serious from a distance- than it was in reality. No damage to. property resulted. Regulations are gazetted under which whitebait may bo taken in tho llanawatu river and its tributaries. They provide for the use of set nets having au wppniiiff of not moro than Oft by Ift, but no person shall use more than ono set net, or use a sot net and hand net at the same time, or place a set net or use any fishing net within a distance of two chains from another net. The all-round capabilities of a country constable in New Zealand are amusingly demonstrated in last night's "Gazette." Constable Luke Spellman, of Coromandel, lias the honour of taking up over half a column of snace in that official publication, by virtue of his appointment as an Inspector of Sea Fisheries, Inspector of Factories, Licensing Officer under tho Arms Act, and a police gaoler. Tho manager in Wellington for Stewart Dawson and Co., Ltd., has received rable advice of tho very successful opening of the firm's-new premises in Regent ■itieet London These premises, and also the establishment opened two years ago lit Hatton Garden, aro said to be the finest of their kind in the Empire. Visitors from the Dominion to these establishments will find filed copies of all. the leadine newspapers of the Dominion in the reading rooms.

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