NEWS NOTES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7048, 9 February 1910, Page 4

NEWS NOTES

An attempt to form a dorks’ union La Christchurch has been abandoned. The Hutt Valley Horticultural Society hold, a show in the Drill Hall, Lower Hutt, on tho ICth inst. It has been decided to keep the Collins range at Trentham open , for next Saturday's shooting. The distances will be 500 and 600yds. Mr I. B. Speed has collected and forwarded the sum of 14s Gid by means ol a sealed cigar box in aid of Pearson's children's fresh air fund. Further donations will he welcomed at this office.

Thomas Simpson failed to answer to his name when called upon yesterday for duty on tho common jury at the Supreme Court. His Honor imposed a line of unless ho can make a satisfactory excuse. Some laughter was caused in the Supreme Court yesterday by a witness who said that one of the reasons why he had been asked not to press a certain marge was that by eo doing he only “helped to keep Magistrates and Judges in. fat billets.

Preparations are being mode for a conference of hotel employees, to be held in Wellington this month. Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin will be represented, but Christchurch is standing out, the local union declining to join the proposed federation. The Dominion Scouts, who have been in camp on Hutt Park for the past for> night, strike tents to-day. Much useful work has boon done during oamp, especially in tho direction of breaking in recruits. The Engineers will remain in camp until Monday next.

Daring this voyage of the Ruapehu from London to Wellington, whan to the south of, Australia, an. auroral display mas witnessed between 8 and 9 o’clock in tho evening.. Tie "southern lights" were of brief duration and only moderately brilliant. The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court mill conclude to-day. This morning, his Honor : mill pass sentence on the two youths, Pointon and Hauchoy, who pleaded, guilty to thirteen charges of burglary,, and on Stephen Henry Coburn, found guilty of distributing an obscene print.

The officers of the Ruapehu, which arrived at Wellington yesterday from London, report that, a look-out was kept for signs of the missing Warntah. Do. spito their vigilance, not a. trace of the Imer was observed, nor was any ice sighted during the run. across the Southern Ocean. , 1 ,

Complaints have reached: us respecting the conduct of volunteers travelling between tho Lower Hatt : railway station and Hutt Park. Ladies, our informants state, are subjected, to annoyance by having impertinent remarks addressed to them by uniformed hoodlums. It would seem, that a section of the serried is getting right out of hand. ~ It seems probable that a large number of Home-going passengers will leave Auckland by the P. and O. steamer Malwa, on tho 16th inst. Messrs Russell and . Somers, agents for the company, state that, they have already booked forty-two passages from Auckland (twenty-six for through passengers to England, and sixteen for passengers to Sydney). With reference to the non-reporting of the passing of the Ulimaroa by the Parewell Spit lighthouse-keeper last Wednoaday, the Marine Department is in receipt of a.telegram from the, lightkeeper there stating in explanation mat a steamer had passed the spit last Wednesday too far off to be identified, which was probably the Ulimaroa., On those days when a Sydney boat is due it is tho custom (a very desirable one), if a vessel cannot bo identified, bo, telegraph that a steamer passed eastward. ■ Till* gives a warning of the possible arrival of the Sydney boat. The principal lightkeeper is at present on holiday. An automatic ship and mine wellsounding apparatus (says tho Auckland “Herald") has been invented by Mr Christopher Vbwell, an engineers apprentice, of Ngaruawahia. The invention comprises a simple electric bell circuit, which is. completed by the water in the well when it rises high enough to submerge two electrodes, it then' rings an alarm bell, and operates an indicator 3 showing which well .is full of water. By the addition of an indicator for each well, and a number of electrodes at different heights, the varying height ol the water in each well can he recorded. Any number of alarm hells can ho used, in any' part of tho ship or mine. Ths electric current may also be used to operate pumps and mechanism for dosing water-tight doors. Tie discovery of the Blaokwatcr reel demonstrates (says tho "Greymouth Star") the value of systematic prospecting subsidised by tho Government. Tie men named commenced to prospect ou the Blaofcwater field in October, 1905. Helped by tho Government subsidv, they discovered tho payable reef less chan a mile from a spot where a good deal of money hod. been spent in an unsuccessful attempt to reach payable quartz la gold-bearing reef at Snowy Creek. Their find was nearly six miles from tho nearest payable reef, but its quality was so undoubted and definite fiat the Consolidated Blaokwatcr Miners' Company spent .£IOO,OOO in plant and labour tb develop the Voo.f, and since starting crushing in September, 1908, has obtained an average of over lOOoz of gold monthly. This fine yield was doubled last November.

A sitting of the Native Land Court was commenced in the Supreme Court Chambers, Invercargill, on • Thursday, Mr Jackson Palmer; Chief Judge, presiding. The business of the Court is to ascertain the persons entitled under section, 2-1 of the Land Act, 1908, to the rights pertaining to Titi (mutton bird) Islands adj acent to Stewart Island, and also to consult with the native owners respecting the making of special regulations governing the use of the islandsMr J. Moffett, Mr W. A. Stout, anV Mr I: 1 . G. O’Beime appeared as counsel for several of the parties claiming rights, while Mr IV. Tire (Kaiapoi), Mr T. Parata, M.P., Mr J. M. Ellison (Puketcraki), Mr Hone Matea (Waikouaiti), Mr W. Spencer (Bluff), and Mr J. Peini (Colac Bay), appeared on behalf of themselves and other natives intertested in the islands. Mr Parata stated that Mr A. L. D. Fraser (Napier) would appear later to represent a number of persons, (

The mjo.ritJi.ly meeting of the Yorkshire Society will be hold at. (Joel Jeer’s roooirf, Cuba street, this overling.

There are G 1 men and 31 women now jzi biio Ohi.ro Home. Of the men 19 are Ln tlio intornudiato ward.

Mr Cohuuan Bhiilip-s of Carterton, recently forwarded to the City a draft of imposed model by-laws 4 to apply in the event of anv great calamity happening in or near the city of Wellington/' Tho Town Clerk has replied thanking Mr Phillips, and stating that tho matter has already engaged the attontion of tho Mayor and councillors.

Tho Now Plymouth oxpress was delayed last night at Town Plat for about forty minutes owing to mi accident to tho engine. When ascending tho hill pest Johneonvilly tho engine lost the use of a valve spindle. A light engine happened to bo at Tv.va Flat, ptoceeding to Paekakariki, and its services wore ooourod to bring tho express on to Wellington.

Mr R. W. Short wan tho only member of tho Board of Trustees of tho Benevolent Institution present to transact tho business of tiro body yesterday. An hour after tho tirno called for tho meeting a lady member took her seat. Iho present board quits office on March 31st, oaid no member will seek ro-el action. Mr Short granted relief in the cnees coming before him.

At a meeting of the physical commitfcoo of tho \ .M.C.A. last ovoning it was dooidod to open tho gymnasium on April 4th. A schedule was approved providing for classes for school boys, employed boys, seniors, and business men, under tho instruction of Mr A. •It. Thomas. Throo terras, of two months each, aro to be run, and foes aro to be charged according to tho number of terms takan. Lectures by medical men are to bo arranged for.

The charitably disposed may put down tho Wellington Children's Hospital as an object of their generosity, because funds are needed to extend this phase of hospital work in tho city, and it is intended to make a big effort to tap the sources of public generosity shortly. Tho Mayor of Wellington (Dr Newman), co-operating with the chairman of the Hospital Trustees (the Hon. C, M. Luke), will call a public meeting about tho middle of March to inaugurate the movement.

The Ruapehu, which arrived at Wellington yesterday from London, via Capetown and Hobart, brought 151 passengers for Now Zealand ports. The third class from England totalled 103, of which number 19 are for Wellington. Tho new arrivals include a small batch of immigrants. The general health and physique of the passengers was excellent, and the vessel was granted pratique without any of the passengers being stopped by the Health Officer. Mr J. Whiteman chairman of the Hutt County Connell, had an unpleasant experience yesterday whilst attending tho meeting of the council. In opening the door leading to the entrance of tho council's apartments ho accidentally put his left hand through one of the glass plates of the door, inflicting a painful injury to tho wrist mid middle finger of the hand. Hr Holmes hapjiened to bo at the time in the chemist's shop adjoining the council's offices, and dressed the wounds.

Mr Truobridgo, In asking that an applicant might be readmitted into the uhiro Homo, yesterday mentioned that while the man was in the institution his conduct was always exemplary, and his manners unexceptionable. Tho applicant was an. educated man who had gone far and seen much, and ho -had nn uncontrollable desire at intervals to wonder forth and see more. Ha had literary gifts of a high order—and some weaknoeies. His weaknesses, however, never led him to ungentlemanly conduct while in the institution. Mr Short (as chairman) and Miss Richmond, tho only other member of tho board attending, freely granted permission for the "hush poet’ to go again into the homo.

Tho Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals knot yesterday afternoon, Hr Jameson presiding. Tho following subscriptions were. acknowledged: —Mrs Atkinson and Mr P. Lomberg, TI Is each; Mrs H. Gilmer, Professor Richmond, and G. J. Page, 10a each; Mesdurnea Hales and Christie, Messrs M. Fox. P. Harrison, P. W. Rowley, "A.A.C.,” Rev. Hr Gibb, Dr A. L. Anderson, land Gualtor, Dykes and Co., 5s each; Mr J. Caldwell, "M.A.," and "H.," 2s 6d oaoh—a total of AS 15s. The inspector'o report showed that there is still a good deal of bad treatment of horses driven by butchers', bakers', and dairymens' carters in Wellington. An inquest was hold yesterday concctrn’ng the death of William Thompson), an of 1 Messrs Jenkins and Mack, r.iio expired suddenly in a cab whilst r-ring driven to a doctor on Monday morning. Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M., Was coroner. Dr Fyffe certified that the cause of death was byncopo, caused by disease of the aortic valves, snperadded to advanced oyrrosis of the liver. Deceased, Who was fifty-five years of ago, leaves a widow and grown-up family. He had been for twenty years’ in tho employ of Jenkins and Mack, ’and it was stated by hia nephew and by Mr W. T. Mack that during the last five years ho had not lost a day’s work. A handsome cap. valued at 35 guineas, now on show In ths window of Mr R. Arndt's shop, has been presented by Messrs J. Cam. Bidwill and R. N. Barton. of Feather don, to the New Zealand Motor Cycle Club as a trophy to be competed for in the club’s annual reliability trials. This year’s competition takes place on February 18th and 19th, over a 211 mile course from Wellington to Pahiatua, via Wairarapa (first day), and Pahiatua, vim Manawatu, to tho top of Paekakariltl hill (second day). In addition to general reliability the trial will Include a petrol consumption test on the first day, and a hill climbing competition at Poofcalariki on the second. A large number of entries is expected. One creditor—Mr T. W. Arthur, of Brisbane —attended a meeting yesterday In the bankrupt estate of Albert E. L. Bertling, superintendent of the Wellington Zoological Gardens. Mr A. Simpson, Official Assignee, ruled that ns there were not the throe persons necessary to form n quorum present no meeting could be hold. No provision was made in the Bankruptcy Act for cases in which there was only one creditor. The statement of bankrupt showed that tho amount duo by him was JBSO 13s 6d, there being no assets. Tho Assignee decided, after consultation with counsel, that tho meeting was properly constituted, but it was agreed between tho representatives of tho bankrupt and creditor that tho meeting should bo adjourned me die. Bankrupt wus represented by Mr F. B. Sharp, and tho creditor by Mr Pctheriok. Mqtorman Fairo, who was in charge of the 7.26 n.m. tram-car -'yesterday from Miramar, complained to the condoctor (W. Baxter) that ho was suffering severely from pains in tho stomach. So bad was he when near Wonderland that Baxter took charge of tho oar. Fairs sitting down on the front (platform with his feet on tho step. Ho fainted a moment or two later and fell on to tho road. The car was stopped by the conductor, who is also a qualified driver, and Fairo was picked up and carried Into tho oar. Mr Atkinson, electrician at the car shedii, happened to bo a passenger, and he took tho motorman's position, thus allowing the conductor to collect tho fares. Fairo did not suffer serious injury from his fall, escaping with a few gravel rashes, a stiff neck, and a shaking. Ho was we» enough to supply a written report to headquarters by 10 a.m.

The Lux Light Company wish It known that the Lux Incandescent Kerosene Gas Lamps give the Cheapest and' Most Brilliant Light on Earth. See Te Aro House, Bates and Lees’, Wardcll Bros.’, Leydon and Co., Caterer and Carey, E. Pearce and Co., K. .Hannah and Co., Petono Workshops (where Lux replaced the latest devices in lighting). House Lamps 22« 6d. Lamps up to 2000 candlepower. 35, 37, Sfl, Old Customhouse street (back of Opera House), Wellington.- * i