NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 8054, 7 March 1912, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

There were two stowaways on the Moeraki yesterday, but when they were to he handed over to the police only one was discovered. The other had escaped through a skylight. The wireless station at the Macquarie Islands asked the 'Wellington G.P.O. last night if any boat had lefc Hobart for the Macquaries. The former station reported "all well."

The stud Romney Marsh ram "Record Breaker 50th," which was sold at the Masterton ram fair on behalf of Mr E. Snort, of tending, for the sensational price of 200 guineas, was purchased by Messrs Eidditord Bros., of Lower Hutt.

A Canterbury visitor, who was in Dannevirke lately, was enthusiastic as to the prospects of the inland towns of the Xorth Island. "Your country towns are absolutely forging ahead," he said, “while country towns in the South Island are dead.’f

The Tahiti advised the Wellington G.P.O. wireless station last nighty that she expected to arrive here at ts o’clock this morning from Sydney. The Maunganui, AVimmera, Moeraki, Rotorua and Turakiha are expected to be within wireless range of Wellington this evening. At the quarterly meeting of the Hutt Licensing Committee applications for transfers of licenses wore granted as follows: _ Grand National Hotel, Petoue, from W. J. Jorgensen to A. Johnson: Central Hotel, Lower Hutt, from. J. B. Fletcher to J. J. Marriott. A large collection of samples of New Zealand wools, representing all the lending types, has been prepared by the Agricultural Department for exhibition in. the Philadelphia Museum of Commerce. The collection will be dispatched by the Tahiti, leaving Wellington for San. Francisco to-morrow.

At the hearing of an application for a separation order at the Hutt Court yesterday, defendant’s solicitor asked the complainant if her husband had ever bought her any luxuries. "What sort of luxuries?” queried witness. "Well, did he ever buy you any stout?” "He bought me two bottles of stout and drank it himself!”

Drug habits sometimes manifest themselves ,in very peculiar forms (says a Manawatu paper). At one of the flaxmiils in the Foxtail district there is a Maori worker, who is a "painkiller” fiend. His drily consumption amounts to three bottles—one before each meal. . While this supply is maintained be is an expert in his particular branch of the trade. The other day, however, bis stock ran out, unexpectedly, and for a time the habitue was in a bad way. He'was practically "laid up” and it was not'until a fre£h supply was available that he was able to resume work.

'An inquest was conducted at the morgue yesterday by the deputy-coroner, Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M., touching the death of a mail named William Lawrence, for-ty-threo years of age, a bootmaker.' Deceased, who resided at: Heayey's boardinghouse, Cuba "street, . was found on Tuesday morning lying dead and-: fully; dressed on the floor of his room. As the result of a post-mortem examination, Dr W.' Kington Fyffe stated that death was due either to poison or to a flt. He inclined to the latter belief,, as deceased had almost, bitten through .his tongue, a symptom of• death during a fit. Tho other ’evidence” supporting this theory, the coroner, ;fduiid a verdict in accordance therewith. ■' Mr John Milward, of the Pacific Cable Company, arrived at Auckland on Bun day "night by the Sydney steamer. The object of his visit is to complete arrangements in connection with 1 the landing or the new cable between New Zealand and Australia, and. he will probably remain here several w'eeks for the'purpose. The cable, he says, should be laid about next November, and will be in operation very soon afterwards. ; The laying of this, new cable, giving, os it will, direct transmission of-messages from Australia to Auckland instead of the delay occasioned at , present by the messages being first caught at Doubtless Bay, will result in a considerable saving of time and will very greatly facilitate dispatch and receipt.

At-, a well-attended meeting of the New Zealand Land Values League-last night, Mr P, J. O’Eegan presiding, the follow; ing resolution was carried unanimously: “That 'this league, whilst condemning the Government proposal to increase the land tax exemption, as virtually amounting to -the repeal of the, land tax altogether, notes with pleasure that the Labour members'have .taken a firm stand upon the land question, and trusts that the new Cabinet, in conjunction , with the representatives of Labour, will stren--uously oppose any attempt to go back upon the principles of land'-value taxation. Further, this league, believing that the best way to benefit the workers is to reduce the cost of living, considers the Customs taxes oh the necessaries of life should be reduced, and that the revenue so remitted should be made up from the -unimproved value of land, thereby releasing land from' the hands of monopolists and lowering house rents." Interviewed by the Napier "Telegraph” Mr Payne, M.P., said there had recently ijeen published statements, wired all over the Dominion by the Press Association, that the Auckland Labour party were incensed at certain Labour members breaking their pledges.- Mr Payne said he thought it was now time that the public of ,-New Zealand should know what the Auckland Labour party really consisted of. These five persons, who constituted themselves the Labour party did not dare to show their faces inside the Trades Hall at 28, Swanson street. At the earliest possible moment he intended returning to Auckland!, and would call a public meeting of the electors and workers of Grey. Lynn in the Town Hall, if pdssible, and also in the Tivoli Theatre and the Bichmond Hall, to place his views before his constituents. He felt absolutely assured that the results of these' meetings would be that his action in-voting against the noconfidence motion would be heartily endorsed by at least nine-tenths of the electors of Grey Lynn.

Some time ago what purported to be a genuine specimen of the "man fish" was placed on exhibition in a Napier shop window and afterwards presented to the Borough Council to be added to the collection of curiosities in the museum (says the "(Telegraph”). The specimen waa bought .in America, and waa supposed to be the remains of an actual fish. For some time past the curiosity, which had the body of a fish with a very humanlike head, and chest and forearms,; has been adorning the walla of one of the rooms in the council chambers. The other morning one- of the officials was surprised to notice that what had been looked upon by many as a skull of. bone bad been eaten away by a rat. Part of one arm was also missing, the rodent evidently having mads a good meal. The substance is undoubtedly a composition, and the arm was kept in position by a wire and not a bone. The head waa supported by a stick and it is evident. tbe thing was a clever fake manufactured for the purpose of swelling the returns of some American factory. The specimen will not be exhibited in thsmuseum.

In the juvenile court yesterday four boys, whoso ages ranged from eleven to thirteen years, wore convicted of having stolen 1851 bof lead valued at 25e, the property of G. Stevens, and were each ordered to receive six strokes of the birch. ,

The Wellington Harbour Ferries, Ltd., has replied to the representations made by the Mayor of Eastnourne, Mr Shortt, regarding the increased rates, that it is unable to make any reduction. The Mayor points out that the increased fares are likely to affect the progress of tho, borough. During the gale on Sunday and Monday the Holmdale, which arrived at Wellington yesterday from Manukau harbour, was blown 100 miles off the coast. Until Tuesday morning tho Holmdale battled with the elements. She was swept by heavy seas, which damaged part of the bridge and washed three life-buoys away.

The Eoval Sanitary Institute, London, has issued certificates as follow as the result of examinations held in Wellington last November -.—Sanitary science— Henry William Johnson, Karon. Inspectors of nuisances—Ernest G. Cooper. Wellington; Walter B. Gough, Potone; John T. Hopkins. Petone; Robert) B. Jackson, Brooklyn; William Lmdup, Soatoun.

The Thermion Swimming Club decided a 100 yards event at Thorndon baths last evening, the following being tho result :—First heat: K. Robertson 1, R-. Lambert 2, R. Ronayne 3. Second heat: R. Healy 1, C. Sheeby 2, F. Roberts 3, Third heat: A. Newton 1, T. /Ronayne 2, T. J. King 3. Pinal: A. Newton 1. F. Roberts 2, R. Healy 3. A 50 yards handicap for boys will be decided this evening. . / •

The Missions to Seamen Institute was well filled last evening. A concert was provided by the Misses Cable and Miss Samson. Ur J. S. Cummings, hon. assistant-mi&sioner, occupied the chair. The following contributed items to th« programme:—Misses Tingey, Stallard, Samson, Pringle and Cables, Mr Readl (R.. M.B. Rotorua). A mouth organ competition was won by Mr Carr (s.s. Rotorua), and a conundrum competition by sailors from ships in port. While burning some boxes under tbs boiler at Bryant and May’s match factory at Newtown yesterday, Francis Ford, an engineer., was injured rather severely. One of the boxes, which had contained a sulphur compound, unaccountably exploded, ' and Ford was singed about the face and head. The shock Of the explosion shattered the skylight in the engine-rooiji and Ford was, cut about the head by the falling glass. He was sent to the hospital, where his injuries were dressed. Last evening he was reported to be progressing satisfactorily. 1 ' ,

It will be noticed through our ad von* tieing columns that the city of Geelong is now definitely committed to its ocean outfall sewerage scheme. Tenders are invited for the. Various works necessary for the construction of tho main outfall sewer for a distance of about 10,000 feet. To Geelong belongs the honour of being the first district in Victoria outside the metropolitan area! to thoroughly grapple •with, the; question of sanitary reform. The scheme is a large one involving an expenditure of about JE300,000 in the outfall end reticulating works! It is anticipated that competition will be. keen amongst sewerage contractors and that it will not be confined to Victoria alone. As tenders close at the ciid of March the work should be under way toward* the end of the succeeding mouth.