NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8182, 25 July 1912, Page 7

NEWS OF THE DAY

Tho criminal waaion of tho Supreme Court will ooiiunejjc<* on Monday, August sth. To dato sovou persons liavo ucon oommitt&d for trial. The Wimmera, .Mocraki, Maunganui, Rotorua. Jlauroto. and Taluuo are <ix : pectx»il to f»o within wireles* rango of VVciUugton this evening. Yesterday Messrs A. X/. Wilson and Co. hold a sal© of two properties at Miramar. Kaca property was Ixrught in by Mr J. H. Smith, acting for the mortgagee, at .£SOO. A Tima.ru Press Association message Ettabee that Mr J. and Mr i. 13 ox ton's election committees have passed resolutions approving tho action of those members of Parliament in tho late political crisis. A meeting of tho Proportional sentation Society will bo held to-morrow evening in tho rooms of the Amalgamate u Society of Kail way Servants. Woodward fitrwt. Intending members and sjiupathisers aro coruiaUy invited. The Wellington G.P.O. received a wireless message irom tho Tvloerakl last night stating that tho vessel expected to arrive at Wellington at *1 o clock this morning from Sydney. A message was also received from tho Taliuic stating that she expected to arrive at Auckland from tho islands at noon to-morrow. 'Jhe half-yearly meeting of the Manawata FlaxmiUs Employees’ Union will bo hold in the Municipal Hall, Palmerston, on Saturday evening next. The business is tho adoption of tho report and balance-sheet, to receive report of organisation committee, and election of officers. A poll was takon at Otatautau, near Invercargill, on tho 13th Inst., when Liu) ratepayers decided to adopt rating on unimproved values by a majority ol fifteen, tho numbers being 47 tor and 83 against. Stops aro being taken to have a poll taken at Marlon, and it is proposed to have a poll at \v anga/iui and another at Napier at an early dato. X>r McArthur opened a coroner’s inquest at the hospital yesterday on tho body of Frederick Hancock, tho tram conductor who died from injuries received through his head coming in contact with a standard in Foatherston street on Monday. After formal evidence had bten adduced the inquiry was adjourned until to-morrow. It is proposed by the Trades and Labor Council to call a public ‘'indignation’ meeting to protest against any increase in the tram fares. alio Trades Council's three representatives on the ciiy council, the Mayor (Mr D. McLaren) and Councillors E. Tregoar and A. U. Hindmarsh, may possibly bo asked .to attend the meeting and state the position they occupy in regard to the matter. Some timo ago Mr G. Witty, M.P., urged upon tho Minister of Dclence that an alteration should be made in the oath imposed upon cadets. The Hon. J Allen has communicated with him. stating that ho had carefully considered Mr Witty’s representations, but did not think that it was advisable to do away with tho oath for senior cadets. Ho added that tho form of the oath was under consideration.

From Joseph Nathan, and Co., Palmerston North, a neat booklet comes to hand dealing with the Treloar milking machine and releasor. The book is interestingly written, and abounds in illustrations of the machine and the most important parts. Now that it is generally recognised that milking machines have come ■to stay, dairy farmers will bo on tho look-out for a reliable machine built on scientific principles, and’ tho information contained in the booklet to hand should assist them to make up their minds. Last Sunday's takings on tho city tramways amounted to no loss than £337 is 4d, which makes a record, due doubtless to the phenomenal tratiic on the Lyall Lay line. The attraction was the stranded whale. For tho whole week, the tram receipts wero .£2090 5s sd, an increase of £l7O is lid over tho takings for the corresponding period last yenr. Daily receipts were (figures for 1911 in brackets: —Monday, £355 17* 3d (£363 5s Id); Tuesday, .2373 2s (£367 7b 9d); Wednesday, .£333 4a 9d (-£ll6 15s sd); Thursday, .£386 7s 6d (£361 12s 6d); Friday, £4ll 10s Id (£392 6s 8d); Saturday, £SOO 0s 6d (£582 6e 8d); Sunday, £337 3s 4d (£BB 16a sd). The question, of tho toil levied on people seeing friends off at tho wharves was raised last night at tho Harbour Board’s meeting by Sir P. C. Frcetb, who urged that the tax should not bo imposed in regard to the small coastal vessels. The erection, of tho barriers, with the attendant payment, might be advisable in the case of oversea vessels, but the imposition of tho charge for tho smaller vessels was an unfair tax on people. Ho would like to have a report from the board's officers as to whether it was wise to keep collectors standing at the barriers for the sake of collecting threepence from the few citizens who went to see passengers off to Nelson and tho coastal ports. Tho chairman. (Mr Hatcher) said tho main idea of the tax was to regulate the traffic, and he had heard of no complaints against it. One man at least ia disappointed at statements of supporters of the Northern Union game. At last evening’s meeting of tho management committee of the Wellington. Kugby Union a letter was received from J amos Carlyle, late of the Poneke Club, requesting reinstatement as an amateur. Carlyle hoped to have the ‘'sincere sympathy of tho union," fop "ho had been very foolish." When tho league championship smarted this year, he said, ho gave his services to the first club game, not knowing what he was doing. It woe said that all club games were to be <m an amateur basis, as no person was to receive money. He had only played one game, but had not received money. However, he wanted to be reinstated and be a true amateur, as he thought he was in the league. The committee, having no jurisdiction, referred the matter to the New Zealand Rugby Union. * Tho Bay. J. Crowes, president of the ‘Wellington Zoological Society, will move at tho next meeting of tho society: •■"That, seeing this his Most Gracious Majesty tho 'King is, as hi's illustrious father was, a distinguished aud very practical patron of tho London Zoo, to which ho has from time to time contributed exhibits of inestimable value, hi* Excellency the Governor of New Zealand be respectfully asked to intimate to bis Majesty that the Wellington City Corporation, whoso Town Hall is founded upon a stone laid by bis Majesty's own hand, is for tho education and enjoyment of his Majesty's loyal subjects residing in this remote part of his Majestys Dominions establishing a Zoo of select animals; and that our society would esteem it a high honour if his Majesty would, through our society, place m tho Wellington Zoo one or two ominals worthily representative of the collection of Interesting animals that bis Majesty has obtained or can obtain from other- parte of the world-wide British Empire."

Another meeting of the special commitee of the city council appointed to inquire into the management of city reserves, and treatment of their employees, was held yesterday. It was anticipated that the committee would agree upon a report to be presented to the oonnoil to night, but finality was not reached- It is understood that members were not altogether agreed as to the findings, and possibly a rearrangement of reserves control may bo made. The Town Belt may become separated from the Botanical Gardens for purposes of management, while tho employee about whoso treatment the original complaint was made may bo transferred to another department. The precise date when the committee will formulate its findings is yet uncertain. Something may be done at to-night’s council meeting to put an end to this inquiry, which, like a wounded snake, has dragged its slow length along for many weeks.

The Wellington Kennel Club has been granted the use of the Harbour Hoard s "U” shed for tho annual dog show on August 21s(. and 22nd next, ou the, usual conditions in regard to insurance. Plans were submitted to the Harbour Hoard last evening by its engineer tor tho additions to Glasgow whan. inc board resolved to call for tenders for tho work, closing on August doth. At the Close or an address by Mr Buxton, M.P., at Ten. uka, la„t evening a Liberal Club was lormed, and opened with eighty rnemoer.i. Tho subscription is i shnljn" i»cr annum. iiu> ciuo prouaks io bring Urn member and 1m 3 upportors into cloaot touch by means oi lectures and social gatherings. V deputation will be introduced by J)r Newman to the lions. H. D. Bell, ,\. 'll Hcrdman. and F. M. B. Fisher on Friday, when representations will be made ’ concerning tiro Te Aro railway station. The Minister for Railways (Hon. W. il. Hemes; will receive a deputation on the same question on Monday morning. A man was arrested yesterday on a charge of having, on November 24th, I*K>B at Hirnitangi. stolen a bicycle valued at .1120. Ho is also charged with having, on December 3rd, 1910, at Mangaorongo, stolon a rug, a riilo and other articles, valued at AO Pie. The accused, who is awaiting sentence on a charge of breaking and entering at Nelson, will appear at tho Magistrate’s Court today. Proof of tho hnperviousuess and structural strength of tho massive dam at Solomon's Knob was afforded yesterday, when tho water in tho big reservoir reached a level only seven inches from the too. Hail and snow lay on tho hi'di hills round about, and during the previous night an exceptionally heavy fall of rain took place, no loss than 34 inches being registered. Owing to tho risk of flooding the lower country not all the sluices wore open, though in tho smaller reservoir the water was levei with the bank. The. big dam thrown across tho Wainui valley withstood tho enormous pressure of the accumulated waters remarkably well, and no weak parts wore revealed. The bill sides were all sodden with rain, and last nights dowiinoiir should put an additional test on tho structure- Its behaviour in I liis heavy weather reflects credit on all concerned in its construction.