NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8187, 31 July 1912, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

The Zealandia, which left Suva lasi Saturday at 1 p.m., has on board mails from the United Kingdom, also American mails via Vancouver. She. is due to arrive hero next Wednesday.

Owing to rough weather in the Australian Bight the English, foreign, and West Australian mails failed to connect with the Makura at Sydney yesterday. Detective Hammond yesterday arrested a young woman on a charge of stealing books and household effects valued at about 30s. It is alleged that the girl, who is a domestic, stole the goods tiom her employer. At the next meeting of the city council Councillor Barber will move; ‘That, before proceeding to consider reports of Tramway Board and matters relative thereto, the board be instructed to furnish a further report, showing what economies can be effected in the tramway system, and report same to the council.”

From the first of August the Wellington Education Board will adopt a simplified form of payment of its teachers. The chairman (Mr Leo) explained at yesterday's meeting of the board that the secretary (Mr Stewart) had suggested that instead of members being called upon every month to sign over 400 cheques, the payments should in future be made through the bank. There were fifteen credit branches of the New Zealand in the district, and rHV secretary had arranged to have a distinctive cheque in use for the payment of salaries. The salaries would be paid in one lump sum into the central bank in Wellington, and the branches of the bank would have authorit— to pay all cheques signed by the headmasters. Thers had been a good deal of trouble in starting the idea, but it would save an immense amount of labour. The board approved the scheme.

The following vessels are expected t. bo within range of the Wellington w;rtless station this evening;—Talunc, Mnkora, Zealandia, Rotorua, Hauroto. M. 1 tai, Wluunera and Zealamlic. A most-age from the Zealandia stated that she expected to arrive at I o’clock this morning.

H.M.S Drake, after taking in bunk'.coal from the Koromiko. sailed from Auckland at 3 p.m. on Monday for Sydney. Tho Pioneer is to leave Auckland to-day for south. She will probably call at J,yllelton first. and alter visiting other ports will proceed to Australia, ■H-liere she is due about August 19th. The Marlon t'liamb.T of Commerce has decided t.> make representations to thfl Minister lor Hallways urging tho ndvanbigo- of Marten Junction as a site lor railway workshops. Tho Minister is to bo invited to meet a deputation at Marton in connection with this matter, and at the same timo inspect tho proposed routo of tho i’oxton to Marten tram line.

Tho Auckland Stock Exchange was asked by tho Wellington Exchange if it was Willing to contribute towards a present to Air Joseph Chamberlain, to commemorate his birthday. The chairman stated that tho exchange had not received any cable message on the subject, and the committee decided to reply that it had no intention of contributing.

The eleventh Dominion Conference of tho New Zealand Tanners' Union wul begin in Wellington this morning, at 19 o'clock, under tho presidency of -Mr J. <i. Vv Uson. There is a very long orderpaper, which will probably occupy the delegates 11 util Friday afternoon. It is expected that the Prime Minister, tho Hoii. W. E. Massey lumseli a tanners Union member, will bo present at tue opening session to-day. A meeting of the Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society was held yesterday altoinoon, tho Chief Justice (Sir Robert ■Stout) presiding, others pre.-ent being Mrs 11. R. Richmond, Dr -McArthur, S.Jfl., Messrs H. H. Ostler, T .Lambert, J. P O’Regan, E. Arnold, and 1). turnings (secretary). Marions matters of eravo import, tome for the bettor flstastanco of women, wexo discussed at length A paper by Dr McArthur pointed out how tho work of tho society could be facilitated, and the suggestions therein will bo put into practice. Dr McArthur, Messrs Arnold and turnings were appointed an executive to review all cases.

An ingenious invention has been patented by Mr E. C. Austin, of uni, which should commend itself to ail users of boot polishes and preparations packed in the ordinary round tins. The invention consists of an indentation in both the lid and the container, which not only affords a grip for the fingers when removing the lid, but breaks the line of the edge of the container and lid. On applying the pressure necessary to open the tin, instead of there being a rigid, unyielding arch as at present, the lid is enabled to be easily removed. The New Zealand patent rights have already been purchased by iindium Polishes, Ltd., and for the rights in other countries a company has been promoted locally.

The Employers* Association has sent the following letter to the Minister of Justice:—“l have the honour, by direction of my advisory hoard, to inform you that tne attention of this federation has been called to the fact that the pillaging of cargo and goods both overseas ana in. the railways of the Dominion is assuming very large dimensions, and is Imposing great loss upon traders. It is suggested that more strenuous efforts should be made by Government officials to sheet home charges upon offenders, and that when convictions are obtained the ' Crown's officials should urge that heavy and increasing penalties should bo imposed. Tour valuable assistance in this direction is respectfully requested.—William Pryor, Secretary."

A mild sensation was caused in Willis street yesterday afternoon by the actions of a woman who commenced pushing people from the pavement to the road. A constable observing her, administered d caution, hut the lady had little respect for the tolerant admonitions of the law, and she exhibited her Impatience by clapping the constable smartly on the face. She was then taken in charge, after having expelled three unsuspecting and highly, astonished citizens from the pavement. It appears that the woman is a widow, has indnlginff in irresponsible actions for some little time, and she will be examined as to her sanity. It Is stated that, for some fame past, she has visited St. John s Church and has occasionally interrupted the services!. She had been spoken to by the police on several occasions, but had not heeded the warnings.

Approval of the scheme to construct a lilt at the back of Willis street for the convenience of residents on the Terrace and Bonldott street was given- by the municipal conference yesterday. The remit asked, that councils be given power to construct ns public works, lifts and tunnels for the carriage of foot passengers where there are steep declivities in streets, to raise special loans for such •works on special rating areas, and to rate such areas not only in respect of the charges for the loan, but in respect of loss on working, and that the council to authorised to charge suitable fares paid tolls for the use of such tunnels and lifts. Mr A. H. Hindmarsh (mover) said they asked for power to declare a special area for rating purposes. People living on the Terrace had requested that a lift bo constructed to enable them the more speedily to get to and fro. The Mayor remarked that Wanganui was also embarking on a scheme of this kind. It showed the condition of our hills when lifts had to be constructed. The remit was unanimously agreed to.

Under bare poles, wallowing in mountainous seas, the barque Northern Chief bad an exciting experience in the recent gale in the Tasman Sea. When the Northern Chief, timber-laden, from Auckland, reached'- Port Jackson, Captain Johnson stated it was the roughest time he had over experienced _ off the coast The barque was 400 miles east of Sydney Heads, on July Uth, when the gale set in, bringing with it high confused seas. The storm gradually increased to hurricane force, and the seas became worse than ever. As night came on it was decided to take in all canvas and run before the galo under bare poles. As the night wore-on the pale etUl continued with unabated fury, and daylight found the barque still driving before it. the seas breaking all over the vessel. During Monday, the 15th, the gale was still raging, but an opportunity occurred to set some sail, and the vessel was then headed to the wind and aoa, and rode out the gale, being driven a considerable distance north of the port. On Wednesday, the 17th, the conditions moderated somewhat, and a course was set for Sydney. The Northern Chief 'was fortunate enough to come through the storm without serious damage. She carried 200,000 ft of timber. The borquontine Wanganui also had to bear the brunt of the storm on the run from Wanganui to Sydney.