NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8457, 17 June 1913, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

The Wellington provincial five-milo cross-country championship will be decided at Masterton on Saturday, July 26th.

The following vessels ar? expected to bo within wireless range of Wellington to-night: —Victoria, Ulimaroa, Maheno, Moeraki, Maitai, Mqnnganui, Atua, Aorangi, Tahiti, and H.M.B. New Zealand. The captain of the Government steamer Tutanekai denies the, report telegraphed from Bluff that a hose from his vessel had been used to keep ■ back the crowd on the occasion of H.M.S. New Zealand’s visit. He says that the hose was used by shore officials.

It has been found desirable to postpone the conference which is to be held between Dr Valintine, Inspector-Gene-ral of Hospitals, and the representatives of the local bodies who are concerned in the levies struck hy the Wellington Hospital Board, The conference, which was at first fixed for Monday morning next, will not be held until the following Thursday morning. It is understood that the leasehold settlers op the Mangahao endowment at Pahiatua have forwarded a petition to the Wellington City Council asking to have the leaseholds converted into freeholds. The total area of tho endowment is 1590 acres, and the holdings range from 12 to 349 acres. Tho present rentals amount to £672 17s 10d, and the settlers desire to obtain the freehold on the basis of present-day unimproved values. , The wisdom of extending the system of classification in the telephone lists, which is now adopted in regard to doctors, nurses, and hotels, was mentioned by the president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce at a council meeting last week. He suggested that jt would be a great convenience if the system were extended to boardinghouses • and the various trades, groups of subscribers being given separately in each case in addition to being included in the full list. The system of alphabetical indexing, it was pointed out, also affords considerable room for improvement. It was decided to bring the matter under the notice of the authorities. During the hearing of a civil case yesterday before Dr McArthur, S.M,, under the Wages Protection and Con* tractors’ Liens Act, Mr Fitzgibbon referred to the largo number of civil actions arising out of tire Act which bis Worship bad heard during the last eighteen months or two years, and said that the matter called for a magisterial pronouncement. Mr Fitzgibbon cited one case in which a man who was practically bankrupt undertook a building contract and through being unable to meet his liability deprived sub-con-tractors and others—poor men—of the whole of the money due to them. Most of the work in the present case was represented by the sub-contractors owning labour, and the builders’ default meant that they had lost their wages. This was only on© of numerous similar cases. Means should ho devised so that no person should be given a contract unless he submitted evidence that he was a man of substance. The magistrate would be doing a deal of good to the community if be made a pronouncemen on tho matter. Counsel submitted that the Builders’. Association might consider tho question. ■. : -

■ Horowlieuua County Council has decided to take the necessary 1 steps with the proper authorities to extend the Tararua road to the Gladstone road. The engineer (Mr Malcolm) is to interview the department on tho matter.

At the next meeting of the Harbour Board Captain Watson will ■ introduce a proposal that tho light on Somes Island be abandoned in favour of one on Steeple Rock, off Seatoun, which it is considered would bo of greater benefit to ships negotiating tbo entrance.

Arrangements for the Hock KeysHagcrty uiatcn, tho Wellington team for the New Zealand championship and representation at tho annual conference, are among the matters to bo discussed at n meeting of the AVellingtou Boxing Association’s committee on Thursday.

An important find of moa bones is reported from Nuhaka near Gisborne. They were found by a native at the entrance to a cave on Moumoukai, a big limestone hill on Mr M. Shaw’s property. The finder could not be persuaded to go in any further, and tho cave might reveal more if explored. It is stated the shank-boue is of immense size.

Last evening Detective Andrews ar« rested Arthur Harold Sargeant who, it is alleged, on. May 28th, at Auckland, stole a coat, pair of gloves, fountain pen, and other articles valued at £4 15s, tho property of J. W. Williams. Detective Mason and Serge-ant-Detective Cassells also arrested a man named Fabian on a charge of stealing an overcoat and hat, valued at £4 2s 6d, the property of M. J, O’Malley, A Press Association message from Auckland states that two employees of tile Union Steam Ship Company, who wore in the office on Sunday evening in connection with the arrival of the company’s steamers, turned on the electric light in the strong-room to obtain some papers- Shortly after they heard a crackling noise,, and found pa. pors ablaze. The fire was speedily e*. tinguished; several documents were badly charred, but nothing valuable was destroyed. The fire was caused by the fusing of the wire of 1 the electric light close to-seme papers on s » shelf. Some important matters are to be dealt with by the City Council at * special meeting on Thursday bight, in addition to those involved in the notices of motion which were held over from last week: Proposals in connection with tho Technical School are to be made by a deputation from the school board and attention has to be given to an important suggestion respecting the corporation’s fire insurances. These two matters are to be considered by the council in committee. The estimates of expenditure for the current financial year are also to be laid before members.

Should the rumour at present being circulated in Kaitaogata that'a thick seam of coal has been .discovered in the Gatlins hush he substantiated by fact (says the Kaitangata correspondent of tho Clutha “Leader”) that fact will be viewed with general satisfaction by coal-rainera, not only in Kaitangata, but throughout the whole of Otago. It is stated that a bushmau, whilst engaged in hauling logs down a slight incline in the bush, was rather astonished to find that the log dislodged from the face of the,incline a largo lump of coal which had oeme off a seam showing upon the surfaces

A meeting of the executive committee of • the Wellington South Progressive Society was held last evening in Mr Wylie’s rooms, lliddiford street. Mr J. Castle, (the president) presided over a large attendance. The report of tho deputation which recently waited on the City Council, was received and adopted. Attention was given to tho matter of lighting, it being stated that several streets were very badly illuminated. The secretary was directed to write to the City Council on the matter, Arrangements were made for a general meeting of the association to be held at an early date. Horowlfonua County Council does not intend to allow tho matter of the protection of tho roads and lands adjoining tho Waikanae river to remain in abeyance, and on Saturday adopted a resolution to the effect that the Pnginecr-in-Chief be informed that “the council is now going on with the work in accordance with the memorandum of the Acting-Secretary for Public Works, aud will be glad if ho will cause an authority to be issued for the £l5O approved by the Minister of Public Works, at the' same time it is sorry that the Minister did not seen his way to grant a larger subsidy sum, as £3OO will be altogether inadequate to carry out the works required,”

It now transpires that a Hamilton resident, Mrs A, Parker, participate* in the Hartley millions to the extent of an eighth share of £4,500,000. Tho correct version of the facts is as follows:—Some time ago a gentleman came to tho Dominion from tho Qld Country to prosecute inquiries as to the whereabouts of . Mr Stephen Charles Hartley, who arrived in New Zealand in the year 1840. Me W 8» not altogether disinterested in his inquiries, as ho knew that if he could prpve the demise of Hartley without issue, ha would. himself be the heir at law to an estate valued in round figures at £4,500,000. He ascertained, however, that Mr Hartley, who for years resided jn the Manawatn district, and who was well known throughout the North Island, died in Palmerston North, where he practised as a native Interpreter, but bad left eight children — four sons and four daughters—who are the rightful heirs to the estate, which iomes to tho family through their father’s maternal ancestry. The directly interested persons are John, Charles, and George Hartley, of Kangitikei; H- Hartley, of Himatangi; Mrs J. Curts, of Orw; Mrs H. Kibble white, of Rotorua; Mrs AParker, of Hamilton, and the children of the late Mrs H- West (nee Hartlay), of Otakebp, who will receive their mother’s share.

Commercial travellers will be interested to know that Messrs Hunt, Cottrell. and Co.. Ltd., Forwarding Agents, have taken the top flat of Nathan’s Buildings, opposite G.P.0., as sample rooms. Light is a special feature of these rooms, and they are fitted with every possible convenience, telephone: lavatories, gas fires, and electric lighting. Call and inspect. •

In its disagreeable moods the weaker is roost injurious to the Comiloxjon-' Mrs Rollerton recommend* 1 > fasseine’’ as the Best Face Cream n fhe market. Price 3s 6d, posted in .lain wrapper, 3s 9d. Conscientious idvice and. treatment given on all matters pertaining to tlio Complexion, Address, 256, Lambton quay. Tele--phone 1599,

Mr T. tV, F. Maradan. late of Messrs Haroonrt and .Co.’s country lands department, has taken over the management of. Messrs WillianiSj Hunt and Co.’s land department.