NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8680, 13 March 1914, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

It has been found impossible by tbe Carnival Committee to arrange for the drawing of the ,art union on March 20th, as was previously announced, owing to so many ticket blocks being out. The drawing will take place a few days later. ‘ f .

A conference between farmers, milk vendors, and the abattoirs committee of the City Council will be held next week to discuss certain matters affecting the milk supply of tho city. It is probable that after the conference the committee will bring down some definite recommendations to tbe council in regard, to the methods of dealing with the milk. A testimony to the parity of the milk. obtained • from tbe cows at the Otaki Sanatorium was contained in a report to the Wellington hospital committee yesterday, stating that information had been received from the Agricultural Department that a composite sample of milk from the sanatorium herd, collected on December 10th, had been submitted to the biological test for the presence of tubercle bacilli, with negative results. Last night, says a Press Association telegram from Waimate, the Borough Council unanimously adopted a proposal to take a poll of ratepayers on a £SOOO streets improvement scheme. It also resolved that preliminary application be made to tho Advances Office for £12,000 for completion of the underground drainage already installed in the inner area. The ooanoil has not yet been committed to take -a poll on drainage, desiring to further examine the scheme.

At the Juvenile Court, Christchurch, recently, a buxom, fresh-faced woman, neatly- dressed, staggered the Bench by announcing: “I have had eighteen children!” “What!” gasped Mr Bishop, S.M. “ Yes,” declared the woman, with immense pride, “and fourteen living. This is the first time I have been in court.” “ What is your husband P’ asked Mr Bishop, with obvious interest. “An engine-driver, and this is me and my husband,” she replied, at the same time handing the magistrate a photograph. “A very nice couple,” was Mr -Bishop’s reply, with a whimsical smile.

The hospital committee met yesterday afternoon, when there were present : —Messrs J. Smith (chairman), H. Baldwin, H. Freeman, W. Galloway, D. Robertson, F. Castle, G. J. Petherick, J. W. McEwan, G. Nash, Revs. J. K. Elliott, H. Van Staveren, and W. A. Evans. Advice was received from the house committee that the chassis and accessories for the motor ambulance had com© to hand. The following recommendations were adopted, to be submitted to the board: —That a piano be purchased for use at the administrative block at the Infectious Diseases Hospital; that the plans for the proposed additional storeroom be submitted to the department for approval, and that in future public tenders be invited for works exceeding £2O. It was resolved to recommend the acceptance of the following tenders for supplies to the Otaki Sanatorium for the year ending March 31st, 1915: —Groceries, Bills and Moore and H. F. E. Cockrell for alternate months; meat, J. and G. Fairley; bread, John Robertson.

His Honour the Chief Justice yesterday heard a motion by the plaintiff for judgment in the case of Bernard Jacob Weger, drilling engineer, of Palmerston North, versus John. Henry Herman, drilling engineer, of Tane, in the Pahiatua district. Mr R. Kennedy appeared in support of the motion, which was opposed by Mr P. B. Cooke, for the defendant.- The principal action was set down forbearing at Miasterton, and was a claim for moneys alleged to be due to wind up a partnership between the plaintiff and the defendant, who had contracted to do certain oil-boring for the Herman and Weger Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Mr Cooke intimated that it bad been agreed between counsel engaged that the only question to be argued at present was whether the plaintiff was entitled to supplement his statement of claim by affidavits when moving for judgment under Rule 297. His' Honour, after hearing argument, ruled that the affidavit was not admissible. Counsel then asked •that " the motion for judgment be heard, but His Honour held that the motion must be dismissed. He left the question of costs to be fixed. at the nearing of the action, with the condition that they were to be the defendant’s costs in any event.

The rural telephone scheme for the Otaki district is likely to bo advanced another step to-morrow, when a deputation will wait on the Horowhcnna County Council and discuss the matter. Rabbit-trapping in tho Himaiaiigi Downs' district is a very profitable industry just now, says the Manawatu “Standard,” some of the trappers making as much as £3 a day. Most of the rabbits are marketed in Wellington. Regulations appeared in last night’s “Gazette” regarding the granting of .leave of absence to, defence officers under 1 the New Zealand Government. The regulations are practically identical with those in force in the Civil Service. Quite recently a Chinaman went bankrupt in Wellington, and another case is reported from Masterton. Yes‘terday afternoon Wong Way Kee, a [grocer, filed. This is the only Chinese bankruptcy recorded in that town for many years. A notice in last night’s “Gazette” ;is to the effect that money-order and .postal correspondence has been prohiIbitcd addressed “Henry Martindale,” nr “Scott and Martindale,” Wellington, the Postmaster-General having reason to believe that the addressees lare engaged in receiving money relating to horse-racing. The following new unions have been recently registered under the Arbitration Act:—Nightcap Coal Company’s Employees, Wellington District Farm 'and Station Hands (other than shearers),- Marlborough _ Farm and Station Employees, Napier Tramway Employees, Dunedin Manufacturing Jewellers and Watchmakers, Picton Wharf Labourers and the Auckland United Storemen.

Among those who witnessed the first ■ocean-to-ocean ship pass along the Panama Canal, says tho Manawatu “Standard,” was Mr S. Osborne, son of Mr E. Osborne, of Palmerston North. Mr Osborne, junior, has been in America for some considerable time visiting various places, and he was fortunate enough to bo at the canal when the first ocean-to-ocean passage was made. He also saw the second passage, and was among those who rode on" the big gate at Gatuiv lock as it swung open bo let the boat through. The following resolution in reference to a labour matter was passed by tho hospital committee yesterday: “That, in regard to the resolution referred back by the board in reference to tho engine-drivers being placed under the conditions of the. award, the committee, after revision of the circumstances, confirms the recommendation that the board comply with theconditions of the award for the Wellington Stationary, Traction, and Locomotive Engine-drivers’ Union.” The work of the Salvation Army among the rising generation is proceeding apace (writes a correspondent). The alterations to the Young People’s Hall at the rear of tho citadel, Vivian street, are nearing completion, and when the building is finished it will bo, so far as its specific purposes are concerned, one of tho most ’up-to-date in Australasia.' At Wanganui and Foxton two young people’s halls are, to ho opened by Commissioner Richards previous to his departure for England in April to attend the International Congress, to ho held in London in June.

It is a popular notion that the mere fact of sleeping iu a tent is a healthy thins. But this is not so. A great* deal depends on the tent, as Murse Roohfprt pointed out on Tuesday in dealing with consumption and its prevention, at the Tuberculosis Dispensary, states the Christchurch “Press.” A tent which was fastened down all round was practically hermetically sealed, and did the person sleeping in it more harm than good. The tent which would do any .patient good was one which would allow a free circulation of air by reason of one end being open and the sides rolled up. Unless the air , really got to the patient, indicated Miss Rochfort, the mere specific- of sleeping in a tent was of not the slightest use. ' During the past four weeks 163 patients were admitted to the Wellington Hospital and *lsl discharged, leaving 299 in , the institution, as compared’with 205 at the same date last year. The number is ruado up as follows: —Victoria ward 39, Socldon ward 22, fever ward 13, children’s hospital 49, general 176. The sexes were divided into 157 males and 142 females. At the Otaki Hospital during the month of February, ten patients were admitted and five discharged ; one died, and nine are still under treatment. ’ Tire Otaki Sanatorium received five patients, and discharged three, two of whom are now well and able to work; th'o patients at present undergoing treatment comprise fourteen men and twelve women.

A remarkable instance of. Christian union and concord in the backblocks v/as cited by a Presbyterian home missioner at a conference held in Auckland on Tuesday evening. Ho stated that his small congregation at one preaching station consisted of four Irvingites (Catholic. Apostolic), four Baptists, two Anglicans, four Wcsleyans, and six Presbyterians, the organist being a Roman Catholic. “You couldn’t find a more united congregation anywhere,” he declared. “To go among them is like getting a glimpse of the New Jerusalem.” (Laughter.) The same speaker had a rather different tale to tell of another station in his district. It was usual to hold Sunday afternoon service there in a hall, for which they were charged £1 a year rent, or 5d a service. One Sunday, when they were six months behind with the rent, the congregation drove up to find that the door had been locked against them, the party responsible being the office-bearer of another denomination. The whole assemblage had therefore to adjourn to a house a mile and a half away for the service.

“Wesleyan” or “Methodist”? The Rev. T. A. Joughin, says the Dunedin “Star,” in moving on Tuesday that a young people’s society be''formed, said that three titles had been suggested, and of these the committee recommended “The Wesley Guild.” A member promptly rose and asked why not call it “The Methodist Guild.” Mr Joughin answered that “Methodist” was the name of the Church. “Wesley” perpetuated the name of its founder. The Rev. A. N. Scotter approved of the recommendation. They had been in danger of squeezing out John Wesley’s name altogether. The Rev. T. W. Vealie feared that by taking the name 1 of Wesley they might alienate the Christian Endeavourcre. The Rev. W. A. Sinclair replied that there was no wish to interfere with the work of that body. The Rev. P. W. Fairclough: “If anybody has discovered that ‘Methodist’ is a popular name with our young people, he has discovered more than I hare. It is a nickname. I have no wish to give our young people a push along a slippery incline. Lei us carry the recommendation.” And “The Wesley Guild” was carried-

The hospital committee has paused a recommendation to the board that, I st * making appointments on the honorary medical staff, a third specialist ho added to the staff of ophthalmic surgeons. A painter’s shop in Gisborne, owned by Mr J. D. Tustin, was gutted by fire yesterday afternoon, says a Press Association message. Tho stock was valued at £2OOO, but was .only insured for £7OO. Tho Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, Minister for Customs and Marine, has a fairly extensive programme of political speeches planned for the near future. Amongst the fixtures are political _adIdrcsscs at Masterton on March 25th, land at Foxton on March 31st. Consequent on tho letter sent by the Hon. W! F. Massey (Prime Minister) 'offering employment to waterside workers who arc unable to find work, largo ; numbers of applications have been received, and will bo forwarded on to the Public "Works Department, An invitation has been received by ■ the secretary (Mr G. Foebig) of _tha Wellington Navals’ Boating Society jfrom the Wanganui Old Navals’ Association to attend a reunion during ]tho Easter holidays, which will take the form of a shooting teams’ match and boating races, and wind ’up with a social evening. In order to ensure the success of tho function members are requested to avail themselves of the invitation by attending in num> I bers. Favoured with fine weather tha , outing should be most enjoyable. 1 Tho Wellington League has decided that tho English League football team, will not play a match in Wellington during tho course of their coming visit to Now Zealand. This is stated to ba due to the high charges made for tho ground. Even with a very good gate, it is difficult for the Wellington League to pay expenses. When the Australian League team were here, it received 50 per cent, of the gross takings, tho City Council 20 per cent., the Now Zealand League 2i per cent., and out of what was left all expenses had to be paid. “Tho schools are (just shockingly ventilated,” said Nurse. Maude in an outspoken address on Fresh Air at the Tuberculosis Dispensary on Tuesday afternoon, says tho Christchurch “Press.” “Go into one after they are out, and you find the carbonic acid gas enough to poison you. And tho churches are fifty times as bad as the schoolrooms. These men architects never seem to think that the bad air wants to get out as much as tho fresh air needs to be brought in. They provide just little windows away up in the. -roof. They’re not enough. Tho whole roof wants to bo raised to do any good.” The nurse’s remarks on this point were received with manifest appreciation by the" meeting, which was composed entirely of ladies. In the Magistrate’s Court, before Mr D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., yesterday, Humphries Brothers, builders, sought to recover from Wilson and Hillhouse, builders, the sum of £2 8s lOd, being money alleged to be duo and owing to the plaintiffs by the defendants for goods supplied by the plaintiffs to the defendants. Mr V. R. Meredith appeared for the claimants, and Mr" J* F. W. Dickson for the defendants. For the defence it was contended that there was a shortage in certain goods taken over by the defendants amounting to £2 14s 6d, and that the plaintiffs had agreed that £2 8s lOd should be deducted from tho account. His Worship held that there was an agreement to this effect, and gave judgment for the" defendants with costs £1 Is.. ■

Much interest was displayed by the ladies present at the meeting of the Ambulance Saturday Committee on Tuesday- in an ambulance flag, which has lately been presented to the Auckland centre of the St. John Ambulance Association by the Central Executive Committee of the. association in England, states the Auckland “Herald.” The flag, which measures 12ft by 6ft, is of a pale blue colour, and has the cross of the association printed in black in the middle. The presentation of flags to oversea branches is contrary to the custom of the executive, but an exception was made in favour of the Auckland centre in recognition of the fact that it was the first association in New Zealand to build and pay for an ambulance eta* tion.

The life of a man who goes into the country to minister to the spiritual needs of the people is not always free from inconvenience, says the Auckland “Herald.” At - Tuesday’s meeting of the Auckland Preabytery it was stated that when the .present minister of the Tuakau district arrived some months ago the church grounds were choked with weeds and the buildings were in a state of disrepair. In fact, the church was so neglected that blackberries were growing through the windows. The minister, who had never put his leg across a horse before, found also that he had long distances to travel over bad reads. Ho bought a horse and faced the position with courage, and now it is reported that ho is a fairly good horseman j and, further, has organised working beea and had the grounds cleared and the church painted. A land deal was the subject of Hti« gation in the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr W. Q. Riddell. S.M., when John Henry Hooper, land agent, of Wellington, sought to recover from David Morris Owens, settier, the sum of £lO as commission on a property which he alleged ho exchanged for defendant, and £SO m damages for the alleged wrongful act of the defendant in terminating the authority of plaintiff by withdrawing a property from sale, thus defeating the opportunity of plaintiff in securing £6O as commission. The defence was' that the commission which was alleged to be due on an exchange was only to be payable if the, exchange was completed. The plaintiff contended that the commission became payable upon, the signing of the contract of exchange. After a partial v hearing of the facts, the magistrate adjourned the case till March 19th. Mr A. Dunn appeared for defendant and Mr W. H. D. Bell for the plaintiff. The lack of religious instruction, la the backblocks, which is often lamented publicly by clergy of all denominations, was referred to at a Presbyterian home mission conference in Auckland on Tuesday night. One home missionary said that he know of two boys, one aged fourteen and the other twelve, who asked'to bo shown a Bible, as they had never seen one. Another missionary said that in five years in ono northern district ho had baptised 111 persons, of whom twenty at least were grey-headed folk, old enough to bo his parents. In one house he baptised nineteen persons at one service, and all of them belonged to the same family—children, grandchildren and a sprinkling of nephews and nieces. Two other speakers considered that Bibl« lessons in public schools would be even more useful in the backblocks than in town, as they afforded a solution of a difficulty that was otherwise almost insuperable in ■ places where Sunday schools could not be established^,^--'

The following vessels aro expected to bo within wireless range of Wellington this evening.—Victoria, Wahine, Banffshire, Manuka, Ulimaroa, Westralia, Knight Templar, rind Maori. The Carpentaria will bo within range of tho Chathams to-night. Last night’s “ Gazette ” contains a notification that the following have been appointed to tho Pahautanui Domain Board by tho Governor-in-Coun-cil:—Messrs A. Igguklen, H. R. Tregurtha, N. Abbott, D. Gardner, E. Bradey, and "William Galloway.

Tho postal authorities advise that tho s.s. Riverinu, which sailed from Sydney on the 11th instant for Auckland, is carrying Australian mails only, tho Wellington portion of which is due per Main Trunk express on Monday afternoon next.

In order to raise funds for tho beautification of Island Bay, a monster carnival is to bo held there to-morrow. There will bo swimming races, comic races and several other events pertaining to the humorous side of tho programme. Numerous prizes have been donated, and a good day's sport should eventuate. No charge will ho made for admission, but donations aro invited.

A raiadon to women only was commenced at the Boulcott street Homan Catholic Church last evening. It is being conducted by Marist Fathers A. Herring and T. McCarthy, and the latter opened the mission with a sermon on “Salvation.” There was a crowded attendance. Services will bo held each morning at 6, 7 and 9 o’clock, and every evening at 7.30 o’clock during the next ten days. At the Territorial district camps to bo hold this year, special provision is being made for the care of tho horses. Major Young, chief veterinary officer of the Wellington military district, is making arrangements to stock the forty medicine cases which have recently been manufactured for tho Defence Stores Department. When this is completed tho cases will be distributed to tlio Various military districts. “Tho Grand Opera House, which opens on Easter Saturday,” said Mr W. H. P. Barber last night, “occupies what was tho site of the To Aro Maori pa less than fifty years ago. Following this pa, a flour mill was erected there, with the sea lapping tiho rear of tho section and a private wharf. To-day it is tho heart of the city—a notable example of our progress.”.

The Defence Department have made arrangements for the importation of up-to-date drum and fife band outfits, for senior cadet companies or battalions. Half the money must accompany each order for an outfit, and the other half of the amount must bo paid on arrival of the instruments, which will comprise piccolos, flutes, cymbals, triangles, side and bass drums. Requisitions will bo transferred from the district headquarters on the following dates :-*-March 31st, June 30th, September 30th, and December 31st.

A rumour of a somewhat extraordinary kind is current among the Maoris of the reports the Auckland “Herald.” It is expected that a large meeting will be held shortly, or as soon as tho restrictions which prevent the Maoris from travelling have been removed, in order that the assembled tribes may discuss tho advisability of sending “King” Te Rata and Tupu Taingakawa, his Prime Minister, to London to place tho grievances of the race before King George, and to bring before the notice of the Imperial Parliament alleged breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi. Close on 300 Maoris left Wanganui on Wednesday morning for Waitara, whore they will attend a big gather-, inp, says the ' Wanganui*' ‘Tierald.” With the object of preserving for tho growing generation the haka and the poi dance, etc., and the Maori songs and chants, the well-known chieftain', Wiremu Hipango (Walter Williams) has organised a sports meeting and carnival, at which the chosen teams of the various tribes will compete for valuable trophies in hakas, poi dances, canoe dances, and singing competitions. / After the function, which opens on the 13th, the Maoris go to Parihaka and join in the big welcome to tho Governor. During tho course of her address on tho value of fresh air at tho Tuberculosis Dispensary on Tuesday afternoon, Nurse, Maude gave a graphic description of the state of tho atmosphere in tho interior of a city tramcar, says tho Christchurch “Sun.” When Nurse Maudo entered tho car, she noticed that the windows were all closed, and what between the scent that was emanating from tho ’kerchiefs of tho passengers and the microbe-laden atmosphere Nurse Maudo was driven to complete her journey standing on the platform. This story was given to illustrate tho necessity of opening the windows of tramcars daily. Tho fancy dross and poster carnival, held at tho Vivian street skating rink last night, in connection with tho recent Citizens’ Carnival, was of a very satisfactory nature. All stations of life and all nationalities were represented, from tho needy tramp to tho Earl, while ferocious-looking Indians and wild-eyed cowboys mingled with demure-looking milkmaids and dainty little Dutch girls. The audience was a large ono, and freely entered into the levity of the whole affair. Large entries were received for the numerous events, and the contestants were so cleverly gob up that judging was no easy matter. Half tho proceeds go towards the Citizens’ Carnival. The following were tho successful competitors: —Best Indy’s poster dress, Miss Nation ; best lady’s fancy dress, Miss E. Jones; ladies' two-step competition, Miss McLeod; musical squares, Miss L. Smith and Mr King; best impersonation of a lady (by gent), Mr Higgins; best gent.’s poster dress, Mr Darby; best genb.’s fancy dress, Mr Hutchinson. Tho finals of some of tho events will bo decided to-morrow evening, when the prizes will also he presented.