NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8725, 6 May 1914, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

The annual householders’ meetings and elections of school committees in the Wellington education district take pl:|ie to-morrow night at 8 o’clock. Ak it will ho impossible for representatives of the “New Zealand Times” to attend every such meeting in the city and suburbs, secretaries will confer a favour which will be much appreciated by telephoning the names of the new committee to the “Times” office tomorrow night. The telephone number to call up is 1602. In the Appeal Court yesterday, before Their Honours the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout), Mr Justice Edwards, and Mr justice Sim, argument was continued m the caso of Arthur Johnston Huston, of Hamilton. v. Frederick Edwin Bishop T/oveloek, of Eureka, near Hamilton. The case was removed from the Supreme Court al Hamilton to the Court of Appeal, which had to consider questions of law arising in an action for specific performance of a contract by the defendant to purchase certain lands and, in return, to sell certain other lands; or, in default of specific performance. £2OOO damages. The transaction was in the nature of an exchange. The allegations were that the plaintiff agreed to purchase from the defendant certain lands at Waipuku and other land at White Cliffs, Taranaki. Plaintiff stated that the defendant agreed to purchase from him land known as the “Waverley Islands,” at Eureka. For the defence it was contended that the plaintiff had misrenresented to the defendant the character and rrrup of plaintiff’s land, Mr J. R- Reed. E.C.. with him Mr C. L. MeDiarmid. appeared for the plaintiff; Mr H. I)• Bamford with him Mr J B. Johnston, for the defendant. Judgment was reserved.

Tne annual conference of the New Zealand Alliance will bo held-in Wellington towards the end' of the month. It is expected that the conference will be on a much bigger scale than any of its nredoccssors.

The postal authorities advise, that the s.s. Jlarama left Sydney for Auckland at noon on Monday. The vessel is bringing Australian and English (via Naples) mails, the Well ngton portion of which is duo per Main Trunk express on Saturday next at 6.50 a.in.

The Upper Hutt relief fund is now only £3 short of £IOOO, but several "ims, including £ll from the stewards ->f the Wellington Racing Club, have •at to come in. Next Saturday a ‘soccer” match will be played on tin Tasin Reserve in aid of the fund between the Mental Hosnital team (las' 1 vear’s champions) and Thistle team 'winners of the Charity Cup). A sub-committee consisting of Councillors Buddie, Buckie, and McKenzie has been set up by the reserves committee of the City Council to report regarding the suitability of the ground between the fever hospital and Mother Mary Aubert’s Home as a public golf links. The sub-committee is obtaining opinions from the various golf clubs on tho project, and will in a few days inspect the area indicated.

At noon to-day four Mayoral instal•ations will take place locally. Mi f. P. Luke will be installed at tin Town Hall, for the city, while tin Mayors of Miramar (Mr F. Townsend). Eastbourne (Mr W. J. Organ), am 1 Onslow (Mr C. C. Crump) will hr sworn in at the borough council officer of those d : stricts. Mr Luke has been confined to his bed with the injury to his knee, but ho will be able to at‘end the ceremony to-day. The case in which the Union Stean ill p Company lost its appeal againsi he judgment of the Chief Justice ii tho suit of the Harbour Board, claim ing harbour dues on mail steamer; from America, was mentioned in tb ‘ 'ourt of Appeal yesterday morning. The Appeal Court had decided that the steamers in question did not come within the regulations exempting certain mail-carrying steamers from tin pavment of dues. When the present session of the Appeal Court opened, the caso was referred to, and yesterday Mr P. Levi, appearing for the Union Company, moved l for final leave to apnea! to the Privy Council, and this was granted. Mr T. is. Weston appeared for the Harbour Board. The annual report of the Hutt District High School Committee show;: that the main school has a roll of 557 pupils, the Eastern Hutt school one of 130, and the secondary department 13; a total of 723. The attendance in the secondary department has deer but the has increased by 723 over the prey ion; year’s figures. The bazaar in aid of the school funds realsed £B4, which together with the subsidy received from the Education Board, Ims enabled the committee to greatly improve the conditions of the school playing grounds. Overcrowding has been n evidence at the main school, state? the report, but as a new school is tc be erected to accommodate 120 children at Eastern Hutt, the want of accommodation will be rect’fied. The library and other institutions in connection with the school are reported to be in a flourishing condition. What was described as a regrettable characteristic of a large section of the Australian youth was referred to by Bishop Long, of Bathurst, in an address in Sydney last week. The boy of to-day, he said, prided himself upon his intimate knowledge of weights and wagers in connection with boxing contests. The boy had been warned thal such paths led to bitter disappointment. But he would listen to no old fogies! Old fools and fogies could keep their adviceto themselves.He would have none of it. “Poor young fool,” said the bishop, “ho cannot see that tho very same paths are strewn with the corpses of former fools.” See the other picture, the preacher continued, the Boy who decided to improve his mind by reading at home; the boy who made a, chum of his mother, and was to be tomid within the gleam of the home lamp. The street had no attractions for him. Tile stadium had no appeal for him. These were the boys who supplied the nation’s heroes, and strengthened the foundations of life. In the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., Tasman John Chamberlain Gurr, commercial traveller, of Wellington, proceeded against J. J. McMahon, trading as tlto Glasgow Manufacturing Company, for the recovery of £43 15s salary, commission and expenses alleged to be due. It was set out in me statement of claim that' by agreement in writing dated October Ifith, 1913, the plaintiff was employed by the defendant , to take charge of the tatter’s sale department. The plaintiff faithfully served the defendant in accordance with the terms of tho agreement. On February 11th, 1914, the plaintiff gave to the defendant notice terminating the agreement at the expiration of one month from date and subsequently the defendant informed the plaintiff that he no longer required the plaintiff’s services. There was due .to the plaintiff the sum of £43 16s 1 for salary, commission and expenses. Mr H. P. Von Haast appeared for plaintiff, and Mr E. Fitzgibbon for the defendant. After hearing evidence, the case was adjourned for a week.

A claim and counter-claim brought on through a collision between a horse and a motor-car were decided in a reserved judgment delivered by Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. A. Ross, engineer, sought to recover from George Nash, dairyman, the sura of £25, being £ls cost of repairs to his motor-car, and £lO general damages for depreciation in value of the vehicle. This was due to a collision on the Wndestown road, which plaintiff alleged was the result of negligence on the part of defendant's servant, who was riding a bc*"»; Defendant counter-claimed for £47 10s. being £35 for value of the horse iniured in the collision. £2 10s for medical expenses for defendant’s servant, and f 0 general damages for the loss of use of the injured animal. In giving his decision Mr Riddell remarked that he had viewed the scene of the accident and in conseouence thought that the accident might have happened in either way described hy the different witnesses, hut the weight of evidence was clearlv against the defendant. In His Worshin’s opinion defendant’s servant had failed to exercise that care which it was necessary he should exorcise on such a narow and dangerous road, and that was directly responsible for the collision with plaintiff’s motor. The actual damage was not great, and the evidence as in depreciation was not conclusive. Judgment would befor plaintiff for £15,, with £4 los costs on the claim, and on the coun-ter-claim without costs. Mr M. Buckie anpeared for the plaintiff, and Mr T. M. Milford for the defendant.

The following vessels are expected to be within wireless range of 'Wellington this evening: —Victoria, Maori, Wahino, Nam, Maitai. Warrimoo. and (within range of the Chathams) Waiinate.

To-day the Appeal Court will hear the case of If rank Harris and John Gilford Ros tell v. Kora Hakaraia, which arises from a Supreme Court action tried in Palmerston North last year, involving questions as to the liability of the defendant (now the respondent) in respect of tho_ cost of erection of a statue of Major Kemp in Wanganui.

The third meeting for the 1914 session of the Catholic Club Debating Society was held in the club-rooms at St. Patrick’s hall last night. The subject for debate was. “That women should be allowed to enter politics." An interesting debate ensued and the question was discussed at some length, particularly in reference to the trend of modern suffragette activity in England. The club intends to hold weekly meetings and the prospects for a successful season are considered excellent, Mr G. Dee presided. At a meeting last night at Lower Ilutt, a member of tho audience asked Mr Bunny (the Mayor) if he did not mink 'it would be better to spread the money proposed to bo raised for recreation ground extension on the roads of the district, which he (the speaker) considered were tho worst in the Dominion. Mr Bunny replied. “No.” Considering that Lower Hutt had nearly thirty-five miles of streets to look after, they were in fair condition and would compare favourably with those of Auckland and other towns in the Dominion.

The Rangdtikei river has been causing considerable damage to the protective works at Scott’s ferry (near where the Indrabarah went ashore), and there is no doubt that if it further encroaches it is likely to seriously affect the properties of Messrs Scott and Amon. Tire Government engineer recently inspected the locality and reported on the feasibility of making a diversion in the river by making a “out” of some twenty chains. The report was submitted to Messrs Scott and Amon, who have now asked the County Council to raise a loan of £3OO to carry out the work proposed. The Irish national game of hurling is evidently going to become a feature in New Zealand sport. A club has already been established in Auckland, and the secretary, Mr T. P. O’Sullivan, who is at present on a holiday visit to Wellington, is taking steps to form a similar club in this city. With this object a meeting of those interested has been convened for this evening. Hurling is similar to hockey, but is played with fifteen a-side, and generally the rules are such as to permit of faster play. Mr O’Sullivan, who introduced the game in New Zealand, hails from Cahirciveon, County Kerry. Alleged cruelty to a horse occupied the attention of Mr D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday afternoon, when Ernest Willis Biggs was charged with cruelly illtreating a horse by causing it to travel when in an unfit condition. The defendant, who pleaded not guilty, was represented by Mr H. E. Anderson. The defence was that the horse, which had been quartered, at Lyall Bay, was being removed to Hopper street for better treatment when it was observed by Mr H. M. Christie to be limping. Christie laid an information with the police against defendant. which resulted in the court proceedings. After hearing the evidence, His Worship dismissed the, information.

Tii© urgent need for wider education in the care of infants is emphasised in the annual report, of th© Auckland Piunkot Aur.se bociety. The committee considers that the need is particularly great among young girls -marrying direct from factory, shop, or office, although, where motherhood and babyhood are concerned, there is quite as much need for practical teackiivamong the cultured and well-to-do as there is in any other class. The Piunkot nurses are available for teaching in schools, giving the girls simple, practical lessons in mothercraft, a baby being brought to the class for the purpose of demonstration. If the school authorities would avail themselves more frequently of this opportunity for training the future mothers of the Dominion, the nurses would soon gain the interest and sympathy of the girls in a subject which is so essential to fit them for theij proper nos’tion in life, namely, good W'fehond and good motherhood. The new agreement which has been arrived at between the Wellington City Council nnd the tramway employees, and which is regarded as satisfactory by both sides, has been filed with the Clerk of Awards. The term of the agreement is from April Ist, 1914, to June 30th, 1916. One result of the agreement will be that time in which cars were formerly idle and during which the men were earning money will largely be used as running time, while on the other hand the men will receive increases in wages. The following rates of remuneration will now obtain:—Motormen : first year Is Id per hour, second year Is third year Is 2d, over third year Is 2Jd, over seventh year Is 3d; conductors: first year Is second year Is Ojd, third year Is OJd, over third year Is 13. An eight-hour day or shift is provided for in most branches. The agreement, which covers various other matters of detail, was made by the Conciliation Council, and, having been tiled, it has th© binding powers of an awafd.

At the special meeting of the it ashbourne Borough Council on Monday night, the Mayor (Mr W. J. Organ) stated that he believed that the tiovernment was taking steps to acquire Gollan’s Valley estate for the purpose of closer settlement, From an expert ho had learned that at least 40UU acres of the estate were suitable for, truit and poultry farms, and the remainder for sheep raising. It would greatly benefit the borough if the land, after being neglected for so many years, were cut up. He had hoard from the men who were surveying the country in connection with the proposed East Coast railway that the line would pass by this land. It had been said that these lands were of no value, but they were now considered by experts to be of more value than many of the estates alreadv secured by the Government. Ho was of the opinion that it would be to the benefit of the Wellington district were these lands opened up. Ho moved;—“That this council is strongiv of the opinion that the lands to the eastward of the borough of Kastbourne are suitable for close settlement, as a fruit and poultry farm district. and urges upon the Government the desirability of acquiring same." The motion was seconded by Councillor Foley, and carried unanimously..

The Willochra is bringing 70 bags of mail from Australia for WMlingloil. She is duo in port at 4 p.m. to-day. Tho mails which loft Wellington on March 27th per s.s. Mocraki, and connected with the Naples despatch per 11.M.5. Drama, arrived in London on tho 3rd instant, one day late.

Mervyn Mcllao, a passenger to Australia by the -Mnkura, died shortly before the vessel readied Auckland yesterday, states a Pross_ Association telegram'. The cause of death was consumption. At Mastorton, yesterday, says a Press Association telegram, W. Talky, alias Watson, pleaded guilty to entering and theft from three local house’s. Ho was committed to Wellington for sentence. ‘ Accused was remanded te Hastings on a charge of breaking and entering the house of one Griffiths and stealing goods and money to th» value of £3.

There was an amusing little incident in one of the New Plymouth Sunday schools yesterday, says Monday’s “Taranaki Herald.” The teacher in charge of a Mass of boys was relating how Noah lived to bo 950 years old, a fact which created a great deal of surprise among the scholars. One little chap turned to his companion and whispered, “If we could live to bo 950 we might see the trams.”

The deviation of the railway linoon the north side of the Turakina station has now boon completed and ballasted, and on Monday (says the “Chronicle”) the line was used for the first time. Trains went over the now section very carefully, but the line appeared to be perfectly safe. The deviation has reduced tho grade considerably, besides cutting out several nastv curves, and, lost but not least, “Turakina platform.” What will be tho weightiest business transaction known in Waimarino should it be consummated, is just now in tho negotiation stage, says a distinct exchange. It is tho prospective purchase of all Gamman and Oo.’s interests at Ohakuno hv Goldfinch and Co., of Ohakuno. T'lie property includes milling hush, mill, plant, houses, school, hall, leases, and all interests hold by Gamman and 00. at Ohakuno. The amount of money involved is stated to bo from £27,000 to £28,000. The Hon. D. E. Denham, Prims Minister of Queensland, speaking at tho last St. Patrick’s Day annual dinner at the Hotel Cecil, London, said; ‘'There was extraordinary homo-love in the Irish. Once on a long journey, high up in tho tropics, unwashed for a fortnight, I, then Prime Minister for the State, had come upon a house. Being refreshed, I had a conversation with tho hostess. ‘I have,’ she said, ‘boon hero a long time. I have never boon out of it. I have eighteen children. Five of them are in Ireland, being educated, and I am going to take Homo the other eight, for I have made up my mind to he in Ireland when you open the Parliament in College Green.’ ” “That is tho spirit,” said Mr Denham, “that I meet amongst the Irish, and yon may bo sUro that when she starts, I will give her an introduction to Mr Redmond.”