NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8740, 23 May 1914, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Tbe following vessels arc expected to be within wireless range of "Wellington this evening:—Ulimaroa, Victoria, Maori, Wahiue, Willochra, Tahiti, and Ooriirtiiic. The list for to-morrow night is the Warrimoo, and (via Chath-ams) the Corinthio. The new post office building at Brooklyn is now open continuously between 9 a.m. and 3 p.rn. on all week days for the transaction of all post office business. Mails arc dispatched daily from Brooklyn to the-Chief Post Office, closing at 10 a.m., 3 p.m., and 1.45 p.m. Charles Mathieson Smith, a wharf labourer, residing at No. 7, Hauka street, off Nairn . street, was working in No. 2 hold of the Willochra at 2.3 U p.m. yesterday, when a bale of wool slipped from a tier and fell on one of his feet. The ligaments of the foot were badly strained, , and the sHip’s surgeon recommended the man’s removal to his home, where he was conveyed by the ambulance. The Wairoa paper of the 18th inst. contained the following paragraph “It is two years com© July since a fresh was experienced locally and thousands upon thousands of logs are piled up in the various creeks. If they are not brought out this winter the loss by deterioration will he heavy. A flood is anxiously looked for every time the cloiids got black.” In this instance, the desire for a flood waft promptly complied with by Jupitej Pluvius. It has been 1 estimated that the damage done by it in the Wairoa district amounted to £90,000, and it seems probable that floods will not he “anxiously looked for” in that locality for some time.

Newtown Park will present a scene of animation and warlike enthusiasm this afternoon, when an inspection of the cadets by Sir lan Hamilton will take place. Full arrangements have been made for the' inspection to commence at 2.30 o’clock, and if the reserve is too boggy some other place will be selected, As the InspectorGeneral is not able to attend on any other date, the parade will be held whether it is wet or fine. Sir lan Hamilton will present the ladies’ challenge cup and the cups won at the recent ctitizens’ carnival and group rifle moating, after the inspection hasbeen made. If the weather is wet, the officer in charge of the cadets desires them to bring their own overcoats with them (no service overcoats have yet been served out). The coats will be under safe supervision until after the parade if the weather clears. The deliberations of those grave and reverend seigneurs, the members of the Education Board, were rudely Interrupted yesterday afternoon by an inundation of weirdly-dressed college students, who had come with the express determination to entertain the board with a haka. Tremendous muscles on the legs and arms of the students were alleged to be the result of Mr Royd Garlick’s physical culture system. Most of the young fellows favoured the female costume, and on entering the board room, they formed themselves into a loose line. At the last moment, however, a sudden fit of shyness caused their courage to evaporate, and the haka came not. Even the master of ceremonies, a youth in a frock-coat and top hat, obviously made for a giant, was overcome with stage-fright, and the deputation incontinently fled.

At the school committee election recently held, allegations were freelymade against Ta Are School, and it is rumoured that these statements had no small influence on the election. The chairman of the Education Board (Mr R. Lee) referred to the matter at yesterday’s meeting. “We must make allowance,” he said, “for the heated remarks, at the late school elections, but unfavourable criticisms were certainly passed on To Aro School on that occasion. I myselt made a personal inspection, and have found that it is a perfectly good school. It is absurd to say that the building is too old for a school. It has been said that the building is insanitary ; on my inspection, the only portion that appeared to be not clean was the floor, which is made of matai, I found, on inquiry, that every morning the floor is sprinkled with lysol, which naturally darkens the wood —a - fact greatly to the credit of the headmaster. U has been stated that one room is dark, but everyone has in his house a room that is away from the sun. With regard to the lighting, improvements are being earned out. But most of the criticisms appear to have been groundless."

Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P., has circularised all the members of the House of .Representatives who last year supported the second reading of the Daylight Saving Bill, with the view of determm ing, from the opinions expressed by them, whether he should reintroduce the bill m the ensuing session. “You may remember,” he says, “that last year’s bill limited the operation of the measure to the three months of the year when the days are longest—name ly, November, December, and January, and I agreed to insert, when in committee, a provision that the bill should operate for one season only. This would have ensured a trial of the proposal, and as there is so mnch daylight at that season of the year (daylight commencing in the height of summer at about 3 a.m.), the possibility of inconvenience to any section of the community was reduced to a minimum. Now some of those who voted for a trial of the proposal last year might think it inadvisable this year owing to the general election. . . . Further, when in committee obstruction is sure to be met with from the same source as formerly, and before I reintroduce the bill I am anxious to know upon how many members of the House 1 can rely to stand by the bill in committee until the obstruction is overcome, even if it meais sitting up all maht or longer.” Mr Sidey is inquiring, therefore, whether the members to whom he has issued circulars, are favourable to a trial of the Daylight Saving proposal, and to what extent they are prepared to resist obstruction against the measure in the House.

Yesterday the State schools of the city and suburbs closed for a week’s holiday.

A special meeting of tho City Council has been called for Monday night to consider the Mayor's loan proposals.

The Telegraph Office reports that week-end cable messages may now be accepted for India, Burma, and Ceylon at the rate of 81d per word, with a minimum charge of 14s 2d, representing twenty words.

There are two “ Reform ” candidates for Palmerston North, two for the Bay of Islands, and now two are announced for Taumarunni. Tho repeal of tho Second Ballot Act (says the Eltham “ Argus ”) may not prove to ho a boon and a blessing to tho Government party. While the henorary scene-shifters and stage hands were busy during tho interval -at last night’s production by tho Victoria (College students of ‘‘Boadicea ” in the Town Hall, an accident occurred that resulted iu Mr Stainton suffering a dislocated arm. He was attended by Dr Fyffe, and then removed to the hospital.

The agreement arrived at between tho Now Zealand Sheepowners’ Federation and the New Zealand Shearers’ Association in June last is to become a Dominion award, and it will remain in operation for throe years. As far as the shed hands are concerned, the association is stating a case for an award in one of the industrial districts which is to bo decided later, and the conditions fixed by tho court will probably bo accepted as a Dominion award. Recently the High Commissioner for New Zealand, on going through some of the old records of the office, came upon a medal and certificate awarded by the Royal Humane Society of Auk tralia, to Henry Thomas, A. 8., of the s.s. Persian Empire, for having risked his life in rescuing two girls from drowning on March 30th, 1890, when the Persian Empire was lying in Auckland Harbour. Both articles have remained unclaimed, reports a London paper of recent date. Owing to the hearing being unfinished of the case of Lucinda Caldwell v. the Union Steamship Company (a claim for £2OOO damages for the death of the plaintiff’s husband), the case set down for hearing in the Supremo Court yesterday, Loo Wye v. Dr. MacKenzie (claim for £248 for wages and a counter-claim for £l6O for professional services) was adjourned till Monday, replacing the case of Emmie M. Graham v. Alice Merry (claim for £SOO for alleged slander), which has been settled out of court.

In connection with the City Council’s scheme for the widening of Manners street, a new site has had to be found for the Manners street police station. This week’s “ Gazette ” announces that the vacant section at the corner of Lower Taranaki street and Wakefield street has been set aside by the Government for the purpose. This is considered to be the most suitable available site for the new station, for the erection of which tenders will be called shortly.

With reference to the conference called by the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce to discuss matters concerning railway deviation, opening up of East Coast lands and improving main roads for motor traffic in the provinces, the chamber has suggested Wednesday, July Bth, as the most suitable date. Parliament is expected to open its session on Thursday, Juno 25th, whilst the Municipal Conference will commence, as far as can be ascertained, on Tuesday, July 14th. In all probability three days will b© required for the proposed conference, so that delegates may return to their homes on Saturday, July 11th, at the latest. Remits are required to be in by June Bth. Already thirty local bodies have signified their intention of being represented.

“Tiio local money market exhibits very little material alteration since on i last "report, but the tendency is in the direction of further easing of the market (says the “Trade Review”). The export season which is how drawing towards a close has proved an excellent one, both for production and prices, and the total for the twelvemonth .to March 31st, as far as can be gathered from_ partial interim returns, seems certain to exceed twentyfour millions. On the other hand, although no figures are available for im ports, we believe the March quarter will show a moderate reduction and that the total for the twelvemonth will be little if anything over twentyone' millions, leaving an excess of- ex ports of probably about three millions; which is a distinct improvement on returns for nearly three years past. Under these circumstances ■ it appears probable that the money market will continue to improve, and supplies of capital for investment will be more readily obtainable.” In an Interview at Dunedin, Professor Davis' said:—“New Zealanders may not know so well as their visitors how many striking and remarkable geographical features the islands present. Take the Canterbury Plains for example. Although regarded as monotonous by many •travellers who cross them, they afford the geographer a most typical example of the class of forms bo which they belong. Likewise the Bay of Islands, in tho far north ■peninsula, is an extremely fine example of a whole district that lias been partly submerged, so that its valleys arc drowned and transformed into branching bays. That district I visited with a great deal of regard to the light that it throws on the long-discussed problem as to the origin of coral'reefs, and although the connexion is perhaps too technical for a statement in a newspaper interview, it was one that afforded me much satisfaction in giving a complete demonstration of the correctness of Darwin’s original theory of the formation of coral reefs." The extraordinary divergence of medical opinion as to the sanity or insanity of Thomas Edwin Brown, wh< was charged with having murdered Constable Hickey in Sydney, and was acquitted, but afterwards detained or grounds of insanity, cannot be passed over without comment (says the “Sydney Morning Herald”). The evidence of no fewer than thirteen doctors was taken in the case; and the conclusion of six of them was completely opposed to the conclusion of the other seven. “It is,” the “Hera'd” proceeds, “high time that medical men were given such a training in the diagnosis of madness that such a conflict of evidence should in future be put _ almost beyond tin bounds of possibility. The public, if a case of this sort, does not kno-> ■.lnch set of doctors wa-s right. Whr’t does want is the assurance that r. r cedical men will in future obtain sue’ i training in this important depart meat of modern medicine as will make impossible the occurrence of any of the terrible mistakes for which the absence of such training leaves only too obvious an opening.”

The Prime Minister (Right Hon. W. F. Massey) is to deliver a political address at Invercargill next Wednesday evening.

Tho bi-annual conference of tho New Zealand Municipal Association will open in the council chamber. Town Hall, on July 14th, and will last for throe or four days.

His Honour Mr Justice Hosking will deliver his reserved judgment in the Supreme Court to-day iu the case of Milligan v. Milligan, a petition for dissolution of marriage.

Nest year an innovation iu thereading lessons is to ho introduced into the schools. Tho school paper is to take the place of the present read-ing-books.

It is understood that the No. 3 Company, New Zealand Garrison Artillery, will make a further attempt to demolish the Devon on the King’s Birthday, Juno 3rd. The postal authorities advise that the s.s. Rivorina, which sailed from Sydney on Wednesday for Auckland, is bringing Australian mails and also an English mail via Suez. The Wellington portion is due per Main Trunk express on Monday next. Detective Lewis arrested yesterday a young man on three charges of forging and uttering cheques on several loca/ business men. A woman who recently camo out of gaol was also arrested last night on a charge of wilfully damaging windows in Tory street. Both offenders will ho brought before tho Magistrate this morning.’A Canterbury farmer who travelled through Taranaki the other week took home with him as curiosities tha toll tickets that he accumulated during a day’s tour in a motor-car. There were throe slips, representing tolls to the amount of 10s 6d. As he reckoned, the Hawera County Council had charged him 3s to pass through its gate, tho Taranaki County Council had colletced ss, .and tho Eltham County Council had been content with a modes® half-crown.

An address of more than ordinary interest will be given to-morrow night in tho King’s Theatre by P. Fraser, national secretary of the Social Democratic party. Mr Fraser wjll lecture on “Whore Prohibition Fails.” In view of tho approaching visit of Jlr Philip Snowdon under the auspices of the New Zealand Alliance, it will ha interesting to learn Social Democrats’ views on tho temperance question. Mr Fraser will deal with many of the arguments of the Prohibitionists from the Labour standpoint.

At yesterday’s meeting of the Education Board a letter was received from the Education Department expressing the opinion that the size of rooms for standard classes generally should Iks 24ft by 22ft. A room of tins size is supposed to accommodate forty-four pupils. The chid inspector (Mr J. Fleming) presented a report to the board in which ho stated that it would bo' a mistake to bind the board to approve of this Biz© in every case. Occasionally classes were considerably above forty-four in number, and sometimes included as many as sixty children. A room measuring 26ft by 24ft would be more suitable in most cases, as this would allow for a variation in tho numbers of the classes. Th© report was forwarded on to tho Education Department for consideration.

A man who had come down in the world, John Duncan Mooro, was charged in tho Magistrate’s Court yesterday with obtaining board and lodging to tho value of £3 19s 6d from Robert Hunt by means of a., false pretence. Ho pleaded guilty. It appeared that accused came from tho south in an endeavour to find work in Wellington, and stayed at the Pier Hotel on tho strength of a card representing him to bo the manogor of the Kauri Timber Company. After contracting a week’s bill the accused left without notice and went to a boardinghouse where he was arrested. It was also stated that for seventeen years ho had been manager of tho timber company, but had loft that employment some time ago. A fine of £5 was imposed, and accused was also ordered to return £3' 19s 6d to the hotelkeeper. Tho alternative was fixed at fourteen days” imprisonment. Seven days was allowed in which to find tho money.

The rising generation is receiving facilities for attractive education that were unknown in comparatively recent days. Lately tho infant school at Kelburno was opened, with the novel addition of a “nature study” room, in which the furniture consists mostly of glass and wire cages that are to hold birds, beasts, fishes, and plants. A more pleasant way of learning elementary zoology and botany it would ba hard to imagine. At yesterday’s meeting of tho Education Board it was stated that a grant bad been made for tho construction of an open-air class-room at South Wellington, in which learning and fresh air should go hand-in-hand. A member of tho board expressed a doubt whether such a room would bo used in weather like the present, but the-chairman (Mr R. Leo) stated that even in snowy Canada open-air classrooms were in use all tho year round, with the most beneficial results to the scholars’ health.

A wayward son who had had unbridled liberty for the past two or three years, received a very severe check in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday before Mr D. G. A. Cooper, S.Mi James Wemyss O’Donahoo, a little over eighteen years of age, wan charged with the theft of a marble clock valued at £6, the property of Henry O’Donaboo. He pleaded guilty. Chief-Detective Broberg said the case was an unusual one, one brother being the informant, and the other the defendant. The informant’s action was more than justified by the accused’s conduct during the past two years. His father had died about three years ago, and since that time, particularly during the last two years, he had been a source of annoyance and dread to his aged mother. Ho repeatedly stole articles from the house, and had stolen about £lO 3s in small .sums of money. On this occasion he had taken the clock and pawned it for £l. He had obtained goods by false pretences with the result that his mother had to pay for them. “He made tho pace so hot at home that they don’t want him there,” concluded tho chief detective. Mr Cooper severely lectured tho lad, stating that if he continued in tho way he had been going, he would turn out to be a thorough criminal. His Worship could not understand how ho had conducted himself in the wnv. ho had done. Ho would not send him to an industrial school, hut would convict him and order him to come un for sentence when called mwn. He was alec ordered to return the sum of £1 tr the pawnbroker. The cardigan vest serves two useful purposes. It adds a finish to good dress and keeps the wearer warm. Irtsnect otn range of black and navy with small spot 16s 6d, ISs Gd, 22s Gd. Geo. Fowlds. Ltd.. Manners street, •