NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9139, 3 September 1915, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

The City Council granted last night its usual donation of. £5 to the Wellington Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; A letter of thanks from Mrs W. F. Massey, for permission to display an electric sign in connection with the soldiers’ room, Sydney street, was received by the City Council at its meeting last night.

The city engineer was granted authority by the City Council last nigh to call for tenders for alternative designs of seats for the Town Hall gallery.

The Onslow Borough Council, at its meeting last evening, acknowledged receipt of a cheque for £2 5s from the Khandallah Literary and Debating Society, and approved a request that the sum be included in the Onsloiv quota of the Belgian fund.

In view of the likely demand for water-meters during the coming summer, the city engineer was., authorised by the City Council last evening to purchase additional meters, provided they are on tho basis of the prices paid for tho first supply. “It is pleasing to note,” states a passage in the monthly report of the Labour Department, “that one engineering firm in the district is turn-; ing out a considerable amount of work which, prior to the war, was manufactured almost wholly in Germany.” Attention - was called by Councillor Fitzgerald to the deplorable condition of Hill street, at last night’s meeting of the Wellington City Council. His Worship the Mayor replied that the road was already on the schedule of improvements, and the work would be proceeded with in due course. After being delayed at Wellington for a week owing to a difficulty with tlie crew, the Huddart Parker Co.'s steamer Victoria left Wellington at 8.20 o’clock yesterday morning for Auckland and Sydney. The vessel :s to sail from Auckland at 5 p.m. tomorrow for the New South Wales port. A handsomely-illuminated programme for the assault-at-arms to he held tomorrow in aid of the fund for sick and wounded soldiers has been published. It contains a number of interesting and appropriate illustrations, besides a quantity of useful information, and at sixpence a copy it should find a ready sale.

Tho reserves and public grounds committee " reported to the City Council last night that they have arranged to grant the proposed Ladies’- Croquet Club of Kelburn permission to use a portion of Kelburn Park for the playing of croquet on week days and on Saturday afternoons when the ground is not required for other purposes. The rental charge for the five months will be £2O. Reserved judgment was delivered yesterday by Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M., in a case in which Stuart Johns and the C. and A. Odlin Timber and Hardware Company, Ltd., claimed from Arthur Johns the sum of £3l 7s 6d, alleged balance due on the contract price of a house -built by .the plaintiff Johns for his brother at Brooklyn. The contract nrice for the bouse was £451 7s. This amount had been paid, together with £l4 11s for extras, and the claim was. for further extras which included the building of a fowlhouse, fence, etc. The hearing took dp a considerable amount of the time of the court, and technical knowledge was called in as to the class of rough casting that was used on the building, and as to its alleged unwatertight condition when completed. Rebutting evidence was called, and it was admitted that no complaint was made of the rough casting when the amount charged for extras was complained of. His Worship gave judgment for £ll 8s 7d. with costs £3 18s.

An anonymous donation to tho-New-town Park zoological collection, of a rhesus monkey, lias been received from Dunedin.

A boy, eleven years of age, appeared before Mr D. G. A. Cooper, S-M., in the Juvenile Court yesterday, and was ordered to receive six strokes ot the birch for breaking insulators. The City Council received, at '.ls nicotine last night, a letter of thanks from the Napier Borough Council for courtesies extended to Councillor Chis holm, of Napier, in pursuance of his recent inquiries in regard to library matters.

Mr L. Moss writes drawing attention to a cabled statement published on August 26th, that Corporal Issy Smith is the first Jew to receive the Victoria Cross. Mr Moss states this is incorrect; that several Jews have been awarded the -coveted honour in the present war.

“Women of this class are preying on men, more especially on the members of the Expeditionary Force. They are a menace to the health of the men, and in their interests should be kept out of harm's way as long as possible.” This statement was made by Inspector Hendrey during the hearing of an unsavoury case in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning. In asking that bail be. reduced iu respect to two prisoners who are charged with breaking and entering, and the theft of a considerable amount of money and goods from several premises, Mr P. W. Jackson, who appeared for one of the accused men, in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, said that the bail asked for was the heaviest he had known in cases outside that of manslaughter. Inquiry was made at last night’e meeting of the City Council, by Councillor Wright, as to what progress, if any, was being made with the widening of Park road. The city engineer replied that the necessary surveys bad been made and the lines fixed for the new work. The staff was very busy at present, however, with the Constable street and Hutchinson road improvements, but the widening of Park road would be put in hand as soon as possible.

Yesterday, in the Magistrate’s Court, C. Pratt and Co., Ltd., of Wellington, claimed from the M.A.P. Stores, Marton, the sum of £23 9s 2d, being commission at the rate of 10 percent. on the collection of accounts aggregating £234 11s lid, given by defendants to plaintiffs. The case copied the court for a considerable time, judgment being reserved. Mr A. Dunn appeared for plaintiffs, and Mr P. H. Putnam for defendants.

Lieutenant-Colonel 11. H. Rhodes, the ex-Postmaster-Gencral, left Wellington for Sydney on Ins way to Egypt, where he is to make inquiries on behalf of the Government with regard to the treatment of Now Zealand wounded, the postal arrangements, and the distribution of gifts in Egypt and Malta. Mr Rhodes tolcf a “New Zealand Times” reporter before his departure that he could not say how long ho would be away. He was prepared to make a full investigation, and the task would hardly be a short one.

Messrs E. W. Mills and Co. are to be informed that the City Council will bo prepared to grant them a new lease of their sections at Te Are reclamation for the balance of the unexpired term of their present lease, with rights of renewal in perpetuity for' successive periods of twenty-one years, the ground rent to bo fixed by arbitration. The. provision governing the making of the first arbitration will bo fixed by the city solicitor. On the recommendation of the reclaimed land leases committee the council agreed last flight that the necessary-special order to give effect to the above be passed.

The question having been raised as to whether the wives of civil servants are debarred from taking part in business. such as the running of a store or the teaching of music, it was ascertained by a “Times” reporter on inquiry at tho offices of the Civil, Sendee Commissioners yesterday, that there is no provision in tho regulations which prohibits such a practice; but as regards the teaching of music for fees by the wives of public servants, an instruction against it was issued by the Government before the advent of tho Commissioners. Civil servants themselves are, of course, expressly forbidden to engage in paid services other than those which they render to the State. A general meeting of the Waterside Workers’ Union, presided over by Mr G. Curtice, was held at X shed last evening. It was resolved that the proposal of Mr W. .Bennett, of the Waterside Labour "Employment Association, to meet the executive on the question of work ceasing at 10 p.m. and the question of places for engagement o. ’labour, be adopted. The proposal to elect two delegates from the union to represent it on the band executive was held over till next meeting. It was decided to donate £lO to tho St. John Ambulance wharf branch. The report of the delegates to the late Labour Conference was received. A deputation representing the coach and carriage trade waited upon the Minister for Finance (the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward) yesterday to protest against the reduced protection accorded the trade under the new tariff. The industry, it was stated, was the sixth most important in the Dominion. It found employment for 1500 hands, represented £150,000 in wages, . and £400,000 in manufactures. • What the deputation wanted was a fixed price on motor-car bodies, or an additional 10 per cent, on the revised tariff on bodies. Sir Joseph Ward promised to give the deputation’s representations careful consideration. He pointed out that it was not a revision of the tariff that had been made in the Budget, but a war tax, as money had,to be found to.carry on the war.

A .question as to the liability of sureties came before Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court, yesterday, in a case in which A. S. Paterson and Co., claimed from Jessie Compton, married woman, Kilbirnie crescent, Charles Beaumount, fruiterer, Vivian street, and Daniel William Russell, engineer, Daniel street, the sum of £ll3 6s, being the amount due by Herbert Compton, storekeeper, Ellice street, for goods supplied by plaintiffs. Plaintiffs relied on a written guarantee, which was executed by the defendants in favour of plaintiffs on July 14th, 1914. The defence set up was to the effect that during the currency of the guarantee, Herbert Compton admitted a partner to the business, which voided the guarantee from the date of the partnership. At the conclusion of plaintiffs’ evidence, Mr H. E. Evans, who appeared on their behalf, applied for an adjournment, which was granted, with costs aganst the applicants. Mr A. H. Hindmarsh represented the- defendants.

With a view to abolishing the cattlewandering nuisance, the City Council resolved last evening that instructions i > issued to the city engineer to select f. site for the erection of a pound, or lunnds, in the Island Bay district. An amended regulation under the Motor Regulations Act, 1608, has boon gazetted. It provides that, in tho enso of a motor-cycle, the registering authority may require tho registered number to be fixed both at tho front and rear of the machine. Iu connection with the recent falsa fire alarms, the City Council resolved last evening, on the recommendation ot tho fire brigade committee, that a reward of £2 bo granted to the person whose assistance greatly helped in tha detection of tho offender.

At the meeting of the City Council last night the city solicitor was instructed to prepare an amendment to the by-laws, relating to false alarms of fire, so as to feovor telephone or other means of giving false information of fires. At present the by-law is considered defective.

The War Pensions Board, appointed, under tho Pensions Act passed on August oth, met for the first time last evening. It was decided to grant tho first pension to a partially-disabled member of the forces who had been invalided home., the amount granted being £7B per annum.

As recommended by the finance ana property committee, the City Council decided last night to inform the Wellington Harbour Board that the account for £2OO 19s 6d, being their share of the cost of the last eiection ; . will, ho sent to the Auditor and Con-troller-General for his arbitration.

It was reported to the City,Council, by the reserves and public gardens committee last night that thieves, having removed certain valuable plants from Central Park, the committee had authorised the city engineer to offer a reward and to take such steps as are necessary to endeavour to bring theculprit before the court. On the recommendation of tbs finance and' .property committee, tlie City Council resolved last night that two ratepayers be granted loans on the. deferred payment system in order to carry out drainage works, and that the seal of the corporation bo authorise!' to he affixed to the necessary agreements.

On the recommendation of the finance and property committee last night, the City Council denied, as advised, the claim of Messrs Moorhense, Hadfiold and Newman, on behalf of the Oncpu Land Company, for payment oi £199 Gs Cd, the cost of constructing a stormwater drain from Coutts street to Evans Bay.

At the meeting of the City' Council last night a letter was received from the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce requesting the use of the Town Hall in January or February next for uu exhibition of British and Allies’ goods. The matter was referred to the finance committee to consider and report.

An elderly Chinaman, who was about to shake the dust of Now Zealand from his feet by departing for Sydney by the Moeraki last evening, overlooked the fact that it is an offence against the law to take gold coin out of the Dominion. DetectiveSergeant Mcllvoney and Detectives Lewis and Rawlo discovered a cashbox containing 260 sovereigns in the Oriental’s cabin, and brought it ashore. The Chinaman, who claims to have resided for 48 winters in this land of the “barbarians,” was somewhat indignant at the action of the police. In the meantime he has postponed his intended visit to the East. Robert and William James Stockbridge, the two young men charged, with breaking and entering premises at Miramar and stealing goods and money therefrom, were again before the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning, and on the application of ChicfDotective Boddam,' a further remand until September Bth was granted. Mr P. W. Jackson appeared for the accused William James Stockhridge, and asked that the bail of £3OO ho reduced. Chief-Detective Boddam said ho had good reasons for asking for substantial bail, and he urged that it be not reduced. His Worship said ho would not differentiate between the prisoners, and would not agree te a reduction. W. J. Stockhridge was eventually hailed out by his father. The accused were again arraigned before Mr Cooper,' S.M., in the afternoon, on a further charge of breaking and entering tho shop of Henry P. Edwards, of Hataitai, and stealing 72 pairs of boots, valued at £33. A remand was granted, bail being fixed at £SO.

At last night’s meeting of tho City Council Councillor Godber asked tho Mayor (Mr J. P. Luke) if any steps had been taken to enable the people at the Wallace street terminus to go through tli© brickfield. They had been going through private property to reach the terminus, but had now been stopped. Some time ago it had .been said that an endeavour would bo made to get permission for tho people to go through tho pipe works, but had anythinghad been done in tho matter ? _ The ■Mayor replied that the legal position was dead up against tho council. They had been advised that they could do nothing, more than purchase the property and make a street a chain wide. But that was out of tho question. There was not oven any need for a street a chain wide there. The council was anxious to lease a portion of land so as to provide access, but they wore so tied up with disabilities'that they could do nothing. He thought it might help conditions if they made arrangements for a tram stop at Hargreaves street. The owners, he understood, would not grant permission for the public to pass over the brickfield, and the council would have to purchase not only tho land, but the business. Councillor Frost said that he thought that if the owners were seen in regard to tho matter, it could be arranged, and the Mayor said that ho would do what he could to arrive at a settlement.

There is an. unquestionably good demand for copies of New Zealand 8 national song, “The Soldier.” Apy parently the people of New Zealand appreciate th© fact that we have her© in this country an elusive national song, written ani published oy a New Zealander. Thisf is evidenced by the large number schools that have been learning -The Soldier.” The third edition is now being .printed. This Saturday, sfreral bands will play “The Soldier,” including th© Trentham Camp Band, uij'ler the able direction of Bandmaster F. Fox. also Jupp's Band. The Sib Regimental Band JjcComish) gave an excellent rendering of “The Soldier when the Gth Reinforcements paraded. *