LOOAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2572, 1 July 1903, Page 88

LOOAL & GENERAL.

The Supreme Court was occupied two lays last week in hearing an action for dander. Mr Robert Coghill, clerk, alleged that Mr Frank Wilkinson, chemist, had publicly accused him of stealing £1 from the till of the latter's shop in Kensington, and claimed £501 as damages. Only a few witnesses were called, but the examination and cross-examination of several of them were very lengthy. On Tuesday the jury took over three hours to come to a conclusion, and in the end awarded the plaintiff 40s damages and costs.

During the fortnight ended June 13 the tramway receipts totalled £1252 10s Bd, and the mileage was 18,298 miles 26 chains, as against £904 19s Id, and 18,664 miles 60 chains for the corresponding period of last year. Pay-sheets and account/3 amounting to £1506 16a 7d on the tramways general

account, and £12,844 15s 2d on the tramways loan account have been passed for payment by the Tiamways Committee.

Mr E. H. Carow, S.M., held a sitting of the Old-age Pensions Court on the 23rd, and granted 22 renewals of pensions at £18, and single renewals at £17, £15, and £6 respectively. One new claim was granted at £18, and in the case of three other new claims decision was reserved.

Signor Bragato, the Government viticulturist, who is at present in Wellington, informs us (says the Wellington Evening Post) that he has never seen the vineyards in the North Island looking so well, and in his opinion New Zealand will yet become a very large wine producer. Already the quality of some of the wines manufactured in part? of Hawkes Bay and Auckland districts is equal, if not superior, to that produced anywhere in Australia, and Signor Bragato says he looks forward to the time when the vintage of the colony will command very high prices on the European markets. Only a little over four acre* of the Government experimental farm at Wairangi, in the Waikato, is now in vines, but it is intended to increase the size of the vineyard by about 15 acres during the next year. Grapes gathered from about an aero and a-half at Wairangi last season produced 600 gallons of excellent wine, which is now being matured.

Some startling statements were made recently at a meeting of the Church of England Rescue Home for Fallen Women, Sydney. Archdeacon Langley said that for drunkenness and petty offences arising out of drunkenness there were 550 more women convicts in Sydney last year than in the preceding year, while the increase in the number ol men convioted of similar offence* was only four. Mrs Courtney Smith, in giving particulars of her work among the slums of that city, stated that during one week 15 children, mostly girls, and all under 16 years of age, were locked up on charges of drunkenness ; and that on a recent Tuesday in one hotel five girls, under 14 years of ago, were hopelessly intoxicated, two of the number being so far gone that they had to be carried about like sacks of wheat. Mrs G. E. Ardill, who presided at the evening meeting, stated that on a recent evening in one quarter of the city alone officers of the society met and spoke to no fewer than 80 poor lost women in the space of less than half an hour. At another time, in two hours, 560 were counted during a short walk through a small portion of Sydney. Taking the whole of the city of

Sydney, there were at least 2000 women who were leading lives of shame and degradation. In No. 2 police division alone, 25 opium dens were known to exist. In addition, there were a similar number of shops and offices where opium was smoked. In the same division there were 25 houses o£ ill-fame and 100 hotels.

A correspondent of The Times recently desoribed what is being done at Osborna in the direction of preparing there, on the property presented to the nation by the King, an educational establishment for naval cadets. In the neighbourhood of Kingston Farm, two fields of about 16 acres, having a frontage to the river of something like 1000 ft, have been handed over to the Admiralty. These fields, forming part of the Osborno Estate, are exactly opposite Shamblers Copse on the west sida of the Medina. They have a gradual slope down to the water, and are well above the town, so that from this point upwards thera is a clear reach for the use of the oade-te in their pulling boots. In the college grounds the Admiralty has about 60 acres to deal with, virtually a beautiful park, well timbered with fin© old trees and with meadows, which were erstwhile the pastures adjoining the stables of Osborne House.. The buildings which are being constructed are fully desoribed by the correspondent, who says that everything seems to have been planned in a most complete manner, nothing having been omitted which will make for the comfort and health of the boys or the convenience and effective comprehensiveness of their training.

The law is that though a man may marry his sister-in-law, he cannot marry her daughter. James Smith, a West Melbourne foreman, married the daughter of his. deceased wife's sister, bvrt after they had lived together for 12 days his wife left him on account of conscientious grounds Mr Justice a'Beckett, in giving- decision in an application for th« nullity of the marriage, said that if the respondent had been the sifter of his deceased wife, instead of her niece, the marriage would have been valid under section 18 of " The Marriage Act, 1890," which provided that marriage with the sister of a deceased wife, should not be voidable or in any wise impeaohable upon the ground of affinity. The daughter of a deceased wife's sister was within the prohibited degrees of affinity, but legislators had omitted to validate marriage with her.* Doubtless they would have done so had the necessity of such a provision but occurred to them. Marriage with a deceased wife's nieoe having been voidable before the marriage with a deceased wife's sister was made unimpeachable remained voidable, and he had only , to give effect to the law as ifc stood. It was no objection to a suit of this kind that both parties at the time of the celebration of the marriage were aware of the impediment. He declared the marriage null and void.

There has during the past few days been a good deal of activity in the purchasing of sections in Musselburgh. It is understood that a syndicate which was recently formed, impressed witih the belief that thp near approach of electrical tram communication will almost certainly materially increase land values in Musselburgh, have purchased a large number of sections in that portion of the St. KiLda Borough. Thero has during the pas* three or four years been a great advance in the price of sections in Musselburgh, and a considerable area, formerly the property of the Assets Board, has passed into the hands of private owners.

The recent heavy south-west seas have been responsible for a, big slip along the coast south of St. Clair at what are known as The Caves. Hundreds of tona of earth and eand have slipped away, and the great blocks are piled up in. confusion, at the mercy of the waves, which will, in a very short time, sweep them away and commence work on the faoe of the cliff again. The coast at this point is honeycombed by the action of the sea, and the large cave thero is probably one of the largest on the New Zealand coast. Access can only be gained at very low water.

It wa9 stated at the meeting of the City Council last week that the sum of 108 had been forwarded to tlic corporation, anonymously by a tram conductor, whose conscience was uneasy as the result of his having tampered with tie returns. When the Tramways Committee's repori was under discussion Cr Christie remarked thaft the tramway returns were being satisfactorily maintained. As a matter of fact, we understand that the receipts now average £15 per diem in excess of the amount they used to average under the old system. This being so, the conscience-stricken officer who had only half a sovereign to refund must have had feelings akin to those once entertained by the celebrated Indian administra* tc* who, when he considered his oppor* tunities, was aghast at his moderation.

A trial demonstration of Millar's wave motor took place at The Caves on Wednesday afternoon in the presence of a gathering of between 60 and 70 persons, the invited guests proceeding thither in two drag 3, and others walking round from St. C'air on Caversham. The details of the scheme of obtaining power from the waves hay» already been mentioned in these columns, but a short description may prove of interest at the present juncture. A wooden, float, weighing about one ton, is suspended from the ohffs and floats on the water; to each of the four corners a rope is attached, and these ropes, after passing through, blocks, are joined to four raohet ohains whioh pass over cogged wheels on one spindle. Eacli cogged wheel run 9 free, and is accompanied by a smaller fixed cog, fitted with & finger, so that as the pull com«i

-On ihe free cog the finger drops into th© smaller cog and thus to much power is «x©rted on to the spindle, the largsr ccg, running back free by the attached weights, pulling down ike slack of the chain. Thus * pulling force 13 continually exerted on one or other of the cogs, each movement of the float giving power, and other cogged ■wheels communica-te the power to th© flywheel. On Wednesday the float ussd weighed about a ton, and gave four horse-norrer at the machine. The p&we-r. was utilised in driving a small circular saw, whioh wa-3 cutting small pieces of timber, and also in driving. a small dynamo lighting a 25 candlelight lamp. The commercial value of the invention was ihus amply demonstrated, for there would be no limit to the weight of float wliich could be used — and it i 3 found that one ton of float gives an average of three horse-power — and any nunifcar of cogged wheels might be fitted to one shaft. A number of representative citizens were amongst tiios© present, and all expressed themselves highly pleased with the invention, and prophesied a great future before it. There can be no question but w r hat the inventor has solved the old, old problem of obtaining power from the waves.

The Outlook says: — "Th© sub-committee appointed by the Union Committee to further consider Hie articles suggested as a creed for tho United Churoh has met and carried the work entrusted to it almost to a conclusion. It is inte-nded, as soon a 9 the artic'.-M are prepared, to print them and send a copy to each member of th© committee."

The committee appointed ai the last Anglican Synod meet-ing to consider th© formation of a high-clase boys' grammar "school in Dunedin met on Tuesday afternoon, and was presided over by Bishop Nevill. The discu-ssion which ensued was entirely favourable to the proposal, and an adjournment was rnado with the object of formulating a scheme for consideration at a future meeting.

In convicting a youth of 19 years on a charge of drunkenness, Mr C. C. Graham, S.M., remarked on Wednesday that einoe the -reduction of licenses had been notified the number of charges of drunkenness had increased. They certainly had not decreased, and whether the reduced hotels were going .to make a short life a merry one he could .not say, but drunkenness appeared to be increasing. Sub-in=peetor Green said it seem-ed as if some note's were making th© most of their remaining opportunitiea.

A man found lying drunk in tho street on -Wednesday had eomo reason to congratulate -himself that he was arrested and locked up, as in bis possession were 12oz of gold, with -which he had just arrived from Nascby.

Mr J. E. Ryan, the Education Board's .truant officer, prosecuted three parents at Tapanui before Mr Gruikshank, S.M., for the irregular attendance at school of tiieir children. John Andrews, whose child, though 11 years and 10 months of age, has passed no standard, was fined 5s each on two informations. David Rcddtt and James Bromley were each fined 5s on each of two informations.

A cablegram Las reached the colony authorising the offioial reo&ivc<r for the Midland railway to accept payment on bahalf of tho bondholders of the oorapany of th© amount agreed upon by th© Government (£150,000) in bonds. Payment will be mad© in a day or two, and this will close the negotiations between, the company and the Government

The railway revenue for the four-weekly period ending May 23 from the 2291 miles open in the »lony was £170,162, while the expenditure was £114,696. The North Island lines, comprising E63 rn^iles, yielded a revenue of £62.514, th© expenditure being £♦6,103. The 1423 miles open in the South Island gay© a revenue of £107,6 1 8, tlfc expenditure beiDg £63,592. The revenue from the 1213 miles constituting tho Humnui-Bluff section was £92,535, while the expenditure was £58,8?0. The Westport section of 31 mites -yielded a revenue of £6797, the expenditure bsing £2775. ' At th© meeting called at Uie Technical School on Thursday to enrol pupils for the electricity class 58 gave in their names. In consequenoa of tLe large number enrolled it was dcoklad to make two classes— a junior and a senior cla?s, — both to meet on the same evenin-gs, viz., Mondays and Thursdays; th© first lesson to be given on Momday. 13th prox. The teacher (Mr Edwards), who was present, gay© some indication of the syllabus to b© employed, which tiros approved by the prospective students. Mr Marshall explained that the ©lasses would be held in what was known as Morrison's Building, opposite the school, and that the fe© would be a guinea for -a- course of instruction -extending over 15 weeks; and should tho students so desire, a eeoood term would be token, thus carrying th© classes on to the New Year.

At Owaka on Wednesday, before Messis Craig and Hay, J.P's., Peter Maeon was charged with assault with intent on a girl 17 years of age. Inspector O'Brien conducted the prosecution, and Mr A. C. Hanlon appeared for the accused. A large number of witnesses were examined, the case occupying all the afternoon and finishing' just before midnight. Th© evidence of the girl proved unsatisfactory, and tho accused was discharged.

Same extraordinary details regarding the manner in which the Maoris live are given by th© Northern Advocate, on th© authority of " an observant southern gentleman who has been travelling between Maungakahia and Kaikou. 1 ' This gentleman fou'id th© Maoris leading the lives of <iog=— >ierding together in hopeless indolence, abject poverty, and unspeakable squalor. In a

journey of about 40 miles he did not see a solitary crop, but on all sides was evclenca of absolute want a-nd of a lack of the decencies of life. The filtlime=3 of their surroundings is almost too abominable for words. Crawling with vermin, unkempt, unwashed, half-caked, thsy huddled together like swine in smoky, grimy whores, scarcely fit for tho habitation of the mongrels and pigs that infe--t the settlement.

Cur Waikouait-i correspondent -vrTite-s : — "Bishop Vcrdon held a confirmation in t-.e Waikouadti Roman Catholic Church on Wednesday morning, when three male candidates for the sacramental rite were presented by tho Rev. Father M'Grath, the priest in cha.rge."

A conference look pi ac? on Friday between the High Schools Board of Governors and members of both Houses on the -subject of obtaining from Government a gTant of £10,000 for a new Girk' High School. Tb© position of matters wa3 explained to the

members, and the id-en, of obtaining ihe grant met w ith their hearty concurrence, and they gave- a promise of warmly supporting the board iv it 3 effort.

A Deep Stream correspondent writes: — "On Wednesday, the 24th, a heavy enowslorm struck the Lammerlav a-nd the Dc-e-p Stream Valley. On the flat the snow is 4in deep, and, coming as it did after a hard black frost of «cmc day=' duration, it is likely to iie. During the past week there have been ferera.l vpry distinct earth tremors, accoirnrnied by lord rumbling 0 , from a south-westerly direction. On Sunday eve-ning la=t at 8 30 there was a veiy smart shock, and Hie noise was vpry proncuneed. Otherwise, the weather has been very eeasonab'e up to the present time."

We have received from Mr G. W. C. Moon, the district agent for the Tourist Department, a little? brochure ju^t published entitled " Overland to Mil ford Sound." This is a republi cation of tho series of articles which app^red in our columns by the Rpv. P W. Fairclou^h, with notes on the bird life, etc., and the flora of Te Anau, Manapouri, and Milfoid Sound by Mr George Fenwick.

It seems that Mr Soddon's State butchery idea is not original after all. It is only an adaptation from the French. Says a cable message from Paris to tho New Yoik World: — "The French State will soon open its shop on the boulevard and become a shopkeeper. There was a general outcry from Parisian tradesmen when it was a"nouueed that -t had been decided to open ai establishment for the sale of objects manufactured at Sevres, Gobelin, and other State manufactories. It was said that this would b& unfair competition ; that the tradesmen would be ruined, and so forth. Small heed \u« paid to the clamouring, because th« work turned out by the State ii not to be found elsewhere, and there can be no competition. Tho .«ibe wan selec-fced at the corner of the Rue Fayart and the Boulevard dcs IreJiens."

While the public are f-peculating with some commiseration ac to the feelings of exCountess Russell on finding herself tricked into a marriage with tho adventurous footman William Brown, who strutted fen a brief se*son in the guise of a Bavarian Prince, a case has come tinder notice at Leicester (writes Hi© London correspondent of the Age) of an 'he-ire&s, Miss Edith Kaye, voluntarily choosing as her husband a youug coachman with the tinromanfje name of Smith. Mu>s Kaye is the niece of the- late T. W. Downing, who was one of the wealthiest manufacturers in Leicester, and inherited £40,000 from him under his will She met Smith at her brother's homo at Stoneygate, where he served as groom as well as coachman, and last wintc-i he attended her in tihe hunting field and taught her to rid©. Ho is a smart young fellow, attractive in appearance, and has done good service as a Yeomanry private in the South African war. They fell passionately in love with C£eh other before the hunting season was over, and, foreseeing strong opposition to their attachment from Miss Kaye's relatives, decided to a!ope. As they had kept their secret well, they wore able to do this easily, and were married by special license at a Bolton registry office. The lady's family were furious when they heard of it, and they have succeeded in separating her — at least for the present — from bor husband.

From the latost report of t'>e Scottish Burial Reform and Cremation Socie-ty it appeal's that for (he year ended September 30 last 25 cremations were carried out m Scotland, being an increase of 10 over the number for the jrecading year< The total to date ;s 122. For a reduced charge of £6 6s a certificate is now issued in Scotland carrying the rightr— (a) to on© cicn»atiou, either at Glasgow or at any of the crematoria in Great Britain ; and (h) to a niche for deposit of the ashes in the Columbarium a.t Maryhill. In England seven crematoria ere now in operation' — those at London and Leicester having b&en opened since the last report,— while an eighth 13 in course of construction at Birmingham. It has also been determined to erect cre-matoi ia at Birkonhcad, Sheffield, and St. Funcras, London.

Additional particulars respecting the new table of colonial precedence, which have been obtained by our "Wellington correspondent, appear in another column. From thesa it would appear that one effect may be the losing to the colony of the- services of tho present Chief Justice, Sir Eobcrt Stout. The re=ult of the change made on the recommendation of the present Ministry is to give Ministers of the Crown precedence over the Chief Justice. Sir Robert Stout considers the change has a personal reference, and he has intimated that he desires to resign his posiuon *» soon a- ai range -

ments are made for eouitable compensation

for loss of office. The Chief Justice coneiders the patent of his office has been violated by tho slight placed or. himself pud other membera of the Supreme Court Bench. There were 98 patients in the Dunedin Hospital at the beginning of last week, and 21 were a^dmittpd during ths we«k, while 18 , were dia(harged. There were four deaths, the names of the deceased being Henry Barnes, George Guyton, Edward Wadman, and Wiiiiam Pas=inore; leaving a total of 97 in the institution at the end of the week. j In a letter to th.> Daily Times ou the Bible- ' in-sc-hooJs question, tho Rev. J. T. Hintca says: — '"Let no o-ne be deceived by this cry ' once fc-r all. ' Tris -attempt to force the Bible into the State schools is the opening of tbo flood-^ates of reiigious dissension. 1 do not even suggest that jt is done intentionally, but n-erertheleps the results arc the same ; and the people of the colony should be • awako to the effects of their vot". Tho one and only thing to do is -to refuse to depute to the State in any way the duty ; which belongs to the churches."