LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2672, 31 May 1905, Page 81

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Supreme Court criminal sittings ■Were continued on the 23rd, when Harry Hart, alias Harris, was convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for three years for forgery, and Robert . M'JJaren, found " Guilty " the previous day, was sentenced to imprisonment for two years for breaking and entering and theft, both accused having bad previous records. William Watt and Harry Boult were acquitted on a charge of assault and robbery, and John Condon was acquitted on a charge of theft from the peison.

The manager of the Industrial School at Caversham has been, notified thai the boys in the school are not to be transferred to the new institution at Levin until the spring is well advanced. The buildings at Levin are expected to be ready for occupation about August, but the shift will probably not take place till October.

Captain Sundstrum informs us that the appeal on behalf of the young Scotchman •who, is ill with consumption has met with Euch a sympathetic response that there" are sufficient funds in hand to pay his passage Home and^'give him £10 or £15 to 'land with. Captain Sundstrum wishes to thank those who have subscribed, and asks us to intimate that further subscriptions wilt be ■unnecessary. We have to acknowledge the following donations : — B. Newman, 10s 6d ; W., Dunedin, 2s 6d; Caraid, 2s 6d ; Brither Soot, 2s 6cL

The Dunstan Times says: — "So far as can be ascertained there is very little prospect of any quantity of fruit being forwarded from this district to the winter show to be held in Dunedin next month. The only grower whom we are aware of that is sending an exhibit is Mr W. Annan, of Clyde, who has a very nice 'sample of Stunner and' Cleopatra apples. The exhibit is not a very large one, but the fruit is of good size and colour, and so far as quality is concerned will certainly show what the district is capable of producing. It is a matter for regret that the movement had not been mooted early in the. season, and a thoroughly representative exhibit g-athered together."

The Eight Hon. Mr Seddon, Premier, was etieased on Wednesday in transacting departmental business. In the evening he - addressed a very large meeting on political matters in the Princess Theatre, announcing the surplus for the financial year ended March 31 last as £761,035. On Thursday a number of deputations waite.d on the hon. gentleman, and in order that all should have an opportunity of bringing- their respective questions before- him it was arranged to allow a quarter of an hour to each one. The Jist

■vy<j.« as follows : "Protection of Women and Children, 10.30 ; Otago League, 10.45 ; Otago University, 11; Institute of Accountants, 11.15; School" Committees' Conference, 11.30 ; Institute of Musicians, 1L45 ; Benevo-

lent Institution, 12; Maori Hill Borough Council, 12.15. In the afternoon the Minister inspected the School Cadets Corps on the Caledonian Ground.

A conference of the executive of the Otaga Employers' Association and a committee of the Farmers' Union was held on Wednesday morning, when the resolutions of the Trades and Labour Council, passed by that body at a reoeiit meeting in Wellington, were discussed and dealt with. The decisions' arrived at in connection with each of the W- proposals are to be forwarded to the New Zealand Employers' Federation in "Wellington to be finally dealt with by that body. Some of the resolutions will be strenuously opposed as being inimical to the best interests of employers and workersalike. •

The usual weekly meeting of the Benevolent Institute Trustees was attended by Messrs. R- M. Clark (chairman), Wilson, Talboys, Thomson, Green, Burnett, Tapper, and the Hon. BL Gourley. Accounts amounting to £61 7s were passed for payment. The Secretary reported the death on the 20th mst. of Elizabeth Stefcley, aged 73 years, from chronic abeess and Brigbt's ckease- The question of widening the Main road, Caversham, frontier the institution, was referred to the Finance Committee with power to act. Presents of books and magazines were acknowledged from Mrs J. Sinclair Thomson and the Mornington Ycung Women's Bible Class. Thirty-four applications for relief were dealt with.

With respect to the paragraph which appeared in the Clutha Jfree Press to the effect that the days of the Lovell's «Flat

coal mine were numbered, we have the best authority for staring that the information •was entirely misleading. Coal in tha Jjoveli's Flat mine is as plentiful as ever, and when the present seam is exhausted there is another seam of beautiful hard, black coal, already opened out, to start upon. As to fires in the mino, the mine, manager reports that he has ihe fires weil under control, and has no difficulty in getting the coal out. There is no truth that miners are leaving the mine. As a matter of fact, there are more men on tho paysheet than there have been at any preyious period during the present year.

The Supreme Court was occupied on Wednesday with the hearing of the charge of breaking and entering and theft pfererrcd ©gainst ex-Constables M'Donald and Moses. The indictment against the accused contained three counts— viz., that they broke and entered iho premises of the D.I.C. and stole certain goods therefrom, that they stole the goods referred to, and that they receiVed the goods knowing them to have been gtolsg. Both accused pleaded "Guilty"

to the third count— that of receiving,— but the Crown Prosecutor refused to accept the plea, and asked that the accused should be tried on the major point. Mr Justice Williams agreed with this course. The evidence, which was very lengthy, was similar to that given in the lower court, no new points being brought out. Counsel for the deFenoe made forcible addresses to the jury, after which his Honor summed up, and the jury retired at 5.14 p.m. Four hours later the jury returned, when the Foreman intimated that they had failed to agree. A short discussion took place as to the rehearing of the charge, and eventually his Honor ordered the matter to stand over until 10.30 next morning, to give time to consider the position.

The Rev. Father Hays arrived! in Dunedin on Wednesday night from the south. He is feeling the incessant strain of work and continuous travelling, and at his own special request there was no official public reception at the railway station. During his stay here he was tha of his friend Mr Wardell, at " Oakdale," Heriot row.

At a meetingr of tho Heriot-Roxburgh Railway League, held on Saturday evening last, it was decided (says the Mount Benger Mail) to support the resolutions adopted by the- Southland) League in the endeavour to get railway extension toward Roxburgh from Heriot constructed either by Rae's Junction or through Moa Flat Estate. It was aho decided that the league should wait on the Premier when he visited the district to place its claims for railway construction and its views in support of the Heriot-Roxburgh extension before him; a copy of the resolution to be forwarded to tho Premier. It was further resolved that the chairman and secretary should draw up a -petition for circulation through the district, and also that inquiries be made as to the Premier's visit to Roxburgh. '

Mr John Mill, with his usual generosity, on receiving from the French Vice-consul refund of £5 advanced by him to the captain of the wrecked barque Anjou on hi® landing at Port Chalmers, has handed a cheque for that amount to the Shipwreck Relief Society. Messrs C. F. Greenslade and A Michie have also intimated their

willingness to have their contributions of £2 2s and £1 " Is handed over to the Shipwreck Relief Society, and an anonymous donation of 5s will be paid into the funds of the society.

We have received the following amounts in aid of the "Yoansf Scotchman" Fund collected by Miss Robarteon and Miss Johnston:—First Church Benevolent Fund, £3; K. Mackenzie, Excelsior Hotel, 7s 6d ; Mr Grey, Oban Hotel, ss ; in sums of 2s 6d and under, £2 12s 6d;— total, £6 ss; and also 2s 6d from "A. H.," LeithN street.

A Gazette notice convenes Parliament for the despatch of business at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 27.

The Premier, through his Excellency the Governor, sent Empire Day greetings ±o his Majesty the King, and has received the following telegram in reply, through his Excellency the Governor, from the Secretary of State for the Colonies : — " His Majesty the King heartily thanks your Government and the people of -New Zealand for greetings on Empire Day." The Premier read the message to his -meeting at Naseby on Friday nig\ht, when it was reeived with enthusiasm.

I Speaking to a deputation representing the Miners' Association at Naseby on Friday the 'Premier made an announcement of considerable importance to the mining- industry in Ofcago. Dr Bell, the Chief Geologist of the : colony, was, he said, at present on the West } Coast, and would com© to Otago later on | and report on its capabilities for the benefit iof the miners. In the meantime, however, I the Government had arranged that, if ! possible, it would utilise tho services of Dr j Part, of the Otago- School of Mines, to undertake during the University vacation some geological exploration and scientific research in Otago. The statement was received with applause. After that (continued Mr Seddon) it would be well for tbe Government, working on almost a certain basis, io provide means to enable effective prospecting to be undertaken. "

Our Gore correspondent sent us word on Friday that the Rev. Father Hays had arrived by train from Dunedin, and was received at the railway station by a number of citizens. In the evening lie addressed a large meeting held at Ward's Bazaar, the Mayor presiding. The Rev. A. Gray, on behalf of the Protestant churches, and Mr Angus M'Donald, on behalf of a section of the Catholic laity, gave brief addresses of welcome

Hearing of the charges against ex-members of the Police Force was continued in the Supreme Court on Friday, and finality was reached in respect to all the cases except that in which Quill is charged/ with theft, and hearing of this last and the court sittings stand! adjourned till June 12. The Judge deferred passing any sentences until all the cases had been disposed of, remarking that the thefts had not yet been got to the bottom of, but some more light on them might perhaps be furnished in the next fortnight. On Friday ex-Constable Osborne was found guilty by a jury of receiving goods knowing them to have been stolen, and pleaded " Guilty " to receiving in respect to two other charges. The Crown Prosecutor intimated that he would accept the plea of "Guilty" on the count of receiving in respect to the charge against ex-Constables Moses and M'Donald of breaking and entering' and theft from the D.I.C on which the jury had disagreed ; and M/Donald pleaded. '"Guilty;" to receiving

in respect to a charge of breaking and entering the warehouse of Messrs Ahlfeld Bros, and stealing certain articles.

In respect to the charge against John Hanna, a young man, acquitted at the Supreme Court on Thursday on a charge of stealing a watch and pendant from the person, his Honor Mr Justice Williams said in court on Friday- that in justice to the young man he should like to have expressed what was in his mind when the jury brought in a verdict of "Not guilty." He concurred in the verdict, and his impression was that not only had the evidence failed to prove Jianna's guilt, but he had himself established his innocence. His Honor said he would like his view in this respeot to be known. The Crown Prosecutor (Mr Fraser) remarked that this was also the view he took at the conclusion of the case.

In order to facilitate its work, the Land Commission has divided its forces, and whilst one section will continue taking evidence in Auckland a second section will take the west coast of the North Isla-nd, beginning in New- Plymouth and working southwards.

An unusually heavy frost was experienced ia the city early on Friday morning. The streets on the hills were practically impassable to horses, and even_ on the level they had difficulty in keeping their feet, as was evidenced by the fact that at one time there were no fewer than five horses prostrate in Lower High street alone. A liberal supply of sand, however, materially assisted the animals in their efforts to regain their feet.

An instance of fhe manner in which infectious diseases are spread is now being investigated by the health authorities and Inspector Donaldson. A Ohinaman suffering from an infections disease died in a shed behind a shop north of the Octagon. Before the Health Department received news of the death another Chinaman, living in the south end of the city, claiming to be a cousin of the deceased, claimed and removed the clothing and bedding of the dead man. Inspector Donaldson got on the tracks of the so-called cousin, only to find that the articles removed had bsen disposed of. Two sheets were found in one second-hand shop, and the mattress and some qf the clothe^ in another, while portion of the clothing was found in a pawnshop. All these articles are to be destroyed by fire. Some blankets which belonged to the deoeased Chinaman are still missing.

Before Mr J. M'Ennis, S.M., at Blacks, on Friday the Education Board's Truant Officer (Mr J. E. Ryan) prosecuted some, parents for breaches of the School Attendance Act, when the following fines were imposed: — John Johnston, 12s and 7s costs; Thomas Frewin, 10s and 7s costs ; Robert Gemmell, 5s and 7s costs ; William Cahil!, 2s and 7s costs.

"A simple, straightforward young chap, whom I would describe as soft, and who was looked upon as a sort of innocent fellow by the members of the force." — Chief Detective Herbert's opinion of ex-Constab'.e Osborne, formed during an 18-months' acquaintance prior to the police revelations.

A serious defect in police methods was made apparent to the Benevolent Institution Trustees at Wellington a few days ago, when a young woman applied for relief. ft>ae explained that her husband had deserted her two years ago, having left with another woman. She applied to the police with a view to bringing- him back, but was informed that the police could not undertake to bring the man bactc unless the wife would guarantee the expenses. This, of cotn-se, she. wa3 unable to do, and she was advised by the police to apply to the trustees in the hope of their assuming the liability. The trustees were unanimous that the responsibility of bringing the man back in the present case should be undertaken by the police. They were unable to give any such guarantee as was required. In the course of conversation with a representative of the New Zealand Herald, Mr 6. C. • Curtis, a geologist from the United States, visiting New Zealand, deplored the little use made by artiste of the abundant and unique physiographical features of New Zealand. "I have seen the glaciers of the Southern Alps," he said, " and from all I have learned and seen they have not been done justice to by any painter in the colony. While in Wellington I visited an exhibition of pictures, most of which were landscapes. The result was most disappointing to one in search of the pictorial treatment of the remarkable features of New Zealand scenery. There is a riotous abundance of material in New Zealand, take it where you will; but some of the attempts that I have seen to depict it hare been painfully childish. The artists of pictures I have seen, and I have looked through several art galleries', do not seem to be able to catch the spirit of the mountains or to secure the deep-tone values of the foliage. There have boon many attempts to do justice- to Milford Sound, but it would take a great artist to do it justice. Auckland Harbour alone abounds in material which has not, so far as my necessarily brief experience goes, been made good use of. There may be volcanic cones as fine as Rangitoto elsewhere, but none finer."

A resident of Darlington (New South Wale?), in the course of a letter to a friend in Dunedin, gives particulars of an extraordinary state of affairs following on the recent drought. The writer states in the course of his letter, which is dated May 12: — "Our drought has broken up, and v,o now havo cold, wet, stormy weather. Thestock have suffered severely, and a good many have perished on the stations about here. Another serious result of the dry

weather has been a plague of mice. They are- swarming everywhere. We have been oapturing them by hundreds, and still they swarm. One of our neighbours killed over 1000 the other night. They are something like Pharaoh's plagues — they invade every place. One man found under some bags in .a little box a downy mass huddled together, of which he. killed 175. The cats have come to this : they won't look at them ; they are sick of mouse diet. Sometimes, when the mood takes them, they will go in for a little hunt, and drop their prey with a vicious little bite, and the living mice, driven by the pangs of hunger, prey upon the dead. Before that we had a plague of pumpkin bugs, or soldier beetles as they are sometimes called. They confined their ravag.es to the gardens chiefly, swarming on everything and devouring plants."

Pride is felt by the- authorities of St. Martin's-le-Grand, London (says the St. James's Budget), over the fact that to the British postal service was entrusted the duty of transporting from Sogith Africa the famous Cullinan diamond, the lai'gest precious stone ever found, valued at upwards of a million sterling. Unknown to anyone except the directors of the company in South Africa, an ordinary-looking packet was handed in at the Johannesburg Post Office shortly before the English mail left. It was addressed to "S. Neumann and Co., London, E.C.," and registered. It weighed a little over a pound, and as the charge is Id a half-ounce, with 2d ektra for registration, the sum paid to the Post Office was about os. As soon as it was stamped the packet was placed with other registered parcels and sent off to Capetown, where it was transferred to the steamer. The postal authorities were quit© unaware that they had been entrusted with such a valuable consignment, and no greater care was bestowed upon it than upon any other packet. The diamond was insured, apart from the postal authorities, for £500,000.

The Rev. W. A. Sinclair, in speaking last evening in the Garrison Hall of the social and philanthropic work of the Central Mission, stated that a business man in the city had sent Sister Marie a cheque for £20 on behalf of her work amongst the poor. Half of the money, according to the direction of the donor, is to be spent on the children, and the remainder on bla-nkcts and other necessaries for the needy during the cold weather. Other donations towards the same work will be gra.tefully received.

We have to acknowledge receipt of £3, subscribed by the Daily Times employees towards the Young Scotchman Fund.

What makes the prolongation of war taxation still more serious (writes our Home correspondent by- the last mail) is the vast and rapidly-growing magnitude of our local burdens. Money is borrowed by the various local bodies with reckless extravagance, and then as recklessly and extravagantly squandered. I need not inflict upon New Zealand readers the indigestible njasses of figures which have latterly found publication, as setting forth the enormous local and municipal indebtedness of this country. It will give a better idea of the severity with which English ratepayers are burdened if I mention that the local rates, altogether apart from general taxation, commonly amount to from 8s to 10s in tho pound, and in one London district (Poplar) reaching a maximum of 12s in fhe pound. Yet that same district (Poplar), which already has a, 12s rate, is at the present moment floating a new loan for various desired improvements ! But the most flagrant offender of all in., respect of wanton and wasteful and profligate expenditure is the London County Council. Some years ago its creafcer. Lord Salisbury, accused it of " megalomania," and this tendency has now attained an appalling magnitude. Its latest development was seen this week in the publication of a. gigantic design for a London County Council palace — soothingly called "offices," — the cost of which is estimated at the agreeable little sum of £1,700,000. The ingeniously plausible defence for what looks like profligate extravagance is that the annual charge on the ratepayer will not exceed the sum which at present has to be paid for rent, an outlay which, of course, would be rendered no longer necessary if the council had its own offices.

Considerable uneasiness is being expressed in financial circles at the failure of the Government to effect any reduction in the public debt as it has been left through the costly and mismanaged South African war. One prominent and capable critic says : — "Do the Government, the House of Commons, and the country realise that — (1) we have paid off no debt since the war : (2) we shall pay off no debt in the current year to March 31. 1906; (3) we shall nay off no debt either in 1906-07 or in 1907-08? In brief, do they realise that for six years after the close of a costly war. involving an enormous addition to our capital liabilities, t.he national revenue will not provide anything for reducing the debt of the country? In these circumstances, is it not proven that the Chancellor of the Exchequer and those responsible for the finances of this country are guilty of grave dereliction of duty in bringing in such Budgets as these which have been presented to Parliament in recent years?" It might be asked : How. with already upon us tho burden of a shilling income tax and local rates ranging up to 12s in the pound, can anything bo done toward debt reduction? But the obvious answer is that, for the sake of mere popularity-hunting, the Government abandoned quite needlessly a corn duty which brought in two millions a year, and now more than another million in the shape of a diminished tea duty, neither of which had been appreciably felt by anybody.