LOCAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2860, 6 January 1909, Page 29

LOCAL & GENERAL.

A Pres6 Association telegram received from Wellington on Dec. 30 conveyed the announcement, made on the authority of the Prime Minister, that, owing to the holidays intervening and Ministers being absent from Wellington, no announcement as to the nomination of Ministers to fill the vacant portofolios would be made until January 6. The Southland News records a remarkably narrow escape from drowning which occurred in the New River Estuary at the end of the jetty on Christmas afternoon. As a party of young men were walking down the wharf at 4.30 some young children came running towards them and excitedly stated, that a girl companion had fallen into the harbour. All haste was made to the spot, but nothing could he seen of the girl, who had twice disappeared before help arrived. One of the party, Edgar Allan, employed at Messrs Smith and Laing's, divested himself of his coab and jumped in at the spot where the child ■was last seen, and after a little was able to locate her by seeing her clothing on tho surface. When he -caught her she seized him round the neck, and, a strong ebb tide running, thoy were being carried down the river when another of the paxty, G. C. Hamilton, threw a rope to the rescuer. The first time it was missed, but on the second oast he caught it and both were drawn to a place of safety, from which the unconscious girl was lifted to the wharf. Measures for resuscitating the apparently drowned were adopted, and, after she had vomited a la<rge quantity of water, she was able to leave for home wit4i her companions. Tho call was a very close one, and the rescuer is to be complimented on his prompt and plucky action, which was undoubtedly the means of saving the little girl's life. When the U.S. transport the Glacier was at Auckland with the American fleet, Maximilian H. Weber, one of the ship's company, who is still serving aboard her, purchased some post-cards at an Auckland stationer's. He tendered a 2dol bill (worth 8s 4d) in payment, and, apparently mistaking it for a lOdol note, the shop assistant gave change accordingly. At the time Weber did not understand English money, and left the shop with more loose coin than was properly due to him. He has . since, however, ascertained the shop assistant's error, and is seeking to make restitution to him. The chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board (Mr E. Mitchelson) recently received a letter from Weber, written at Manila, explaining the circumstances, and asking that an effort should be made to locate the shop at which the mistake occurred, and, failing that, he asked that the Bdol of surplus change (which he enclosed in his communication) should be turned to some charitable use in Auckland. Inquiries were made by the secretary of the board (Mr J. M. Brigham), but he has been unable to find to whom the money belongs. He has, therefore, replied to that effect to Weber, and brought the latter's honesty under the notice of the commander of the Glacier, when she visited Auckland a fortnight ago. The captain was also asked to allow Weber to come ashore and locate the bookstore referred to in his letter. ( Referring to the rumour of the cessation of the boycott against Japanese goods on the part of the Chinese. Mr Lee Chun, president of the Lin Yik Torag Society, "said to a Sydney Morning Herald reporter that he had received no information from Canton, the centre of the movement, that the boycott was off. He stated further that the local Chinese residents, the Lin Yik Tong, and Chinese merchants' societies *re determined to stand together, and not waiver in any direction until Japan sees fit to make some reparation for the humiliating way it treated China over the Tateu Maru incident. The local Chinese cannot declare the boycott off, he states, until the decree comes from the headquarters. Then those who have- identified themselves with the movement in Sydney must call a '• public meeting, and «.t that meeting opinion must be unanimous in favour of discontinuance before the boycott reaches finality. The Chinese residents of this State, added Mr Lee Chun say that they must ignore all statements coming from certain quarters that the boycott is off. The only information that will influence them must come from the official channels of tho National Boycott Association at Canton. The youth who is to be charged with the theft of £5 from the blind man who plays tbe organ in the Octagon, and who waa arrested at Ghristehuroh on three charges of theft, was brought before the court on Wednesday, Dec. 30, and was sentenced to three months' imprisonment on each charge. The boy is above the age at which a magistrate can commit him to an Industrial School, but Mr Bishop, S.M., will recommend the Governor to exercise hie powers and have him transferred to Burnham or a similar institution. An unprovoked and mischievous acsauk upon a Chir.see market gardener at Anderson's Bay engaged the at-ten'tion of the Juvenile Court for a brief period on the 30th' December. The assailants were threo hoys, who, with a fourth boy, went on the 16th inst. to tine Chinese gardens with the avowed intention of "having come fun with the Ohowe." The fun commenced, Sub-inspector Norwood stated, , by the bojs pulling up potatoes and cabbages and otherwise destroying growing vegetabltg. Two of the boys then went to the Chinamen's ihouse, and when Chung Lee can:e to the Idoor" with some of his count rymen, three of the bojo pelted them with stones, one

'of the Chinese sustaining an injury to his hand which, necessitated medical attention. The damage done to the - vegetables and garden amounted to £1 2s. The presiding magistrate (Mr E. C. Cutten) severely cautioned and convicted three of the boys of assault, and ordered them to came up for sentence when called upon. The fourth boy and the other boys were dealt with similarly in regard to the charge of causing wilful damage, and were ordered to pay 17s medical expenses and £1 2s damages between them. Three small boys, two of whom were 13 years of age and the other 10, appeared before Mr E. C. Cutten, S.M., at the Juvenile Court on Dec. 30, and pleaded "Guilty"' to stealing £4 3s in money from the Primitive Methodist Church at Glemroy, North-East Valley. Sub-inspector Norwood stated that the money was stolen on December 27, and the accused were arrested by Constable Lynch. Th« boye entered the church by a window, and abstracted come money from the church mission box, and on the following day one of their number again entered the building 1 Bind e mashed the box and took moremoney, dividing it with his companions. The money was spent in buying oricket material — bats and wickets — and lollies and pies. Two of the boys, who were described as well-behaved, were severely admonished by the magistrate, and were convicted and discharged, after being ordered to refund £2 each of the money stolen. The other boy, who is living with a foster mother, who is absent at business during the day, was described as beyond control, and he was committed to St. Mary'e Industrial School at Nelson. A drunken swagger made a sensation at Timaru on Tuesday, Dec. 29. He saiJ to a number of men at Caroline Bay: " Good-bye, boys, I'm lired of this world," and, having thrown off his coat, walked down to the sea, and lay down in the water. The man wee («ays the Timaru Post) about 30 years of age, and had apparently been drinking heavily. He was observed going on to the bay below the railway viaduct, where he put down his swag, had a drink from his billy, and then mad© the afcove remark. He was too drunk to wade out into deep water, but was far enough out from the short for the waves to roll him about, and must have been drowned had he not be#n obsei'ved. The caretaker of the bay and another maai named Evans, at ones went down and pulled the hypochondiriac out of the waves. The police were telephoned for, and took the man, who was' quite helpless from the effects of alcohol and water, *to the safety of a. police cell, where he was provided with blankets until his own clothes had recovered from the eoakinjr to which he had subjected them. ! Mementoes of the early days on the West Coast have been collected by Mr C. F. A. Broad, manager of the National Bank in Greymouth. They comprise over 30 tumblers and wine glasses of the kind that were in use in 1865 or tiiere-a bouts. It has taken fully 12 months to make the collection, as they have been procured from the Karamca to Ross. Tlie bulk of them were secured from Mr James Stevens, an old coaster, formerly a bank manager at AhauTa and Staffordtown in the sixties. Tho gJerses range from the tiny liqueur glass to the pint mug, -the ordinary tumbler being noticeable from the thickness of the glass and its weight. The usual crowds paraded the streets on New Year's Eve, and' the clewing moments of the year were marked by the same festivities as on previous occasions. There was one very marked and diequicting feature, which was tho subject of general remark. This was the number of mere youths to be seen under the influence of liquor. Our Cromwell correspondent, telegraphing on December 31, stated that there was heavy rain all over the district on the previous day, and it turned very cold at night, with snow on the high country. In connection wi(h the question of the South Island Main Trunk railway, the prcsi- j dent of the Canterbury Chamber of Com- ' merce (Mr H. J. Marrincr) statra (says the Press Association) that the chamber has been j appicachcd en the matter by the Kaikoura , Railway League. The league has aske-d the chamber to join it in a deputation to the Government urging it to call, as scon as po-;5.bl' 0 , for tenders for the construction of the Waiau Lrldge. The chamber is now awaiting a reply from the Kaikoura League bs-fore making any further rno-sement. j A bpeaker at the annual meeting of th<) ' New Zealand Athlete Union did not ccc why the union should go to the troub.e of holding amateur events in connection witli ii= sno its meetings. ''Why should their officials com© on to our grounds and order us about as if we were not able to manage our own sports?' he a<sked. "'We get nothing from them." Ihis brought another speaker to his feat. "Ah!"' ho said, "'you forget tho pretty giils -v\ho attend the sports to 6«o the Pniatcws run. Theie are lots of people vwio go w sac the amateurs who v.oukl jioi go for any other reason." A number of delegates spoke very bitterly of what they cal'ed "the hly-white amateurs.'' and reu'rr-;d to the *-tarement that t tho amateur*, whilo tak.ng ad\antage of the union m many \va\s, yet did their utmost to l-.^irm c<i>-h athletic*. "The scon-oi we 'Jo something r-ietty drastic with them," said cno gontlenian, " the Lcaer for oui.-clvo-. We ;wll ha\e to r-ettlc them, fcr they arc doing their very best to s>ettle us.'' The chairman spoke «s mew-hat strongly concerning the amateurs, and cou-

. eluded his remarks with a solemn warning: "If they do not cease their criticism of us we will, in the near future, consider the advisableness of wiping amateur events off our sports programmes altogether." : During the past month the cases of zymotic diseases reported to- the District Health Office totalled 71, of which 39 were reported from the town and 32 from the country. The total was made up as follows : —Scarlet fever, 50; diphtheria, 4; ( tuberculosis, 13.; Mood poisoning, 4. A Christian Conference commenced at the Gospel Hall, Moray place, on the Ist January, and was continued throughout the day. The speakers were Messrs J. Rock, T. K. Hunter, J. Benskin, Southall, and Logg. AH the services were attended by numbers of people, and many hymns were heartily sung. During the progress of th© Middlemareh sports at MkidlemaTch on New Year's Day Mr T. Mackenzie, M.P., who was on the ground, induced Piper Frame and two young ladies in Highland costume to visit the Salvation Army Home near the sports grounds, where the former entertained the inmates with bagpipe selections and the ladies danced a number of Scottish dances. Judging by the pleased expression on the face.; of the inmates, Mr Mackenzie's thoughitful act was much appreciated. Another homing pigeon has returned from the Inveroargill excursion party. Th : s time it ie Red Royalist, who was found in the loft of Mr A. Grant on the afternoon of December 31. The bird bore the following message:— "Milford, December 29. Just returned from Sutherland Falls; very bad weather prevented liberation of pigeons. Weather clearing. Tobias, secretary. Leaving fo.r Preservation to-morrow Time, 4.30."' The Right Hon. the Prime Minister | visited the Bluff, arriving on the evening of Friday. He' was accorded a hearty j welcome. - A crowded audience met him. in the Drill Hall, and presented him with a suitably-inscribed silver service. The chair was occupied by Mr Samuel Nichol. The presentation, in the unavoidable absence of the Mayor, was made by Cr Hinchey. The proceedings were enlivened by the glee party belonging to H.M.S. Pioneer, who, in aid of the Sailors' Rest, gave a most effective musical entertainment. An exceedingly happy, evening wae spent, a handsome sum accruing to the funds of tho institution. During the year jusfc closed 22,471 people arrived in New Zealand, and 14,153 took their departure, as against 16,893 and 11,304 respectively in 1907. The arrivals included 276 Chinese, as against 154 in 1907, and 150 as against 136 in 1907 left New Zealand. ! There are at present 118 persons under treatment in the Dunedin Hospital. Twenty-two patients were discharged last week, 28 were admitted, and tho following four died: — Ruth Harding, Arthur Jones, William Michie, and Robert Smeal. Mr Keith Ramsay has received advice from Captain Marks, of the s.s. Rakiura, dated Milford Sound, December 30. The Rakiura left the Bluff with a party of scientific gentlemen on December 22. A party was landed at Preservation Inlet on the 23rd; Chalky Sound was reached on rhe 24th. and a visit paid to Lieutenant Goldfinch, who is caretaker of Pigeon Island for the Government. The Kakiura has visited George Sound, Bligh and Milford Sounds, and i 6 due at Bluff to-day or to-morrow. The party of excursionists have thoroughly enjoyed the trip. On Saturday evening a youngster was sxploding fireworks in a Mornington street, and he carelessly threw a lighted cracker through the open window of a residence close by, occupied by Mr Norman Shaw. The cracker burst, and tho resulting spurt of flame set fire to the bed, which was quickly in a blaze. An alarm was given and tho fire extinguished after a few pounds' worth of damage had been done. The house, which is the property of Mr W. Sainsbury, is insured for £250. A fine display of the Aurora Australia was visible in ths o outhern sky between the hours of 2 and 3 a.m. on the 4th inst. A scoundrel wiih an extraordinary history was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment at Leod-j (England) in November on charges of bigamy, forgery and theft. The man, Samuel Woodward, was the eon of a working gardener. Articled to a solicitor, he fled to Canada to a\oid arre-r for tlWt. Returning to England, ho contracted his first bigamous marriage \\ ith Eliza Dawson at Newcastle in 1896. Ho then ab«,cond«.d with £523, and a reward of £100 wa^, offered for his apprp!i<=>:iMo'). In 1898 he married three women in two months, and then went io l laT:jp-iiiie, wheie he absconded with £130, a:.d contracted a further bigamous man tage, deserting one woman threo months after the wedding. He also woni thicug-h the form of marriage with I\li' ; 5 Phillip 5 , at Warwick, deserting her after five <\~y~, and marrying- Miss Fiancis Day. of (i:-oact--ter, and Mi-s Blandford, of Fi'hpoad*, Bri-roL Some nine bigamous marriages w'nch prisoner had contracted were n.v.-:iiione<l by counsel. Most of tho charges of theft aro=e out of frauds practised on the women w hom Woodward had mariied. Although the number of denizens of the deep knovvn to man may be said to bo legion, j-t-t occasionally there comes to his ken one which ib to him unique, and such a one faays Saturday's Southland Time.i) disclosed itself to a party of three -\ isitors to Stewart Island, v.ho, whilo enjoying a jaunt nsar Rin<& Rmgd, observed a commotion near the beach. Thinking that a

baby whale had gone ashore* they ran down and attacked the creature, and after a struggle dragged it to the beach. It proved to be about Bft long, with sharp nose, without teeth, and with a peculiarly shaped tail with a small fin on the back in advance of the tail. An old salt was interrogated, and to him the fish was a mystery; it was not a whale nor a blackfbh, although it had a Wow-hole in the top of the head as a whale has. On account of the interest attaching to it the marine novelty was brought over to the mainland. . A very fine group of sun-spots has just entered the sun's disc (writes Mr G. V. Hudson to the Dominion). The group at present consists of two large spots and one email one. Th-e diameter of the largest spot is not l€S3 than 40,000 miles. As the spots have to traverse the major portion of the sun's disc, th© group will be very favourably placed for observation during the next seven or eight days. A dealer in sporting tackle, in conversation with a New Zealand 'Times reporter, mentioned that he had not a single revolver left. He had disposed of every email weapon ha had in stock from the ordinary and mostly useless) pinfire weapon of the "seventies" to the large army revolver whioh will take a .303 cartridge, if only one cartridge at a time is inserted. He said that the recent crimes of violence in the city had given an extraordinary fillip to his trade in weapons, and hoped that the people might be equally scared until he obtained a further supply of revolvers from Sydney and Melbourne. Coincident with the purchase of the large revolver is the buying of the "big stick." Inquiries made amongst the sellers of sticks convinced the inquirer that more large, heavy sticks had been sold during the lasfc few days than ever before in Wellington. One tobacconist disposed of two dozen English oak etaves in a few hours. Another had got rid of nine of a similar calibre, and yet again a third trader had cleared seven. Tho Montreal Herald mentions a dra'matio incident in the current history of \ opium suppression in Canada. The j Dominion Parliament has passed a bill prohibiting the manufacture and saie of opium I in Canada. This action has met with the most grateful appreciation of the better class of Chinese residents in Montreal. The Chinese Bible Class of the Montreal Chinese Mission at a recent Sunday meeting passed a strong resolution endorsing the legislation of the Dominion Parliament, and asking for its thorough enforcement by the local authorities. The resolution was moved by a, Chinaman, whoas father had been sold into .shivery at an early age by his father in order to procure himself the drug to which he was the helpless victim. So the son of a 9lave and the grandson of an opium s!a\e uses his freedom to help forward the emancipation of his countrymen. The suppression of the opium traffic in Canada is not only a, benefit to the Chinese. The number of white people- in the Dominion who have fallen victims to the drug has become aJarming. The prohibition of the importation of prison-made goods into the Commonwealth, announced nearly two months ago. has been formally gazetted in proclamation form. The proclamation dates from March 1 next, and applies to "all goods manufactured I by any manufacturer who employs prison - labour which are of a like character to (a) any goods manufactured by such manufacturer, manufactured wholly or in part by prison labour; or (b) any goods manufactured by such manufacturer made wholly or in part within or in connection with amy prison, gaol, o.- penitentiary." By another proclamation the importation, into Australia of "second-hand clothing for the purposes of sale or trade within the Commonwealth " ie forbidden as from February 1, 1909. Tho steamer Talune's remarkable career I is recalled by a icw remarks made to a New Zealand Times reporter by Mr Sydney Mack, barrister, of Sydney, in reference to the extraordinary poisoning case which took place aboard that vessel when she was voyaging from New Zealand to Sydney some years ago. But that is not by any means the only sensational experience which tho Talune lias had. It was she, when voyaging in command of Captain Spark from Auckland to Suva, that epoke the British four-masted barquo Swanhilda, bound from Newcastle to San Franci-co, in midocsan. The vessels hovo-to. A boat waa put i off from the Talune, and her chief officer i informed tho master ot the Swanhilda that amongst his crew was the infamous murderer Butler, who was afterwards executed in Darlinghur&t Gaol, Sydney. Again the Talune had experiences. It was she — lucky ship— that picked up the steamer Perthshire after her long and perilous drift, and she also had the good fortune to come j across tho Monowai when something had gone wrong with her works. Sharks are not only numerous in Sydney Harbour tins season, but they are unusually j large and voracious. Last summer schools j of grey nurses, a comparatively harmless \ariety, were to be scon cruising around, but this jear their place is taken by the man-eating blue pointer. A few days ago a resident of Watson's Bay, near the Heads, while out in his dingey, was viciously attacked by a shark. He endeavoured to drive it off with a paddle, but this only served to infuriate the brute. The man decided he would be safer on land, but he could make no headway with his boat, as the shark was swimming- around in small circles at lightning Suddenly the f-hark disappeared, and ju<?t as the man jumped ashore he again saw it, quite closs

to him, in shallow water. At Parsley BajS recently, two gentlemen were going for a swim, but before entering the water one of them seized a dog and threw it in a fewfeet from the shore. It gave a yelp and disappeared, and the swirl of water at the spot showed that it had made a breakfast for a shark. An unusual number of swaggers hava been noticed oh the country roads in. various parts of New Zealand. One ctatioa in Marlborough on the Main road to the south has' been visited lately by an average of between 20 and 30 every night. Tha average at this time of the year used to be 10 (say's the Marlborough Herald). A person travelling on the North Island railway the other day counted 20 swaggers on the road in the space of half an hour. The appearance of such a large number of swaggers is said to be due not to real lack of work so much as a sudden migration from the large centres. , Speaking to a Marlborough Herald representative, Mr S. Kirkpatrick*, of Nelson, gave the information that a, favourable fruit season is being experienced in. Nelson province, and therefore the conditions for the jam-making industry are much better than those of last year, when raspberries had to be -. imported from Tasmania. A great hindrance to the industry in which Mr Kirkpatiick is engaged, especially with regard to pickles, is the difficulty met with in the matter of securing th© requisite labour. Evidently the Nelson community is well enough off to be largely independent of opportunities for the employment of boys and girls. The manufacture of pickles is much hampered in this way, the girls not relishing the idea of staining their fingers. Some time ago Mr Kirkpatrick tried to encourage the growth of gherkins" for pickles, but the growers went in for weight instead of suitability of size, and the effort had to be abandoned. The following extraordinary sequence of events is reported in the Melbourne Argus: — Two agents, while doing business with a Beulah farmer, espied a mob of geese, and thinking of Christmas dinner purchased one. In the rounding-up process to catch the goose the noise and excitement frightened the farmer's horse, which, attached to a four-wheeled vehicle, was tethered to a post. It pulled back, and the winkers came off. The agents jumping to stop it, left the buggy pair which they were driving. Those took fright at the commotion, and also bolted, one of them kicking very badly. The upshot was that the single horse and trap pulled up a mile away unscathed, whilst the agents'' vehicle was hung up in a boxtree, very badly smashed about, and when their horses were captured the only bit of harness left was one collar. A Canton correspondent sends to Hi» Sydney Herald some curious instances of the quaintnese and severity of mourning ceremonies in that city arising from the j recent Imperial deaths. White cloths andl : lanterns lettered in black are suspended on all city gates, street entrances, and elsewhere. Everything of red has been converted into mourning hues of black or blue. It has been decided that all officers , must continue to wear white for a period i of 27 days, and they must not participate in feasts for 100 days. Commoners mus.; dispense with tassels on their hats, and 1 females must doff all jewellery. Alt ' marriages and music are prohibited for a i month, and there must be no shaving of / heads for 100 days. The regulation is f causing a famine among barbers, many,J of whom have closed their doors. Schools j have been suspended for a certain number I of deya, and the publication of newspapers ! has been forbidden for a period. A motorman on the Dunedin City tram- , ways named Ernest Rowe, was out shooi- 1 ing at Catlins on Sunday, and by some means he slipped, causing his gun to be discharged. The shot struck him on the foot, one of the toes of which had to tx* amputated. I A messenger employed in the Government Buildings had £40 stolen from him in the Bank of New Zealand on Monday (says a Wellington telegram). He had been sent to the bank to cash some cheques for gold, which was placed in two bags. While counting the gold in one bag he left the other by his side, and on looking up again discovered the bag was missing. Half-a-dozen enterprising local bookmakers chartered a special train from the Railway Department on New Year's Da*

In order to convey them from Dunedin to Clinton. The bookmakers in question had ►een attending the races at Waikouaiti on Priday, and desired to be at Invercargill sarly on Saturday. Accordingly a special rain, composed of an engine, a first-class sarriage, and a guard's van, left the DunIdin Railway Station with several bookBakers on board at 10.43 on Friday night, rhey travelled as far as Clinton, which hey. reached at 1.27 a.mf, and were, of jourse. in ample time to catch .the 6.15 .m. train from Clinton to Inyereargill, irhich town they reached at 10 minutes Mst 10 in the morning. This piece of uxury ran into an expenditure of £31 10s, >r a shade under 10s per mile. Regarding the published statement that he control of Westport and Greymofith la-rbour affairs was to be assumed by the Sovernment. Sir Joseph Ward told a Christchurch reporter that the matter had »ot been before the Cabinet. The master of Knox College reports that tlmost every day brings inquiries about oo'ms, and tlie prospects~of having a full ollege are good. The following details of the rainfall at )poho are supplied by Mr J. W. Paulin : — anuary. 2.71 i n; February. l.Tßin ; March. ,42in; April. 2.95 in; May, 1.50 in; June, .66in ; July, 6.20 i n; August, 2.35 i n; Sepember. 0.89 i n; October, 4.82 i n; November. ,29in; December, 4.22in;— total, 36.97 in. "he number of days on which rain _ fell ras 142, made up as follows: — January, ; February, 5; March, 16; April, 12; lay, 12; June. 14; J-uly. 16; August, 1; September. 7; October, 20; November, "; December 13. A number of business people repreaent»g various trades in Ashburton speak cry favourably of the volume of business one during the Christmas holidays. In lost cases a very marked improvement on revious years is reported. The improvement has been felt mostly by dealers in cods suiti-vle for Christmas presents, but r was n confined to this class of busi9ss. On* tailcr stated that he had turned way far more busine^ than he had acj|>ted. His business has been with jeople

I who are able to taeefc their obligations, ; and the cash has not been difficult to obtain. Drapers said that there had been an undeniable increase in the business done, and last Christmas has been the best yet experienced. In one case comparisons had been made by, a drapery firm between 1908 and previous years by a reference to the books, and it was found that, notwithi standing the fact that the shops were ' closed on Saturday week, business had been , better. I Notwithstanding the extreme vigilance jof the police— it cannot reasonably be 1 expected that they should catch every offender — a good deal of liquor is being from time to time smuggled into Oama.ru (asserts the Mail). The ingenious methods of bringing in the grog are worthy of a , better -cause. One adopted a few days ago will take some beating. An evident "slygrogger" who was bringing his cargo in by train got word that he was suspected. This put him on 'his guard, necessitating, th^ aid of a friend to carry out an elaborate plan. On arrival at the station the individual in question alighted and was immediately shadowed by two officers of the law. The offender immediately proceeded to the guard's van, under the pretence of getting his luggage, and was followed by a policeman. In the meantime the accomplice jumpeS off the train with the weighty portmanteau and wended his way unnoticed to a cab in waiting, which at once drove off with the booty. The suspect, finding out the success of his hoax, then moved on, leaving the policema.ll still waiting. The accomplice's share of the proceeds, it is understood, amounted to a new suit. The official assignee at Auckland (Mr E. Gerard), speaking to a Herald reporter regarding the increase in ■bankruptcies during the past year, 'said that the increase, which amounted to about 22 per cent., for the most part meant nothing' more than the elimination of a number of * incompetent and incapable tradesmen. There was one trade, however, on which j he had a few remarks to offer. "I am," j he said, " speaking of the building trade, j and judging by the rapidity with which, failing contractors have lately been coming, ! I have come to the conclusion that, though \ plenty of building is going on, there !• something radically wrong with the «ontractors and the method in which they '- carry on their business. A large Dumber of them have had nothing to fall back upon, ana they seenv to underbid one another merely in the hope of getting the work, wliich they carry out to a certain stage and then stop, with the excuse of 1 'underestimation.' Greditors not secured ; by liens then seldom get anything, and in most cases the balance due on the con- ! "tract is insufficient to meet even the first and admitted, lien claims."