LOCAL & GENERAL

Otago Witness, Issue 3101, 20 August 1913, Page 9

LOCAL & GENERAL

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals received at its meeting on the 12th instant a communication from Mr C. E. Statham, M.P., stating that the society would bo glad to learn that the Government proposes to introduce this session legislation dealing with the pea rifle. The chairman expressed gratification at the information, and members agreed that It was quite time something was done. The society’s letter, to which Mr Statharn’s was a reply, was dated last August. The secretary was instructed to express the thanks of the society to Mr Statham. The following important communication, dated August 12, which explains itself, has been forwarded the secretary of the Chamber of Commerce by Mr H. C. Campbell:—“l trust the chamber will not overlook the fact that the s.s. Waipori loaves Melbourne to-morrow for the Bluff and Dunedin, via Hobart, with cargo, and the s.s. Kaituna leaves here on Sunday for a run to Melbourne and buck. Of course both these steamers are cargo only, and whilst it is said that it is owing to the smallpox scare, one is inclined to think that it is the thin edge of the wedge to revert to intercolonial steamers to run between Sydney and Melbourne. There is no doubt that this will eventuate sooner or later, but I trust that no stone will be left unturned as far as Dunedin is concerned to put off the evil day aso long as possible.” The matter will come before the chamber in due course.

With the near approach of spring tho lambing season is already beginning in various parts of tlie country. In the areas north and south of Waipukurau, and from Napier to Waipukurau, there are to be seen on every hand newly-born lambs frisking about, and, with few exceptions, every ewe has ono or more. From Waipukurau on to Wellington, via tho Gorge, a totally different state of affairs exists. Lambs are few and far between, and although there are instances of early lambing they arc so scarce that the ordinary traveller would probably never notice them.

A most successful social meeting of members of all committees of the Dunedin Expansion League was held in the Dominion Tea-rooms on the 12th. Mr Geo. Fenwick presided, and there was a splendid attendance of members. Several matters affecting tho well-being of the provincial district were discussed. Refreshments were partaken of. Mr W. Davidson stated that he thought tho executive was to be congratulated on having arranged such a meeting, and lie expressed the hope that it would not be the last meeting of its kind.

Tlie death of Captain John Christian at Lyttelton on Sunday recalls one of tlie most stirring incidents in the history of tho dominion. In tho early days, when he was a young man, ho undertook to convey tioops and stores to the disaffected pa its during !he Maori war, and in 1858 lie was in charge of the schooner Rifleman when she was sent with stores to the Chatham Islands, where a large number of Hau-haus including To Kooti, had been imprisoned. It was thought that escape from the islands was impassible. The guard, consequently, was reduced to 25 men, and this number afterwards was reduced to 15. The Riflemen arrived at tho islands on July 3. On the following day, the prisoners, instigated by To Kooti, overpowered the guard and seized the vessel. According to some ncocmntiß of the affair, they then sent Captain Christian ashore, but his son, the Rev. G. W, Christian, has informed a Lyttelton Times representative that the captain was on shore at tho time. Ho first became acquainted with the fact that something was wrong by a Maori woman, who rushed up to him and told, him that tlie prisoners had risen and were killing the guard. He ■was absolutely at the mercy of the Maoris, but they did him no harm; they merely bound him while they took possession of the vessel. The mate, Mr Payne, and tho crew were on board, and the Maoris allowed them to choose between death and navigating the vessel to the New Zealand coast. They agreed to take the rebels to Poverty Bay. During the trip, a Maori with a drawn cutlass stood by (he man at the wheel. When head winds retarded progress, Te Kooti ordered his uncle—-who. he said.

was a “ Mona ” (Jonali) —to ho thrown overboard. On July 10 the party landed at Wharcongaonga, a few miles south of Poverty Pay. Tp Kooti supplied the sailors with casks of water, and told them to go about their business, which they lost no time in doing. Later on a vessel was sent to the Chathams. and Oaptain Christian was taken back to New Zealand.

His Excellency the Governor lias accepted the position of patron of the Patients’ and Prisoners’ Aid Society.

In the House of Representatives on the 13th Mr Reed asked the Minister of Lands whether ho would alter the present system ot valuing Crown lands by the Lands Department when opening the same for selection and substitute the valuations made by the Valuation Dejiartment. Mr Massey replied that in view of the fact that extreme values appeared to have been placed on certain blocks of Crown land opened for settlement during the last few years the Government had under consideration a proposal to have all valuations of lands about to be opened checked by the Valuer-general. In the House of Representatives on the

13th Mr Clark asked the Post master-general whether he would establish a slot telephone

Mosg.el. In reply the Hen. Mr Rhodes

said it was understood that what was proposed was a slot telephone for direct communication with Dunedin. If such was the

case the distance was beyond that covered by the 2d charge. A supply of machines which might bo suitable was being imported by the department, and after experiments with those the question of establishing one of the machines as Mosgiel would be considered if the prospective revenue should warrant it.

Some little time ago an American magaz'ne inaugurated a competition for the best essay on “ The Ending of War, and the bringing in of an era of peace,” offering a substantial prize as a reward. This prize, which was extensively competed for, was carried oft by tho Rev. Dr Waddell, of St. Andrew’s Church.

To spend public money on private roads

is obviously against tho law, and the Kaif ranga County Council, operating in the 1 Palmerston North district, tiads itself in a rather peculiar position owing to a lapse in that direction. It appears (according to | our Wanganui correspondent) that the coun- ' cil lias received from Mr 11. J. Collins, Controller and Auditor-general, a letter stating that his attention had been directed to tho fact that tlie roads in the Siberia Estate, on which £950 loan money had been spent, wore private roads, and he asked for reasons why legal action should not bo taken by ins office in relation thereto. Tho j question of the alleged illegal expenditure i naturally came up for discussion at tho 1 meeting of the council, and rather an ingenious course was adopted Tho chairman said they were surely in trouble, and he thought the best wav out of it was to ; admit tho impeachment, and state in a i letter of reply that the council did not i intend to carry out such a course again. | Eventually the chairman’s suggestion was I adopted, and the clerk and tlie coiuicil’s • solicitor are to frame a letter to that effect.

Tho Methodist Church has for some years been considering the institution of orphanages, and the last conference referred the question to a Christchurch committee to take action. Tho proposal is to establish one in Auckland for North Island requirements, and one in Christchurch for tho South Island. Ministers have been appointed to visit all the provinces in tho South Island to solicit annual subscriptions, and the committee aims at promises of £SOO per annum towards the working expenses and maintenance of tho South Island (Orphanage. An attack by Chinese pirates on tho crew and passengers of a .French steamer, tho Robert Lcbaudy, in Canton River, is the subject of a report to the Imperial Merchant Service Guild. When the vessel had got well away from port a number of men at a prearranged signal unwrapped *their blankcts and produced revolvers and other firearms. The purser was compelled to deliver up the keys of tho safe, which was ransacked. Tho captain and other officers, as well as the passengers, were searched and robbed. The only person who resisted, a woman passenger, was shot and killed by one of the pirates. Half a dozen other

passengers and the Chinese chief engineer were wounded. The robbers ordered the captain to run into the small town of YiKok, and here they landed with their haul of money and jewellery —30,000 dollars in all. Mr Sandcman, the Hong-Kong agent of the Merchant Service Guild, remarks that since the Tui On incident there lias been instituted a system of searching of passengers’ luggage on the wharf, with a view to ensuring that no firearms are being taken, but this is merely a farce. On referring the matter to the Union Company on the 13th we were informed that the withdrawal of the Willochra and Manuka from their usual runs between Melbourne and Dunedin was solely due to the present depression in shipping consequent upon the smallpox epidemic. The outbreak has been responsible for a very large decrease in the passenger trade on the run between the Commonwealth and Now Zealand, with the result that the big vessels have been running at a loss for a time, necessitating a curtailment of the usual sailings in the meantime. A now time-table is now being arranged and will come into force for the summer months.

A Press Association message from Invercargill states that at the Police Court on the 13th Horae© W. Beilby was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment for carrying on business on fictitious capital, Th© accused purchased a grocer’s business on the representation that ho had £3OO, whereas he possessed nothing, and in 12 months’ time he lost £llOO. An appalling account of the moral conditions under which children liv© in certain remote parts of New Zealand is given in a letter to the New Zealand Times from a school teacher in an isolated district, who, speaking of th© state of affairs prevailing, says;—“lt means that drinking, that gambling, that swearing, that essentially immoral conditions are the daily concomitants of their existence. When I find in my school a child of live as proficient in profanity as any bullock driver; when I find a child fulling off his seat through stupefaction arising from drink, surely I must conclude that something is lacking in the system that can produce parents and children of that type. . . . W’hat harm could the Bible in schools do ? Many affirm that it would engender religious strife. It could engender none here, for religion is quite a dormant institution.”

An individual, eager to place honour where honour is due, burst into tho reporters’ room of the Gisborne Times oflice about 9 o’clock one night lust week. “Aro you the editor?’’ ho asked, addressing a junior reporter. The latter blushingly referred him to the subeditor. “ I am a deputation from four workmen,’’ tho caller proceeded, “ who wish to put in a good word for Mr Massey. The Prime Minister promised to give labour a square deal, and we to publicly acknowledge that he has kept his word. Wo wore told that we would get work if we came to Gisborne, and we find that this Is true. ' We applied to the District Engineer (Mr Armstrong), and he has given us a job on the road works beyond Motu.’’ The visitor was assured that his thanks would be July forwarded to Mr Massey.

“That’s right,” he replied; “we labouring follows are always ready to squeal when we consider wo aro not being fairly treated, but we also like to acknowledge tho fact when we are getting a square deal.”

The following reference to the ill-fated tug Toanui appeared : n a number of the Plymouth Evening Herald received by last mail:—“One evening last week a trunk containing lady’s apparel, jewellery, other articles, and 5s in money was picked up by a fisherman and landed at Penbcrth Cove, near Land’s End. With the property was also a letter headed ‘ Fernlca.’ Information of the distwte#ry having reached Mr Sewell, of Fernlea, lloxburgh avenue, Aigburth, Liverpool, lie has claimed the trunk and its contents as having belonged to his brother. Captain W. B. Sewell, of the steam tug Toanui. Having just come from the builder’s yard, the Toanui loft Greenock on the sth being in charge of Captain Sowell, wfc railed from Gisborne, in that far-off country. Now Zealand. From wreckage (including a boat and several lifebuoys all marked Toanui) recovered around the Cornish coast there appears to be little, if any, doubt that the Toanui was lost off

Land’s End, where a' lookout is now being kept for any bodies that may be washed ashore. On Saturday a teak door, with the letters H and Y on the brass knob, was picked up at Porthnawell Beach, St. Just, •in.,- amoks in the trunk were presents which Captain Sewell was taking to Now Zealand for his wife.”

An extraordinary tragedy was witnessed in Fifth avenue. New York, recently (says a cable message to the Sydney Sun). A uell-drcssed man of middle age and a handsome young woman wore conversing in the street, when the latter produced a letter and began reading it aloud to her friend, apparently to his great annoyance. The young woman, disregarding all commands to stop, went on reading the letter, until at last the man in a fit of desperation drew a revolver from hie pocket and fired three shots at her. H© then turned th© weapon upon himself and blew his brains out. Although still surviving her wounds, the woman was in a critical condition, and was not expected to recover.

W lule the cargo steamer Abcrlour was in Westport last week inquiries were heard from the officers and members of the crow as to whether there was any nows of the wheieabouts of the steamer’s chief officer. He had disappeared in a strange manner. IXe went ashore at Auckland to see a doctor for medical treatment and there has been no appearance of the officer since. He left his money and clothes in his cabin. There have been some sinister rumours m connection with the peculiar behaviour of a member of the crew of the steamer, who had been heard (our Grcyniouth correspondent states) to express throats against the officer. The man referred to (who cannot speak English) went away with the boat on Thursday to Ocean Island. No less than eleven nationalities are represented among the crew of the Abcrlour.

The daily average number of unemployed on the Groymouth wharf for the month of July was 30. The total number of men employed is approximately 200, and the scarcity of employment among the waicrsido workers is now more acute than has been the ease for several years. Principally (our Groymouth correspondent states) the slackening off of the timber trade accounts for tho shortage of work, while the number of men employed at tho port in loading coal is reduced to a minimum. A larger number of hands aro required in loading timber than in loading coal. According to a telegram which the Mayor of Groymouth (Mr G. Perkins) has received from the Mayor of Blenheim (Mr Parker) an active agitation has been commenced at Blenheim for the construction of a new main road from Marlborough to the West Coast, via Tophouso (says our Groymouth correspondent). The chief works on the suggested route would lie two bridges—namely, ono over tho branch river and the other over the Wairau River. That the matter lias been taken up energetically in Blenheim is made apparent in tho further statement that a large party of about 3G citizens left Blenheim on tho 11th and motored to Hope Junction so as to make themselves thoroughly conversant with the unformed portions of the road. Tho West Coasters, who must recognise the many great advantages of this suggested route, are invited to join in representing the matter to the Government, with a view to tho road being constructed and a motor service established. If the latter were arranged it would be possible for people to leave Greymouth or Westport in the morning and catch the steamer at. Pictop and get to Wellington tho same night. This, of course, would provide a faster service to Wellington than the journey via Christchurch. Mr Perkins will bring the matter before the Groymouth Borough Council at ils meeting on Thursday. A remarkable case of ambidexterity has been brought under the notice of the South Australian education authorities, who have reproduced in tho July number of the Education Gazette, issued in that State, two specimens of handwriting by a little girl who is a pupil at tho North Adelaide public school. Tho girl is left-handed, and lias developed tho power to write with her left hand to such a degree that she can produce work equal to tho host done in tho public schools. She can do more than

for she can write with the right hand as creditably as with the left. Recently when one of the masters asked her to try with tile right, hand she astounded him by taking a pen in each hand and writing two copies of dictation simultaneously. The formation of the letters was almost identical in the two copies, and the specimen is one of the best examples of tho value of ambidexterity it would be possible to point to.

In pursuance of the resolution passed by tho City Council in connection with the fixing of maximum salaries for certain of tho corporation's officials. the Electrio Power anti Lighting Committee has decided to recommend that the maximum salary of tho city electrical engineer bo £BSO, ami that this amount bo arrived at in the case of Mr Stark, who is at present receiving £BOO per year, by two annual increments of £25. A grant of £l2O per annum for tho use of a motor car is also allowed the city electrical engineer. Tho maximum salary of the assstant electrical engineer is set down at £450, and tho committee recommends that this sum bo arrived at by one increment of £25.

During tho year ended March 31 tsayg our Wellington correspondent), there were imported into tho dominion 435,985 tons of coal, at an average landed cost of £1 0b 2d per ton.

In alluding to the school teachers in his speech on the 14th, Mr Myera said that thers was great discontent throughout the dominion amongst the teachers. H© read a letter from a h&ad teacher in Auckland. This man said that there was a dearth of capable men m the profession, and many scl ools in the back blocks wore being taught by men not fit for that responsible work. Bright, intellectual hoys in tho secondary schools wont into other work, and would not take up teaching as tho salary was not commensurate with the drudgery involved, and of the bo ye, in training 30 per coot, were not fit for the work and would not make capable teachers. This teacher would rot like to feel that his own children wer# befog taugiit by them. When a responsible man made a statement like that, «a!d Alt Myers, it should receive consideration. This cme* tion a/Tected our whole national efficiency, and could not bo lightly dealt with or bfl put aside.

Tlie nuisance that is caused by the fact that cattle and horses are allowed to wander upon roads which carry a considerable amount of traffic has been ao frequently brought under tho notice of the local bodies and ventilated through the Columns of the Press that it seems almost superfluous to direct attention to It again. Yet tho possibility that serious accident* may occur if steps are not taken to stop tho nuisance is such that it become# a public duty to represent to those responsible the need for the exercise of better oversight in tho matter. Tho experience of a resident of Central Otago, who, with his family, was coming to Dunedin this week in a motor car, usefully supplies a case in point. As tho car rounded a turn on tho road between Green Valley and Dunback, a number of horses scampered on to the road from a bank above it, with the result that the ear ran into one of them. It was providential that the car was not overturned, in which event tho occupants must have fared very badly. As it was, tire vehicle was crippled, while tho horse must have been severely hurt. The development of motor traffic has plainly increased tho dangers that are attendant upon tho presence of numbers of wandering horses and cattle on the roads.

A petition has been forwarded to tlio Minister of Public Work* by ]6 settlers in tbo Ida Valley, representing 4251 acres of freehold and 1642 acres of leasehold land, asking that their lands may bo excluded from the area to bo comprised in the Ida Valley irrigation scheme. They do so on tho ground that the scheme would be ruinous to them as farmers, as they could not irrigate their lands at a profit.

A story which is said tc; be “unique in the social annals of Philadelphia” is told of a dinner party given at tho house of Me Charlemagne Tower, formerly American Ambassador at Berlin. Mr Tower, with his wife and son, was entertaining a select party of 15 ladies and gentlemen to dinner,

when he was called away to the telephone. An officer of the Medical Department spoke, informing Mr Tower that his butler, who happened to bo ill, was found to be suffering from smallpox, and that it was necessary for the entire household to be vaccinated at once. Mr Tower rang off, refusing even to discuss the matter, but very shortly a medical officer appeared with orders from the head of the department that every person in the house must be treated. Mr Tower’s protests were in vain, and his guests, when the matter was explained to them, cheerfully submitted to the ordeal.

It appears from the annual report of Dr Maclaurin (the dominion analyst) that about enough water to float the gift battleship—or at -any rate a fair-sized craft —was sold in Wellington during last year in the guise of milk at 4d per quart (says the Dominion). Dr Maclaurin states: “Throe hundred and seventy-two samples of milk wore received from the department, 293 being taken under the Sale of Foods and Drugs Act. The number taken under the Act from retail suppliers in Wellington City and suburbs was 166. Of these, one was deficient in fat; three contained boric acid; and 27 contained from 2.3 to 20.9 per cent, of added water, the average being 9.6.” Taking the annua! consumptoin of milk in Wellington and suburbs as approximately 2.000,000 gallons (5500 gallons per day), and the proportion of adulterated samples found as fairly representative, then 31,230 gallons of water were sold as milk during the year. This, at 4d per quart, represents over £2OOO paid by the public for water. As only a small fraction of this sum was recovered in fines and costs, there is still a wide margin of profit for the vendors of adulterated milk. Mr C. M. Gray, who returned last week from a trip to Fiji and Samoa, found a good deal to interest him in Suva (says the Lyttelton Times). In Suva, the Mayor is a doctor, the town clerk is a lady, and one of the councillors is a wealthy Chinese gentleman, Mr Ming Ting. There are two newspapers. “ I bought one for 3d,” said Mr Gray, “ and read all there was in it in five miß*rtes.” Suva has recently had its taste of the prevalent labour unrest. The native wharf labourers, who receive 2s a day and “tucker,” decided that a rise of wages was necessary, so when the next steamer arrived they took to the woods, and were not to bo found. The agent for The steam ship company, however, took advantage of the fact that there arc no industrial unions in the South Seas. Ho sent to a neighbouring island, and got as many labourers us he wanted, and the first strike collapsed.