LOCAL AMD GENERAL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12106, 10 June 1907, Page 5

LOCAL AMD GENERAL.

To-daiy is the anniversary of the death of till© Right Hon. R. J. Seddon. The Wanganui . School Committee meets this evening.

An Auckland message gives the Crown mine's return for May as £4852 from 2039 tons of ore.

We are asked' to &tats that the annual Hunt Club ball will be held on Friday, .sth July, in place of-tho previously/fixed date, 21st June.

The ; Hon. H. C. Butler, who at one time was on Lewd Ranfurly's fctaff during his Governorship of New Zealand, arrived in Wellington from Sydney by the Mokoia to-day.

Mr. T. D. Cummins -will this morning continue paying out native rente in connection with the Oliotu Block. This afternoon he will pay out for the Paetawa Block.

A man was arrested at Makatotb on Wednesday by Consbabie- Montgomery on a, charge of having imposed on residents there by selling cold toil as whiisky. It is stated that he sold seven bottles in all, charging £1 per botfle.

The raemlKM's of the- Wanganui River Trust will meet the Commissioners of Crown Lands for Wellington and Taranaki on Tuesday, and will comer re dealing with the mile frontages along tho river which aro vested in the Trust.

At an English football match tho referee allowed his whistle to slide down his throat ab an exciting moment, and he was in a very exhausted and critical condition ere tlio -instrument was hauled up by the chain by w-hiich it was anchored too his waist-coat.

A rumour lias gained currency that Mr. C. J. Canton, of Te Kapua, tho newly elected member of the Wellington Land Board, and member of the Rangitikei County Council, contemplates contesting the next Rangitikei election against Messrs. A. E. Remington and Jas. Georgetti.

It is reported that —x. Small, of Whoatstono, Ash burton, has recently sold a line of 6000 bushels of wheat at i>s. lOd. per bushel.

During the present season itho Parkvale (Wairarapa) Factory has manufactured 299 tons of cheese. Six years ago the output was 92 tons.

x-no estates of 42 deceased persons were placed under the charge of tilie Public Trustee during the> nioniih of

April

According to the latest returns availaiyio there are 3H gas works in the colony, 10 of which are situated in Auckland, nine in Wellington, and six in o-tago.

Zadkiel, in his prognostications for 1907, published in August last year, ■forecasted political and physical differences in 74 degrees of longitude—the longitude of that part of India now seriously disturbed by seddtious natives.

A social land dance will be held ai Castlecliff to-niprJib by the Rcse Assembly, in jaid of the Castlecliff School library funds. A brake will leave the I Jost Office as usual, and we wish them every success in suoh a deserving cause.

While cycling on Thursday afternoon Mr. James Mailman was knocked down by a horse and trap, driven'by a youth who, it is said, did not take the trouble to ascertain the result of the collision. Mr. Mailman was picked up in an unclpnscious state, and a medical examination showed that he had sustained & very severe shaking.

As a proof of the lasting qualities of certain kinds of New Zealand timber, Mr. Vangioni, of Akaroa, has some yellow pine, part of a dwelling recently pulled down, which was built by the late Mr. Waeckorle, one of the 'early Froncfh settlers, .in 1842. The- timber in question is as sound a« when first used 65 years ago.

There is at least one on tented man in Wellington. He appeared as a witness at the Arbitration Court recently. "You are earning £3 a week, you say?" rerriarked the President to him. "Yes,;; was tho reply. "Your union seeks to have your wages raised to £3 105.," &aid the President. "Aro you satisfied with what you are receiving?" "Oh, i. m perfectly satisfied," replied the witness.

As a result of ihhe report of the commission whidh inquired into the railway accident at) Bankside on March 29th, when ia Volunteer train collided with a weekly special train from Christchurch to Ashburton, the Minister for R-ail-v» Jays has ■decided to dispense with the services of J. Meikle and H. C. Seaman, the driver and guard respectively of the down train, as from tho date of their suspension, March 29tth.

Said the Dunedin "Star" one day last week:—The second mate of tho Titania is now walking about ashore, and the ship is stuck up for someone to fill the vacancy caused by the desertion. Meanwh'ilo the captain thinks it peculiar that New Zealand legislation, which keeps him .stuck hero when he wants to sail, should override the laws of Britain. -Vs like the son dictating to the father," he says

The Arbitration Court will opsn v sitting at Wangiaimi on Wednesday, 12th instant., at 10.30 a.m. Seven breaches of award are set down for hearing, two being for breaches of the furniture markers' award, four of the drivers' award, and one of tho coach workers' award. A dispute is sob down for hearing between the master plumbers and Plumbers' Union. Tho prcseout'ions for breaches will ha conducted by Mr. W. McQuiirters, Inspector of Factories, on behalf of the Labour Department.

The Dunctd'in "Scar" says:—Tho illness of the Acting-Premier was of a more serious nature than was given out, and it is now art open secret that for some hours on the night of the 15th ult. his life hung in ilho balance. Pending Sir Joseph Ward's return to the colony, the Railways Department is under the charge of the Hon. R MoNab, the Government Printing Office is being administered by the Hon. J. A. Malar; Public Works by the Hon. J. McGowan, and the Treasury by tlhe Hon. Dr. Findlay and the Hon. Mr. McNab.

The Shannon correspondent of the Levin paper thus exults over tlio heathen Chinee:—Our late celestial fruit and vegetable vendor thas departed for Otaki. Kliannon people eta not liake kindly to itho presence of Chows, which fact is greatly to their credit. They tacitly agreed to starve out the pig-tailed retailer of stale cabbages and lettuce, and so, after leading <a iorlorn hope- for civilly month)?, he sadly shook Shannon's mud from his cheap bluchers and departed*. A correspondent of tlio (Brisbane "Worker" predicts that "on Ni-he- first day of July ona of the greatest strikes which ever befel the 30.000 workers of Australia following tho shearing industry will «ccur, if some mufcii.il agreement is not come to Iretwe^n, both parties." He continues: "I tlAnk if we enter upan a strike we must nil be unanimous to carry it out to iiiie bitter end. We are all united sit present, and 1 think our best policy in to move slowly, but .surely." Concluding, ho says: "I think it is a very bad time for us to move forward. We must remernl>er we lhavo nob quite settled the Machine Shearers' Union., and we also b.ave a- lot of tho group shearers to fight."

The comniittea of tlio- Wangarmi Caledonian Society met on Friday evening, and transacted the following business. The date of the annual general meeting v/as fixed for Wednesday, the 10th July. A draft report of the year's working was submitted by the secretary, and on tho motion of Mr. Muir, seconded by Sir. Murray, it was decided to leave tlio matter in tho hands of Mr. 11. G. McNiven, and the secretary. With reference to outstanding sulxsoriptions, it was decided on the motion of Mr. Muir. and tho secretary to draw Tip a circular to be sent out to ail members wihos© subscriptions are in arrears. Mr. J. Driver moved that the patronage of the Society bo extended to Mr. Andrew BLaaL's concert on the 18th instant, seconded by Mr. Murray, and carried unanimously. Tho annual eoncort was postponed till after the annual general mooting. Messrs. W. G. Herd ;md J. Hart were elected members of the society.

The ordinary meeting of the Borough Council will bo held to-morrow evening;. In addition to the ordinary business, several important motions are to l>3 discussed. Cr. Spriggens is to move. "That in the opinion of this Council it is desirable that the Rating Act, 1594. should be amended in the direction of giving local authorities power to rate all Government- properties with in their districts" ; and further, "That this Council solicits ihs co-operation of the local authorities within the colony in urging the Government to amend tho Act in the manner indicated." Cr. Harris is to move, "That a. bonus of not less than £5 be offered (to any of tho Council's employees (heads of departments excepted) for any suggestion (that shall bo made diredh to the Council which on inquiry proves to be a .saving of at least ten pounds per annum on. tih-o method then in use." Mr. Poynter is to move, "Tl?at th-e by-laws relating to motor cars bo brought into force, and that the Borouglh solicitors be instructed to liako the necessary steps to make tho law operative"

The Licensing Committee meets at noon to-day.

A record performance has been carried out by a Chicago Justice of the Peaco. Hci married Mr. James Brady and Miss Helen Siler in two and a half minutes.

Owing to the prospects of the iron ore at Parapara, says the New Plymouth " Herald," it is stated that the land has gone up from 16s to £30 and £40 an acre.

While working in the cemetery at Rene, San Francisco, last month, a grave digger struck a four feet reef of gold. Assays gave a value of £20 to the ton.

Waitara is growing. The population has outgrown the house accommodation, and houses are unobtainable. So acute is the situation that in some cases two familiies are living in a five-roomed cottage.

Times change, remarks a Melbourne paper. Mr. Andrew Dawson. who was once Premier of Queensland and later (in the Watson Ministry) Federal Minister of Defence, is to bo found selling lollies bahind the counter of a Melbourne suburabn shop.

Messrs. John Aird and Co., the builders of the Nile dam, have signed a contract with the Egyptian Government for increasing the height of the dam by 24ft. The contract, which involves a sum of £1,500,000, will be entered upon almost immediately.

■The prevailing fashion among ladies of carrying their handkerchiefs in their purses, taught one fair resident of Christehurch a lesson recently. On leaving dentist's surgery she pulled her handkerchief from her purse, and with it two £5 notes. She has heard nothing since of the lost money. —" Lyttelton Times."

A sister of Major yon Tempsky recently paid a visit to the battlefield _of Te Ngutu o to Manu, where the distinguished Prussian lost his life in action against Titokowaru's men. During her Visit she was presented with a greenstone axe. which was dug out of the ground near the spot where her brother was killed.

One of the .Exhibition seals last week gave two young men who 'were shooting rabbits on the south branch of the Waimakariri a considerable fright. He rose out of the river and raised so loud a protest that both men took to their heels. A farmer near by, who has had some bags of potatoes in a field disturbed and scattered, blames the seal.— " Press."

As a proof of the lasting qualities of certain kinds of New Zealand timber. Mr. Vangioni, of Akaroa, has some yellow pine, part of a dwelling recently pulled down, which was built by the late Mr. Waeckerle, one of the early French settlers, in 1842. The timber in question is as sound as 'when first used 65 years ago.

Martialo, a new juggler and equilibrist, performed an astonishing feat of strength at. Hengler's Circus, London. A horse and trap entered the arena. Tho horso >was detached, and the trap, which weighed oOOlbs, was held in the air by ropes. Martialo then placed the end of one of the shafts on his forehead, the ropes were slackened and he supported tho immense weight on his liead without assistance.

Tho Yellow Peril has taken on a new phaso in Feilding. On Friday afternoon in Manchester street a youngster heaved a stone with deadly aim, and struck a Chinaman on the eye, rasing a lump like an egg- Again, about 10.30 next night a piece of river metal weighing 121b 'was thrown through the large plato glass window of Sing Lum Kee's shop, at the corner of Manchester and Grey Streets, making a hole big enough for a man to get through. Both cases aro in tho hands of the police.

A splendid test of the value of ferroconcrete for piling was.made on Friday at tho breastwork at Port Ahuriri, when ono of the piles, 31ft in length, was lifted completely out of its place to see if it, had suffered any damage from tho driving operations or the subsequent strain required to lift it. The test proved in every way completely satisfactory, the block being found to be quite uninjured in any wajr. As a strain equal to that of lifting 130 tons was required to even' shift the block from its place, somo idea is given of the resisting power of the material employed.—" H.B. Herald."

In a letter headed •" A Disgrace to Carterton," a correspondent writes as follows to the "Wairarapa Daily News" : —Sir, —What do the young men of Carterton call themselves? Since the Chow has started washing a deserving local resident's trade has dropped from 60 -.vhite shirts to six per week, and yet the Chow charges higher. Think of your own mothers and sisters, your thoughtless people. The Chow man preferred to a white woman However, the AntiAsiatio League has tho matter under consideration, and the customers under observation and their names will be pubed as soon as the list is complete.

We understand that an accident of a serious nature occurred on the Heads road yesetrday afternoon. A young man named Place was cycling towards Castlecliff when, j-.st as, ho was about to pass a vehicle that was being driven into town, the horse shied at some goats, and swerved towards lihe cyclist, with tho result thiat the shaft of the voriclo struck him in the siclo and infiicted a nasty wound. His condition was such as to render necessary h:'s immediate admission tio the Hospital

Tho "New Zealand Times" thus criticises tho singing of Madame Emily Uriggs, whw was specially engaged for i-o soprano solos in tho rendering oi' "Hiawatha" by the Wellington ' Musical Union on Friday in the Town Hall there:—"Madame Emily Briggs, wlio possesses a beautifully clear and sweet soprano voice, found fino soopo for her capabilities in Minnehaha's music. Her intonation was throughout perfect, and ■her phrasing eloquent, but never strainod, although .a loss accomplished artiste nrip;ht have made opportunity for affectation of this sort."

Tho concert, given by itho Garrison Band, under Conductor Criohton, at the Jubilee Homo yesterday afternoon, was most successful. In addition to the inmates of tho Homo, there were a large number of the public from town and •suburbs also present, showing that the couoorts given by the Band are always a- source of pleasure to a large proportion of the eoninmnity. Tho programme given was bright and cheerful, including some of our host known and popular nwkxliets, and tho Band was heard to advantage in Handel's "Hallelujaih Ciiorus," which proved a most, acceptable item, and wall doubtless be repeated at their next concert in town. Mi. Allen, on 'behalf of the inmates of the Home, thanked the Band for their kindness, and stated that they had all been looking forward to the "Band's visit, and very much appreciated the fine music given. Tho Band desire to thank Mr. C. Jefferson for his kindness in placing a brake at their disposal yesterday afternoon.