IN THE DOMINION.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 10, 2 September 1908, Page 5

IN THE DOMINION.

Snow is still lying deep in parta of Central Otago, and sheepowners' losses are said to be very heavy. The minimum wage paid to any permanent employee of the Wellington Harbour Board is now 8/6 per day. The first case in New Zealand wherein lunacy was made a ground for divorce was decided at Wellington last week, a decree nisi being granted. The average daily cost per patient in the four large hospitals last year was: [Wellington, 3/11 j Auckland, 4/10; Christchurch, 5/7J; Dunedin, 5/5. A lady has recovered £6O damages from the Christchurch Tramway Board for injuries received by reason of a conductor starting a car before she was properly on board. The retail section of the Otago Employers* Association urges that the Government should either make Saturday halfholiday compulsory for the whole Dominion, or repeal section 5 of the Amendment Act altogether. Mr. Marks, an engineer, lias been exhibiting in Auckland a reversible turbine engine, which, it is claimed, has solved the dilliculty which has baffled inventors for so long. The Auckland Harbour Board is offering debentures each £ 100, at par, the rate of interest being 4 J per cent., payable in London, Australia, or New Zealand, free of exchange. These debentures have a currency of 20 years. Ten Chinese came to New- Zealand by the Warrimoo. They are all new-comers, not one being able to speak English. Seven of them got off at Wellington, and the other three proceeded to Dunedin. There have been a good many Chinese arriving lately, their intention being, it is thought, to evade the new 'Act coming into force next month, which provides for a language test. The Tourist Department has received a letter from an Anglo-Indian civilian, who proposes coming to the Dominion to undertake farming if, in the opinion of the department, he is justified in coming .with his small capital. He says he has only £3OOO in cash and nothing in the world besides except £5OO a year. He asks, “ Can I live on this in New Zealand ? ” It is understood that the department will be optimistic in its reply. The Marine Department’s report shows that eight wrecks occurred in the Dominion during the past year, representing 3442 tons register, as compared with 15 vessels of 6801 tons register in the previous year. The lives lost totalled 30, as compared with 39 in the previous year. The Three Kings were acquired and reserved for lighthouse purposes. A flashing incandescent light has been ordered ifor Cape Brett, and steps are being taken to acquire land there and erect a tower and dwellings. When Mokohinau light is moved to the Hen Island, the coast will be lighted from North Cape ito Auckland. A cat saved an old man’s life at TinWald (Canterbury) recently. The ancient, Seymour, by name, was the occupier of a house which was burned down. He had given some attention to his fire about midnight, after which he retired, but ho was awakened about an hour later by his cat brushing against his face, and acting in a strange and unusual manner. This he took no notice of at first, but as the cat continued its conduct, after being pushed aside he aroused himself and discovered that the house was on fire. There was just time to make a hasty escape, and the hut iwas soon in ashes. The old man, who is very frail and in bad health, was taken to the hospital. Several parcels of Crown lands in the 'Auckland land districts are gazetted as open for selection on October 28, under the optional system. The areas are second-class lands, situated principally in the north of Auckland. There are 13 sections aggregating over 2,000 acres in the Hokianga County, one section of 357 acres in the Hokianga and Hobson Counties (Tutamoe survey district), 14 sections totalling nearly 4,000 acres in the Mangonui County, one section of 141 acres in the Hobson County, and one of 29 acres in the Whangarei County. There are also two sections comprising 99 acres in the Opotiki County. A section of

157 acres in the Tauranga County is offered under the renewable lease system. It is understood! a company has been formed to fit-out a party for the purpose of whaling at Campbell Island, the party to proceed south in the Hinemoa on her next visit to the Southern Islands (says the “Bluff Press”). The right or black whale is to be found in the vicinity of Clampbell Island, in great numbers during the summer months, so should the party be favoured with good weather a handsome profit to those interested should be the result. Almost a score of years have passed since a whaling vessel visited the Bluff or Stewart Island. Prior to that time it was not uncommon to see ns many as three or four whaling vessels anchored in Port William and Halfmoon Bay. An erroneous idea prevails that it is owing to the scarcity of the sperm whale that there are so few vessels employed fishing in the Southern Hemisphere, but it is chiefly on account of the low market price for oil — being only about one-third of the value compared with that of thirty years ago. In the vicinity of the Solanders, the old favourite hunting ground for the monsters of the deep, sperm whales are still to be found in great abundance, and if a properly equipped steamer, capable of carrying about four boats, was fitted out for whale-fishing, she would! be kept employed during the best part of the year. Sculling Championship of the World. R. Arnst, the challenger of W. Webb for the world’s sculling championship, has arrived in Christchurch, and will spend a fortnight at home before going to Wanganui to settle down to his training for the race on December 15. In tho course of ft brief chat, the wellknown athlete said that he was feeling in good fettle to start work, having quite recovered from the attack of influenza which troubled him in Australia. In his preliminary work he will have the assistance of Harry Floyd,( while about the middle of October Fogwell will come across from Sydney to put the final touches on his preparation and act as his pacemaker. The Tour of the Maori Team. In the Equity Court case, Jack versus Asher and other members of the Maori football team, the Court last week made, a decree by consent on behalf of Asher and H other defendants, declaring that there is due to the plaintiff for costs of the suit and damages the sum of £165, which should be charged on any moneys in the hands of the New South Wales Football League due to defendants. The Court dismissed the suit, with costs, against four other defendants, who had not been served with a statement of claim, and made an older against 19 others in default of appearance in the same terms as against the first-named twelve. Institute of Accountants. The annual meeting of the Incorporated Institute of Aceountans of New Zealand, was held last week. The membership of the Institute is now 263, consisting of 139 fellows, 98 associates, and 26 students. There is £450 on fixed deposit, against which there is an overdraft of £4l. The president, Mr. H. C. Tewsley, expressed the thanks of the institute to Sir Joseph Ward and other members of the Legislature, who had been instrumental in passing the Accountants Bill. The following council was elected: — Messrs. A. B. Roberton (Auckland centre), H. A. C. McKellar (Christchurch), James Farquharson (Dunedin), W. A. Ryan and J. S. Barton (Wellington). A Strange Appetite. ‘•The craving for strong drink, which would seem to be a Polynesian characteristic, lias been exhibited in a very singula r manner during the year,” says Colonel Gudgeon, Commissioner in the Cook Islands, in his annual report to the New Zealand Government. “The people would seem to have become dissatisfied with the ordinary bush beer, whether made from the orange, banana, or pineapple, and arc fast becoming confirmed drinkers

of scent. I suspect that a special brand of scent has been manufactured for their benetit, otherwise 1 find it difficult -o account for the wholesale consumption of Florida water, bay rum, and other abominations of the same nature, which was disclosed by the fact that one firm imported 288 lloz. bottles by one trip of the steamer, it being well-known that the native does not require bay rum for his hair. Previous to the arrival of this shipment, my attention had been called to the increasing import of scents and hair wash, and the matter was referred •to New Zealand, with the result that an Order-in-Council has been issued restricting this infamous traffic.” A Varied Career. Charles Walkden, who was for twenty years City Engineer of Christchurch, and whose death at Capetown last July is announced, had a varied career. A native of London, he was for ft time in the Lord Chancellor’s office, and afterwards fitted himself for the engineering profession. In the early days of railway engineering in England he was employed by the great firm of Beto, Brassey and Betts, and! carried out many of their European contracts. He was in Denmark during the war between that country and Prussia over the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein, and took part in an exciting incident. The Danes were being badly beaten, and it was essential that they should do a masterly retreat. The Tine Mr. Walkden was constructing was not ballasted, but, taking charge of the trains himself, he got the troops transported. When the Prussians, three weeks later, arrived on foot at the terminus, they found the Danes gone, and the driving wheels missing from the engines. They tried to force from Mr. Walkden information regarding the wheels, but were unsuccessful, and, consequent on his obstinacy, they had to wait for nine months till engines arrived from Prussia and enabled the line to be operated. Mr. Walkden came to New Zealand under engagement to the Brogdens, but, when their contract to construct railways for the Government fell through, Mr. Walkden found himself out of a job. He was soon in harness, however, as City Engineer. During his term of office many of the bridges over the Avon were built. He was for a time one of the followers of the notorious Worthington, and suffered considerable financial loss as a result. Steamers Overdue. The steamers Baron Minto, from Baltimore, and the British Monarch, from Newport News, for Auckland, two of the colliers belonging to Admiral Sperry’s fleet, have been re insured at ten guineas per cent. Maoris as Missionaries. The Archidiaconal Conference held last week at Cambridge .Waikato, the Rev. Rev. W. 11. Hawkins, of the Maori Mission Station at Te Awamutu, delivered! an excellent discourse on the Maori Mission generally, and he showed that of late great advance had been made. Ho stated that he had been visiting the Melanesian and Polynesian Islands with a view to ascertaining if Maoris would make suitable missionaries to work in that part of tho world. He found that nearly everywhere, and particularly in the Polynesian Islands, the inhabitants could understand him when he addressed them in Maori, and he could understand their language through its similarity to the Maori one. He consulted the Bishop of Melanesia on tho matter, and it had now been decided to send two Maori married men and one single man to act as missionaries. Tho married men would take up their residence in thickly populated districts, and the single man would travel over tho ground where there were fewer inhabitants. Mr. Hawkins stated that he had mentioned the matter to the Maoris up North, and they were most enthusiastic over it. There were fully fifty willing to go as missionaries to the South Sea Islands; and tho difficulty would be to choose from that number. Auekland’s Ferro-Concrete Wharves. A cablegram was received by the Auckland Harbour Board last week from Mr. Hamer, the Board’s Engineer, who is at present on a tour of inspection of harbour works abroad, as to the oxidisation of ferro-concrete in the Auckland wharf construction.

Mr Hamer’s cable was to the effect that he had inspected the wharves at Southampton, and found only one case of oxidisation, which was above high water, and this was due to atones cutting into the steel, and easily overcome by cutting out the defective pieces, and pointing with fine cement. The cable concluded with the words: “Reports favourable. Extensions everywhere. Still inspecting. Writing.” The Chairman (Hon. E. Mitchelson) said that he had instructed the actingengineer to lift one of the piles at Mechanics* Bay (where they had been down the longest) for inspection by the members. It was decided to postpone further inquiry until a letter was received from Mr. Hamer. Farewell to Mr. Maxwell V/alker. There was a large gathering in the lecture hall of the Leys Institute last week, on the occasion of a farewell social evening to Mr Maxwell Walker, M.A., 8.C0m., Lecturer in Modern Languages at the Auckland University College. Mr T. W. Leys presided, and spoke in cordial terms of the work done by Mr Walker in connection with the institute, and the high esteem in which ho is held in tho city. He said that when it became known that Mr. Walker was leaving for Europe to continue his study of Continental languages, the Committee of Management, the members of the Literary and Debating Society and the Ponsonby Shakespeare and Rhetoric Club, felt that they could not allow him to go without cariying away some token of their appreciation and regard. They had embodied these sentiments in an address beautifully illluminated by Mr. Charles Palmer. During the evening an excellent programme was gone through, among the items being a reading by Mr. Hemus of the following original verses from the pen of Mr. E. Aldridge: — “MAXWELL-SEA-O’ER.” (With apologies to two Long Fellow-.I These farewell days are fleeting Cast, Ami from our midst will soon have passed Our friend, who, spurred by wise advice, Labels his trunks with strange device MAXWELL-SEA O’ER! Our brows are sad: our eyes beneath Are clouded o’er by sorrow’s wreath. For soon “our Max” will Walk among Those folks who speak a foreign tongue. MAXWELL-SEA-O’ER! Hero in our midst his presence bright Has warmed in Intellectual flight, And on the mimic stage he's shone, I‘ortraylng Shakspeare to a groan. MAXWELL-SEA O’ER! “We hope you'll pass," his friends have sail “All those exams you’ve got ahead." “We'll watch, across the ocean wide, For nows that tells us you have tried.” MAXWELL-SEA O’ER! “To slay, wo know, would be to rest ■On laurels green you have possessed,” 'Twould save, perhaps, a passing sigh We hope that on Fame's ladder high MAX WILL SOAR. Beware the charms of giddy France; Beware Parisian romance; And in the Contiuong’s delight Remember Auckland, out of sight. M AXW E LL-SEA O ■ ER To break your stay, go theatreward — We know that there you will be starred Just let them hear you rave and tear—- . With cheers they'll wake the startled air. MAXWELL-SEA O’ER! And when at last by Fame you're crowned. We hope an Institute you'll found. And there may Culture's joys suffice, As guides to Wisdom’s Paradise. M A X W E LL-S EA-O' 11!! We ll wait with joy that happy day That tells you’re on your homeward way. And then recount. In graceful par. Your virtues, in the “Auckland Star." MAXWELL-SEA O'ER! Medical Men and Ambulance Lectures. The smoko of a warm conflict that is being waged between tho Christchurch Medical Association and tho St. John’s Ambulance Association has become discernable. The Medical Association has intimated to tho Ambulance Association that at the close of tho present year a fee of ono guinea per lecture must be paid to medical men •who instruct ambulance classes, and that there must be no “advertising’’ of ambulance lecturers or examiners in the published reports of the lectures and exams. The Council of tho Ambulance Association, whilst not objecting to the •payment of lecturers, took exception to

%he high fee sought to be charged, and contended that payment at the rate indicated would mean an annual expenditure of £2OO, which would practically absorb all the Association’s available fund®, and would necessitate increasing the fee charged to those attending the lectures and the charges made to the public for the use of the horse ambulance. The demands of the Medical Association are attributed by some members of the Council of the Ambulance Association to professional jealousy on the part of tin medical men who have never taken any interest in ambulance -work, and are envious of the advertisement obtained by llmsi u lio do so. At: -iiliiig to one medie.il man, the demand for the payment of fees for lectures eume from doctors who take a great interest in ambulance -work, but ■who, on account of the recent extensions <of that work and on account of its interference with their private practice, have come to the conclusion that they cannot continue to lecture gratuitously. Ueceascd Persons’ Estate. During the month just ended 163 estates of diseased persons were finally certified for stamp duty. The largest ■were those if Thomas Armstrong, Wellington. £.32.918; William R. Browne, Canterbury. £26,749: Arthur Shield, Hawke’s Bay. £21,774: James C. Wilkin, Canterbury, £21.128; and Jacob Matthews, Wellington, £20,717. Tragedy on the High Seas. The Navua, which arrived in Auckland on Sunday, reports that the iron barque Eton Hall was found dismasted off Tahiti by the auxiliary schooner Tamarii Tahiti, and towei! into Papeete after much difficulty. Before the schooner hove in sight, the captain of the barque had decided to abandon her. lie had given orders to two mon to go aft. am! do some work in connection with Utting out the boats, and while ait they broached some liquor and got drunk. They quarrelled, and used knives. One man was killed, and tho other placed in custody, and handed over to the authorities in Tahiti. No Word of the Aeon, Tin- steamer I.ord SefLm, which arrived at Auckland from San Francisco on Munday. kept a bright lookout for the missing boat Aeon, but saw nothing of her. Tim Lord Sefton left San Francisco on August 2nd. and arrived at Samoa on the 24th of that month, and then heard for the first time of the fact that the Aeon was missing. Mishap to the Navua. The Union S.S. Coy.’s Navua. which arrived in Auckland from the Eastern Pantie <m Sunday, bumped on a reef while at Rar.'tonga, and sustained some ilamaue to lie; hi'i!. She will be docked, and repaired if m-.'-s.uy) in Auckland, am! the Maunpouri will come up front Dunedin to lake up the running.