AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIV, Issue 6, 9 February 1910, Page 6

AUCKLAND.

Fire at Te Awamutn, What might have been a disastrous lire occurred at 9.30 a.m. Friday, when the two-storied building owned by Mr C. T. Rickit, and occupied by Messrs S. A. Empson (dentist) and A. G. Warburton (printer and stationer), was gutted by tire. It appears that one of the employees of Mr C. T. Rickit was upstairs, and was handling kapok, when he trod on a match, and soon the upstair portion was well alight. A large number of residents, with buckets, was soon on the scene, and, but for their untiring efforts, the fire must most surely have spread. The stock of Mr Warburton was removed, considerably damaged by water. Mr Empson’s premises were also damaged. The upstair portion of the building was considerably damaged by fire, but the lower part was untouched, except by water. Had the fire spread it must, have destroyed the whole block. Nelson Middlebrook states that he trod on a match, which was the cause of the conflagration. He is badly burnt, and may have to be sent to the hospital.

North Auckland Railway. Some time ago the Auckland Chamber of Commerce passed a resolution endorsing the request of the Railway League to have the scope of the Royal Commission, which was set up to inquire into the deviation of the North Auckland Main Trunk railway north of McCarroll’s gap, extended so as to include the deviation south of the gap. A copy of the resolution was forwarded to the Minister for Public Works, the Hon. R. McKenzie. On Friday the Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce received a reply from the Minister, stating that the Government had arrived at a decision in regard to the deviation of the line between Ross Hill and McCarroll’s gap last June, and that since that time between 300 and 400 men have been employed on the construction of the railway. The matter, therefore, was finally settled and could not be re-opened.

In reply to a communication to the Premier on the subject of the memorial addressed to him by leading citizens, praying that the scope of the inquiry of the proposed Royal Commission in connection with the North Auckland railway should be enlarged to include ■both deviation questions, the following telegram has been received from Sir Joseph Ward:—“As indicated to the House, the Commission Is to inquire into the route of the North Auckland Main Trunk railway from McCarroll’s Gap northwards, and it is for this purpose that it is being set up. I shall, however, be glad to consider the representations of the petitioners when the petition conies to hand.'’ The memorial was dispatched to Mr. T. M. Wilfotd, M.P., last night, for presentation to the Prime Minister.

Dr, Purdy's Successor. Dr. If. Makgill, Government bacteriologist, has been appointed District Health OHcer at Auckland, vice Dr. Purdy, who has accepted an appointment in Tasmania. So far as is known at present, it is not intended to make any appointment with regard to the duties of Government bacteriologist. These will still be carried out by Dr. Makgill, who will make Auckland his headquarters, paying occasional visits to Wellington.

Reception of Mr. H. Brett. A public meeting, convened by the Mayor, was held in the Council Chamber Auckland recently to make preliminary arrangements to accord to Mr. Henry Brett a public reception on his return to Auckland, after an absence of about a year. Mr. A. J. Entrican presided, in the absence of the Mayor, and there were about thirty representative citizens present. Apologies were tendered on beh-alf of several others.

The Chairman said that the meeting had been called in order that citizens might have an opportunity' of according a welcome to one of the leading citizens of Auckland on his return from the Old Country. He was sure all present would be glad to do honour to a citizen so much respected, and of so long standing, especially as he had laid the community under a deep debt of gratitude. One of his most pleasing duties in the Old Country had been the selection of the organ which he purchased and presented to the citv for the new Town Hall.

Followed a general discussion as to how Mr. Brett could best be welcomed.- The general consensus of opinion was that the occasion could be most suitably marked by a presentation to Mr. Brett of a suitable address. This was agreed upon, and the meeting proceeded to appoint a committee to carry out the arrangements. All present formed themselves into a general committee, and appointed the following gentlemen as members of an executive committee: Messrs. J. Kirker, G. Aieken, C. J. Parr, C. Williamson, G. J. Garland, L. Myers, V. Rice, P. J. Nerheny, A. J. Entrican, and J. Brown.

Auckland Trains. It is understood that another Commission will shortly be appointed to inquire into the “braking” on the Auckland tramways. Some time ago an official inquiry was made to determine the adequacy of the brake equipment, and it was reported that a number of improvements were desirable. The company, after being pressed by the Government, made experiments in the use. of power brakes and air brakes now in use on some of its cars. A commission will shortly be set up to deal specially with the question of the best system of brakes suitable for the conditions prevailing in Auckland.

Money at Interest. It is the intention of the banks in New Zealand to lower their rates of interest on money at fixed deposit. It is expected that a reduction of one-half per cent will be given effect to in the course of a few days, in view of the fact that there is an abundance of money at present seeking investment. An Auckland bank manager, speaking to a “Star” representative last week said that he did not doubt but that the interest on money let out on mortgage would decrease to a corresponding degree, providing that the security was satisfactory'. It will be remembered that about three weeks ago the building companies reduced their rate of interest from 41 to 4 per cent per annum. Harbour Pilotage. The question of pilotage in the Auckland Harbour as the outcome of the mishap to the Kai para was brought under the notice of the Harbour Board on Wednesday afternoon. Messrs. L. D. Nathan wrote stating that since the accident to the s.s. Kaipara they had received letters from Capt. Evans, marine superintendent for the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Co., asking them to communicate with the Board in regard to pilotage arrangements. Captain Evans deemed it advisable that all heavy draught steamers, say, above a certain minimum draught, should be piloted until past the green occulting buoy in Rangitoto Channel, and that in consideration of the circumstances sueh pilotage should bo free, or at most only a

nominal sum in addition to the unberthing fee should be charged. There would not be much extra time involved to the pilot excepting in the matter of increased distance for the launch to go to bring him back to the wharf. Capt. Evans thought there was not a sufficiency of buoys in Auckland Harbour to indicate the curve necessary for deep draught vessels to take from the red buoy off Devonport onwards to the two lighted buoys near which the Kaipara grounded. It was hoped the Board would find it possible to make some sueh temporary arrangement as was desired in the matter of pilotage to the Rangitoto Channel. The letter was referred to the Board in committee.

A Clerical Bankrupt. Particulars of the bankruptcy of Meredith Soule, of Kamo, and late Presbyterian pastor of the church at Hikurangi, have been received by the Official Assignee (Mr E. Gerard). Soule filed his petition on January 25, and in accounting for his bankruptcy says—“ln December, 1906, I was a minister of the Presbyterian Church at Hikurangi, and preaching at Kamo, Hikurangi, and the outlying townships and stations. Aly stipend was considerably in arrears, and income less than £75 a year. I was minister of the church at Hikurangi until 1907, with varying income and increased arrears. In December, 1907, I left for Sydney, as I had promises of a station there. Before going I sold all my furniture, the proceeds of which were £23. During the 12 weeks I was in New South Wales I earned about £l2 in fees as preacher, and returned in February, 1908. Immediately on my return I was sued for an organ, which, as I had paid for it out of collections, ete., I considered to be my own property. I lost the ease, and lodged notice of appeal, borrowing £5O as security for costs; The appeal was withdrawn, on a promise being made by the solicitor for the church trustees that the matter would he submitted to arbitration, but I lost the case. “Later on, I sued for arrears of stipend, about £100: money owing for labour, about £36; and other moneys. I was non-suited. Some time afterwards I moved to Kamo, and purchased a house there. About tills time I went up for Parliament, and was informed that it was necessary for me to be a propertyholder before I could do so. In consequence of this, I got a house in my own name, although it was really paid for out of moneys borrowed from Mrs Soule, for which I gave 1 0 U’s. The land and house cost £425, anu of this amount £350 was raised from the Government Advances to Settlers Office, and the balance from Mrs Soule. Besides the small sums earned as a preacher, I had earned a small amount of money by carpentering. These w’ere the only amounts earned by me during the last three years. My wife and daughters earned a little, and assisted to keep the house going. “I attribute the whole of my difficulties to the fact that I was induced by the Presbyterian Church authorities to go to Hikurangi, and their informing me that there was a considerably greater income to be made than was a fact. I attributed my first losses in regard to the organ to the fact that there was so much local jealousy and ill-feeling on the pare of some of the residents of Hikurangi. If I had been paid my stipend in full, I anticipate that I would now be in the position of being absolutely independent of my creditors, and clear of all these present creditors. I thought that my bankruptcy plainly showed that country preachers of some of the denominations should be paid a larger stipend. I found it was impossible to live on the amount I received, and do the work required of me. I- had been informed that the Presbyterian Church property trustees, in whom the property of the Presbyterian Church was vested, were to a great extent ignorant of the proceedings which were being taken in Whangarei, and this might be to a great extent the reason that payment of the sums promised by the Presbytery in Auckland was disputed.” The liabilities to unsecured creditors are set down at £246 15/, and the asset# at £l4O, leaving a deficiency of £lO6 15/. MEETING OF CREDITORS. A meeting of creditors in the estate ■was held at Whangarei on Monday last, Mr. T. H. Steadman presiding. Asked when he eeased to preach, and ■when he commenced business as a carpenter or contractor, bankrupt said he had never ceased to preach, and that he commenced carpentering at Kamo in September, 1908. He worked on his own

hause and then on the Towai Hall as a labourer at 8/6 a day. Then he worked on odd jobs at Kamo and Hikurangi, and had been working on wages since, iwith idle time on and off. To the Chairman: Mrs. Soule took a contract, and I acted as her servant, and engaged the labourers. The house th as not been paid for. I ordered the “stuff” and the labourers engaged. The num of £2OO was received on account. I kept no books, but Mrs. Soule had her Jbook. There were further contracts. How is this business conducted?—Mrs. Soule would consult me. I would go .into particulars as to prices, etc., and jtben Mrs. Soule would sign the contract. In whose name is the property at Kamo? —'My name. It is valued at £5OO, and there is a rental of 12/6 a week. Why were the contracts taken in the Wife’s name?—Because 1 had no money, and she had. Bankrupt explained that he announced a contract in his own name because flie did not want to advertise the fact that Mrs. Soule was the contractor. He took a contract in his own name in connection with a house at Kamo, because “Mrs. Soule could not go on the roof and put on the iron.” Did you advertise yourself as a contractor? —No. Is there a notice board at your house at Hikurangi stating, “Mr Soule, builder, Government loans arranged?”—Yes, it also says, “baths, tanks, and furniture made.” “Did you state in the Magistrate’s Court at Whangarei that you were a contractor?—-If I did it was in error. Did you say you could make £1 per day?—No. The statement I made was, “Considering the other tradesmen’s work at Kamo, I am worth £1 a day.” To a creditor he said that no moneys had been drawn from his bank since the petition in bankruptcy was presented and no accounts had been paid. You have an item of money, loan from J. Milne for £35. What is it for?— To pay wages at Kamo and election expenses.

Mr. Briggs: What did you owe at the beginning of 1908?—I do not know. In reply to a creditor, debtor said he was given a loan of £5O by Mr. Dander in connection with the building of a house. He owed nothing else then. Have you paid Mr. Mcßae the amount bf his judgment?—No. Have you or Mrs. Soule given any orders to any persons to draw contract moneys ?—Mrs. Soule has given orders. Did your answer that you only owed! £5O refer to your household accounts?—I did not include the household accounts.

On the motion of the Chairman, it was resolved.: “That this meeting adjourn sine die, and that in the meantime the debtor prepare a statement of his receipts and expenditure for the last three months.”