“Too Awful for Words.”

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 17, 26 October 1910, Page 4

“Too Awful for Words.”

Speaking on behalf of the Home Mission last week, at the meeting held under the auspices of the Anglican Synod in the Choral Hall, the Rev. G. C. Cruiek•hank gave a lurid description of life In

the co-operative camps on the railway construction works. He said he had worked in alums in England, some of which were what was termed “pretty, hefty,” but although in the railway camps here he had met some of the finest of men, still, generally speaking, he had never seen lives so degraded in the slums of England as he had in these back-block co-operative railway camps. Really, the condition of these railway camps was too awful for words. Sometimes he felt that the poor beggars had a good deal of excuse. They lived in email tents, and had nothing to do from 4 p.m. to 6 o’clock the next morning but twiddle their thumbs, as it seemed to rain in Taranaki about 364 J days in the year. (Laughter.) Men had told him they read the advertisements on the jajft tins backwards in order to pass the time. He asked would not half of those present want to get drunk if compelled to live under such circumstances? He considered -it scandalous these men should have to live such lives without some provision for their recreation. (Applause.)! One of the biggest curses a man could have was a remittance. He saw that plainly in the life of the co-operativa camps. Referring to a home missionary’s life, the speaker said he went about his work in a costume that was a cross between a third-rate groom and an undertaker—(laughter)—and every day was either a feast or a famine. He had 1210 square miles of country to look after, which gave an idea of what a home missioner’s life was. In conclusion, the! speaker earnestly appealed for more men and money for the Home Mission work iq the back blocks.

Newmarket Workshops.

In the House of Representatives last week, Mr. C. H. Poole again urged on the Minister for Railways the need for a searching inquiry into the conditions obtaining at the Newmarket workshops. There was. he said, grave dissatisfaction in connection with the administration. There must be some reasoft for the state of unrest which prevailed. The men asked that their identity, should not be revealed, because it would mean trouble to them, but he received numerous letters that the greatest dissatisfaction existed. The Hon. Mr. Millar replied that he did not know what reason there was for discontent at the Newmarket workshops, There had been complaint some time ago that the men were being driven tod hard, but there was nothing in that at all. Mr. Poole’s statement was news id him, but he would instruct the Engineer-in-Chief to have inquiry made on his first visit to Auckland. The manager id charge of the workshops was one of the best officers in the service, and was a. man who got the full measure of work out of his staff. That had been characteristic of him in other places where h® had had charge before going to Newmarket. Perhaps he had succeeded in getting a little more out of the mei than they had previously given. Mr. Poole: The men do not protest against work. Hon. Mr Millar: We will have inquiry made into the complaints and ascertain if anything is wrong.

The Puhanga Canal.

A commencement has been made on th* work of cutting the big Puhanga canal, opposite Kerepehi (or Hauraki Plains), The canal will be 40ft wide, and, whetf completed, will bring the two points within a mile and a-half of each other; instead of as at present five and a,quarter miles. Two Thames contractors, Walter Onion and William Duffy, secured the work, the price being £2900. It is that this large cut will prove an impor* taut factor in preventing the river backing up in the rainy season and flooding the land. Splendid progress is being made witlj the drainage works, under the supervision of Mr. J. B. Thompson, engineer-in* charge.

Graduated Income Tax.

The measure providing for the levy! ing of the graduated Income Tax, Introduced in the House of Representatives last week, makes large increase* in existing taxation. The Act passed last year (the usual annual measure) simply provided for two grade* ol Income Tax, exclusive ol companies! taxation. “On every pound sterling derived or received from business, from business employment, or emolument/*

Jf emolument, as follows:—From <£3oo to £I,OOO, 6d. in the £; over SI,OOO, 1/- in the £. To clearly appreciate the change proposed, tho prelent and proposed rate of Incoms Tax may be set out ae follows: —

It will also be noticed from the summary of the bill that companies will be liable to graduated tax if the bill be passed. The increases on the present duty are Id. in the £ where the income exceeds £1,150 but is under ‘£2,000, and 2d. increase where the income is over £2,000. The bill harks back to the Budget of last year. “It cannot be denied,” remarked the Prime Minister in his financial statement of 1909, “that the ftll-important matter of the defence of the country cannot be allowed to remain in its present position, and the necessary improvement must entail additional expenditure.” The increased expenditure under all headings is the interest upon the cost of the Dreadnought, £70,000; 4 per cent per annum for extinction of Dreadnought loan, !£ 80,000; contribution to railway superannuation fund, £25,000; additional cost of internal defence, £100,000; additional armament and equipment, ’£50,000; total, £330,000. To meet this expenditure, Sir Joseph proposed to get £150,000 from the altered system of death duties, £ 100,000 from increases in long-distance railway passenger rates, £BO,OOO from readjustment of Income Tax, £38,000 from an increased tax on receipts of racing Clubs, £30,000 from banks, and £50,000 -from Customs surtax. This would furnish £448,000, leaving a balance of £llB,OOO, which, in the Prime Minister’s Opinion, was “not too large a sum to provide for unforeseen expenditure." There was not an opportunity last session to get the new Income Tax schedule passed.

£lO,OOO Lost in a Night.

“Jack” Frost visited Hastings last Monday week 9deg strong, and swept the peach crop completely out of existence. Not during the last fifteen years has Buch a disaster smitten the district. Orehardists are thunderstruck. In Hastings district alone the ripe peach crop is worth £lO,OOO, and every pennv of it has vanished as completely as if fire had swept the district. On the great Kaiapo orchard, where Btone fruits are grown almost exclusively, the crop would have been worth £ 3000. The manager remarked this morning that >he would give £5 for every ease of peaches that was likely to ripen there. The plums grown in the district, worth about £3OOO, are also probably mostly destroyed. The usual preventive methods for warding off frost by means of smoky fires Jfknown as smudging) were carried on all night, but were utterly futile to check such a severe frost. It will give the district a serious setback. It is now estimated that the damage done by frost on Monday night amounts to £20,000. The famous Frimley and Kaipoi orchards will be practically fruitless this year, and their losses alone are expected to reach £lO.OOO. Mr. Thomas Horton estimates his nursery losses at £4OOO, and in addition the majority of the orchards on the Heretaunga Plains are affected. The Havelock Hills •were not visted by the frost to any extent, and the damage there is mainly confined to orchards on the lower slopes, which suffered severely.

t “ Let Us Have Cheap Beer.”

Great stress was being laid by Mr T. E. Taylor last week upon the fact that the true remedy of trusts and monopolies lay along the lines of State competition. Enlarging upon his remarks, the member for Christchurch North asserted, with his Wanton decisiveness, that breweries were Earning 300 per cent, profit. “If we are to have beer,” he added, “let us have ©heap beer.” This announcement was received with much laughter. When the merriment had subsided, Mr Taylor gro-

ceeded to reply to an interjection from the member for Napier. - The State had no right, he contended, to engage in a business that, degenerated everyone it touched, and that bred crime and social discord. It was the duty of the State to extinguish it.

Sailor's Serious Allegations.

In the Supreme Court, Wellington, Olaf Aanensen, a Norwegian, pleaded guilty to escaping from lawful custody. Prisoner was a member of the crew of the German chip Martha Boekhahn, from which he deserted at Westport. He was subsequently arrested, and later walked out of the police yard. Prisoner made serious charges against officers of the ship, alleging general ill-treatment of the crew, and declared he would not go on board again, as he knew what he would get. He asserted that while at Westport, he had been kept in irons for three days and nights in a pig-sty, and that he was strung up by the heels, and left hanging until his face was black. He would rather do six months in gaol than go back. The Judge ordered Aanensen to be confined in gaol for five weeks. Counsel for the Crown, at his Honor’s suggestion, said he would communicate with the German and Norwegian Consuls.

A Police Baid on Bookmakers' Offices.

A flutter was caused in Auckland among men who follow racing by the news that the offices of two of the bestknown bookmakers in the city had been raided If detectives, and that everybody found therein had been apprehended and taken into custody. There were races at Wellington, too, and things were happening in racing circles. The law does not allow bookmakers to ply their trade away from racecourses where races are actually being held, and, therefore, it does not ahow them to do their betting business in offices. It is no uncommon thing, however, for bookmakers to have offices in which they profess to do business as house and land agents, financial agents, wool brokers, or cigar merchants, and it is alleged by the police and others that the offices are used by them for the purpose of carrying on their betting transactions, and that the places are betting houses or gaming houses. It is further alleged that bets are taken and paid on totalisator odds, which would constitute a double breach of the Act. It was to ascertain what were the real facts about these allegations that the raid was made. At shortly after half-past two on Wednesday Chief-Detective Marsack, with some of his men, visited the offices of Messrs. Ryan and De Groen, who are alleged to trade in Durham-street as wool brokers; and Detective McMahon, with another band of pla in-clothes men, went to the office of Messrs. Adams and Philpott, house and land agents, in Ranfurly Buildings, Queen-street. In Ryan and De Groen’s office the police found a clerk named Nicholls and two other men not connected with the management or control of the place. De Groen came in shortly afterwards, and later there came other men, who were admitted at their own request. A thorough search of the place was made, and everything which appeared to be a record of a betting transaction was appropriated. While the search was being made, Mr Marsack answered the telephone several times, and always the man at the other end of the wire wanted to know something about the Wellington races, or asked to have a -bet booked for him on a certain horse. All the persons who were found in the place, or who entered it while the police were there, were placed under arrest and taken to the Watchhouse. Mr Ryan, who is probably the best known bookmaker in Auckland, did not appear during these proceedings, and he was not apprehended. Detective McMahon and his men had a similar experience at the other office. They found both principals and a clerk named Keren on the premises, and they arrested them and made a search. Other people came to the office, but finding strangers in charge, they beat a retreat. Later in the afternoon at the Police Station the men in custody were brought before Mr. M. J. Sheahan, J.P., and released on bail until this morning, when they all surrendered themselves in the Police Court. Alfred De Groen £Mr. A. L. Denniston) was charged <that ho was the occupier of a common gaming-house, and that

on the 11th and 13th October he made bets at totalisator odds with one W. J. Jones. Henry M. Nicol (Mr. J. A. Quinn) was charged with having assisted in -the management of the same common gaming-house, and with having made a bet at totalisator odds with one J. B. Richards. Charles Philpott and Alired Adams (Mr. J. R. Lundon) were charged with being occupiers of a common gam-ing-house. situate in Queen-street, and George Keven, also represented by Mr. Lundon, was charged with having assisted in the management of the gaminghouse. Three other persons were charged that they were found in a common gam-ing-house. All the defendants were remanded for eight days. In the cases of the defendants charged with being concerned, as principals dr assistants, in the management of a common gaming-house, bail was fixed at one surety of £5O in respect of each charge. The bail was forthcoming. The other defendants were released on their own recognisances of £25 each.

State Colliers.

“Will the Government, with a view to reducing the cost of State coal to consumers, procure the necessary steam colliers to make the State coal mines independent of the present coal carrying steamship monopoly t” asked Mr. T. E. Taylor. The Hon. R. McKenzie replied: “Sea carriage of State coal is always let by contract, and for this there is always very fair competition, consequently there is no monopoly so far as sea carriage is concerned. The Government are. however, considering the advisability of procuring two steam colliers to deal with the carriage of State coal.

A Rudderless Ship.

The steamer Strathclyde, which left Newcastle on September 16 with a cargo of coal for Coroull (Chili), arrived at Lyttelton on Sunday, having been adrift for three weeks with a broken rudder. The vessel managed to crawl back to the New Zealand coast with the aid of a jury rudder. The Strathclyde was sighted off Lyttelton Heads on Saturday night, showing signals that she was not under control. Tire day after she sailed she ran into heavy weather, seas breaking constantly aboard. She passed through Cook Strait on September 22. Next day a south-west gale overtook her, lashing her with hail and sleet, and sending huge green seas over her. The life-boats were lifted out of the chocks, and the rails were damaged. Oil was freely used to break the force of the sea, but the weather grew worse, and on the night of September 27 the vessel was hove to in a hurricane. Next day the gale moderated, but when the ship was put on her course again it was found she would not answer the helm. Examination showed that the rudder stock had been broken right through the trunk. The ship was now uncontrollable, and heavy seas banged the broken rudder about with great violence. The vessel went ahead slowly, a big coil of rope being put overboard and towed with a stout cable to steady her. The wind again increased to a hurricane, and oil had again to be resorted to. This calmed the waters marvellous-

l.v, and all hands set to work rigging a jury rudder. On the afternoon of October 1 the steamer shipped an enormous sea. which ripped the tarpaulin from one of the hatches, stove in a portion of the cover, and swept through the deck-house, cabins, and storeroom. The men were up to their necks iu water. So she worked slowly southwards, but on October 3 the weather was so bad that the stern drag had to be cut adrift. One big sea, sweeping the decks, tore the cover off the eteam-pipes, and twisted the ironwork badly. With the object of trying to head the vessel to the northward, a jib and staysail were rigged, but the wind blew the jib away almost at once. On October 5 the jury rudder was got over the stern and rigged, but, as another heavy gale was encountered, the rudder had to be abandoned. A second rudder was made, and lasted four days, the sea finally’ smashing it. The weather moderated, and, with the assistance of a third jury rudder, the vessel made some progress. On Friday the ship was 43 miles from Cape Palliser, and on Saturday she made her wav down the coast to Lvttelton.

Wanted—A Searching Inquiry. •‘There has been going on something tn connection with the kauri gum trade that wants a searching inquiry,” was the announcement made to the House on Friday by Mr Stallworthy. He explained that an effort had been made to obtain a better price by selling in London. The Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, when they tried to sell kauri gum in London, found it quite unprofitable. Messrs. Mitchelson had also found themselves unable to obtain a fair price in London, and they had actually brought back to Auckland some cases of gum, for which they obtained a better price in Auckland. The Nerehana had only recently brought 40 cases back to New Zealand to get a fair price. The digger on the field was only able to obtain 32/- to 35/- per cwt., whereas the man in Auckland could get 00/- on the average during the past few years. It showed there was something wrong, and that there ■was a big robbery of the fruits of the toil of the diggers.

Early History.

Mr. Robert McNab read a paper at the Palmerston Philosophical Society's meeting dealing with his recent researches in Europe and Australia into the raid of Rauparaha upon Akaroa. in 1830, and alleged race for the declaration of sovereignty over the South Island at Akaroa in 1840. He gives extracts front materials regarding these two incidents, whieh are to be published in a new edition of “ Murihiku.” With regard to Rauparaha's raid, Mr. McNab said very little material was found in Sydney, though an investigation was held there at the instance of a Sydney merchant named Binnie, by order of Governor Darling, but every effort to punish Captain Stewart, of the brig Elizabeth, and his accomplices was frustrated by influential people who were alleged to have been interested in his flax-trading venture ami tne payment in flax he was to receive for transporting Rauparaha and his 120 warriors to massacre Tamarahamu. Sydney papers of that time were silent on the subject, but at Hobart he found files of papers full of it, and in London he found from the archives full accounts, showing that the hands of the Treasury had done their best to secure and punish Stewart, and condemn the condonation of his crimes by Sydney interests. With regard to the alleged hoisting of the British flag at Akaroa by Captain Stanley, of H.M.S. Britomart, by order of Governor Hobson, in anticipation of Captain Lavelli, Mr. McNab showed from the Britomart log, which he !»id -carehel in London; from Hobson's dispatches an 1 papers, and from Capt. Lavelli's confidential dispatches to his King, which he found in the archives of the French navy’, that no such incident had occurred aS is recounted on the monument at Akaroa, and that the story of Magistra * Robinson is a myth. Captain Stanley’s log shows that Captain Lavelli was actually anchored at Akaroa before the date alleged on the monument of British sovereignty being declared, the Brifomart's boat- having assisted to tow him in; that he had no intention of declaring French sovereignty, or Captain Stanley of declaring British, which had been declared at Cloudy Bay some time previously." There was.no race and no historical incident as is taught in New Zealand history.

Colonel Davies' Appointment.

The Minister for Defence (Sir Joseph Ward), in the House of Representatives last week, presented papers relating to the appointment of Colonel Davies to the command of a brigade at Aidershot. The letter of the High Commissioner showed that the appointment is one for four years only. Colonel Davies made application that he should be allowed to continue his payments to the New Zealand superannuation fund, just as Colonel Godley would continue his payments to the Army Pension Fund during his stay’ in New Zealand as commandant. Mr. Jas. Allen sail It was gratifying to know that Colonel Davies’ appointment was only a temporary one, and that his services would not be lost to New Zealand. He would like to know whether the Government • proposed to accede to the request of Colonel Davies to be allowed to remain on the superannuation fund. Sir Joseph Ward said the matter had not yet been considered by Cabinet, ami he could not give an off hand answer. He was not prepared to say that New Zealand could keep open high-salaried positions for any officer for a period of

four years, nor was he prepared to say that Colonel Davies would be selected to fill Colonel Godley’s position when he ‘retired. In this country there had bean an outcry from the North Cape to the Bluff against a colonial officer holding the position of commandant of the forces. The position, as far as he knew, and the request made were unique. When a decision on the matter had been arrived at he would inform the House.

Ngauruhoe Eruption.

Mr. A. Peters, of Waiouru, who witnessed the eruption of Ngauruhoe on Sunday evening, says: “At about 7.5 p.m. Ngauruhoe emitted dense blaek clouds of smoke, huge columns ascending to a height of about 3000 ft to 5000 ft al»ove the crater, and about 7.14 p.m. fork lightning appeared, darting in and out of the columns of smoke above the crater. This was followed, in quick succession, by a magnificent display of fire, the glare of which resembled a huge furnace, as viewed from a short distance. The fire or glare appeared 200 ft or more above tilt crater. No one here has witnessed a similar sight before. Heuheu Tukino, the great Tokaanu chief, was an eye-witness along with me to the whole occurrence, and when questioned if ever he had witnessed a similar explosion, he stated: Yes, about 1868 or 1872.’ At 10 p.m. the whole display was all over. On and off since Ngauruhoe has more or less been emitting dense volumes of smoke and steam. These outbursts appear intermittent.”

Human Skeleton Found.

While cutting scrub in the vicinity of Manukau river, on Thursday, a bushman found -a human skeleton, near which lay a leather wallet and remnants of clothing. The remains were subsequently’ taken to Otaki. They are believed to be those of Panapa Ihaka, who disap peared four years ago. his brother having committed suicide a few days previously.

Workers' Homes.

Plans are at present being prepared by the architect to the Labour Department (Mr. Woburn Temple) of residences which those, who have applied for and obtained loans for building workers’ homes under the Advances to Settlers Act will be required to adhere to. It has been felt that there has been a tendency for those who propose to build homes for themselves to send in “any old plan”; and, moreover, the materials used in some of the houses erected by clients of the Department have not been up to the mark. In order to prevent costly incongruity in design, and to ensure " the durability of materials, especially* timber, applicants for loans will lie required to accept one of the sets of plans“ prepared, ■ and builders will be required to adhere to the specifications drawn up by the Department. There is a wide choice of design offered to intending builders, plans being for two and three rooms up t-o six rooms, and there are several designs for each class of house. It is understood that there is nothing odd or bizarre about the designs, which follow the usual lines of the smaller domestic architecture of New Zealand.

Shocking Fatality.

A shooting fatality occurred at Moonlight. near Blackball, on Sunday. When two lads were out shooting, one of them, Noonan, accidentally shot his companion, John Turner, aged 17, through the head. Death was instantaneous. The parents oi the deceased aye well-known and greatly respected throughout the Blackball district.

Who Were Her Friends ?

When one follows a deceased friend to the graveside out of respect, reward for such action is not usually looked for, but by the will of the late Mrs Jane McGla'shan, who died at her residence, Manukan-road. Parnell, on the 12th inst., aged 72 years, such provision is made. In deceased's last will, which is of a short and simple nature, she states, “I give, devise and bequeath to my executor, hereinafter named, all my property and estate, upon .trust as to onethird share therefore for my friend, Mrs. Susan Price. Parnell, in recognition of her kindness to me, and as to the residue of my estate upon trust, to divide the same equally between such of my friends, other than my executor, who

shall, in the opinion of ray executor, attend the funeral service at my grave, being moved so to do by a desire to show resjiect for my memory, and I direct my 'executor- within one week from my decease, to sign a certificate setting forth the names of the friends whom they (she) shall consider to lie entitled.” Airs Susan Price was made the executrix. and the word “they,” altered to she in the will. - ■ The value of the estate is about £1,200, and the number who attended the funeral was about eight. The deceased lady had one daughter, who died a number of years ago. and her husband pre-deeeased her by a considerable number of years. She had no relatives alive, and evidently made the will to test the value of her friends. Mrs McGlashan had resided in Parnell beween 20 and 30 years.

The Wrong Commandment.

The following is by “Civis” in the “Otago Daily Times*’ of Saturday week: — From a correspondent— A Theatre Programme (book form), bearing the "Daily Times” imprint and on the cover “Mr. J. C. Williamson presents "Aladdin.” contains the following advertisement: “There is an excuse for breaking THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT when you see your Motoring Friends driving A VULCAN. CAR. So-and-so and So-and-so Are Sole Agents.” Why the Seventh Commandment? Because none of the parties to the advertisement-— the "Daily Times,” Mr. J. C. Williamson, the motor-ear people—knew any better. They didn't know the difference between the Seventh Commandment and the Tenth. The “Daily Times” will get out of it by disclaiming responsibility; Mr. J. C. Williamson, if aware of the facts, would regret that so risky a joke wasn't got on to the stage: the motor-car people will 'ament that they never had the advantage of Bible-in-schools. It will liariily recommend their ear to serious person's, heads of families, and the like, that the use of it may have an injurious effect on public morals." Of course, mere shakiness in Bible quotation may lie excused. People have searched the Scriptures for "Faint heart never won fair lady”: others have been confident that chapter and verse might be given for “God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb.” And we know that su excellent a man as Captain Cuttie believed that he had the authority of Solomon for “Train up a fig tree in the way if should glow, and when you are old sit under the shadder of it.”

Strike at Horahora.

Last Wednesday afternoon about 20 men came down from the Waihi Company’s works at Hoiahora, having demanded an advance in wages, whieh was not given, plenty of labour being available.

Tempestuous Voyage.

The Norwegian barque Glenshee which airived in Wellington -from Liverpool had a tempestuous voyage, especially after crossing the equator. When between Cape of Good Hope and Port Elizabeth she encountered a strong north-west gale, which developed into a hurricane, and huge seas swept the vessel from' end to end. Next day at midday a following sea broke aboard and completely buried the barque. The mate (B. Knudsen), who was in the main rigging, was washed along the deck, but he managed to grasp the ratlines and saved himself. Two meh who were lashed to the wheel were completely submerged. Six boats were smashed to atoms, and were washed away. Forty feet of the starboard bulwarks were also destroyed, stanchions were bent, and a boat skid and beams were carried away, The crew had a very trying time. The Glenshee is one 'of the Gracie Beasly Ivie, and is commanded by Captain A. Aslaksen; She was 105 days on the voyage. She has part cargo for Dunedin.

Area of Building Sites.

A judgment of great importance to local bodies, and of special interest in Auckland at the present time, owing to the extensive sub-division of suburban land, waa delivered by Mr Justice Sim

at the Auckland Supreme Court last week, in reference to the applicationmade by the Islington Estate Company, Ltd., for a declaratory order determining whether a provision in the building by-law, made by the Mount Roskill Road Board, was valid. s , , The by-law. made in 1906, declares that “no person shall erect a new house in the district upon a site of a less area than one quarter of an acre, and unless such site shall have a frontage of at least 50ft. to a road.” A further clause provides exceptions in the case of sections shown on any public plan lodged at the Deeds Office before the coming, into operation of the by-laws, or in the case of a site owned at the date of the by-laws by a person not owning any adjoining land, or to prevent the erection of a shop, with dwelling rooms attached, upon any site haying frontage to the main Auekland-Qnehunga road. Applying the principles laid down in the case of Kruse v. Johnson, a recognised authority affirming that by-laws made by a local body ought to be benevolently interpreted and ought not to be readily condemned on the ground of supposed unreasonableness, his Honor gave it as his opinion that the by-law in question was invalid on several grounds. The effect of-the by-law was to prohibit absolutely the erection on any area less than a-quarter of an acre (save in the eases mentioned in the exceptions) of any dwelling-house of any kind, whether (he site had always been vacant) or had been previously occupied by a' building. The by-law also prohibits the addition to or raising of any existing dwelling-house on such an area, for these operations are included in the definition of a new house. “The necessary result, of such provision,” said his Honor, “is to decrease seriously the value of all building sites of less than the specified area. This involves, in my . judgment, an oppressive and unreasonable interference with the rifihts of the owners of such' building sites.” ■ ■ ' r ’ The by-law was also invalid, he said, by reason of the provision that a newt house was not.to be erected on a site having less than 50ft frontage to a road. The Act au-’horised the regulating or prohibiting the erection of buildings not having a frontage to a public or private street; but-that did not empower , the local authority to fix' 50ft arbitrarily as the minimum frontage in every ease. It would be proper to fix a mitinniiiii so as to secure that i-ti every case there should be more than a' mere' nominal frontage to a street, but it appealed tO be unreasonable and oppressive ’■ to fix 50ft as an absolute iniriimum Without regard to the circumstances of any particular ease. The effect of the 4‘exceptions was to make the by-law- partial and unequal in its operation as-bet ween different classes of property-owners. If the building site was shown as an allotment on any public'plan lodged before the by-law* came into force the owner could erect a dwelling-house on it)-how*» ever small it may be; so also could the owner of a site, however small, when the by-law came into force, if he had not land adjoining. .If the real purposp of the by-law was to prevent over-crowd-ing of land with buildings, why - should these exceptions have been made’, Their effect was to make -the by-law partial and unequal .in its operation, and oi» this ground it was invalid. An order was made, declaring clause Bl of the by-law invalid,- and plaintiffs ■were allowed costs on the lowest scab 4. Dr. Bamford appeared for plaintiffs and Mr. Baxter for defendant*.

the call to conduct * mission of help in South Africa. Last November he went j£o New. Zealand to organise a general mission. He visited every part of the Dominion, travelling by night, and often preaching three times on a Sunday. He Returned to England in the* middle' of tfune, and after a few months of hard work was seized with an internal malady, from which there was no hope of recovery. He leaves a widow and two Saughters. Touching references to his eath were made last Sunday at the jf'athedral and in various churches. A muffied peal was rung on the bells of the Cathedral and the Dead March was played on the organ. Canon Pollock was a High Churchman, and his best work at Rochester, perhaps, was done during the time that the late Dean Hole was the head of the cathedral chapter. The relations between the dean and Canon Pollock were most cordial, and his letters to the canon, whom he was wont to address affectionately hs “Dear Herbert,” show how highly he appreciated his labours. Once, indeed, the canon felt bound to protest against b sermon preached in the cathedral by the dean on “Temperance Sunday.” The dean was always ready to defend the moderate use of beer and wine, and on the oecassion referred to lie not only again took up this attitude, but animadverted somewhat severely upon the intemperance of temperance advocates. Canon Pollock thought the sermon was jinwise, having regard to the self-sacri-ficing efforts which many in the Church of England were making to stem the vice of drunkenness. The protest was pul in a very delicate and tactful way, and the dean received it in the best possible spirit, and he never preached in that strain again.

"White Slave Traffic,

LONDON, September 16. Two foreigners, who called themselves Aldo Antonins Cellis, aged 29, clerk, and Alexander Berard, aged 25, motor-car fitter, were indicted at the Old Bailey on Monday for having conspired together to procure, and for having aetupllv procured, Mireille Laparra, aged 17, Marguerrta Besancon. 18, and Victoria Bricot and Doris Williams, 17, to lead an itnmoral life. They pleaded "guilty” .to the charge of conspiracy in the case pf Laparra. Mr. Bodkin appeared for the Director of Public- Prosecutions, and Mr. Huntly Jenkins defended both prisoners. Cellis, although calling himself a Swiss, was born in Italy, Mr. Bodkin said, and Berard was a Frenchman. The girl, who was called Doris Williams, but whose real name was not mentioned in consideration for her parents, who were ■ respectable people in New Zealand, was induced by prisoners to go from New Zealand to Australia, and thence to Monte Video and Buenos Ayres, and finally to London. The girls Laparra, •Besancon. and Bricot were all brought ■Over from Paris. Neither of the men bad been previously convicted of an offence of ..this kind, bitt Cellis had been found guilty of larceny on five different occasions—in Sydney, Adelaide, and Port ■Adelaide — ; and Berard had also been convicted of larceny, both in Belgium and in England. Documents found on Cellis showed that he was in possession of £ 1.147. and that he recently received from the River Plate Bank a draft for £360. The Common Sergeant said, although some of the foreign women whom prisoners had induced to come to this country- had probably been leading loose lives before, there was certainly one ease in which it was not so. “Both of you,” continued his Lordship, “have very bad characters; you are both foreigners, and it cannot be tolerated that foreigners of bad character should come over to England, and pursue their criminal courses here." He sentenced each prisoner to six months' imprisonment, adding that he had no power to order fiard labour; and he further directed that each of them should be recommended for deportation as an undesirable alien.

Income, Present Tax in £ Proposed Tax in £ 1 £ $00 to 400. .... 6d. Gd. 00 to COO. .... Cd. 7d. jfOO to 700. ...» 6d. 8d. 700 to 800. .... Cd. 9d. i SOO io 900. .... 6d. lOd. >00 to 1000. .... 6d. lid. 1000 to 1250. 1/1250 to 2000. .... 1/-. 1/1 Over 2000. 1/1/2