Inadequate Bathing Facilities.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 17, 26 April 1911, Page 4

Inadequate Bathing Facilities.

An interesting decision was given at Auckland Police Court by Mr E. C. Cutten, S.M., in the case in which two charges were levelled against Oscar Symonds, in that on March 19 he wilfully and indecently exposed himself on the Takapuna Beach, and alternatively that he committed a grossly indecent act. His Worship’s judgment was as follows:—“Two informations are laid against the defendant in respect of the same act, one charging him with wilfully and indecently exposing himself, and the other with committing a grossly indecently act. What the defendant did was to undress and put on a bathing suit on the Takapuna bench without proper shelter. The defendant did not wilfully expose himself, and that charge may at once be dismissed. It is complained that yoimg men undress upon the beach without proper shelter, and come out of the water and roam about the beach with nothing on but their bathing suits, making it very awkward for ladies who desire to use the beach. In these days a coat of paint is not considered a proper dress, and a wet bathing dress amounts to very little more than a eoat of paint. It is quite possible, therefore, for either of these acts to amount to indecent behaviour within the meaning of the Police Offences Act. The section of the Act, however, is not, in my opinion, intended to meet the cases most commonly complained about, which are due for the most part to acts of mere carelessness or thoughtlessness on the part of young men. The difficulty would be overcome if the authorities having control of the beaches would make by-laws, applicable to the more frequented beaches, requiring bathers to have proper shelter when they undress, and also making it an offence for bathers, while wearing only the ordinary bathing dress, to go

elsewhere about the beach than -between the dressing place and the water. As it is now, offenders against ordinary decency can be convicted in eases onl where there has been gross indecency, and there may be many cases due to thoughtlessness or carelessness—of which the present case is an instance —in which it would be rather hard on the offenders to convict them under the provisions of the Police Offences Act, but in which they might quite reasonably be made liable to a fine under a by-law. No conviction will be entered in the present case.” Cleansing the City. The Health Department reports that the sanitary staff of the Auckland City Council is heartily co-operat-ing in the measures to have the city thoroughly cleansed of all matter likely to cause or convey plague or other disease infection. The people, Dr. Monk states, are generally conforming with the directions issued, and the suburban boroughs, as well as the main borough, are closely supervising their sanitary departments. At the same time, he remarked, there will be no letting-up in the work, and people who do not show reasonable expedition in having their premises put in the required cleanly order will be dealt with under the extraordinary powers which have been for the moment vested in the Health Department officers. So far no fresh plague patients have been reported, and the cases in hand are progressing satisfactorily. “Rigorous enforcement of the by-laws,” is the special instruction under which ths city sanitary staff is now working, and it seems probable that prosecutions for by-law infringement's are pending. This applies particularly to the matter of rubbish removal. There is a special form of rubbish reseptacle prescribed by the bylaws, receptacles of this sort' must be used by residents. Then, too, the Inspector has stated his intention of jumping with both feet on the practice, common to business and private people, of placing rubbish receptacles on the street. The practice is a breach of the by-laws, which provide that such receptacles must' not be placed outside of private premises, and that the dustmen shall go ten feet inside the street alignment to lift the receptacles. At the moment the Sanitary Inspector also has his mind set in dealing with damp cellars. In almost frequent instances the cellars of North Queenstreet are earthen-ftoored, water-sodden, and subject to flooding, and consequently provide harbours for rats. The by-laws require that cellars be concreted and water-tight, and the owners of underground stores will be called on immediately to undertake the expense of having their cellars made proof against both water and rats. Generally speaking, the cleaning of the city is being actively pushed on. Inspectors are pursuing their back yard duties inquisitorially, and the rat-poisoning operations are unrelaxed, while a ratcatcher has been added to the staff. This man has had a good deal of experience in his business at the London dockyards, and his complaint that the rats that come to his traps are few, would appear to be a sincere compliment to the thoroughness of the preceding rat-poison-ing. A “Star” representative was this morning assured that there would be no slacking off in the cleansing efforts for some time to come, and until the authorities were thoroughly convinced of the city’s cleanliness. Beaten to Death. James Stephen, a storekeeper at Staveley„ and for 35 years a resident of that district, met his death in a very sad manner on Saturday. He was found early in the morning in his garden quite dead, and black and blue with bruises, near a water-wheel which generates electricity in his house. It is surmised that last night he caught his foot in a rut and fell against a revolving belt, and was entangled therein, and beaten to death. A Heroic Miner. At an inquest at Roundhill on the bodies of Joseph Bates and Erank Smith, who were killed through the rising of sludge in a mining shaft, the jury returned the following verdict:—“That Joseph Bates and F. Smith met their deaths as the result of drowning, caused by the blocking of the suction pipe, and that there was no blame attachable to anyone.” They wished to place on

record Smith’s noble conduct in giving bis life to save his mate. The following rider was added:—That no work ig sinking a second lift should take place at night in dangerous ground.” Defaulting Seamen. 1 At the Police Court on Monday, before Mr. M. Casey, J.P., a case of interest to mariners and shipowners was heard, when Edward Oonroy Ireland, a seaman, was charged with having failed to observe an agreement entered into between himself and the master of ths Norwegian barque Lindstol. From the evidence it appears that a custom exists amongst a certain class of seamen to get an advance either of money or clothes, when signing an agreement to join a ship, and then fad to join. In the present case the accused signed on in Auckland for a voyage from Hokianga to Sydney and back, in the Lindstol. The agreement was entered into, according to law, before the Danish Consul, and this was to the effect that the owner of the barque was to find accused in food and clothing in Auckland until a steamer was ready to convey him, with others, to Hokianga, where the Lindstol was lying. Eleven men entered into this agreement in Auckland, but only one kept his contract, and the result was that the ship was delayed for 14 days at Hokianga. and men had to be taken on at a greatly advanced wage. Mr. Casey said that it was absolutely necessary that such steps should be taken as would protect owners of vessels from loss through this cause. He pointed out he had power to inflict three months’ imprisonment, but as this was the first case of the kind to come before him, he would be lenient. Accused was sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment. Arms and the Man. Owing to the wet weather the garden party arranged to take place at Hamilton on Friday was abandoned, and a meeting was held at the Town Hall instead. The Mayor of Hamilton (Mt J. A. Young) presided, and amongst those present were the Hon. Geo, Fowlds (Acting-Minister for Defence), General Godley (Commander of the Forces), Colonel Wolfe (O.C. Colonel Allen Bell, Captain Spencet Smith, and Mr H. J. Greenslade, M.P, UNIQUE AMONGST DEMOCRACIES. The Minister stated that if universal training was a success it would be due to Colonel Bell and the district. New| Zealand had taken up a movement that was unique as far as Anglo-Celtic organisation was concerned, and with the exception of Switzerland, in modern times at any rate they had no instance of democracy establishing a system of universal military training or military service. The eyes of the world were watching the movement. He was no jingoist or military enthusiast, but he thought it was desirable that every, able-bodied man should be fitted for the defence of his country. They had entered upon the scheme with great expectation, but is was going to cost a very large sum of money. However, if the revenue to meet the expenditure was equitably collected, the people could afford to pay the sum required for the training of the young men. It was most desirable that we should be in a position to defend the country if required, Perhaps the first consideration was the physical development and mental training of these young democratic communities, and this was the minimum result they had a right to expect from the movement. lie felt sure it would result in the elevation of the national character, but it was essential that the whole community should take an (interest, especially mothers and sisters, otherwise they could not expect bad results. If the taxpayer realised that for the money, expended they were getting a highef, moral standard, they would regard the money required as simply so much expended in the cause of education. Na money was found more readily than the amount required for that purpose. Ho hoped the time would never come when our young people would he compelled to fight, but if so, they should be prepared for the emergency. THE YELLOW PERIL. Cfl(ntlinning, the lA/cting-M.miater fof Defence said that England and her dependencies did not realise what the horror of invasion was. In these Southern lands we had raised the standard of a White Australia and White New!

Zealand, while within a short die lance of our shores were hundreds qf bullions of Asiatics. There was no use in taking up a position such as this unless the people of Australia and New Zealand were ready to give effect to it J»y force, if necessary. A successful invasion was a terrible thing to contemplate, hut We should be prepared for contingencies by bringing about stalwart physical development as the result of universal training. The matter should be looked upon in a spirit of citizenship, and not a spirit of militarism. If were done, New Zealanders of the future would be worthy of even greater pdmi ration than New Zealanders of the past. He urged the people of the Dojninion to take up the scheme heartily from a physical, mental, and moral point of view. (Applause.) Colonel Bell and Mr Greenslade, M.P., also addressed the meeting. AN APPEAL FOR SUPPORT. General Godley said he wished to remove some erroneous impressions which existed regarding the territorial movement. The report that the territorial movement was antagonistic to rifle clubs was a fallacy. The idea was that jifle clubs should form themselves into a Tide reserve for the military forces, and iparry out such musketry as is laid down jby the military authorities. All that jwas required was that rifle clubs should (make themselves efficient from a military point of view. He thought the objection of employers and employees to jthe general scheme could be easily got pver by common-sense measures with reference to training, and that the Scheme as a whole would not be as formidable as it looked on paper. He appealed to the public to support the movement, reminding them that he and Jiis staff were here at the invitation of he Government to carry out the wishes pf the people as expressed by them, and he appealed to them to accord their generous support, and thus assist the movement that they had inaugurated. [( Applause.) A New Zealander in Mexico. An old Taranaki boy at present in if, he United States, writing to relatives jn New Zealand under date 12th March last, says, inter alias “Stirred with the Wrongs of the Mexican rebels, I went flown to throw in my lot with- them in iheir fight for their rights. I went to the border at San Diego and crossed into ffia Juana, lower California. Here the jrebel element was very strong, but a peek’s residence dispelled my illusions, tt gathered from old residents that the rebellion was an impossible cause, as putside capital (from the United States in particular) would never allow the Success of the rebel arms. Most of the Rebels were fighting for the loot in prospect, and not for the principles at istake, and, provided they were allowed success, would be as tyrannical as Diaz as to-day. I also found that those recruiting in the rebel interest would not lenlist whites unless they were wellknown sympathisers.. This was with the object of guarding against the introduction of spies. When I realised just how things were I recrossed the border to lU.S.A. soil again.” ,

Libraries’ Conference, f a The Libraries’ Conference held at tho Auckland City Council Chambers on Easter Saturday and Monday, and attended by delegates from most of the affiliated institutions, discussed a number of questions of interest in the administration of libraries. “Undesirable books,” and what should be done with them, was one of the most important, and pending otheraction being taken the matter of censorship was left to the librarians, who will exchange lists of rejected publications. Consideration was also given to a proposal to throw the Parliamentary library at Wellington open for the use of the public, and it was decided to make representation to the Government on the matter. A suggestion of particular interest to country libraries was contained in a remit urging the appointment of a Home agent to advise on books on the market and books in the press and arrange for supplies. Country delegates complained bitterly' that the selection of books for country libraries was limited and the price excessive. The matter was referred to the executive, delegates recognising that there was need for devising some scheme to overcome the present difficulties. Alleged Murder. A native named Tahi Kaka has been arrested at Kaikohe on a charge of having murdered a gumdigger named John Freeman. Freeman has been missing from his whare at Puhipuhi, near Whangarei, since April 5, and at the time of the disappearance he was in possession of a considerable sum of money. Kaka was the last man seen in Freeman’s company, and subsequently had been spending money freely. The body of the murdered man was found in a deep gorge to which the prisoner directed the police. Accused has made certain statements from which it appears that he demanded money from Freeman, and wanted to fight. Freeman made a sweep at Kaka with his gum spear, but missed him, and stumbled, ■whereupon Kaka hit him a violent blow on the head with a broom handle, and as the old man attempted to defend himself, Kaka struck him again smashing the base of his skull. Kaka then, it is alleged, abstracted the sum of £4O odd from Freeman’s pocket, and proceeded to spend money lavishly, which led to suspicion and to his arrest. Industrial Warfare. At a social function in Christchurch, held in connection with the Trades and Labour Conference, Mr. E. Tregear, ex-Secretary for Labour, was presented with an illuminated address, and for Mrs. Tregear a purse of sovereigns. Mr. Reardon (president of the conference), in making the presentation, said that the sentiment which had actuated them all an regard to the present gathering was a knowledge that behind the cold hand of the official was the great heart of the humanitarian (Applause.) It was that knowledge which had endeared Mr. Tregear to them. They had also the knowledge that Mr. Tregear was now a free man, and able to

come out and take up work which bo could not previously take up. Mr. Tregear, who received a great demonstration, expressed his thanks for the kind words the chairman had said. He would value the address all his life, and the gift of money was also a very precious one. It came to him sanctified by having passed through the hands ot working men and women. He would not accept it if he did not hope to be able to do something with it for the generous people who had given it to him. He had a high opinion of the worker of New Zealand, and he knew that what New Zealand did to-day, the world did tomorrow. (Applause.) Continuing, Mr. Tregear siiid that some bitter attacks had been made on the Conciliation and Arbitration Acts. The arbitration system did not belong to the past, but to the future. What, he asked, had they to propose in place ot military war? International arbitration must be the higher law. (Applause.) The industrial war was ten thousand times more deadly than military warfare. In the mines of Great Britain a man was killed every few hours, and a man was maimed every 40 seconds. It hid been stated that out of the total number of men employed on the Greymouth Wharf G7J per cent, were injured. The industrial war was less fair thin a military war, as the killed and wounded were all on one side. The machinery of arbitration had been put into the hands of human beings to carry out. Was it any wonder therefore that there were disappointments and heartburns? He had said in a rather famous report'that it was sent into any enemy’s country like a single regiment without reserves or supports. Sister Acts were not brought on afterward, Acts dealing with injustices such as unearned increments and undue profits. Speaking on unionism, Mr. Tregear said that it gave men a training which ■fitted them for public life, and gave them a valuable educational training. Workers had to be formed into unions, unions into national brigades, and national brigades (into international armies of peace —(Applause)—armies which loved mercy, but which were determined on equity. (Applause.) He believed that the wickedness and greed of the present system would bring down a war of the most, devastating character. The promoters of the labour movement believed in the ul imate victory of light over darkness. He could see Labour sane and alert. At 1 ist, Labour’s hands were going to be strong, to give the worker the full reward of his work. The horrors of industrial war would be trampled down to hell, from whence they came. Steamer Boverie Saved. News received by the s.s. Tofua, which arrived at Auckland last week, states that the Weir line steamer Boverie, ■which was aground on a reef at the entrance of Nukualofa harbour, steamed off on Tuesday. April 11, and anchored in the harbour. The Boverie ran on to the reef on March 29, and two days later the steamer Knight of St. George made several unsuccessful attempts to get her off. It was found that the boat was

held fast by the horns, while the greater part of l»er was afloat in deep water. The Knight of St. George proceeded on to Auckland, and the crew of the st randed wteamer set to work to lighten the forepart, by jettisoning the coal in the foreholdx. Some 300 tons were taken up by the Tongan Government, and about 000 tons were consigned to the deep. The vessel was now almost afloat and a few turns of the engines launched her into deep water. She steamed into the harliour and was then examined by diver* from 11.M.5. Encounter, who reported they could find no rents in the hull, some rivets only being started. The vessel is making very little water and arrangements have liven made for her to proceed to San Francisco in company with the Oceanic, which steamer in now en

toute from Newcastle to Nukualofa. The <Samoa-paper pubi-UkeM ; the followlag account of the stranding of the Boveric:—“On ,the night of the 28th March the sal. Boveric made the land off Tongatabu. Blue lights were burned as signals to the, pilot, but as no nQtice was taken, the master-decided at daybreak, on the 29th, to take the eastern passage. The ship passed through the narrows, and ran on the reef off Makaha at 7.30 a.m. It appears that the pilot is also Inspector of Stock, aii.d did not put off .to the Boveric till soiiie time after daybreak. Seeing the vessel appr<»aching danger he ■waved his hands to the master, trying to signal him to go back. This was impossible, and the vessel struck. When the pilot went on board he introduced himself as “Inspector of Stock,” and was told that his services were not required.” Almost a Smash. The Main Trunk express which left Auckland for Wellington on Monday April 17th, narrowly escaped a serioua accident at Westfield, between the Penrose and Otahuhu stations, a catastrophe being averted by the prompt and courageous action of a resident of Westfield, Mb-. F. A. Claude.

A 8-33 tach evening a passenger train leaves Auckland for Otahuhu, arriving at that place at 9.28 p.m. Pending the arrival of the Main Trunk express, w+rkdi leaves Auckland at 9.15 p.m., the suburban train is shunted on to a siding, and then, after the overland express has passed through, leaves on the return journey to the city nt 9.43 p.m. On Monday the, train reached Otahuhu on time, and prepared to side-track for the passing of the express, the engine being uncoupled from the carriages in the process. The grade from Otahuhu back to Westfield is considerable. and when the engine was uncoupled. the vehicles attached—consisting of four carriages and a van—broke away. The express was about due, and the engine at. Otahuhu immediately began a vigorous whistling, in the hope of warning the driver of the outward-bound express of the mishap. Meantime the runaway carriages went quickly down the incline towards Westfield. The shrill shrieks of the engine at Otahuhu had not been without avail, however, as they succeeded in attracting the attention of Mr F. A. Claude, manager of the Auckland Sale Yards Company’s yards at Westfield. AN INTERESTING STORY. Tn course of conversation with a “Star” representative last week Mr. Claude told an interesting story. Shortly before 10 o’clock, while writing in his office at Westfield, which is near the railway siding, he heard three distress whistles, which in the railway service denotes danger, and the need for putting brakes on. The sky was overcast and cloudy, the moon being quite hidden, but it did not •take Mr. Claude long to grasp the position. His work at the saleyards brings him into daily contact with stock trucking operations at the Westfield siding, and one glance sufficed to show that two trains were running towards each other on the one line. At Westfield there are two down grades—one from Otahuhu and one from Penrose, and down both were coming brightly lit passenger trains. The express was travelling at 20 miles an hour, and the runaway carriages at about eight miles an hour. Unless something happened to prevent a collision, the two trains would meet in the vicinity of the city abattoir gate. At this time the express was less than half a-mile away, and the intended passenger cars only 100 yards away from where Mr. Claude stood. With remarkable presence of mind Mr. Claude ran from his office on to the railroad track, and then jumped on to the van as the runaway cars flashed past. His knowledge of the stock-trucking business standing him in good stead, he at once applied the Westinghouse brake, and brought the cars to a standstill. Jumping out again he seized one of the flaring red lights oil the back of the van, and rushing up to the windows of the other carriages, told two passenger* who were on board of their danger. Their surprise was genuine. The two travellers in question had taken tickets for Auckland, and had not had the slightest idea that there was no engine on the train, but believed that they were making the ordinary journey back to the citv. Speedily disillusioned pn this point, they lost no time in quitting their seats. Meantime Mr. Claude had run on about 20 yards ahead, flashing the red light as ho ran. and the express was brought to a standstill within two chains of the stationary carriages. Without Mr. Claude’s intervention, an-

other two minutes would have sufficed to bring about a eolHsion, and even had the driver of the express been fortunate enough to have Keen his danger and stop his train, there would still have been nothing to prevent the runaway cars Clashing into the express, whether that train happened to be travelling or stationary. Only Mr. Claude’s prompt action averted that accident. Had the two trains been in motion and collided at this point, there was a fairly steep embankment on one side over which they would probably have toppled, and a big railway smash would have had to be recorded.

“I have no wish to appear prominently before the public in regard to this incident,” modestly remarked Mr. Claude, “but I am convinced that had I not been in the vicinity- of Westfield siding, and luckily possessed of a knowledge of how to work the Westinghouse brake, there would certainly have been a terrible accident.” THE GOVERNOR A PASSENGER. There were GOO passengers on the outward express, including the Governor, Lord Islington, who was proceeding to Wanganui, and whose special carriage was in front of the train, next the engine. The express was delayed half an hour by the occurrence. Several railway servants were suspended in connection with the affair, and a preliminary inquiry into the ciieumstances was opened at the office of the district traffic manager last week. The railway authorities admit the facts as above related, but decline to divulge further information.

TESTIMONIAL TO MR. CLAUDE PROPOSED.

The part played by Mr. Claude in preventing what might have been a terrible accident has been a matter for general commendation, and it is suggested that he should be the recipient of something in the nature of a public testimonial. Mr. F. A. Claude, who acted with such conspicuous courage and presence of mind in averting a collision between a runaway train and the Main Trunk express near Westfield on Monday week last, has been the recipient of a large number of letters from passengers and relatives of passengers travelling by the express, gratefully acknowledging the singular services he rendered on the occasion mentioned. Included in the number is a letter from his Excellency the Governor (Lord Islington) dated April 20th, stating: “It was not until this morning that 1 was placed in possession of the facts in connection with the providential escape from a serious accident that I and my fellow passengers had on Monday night during our journey on the Main Trunk express, and that escape was due to the courage, decision and presence of mind displayed in so singular a manner by the action you took on the occasion, thus averting what would in all probability have been a very serious accident'. 1 desire on my own behalf and those of my staff who accompanied me to tender to you our expression of deep appreciation and gratitude for the splendid service you rendered us, together with all the other occupants of the train, by your prompt and masterly action. As my car on the occasion happened to be next to the engine, I feel particularly indebted to you for your invaluable services,” Labour Parties. The Trades Conference last week received a telegram from the Miners’ Federation stating that it was impossible to hold a conference at present to discuss the question of amalgamation. General regret is expressed by the delegates at the failure of the attempt to unite the two sections of labour, and many sneakers urged that further efforts be made. The conference discussed at length a proposal that a plebiscite of the members of the two divisions be taken on the question of amalgamation. A Zoa for Auckland. In these days of progressive education, when children are taught from observation rather than from the book, an' up-to-date teacher does not want to tell a child that a lion is a beast with a shaggy mane, he wants to have the beast with the shaggy mane on the spot, so that he can say. “Look! this is a lion.”

Up to the present the only opportunity Auckland children have had of getting a practical knowledge of wild beasts has been at the menageries of occasional circuses, but now Mr A. Boyd, the proprietor of a large zoo at Wanga-

nui, has decided to bring his valuable collection of animals to Auckland, and to establish a permanent zoo here. Some six acres of land have been acquired in Bymonds-street, Onehunga, and elaborate arrangements are being made for the housing of the animals. A strong wall seven feet in height is to be built round the grounds, so that there will be no danger of any of the animals breaking loose.

The zoo was started some years ago by Mr Boyd on a small scale, but there is now a tine and representative collection of some six hundred birds and animals, including Bengal tigers, leopards, lions, Him'laya and Russian bears, hyenas, wallabies, kangaroos, emus, fallow deer, 50 monkeys, Indian cranes, peacocks, love-birds and many varieties of the parrot family. There are also two eagles, which are the only ones ever brought into New Zealand, and over the introduction of which, it will be remembered, Mr Boyd had a big fight with the Customs Department a year or two ago. It will be a costly undertaking to bring the zoo from Wanganui to Auckland, as it is estimated that it will take a steamer from Wanganui two trips to bring up all the animals. Mr Boyd considers that when the zoo is in running order here it will be worth from fifteeen to twenty thousand pounds. Special provision is being made for school picnics, and there'will be tea rooms ion the grounds. The zoological gardens are to be lit with arc gas lamps, and the zoo will be an established institution within six months. “ Imported ” Clergy. Archdeacon Crossley, in the course of an interview at Melbourne, prior to leaving for Auckland, speaking on the question of the “importation” of clergy to Australia, said: —“Although an imported man myself, I hold very strongly' to the opinion that Australia ought to draw her ministerial recruits from Australia, and not from abroad. At the same time an injustice is inflicted upon the imported man, as well as upon the native-born. There are, indeed, a few Home men who come out to good positions in Australia. I am one of them myself. But the great majority of the clergy who come to Australia come out to do the hard, thankless pioneer work of the backblocks. Of course, I think there is an advantage to Australia herself in bringing out picked men to do special work, such as teaching, for example. No one who knows what a magnificent work Dr. Radford is doing for education in Sydney would question for one moment that his transfer has been a great gain to Australia; but speaking generally I maintain that the Australian ministry should be officered by Australians—young men who have been bred and born to the conditions of life in which they are called to minister, and they are quite equal to the task from every point of view.” Two Lords Dudley. Volumes have been written about the romance of the peerage, says the Melbourne correspondent of the Sydney “ Sun,” but in the ponderous tomes of Sir Bernard Burke and Craik there is, perhaps, no more singular story than that unearthed respecting a claim now being made to the estates and titles of our Governor-General by a Melbourne namesake of the noble earl — one William Ward. In a northern suburb of the southern city your correspondent found the claimant, Mr. Ward, who, in simple but clear and convincing fashion, was after a while induced to tell his story. This aspirant to the peerage has been a resident of Victoria since 1885, and though in comparatively humble circumstances bears a high character for probity and straightforwardness among his friends and acquaintances, and in this category Mr. Ward numbers many wellknown gentlemen of position and stand-

ing. Summarised, Mr. Ward’s claim is that as the direct descendant of Thomas Ward, an outlawed smuggler of the eighteenth century, he takes at least the Jamaican property, if not the whole of the English estates and titles coming through Baron Ward and Baron Dudley. The difficulty with his family was to prove Thomas Ward’s birth and direct connection with the Dudley family, but this he claims has been obligingly done for them by the late Lord Dudley. Ignorance of the right procedure and want of means have hitherto proved insuperable obstacles to the prosecution of their claim, but now the matter has been taken up determinedly by the well-known next-of-kin agent, Mr. Thomas W. Lloyd, who

possesses unitpie expert knowledge in these matters, 40 that the work of settling the truth - or fallaciousness of the claims will proceed under skilled direction. - .

As regards the claimant himself, Mr. William Ward, he was borft in July, 1866, and left London for Australia in 1883. He spent several years as a sailor, and bears traces of this, experience in his profusely tattooed arms. He married in Victoria, and has reared a large family of handsome daughters and one son, now a lad of nine, in a most respectable fashion. In stature he is of middle size, prepossessing in appearance, and, singular to say, although the two strains have been divergent for 206 years, he and Lord Dudley bear a resemblance to each other. He has worked at the carpenter’s bench, has acted as clerk of works on Government buildings, and is now busily occupied as a working builder and architect. He is an active temperance and religious worker, though in his frank, simple manner and outspoken conversation there is not the faintest trace of “ wowserism.” As his family, if his succession be established, comes in before the granting of the Viscountship and. Earldom, these titles would not be affected. 'Should he succeed in his claim he would not be a belted earl, but would have to be recognised as a Baron bold twice over, viz, eleventh Baron Ward and 20th Lord Dudley., . . Commencing with Thomas, the smuggler, who was born in 1685, the line of succession runs — Thomas, son of the smuggler, born in 1713, and then from father to son Thomas, born 1750. Thomqs born 1783, Thomas born 1813, Thomas Walker who died in 1901), William, the present claimant born in 1866, and his son William born in 1902. Picture Posters. At the meeting of Auckland City Council last week a reply was received from the Inspector of Police (Mr. J. Cullen) in reference to a communication received from the Council re alleged demoralising posters that had been recently exhibited on advertising hoardings within the city. The Inspector was of opinion that the posters referred to could not be dealt with under the provisions of section 43 of the Police Offences Act, as they did not appear to be either indecent, immoral, or obscene. Continuing, the Inspector stated that as the hoardings on which the posters complained of had been exhibited were under the control of the City Council, he suggested that the Council should pass a bylaw making it compulsory for all posters to be submitted to an officer of the Council for his approval, or otherwise, 'before they could be exhibited on hoardings within the city. The letter was received