TRAM CARS AND CROWDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 45, 22 February 1905, Page 4

TRAM CARS AND CROWDS.

A letter in our correspondence columns calls attention to a matter of public interest, which most people are inclined to dismiss far too lightly— the conduct of our crowds. No one who reads the remarks made by '"Argus" about the •behaviour of the average man in a harry to catch his tram will be inclined to say that the writer has exaggerated the selfishness and inconsideratenesa —not to say brutality—displayed by large numbers of people in our streets every day of the week. Our readers must be well aware from painful experience, that it is not easy for even an able-bodied man to find his way into a tram in Queen-etreet late in the afternoon; while for women and children the attempt to catch a tram between five and six o'clock is simply dangerous. The headlong stampede of boys end men sweeps everyone else aside, and those unable or unwilling to take their chance in such a crush are compelled to go on missing tram after tram till the human maelstrom has subsided. The brutal indifference shown by the majority of men and boys in our crowds not only to the convenience but even to the physical safety of our women and children is one of the worst blots upon our •ocial life to-day. The men who have some respect for the laws of courtesy, or who prefer to show to others the consideration that they desire for their wives, or mothers, or daughters, know that when they try to make way (for women in such a crowd they only ' sacrifice their own chances without being able to help those whom they wish to assist. These remarks apply not ( only to the daily crush around the tram cars, but to all our public gatherings. The conduct of a large portion of the crowd around our theatre doors is often as disgraceful as anything that "Argus" has described; and the behaviour of the people who tried to force their way into Alexandra Park on the occasion of the British football match last year was calculated to make any self-respecting man blush for our so-called civilisation. Whatever be the cause, it certainly seems that men and boys in this colony are losing that sense of respect for the claims and rights of those physically weaker than themselves which is the foundation of all true manliness; and it is a very deplorable fact to contemplate. But as far as the trams are concerned, it should be possible to do more than moralise about our social deterioration. "Argus" has referred to the means employed in Paris and elsewhere to ensure decent and seemly conduct in such crowds; and we hope that the Tram Company will see its way to institute some such method of protecting women and children who so largely use tie trams against the selfishness and brutality of the physically stronger. The presence of a force of police at the gate of the Domain or Alexandra Park on great public occasions would certainly improve matters. But the disgraceful scenes daily enacted in Queen-street round the trams can easily be stopped

if the Tram Company will take the trouble to arrange that everyone sHall enter the cars in a certain order, or in accordance with certain rules that could be enforced if necessary with the assistance of the police. A good deal of the strain might be obviated if the Tramway Company would arrange to run large car» instead of small ones, at the busy hours, on the Parnell and College Hill routes.

The Union Co., the local agents, are advised by the Orient Company that with the exception of the Orizaba, whose outward trip is cancelled, their vessels will leave Sydney fortnightly up to and including the Ophir, April 19, thereafter monthly sailings from Australia. The monthly sailings from London, however, will be inaugurated by the steamer leaving that port on March 10.

The Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr. Mackenzie) is absent with, the Representation Commission, and consequently the meeting of the Crown Lands* Board, which was to have been held to-morrow, has been adjourned till Thursday, March 2.

The channel from Kauri Point to Hobsonville, Henderson and Swanson is deep, even at low tide —15 to 26 feet— but it is not marked out, like that to Avondale," with piles above the waterline. This fact was communicated by Mr R. O. Clark to the Harbour Board yesterday. He said that there are now four potteries owned by different firms in Hobsonville, his own employing 50 men, sending away six scow-loads down the river. There are also several brickyards further up, and all their requirements are taken up by water. The channel at present lies between bad banks, and is nearly useless, and in order to have the channel marked out he offered the services of himself and a. launch for a day to locate the banks. The matter was referred to a committee for report.

The jury in the manslaughter ease against Olliver, arising out of a scuffle in the Waitemata billiard saloon, after nearly four hours' deliberation, found the prisoner not guilty, and he was discharged.

The Arbitration Court will ait at Auckland on Monday next and onwards. There are 17 industrial disputes to be heard, beginning with that of the engineers, and following with the seamen, shipbuilders, plumbers, iron-moulders, bakers, carpenters, cabmen, butchers, carters, cooks and stewards, saddlers, quarrymen, coachmakers and sugarworkers. A painter's dispute will be heard at Gisborne, and a dispute of the Hikurangi coal miners will be heard at Whangarei. There are 11 compensation cases to be heard unde rthe Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act, three of which will be heard in Auckland, and the, remainder in the country.

"Can't you make it a fine?" asked an old man named Charles King, who tremblingly pleaded guilty in the Police Court to-day to a charge of committing an indecent act in Grey-street last night, and was sentenced to a month's imprisonment. King seemed greatly distressed at r thc charge, which he said was the first and last of the kind to be made against him, and he pleaded earnestly for the chance of a fine. The magistrate, Mr McCarthy, S.M., pointed out to him that the offence took place within 14yds of a public convenience, and could not be overlooked. He declined to provide an alternative to imprisonment.

In our report of the bankruptcy of Arthur St. George Forbes Messrs. Tanfield, Potter, and Co. were wrongly given as figuring as creditors to the amount of £435 IS/. The amount should have read £17 16/4.

The annual report of the Premier Diamond Mine, South Africa, for the year 1904 shows marvellous progress- It is just 2£ years since Mynheer Joachim Prinsloo sold the farm which now forms the mine. Shortly before the wax a Band Corporation refused to pay £40,000 for this mine, which is near Pretoria, and to date it has now yielded one million carats. The nett earnings for the year 1904 amounted to £667,738 5/9. The working capital originally subscribed was £10,000, another £74,249 19/ was raised by the issue of reserve shares, and from creditors £ 16,290 10/9. The general equipment of the mine cost £294,853, while the diamonds on hand and sales outstanding were valued at £375,091 2/7, and cash £188.911 12/3. The total profit for 1904 was £667,738, and the total value of the yield of diamonds £866,030. The storage accommodation for water for this Company is 246,000,000 gallons.

Thus Mr WHheford, M.H.BL, to a Washington "Post" reporter:—"ln New Zealand there is a strong feeling that, as all nations under modern conditions must have allies, our natural alliance is with America, since we are of the same stock, speak the, same tongue, and cherish the same ideals. Many of our people are of the opinion that this alliance should go so far as to bring all the islands of the Pacific Ocean under the sphere either of American or British domination. At present we have two matters to bring to the consideration of your government and people: First, the opening up of Hawaii to our colonial ships, so that they may ply freely between Honolulu and San Francisco, as of yore, before the maritime laws of the United States were applied to its newly acquired island possessions. In the second place, it is highly desirable that between your government aTTd New Zealand there should be arranged some reciprocal tariff agreement which would augment the existing commerce and make it constantly increase in volume. For instance, it ought to be beneficial to your factories and working people to let out wool in free of duty. In return it would be equitable to abolish the duties now imposed on your kerosene and farming and mining machinery."

The Supreme Court this morning began the third trial of Herbert Pearson, a Cambridge stable hand, on a charge of committing a serious offence upon the wife of a Cambridge saddler named Beuth, formerly of Auckland. In former trials the juries had disagreed. The Crown Prosecutor (Hon. J. A. Tole) intimated that he expected the hearing of the case would occupy at least two days. Jurymen not empannelled for the trial were discharged till 10.30 on Friday morning next.

Mr W. J. Napier -was to move at the Harbour Board yesterday afternoon that the Parnell Council should be given notice to discontinue the discharge of offensive sewage into the harbour within six months. On the suggestion of Mr Basley, the motion had added to it the names of the Remuera, NewmaTket, Davenport and Grey Lynn local bodies, and was passed in that form. Notice has already been served on the CSty Council to discontinue, and the Mayor, who is now chairman of the Board, is very much opposed to the deposit of tiie offensive sewage in the harbour. The action was taken in the case of Parnell because the local Council has under consideration »n extended drainage «"*—»»ft.

In the case of John Donaldson r. the New Zealand Shipping Company, the Supreme Court at Wellington awarded £300 damages for injuries received by the plaintiff through being struck by a bale of wool while engaged in - the hold of the steamer Waimate on June 11. The jury found that the company was guilty of negligence in having insufficient hatches off. and having the derrick not plumb with the hatchway opening.

In connection with the threatened strike among the Wellington tram employees, the trouble appears to have been caused by the importation of an inspector from Auckland. Inquiries show that some time ago the gentleman was imported from Auckland as ticket inspector, and he now holds the position of acting-traffic manager. The men complain that since this latter appointment their position has become almost intolerable, and that they are harassed and hampered by having to run to a badly-constructed time-table.

The following team has been selected to represent Canterbury against the Australians in the match commencing on Friday: A. Barron, J. Bennett, C. Boxshall, S. T. Callaway, H. Ellis, J. D. Lawrence, D. M. Ollivier, S. Orchard, H. C. Ridley, A. Reed, A. Sims (captain).

At the University tournament debate at Easter, in Wellington, the subject will be the fiscal question. The Auckland representatives will move that Mr Chamberlain'e proposals are fraught with danger to the Empire, .and the local college will oppose the motion. Then the subject will be fought over again by the Canterbury and Otago representatives. v At the Te Awamutn Court yesterday Charles Innes, brewer, of Hamilton, charged under the new Licensing Act with sending casks containing five gallons of beer to a person residing at Otorohanga, in the King Country, without having distinctly written or printed on the outside a statement that "the contents were liquor, was conviced and ordered to pay Court costs. £5 16/4.

A general meeting of the Auckland Co-Operative Terminating Building Society takes place next Tuesday evening for the purpose of allotting appropriations.

A fine collection of handsomelyframed mirrors, pictures, etc. will be sold by auction by Mr *Varren Blytb. tomorrow.

Mr. Geo. Hatcher, builder and land agent, has removed to town offices in City Chambers, Queen street.

H. Fountain and Grace B. Fitzpatrick, of Parneil, trading in co-partnership as shopkeepers under the name of H. Fountain & Co., have filed their petition in bankruptcy. The first meeting of creditors will be held on March 1.

Are you furnishing? Twenty per cent. (4/ in the £) taken off our well-known low prices for floorcloths, carpets, hearth rugs, door slips, tapestry tablecloths, and curtains, damask tablecloths, und serviettes, eider-down quilts, and Cftna mattings. John Court's colossal alteration sale (two shops), Queen-street.— Ad.

"A short life and a merry one." Rendell's £ s. <1. sale, commencing to-mor-row, is for one week only.—Ad.

s Ar e you furnishing? Twenty per cent. (4/ in the £) taken off our well-known low prices for floorcloths, carpets, hearth rugs, door slips, tapestry tablecloths, and curtains, damask tablecloths, and serviettes, eider-down quilts, and China mattings. John Court's colossal alteration sale (two shops), Queen-street.— Aα.