LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 816, 13 May 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities advise that tho Victoria, which left Sydney at 2 p.m. on May 11, for Auckland, has on board an English and American mail, via Vancouver, an English mail, via Urindisi, and an Australian mail, which will come down to Wellington by the Main Trunk Express on Monday, May IC. '

Friday, Juno 3, being the anniversary of the birthday of King George' V, will be observed as a public holiday in the Government offices throughout the Dominion.

The' telephone exchange regulations have been revised in an important direction. It is now provided Hi nt for connections ovnr three miles in length the subscriber will bo charged at. ordinary rates mi the first three miles. For the portion beyond Hint distance he will bo required to' pay the cost of erection of the line and ail annual, maintenance charge of £1 for each quarter of a mile or fraction thereof if the line is on poles specially erected, or lfls. for each jninrter of a mile or fraction thereof if the wire is on an existing line of poles, or if the wire is already in existence and the subscriber Jias not been required to pay the cost of erection the charge will be 15s. for each quarter of a mile or fraction thereof. After the expiration of three yearn the rate for the poles specially erected shall be 10s. per annum for every quarter of n mile, or fraction thereof.

As the Government has .proclaimed Fri<lny next-the day of the lute King's funeral—a public holiday, it will notbo necessary for shop-keepers h> observe the statutory hnlMiolidiiy on Wednesday next.

According to Captain Bendall, the wellknown mnrino surveyor, who gave evidence in the, Duco insurance case vesterday, the "l'limsoll mark" is now olh'ciallv failed Hie "loiitl-line," nml the change is appropriate because the lute Siimuel l'limsoll would not approvo of the present lond-liucs on innny small ships. 'Phis statement was elicited by Mr. Ifoskihg, ICC, representing the defendant insurance company. Mr. Skerrett, K.C., remarked sarcastically, "So, if a vessel is legally loaded, the insurance companies ouglit not to pay." Mr. Masking retorted, "We have paid so often that we have encouraged these bad load-lines."

It■ «-as expected that Ministers of the Crnivn would bo rc-swuin yesterday, but such was not thu case. Thcru seems to be a divergence of opinion as to (he necessity of this being done.

A grievance against the alleged tardiness of the Public Audit Department was aired in tlio Supreme Court nt Auckland on Wednesday, when the Official Assignee (.Mr. i;. Gerard) informed Mr. Justice Kdwurds that it was difficult for him to restrict the number of motions for orders of release to 12 at a time, as requested by lus Honour. The Government auditor came round only once in twelve, or porlinps fifteen months, whereas there were from 80 to 100 bankrupts to bo dealt with each year. llis .Honour rtinnrkcd that lie was not aware of that fact. "If you must put them before me in hundreds," he added, "do so, hut 1 will imt be able to look at them. Tim whole thing is farcical." "Almost as farcical as the method of auditing, your Honour," commenied the assignee.

Prisoners' counsel got out of order smm-irltal in (lie .Supreme Court yesterday. The Rutland Hotel arson case was ■proceeding, and a police officer was heing examined as to statements made by one of the accused after his arrest. "Was he under arrest at the time?" interposed Sir. IVilford, who was defending. "He was," replied the detective. "Then, .1. submit, your Honour," said Mr. "Wilford, rising, "that that is not evidence. Tho law says that' a police officer nitty not 'cross-examine a prisoner after his arrest." After a passage at arms between counsel and his Honour, Mr. Wilford was told peremptorily to sit down. "I rule thai it is evidence," said the judge, "but if. you do not wiint the prisoner's statement to come out, Mr. Wilford, when he was apparently explaining himself, and especially in view of the fact that he has made conflicting statements, 1 shall allow your objection." Examination theu proceeded.

The melodious Maori place name, which is ■■generally preferred to English, does hot always bear Ihe lofty or poetical interpretation which its soft syllables suggest. On the Him of tho StratfordOngiirue railway there is a settlement which has received, presumably from the B.iilway department, the euphonious natuo Kiore. And Kiore signifies "rats."

Sneaking to a Dominion reporter yes-, terday, tho Hon. J. A. Millar (Minister for Railways) remarked that he anticipated a large increase in the business of his Department during the nest few years. There.was, lie said, every prospect of much of the unoccupied land in this island being brought into profitable occupation in t)ie immediate future. , With the increase in the number of holdings, tho trade created was bound to affect the railway returns to a. very considerable extent. "I would not be surprised," he added, "if at the end of the next ten years the business done by tl)e JJailways Department in p. third' as large again as at the present time."

Such will bo the demand for space in the Opera Honse for the accommodation

of tho orchestra of the Grand Opera Company, that the first row of tho orchestral stalls is to be removed. Including the conductor, Signor Hnzon, and deputy-conductor, Mr. Alfred Hill, there are 40 in the orchestra. This constitutes tho biggest—and probably the best—orchestra which has ever accompanied an opera company to Wellington, and it comes here under the baton of .Signor Hazoh, who for many years was conductor of the Sydney Philharmonic, and is . regarded as, one of .the ablest conductors Australia has ever seen. A bacon-curing establishment at Tauranga forms the latest outlet for the manifold activities of the" Salvation Army. • About hvo years and a half ago tho Army entered into the fishing industry- at Tauranga, with the object of providing work for tho Maoris in which they would be under its influence and secure from the' temptations of idleness or unscrupulous Europeans. It Was also thought that the profits' of the industry would cover tho expenses of the Army's outposts ; among, tho Maoris. The , experiment has proved successful, many of the Native fishermen have ■ earned , substantial cheques,' and mute a number of them are now buying their own motor fishing-boats. Recently a bacon-curing department "liasi 'b'eeir" added to the industry, in order to utilise the plant and, labour during tho off-sea-son lor fishing.

A suggestion was thrown out by Mr. Hasolden, S.M., at the conclusion of a case yesterday, in which a trades union claimed against an employer for p.n alleged breach of award, that the secretary of tho union aud the employer oonS?L n<!l V n . Sllch coscs mi 'sl>t' solve the difficulty by referring it to the secretary ot tho Labour Department. Counsel - for the union, in the case under notice,' did not think the ruling of tho labour Department would give .satisfaction. The scheme had beeu given a trial before, but had not been satisfactory. I. An arithmetical problem which arose in tho Rutland Hotel, arson case yesterday was not solved satisfactorily' until Ins Honour the Chief Justice went through the figures. A Wanganui bankmanager presented a statement showing tho position of an account, but the bank pass-book, it appeared, showed a different set of figures. "Let. me see it,", said his Honour. The judge perusal the documents, while another witness was being examined, and presently announced that the bank-book and the bank manager's statement corresponded exactly. "But, your Honour, givo evidence," said counsel for the prisoners. "1 can add up figures, as well as an accountant," replied his Honour. "The evidence so far," said counsel,, "is that they differ. Wo have to lake it from the evidence." "No, wo don't," corrected the judge, "if books are oroduced we have to take it from the writing, which is a] trays better tlian a sworn statement. You may check tho figures yourself." The bank manager siibs«(uei)lly sow his error,' and said w>.

The steamer Pnpanui, which arrived in the Yarra on Jummry 19, with a broken bottom, due to a. collision with a rock off the north coast of Tasmania, still awaits repairs (says the Melbourne "Age"). Khe lay in dry dock for seventeen days, and since then has remained in waters alongside of wharves as a'vessel under repair. Jhe Harbour | Trust Commissioners, anxious that the work of repairing tho Papaniii should go to Melbourne workmen, have not charged quayage rates, lest they should drive tho vessel away. But the owners of the vessel hesitate" to pay the local price, which is said to bo JAIOOD for repairs. The Finance Committee of the Harbour Trust has decided to charge quayage fees as from April 28. The committee considers that enough has been done in passing by the .£3OO for quayage rates between February 5 and April 2S. ' ■

A portion of Mr., Skerretfs crossexamination of one of the witnesses in the Diico insurance case yesterday was very much like n lecture "on the equilibrium of ships. He obtained the assent of tho witness to the statements: That the measure of the stability of a ship depends upon the distance of the centre of gravity below a point called the metncentre; Hint the centre of gravity could bn ascertained if one knew the shape, dimensions, and weight of thn shin and tho weight and disposition of the cargo and everything on board; that the mefacentre could he ascertained from the same

facts; and that the stability or'otherwise of the ship could thus be accurately determined. After a few more question's and answers, counsel / claimed to have shown that tho witness was not versed in the scientific aspect of the matter. Mr. Hosking, K.C.: "But tho decipherers of meta-centres sent the Waratah to sea, when practical men refused to sail on her." Mr. Ilosking also claimed that his learned friend's scientific discourso should be given direct to the jury. Several minutes were then spent by Mr. Skerrett explaining centres of gravity, centres of buoyancy, nml the like to tho jurymen, with the aid of diagrams, while opposing counsel leaned over and listened.

In the Supreme Court to-day,- one or more of the following cases will be heard: Martin William Tier (charged with breaking and entering ami theft), James Cartin, alias Curson (charged with theft), linlpli Hakoinbe (charged with having committed a serious offence), and Henry Smith (charged with theft, and with being a rogue and a vagabond). On Monday it is probable Hint the rc-triol of Davis And Haincs, charged with niwon, in connection with the fire at tho Rut land Hotel buildings, Wanganui, will be gone, on with.

Shampooing, Clipping, Hairdressmg, Manicuring, Face Massage, Treatment of Palling Hair, and Dandruff. Conlbiugs made up. Natural Hair-pads. Mrs. Kolieston (over Carroll's), 11 WilJis Street. Thoue 1539.—Advt.

"Much is heard about the reduction of imports (says the "Trade Review" of yesIfiwlay), bill, for (he Dominion as a whole, those of the latest quarter are within a 1 rifle of those of 100!) and 1907 and above those of 190 U. The abnormal volume of those for 1908 stands out clearly, nearly one million above tho usual level. This sudden increase was caused, to a considerable extent, by special importations of .foreign goods-canned fruits, matches, wire nails, etc.-fo avoid tho increased duties which, under the Preferential Tariff Act of 1807, came into forte on April 1, 1908." Apart, however, from this particular episode the years 1007 and 1908 were both periods of heavy importation."

The new form of procedure in regard lo the conduct of civil business in the Magistrate's Court wns brought info practice for the first time yesterday. When Air. W. 1?. Haselden. S.M.. tool: bis seat (Hi the Bench he snid the forms had now benn supplied to enable the carrying into effect of tho alterations made by tho amendment of Hie Matrislrale's Court Act .last year with regard to procedure and order of business. The order for the future would be thai judgment .summonses would lie taken .first, then defended cases, and cases in which notice of defence had been filed. While these were being, taken those plaintiffs or their solicitors in whose cases notice had not been filed could apply to enter up judgment by default in the Court office. His Worship said he thought the new system would save the. time of the Court and the legal pra6titioners. TJndet the new scheme solicitors who have not a defended case to attend to can do their business at once in the Court office, instead of having to wait about the Court proper for anything up to two hours, afc was the case in the old "calling over" days.

Upon the question of • the Hutt Park tramway, Mr Wilford, , M.P., will introduce a deputation to the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) this morning.

Tho Captain Williams Testimonial Committee met at Eastbourne oil Wednesday evening. The treasurer reports having received .£SO to date, including .Ell from Seatoun and Karaka Bay residents. It was decided to close tho. fund on Saturday, May' 21.

The Sydney "Star," of May 5, states: "Sir. David M'h'arlane, a member of tlio Itoyal Life Saving Society's branch at AVanganui, New Zealand, is at present on a visit to Sydney, and ho. has been commissioned during his stay to obtain information regarding the society's work and that of the surf and life-saving brigades. Letters of introduction have beeu given to him to the various surf clubs, and at Manly he recently witnessed tho roel and life-lino in action. The visitor was much impressed by the popularity of surf, bathing and the high state of proficiency to which Jifa-saving work has been brought in New Sonth "Wales. By invitation, Mr. M'l'arlane attended the executive meeting of tho Royal Life Saving Society,- and gave an interesting report of what has been done in New Zealand. Mr. Claude Jagger, of the Wellington Amateur Swimming Club, of New Zealand, is also in Sydney on a similar mission, to obtain information which will be of service to the Eoyal Life Saving Society's Branch at Wellington, and to enable the officials there to i'orm surf, life-saving brigades." '

The official inspection of borough works by the Mayor and councillors of Miramar, which was postponed last Saturday on account of the late King's death, will be held to-morrow afternoon, i

Lonely Opotiki impressed Colonel Knight, of the Salvation Army, with its potentialities during his recent tour of tho North Island. , "I believe that Opotiki is a ■ coming district," ho remarked to a Dominion representative yesterday. "In some ways it reminds me very much of Gisborne, and in other'ways of Elthan). If ever the railway gets to t'nat part of tho world, and the back country is thrown open, I believe that it willcurry a big population. The district has a superb climate." "So , near and yet so far," might bo the lamentation of Opotiki. It is 2G miles from Kotorua, and the journey takes a day and a half by coach, andjit is 40 miles, or a day's c6ach' ;; jburne3v"l'rom' Tauranga. ■

In accordance with, a notification appearing in last night's Gazette, the limitation of interest-bearing..deposits in the Post Office Savings Hank is not to apply to the New Zealand Accountants' and Auditors' Association.

Applications continue' to be received in daily increasing, numbers at the Auckland Crown Lands Office for. the 101' sections of the Hauraki Plains settlement, to be. opened for selection next week (pays the Auckland "Herald"). Up to the hour at which the Lands Office- elosed on Wednesday, over 600 applications werq hi for 9G sections (exclusive of the number ' re-, ceived ,at the'. Thames), leaving . only eight of the sections offered uncovered by applicants. The date on which applications will close is Friday, and tho ballot is fixed for May 18.

The'display of Maori carvings at the Dominion Museum has been enriched by

tho addition of several from the Urewera Country. It is interesting to record that they are reported to be tho most ancient of their kind in Now' Zealand. One of the figures is named after the great Tuhoe and the other after Fuehu, one of Tuhoo's ancestors. There are also three or four well-carved doorways and a design for above a doorway. It is understood that somo-qf the carvings are believed to bo at least six generations ojd.

By the Mokoia, which arrived from Tnhiti yesterday, news was received of the renewal of the San Francisco-Pa-peete mail contract. On April 30, 3[. Francois, Governor of French Oceania, signed a contract with tho Oceanic Company (.Sprockels , * line) for the carriage of mails between these two ports. The Mariposa will carry on ' tho' service.

' Attractive series of popular science lectures and "business talks" will .'be given during the winter -mouths as part of. the educational* work of the Y.M.C.A. Tho popular science scries is as follows: —June 15, •.'Electricity," Jlr. La Trobc; July 14, "Navigation," Mr. James Moore; August ,1, "Water," Professor Easterfield; September 13, "Insect Life," Mr. G. V, Hudson; October 11, "Gas," Mr. Norwood. The scrips of business talks is as follows:—June 21, ."Shipping"; Juno 28,' "Banking"; July 5, "Engineering," Mr. W. H. Morton; July 12, "Modern Journalism," Mr. P. C. Freeth; July 19, "The Library," Mr. H. Ikillie; July 2G, "Military," Colonel Bauchop. It is also proposed to form, in connection with the Y.M.C.A., a tourist club, at which travel addresses will be given by prominent citizens who r havo been abroad.

The new Anglican church at Eastbourne is to be formally opened by the Bishop of Wellington (Dr. Wallis) to-raorrow afternoon, and on Sunday next divine service will be held in the new edifice for the first time. The building has been erected of cammevated concrete, finished in rough caste'on the outside, and is plastered, within. It is of simple Gothic design, with a gabled roof from which rises a spire in proportion. The roof is of red asbestos tiles, and within tlin oiled jarrnh girders and buttresses are left exposed to view, after the manner of old English churches. Mr. F. de.J. Clcre is the architect. The. church and land cost some =£1200, of which half has already been paid off.

The delay in the publication of the supplementary list of new justices of the peace is causing some comment, especially in sparsely-settled districts. Asked when it was likely to be. issued, tho Hon.. Dr. Mndlay told a Dosiinicw reporter last night that lie could not add lo what ho had already said on the subject., viz., Hint the matter was still before Cabinet.

It will he remembered (hat statutory provision was made last session for the payment of an additional u fc3ooo by the Government into the Public Service Superannuation Fund, consequent upon the. merging of the Police ■ Provident tfund. In accordance with Parliament's decision, Cabinet yesterday authorised the payment of the amount in question. A sum of money was authorised bv Cabinet yesterday in connection with the prospecting on the coal iield at Hetarukc; in . tho Waimarino district. ' Retnruke is generally understood to be the locality in which a valuable "secret" coal seam has been discovered. It appears that the coal was originally discovered there when Ihe. North Island Main Trunk line was being surveyed. The coal .is stated io be of somewhat- similai' quality -to that which is found at Kailangata. It i< understood that (ho greater part of u>9 feani ia on Crown land.

Tenders are to be invited immediately by the Government for the installation of the proposed wireless system lor th« Dominion. The Prime Minister, hopes that it will be completed and in working order before the end of twelve months.

Captain G. G. Smith, Royal Naval Registrar'at Wellington, has been advised that H.M.S. Pioneer, drill-ship for naval reservists, will arrive at Wellington on Holiday next, May IC. Drill will commence on May 23. The cruiser has vacancies for seamen and stokers.

Last night's Gazette contained regulations ns , to incorporated owners under the Native Land Act. 1909.

The, Government is renewing its offer of bonuses in connection with the production of quicksilver and mineral oil ia Aew Zealand.

The Cook group is about to be brought into tho focus of the world's eye by means or the kmematograph. Mr. Kranklyn Barrett, special commissioner for Path* h-ercs, of Paris, left Auckland by j,he •lalnne- on Wednesday (o take n. series ot animated views' iii Rarotonga. He will J so visit Tahiti for the same, purpose. ivn^' r t rett yill-return to Australia via Wellington. ■■ . •

A further seohon of the StratfordPiigMue railway, eleven miles in length, f* from Tβ Wera lo Huiroa,""isV hi!), f m. "V^™' 1 early next month. arW,3 *£ he M '".isters pf the Crown will attend the opening, ceremony. When the thf Z" T h< T of ihe lble were lai « ™ , cpa t rtmei L t •mder-estima.ted . the IW'°!,M? to be carried, and. it fins been found necessary to relay tlm heavily fW° rct t0 heavier meta than Wi £s put down at V m An , a<l(l itional section of 12 "mile frora ,£° Wera to Pohnkurais practiSh competed with.the exception of a tanMl, 13 chains m length, which should be iinished to-morrow. A good deal o* the torumtion is do up past tho tunmel but the lines are not yet laid. The pro(Tress of the work will Lβ delayed for some time before it ran reach Whanrainoniona, six miles past Pohuknra, by the construction of a tunnel 30 chains ip length, wJuch has just been commenced.'

lho hrst meeting of the Wellington Combined No-License League was held ir the -Vivian Street Baptist . Schoolroom last evening, the president, (tho Key. A. J. Comric) being in the chnir. Arrangements for the annual meeting of tho alliance, to be hpld in 'Wellington 'in the last week of June, were discussed. A resolution of regret was' passed for the departure of the Eev. W. J. Williams, v.'lio was an enthusiastic member of the Wellington No-Licensp" League. The ' secretary was instructed to send la letter of condolence fo Mrs. Redgrave on the death of her husband, who was i former secretary of the league.

The total area uf laud dealt with by the Native Land Court,? in this island during the past two months'was 196478 iicres. Of this area a littlo over 92,000 acres represented lands converted from customary land into Native freehold land. The balance was the total area in connection . with the subdivision oi IU2 original blocks.into 107 areas. : ■

The non-expenditure of various grants in his electorate was a subject upoD which Mr. Hine, MVP. for Stratford, interviewed the Hon. IJ-. M'Kennie (Minister for Public. Works) yesterday. .Mr. Hine explained that 'th,o local bodies concerned would- have undertaken th? expenditure of tho vote but for' the conditions which had, been imposed by the Department regarding expenses. It was estimated by the local bodies that the cost' to them if they undertook the works would be at least 71 per cent. The Hon. Mr. M'Kenzie promised that the Department wonid carry but the works The Toronto "Globe" states that Mrs.. Caroline Campbell, a lady, of French- , Canadian extraction, living at Washington, has lodged a claim to the historic Plains of Abraham at Quebec. Mrs. Campbell, who declares that she is a cousin of Sir Wilfrid Lanrier, says she is the sole heiress, as next-of-kin, to the estate of Abraham Martin, who owned the Plains, and to the Sejgneury of Beau-, port, near Quebec. She has applied to the Dominion authorities for a petition of light to' sue the Government, challenging their. occupancy ~of the land, and Sir Wilfrid has turned the case over to the Minister of. Justice, to be dealt with od its' merits'.'. Mrs. Campbell is said, tn have obtained access to, certain important documents, which were not' available ■ when claims were unsuccessfully lodged by herself and several others in tho early" seventies.