NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8340, 29 January 1913, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

The Pateena, which arrived at V;'i lington last night from Nelson and inston, brought nearly three hundred passengers. ‘The vessel had a very rough passage across Cook Strait. Tho Karori Borough Council last evening adopted a recommendation ot the works committee that tho borough engineer spend £25 in tarring and sanding tho extended portion of the tramway track.

Wireless messages were received at Wellington last night stating that the Moana would arrive at Wellington at 10 o’clock this morning from San iranciseo via ports. The Moeraki expects to get in at 10.30 a-m. to-day from Sydney, and the Tahiti at 6 o’clock tomorrow morning Irom Sydney.

Mutton birds in countless numbers arc to be seen at tho mouth of the Apariraa river at the present time, driving tho sardines shorewards (says the ‘‘{Southland Times.”) Those small fish become stranded on the .beach and are eagerly sought after by residents and visitors alike, as they are considered a great delicacy.

The Education Board yesterday granted the Levin school committee the sum of eightpenoo per head for the conveyance of children to school from Kimberley road. Representations aro to be made to tho Education Department pointing out tho inadequate amount now allowed for tho conveyance of children to school, and impressing upon the authorities tho necessity of making a larger allowance.

Recently tho proprietors of several private hotels in the city reported to the police authorities that clothing had been taken from their premises. Investigations were made, and yesterday afternoon Detective-Sergeant Cassells (Mount Cook) and Constable Taylor (Newtown police) arrested a woman on three charges of theft of wearing apparel. Tho accused will bo brought before the Magistrate’s Court to-day. The Mungaroa school committee has asked the Wellington Education Board to change the name of tho school to “Te Mania ” owing to confusion with a place of a similar name in another part of tho country. Before a change can bo made, however, i]b is necessary that tho place should bear tho name of tho local post office, and tho board has deferred: decision on the application ponding further inquiry from the committee.

The Dunedin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals wrote to the Wellington society yesterday cordially approving-of the proposal to hold a conference of delegates from the Now Zealand Societies, and it considered much good would result. Beyond that the society was not in favour of the points raised in the circular forwarded by the Wellington society. The chairman (Mr Webb) said the subcommittee had not yet prepared a report about the conference because the material it required had' only just come to hand. A report, however, would he furnished at next meeting.

On January 23rd the attention of the inspector for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was drawn to three dogs that had been shipped from Blenheim to Wellington. Two of the dogs were consigned to Napier and one to Palmerston North, and the inspector declared they had been put into boxes that were far too small for them. Two were in a lame condition, and one was in a very bad way through being cramped up in the box. He had tha dogs liberated and fed, and the agency through which they were being consigned decided to dispense with tha boxes. The society resolved to communicate with the owner of the dogs and inform him that a repetition of tho offence would lead to a prosecution.

“I think that the City Council should inquire into more than a man’* character before granting him a cabman’s license. They should see that he has good sound horses for his work.” This was a remark made by Inspector Seed at a meeting of the S.P.C.A. yesterday. Ho pointed out that there wore some good horses and some very bad ones in cabs in Wellington, and the council did not consider the turnout at all when giving a license. Consequently some cruelty to horses resulted. Ho had just had a case where a cabman had been driving a decrepit horse, and after cautioning him the man agreed to turn it out. A couple of nights after it was again in harness. One of the lady members of the society said that it would be a good thing if candidates for the council at the next election were asked to assist in this matter, and if they declined then the members of the society and their friends should not vote for them. No efforts are being spared to make the Easter Carnival a great success as a money-raising medium. It is to be thoroughly well advertised in the tramcars and elsewhere, so that none will be able to say they know not of it. At a meeting of the sports committee this evening consideration will be given to a suggestion by tbe University carnival committee that the two carnivals should bo held in conjunction. There is also a suggestion that a boxing carnival should be held at the same time, but whether in the Town Hall or on Newtown Park has yet to bo determined. The children’s section hf the carnival promises to be very successful. An endeavour is being made to get' the headmasters and headmistresses (or the senior lady assistants, as the case may be) of the city and suburban schools to attend a meeting at the Town Hall early next week to make arrangements for, the display. An offer has been made to the carnival executive by an expert to train a band of say, 200 children and young people to, take part in a grand spectacular display of national dances, marches, action songs, etc. It will be dealt with at the next meeting of the committee. This morning the council of the New Zealand Institute will hold its annual meeting at the Museum Library, and among other matters to be discussed will bo the constitution of a Scientific Board of Advice for Government publications, and a Board of Control for tie Museum. Tho president is Mr F. Cheesman, P.L.S., the well-known botanist, of Auckland, and the Board of Governors are: His Excellency the Governor, the Minister for Internal Affairs (Hon. H. X>. Bell), Messrs A. Hamilton, A. H. Turnbull, J. Young, C. A. Ewen (nominated by the Governor) ; elected by incorporated societies, Mr Martin Chapman. K.C., Professor Kirk (Wellington Philosophical Society), Mr Henry Hill (Hawke’s Bay Philosophical Society), Dr Cookayna (Nelson Institute), Dr D. Petrie 'and Mr J. Stewart, C.E. (Auckland Institnte), Professor Marshal! and Mr G. M. Thomson. M.P. (Otago Institute), Mr K. Wilson (Manawatu Philosophical Society), Professor Farr and Mr 11. Speight (Canterbury Philosophical Institute). Mr W. Hessol (flanganui Philosonhical Society). The secretary is Air B. C. Aston (Government Analyst).

Asphalt crossings aro being laid down at the intersections of streets at Petono where they join tho llutt road. Thu crossings, besides being of benefit to pedestrians, will have tho of preventing motor-cars from travelling along tho Hutt road at an unreasonable pace.

Mr J. H. Gunson, chairman of tho Auckland Harbour Hoard, considers tho loan of £250,000 which has just been floated by tho board on tbe London market an excellent piece of financial business. The money will bo spent on tho various works tho board has in hand at present, which Mr Gunson coneiders should bo completed in about eighteen months.

Young swimmers who desire to obtain distance certificates will bo afforded an opportunity at To Aro Batbs this afternoon, when Air T. Shields will bo in attendance from 2 to 4 for tho boys and 4to 6 for the girls. Air Shields will bo leaving for Wanganui towards tho end of the week, and wijl bo absent from Wellington for about a fortnight.

Tho usual mooting of the Pacific Lodge U.A.O.D. was held in tho Druids’ Hall on Monday night, Bro, Severn presiding. Tho amendments to tho rules and tho remits from various lodges in tho North_ Island were discussed at length and directions given accordingly to tho. lodge representatives at tho Grand Lodge session. D.i ■ Bro. Boock and P.D.P. Bro. Jennings presented Bro., E. Jones with a 1 .A. collar. There wore present members from tho Excelsior, Coronation ana Pride of Brooklyn Lodges. Ibo next night will bo a pound night.

Tho directors of tho Auckland Gas Company in their annual report recommend a dividend for tho i>:ist hal - year of Is lOd on fully-paid shares and a proportionate dividend on contributing shares ill paid (that is on 17s 6d for full-period and 2s 6d for portion). This will amount to £21,813 03 4d, which, added to tho dividend paid in July last, amounts to £43,096 10s, leaving £4OBO 11s Id to bo added to tho balance of net revenue account. The revenue account shows tho expenditure to have been £127,814 Is lid, of which tho manufacture of gas was responsible for £35,133 5s sd. The total receipts were £176,091 9s, leaving a balance of £48,277 7s id. The balance at the credit of tho reserve fund is £IOO,OOO, and tho share capital is £500,000. A wicket that is calculated to add more than ever to tho “ glorious uncertainty ” of the great game of cricket was graphically described to tho management committee of tho Wellington Cricket Association last evening by a member of a team that had unfortunately to contest a match on it. “ The wicket would hardly do credit to a Boys’ League game,” he said. “In some ways it resembles a switchback railway or a stylo of landscape known as undulating. At one end a depression of at least six inches exists on one side and rises sharply to a fair level, and down tho length of the pitch miniature hills rise and fall. Tho other end is fairly passable, but in tho outfield on one side is a ditch' or watercourse running the length of the field, about ten or fifteen yards away from the pitch, just where the fieldsman at cover-point or mid-oS would be standing. On tho other side, a cart track with deep ruts runs round the ground, making fielding not too safe an occupation.” The committee decided to write to the club pointing out that it would not be drawn in matches until the ground was put in order.

The Hutt-Horowhenua members of the Education Board who were appointed to inquire into the conditions of work at Kaiwara School, affected by the establishment of factories in the vicinity, reported to the board yesterday that, they had discussed the question with the local committee. Tho committee represented that tho nuisance could and should be abated ; that the work which caused the nuisance was, for tho most part, carried on in the open air, but that the erection of a building would largely decrease the noise so that the work could quite well be carried on; that while not good, tho present site was satisfactory, but that even if the present sit© .were abandoned, other, and equally, or more suitable sites could be obtained, and that in any event tho people were unitedly opposed to the closing of the school. The committee recommended that final consideration of tho board’s report be deferred, and that in the meantime Messrs McArthur and Millikan, 1 the owners of the ironworks adjacent to the school, bo required to abate the cause of complaint forthwith. The board adopted the report. Under date November. 16th the High Commissioner reported to the Department of Agriculture on tho shipment of New Zealand eggs which had arrived a few days previously by the Turakina. The parcel consisted of five quartercases, each containing three long hundreds, tho shippers being Messrs Reilly, Bcott and GUI, of Dunedin. “The wood of tho cases is stUl thought to be rather thick,” said the report, “ but, on the whole, the present shipment is a great improvement on tho last., Tho packing was better, and ont of a total of 1800 eggs, only 180 were broken, though the broken ones were the causa of another 209 bad eggs. No preparation had been used on tho shells, and the landing of tho eggs in sound condition was considered a great success. The eggs were very rich, wellselected, of good size and colour, and the agents stated they cooked splendidly—nearly as well as English newlaid. “ The milky white of the latter was present in tho New Zealand eggs, and the importers consider that if tho right package can ho found which will enable them to arrive in London in a sound condition there is a big future for the egg trado of the Dominion. On tho voyage Home, by the way, they were carried in cool-chamber, at a temperature of 45 degrees.”

Tho current issue of the “Journal of Agriculture,” just published, maintains its high standard, both of technical excellence in production and informative value to tho professional farmer. Among leading features in the contents are tho following articles : “ Agricultural Research,” fay E, Clifton ; “ Ruakura Farm of Instruction,” by Primrose McConnell; “ Phormium Refuse,” by B. C. Aston; “Plant Selection,” by AY. S. Hill; “Flaying Hides and Skins,” by T. J. Buckton; “ Cross Fertilisation,” by AY. H. Taylor ; “ Cheese,’ 7 by AY. E. Gwillini; “ Semi-official Testing,” by AV. At. Singleton. Excellent and remarkably clear half-tono illustrations are interspersed throughout tho _ publication, and tho subject of one is a magnificent cluster of lucerne at Ruakura, showing a growth of twenty inches in fourteen days. There are informative notes on synthetic milk* fruit-canning, tho apiary, orchard and vineyard work, narcissi culture, and the poultry industry. The co-operativo experiment record is full of instruction and interest to the practical agriculturist. Other material relates to various rural activities and pursuits, and there is the usual budget of interesting commercial reports from tho High Commissioner.

Tho following .vessels are expected to bo within wireless range of Wellington this evening: Victoria, Maunganui, Navua, Tofua, Tahiti, and Delphic. A case of cruelty to a horse, in which the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will probably take legal action, was mentioned by tho inspector at yesterday’s meeting. _ lie said tlio horse had boon used in a tradesman’s cart, and as it was going out to do a second round ono morning it came under his (tho inspector’s) notice. It had extensive wounds on both ■sides of tho withers, and also on the chest, while its back was in a terrible state. Ono wound was three inches long and fully one inch wide. In addition it was girth-galled, and had been neglected. The owner promised to destroy tho animal. .

At tho Magistrate’s Court yesterday, in Dunedin, a charge against. Robert Vincent, of having tortured a dog at Brighton on December 29th was dismissed by Mr Widdowson, S.M. Vincent suffered a fall from a cycle through a dog, and afterwards hacked its throat with a penknife, then letting it escape. Dr. Evans deposed that after concussion of tho brain a man might act in an apparently, rational manner, yet quite automatically, and in such cases after a period of depression, a period of exaltation might follow, when tho victim might become violent. This evidence, and the evidence of a man who drove accused to Green Island later, boro out the earlier testimony for tho defence. Mr Widdowson held that Vincent’s was not an act committed mens roa.

“I am sorry to Icam that tho Harbour Board has had to give 6 per cent, for tho quarter-million it is seeking on tho London market,” said the Mayor of Auckland t-o a ‘‘'Star” reporter, ‘‘.because it may mean that the rate will in consequence be hardened _ against tho City Council’s next flotation. At the same time, I-do not think there can bo any doubt as to tho wisdom of the Harbour Board’s policy. It is much bettor to bring to completion point the important works they have in hand, oven if it is going to cost them a higher rare of interest than they have had to pay for several years past. Neither am 1 surprised at the rate which the board has agreed to pay upon its loan, since tho London market, for the past two years, has been quite unfavourable to colonial investments. In fact, on the advice of our bankers, and, at the desire of the finance committee, the City Council has postponed tho placing of any of its loans until tho tonfe of the Homo market improves. All tho works initiated during my term as Mayor have been provided for out of local subscriptions. Wo have had no difficulty in raising £50,000 in local debentures at rates ruling from 4 to 4J per cent. When tho City Council places its electricity loan on the London market, it is hoped that we will get the money at a good deal less than 5 per cent., as council securities are considered by investors to ho a half per cent, better than Harbour Board securities I am rather afraid, however, that the Harbour Board flotation may have the effect of raising the price a little against us.” __