NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8346, 5 February 1913, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

At tlio meeting of the Miramar Borough Council to-morrow evening Councillor Grigg wi'l move; “That on and after the 15th February the fares on tho Miramar borough tramway bo one penny for all cars.” A lengthy meeting of Cabinet took place yesterday, but the Prime Minister (Hon. W. F. Massey) told a member of the “Times” staff that there was nothing of general interest for publication. The Minister of Justice (Hon. A. L. Herdman) informed a “Times” reporter yesterday that it was hoped the now police regulations would bo gazetted this week. It is understood that some important alterations will bo announced. Cabinet yesterday extended to March 51st the time within which the Public Trust Commission should present its report. The commission has adjourned in the meantime, but will meet a few days before tho date mentioned for the purpose of framing its report. The Southland Frozen Meat Company, after making full provision for depreciation, shows a net profit for the ‘year of £7529 14s 4d, which, with tho amount carried forward from the previous year, leaves £20,460 11s lOd now to bo dealt with. Of this amount tho directors have decided to place £4OOO to fire insurance reserve, and recommend the disposal of the balance as follows: To payment of a 5 per cent, dividend and 3 per cent, bonus on the paid-up capital, £5462 12s lOd ; and to carry forward the balance, £10,997 19s. Some months ago the Wellington City Council decided to obtain a revaluation of city and suburban areas and properties. Yesterday, the Valuer-General (Mr J. W. Flanagan) informed a “Times” representative that this revaluation had now been put in hand, so far as it affected the surroundings of the city. The whole of Greater Wellington, except the originual city proper, was now in process of valuation, and this area included Kelburne, Melrose, Island Bay, Brooklyn, Northland, and Wadestown. Arrangements have been made to start revaluation of the citv, but as it is a big work and has to be done uniformly, tho revaluation will not be finished in time for the 1913-14 rating. For tho purpose of rating, tho new valuation of tho sukwban areas will be ready for the 1913-14 rates. Owners will receive notice, and if they object to the values as assessed, the department will make an endeavour to compromise. If, however, tho parties cannot come to terms, an Assessment Court will be set up.

The postal authorities adviso that tho Warrimoo, which is duo here from Sydney to-day, has on board an Australian mail. Tho proposals for tho erection of a swine; bridge across the valley separating ' Xgaio and Wadestown will bo further discussed on tho ground by representatives of tho City Council and Onslow Borough Council to-morrow. All tho notices of motion which were* deferred from hist meeting of tho City Council aro on tho order paper again for tho meeting to-morrow night. They wore to have been'considered at a special meeting, but circumstances have, prevented it being called. Of the very largo number of immigrants who arrived from England by tho Remuera ou Monday evening, only a score have so far visited the Labour Department in search of work. As nearly all were prepared for co'untry cmploymont, no difficulty was experienced in placing them. Whilst a Kilbirnu'-bound car was rouuding a corner about half-past 7 yesterday morning Conductor McGuire was jerked oIT tho side step, landing heavily ou the road. Ho received a severe slinking, and his hands and knees were bruised. After being attended to by Dr Toth;; rut, McGuire wax taken home. Tho general officer commanding, Ma-jor-General Godlcy, will inspect the following companies of senior cadets at tho Garrison Hall on Tuesday next: Boy's’ Institute, Scouts, Technical School. Y.M.C.A., St. James, and P. and T. Cadets. The championship Cup won .by the Y.M.C.A. at Christchurch will probably bo presented at tho parade. But little inconvenience seems to have been caused by the enforced laying up of tho steamers Mapourika and Regulus on account of the refusal of firemen to man their stokeholds under tho conditions hitherto obtaining. Both are still anchored in the stream, and aro likely to remain there. In the meantime their work is being done by other yesscls, and most of tho men previously engaged on them have found jobs elsewhere. “No doubt,” comments the “Lyttelton Times,” “Westland is entitled to the generous attention it is receiving and wo are very glad to see it getting its dues, hut when Mr Fisher and hia colleagues are anticipating every desire of the district it is hardly necessary to proclaim that they will have no ‘touts’ sitting on their doorsteps. Ministers have taken over the business of touting themselves and veiy naturally they will tolerate no opposition. It is not a monopoly wo regard with any serious disfavour, but it docs' not necessarily represent a vast accession of political virtue.” A considerable amount of success has attended tho efforts of those who are soliciting contributions to the Easter carnival funds. Lost evening tho treasurer, Mr O. Collins, stated that to date £l9O had been collected, which was regarded as being very encouraging. Tho executive committee has been informed by the associated picture theatre proprietors of the city that they will give a combined motionpicture entertainment in tho Town Hall one evening during Easter week, tho proceeds to go to the carnival fund, Tho picture people were asked to give separate benefit performances, but preferred to act in combination on this occasion. An offer has been made by tho Wellington Boxing Association tit hold a one-night tourney in conjunction with tho carnival, provided that the Mayor can make arrangements for tho use of tho Town Hall. Two brothers, aged seven and nine years, were brought before Mr W. G, Riddell, S.M., in the Juvenile Court yesterday, to be punished for having broken into several business premises in tho city last Sunday. An accomplice, eight years old, who was to have appeared with tho others, ran away when being got ready by his mother, and was not found up till the time tho court sat. It appeared that the property stolon included gum boots, a metal watch, cigarettes, stamps, a tin of milk, and a small amount of money. The mother of tho brothers stated that they had gone to school regularly, and had not given any trouble. In answer to Mr Riddell, tho boys said they committed the offences because “the other boy told them to.” Atfor administering a caution to tho boys, the magistrate ordered that each of them should receive six strokes of the birch. A meeting of Petone Technical School Board was held last evening. There were present: Rev. Mr Thomson (chairman), and Messrs McKenzie, McEwan, Trueman, and Castle (secretary). All the instructors accepted positions for tho ensuing year. A letter was received from the Education Board stating that they would co-operate with a committee of tho board in regard to additions to tho Technical School. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr McEwan, that a subcommittee be appointed, consisting of tho chairman, and Messrs Castle, McKenzie, and McEwan, and that the Education Board bo approached and asked to set up a similar committee for tho purpose of conferring on tho matter of additions. Miss Warren was appointed dressmaker and milliner to the school for a period of one term as a probationer. Mr Mitchell was appointed for one term to take charge of tho typewriting and shorthand class. Messrs McEwan and McKenzie have been nominated as managers on tho hoard by the Education Board, and Messrs Duncan and Castle by the Gear Co. The balance-sheet shows a credit of £6B Is 7d. That the British Navy played an important part in tho early history of the Dominion is borne out by “An Episode of tho New Zealand War,” an article written by Admiral Sir Edmund Fremantle in the current issue of tho “School Journal.” It is over sixty years since Admiral Fremantle served m the Burmah expedition, but he is still halo and hearty, and is regarded as an authority on naval matters. When Mr Palmer, the local honorary secretary of the Navy League, was attending a Navy League dinner in London in 19UC, he had the pleasure of meeting the admiral, who narrated to him several incidents of New Zealand experiences. On one occasion, when cruising in Cook Strait, % gun brig, of which ho was second in command, was struck by a terrifically heavy southerly squall. “All hands aloft to shorten sail,” was the order given, and Fremantle himself accompanied the bluejackets ia their perilous task out on the yardarms. Tho present episode deals with the rescue of Mr Grace, of the Church Missionary Society, and some friendly natives who were held captives by the fanatical Hau Haus at Opotiki. The then Lieutenant Fremantle, in charge of H.M.S. despatch boat Eclipse, of four guns, with Bishop Selwyn aboard, after some exciting experiences, was successful in rescuing Mr* Grace and tho friendly natives. In a letter to Mr Palmer, the admiral writes: “My time in New Zealand was a very interesting one. I had Sir George Drey on , board my ship the Eclipse several times, and was able to do him a good turn in going into the King Country, then in tho hands of the hostile Maoris, and bringing down William Thompson and the Maori King to confer with the Governor at Hamilton. I ran considerable risk, and Sir George hesitated a good while before he made up his mind Jo let me go.”

A caso of scarlet fever at frenthau. has been reported to tho Upper Hut, Town Board by the Health Department. Work is plentiful at Upper Hutt at present. Bushmen and navvies are unobtainable, although a wage of ten shillings a day is being offered good navvies. The Minister of Railways has informed tho Upper Hutt Town Board that a gate is to ho erected to give access to tho eastern end to tho Wallaccville railway station. Petono and Lower Hutt, which have been free of late from potty thieving, are again receiving attention. On Sun day a Chinaman's shop in Jackson street was broke*n into and a number of articles stolen. There has been only one application made to tho Gear Company for a posi Con on the vacant slaughtering board at tho works. Tho applicant. was a Maori, and the company declined Ids offer, “Poloriis Jack,” tho strange white “fish” which used to frolic around the hows of tho .steamers passing through Pclorus Sound, is now believed to have been killed by mischance by foreign whalers. “Jack” was last seen shortly before Christinas between the Chetwoods and Clay Point .by a resident ot tho Sounds. Tho election of a member, to fill the extraordinary vacancy occasioned by tho resignation of Mr T. A. Petcrkin, to the Hutt River Board, look place at Lower Hutt yesterday, and resulted in tho return of Mr Arthur Daniel Kennedy, who defeated Mr Frederick do Jersey Clero by sixty-one votes. Mi Kennedy secured 144 votes and Mr dere 83. There were two informal votes. “There is a critical time ahead for Auckland builders,” said a prominent Auckland contractor last week. He was referring to tho scarcity of labour in tho city and province, and especially to tho shortage of good plasterers, carpenters, and plumbers. “I have Just peon over to Sydney, and there is a scarcity, I was told, all over Australia. So what is New Zealand going to do? There is the prospect of this and next year being the busiest building period wo have ever experienced, bnt with tho shortage of labour a number of buildings will bo kept back.” The Hon. W. Fraser', Minister of Public Works, will leave early next week for the south. He will visit Queenstown and his own electorate, after an absence of a year; then proceed to Invercargill, tho Gatlins district and Ida Valley, to discuss irrigation questions with farmers of the locality. Subsequently, after his return to Wellington, the Minister will visit Gisborne, where ho stays a day or two, before proceeding to Motu to inspect the East Coast railway. Mr Fraser will then go on to Auckland, Whangaroi, Kawakawa, Kaikohe and Dargavillo. Work in connection with the Otira tunnel is at present being carried on by the Public Works Department, and the Minister of Public Works informed a “Times” representative yesterday that tho specifications relating both. to work already done and that remaining to bo done had not yet been completed. These would need to come before Cabinet for approval. When the fresh tender was accepted, it would need to include a sum in payment to tho Government for tho work dono between the timo of tho acceptance and the time tho new contractor started operations. - Inventories of appliances and plant already on the spot would also have to be furnished by the department for the information of tenderers. A slight “breeze,” during which reference was made to tho conduct of counsel, occurred at the hearing of a caso before Mr Riddell, S.M., at tho Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Mr D. M. Findlay was cross-examining a, witness called by Mr A, H. Hindmarsh, when tho latter remarked to tho magistrate: “1 appeal to you to see that my friend behaves himself like a gentleman.” Mr Riddell: “I think your client can hold his own in tho witnessbox, Mr Hindmarsh.” Air Findlay; “I am sorry to inflict this upon your Worship—” Mr Hindmarsh: “Because you don’t know any better.” Mr Findlay; “X should be very sorry to submit my conduct to Mr Hindmarsh’s—Mr Hindmarsh: “Because don I know how to behave yourself.” His Worship: “That will do, that will do! Tho exceptionally dry season, and tho uncertainty regarding tho prospects of a resumption of work at some of tho freezing works, has militated somewhat against tho entry of fat. stock for the Masterton show. In spite of this, it is stated, the live stock classes sre filling rapidly. In view of the special circumstances, it has been decided to receive lato entries up to and including Saturday next. It may bo mentioned that there are several classes open only to exhibitors farming not more than 500 acres of land, and these should appeal to small farmers of the Wairarapa and surrounding districts. Tho transport facilities for the thow are perfect, and exhibitors will have the satisfaction of knowing that their stock is well cared for from tho time of its arrival until its departure. Tho Taranaki Agricultural Society’s next show, to ho held in New Plymouth on February 26th and 27th, is expected to establish a record for Taranaki. Already tho secretary is in receipt of some hundreds of entries in all the sections, from different parts of the Dominion, and especially from the outside districts. Entries in tho stock sections are to hand from Hawke’s Bay, tho Wairarapa, and the South Island. This is very promising, as with tho_ extra support that will bo forthcoming from tho Now Plymouth district, owing to tho show being now held at a more convenient timo of tho year than hitherto the society is assured of very much larger support. Farmers are guaranteed a good display of machinery, as already a largo amount of space has been applied for, several milking machine proprietors as well as agricultural implement manufacturers having decided to exhibit. Entries close on -the loth inst. Salvage work is still being proceeded with on tho tramp steamer Knight of St. George, which was wrecked at the entrance to Nukualofa Harbour (Tonga) two years ago, while on tho passage from San Francisco and island ports to Auckland and Sydney. When tho vessel went ashore she had over a million feet of lumber in her holds, and although tho greater portion has been recovered, there still remains a quantity on board. A portion of the vessel’s light machinery has also been raved and stored ashore, and it is anticipated that tho balance of the lumber will he salvaged. Tho force of the ocean swell has carried tho wreck right on top of tho reef, and although the underpart of her hull is completely torn away hy contact with tho sharp edges of the coral, the vessel now lies in a high and dry and perfectly upright position. The foremast has snapped off, and is hanging over the side, but the upper portions of the hull appear to he in a fairly sound condition. A largo number of Tongan natives are employed in the work of salvaging the lumber, several thousand feet of which was brought'to Auckland hv the small steamer Haroona on Sunday (says the “New Zealand Herald”).