NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8348, 7 February 1913, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

His Honor Mr Justice Chapman will settle the order of civil cases in Chambers at 10 a.m. to-day. The inquest" on tho body of James Hanratty, who was killed in an electric lift in Messrs E. W. Mills and Co.’s machinery store on Wednesday will he held at the Magistrate’s Court at half-past 9 to-morrow morning. A case has now been provided for the works of tho clock over the main entrance of the General Post Office in Featherston street. These works ara placed upon the second floor, and are connected by a single light shaft with the dial-case outside. The Postmaster-General (Hon. B. H. Rhodes) informed a “Times” representative yesterday that the work of erecting the 2J-kilowatt wireless station on Chatham Islands would be prosecuted without delay. Preparation of thp masts and material was well advanced at tho telegraph yards at Wellington, and this plant would be shipped to tbs islands at an early date. One of the officers bad recently visited and surveyed the locality. At tho inquest held yesterday on the body of John Christopher, who died suddenly at a boardinghouse in Martin street early on February 3rd, Dr Fyffo stated that ho had made a post, mortem examination of the body, and found that the cause of death was hemorrhage due to a rupture of an. aneurism of the arch of the aorta. Dr McArthur, S.M., coroner, returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony. The annual election of officers of the Wellington Working Man’s Club took, place on Wednesday. The president (Mr J. McNee), vice-president (Mr J, Graham), and treasurer (Hr A. Fisk) were elected unopposed. For four vacancies on tho committee there were seven candidates, Messrs W. J. Smith, P. H. Wood, D. A. McPhee, and H. Tredegar being elected. Messrs H. Bolton and J. A. Parry were elected auditors. The newly-elected officers returned thanks for their election. The club will hold a picnic at tho end of this month or early in March. As a result of representations made to their official head by a deputation of telegraph operators on. Tuesday, the Secretary of tho Post and Telegraph Department (Mr W. R. Morris) has received a communication from the secretary of the staff committee. The writer of the letter expressed regret that any member of tho department shrould have resorted to such unconstitutional methods of airing his grievances, as an appeal to (be public press; and he stated further that the association had no sympathy with any but the legiti. mate channels through which complaints were to be ventilated. Mr Morris informed a “Times” reporter yesterday that what grievances existed amongst the staff were in a fair way to being remedied. Asked by a member of the “ Times ” staff yesterday if he would care to make any observations on General Godley’s interpretation of the Hon. James Allen’s statement regarding an expedi. tionary force, the Hon. R. H. Rhodes, Acting-Minister of Defence, stated that such a force would be purely voluntary. He had not spoken to any of his Ministerial colleagues about it, because tho thing was so obvious. What Mr Alien doubtless had in mind was the number of men furnished by this Dominion in the South African war. Allowing for deductions duo to tho fact that a number of men were counted twice through serving in more than one contingent, the total force sent by New Zealand was about 7000 men. The expeditionary force that might be organised and furnished to the Mother Country in a similar moment of stress and need would serve on a purely voluntary, basis.

Tho following vessels are expected to be within wireless range of Wellington this evening: Manuka, V. arnrne-o, Wimmera, Mahono, and Turakma. Tho mails which left Auckland per R.M.S. Makura arrived in Vancouver, on route to irondon, on tho ‘lth inst., duo dato. Tho 11.M.5. Aorangi left San Francisco on tho sth inst. with *121) bags of mail for Now Zealand and 21 for (Vustralia. Owing to extensive alterations being necessary the Convalescent Homo iias been closed to patients till further notice. Tho City Council has granted tho Easter Carnival tho free use of the Town Hall on two nights (to bo arranged) for a boxing tournament and picture entertainment. On tho recommendation of the Tramways Board of Management, tho City Council has empowered conductors to refuse to take any perambulator on the cars which, in their opinion, would prevent access to tho brake gear, as it is absolutely necessary that free access to this part of tho equipment shall he available at all times. Steps are to bo taken by the City Council to compel all owners to trim back overhanging trees. The cases of certain negligent owners in this respect wore mentioned at the council s meeting last night. It was resolved not to servo notices in individual instances but to deal with tho matter in a general way. Supporters of mixed bathing Can take heart. Tho City Council last night approved the application of tho Thomdon Amateur Swimming Club to allow mixed bathing at the Thomdon baths on Tuesdays and Thursdays of each week from 2 p.m. until sundown. An amendment that tho same concession bo extended to To Aro hatha was not pressed, it being understood that a formal application to this end would be made by that club. Some reminiscences of tho old days when Primitive Methodist local preachers wore termed “ranters” were called up by Dr Morley in his address to the Methodist Conference yesterday afternoon. Ho recalled a day when as a lad of eighteen ho stood up to preach his first sermon in tho presence of his grand-uncle, who was one of the “ranters.” In those times they used to say a great deal about the terrors of the law, and as he wont on along these lines his grand-uncle cried out: “Give it to them hot, lad 1” This little story caused great merriment in tho conference. Tho manufacture of casein bids fair to becom© a notable industry in Taranaki, if we may judge from tho number of factories that are undertaking to deal with tho by-product of the dairy industry (says tho “Daily News”). The Midhirst Dairy Company have installed a plant, and aro manufacturing tho article. The North Taranaki Dairy Company (Urenui), the 801 l Block Company and the Leppertou Dairy Company have all resolved to start the process immediately, and the Waitara Company is discussing the subject. A Monawatu farmer who fattens considerable numbers of lambs for freezing purposes, when asked how he viewed the position brought about by the slaughtermen’s strike, made the philosophical remark that “it might be worse.” Farmers, he said, “ always expect one or other of their ventures to fail, and this year it is tho fat lambs’ turn. All these things have to be taken on the law of averages; sometimes it is tho oats, other times tho wool that suffers, and so on, therefore the man who farms open country should not put all the eggs in one basket.” The Department of Agriculture might profitably extend its usefulness by .giving farmers a free analysis of their soil so that they might avoid using a lot of expensive manure to no purpose, said a southern visitor nt Feilding the other evening. The speaker was evidently unaware that this has been done by the department for some years, and leaflets have been issued showing the proper way to take % sample of the soil. In addition, several thousand local experiments have been conducted with manures and varieties of seed to enable the farmer to ascertain as nearly as possible the conditions and crops suitable to his particular locality. Tho Rev. Dr. Rentoul, of Melbourne, who has been spending six weeks’ troutfishing in Southland, prior to leaving on his return to Melbourne, told a Southland “Times” reporter thattbero Was a serious aspect of affairs which called for rigorous steps to be taken by those in authority to bring to book those engaged in a nefarious practice, the dynamiting of the trout, which was carried on in various of Southland’s many trout streams. People who did that sort of thing could not bo condemned too harshly, and a term of imprisonment, would bo a just reward if it wore meted out to them on their being detected. “Such men,” Dr. Rentoul said, “were not sports themselves, but they found it self-satisfying to destroy tho fish and rob tho legitimate angler of the enjoyment which was rightly his.” “Drowning has been called the New Zealand death.” says tho Wanganui “Chronicle,” “and so fay as the present year at least is concerned tho Dominion, and Wanganui in particular, has been keeping up its name but too well.” The “Chronicle” reckons up thirty-four persons in tho Dominion who have met their fate by drowning in the four weeks since the New Year opened. The list is as follows:—Wanganui 4, Aohanga 4, Rangitata 2, Dunedin 2, New Brighton 2, Sumner 2, Gishorno 2, Hnkatere 1, Morrinsvillo 1, Mokau 1, Masterton 1, Waimanka 1, Waipawa 1, Christchurch C, Manaia 1, Groymouth 1, Omata 1, To Wera 1, and Okero 1. Tho deaths at Wanganui were all in the river. There were no fatalities on the beach at Castlecliff, .but many narrow escapes were reported there, and the immunity from deaths is attributed to the good work of tho Surf Club. Tho work of tho Department of Agriculture in promoting tho welfare and prosperity of tho country was warmly praised at Feilding by speakers at a “ smoker ” on Tuesday evening. In acknowledging tho toast of the department, Mr Roakes, Director of the Dive Stock Division, said the success that attended the efforts of departmental officers depended very much upon the cooperation and sympathetic assistance rendered by those with whom they came in contact. During his experience in New Zealand ho could note a distinct advancement in tho systems of farm husbandry that have been introduced in recent years. Sometimes, he said, it was found necessary, in order to maintain efficiency in certain directions, to exercise firmness, but they always preferred to work in harmony. . Incidentally, ho throw out a hint to flockowners with regard to a closer observance _of_tho sheep-dipping regulations, and intimated that they may expect prosecutions to follow tho exposure of unhealthy sheep in public saleyards.

Mr George Seifert, of , Palmerston North, has presented to tho A\ elhugton Zoo a kangaroo and an emu. Ino thanks of tho council have been given to tho donor. For tho supply of helmets for tho police force for tho next three years, cho Police Department has accepted the tenders of 0. Hill and Sons, Wellington. The prices quoted aro Js 3d each for blue helmets and 7s Gd each for white helmets. An employes of tho Harbour Board was arrested by Detectives Rawle and Cameron yesterday, and charged with stealing on various dates during tho past twelve months a quantity of wire, leather, and tools, valued at £6, the property of tho Wellington liurbour Board. Information was received by tho ponce yesterday that the woman, Jessie Holt, who was removed to the hospital on January 31st, after being found in serious condition in a house in Lorno jireot, died in the institution on Wednesday night. As the medical man who tended tho deceased is prepared to give a certificate as to tho cause of death, it is possible that no inquest will be hold. Tho Public Works Department has accepted tho tender of Taylor Bros. and Moorhead (Christchurch) at £15,033 for tho erection of a powerhouse at the Lako Coloridgo hydro-electric works. Tho tender of A. Kingsford (Christchurch) at £3271 has been accepted for the erection of cottages on the Midland railway. For tho erection of a post office at Ohakuno tho tender of T. Aldridge (Ohakune) has been, accepted at £1155. Tho Wellington Early Settlers’ and His to rial Society is looking ahead. It applied for th© us© of Newtown Park on Anniversary Day, 1914, and the reserves committee last night recommended the council to grant tho request. Objection was taken to the recommendation on tho ground that the present council should not pledge the new council. An amendment by Councillor Tregoar that the question be referred to tho incoming council was rejected by 13 votes to 2, and the request was granted. For tho four-weekly period ending on January 4th the revenue of the Railway Department was £365,254 and tho expenditure £203,452, as compared with £331,651 and £172,001 respectively for tho corresponding period of the previous year. The North Island system had a revenue of £203,225 and an expenditure of £114,110 (compared with £183,855 and £86,120 respectively), while tho South Island revenue was £163,028 and tho expenditure £89,341 (as against £147,793 and £85,881 respectively). Tho city engineer reported to the council last night that in conjunction with the city solicitor he had waited on the Minister of Justice with regard to the control of the city traffic, and that tho Minister had expressed his willingness to take over the control of the traffic provided the corporation contributed the sum of £SOO per annum. 'Hie council accepted tho offer. Tho Government, it is understood, will Set apart six extra policemen for this especial purpose. A proper agreement on the question is to be entered into. Under the amendment to tho Justices of the Peace Act last session authority was given to judges of tho Supremo Court to provide legal aid for prisoners whose means were insufficient to enable them to obtain a solicitor to conduct their defence. This provision was availed of for the first time in Wellington yesterday! when Herbert Wallace, charged with theft, applied. . to his Honor Air Justice Chapman for a solicitor to defend him. His Honor replied that ho wished he had had tho application earlier, as ho could then have made arrangements. However, he asked Mr T. M. Wilford, who was standing in court, if he would take the case. Mr Wilford declined, and then he asked Mr Goulter. The latter replied that he had informed vVallaoe of his right, and he was willing to act. The case then proceeded. “ Owing to tho opposition of tho numerous picture theatres recently opened in the city, several of the billiard saloons are at present being run at a loss, and in two or three instances proprietors have actually become bankrupt.” This was tho burden of a complaint by a deputation of city billiard saloon-keepers to the City Council last night. Whitta, on their behalf, urged an extension of the time of closing from 10.30 p.m. to 11 p.m. He estimated that in Wellington city alone there is between £20,000 and £30,000 invested in the various billiard saloons. Two of these saloons had cost over £3OOO each to equip, and most of the proprietors had taken a long lease at heavy rentals. Tho closing time fixed by Act of Parliament is 11 p.m., which tho deputation submitted was quite a reasonable hour, and they believed that Wellington was the only place in the Dominion where any alteration had been effected in this regard. The Mayor said the council would give consideration to the request. “It will not be for deficient stagemanaging if Mr Allen fails in his quest, ’ comments the “ Taranaki Daily News.” “Tho only thing we are afraid of is that some member of the financial coterie that have the loaning of tho millions this voracious Dominion is hungering for will turn up our ‘ Hansard ’—that is, if that precious publication ever reaches tho Old Country—and read tho lugubrations of the present Finance Minister when he was in Opposition. Then, according to the book of James Allen, this sorely afflicted country was staggering under its awful burden of debt, that the best thing which could happen to it would be for the London financiers to cease supplies, and other cheerful talk of a similar character. It will bo difficult somewhat to reconcile his statements then with those uttered now, and grave inconvenience might ensue. For the sake of the country, which is in sore need of tho money, we hope New Zealand 1 Hansards' are not treasured up in tho archives of the London financiers. Otherwise the chickens will have come home to roost with a vengeance.” About 1 o’clock yesterday morning a fire was discovered in a milking shed on a farm in South Karori, owned by Rabone and Co., of Blenheim, and occupied by Hooper and Wood, dairymen. The outbreak resulted in the destruction of the milking shed; stalls, and loft, valued at £3OO, and a chaft cutter, harness, horse feed, and milk cans, tho total value of which was estimated at £lO6. When first noticed at 1 a.m. by Hugh Boyd, an employee, the back of the milkshed was burnt down, and a hay stack at tho rear, and close to tho building, was also in flames. Shortly afterwards, tho shed caught alight, and it was not long before everything was razed to the ground. In a statement made to a constable who made inquiries respecting tho fire, Thomas Wood said, that at G.SO p.m. on Wednesday ho closed three out of tour doors in the shod, leaving the back door open. This was tho usual riling to do, but on tho alarm being given it was found that the front door of the shed was also open. Tfio building was insured in tho Royal office for £250, but tho haystack and other stock was not insured.