NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8352, 12 February 1913, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Mr Justice Chapman will hold a chamber sitting of the Supreme Court at noon to-morrow. The Dunedin “Star” understands that a company, with a provisional directorate of Christchurch business men, is being floated for the purpose of purchasing certain rights to mine gold, scheelite, and other minerals at Dunback (near Palmerston). The*boy who was caught last Saturday breaking into the premises of Messrs George Thomas and Co., Allen street, and against whom two other charges of theft from business premises were preferred, appeared before Mr W. G. Ridded, S.M., in the juvenile court yesterday. Only a few days ago tho lad. who is eight years old, was ordered to be birched for stealing. Yesterday he was committed to tho Weraroa Training 1* arm. There was some little discussion at the Methodist Conference yesterday upon the course of study which should be set to home missionaries. It was suggested on the one hand that a somewhat elaborate course should be laid down, while on the other it was contended that the subjects required should be very few. One prominent member of conference said he thought that all home missionaries should be required to study were English and theology. Anything more than this would be quite unnecessary. Dr Newman, ex-Mayor of Wellington, has forwarded to the Town Clerk a cheque for ten guineas to be awarded at the Easter Carnival for the best essay on the natural beauties of Wellington City and harbour— : “What to see and how t 6 get to see it; suggestions for improvement.” “I hold," says Dr Newman in his communication, “that the scenery in and around this city, and the hills and encircling harbour, is absolutely tho finest and most varied bf any city in Australasia. lam amazed that my fellow citizens so largely ignore this great fact. It is a great asset to the city now completely neglected. I also ask for suggestions as to the development and improvement of these delightful scenes."

According to a Press Association message brandies of the Progressive Liberal League and Reform .League hivo been established at Westport. The postal authorities advise that the s.s. Mauugauui, which sailed from Sydney at noon on the Bth inst., has o« board an Australian mail. She la duo to arrive here this morning. The mails which left Wellington oh January 3rd, per s.s. Manuka, connected with the Naples mail per R. Orontes, and arrived in London on the Bth inst., due date. Yesterday afternoon the Hon. A. L. Herdman (Minister of Justice) and Commissioner Cullen, accompanied by inspector Ellison and Sub-Inspector Sheehan, made an inspection of th* Lambton quay police station, the cells,, and the Wellington police force. Th* inspection was a departmental one. The ladies interested in the Hospital Saturday (15th inst.) and Sunday (IGth) collections aro meeting to-day at 3 p.m. at the offices of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board to fix the stations and make final arrangements for the successful organisation of the movement. Hayman Kahn, draper, of iUTlli* street, was fined £1 by Hr McArthur, S. at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, for employing during the period from November Ist to December 30th last, apprentices or improver* in excess of the number allowed by clause 9 of the award. Defendant stated that ho did not quite understand the interpretation of the award. Judging by the enthusiasm displayed by farmers, the Taranaki Agricultural Society’s show, which is to be held on February 20th and 27th, will bo a record for Taranaki. A great number of local breeders and fanciers are reported to he forwarding entries for the numerous classes scheduled. The entries for the show close on February 10th, and those who are intending to enter for competition should do so a» soon as possible. “I have always held that parsons are not good financiers,” said a speaker at the Methodist Conference last night. He was referring to complaints made by several ministers in respect to the comparative uselessness of tho periodical valuation of church property. One cleric said that ho always found tho valuations a haphazard business. lie just asked the man in tba street at what figure he valued thu church property, then had a shot at it himself, and sent the figures in to the general secretary. The matron of the hospital desires to acknowledge the following donations: Flowers, Mrs O. K. Smith, Bt. Mark’s Sunday school, Mrs Pinckney, Mrs F. R. Hills. Books, Mrs G. R, Smith, Mrs Pinckney. Old linen, Mrs Seamen, Mrs Pinckney, AnonymousChildren’s hospital: Flowers, Airs Freeman, St. Mark’s Sunday school, Mrs W. H. Meek. Toys, Church of England Sunday and book. Miss Edith, Ayling. Books, Miss Lissack. Clothes, Mrs J eUio c Ngaio. Wireless reports from steamers ol the Union Steamship Company’s fleck indicate that a heavy storm is raging m fhe vicinity of th© Fiji group and the Friendly Islands. A message received at Auckland from the Tofua stated that the vessel was still outside Apia on Saturday evening, being unable to make an entrance owing to the heavy sea running. The mail steamer Marama, en route from Vancouver, is (says the “Star”) evidently meeting with lie full force of tho gale. At her present rate of progress she cannot arrive at Auckland before Saturday evening nest. The Navua notified on Sunday night that bad weather was being experienced. “It is evident that a great deal ol liberty is taken by trust treasurers in making up their schedules as to the headings under which sundry items are entered/’ This remark was made by tho Rev. S. Lawry, oonnexional secretary, in his report to the Methodist Conference last night. He mentioned that in one case a large item of “seat rents” was explained by a note that it included a considerable! sum received as rent from shops, la another case the expenditure, which was apparently for a new church, was put under the heading “Alterations and Repairs.” In yet another case an. expenditure for bandsmen’s uniforms was entered dndfer “Enlargements and minor improvements.” The Wellington Presbytery met at St. John’s Church last night, the Moderator, Rev. A. Standage, M.A., presiding. Tho Rev. A, O. Randerson, M.A., of Levin, which charge was severed from the Wanganui Presbytery by the recent General Assembly and added to Wellington, was welcomed. Commissions were sustained for representative elders from Kent terrace (Air Haunay), St. James’s (Mr Pollock), Brooklyn (Air Hendrickson), Evans Bays (Air Smith), Kelburno (Mr Johnson), Lower Hutt (Mr Brash), and Onslow (Mr Patterson). The meeting was adjourned after necessary tvusiness had been transacted, in order that members might attend the Bible-in-State Schools demonstration. Later in the week tho Methodist Conference will discuss th© question of military training. Notice was given yesterday by tho llov. D. McNicholl to move: “That in view of the groat advance made in tho peace movement throughout th© world, and in view of tho fact that the present warlike methods of settling disputes aro both un-Christian and against the best interests of the people, this conference declares itself in favour of arbitration in all international disputes. We also enter our emphatic protest against compulsory military training, believing this to be not only a serious reflection on tho patriotism of tho people of tho Dominion and fraught with great moral perils to onr youth, but also entirely out of harmony with Christian teaching and tho traditions of British freedom.” The current issue of tho “ Trade Review ” remarks: _ “The supply of money is still restricted, and the tone of tho market remains very firm. The building companies recently raised their deposit rates by i per cent, to endeavour to attract more deposits. However, money will not become plentiful until the imports and exports are brought to a more healthy relationship. . . . The balance of exports in the latest two years falls very far short of what is needed to meet our outeido obligations, and until this is rectified money must remain in limited supply, Tho growth in our imports is abnormal, and suggests either general extravagance, or else that importations are in excess of requirements. This is a matter which calls for very careful watching on the part of the importers. Prospects continue very good for_ tho export season, and there is every indication that when the season closes we shall see a very good total for our exports, although there are one or two factors working against this—tho output of gold shows a big reduction, prices of butter are a little disappointing, and tho slaughtermen’s strike is disturbing tho meat trade-”