NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8353, 13 February 1913, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

For driving a horse and cab without a license a man was ordered to pay the court costs, amounting to seven shillings, at Upper Hutt yesterday, “Will the fine he 'paid,”, asked th« Magistrate. “Yes I” replied the constable; “the Police Department hired his vehicle and owes the man ten shillings.” I'. Luckins was proceeded against, at Upper Hutt Court, yesterday, by R. X. Bailey, inspector of awards, for employing a non-unionist. The information was laid under'the Wellington carpenters’ award,. and as the employee in question had been paid more than the award wages, and had since joined the union, the nominal penalty, of 20s was imposed. A charge of assaulting Alexander Charles Palmer, a tram conductor, last Saturday evening, was preferred against James Dyson, an American seaman, before Mr Riddell, 8.M., at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. It appeared that some trouble had arisen through defendant and a mate drinking out of a beer bottle in a Dyall i Bay car. When the tram reached Courtenay place Dyson struck at Palmer, who, ho alleged, had insulted him. Palmer denied this. His Worship convicted Dyson, and imposed a fine of £l, with costs £1 9s. After having been remanded several times William Spindlor appeared before Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M., at the Magistrate’s. Court yesterday, charged with having received from Thomas Ridout about 201 b of tobacco, the property of Andrew Begg. Mr V. R. Meredith, who represented accused, stated that the tobacco found on tjpindler had been proved to be that discovered in the possession of a man, Krausoh, and the latter had been acquitted at the Supreme Court on a charge of stealing it. Counsel therefore contended that there was no case to answer. His Worship said he must give Spindler the benefit of,the doubt, and dismissed the case. A suggestion which was held to involve sending a married probationer to a certain new circuit in the North Island, on a salary of £l2O a year and no special grant, was severely commented upon by Mr L. M. Isitt, M.P., at the Methodist Conference yesterday. He declared that such a suggestion was absolutely opposed to every principle of equity and everything that was decent, if they could not do better than that, ho suggested that they had better close their doors. Mr Isitt was assured that he was somewhat mistaken respecting the case, as it hatj not been decided that no grant should be given to supplement the salary referred to. Mr W. T. Jennings, who has been visiting the Ohura district, states the back country never looked better. The long spell of dry weather had improved matters all round. There was an abundance of feed, but most of the places looked to bo understocked (says the “Taranaki Daily News”). Mr Jennings visited the agricultural show at Niho Niho. Two exhibits by school children stood out on their own—one, a collection of native and _ foreign grasses grown in Otangiwai, nicely mounted on cardboard v with the botanio and English names engraved under each. This was the work, of Master Carter, nine years old, of Otangiwai school. The other exhibit was also by a pupil, and showed different classes of wool sorted. Most of the settlers have had good burns this year, and the roads, such as the Waitaanga and Waitiwbena, were first-class. A motor went from Te Kuiti to Ohura, via Waitiwhena, fifty miles, m less than live hours-rnot a bad performance over a road which a dray could not get over less than two years ago. A case of importance to contractor* and involving a question of principle was heard at Upper Hutt Court yesterday. William Nicol, subcontractor for the painting and paperhanging work in a building erected by a contractor named Hubert Shan', claimed 21s for extra work done. Evidence was adduced showing that the work had been , completed to the satisfaction of the owner, and later it was found that damage had been done to a wall in one of the rooms. The contractor called upon Nicol to repair the damage, which he did, and charged the sum named. The price charged was not tested, but the contention of defendant was. that he. as contractor, was not responsible for damage done by a nerson other than his employee. Dr McArthur ruled that the damage having been done during the contractor’s ninety days’ maintenance period, the contractor was responsible. Judgment was given for plaintiff for 21s and witnesses’ expenses 36s-

The following vessels are expected to bo within wireless range of Wellington this evening: Ulimaroa, Wimmora, Maungarnii, Navua, Talune, Marama, Zealandia, and Marmora. The postal authorities advise that the Zealandia, which left Sydney at noon on the 10th inst. for Auckland, has on board an Australian mail, and an English mail via Suez.. The Wellington portion should arrive here by the Main Trunk express on Saturday. In response to a circular from the Mayor, the Trades Council has set up a subcommittee to co-operate with the Citizens’ Easter Carnival committee. The Housewives’ Union has undertaken to conduct a stall in connection with the function at tie Town Hall. The New Zealand Express Company has forwarded a donation of £lO 10s to the Wellington Eire Brigade, in appreciation of the brigade’s successful efforts in minimising tie loss caused by the fire in Edward street on February 4th last, and in particular for the pains taken by Superintendent Tait and his staff in reducing the damage by water to the lowest possible point. According to a London cablegram in the Sydney “Sun” persistent rumours have been in circulation lately that it was intended to substitute Auckland for Sydney as the.. Imperial naval base in the Southern Pacific. The Admiralty has just given an emphatic denial to these reports, and has announced that the status of Sydney as a naval station will remain unimpaired. The influx of people into Waihi is amply demonstrated by the fact that only since last Monday no less than seventy-three pupils have been entered on the roll of the Waihi District High School—fifty in primary department and twenty-three in the secondary department. All of these are (says the Auckland “Star” correspondent) new pupils. The falling off in population ns a result of industrial trouble is evidently fast recovering. - In preparation of the ensuing local elections 2000 ballot papers have been sent out by the Wellington District Labour Council, containing the names of Labour candidates who have been nominated for the City Council, Harbour Board, and Hospital and Charitable’ Aid Board. The various unions will make their selections of candidates. The ballot, which will bo on the preferential voting principle, closes on February 25th. Mr F. Cornwell, secretary of the Painters’ Union, has been appointed returning officer for the plebiscite. The Prime Minister recently cabled to the Hon James Allen a request to state as nearly as possible what he said in regard to the expeditionary force. This was consequent upon criticism of 'the proposal. The Minister of Defence has replied as follows; “I wished to consult with the Imperial authorities in regard to organisation necessary for expeditionary force, its formation, number, and nature of contingent that would fit in with Imperial unity in. case of necessity, so that when men volunteered under cur Act everything would he ready for them to go.” The following are the insurances in connection with the fire in the building at the corner of Grey and Featherston streets on .Tuesday night: 0. E. Hickey, film agent (insured in the Commercial Union for £IOO, and in the London, Liverpool, and Globe for a like amount); J. Oharlesworth, architect (£l2O in the Alliance); Barraud and Co., land agents (£l4 in the Standard); Charles Bruce Morison, K.C. (£IOOO in the London, Liverpool, and Globe on the building, and nothing on the contents, owing to a policy recently lapsed). Bryant, who was covered by a policy of £360 in the British Dominion, suffered practically total loss. New Zealand’s offer to establish an expeditionary force of eight thousand men, who would always be ready and at the service of the Mother Country in the case of war, seems rather unnecessary (remarks the “Sydney Daily Telegraph.” There is no use in emphasising a patriotic feeling towards the Empire, if its vigorous existence may safely be taken for granted. Does anyone doubt that in case of need expeditionary forces of Canadians, Africans, Australians, New Zealanders, and so on, would flood into the breach ? That is tne historic assurance. Then, since the Empire knows how it stands —and the outside world ought also by this time to have a pretty clear idea on the subject—it is hardly necessary to create any such special and earmarked bodies. Has a policeman the right to serve a summons on private premises? This point cropped up in a case at Napier on Monday. On his return from Taupe by motor car on Sunday, January 26th (says the Napier “Telegraph”), Henry Horace Pharazyn drove to the Hawke’s Bay Club, going en route round the post office corner at what he considered ten miles an hour. Constable Hendry was near 1 the corner at the time, and was of opinion that Pharazyn was going twenty miles an hour. The sequel was a case at the Police Court, when the motorist was charged with driving round the bend at a speed “dangerous to the public.” Mr Lusk appeared for defendant. After hearing the evidence of both sides his Worship said the balance of the testimony lay with Pharazyn and the case would bo dismissed. When cross-examined by Sergeant Cummings, defendant denied that he had been Insolent to Constable Hendry when the latter served a summons on him at the Hawke’s Bay Club. In delivering judgment, his Worship said a constable had to use his discretion when enterlag private houses to servo summonses, but ho was perfectly at liberty to go wherever he could find his man’. The Saturday half-holiday movement is being pushed forward by the district secretary of the Labour Council, Mr Reardon, who reports that to date there are about 1500 signatories to the petition asking for a poll on the question. Ho has recommended the council to call a general meeting of supporters of the movement for Tuesday next. At the suggestion of the joint committee of tho Drapers’ and Grocers’ Unions, which met on Tuesday night, tho council has approached various sports bodies, soliciting their co-opera-tion to make tho petition effective. The council’s secretary estimates that the signatures of at least 3000 municipal voters will bo required to be attached to the petition. For the purposes of tho holiday a “combined district,” in accordance with the Act, is being . formed to include Miramar, Eastbourne, Karori, Onslow, and Wellington City, the voting strength of which is put at 30,000. Under section 17 of the Shops and Offices Act it is provided that not less than onetenth of the total number of electors in the district must sign tho requisition for a poll to he taken. The Housewives’ Union is actively supporting the ‘ Saturday afternoon closing proposal*