LOCAL AND GENERAL., A batch of six Chinese arrived from Sydney yesterday by the steamer Monowai. Five of the new arrivals aro on "their first visit to New Zealand. Our Dunedin correspondent telegraphs that the annual meeting of the New Zealand Medical Association will be held in Dunedin on the 4th prox. The proceedings will not be open to the press. The Marine Department is to be asked by the Napier Harbour Board to inetruct one of its nautical experts to report as to what class of vessels can be berthed at the Napier breakwater wharf under ordinary conditions. In divorce, Mr. Justice Cooper granted this morning a decree nisi in the suit brought by Margaret Annie Barker against Robert Barker. Mr. M'Callum appeared for petitioner. With lepaid to the Government proposal to divide the Land Bill by separating the national endowment proposals and bringing them down as a separate measure, the Minister for Lands told an Auckland interviewer that there is no .uea of passing one nortion of the Bill and not trying to pass the other portion." It iis almost certain that the Wellington Rifle Battalion will engage in a route march during the Easter holidays. It is proposed that the volunteers should leave for Featherston by train on Good Friday eve, spend the night under canvas in the outskirts of that township, and march to Maeterton by way of Greytown and Carterton, leaving Masterton for home by rail on Monday afternoon. The partly-heard cass of W. C. Chatfield against the Wairau Hospital Board was again called on thiG morning at the Supreme Court. Mr. Skerrett intimated that there was probability of a settlement being arrived at in the ease, and in view of this contingency an adjournment of further hearing was made until to-morrow morning. _ A vequest by the Students' Association that the top floor of Victoria College should be 'furnished was discussed by the College Council last night. As the_ matter is one of finance, it v/as decided to make immediate application to the Minister of Education for a grant-in-aid. In the meantime the subject is to be further considered by tho Finance Committee. An attempt is to be made to beautify the grounds surrounding Victoria College by "blinding"' some of the unsightly"clay "faces" with ivy or other suitable creeper. The recent rains have scoured out the clay in places ; and the College Council last evening considered ways and means for rendering the grounds more presentable. A committee, oftwhich Mr. Yon Haast is chairman, was set up to report on the subject. The Acting Postnia6ter-General (Hon. Dr. Findlay) has under consideration the question of establishing a regular direct mail service between the north and south rail heads of the North Island Main Trunk Railway. The yards of all the city coal dealers are to be closed all day next Saturday, as the employees' picnic is to be held on that day. We are in receipt of No. 1 of the Whakatane County Press, publis.hed, by Mr. C. B. Beckett, which made its appearance on the 14th inst. It is a double-demy sheet, and claims to be the first penny paper in the Bay of Plenty. As befits a county paper, it gives full prominence to local news and local requirements. The Sunday School Union has elected the following officers for 1907 : — President, Mr. George Tiller ; Vice-Presi-dent, Mr. W. Hopkirk ; Corresponding Secretary, Mr. H. J. Thompson ; Minute Secretary, Mr. T. Sims; Treasurer, Mr. W. G. Holdsworth; Secretary of International Bible-reading Association, Mr. W. J. Parsons ; Visitors, Messrs. W. Allan and H. J. Thompson; Auditor, Mr. D. R. Purdie. The gradual waning of the enthusiasm that seized some of our prominent citizens on the death of the late Mr. Ssddon has excited the indignation of "J.R.1." who is concerned about the apathy displayed in the matter of the erection of a memorial. Some of the past leaders of the movement, he says, seem to think that as no more benefits are to be expected, they are only wasting their time and money, and consequently the memory of New^ Zealand's greatest Premier should be allowed to die out. There are a few in the city, says tho writer, jvho will ever remember the good deeds performed by the late Richard John Seddon for the uplifting of his fellow-men. On n, charge of theft of £1, belonging to E. F. Zolirab and Co., Victor de Oaro was yesterday brought before tho Police Court. Chief Dstective M'Grath stated that accused and his wife were managing the Day's Boy house and pavilion for the Wellington ' Ferry Company during the last fourteen months. Mr. Zohrab suspected that accused was ttealiiig money, and Inst Saturday Detective Williams marked three sovereigns, tendered one to accused and got two people to tender the others. When accused paid over the mone-" only two of the marked sovereigns tvere amongst the cash. He subsequently admitted having stolen the sovereign, and confessed to having taken £6 in all from the company. Mr. Kirkcaldie, who appeared for accused, said this was his client's first lapse, and a6ked that he should be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. The presiding justices — Messrs. John Arnott, Paul Coffey, and C. A. Bakeradopted the coursesuggested by counsel, on the understandinb that accused refunded the £6. The Thorndon Dinghy Club sailed a race last night for a trophy presented by Miss W. Melville. There was ft squally north-west wind, and the boats were closely reefed. The following dinghys competed :—B. Stirling's Vera scr, L. • Palmer's Zel scr., J. Scott's Spmy 4mm, W. Moore's Ajax 4imin, jT S. Swan's Blowfly 4imin, Scotland Smith's Scotia 6imin, Sargent and Jones's Oeo smin. A good race resulted in a win for the Vcra, with Scotia second, and Ajax third. Blowfly, Oeo, Spray, and Zol wore next in order. The Rona retired in the second round. The Vera now has a big lead for tne aggregate points prize, with 138 points, Zel following with 123, Irex 113, Spray 102, Rona 98, Ajax 84, Blowfly 84, Scotia 81, Petrel 57, Oeo 52. Mr. F. M'Keever acted as starter and judge. The last of a series of three races for the championship will be sailed on Saturday afternoon. Advance styles in millinery, costumes and dress fabrics for autumn wear are already being displayed by Kirkcaldie and Stains, Ltd. Ladies should grasp this opportunity of getting a first glimpse of the newest from the world's Jeac&ff, fashion centoes.—^ AAxt^