LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 4, 30 September 1907, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Tho distribution of Tuir Dominion to subscribers in tho city lias been attended with the usual difficulties which follow in the train of tho establishment. of a daily paper with a largo circulation. The runners are not yet quite familiar .with their rounds, and here and thoro, no doubt, a subscriber lias boon overlooked. Wo would ;n:k all subscribers who do not receive their paper . regularly to notify the publisher, either by ringing up telephone 3Co. 2G44, or by forwarding a note, and the omission will be promptly rein;--diod. Subscribers in tho country in a similar position would favour us by communicating with tho local agent for tlio district in which tlipy reside.

Whilo Mr. Norman Wcstbrook and Mr. Rupert Linnetnan \rere driving along Lambton Quay in a gig yesterday morning tho horse took fright and bolted. The gig collided with a telograph polo at tho corner of Waring Taylor Street and the Quay. Both occupants of the vohicle wero thrown out on to the road. Mr. Wostbrook receivod a severo shaking and several minor skin abrasions, but his companion was uninjured. Tho axle of tho gig was bent. Tho "Taihape News" states that at a meeting o>' tho local Independent Political Labour League the quostion of tho cost of obtaining legal advico was discussed, and it wns decided to urge on the Government tho necessity of establishing a State Legal Bureau with branches in all of the towns with a population of not less than 5000, to enable legal assistance,' on payment of a nominal fee, to be obtained.

A stoam launch was employed the whole of yesterday afternoon ferrying peoplo across from the wharf to tho warship Challenger. The visitors were kindly treated by the officers and men, who did their utmost to satisfy everyone. The patriotic illuminations on the State buildings blazed in a final glory on Saturday night. On the lawns before tho Government and Parliamentary Buildings small groups listened to tho wind-tossed strains of Jupp's Band and the Highland pipes.

The following is an item which should interest Wellington military bandsmen. Apropos thereof one mightsa 5Y if you do a thing, it is just as well to do it properly, "jewelled in every hole," as it were. Tho tiger genus, of course, might exclaim, "to what bass users do wo come," but that is by tho way. The " Hawke's Bay Herald" chronicles:—The Battalion Band's big drum player at yesterday's Domiuion Day celebrations was an attractive personage. Over his uniform he wore a fino tiger-skin, as is the custom with big drummers in tho loading military bands of the Old Country. The skin has been specially imported by tho Battalion Band, and is one of a very few at present used for tho samo purpose in New Zealand.

The iveka is a hungry bird, says the "Taranaki Herald." Ho has been known to steal from bush camps things that a pig would not look at— spoons and tin plates and such delicacios. But ho has a peculiar liking for eggs. Somo wekas got into the fowl run at the Northern Mountain Houso recently. They saw in the nests a splendid feed. They pounced on the luscious ovals and began to peck: at the shells. Thoy found the shells very 'thick, but the anticipation of what was within spurred them on to greater efforts. After much pecking they conquered the refractory shells and proceeded to suck —thin air. They were china eggs. The shells were iliout a quarter of an inch thick."

Tlio annual report of the Wellington Automobile Club statos: — "Some idea of tho rapid progress and tho magnitude of the motor industry may be gathered from the fact that it is estimated that at present over £100,000 a yoar is being paid diroctly and indirectly to workers in this Dominion in connection with motoring, and now that somo of the duty has been remitted it is estimated, that the increase in motor cars will bo so great - that over one million sterling annually will bo paid in wages in New Zealand alone within the next few yoars, wiiilo only ten years ago there was probably not a single person in New Zealand earning a livelihood from • the motor industry." ■

Miss Ellen Von Mcyern is among the first flight of portrait-painters in New Zealand. If she staked her artistic reputation on tho „ life-size painting of the late Mr. Soddon; in •the role of Grand Master of'the Freemasons, now being exhibited at McGregor Wright's studio, it would not i-uffer in tho least degroo. Tho portrait preserves all tho rugged ;trength and burliness' of the dead statesman—tho broad forehead, the steadfast eye, and the leonine head ire faithfully reproduced. There : k, too, a remarkablo delicacy of execution ,in depicting the intricacies jf the Masonic regalia. The por-

'r.iit, which is under offer to the •Jiisonie fraternity, is all the more

v-iv.'ditable as Miss Von Moyern was t>n!y able to securo one sitting of Mr. Seddon before his death.

Now that the question of obtaining pure milk supply lias be.-n brought prominently beforo 1 tlie public, the City Council's suggested scheme, of municipalisation bas come under discussion. The matter has not. been .il I owed to drop, although'tho Abat•oir, Milk Supply and Public Health Committee has not yet mado its report. The members of tho Commits avi! not been idle. They have spent :« great deal of time in obtaining detailed and reliable information from many and varied sources, and the report they are drawing up will'be a bulky and formidable one. It will not r.'nrae before tho Council to-night, but will be presented at tho following ordinary meeting. The Committee's main recommendation will ho that depots be established, through which all milk that comes into tho town must pass for inspection beforo being delivered to tho consumer.

In view of the recent controversies concerning tho Town Bolt, it is interesting to sketch briefly its early history. It is an important link'with the storied past, binding the old and r-ho new —a relic of the stirring days of pioneering, when Wellington war:>ut a tiny toddler among tho citiesi>f tlie Empire. It had its origin in Mio establishment of Wellington as one of the settlements of the Nest

Xualand Company., With a beneficent foresight- for posterity, tho Company set apart a tract of land surrounding tlio city, and called it tho Town Bolt.. Tho particular purposes for which tho Belt was intended were not specifically stated, but the general impression was that it was meant for tho recreation and ornamentation of tho city, i'nr many years it lay idle, neglcctcd, and unkempt. It was a kind of " NoManVLand." Sleek, contented cattic squatted comfortably on its f.ice, lasily chewing tho cud of meditation, whilst frivolous goats roamed at will, running festive riot. The timber with which it had been generously clothed was hewed and destroyed, and it was gradually degenerating into n naked, unlovely waste of desolation. But ultimately it was taken in hand, and on Juno 3, 1861, tho Town Bolt, consisting of 123 acres 2r: 18p: was formally granted to Dr. Feathcrstovi, Superintendent to the province of Wellington, "in trust for the purposes of public utility to tho town of Wellington and its inhabitants." This was constitutionally consummated on November 14, 1871, by tho Wellington City Reserves Act.

Mrs. Ethel R. De Costa, LL.B,- (neo Miss Ethel R. Benjamin of Duncdin), after practising for somo years in that city, has commenced practice as a barrister and solicitor in No. 6 Nathan's Buildings, corner ' Grey and Featherston Streets, Wellington. Mrs, J) 0 Costa has tho distinction of being t.io only lady practising an the Bar in tno Dominion. Intending clients can depend on prompt and careful attention at Mrs. De Costa's bauds....

The Citizens Band, which has recently been formed at Petone, luado its first public appearance on Saturday afternoon at the carnival in honour of the suburban footballers.

The annual sliow of tho Wairarapa and East Coast P. and A. Society will bo held at Carterton on Wednesday and Thursday, November 20 and 21. Entries will close with the Secretary, Mr. H. S. Moss, on Saturday, November 9.... 1

Sir Joseph Ward received the following message from Mr. Alvey A. Adee (Acting Secretary of State for tho United States) on Saturday:— "By direction of the President I send congratulations and warmest greetings on the fact that New Zealand has become a Dominion." ,

Tho Postal Department have been advised that tho American mails which arrived in Auckland by the s.s. Eoreric on Saturday night left Onchunga by the s.s. Rarawa yesterday, and will arrive in Wellington by to-night's Manawatu train. Mails from Auckland which should have arrived last Friday and Saturday nights, but wero detained owing to bad weather, will ■ also arrive tonight. It has been found necessary to increase tho desk accommodation for the public in the Post Oißce Savings ; Bank on Lambton Quay. An improvement -has been made, too, in reference to withdrawal of money. Hithehrto persons paying-ill money had to wait their chance with the clerk, woh had to attend both to deposits and withdrawals—very arduous work at rush times. Now a special counter is provided for withdrawals only.

That valuable property on the corner of Upper Willis Street and Ghuzneo Si:r£at, lately in tlie occupation of Dr. Fyffo, has been acquired by Dr. M'Gavin, who is about to erect ail up : to-date residence in place of the building recently demolished. Dr. FyfFo has purchased the property a little lower down in Upper "Willis Streetj so long occupied by Mr. Walter Hall, I the well-known dentist. Dentists are to be found all over the city, but the most numerous colony of that professional community is to be found in the lower part of Upper Willis Street, and the halo femalo with hor lower face well-mufUed -is a frequent sight thereabouts.

A correspondent complains of the " gigantic and clumsy doors" that admit to the Post and Telegraph Offices in Wellington, and points out that the heavy work entailed in pushing open doors from 12ft. to 10ft. high must be serious and, in many cases, dangerous' to many ladies, children, and .invalids. The work entailed in opening a door is not so much its weight as the manner in which it is hung, and, as it is imperativo that the doors should be kept closed to provent papers Hying about in the offices mentioned, a strong spring is necessary. It is a matter, however, that the Post Offico authorities might look into, as ladies liavo been noticed, on many occasions, having considerable trouble in getting in or out of the doors referred to.

His Excellency the Governor has forwarded to the officer commanding the Wellington District, through Sir Jesnpli Ward, tho following message, dated September 26: —" Tho Governor and Cainmander-in-Chiof desires to express his high appreciation of 'Uie- splendid mustor of all arms at this afternoon's parade. He also wishes .to express his admiration of the soldiorliki; bearing of the troops und cadets, and to compliment them on their steadiness on parade. His -Excellency" vrill bo pleased 'if the' Pr'ihio Minister will have the above transmitted to the proper quarter.— Plunket, Governor." Sir. Joseph Ward, in a covering memo, to the officer commanding the district, also expressed high appreciation of tho splendid muster-of all" arms on Dominion Day, and complimented both men and officers upon tho manner in which the movements were carried out.

According to Mr. Edward Barber, t.lio life of a butcher's block (of 'cajiri) is twenty years, or, rather, that length of time has elapsed since tho blocks in use last week were first placed in position. They were then 3ft. 6in. in height-, but the constant scraping and scrubbing to which thoy have been subjected has worn them lown to a matter of inches rather than feet, and they have long since had to be elevated on wooden stands, i'iie now blocks are a revelation to tho .city man as to tho size of kauri trees still to be found in the forosts of the north. Trimmed and

iiiioothed* to a perfect circle, the blocks show that the diameter of the trunk must have been about six feet, and, as they are 3ft. 9in. in height, a fair idea may be obtained of what i huge lump of timber tho colonial butcher's block actually is. The two raw blocks for Barber's cost approximately £20.

The annual smoke concert under the auspices of the Wellington Typography ?al Society was held in tho Oddfellows' H'nll 011 Saturday evoning. Mr. A. D. Robbie (tho president) occupied' the chair. Utoro was' a largo gatherin;". of members, and anionjj other visitors >ere the Hon. A. Millar (Minister for Labour), Hon. J. Kigg, M.L.C., and Mr. P. M. B. Fisher, M.11.R. Hie company sat down to an excellent dinner, after which a musical programme, interspersed with the customary toasts, was gone through. Replying to the toast of "Parliament," Mr. Millar referred briefly to "The Industrial arid Conciliation Amendment Bill" at present beforo the Legislature. The Arbitration Courts had, ho regretted to say, developed into courts of law instead of courts of equity, as had been originally intended. It was, he felt, a hundred times better to sottlo disputes amicably than to invoke the aid of the courts. Mr. Fisher also made a few remarks. Tho toast of "The Typographical Society" was proposed b\ Mr. Norton, and responded to by tin Chairman. Mr Chapman gave tin toast of " Our Profession," and Mi Joslin replied. The proceedings tor minatcd shortly before midnight.

During the present month the prisoners at Waiotapu have completed planting a total for the season of 2,000,000 trees.

Tho Hadfieid Memorial Hostel at Kelburne is to be started almost immediately, tho Committee having accepted the tender of Messrs. R. A. W akelin and Son for the erection of the first part, to bo known as the Haddington wing. The design, which is by Mr. I<V do J. Clero, E.R.1.8.A., tho diocesan architect, shows a brick and stone building in tho Jacobean stylo, whicli will give accommodation for nineteen students and a principal.

At this evening's meeting of the City Council Mr. Hindmarsh is to move: —" That tho resolution that the request of the Trades and Labour Council for permission to advertise their proposed picnic on the tramcars be not granted, bo rescinded." Mr. Carmichael will move:—"That tho engineer be instructed to report upon tho cost and utility of a tunnel from Grant Road to tho road at present formed on tho Wilton's Estate, having in view that this route can be used for the extension.. of the tramway service, to Wadestown."

Overtimo is still being worked in tho Petone Railway Workshops to cope with the comprehensive pro-, gramme of now rolling stock which has been laid down for this'year's construction. Four new locomotives are in course of building at' the Addington Workshops, these being part of tho programme ,of eighteen locomotives, 112 bogie - cars, 15 bogie brakevans, and 988 wagons, to be completed in tho railway workshops during this year. In addition to these, Messrs. Price. Bros.; of Thames, are building under contract twenty locomotives for the Department.

Tho annual entrance examinations of the New Zealand Institute ■ of Accountants will begin on Moilday, October 14, and will continue un« til Thursday, October 17. Candidates '

will bo examined in tho Sydney * Street Schoolroom. Tho' total number of ontries from all parts of . the Do minion is ninety-one, which constitutes a record for the Institute's examinations. The syllabus of tho examina- ■ tions is as follows:—1, Auditing, and Mercantile Law; 2, Company Law and Bankruptcy Law; ' 3 (a), Trusteeship, Executorship, and Administration, (b) Arbitration andAwards, (c) Receivership and Management. The papers in book-keeping, auditing, and mercantile law are sot by the Victorian Institute of Ac- ' couutants, • and candidates' papers will be forwarded to that body for marking.

At Waitara on Wednesday last, according to tho '.'Taranaki Daily News," an interesting licensing cbbb was heard in the S.M. Court, when the question arose: Is a half-caste a Maori? Jolm 'Bertie, licensee:of the Bridge Hotel, was chargedj among other things, with supplying a halfcasto Maori with whisky. The polico prosecuted, and Mr Quilliam appeared for.' the ' defence, raising the defence that 'the half-caste, JBro (Barlow), was living as a

European, farming, and doing business just as a pnkeha. l Evidence was tendered in support of: 'this : by neighbouring settlers, and eventually the Magistrate. reserved his judgment for the purpose of referring to authorities concerning the Europeanised halfcaste. ,