LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 52, 25 November 1907, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

His Honour, Mr. Justice Button, will hold a sitting of tho Bankruptcy Court at 10.30 a.m. this morning. The hearing of non-jury civil cases will ho commenced this morning before His Honour Mr. Justice Button. The Uogistrar-General (Mr. B. J. Von Dadelszen) has issued the advance sheets of tho 1907 Year Book, dealing with the detailed descriptions of the ten land districts and the Cook and other annexed islands. Tho Health Department advise that tho following cases of infectious diseases havo been reported during the week ended Saturday :—Scarlet fever, 1; diphtheria, 1; tuberculosis, 1. Hutt County—scarlet fever, 1; diphtheria, 1; and tuberculosis, 1. Attention is drawn to a fine exhibition of pen, pencil, crayon, and water-colour portraits, many of them strikingly true to life, in Boadnall's studio in Willis Street. These are the work of Miss May Moore, who lias faithfully sketched many well-known Wellington people. " Unless a witness is giving evidence at the ..time ho or she must not make statements which may bo audible cither to the jury or myself," observed His Honour, Mr. Justico Cooper, on Saturday, commenting on a protest from counsel for the defence complaining of the action of some witnesses for tho Crown. At the last meeting of tho Wellington NoLicenso League it was resolved:—"That this Loaguo desires to remind His Worship the Mayor and the City Council that 13,026 Wellington citizens voted for No-license, being 1062 more than tho voters for Continuance, and therefore protests against tho municipality advertising alcoholic drinks on tho backs of tho tram-tickets." Tho amount of Customs duties received on Saturday was £1520 165., as against £1673 11s. Bd. for tho same date last year; tho total collected for tho week was £11,754 18s. 2d., as compared with £10,628 16s. Bd. foi the corresponding week of 1906, showing an' increase of £1126 Is. 6d., equal to 10.6 per cent. The beer duty collected for the week was £363 ss. Bd., as against £208 11s, Bd., an increase of £134 14s. , Memory training as an aid to success is receiving attention in. various parts of tho world, and it is interesting to note that a school of memory training has recently been established in Molbourne. It is stated that already COO pupils havo entered for the course of training, which is conducted under what is known as the Pelman systom, Mr. W. J. Bnnever being in charge. The method of instruction is indicated in the pamphlets and, booklets issued by the founders-of tho system, find is quite an interesting study in itself.

Mr. Gep. Shirtcliffe has given notice that he will move at the next meeting of the Harbour Board:—"That in view of tho in'adequacy of tho present wharf and shed accommodation to cope with the rapidly-in-creasing import trade of the" port, the provision of increased accommodation bo treated as an urgent work, and the engineer take steps to have the widening of the outer tee of the Queen's Wharf and the erection thereon of/two storied sheds, as recommended by him in'his report of . May 31', "19'06J"" put in hand at tho earliest possible date."

Owing to the non-appearance of Mr. T. M-. Wilford, counsel for the defence, the Supreme Court adjourned for a few minutes oh Saturday. When counsel arrived, he looked exceedingly warm, and it was easy to believe his statement that lie had run nearly all the way from his residence. Apologising for his lateness, Mr. Wilford stated that he had overslept, as a result of the strenuous life ho had been leading. He mentioned that on Thursday, after defending a, prisoner, he was engaged at the House from 11.30 a.m. until 4 a.m. on Friday, and that after appearing at Court, both in the morning and the aftornoon of Friday, he was at the House from 7.30.p.m. until 4.40 that morning. His Honour, Mr. Justice Cooper, who accepted the explanation, referred to the difficulty of combining parliamentary duties with legal duties. Mr. Wilford rejoined that this was a special occasion, it being at the end of the session. '

The General Post Office has decided to add a touch of tho picturesque to the ordinary greetings that may be sent by. telegraph within the Dominion during the period covered by tho Christmas and New Year holidays. If a person sends the message "Wishing you a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year," only the address, signature, and the codo word "greetings " is sent over the wire, and the recoiver at tho other end, instead of inscribing the message on the ordinary telegraph form, will writo the address arid signature on a nice post-card, on the reverse side pf which is an interesting view characteristic of the Dominion —its lakes, rivers, mountains, cities, , rfows of public buildings, Maori types, pictures, Native carving, etc. There is a series of thirtysix postcards in all (printed, in black and blue ink), to be used for this purpose, which aro now being distributed in parcels to every part of the Dominion. Tho post-card telegram will be introduced about tho Saturday before Christmas Day, and will last over the Now Year.

Tlie suggested abolition of district courts was doubtless responsible for the attitude taken up by District Judge Haselden at Now Plymouth on Friday morning. A case was proceeding (Harford v. Taranaki County Council) and counsel for plafntiff raised decided objection to the admission of nn amended statoment of defence which had not been filed in the time specified by the rules. His Honour said if counsel wished this Court to bo continued, and he presumed they did, they must make it as useful as they could, and not, so to'spcak, blow up tho ships. Ho was going to maintain tho Court as a Court of Justice, and not allow injustico to bo done. Sir. M'Hutchon tenaciously stuck to his point, and declined to give way, whereupon His Honour remarked, " people had better keep out of this Court if they are going to behave liko this in endeavouring to take advnntago of tho other side on a technicality." Ho hoped such litigants would avoid tho Court in (n----turo, and ho urged thorn to adopt a spirit of reciprocity, reminding counsel that there were pitfalls waiting for him. Mr. M'Hutchon scorned to consider this a jest, for amidst a loud outburst of laughter ho ejaculated that he was quite prepared for them. His Honour again strongly remarked upon want of reciprocity in sections of tho profession.

Mrs. Ethel E. Do Costa, IX.B. (neo Mies Ethel R. Bonjamin, of Dunedin), after practising for Bomo years in that city, has commenced practice as a barrister and solicitor in No G Nathan's Buildings, corner Grey anil Featl eiston Streets, Wellington. Mrs. De Costa has tho distinction of being tho only lady practising at tho Bar in tho Dominion. Intending cliente can depend on prompt and careful attention at Mrs. De Costa's hands.

A married man named Arthur Williams James, living at Miramar, was admitted to tho Hospital on Saturday afternoon suffering from a broken ankle, caused through falling off a scaffold.

A huge porpoise, weighing 2401b., which leapt on board a fisherman's boat inside the Heads, and was only despatched after a struggle, was oxhibitod in a fishmonger'* shop in Cuba Street on Saturday. Tho now police station at Kilbirnio is now an accomplished fact, Constable Lark'm, late of Petone, having been installed in a house in Vallance Street, just past the hotel. Constable Stewart, who was originally appointed to Kilbirnie, has decided to remain on town work. A fire amongst some rubbish underneath tho suspension bridge in Hobson Street was responsible for the Fire Brigado turning out at 1.35 p.m. yesterday. The outbreak was extinguished without any damagd being dono. It is suggested that the fire was caused by a pedestrian.' who was crossing tho bridge throwing a lighted match into the gully. An elderly man named Henry William Hutt, employed as a gardener by Mr Marshall, of Worser Bay, died rather suddenly on Saturday. Deceased complained of being giddy at tea time, and was put to bed, and expired at 11 p.m. The cause of death was heart disease, and a certificate being forthcoming to that effect no inquest will be necessary. Hutt, who was a single man, 58 years of age, was well-known in Nelson, and had only been in Wellington about a fortnight. He is said to have crossed the Strait for the benefit of his health. Tenders are invited by Mr. W. C. Chatfield, architect, in another column for the erection of a new banking- house for the Union Bank of Australia. Alternate tenders are being asked for one to provide for a combination of steel and., concrete in the lower story, and brick and steel in tho two upper ones; and the other specifies for ferro concrete.' The lowest story will be in the Doric stylo, and the upper portion will be pure Corinthian. The front elevation will provide a handsome face rising 74ft. The lower part will bo finished in granito up to a height of 6ft., and the remainder will be in Portland cement. The new bank will have public entrances from Lambton Quay and from Poatherston Street. Tho banking chamber itself will be 64ft. x 56ft. x> 24ft. high. A party of northern mombors of Parliament loft for their homes yesterday morning by a specially-arranged service by way of the Main Trunk Line, which will enablo them to reach Auckland city by 10 p.m. to-day. They, were to go through to Waiouru by the special train yesterday, and stay the night tat that place. To-day at 6 a.m. they are to leave for Ohakune, which they should reach at 7.15. There they will take special coaches for the railhead at the northern end of the line. A special train will bo run up to the. railhead, which is now nearly five''miles south of Raurimu, to meet them, and they will reach Raurimu about noon, where they will lunch in tho new station building now in course of erection. Their special train will then run on to Taumarunui, arriving there at 2 p.m., whence tho Railway Depart-' inont's special train will' then tako them to Auckland. The members will travel by'the. Public Works Department's train over the famous spiral, and will be the first passeri- . gers to be conveyed over that portion of the line. ..,,.,., . ■aunt) 1 '-i'.:- v " '■'■•:.'■'■'.■;■■ ■■ ■•■■■ .' As the Volunteer special drew up at Ngahauranga Station on its.,roturn to town qii Saturday, the casual eye fell on a, group, of men whose"sble interest in life, at the moment, 'appeared to centre upon the behaviour of two copper discs, which ever and anon spun upwards into tho air. There was nothing remarkable about these discs. Their sterling value, as current coins of the realm, amounted to exactly twopence. There waa also a whito object, upon which th« discs rested for a brief period between spins. This object was plain wood —nothing more. Yet upon this absurdly simplo pastime was concentrated the undivided attention of a number of adult Europeans. Had a solitary individual attired in a bluo suit embellished with silver buttons, and wearing a hat of a particular design, appearod upon tho scene, these guileless Europeans would have made themselves extremely scarce. That species of tho human family known as the "Two-Upper" is of shy and retiring habits. ■ '.

An accident 'occurred at the Supremo Court on Saturday morning about 11 o'clock, just after sentence had been passed in the Murtagh ease, and tho sensation attendant upon tho result of the trial was beginning to subside. An elderly woman named Mrs. Mooro, who resides at Buick Streot, Potono, was about to descend the stairs leading from the ladies' gallery, when she missed 'her footing and fell to the bottom, a distanco of about 16 feet. She was badly cut about the face, and bled profusely. Dr. Henry was quickly summoned, and, after rondering temporary relief, ordered, her removal to tho Hospital. Mrs. Moore's daughter witnessed tho accident, and became hysterical, her agitated skrioks being heard all over the building. Latest inquiries at tho Hospital elicited the news that the patient was still sufformg a good deal of pain. The stairs at the Supremo Court, are difficult to negotiate, especially for elderly people, and it is hoped that in connection with the scheme of alterations at the Court (provided for by a vote of £3000 on tho Supplementary Estimates), the stairs will receive attention.

A comedy with three actors, a car motorman, a conductor, and the driver of a van, was enacted on tho Karori tramway route on Friday afternoon. The lorry-man, who essayed to be the comic person pfjhe little drama, persisted in driving at a moderate pace immediately in" front of the electrio car, though both sides of the road were free, and tho motor-man's bell clanged continuous angry warning. When finally the' man swerved off down a side street, tho rear of his • van was so close to tho car, that the latter had to brought up with a jerk, which shook the passengers in their seats. The conductor ran after the van to demonstrate to its driver that the play was serious. The van was pulled up after three or four chains, and the delayer of traffic then'accosted the irate man in uniform with smiles. The conductor very gravely inscribed his name in a note-book, and tho loriy-man, not to bo outdone in attentions, produced a note-book also, in which apparently he recorded tho conductor's name and number. An altercation of words which the passengers' were enjoying was interrupted by the motor-man, who called out to tho conductor not to spend time in argument, and the guard joined tho car again . after a good run. In tho intervals of taking money ho spent the remaining time till town was reached in noting names of witnesses to the van-driver's, perverseness.

If you aro contemplating removing, tho first thing you should do is obtain a quotation from J. Koir, 12 Featherston Street. Ho, has had many years' experience in this class of work, * aud is in a position to pack, storo, and remove any description of furniture. He also clears gooda through Customs, and despatches packages and parcels to any address in the.world. Telephone, No. 11S0. ■ C 565