LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 65, 10 December 1907, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

• The Customs revenue collected at Wellington yesterday amounted at £1718. The tender of Mr. A. Wilkenning has been accepted for the erection of a caretaker's cottage at Newtown Park. The price is £594 10s. ". ' ■ The directors of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company will meet this moin'ing to consider the matter of tho purcfiase of the line by the State. The Wellington Amateur. Athletic Club will hold its first evening meeting on. tho Basin Reserve on Wednesday. Tho ovents include a 100 yd. junior, BSoyd., and 120 yd. races, and a one-mile walk. It is said that tho Wellington Gas Company is about to mako sdino new additions to its present buildings in Courtenay Place, at a cost approximately of £15,000. The additions :»re to comprise an office for the engineer, another for the foreman, and a fitting shop. "My wife was unable to como to town, and if she had como it might have meant a coffin instead of a birth certificate," romarked the husband of a woman who was prosecuted in the Magistrate's Court yesterday for failing to register a birth. The excuso was of no avail. It was in an office not far from Lambton Quay. The man in black put down ten shillings' worth of threepenny bits on tho counter. ."Ono could tell your profession," said the reporter, "just as well from your small change as from tho cut of your coat." The man in black smiled sadly—"Yes, and the sort of congregation I have." The Fire (Brigade received a call to No. 10 Hobson Orescent at 10.15 yesterday mornng. A room, used as a washhouse at the rear of a dwelling owned and occupied by Mrs. Ecclesfield, was severely damaged. Tho contents wero also damaged, , Tho outbreak was caused by sparks from the copper. At 6i15 p.m. the brigade turned out to a gorse fire in Woolcombe Street. The fi.ro was put out by people in the neighbourhood. , Considorablo (Ilscussion has taken place at various times of late with regard to tho necessity for compulsory examination of school children's teeth. It has been claimed that tho rising generation of Colonials sadly neglect to give proper attention to their teeth. As a case in point, it may bo mentioned that at the enrolment of tho Naval Rosorvo at Christchurch last week the majority of tho few applicants wero pronounced physically unfit through having decayed teeth. ' ' - Mrs. Ethel K; Do Costa, LL.B. (neo Miss Ethol E. Benjamin, of Dunedin), after practising for 6omo years in that city, has commenced prnctico as a barrister and solicitor in No G Nathan's Buildings, corner Groy and Featlciston Streets, Wellington. Jlre. De Costa has tho distinction of being tho only lady practising at tho Bar in the Dominion. Intending clients can depend on prompt and careful at toatioa at Mrs, De Cesta'e hands, <

The case, Frost v. Matthovrc—a claim for possession and £350 damages—will bo heard before Mr. Justice Button alone in the Supreme Court to-day. An interesting clipping from a Hobart paper is forwarded to the local Tourist o<fi"e by the New Zealand Government Agent in Sydney: "There is no mistaking the emphatic evidonces," states the paper, "of Jbe popularity of New Zealand amongst the English emigrants over that of the Commonwealth. Every White Star liner calling here

(Hobart), en route for New Zealand, has a large number of passengers for the Dominion. To-day, tho lonic arrived with a record of BCO on board. Of that number, only half a dozen aro for tho Commonwealth I" When the Squadron arrives in Wellington with the dawn of 1908, it will find at least one of its needs have been attended to. The remark applies to the landing steps at Customhouse Quay, which have in the past been a disgrace to. such a go-ahead port as Wellington. This has been \ rectified by improving the existing stops out of all recognition Instead of one flight of open steps leading straight into the ; water, a landing has been constructed half-way down, where a direct turn has been made and tho steps are continued to tho water, six feet across andkur feet wide, and are close boarded with heavy planks that are crisscrossed with stapled fencing-wire to give foothold. It will be remembered that on Friday Ilia Honour Mr. Justice Button .was asked in Chambers by the Public Trustee, thcxigh Mr. Wilson, whether the sum of £322, r ne amount to the credit of a deceased civil servant, under ,tho Civil Service Reform Act, at the time of his death, was now Dart of tho general estate of deceased, discharged from tho restrictive provisions that existed until tho time' of his death, or did (he moneys or any of them still expressly ejist for tho benefit of his nexUf-kin, to the exclusion of the general body of creditors claiming against his intestate estate. Hia Honour intimated yesterday that, in his opinion, the amount was available for distribution amongst the creditors so far as was necessary, to pay the claims against the estate. ■ : . Captain Post states that our information in regard to ; the narrow escape from collision experienced by the' Government steamer Tutanekai on Thursday last, whilst engaged in cable-laying in Cook Strait, isi not quito correct. The facts of the case' were, according to Captain, Post, that the barque Itona;! bound for Kaipara, was beating through the Strait against a strong nor'wester, and evidently did not see the Tu-' tanekai's signal, but immediately tho steamer's siren was , sounded to attract attention the barque bore away to pass quite half a mile to leeward tif the Tutaiiokai. Our infoiraant, who was also on board the Tutanekai, gave the distance as about fifty yards. The ' fact that an alarm had to be sounded with the siren in mid-Strait indicates that' some danger of collision must have existed.. The helpless position of a female complainant who was not represented by counsel in a maintenance case, whilst the defendant had ail able lawyer conducting his casb, led Mr. Riddell, S.M., to suggest to complainant that she should get a solicitor to look after her case. Complainant (hopelessly): "I have no money, and call get no, one. I am entirely alone." His Worship:. "Do you mean' to say that no solicitor in; Well-' ington will take up the case without nmey?" At this stage, counsel for the defonce explained that the case had been before tho Court before, and complainant had already, had sis solicitors. His Worship: "I would again suggest that you should get a solicitor to conduct your case, complainant. It is impossible for you to compete with counsel for the defence. I am prepared to grant an adjournment to enable you to get a solicitor." Counsel for the defence, to complainant: "Are you not doing this purely to harass tho defendant?" Complainant (hotly): "No, it's a.lie!" , The lady conducted her own case,- and lost it. The Government holidays gazetted foi this month are Wednesday. (Christmas Day), Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, of Christmas week, and Wednesday (New Year's Day) and Thursday of the following week. It is suggested that, as there is little doing at this period, permission might be given to heads of departments to sot free those members of their staffs who can easily be spared or. tho intervening Monday and Tuesday, giving them a clear eight days to spend away from Wellington if they choose. As a large proportion of civil servants ' havo their homes in other parts of the Domiion, the privilege would; be especially valuable. The heads of some departments are accustomed to confer this trifling enfranchisement, jwitb discretion, on their own re- . sponsibility, but in the case of large departments, more especially, there is a natural disinclination to give permission. The happy staff of the Govornhient Printing Departnient will enjoy continuous holiday from December 23 till January.. 4, inclusive. During that period the Gazette will not, be published, unless special... circumstances should arise. Representatives of tho Chinese race from Auckland, Dunodin, Christchurch, and ;he West Coast are at present' in Wellington in connection with a united , protest that is boing mado against tho imposition of the reading test in addition to tho poll-tax. The Chinese Immigration Amendment Act which contains this provision has been reserved for the Royal Assent. The Attorney-Gouoral has been communicated with, and a petition is also to be presented through His Lxcollency the Governor to tho King. ■' Tho communication to Dr. Findlay points jut that the reading test will work a grave injustice to Chinese who, after, long residence in the Dominion, aro at present visiting relatives in China, intending .to return here. No oxemptiou is mado for these absentees, and enquiry' from the Customs has elicited ' the information that the test will be applied in each case. The petition to die King will point out that the 2600 Chinese in * the Dominion' aro peaceful and law-abidhg. It will also be stated, that when the nioasure was before Parliament no secret was uiade of the fact that the intention .was to effect tho total exclusion of Chinese. .The Act >.vis opposed to tho well-organised principles of international law, and amounted to an unfriendly act to China.-. Particular stress will bo laid on tho hardships that New Zealand Chinese visiting China, and desiring lo return, will .suffer. \ - If you aro contemplating removing, tho first thing you should do is obtain a quotation from J. Keir, 12 Feathorston Streot. Ho has had many years' experience in this class of work, ind is in a position to pack, store, and romove iny description of furniture. Ho also clcare ;oods through Customs, and despatches packiges and parcels to any address in the world. Mephone, No. 1180.' ■ C 568 You will find a display of such dainty holilay frocks, morning dresses, pretty blouses, iharmmg millinery, etc., at Sirs. Mathewson's Melbourne House, Lambton Quay. Tho prices rill onablo every lady in Wellington to look really smart and well dressed. Eumomber the iddreas: Lambton Quay, opp. Bank N.Z. 6UT

Mr. E. J. Caroy, Secretary to tho t'ooks 1 and Waitors 1 Union, will leave on a holiday tn'p to Australia shortly. Shakospearo was so extromely prolific in the coinage of usoful quotations for hardpressed journalists that ho w often given credit for moro than ho wrote, which is not meant in any Baconian senso. A -ciu-Jly correspondent reminds us that tho quotation, having reforenco to the effect of spring on a young man's fancy, has'been incorrectly attributed to the Stratford genius, whoreas Tennyson is entitled to credit for ths oftquoted lino, and we freoly restore the stolen property .to ■ its illustrious owner. "Mr. Charles Richard Haybittle, of Trenthara, died unexpectedly while on a.visit to his brother-in-law, Mr. C. L. Allen, of Northland, ,on Sunday. Deceased, who was born at Trentham thirty-six years ago, was very popular" throughout the Hutt Valley. Tho cause of death was heart failure. Ho leaves a,widow and two young childrori. Ho tras the eldest son of the late Mr. W; G. Haybittle, ono of AVellington's early pioneers, well-known in shipping circles. Tho interment will take place at Trentham Cemetery to-morrow. ~ ' . , The Parliamentary Labpur Representation Committee met at the Trades Hall last night. There was a good attendance, and' Mr. D. M'Laren occupied ■ the chair. / A draft programme for tho election campaign was drawn up, and tho following resolution was passed: —That this meeting, composed of delegates from tho Trade Unions, and tho Independent Political Labour League, take steps to contest tho Wellington and Suburban seats at tho, next general, election on a strictly labour basis, and to ! issue a general invitation for. support to all lecal bodies and persons in Wellington favourable to independent labour representation,' the candidates to be pledged to the Labour Party. . Sir Joseph Ward's absurd contention that there was no such thing in the late session as legislation by exhaustion, and that : tho only way to avoid the'rush in tho last'week or two is to lengthen the session, has aroused an industrious correspondent of the Christchurch■" Press."■ to look into the question of the tira6' spent by our legislators in Parliament. "He finds," says tho " Press," "that this year they worked 662, hours before midnightj which with tho exception of 1903, when tho total was ono hour more, is the.greatest numb,er for any ono. of the last eight sessions. The hours worked after midnight wore 108, a record which certainly compares favourably , ' wifh that of most sessions .back to tho year 1900, but the daily average length of sitting—and that in tho longest session on record—was, 8.26 Jiours. This was beaten in 1905 by a few. minutes, and in 1903 and 1900 by about three-quar-ters of an hour, but it is ten minutes more than the.average for tho past eight sessions. The total working hours, for the .whole session ' amounted to 770, which is considerably more than in any session except that of 1903, when the number , was 848." . . , .