LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 72, 18 December 1907, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A man was arrested last night on a charge of stealing £12. V" Solicitors very rarely give their evidence in a clear, straightforward way," observed. His Honour Mr. Justice Button during the hearing of a case yesterday. w The patients at the Wellington Hospital will bo treated to a Christmas t tree on Christmas night. The sum of £50 has been i set apart by the Trustees for Christmas cheor. ■ .

The administration of the Infant Life Protection Act, which has been in the hands of the pOlico up to the present, is to be taken oyer by. the Education Department from January 1.

Lieutenant Shackleton, in his lecture last night, described King Edward VII Land as the first territory to be added to the Empire during His Majesty's reign—not, perhaps, the most fertile of his dominions, but certainly the , most peaceful. \'

The conflicting nature of the evidence in a commission case yesterday led His Honour Mr.. Justice Button to observe that there should be a new Statute .of ; Frauds requiring 'in ' Agent to''obtain authoritytdm writing to dispose of a property.^bef.orftilhfi;,could claim commission.

The undefended divorce ease, Harriett Eliza Adsett (petitioner)' v. Thomas Adsett (respondent), will bo taken before His Honour Mr. Justice - Button this morning. The case Arthur Perry (petitioner) v. Alice Madeline Perry (respondent)—in which no defence has been filed also—will be taken tomorrow morning.

Owing to the unavoidable absence of His Honour Mr. Justice Cooper, the motion for the dissolution of the interim injunction obtained in January last by Mrs. Fiold against Allan M'Guiro. and his contractor, restraining them from cutting into the bank at the rear of tho new Commercial Hotel on Lambton Quay, was not argued yesterday. It is not improbable, however, that His Honour will hear argument in respect of the motion to-day. The case set down for hearing this morning before Mr. Justice Cooper is that between Lewis Albert Sanderson and ■ the City Corporation—a claim for £978 for loss arising out of the dedication of certain Strips of land for the purpose of widening Brougham and Firio Streets. In this case, Mr. A. L. Wilson will act as assessor for the claimants, and Mr.. E. W. Seaton for the Corporation.

" Hundreds of people waiting Picton. No steamer. Sleeping wharves. No accommodation " ran an unsigned telegram received by The Dominion yesterday. Inquiry was at once made from Mr. W. A. Kennedy, local manager of the, Union Steamship Company. He had also received an alarming message from Picton, signed by ono "Taieri," but another received by him from Dr. Makgill, District Health Officer, stated that there were some twenty people awaiting tho steamer Penguin. The cause of all this pother was the detention of the steamer in tho Strait through a very heavy fog. In the ordinary, courso she would have arrived at Picton from Nelson on Monday night, but for the reason stated did not reach, there until noon yes-, terday. She sailed again before 1 p.m., and arrived here last evening. To say that Picton could not find accommodation for twenty people savours of exaggeration.

Tho New South Wales Teachers' Cricket team, which leaves Sydney by the Wimmora on Friday next, is expected to arrive in Wellington on Christmas Evo. Should the steamer arrive according to her scheduled timo, a formal reception will be tendered to tho visitors in the Teachers' Room, Educatioul Board Building, at 5 p.m. that day, when they will be welcomed by the Presidont of the local branch of tho Teachers' Institute, Mr. William Foster, Mr. Robert Leo (Chairman of tho Board), and tho Inspectors. All those interested either in cricket or education are invited to attend, and a special invitation is extended to Australians. On Christmas Day the party will bo taken on a sight-seeing expedition round the Queen's Drive. On Boxing Day tho first match, that between tho visitors and the local teachers (the local team has not yet been finally selected), will bo plftyed on the Wellington Collego grounds. In tho evening a smoko concert will be given, details of which will bo arranged lat-er. Mrs. Ethel It. De Coata, LL.B. (neo Miss Ethel R. Benjamin, of Dunodin), after practising for some years in tliat city, has commenced practice as a barri6tor and solicitor in No 6 Nathan's Buildings, corner Grey and Feat! ei ston Streets, Wellington. Mrs. De Costa has tho distinction of being the only lady practising at tho Bar in tho Dominion. Intending clients can depend on prompt and careful at tcntion at Mrs. De Costa's hands. . We are soiling Bicycle Tyres and Inner Tubes at lowest possiblo prices. In addition ti this, wu are, for the next four weeks, presenting every purchaser of a Tyre or Tube v'itb. a now Bell, free of charge. A. B. lowuflll and Company, 309 Lambton Quay,

The Magistrate's Court will be closed for the Christmas vacation from December 24 until January 6. Sittings of the Court will be held before Justices at 9 a.m. each day during the holidays.

Walter Henry Hewson, grocer, of Petone, has been adjudged bankrupt. A meeting 06 creditors in the estate will be held before the Official Assignee (Mr. Jus. Ashcroffc), on Friday, December 20, at 11 a.m.

The amount Collected in connection witlr Hospital Sunday by the Star and Garter Hotel was £5 35., not ss. 3d., as has been stated. There are still some boxes to coma in, which the secretary (Mr. F. Oakes) would bo glad to receive at the earliest opportunity.

,In reference to the destruction of the Matriculation and University Scholarship examination papers in the recent fire, a circular to ascertain the most convenient centres has been issued by the University Registrar (Mr. J. W. Joynt) to the unfortunate candidates who have/ to sit again. January 23 and 24, 1908, have been fixed as the dates for the reexamination.

The approach of the festive Chrietmai season is having its effect already, 'Wheo witnesses were being ordered out of the Magistrate's Court ' yesterday during the hearing of a case the old stereotyped injuno. tion was varied as follows by a well-known official of the Court:—"All witnesses in this case are requested to leave the Court and remain beyond hearing while they give their evidence." ' .;

Reporting to the Benevolent Trustees yesterday, Mr. A. H. Truobridge (secretary) stated that there were 42 permanent cases relieved last month, and there were now 35 tenlporary cases on the books. The total rations granted amounted to 47(11, and tha value of them was £69 9s. lljd. For assist-' ance in payment of rent, £58 3s. had been granted, and other disbursements amounted to £6 L4s. 2d. for the month. ! Taking tha period of eight months, from April 1 to November 30, the issue of rations had creased by 56 per cent, over, the corresponding period of last year. There had been » slight increase in disbursements for rent from £411 in 1906, to £460 in 1907.; but in 1905 the sum of £500 was expended under thig heading. The ronts paid during the-past three months had been in excess of tha aggregate sum paid for the corresponding months of 1905 and 1906. The tendency of out-door relief was in the direotion of increasing. , ' .

If we, in our proposed public abattoirs in Wellington, follow the Berlin 1 system we shall have the carcases separated by the veterinary inspectors into four classes, as follow:—(1.) Tauglich flesh—that whih is quite healthy and fit for sale in a butcher's shop. : (2.) Minderwertig . flesh, which comes from animals undiseased, but skinny; (3.) Bedingt tauglich flesh, . which, being slightly diseased, 1 must be thoroughly boiled before it is eaten. (4.) Untauglich flesti, which must not be used for human food. And we shall disp'ose of the various grades as follow:—The tauglich flesh will go, of course, to the butchers for sale at top prices. The mrndorwertig meat (skinny) and bedirigt tauglich meat (to be boiled before eaten) will be " retailed poor by the, abattoir authorities tor a small' sum!" "bwners of cattle bound ; for''iiieP^erliif' 9 their animals, against condemnation, and receive from the! insurance companies full average value fol- animafs which' do' not'paSs " the veterinarians.

The perils that occasionally surround a Health Officer were graphically illustrated by an exciting experience of. Dr. Mason a few days ago. He had been making *a. laboured voyage through the wilds of Poverty Bay northwards from Gisborne towards Hicks Bay, piloted through thrilling adventures in that roadless territory by Dr. Pomare and Mr.|Ngata, M.P., investigating the sanitary conditions of the Maoris. 'Finally, at Hicks Bay an attempt was to be made to board the Waikaro for a. passage to Napier. The Waikaro passes the East Cape at a very early hour, and the party had to bo astir before three o'clock in the morning to. put off in a launch and be tossed about en the open:sea till tho coaster camo past. It was a perilous attempt. The ocean's bosom flowed no respect for a Chief . Health Officer, and tho little launch reared and pitched furiously among the billows. At one stage a boatman was shot over tho' bows of the craft, and disappeared beneath the blue waters. For a few anxious moments he was lost to sight, but then he reappeared astern, having passed right under the launch, and, with much difficulty and considerable risk to the>est of the little party of heroes, he was hauled safely in. A little cloud hung threateningly over the scene, in which a vacant chief health-officership was dimly outlined, and then a bowline was cast aboard tho big Waikare, and the peril-vanished. ,

In the , course of his remarks on tho Wellington Hospital dispenser's claim that ha had effected a.considerable saving during his occupancy of the position (Mr. Smith is retiring), tho Chairman of the Hospital Trustees (Hon. C. M. Luke, M.L.C.) mentioned that, as they did not know what stock of drugs was there whon Mr. Smith took office, and they did not know what they held now, ho could not say to what extent economy had been practised, but Dr. Ewart had informed him that Mr. Smith had been caroful and economic. Mr. Bolton wished to know how often stock was taken, and, on beii)g ■ informed that the process was an annual one, asked whothor it would not bo bettor to have more frequent stock-takings in 1 order to know where they wore. He suggested that the stock of drugs and stores might be taken overy six months. Mr. London explained that tho stock of stores was tendered for, and the amount. actually on hand at any time was really very small—sometimes only a few days' supply—and they nover had more than a case- of whisky or a dozen stout—(A Member: "A case") —a case of stout in the Hospital at ono time. While on the subject the method of ordering stores and drugs by toudor, purchase, or indent was explained to tho now members of the Board, and, on Jitr. Bolton's suggestion, it was decided, in those cases where goods have been indented hitherto, to allow tho local houses to supply prices, and, if they were satisfactory, to buy locrtJly instead of sending abroad.

Ladies visiting Wellington during tho Christ, mas holidays would do well to pay C. Adams and Co.'s millinery establishment a visit before going further. The millinery rooms upstairs will bo found extensive, ana afford the best selection at reasonable prices in the city. Costumes and blouses will be 6old at a reduction during December. Only address, 35 Ciib* Street. C&M You will find a display of such dainty holi. day frocks, morning dresses, pretty blouse*, charming millinery, otc., at Mrs. Mathewson'i Melbourne House, Lambton Quay. The prieca will onablo everv lady in Wellington to look really smart and well dressed. Remember tho addross: Lamhton Quay. opp. Bank N.Z. 0117 Photographio post cards of " Hospital Saturday collection, and other interesting events, on sale at Zak's Photo Depot, 24 Willie StreS (pnea Id. each). i