LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 76, 23 December 1907, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Customs collection on Saturday totalled £1318 16s. od., and for the week the collections amounted to £13,107 6s. lOd. The beer duty fcr the wook totalled £301 4s. The Hoalth Department reports tho following cases of infectious diseases for tho woek ending December.2l:—Wellington City: Scarlet fever, 4; tuberculosis, 3. Hutt County: Scarlet fover, 1. James Iteid was driving an express, leased by him from Mr. Welsdy, Aro Street, on Saturday night, when tho horse bolted from Oriontal Bay, along Courtonay Place, and into Taranaki Street. Hero Constable Wright ran out and caught the horse's hqad, but did not succeed in stopping tho runaway, until tho corner of Cuba and Dixon Streets was reached. No damage was done. A witness, who failed to attend at tho Magistrate's Court on Saturday morning, was within an aco of boing called, upon to answer to tho Court for his neglect. Tho presiding Magistrate, Mr. W. G. liiddoll, was propared to issue a warrant for tho arrest of the dofaultors, but, as Chief-Detcctivo M'Grath did not press tho mattor, the absentee 1 was let off. The incidont should act as a warning.

The Wellington Garrison Band gave a fine performance at Newtown Park yesterday afternoon. Tho weather' was perfect, and tho Park was crowded. The programme was of unusual merit, and thoroughly enjoyed. A married man, named Jerry Haggerty, living in Holland Street, was admitted to the Hospital on Saturday suffering from a badlycut faco, tho result of a-fall down the hold of a steamer on which he was working. For tho Sargood Cup Shooting Competition, which is to bo fired off before December 31, three teams, representing the' Wanganui Guards; tho Masterton Mounted Rifles, and tho Taranaki Guards, have been entered. , Tho hearing .of', the compensation caso botwoon Thomas Campbell, farmer, Karori, and tho Gity Corporation—a claim for £4500 as. compensation for loss arising out of tho taking of 38 acres for tho purpose of extending the catchment area in connection with the Karori Reservoir—will be continued this morning. . The under-mentioned 1 hours will bo observed at the General Post Office during the Christmas hdidays:—Christmas Day—-9.30 a.m. to, 10 a.m., and's p.m. to 5.30 p.m. Boxing Day--9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and 7 p.m. till midnight. Tho telephone exchange will remain open continuously, and the midnight cable service will bo unaltered. To facilitate postal and telegraphic business at Wellington South the cfSce will open at 8 a.m. instead of 9 o'clock on Christmas 'Evo (Tuesday). The following is the holiday attendance: —Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m.; Wednesday (Christmas Day), closed; Thursday, 9 to 10 a.m. only; Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m. The quiet matutinal stroll along the Jervois Quay breastwork, which is oho of the treats of residents who live across tho harbour, is about- to be stopped. It is stated that'a new Harbour Board regulation stipulates that passengers arriving by tho early ' morning ferry boats must not walk along the breastwork, but must file straight off the boat on to the street. There was some lively traffic on tho newlyopened tramway section to Seatouu yesterday. Car after car, loaded, to its capacity and occasionally beyond it, left the Courtenay Place terminus early in the'afternoon, and the beach at Seatoun was thronged with visitors,' bent on enjoying to tho full : tho delights of a perfect afternoon at the seaside. An enterprising, person has grasped tho fact that afternoon tea has become part and parcel of our'being, and has set'up his alluring sign right opposite tho terminus. Seatoun promises to be a pleasant place during the holiday season. i ■ Work is still being continued on tho Sydnoy Street extension of the Parliamentary Buildings, and the workmen of tho Public Works Department aro also occupied in clearing up after the recent fire. It is not expected that any new decision will be arrived at in regard to the extension contract, either in the direction of suspending operations, or of modifying plans, until after,tho Christmas and New Year holidays. If the contract wore suspended or terminated the contractor would have a claim against tho Government, so meanwhile'work on the annexe, which is no longer an annexo, is being, carried .on, .regardless of tho -fact that future plans ;may make all present operations useless. , , A street brawl attracted a large crowd of people in "Lambton Quay at 10.10 on Saturday night. It is stated that Constable Archer, in plain clothes, was walking along the Quay near Messrs. Kirkcaldie and Stains' premises when-ho noticed two or threo young men annoying a man who was walking quietly along. Ono of the young fellows is alleged to have knocked the man's hat off, and to have followed up the attack. When ho considered mattors had gone far enough, the 'constable,stepped in'and arrested one of the young men. Whilst he was putting the alleged offender into a cab the constable was struck on the head with a bottlo from behind, and was rendered partially unconscious. Constable Quin, who was also off duty, went to the assistance of Constable Archer, with the, result that two other arrests were made. Tho men will be brought before the' Magistrate's Court this morning.

The tide of immigration flows steadily on, each succeeding steamer from t tho Old Country bringing its heavy froight of passengers. The Now Zdalamd Shipping Co.'s steamer Paparoa, which arrived from London soon after midday yesterday, brought a total of 241 passengers, the majority of whom are immigrants who intend settling in the Dominion. The total was made up of 201 adults and 40 children, 79 of tho adults being married, and 122 single. Tho thirdclass passengers numbered 175. The occupations of the now arrivals aro varied; farmers, however, aro well represented, with a,total of 27; engineers and mechanics number 12; clerks, 11; and labourers, 10. About 27 of tho newcomers availed themselves of Government assistance to mako tho journey, and these were met by Mr. A. A. S. Danby, of tho Immigration Department; In tho assistod class, too, farmers preponderate, with eight actual farmers and two farm labourers. .. Tho farmers, are all armed with various sums, ranging from £25 up to £500.