LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 80, 28 December 1907, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Customs rcrorino collccted at Wellington yeatorday amounted to £2596 7s. Id. With regard to the interruption of tho Pacific cable, tho Telegraph Office is advised from Vancouver that' tho line is restored. A man named Patrick Brady was arrested, yosterday on a chargo of stealing six sovereigns from a seaman named Gcorgo Faloon. It is allegod that Faloon, who was drinking with Brady and somo other men, went out to tho back of the hotel, where ho was attacked and robbed. The Union Company's turbine steamer Maori, which arrived from Lyttolton yesterday morning, established a now record. Her latest performance now is from heads to hoads, Bhr. smin.; fr.om wharf to wharf-, Shr. 42min.; an average speed of 20.1 knots an hour. \ Anxioty in regard to tho man Pomoroy, who left his homo on Tuosday, was allayed yesterday, when tho missing mail rotnrned to Wellington from Lyttolton by tho Maori. It appears that Pomeroy loft for Lyttolton to visit his wife without saying anything to any of his frionds. An inquiry into tho circumstances surrounding tho sad death of Mrs. M. I'. Sharpe, who was reported yesterday to have been found hanging from a beam in a fowlhouso at Pctone, was held beforo Mr. Lambert, Acting-Coronor, yesterday. Tho jury, of which Mr,. R. Mottcs was foreman, roturned a verdict of suicido whilst temporarily insano, following upon a prolonged illness. Mrs. Etliol It. Do Costa, T.L.IJ. (neo Jlisj Ethel R. Benjamin, of Dunedin), after practising for Eomo yours iu that city, has commenced practice as a barrister anil solicitor in No G Nathan's Buildings, corner Grey anil I'eail cistem Streets, Wellington. -Mrs. Do Costa has tho distinction of being tho only lady practising at tho Bar in tbo Dominion. Intending clients' can depond 'on prompt and careful at toatioa at tot Da Cpsta'g hands

It is rumoured that Harmsworth's (proprietors of tho London " Daily Mail " and numerous other publications) are contemplating the establishment of a new evening paper in Sydney. Our special correspondent at Port Chalmers telegraphs that in a race at the regatta on Boxing Day a crew belonging to the training ship Amokura, pulling in a ten-oarod cutter, beat H.M.S. Pioneer's twelve-oarcd cutter over a mile and a half course by ton lengths. The race creatcd great excitement, and the Amokura's boys wore cheered for their excellent performance. A numbor .of small burglaries aro reported to have occurred, during tho Christmas holidays, and householders .would bo well ailvised in secreting any valuables they may havo before leaving their homes unoccupied. A dwelling in Oriental Terrace, occupied by Mr. W., Andrews, was broken into on Thursday, and tho house thoroughly rajjsacked. As far as can be ascertained at present, a small quantity of jewellery is missing. Mr. Robert Darrach's house in Kennedy Street, off Hawker Street) was also entered >and the sum of ss. stolen. It is stated that two other houses were broken into, but practically nothing was stolen. An unusual position cropped up during tho hearing •of a charge of theft by a trio of Justices of tho Peace at the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning. Before passing sentonco the Bench called the prosecuting policc officer, up and held a whispered consultation with him for two or three minutes. At tho conclusion of the conference counsel for tho defenco insinuatingly asked to hear the latest evidence introduced, but 'on being informed by tho Bench that the consultation was not in reference to evidence, had to rest content. A conference of the professional musicians of New Zealand is to be held in . Wellington on January 22 and 23, for the purpose, of discussing the question of introducing legislation in connection with the profession 'n New Zealand. It"will be remembered that a Bill was circulated during the recent session. . This Bill included many provisions of a somewhat drastic nature, and objection was taken to it by many musicians and members of Parliament. One clause had reference to a certain test or examination to bo' passed by a person beforo being allowed to teach music professionally, > but members of certain societies of professional musicians were to be exempt from any such tost. The whole matter will be discussed at tho conference, . presumably after it decides that legislation is needed at all. The question of urging the establishment of a national conservatoire of music for the Dominion may possibly come up for, consideration.