LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 101, 22 January 1908, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

To-day is the sixty-seventh anniversary of ( Wellington. January 22 had no very special j significance in tho year 18*10, hut subse- f quently it was doubtless thought that tho place should have a birthday, "and tho date t of tho Aurora's arrival off the Heads was selected. AVallaco's "Early History of New Zealand" says nothing particularly significant 1 about tho day. It says—"Tho survoying i vessel, tho Cuba (after which Cuba Street is called), Captain Nowcombo, had loft England ' on August 31, eighteen days beforo tho sailing of tho Aurora, and had arrived in Port Nicholson on January 3 (1840).' , Captain ' Smith, tho Company's surveyor, wo arc told, was anxious to commence tho survey of tho town .... 'The Aurora, which was sighted at tho 'Port Nicholson Heads on January 20, anchored at tho entrance of tho harbour until the 22nd, when Colonel Wakcfiold loft a pilot on board, and returned to tho Cuba .. I . During the nest week, Wakefield says,. the work of disembarking had boon going on (at Potone, or Britannia, as it was then called). A small jetty was run out' by the surveying men. Locations wero allotted near tho beach for tho pitching of tents and temporary huts, in tho erection of which the Natives assisted; and, some wooden houses in frame, sent out by tho Company for tho reception of the labouring immigrants, were also set up. At this time Mr. Bullcr, a Wesleyan' missionary (father of tho late Sir Walter Buller) visited the placo, and performed divine service on board the Aurora on Sunday,- January 26, 1840." The Customs revenue collected at Wellington yesterday amounted to £6094 10s. Tho distribution of mail matter to-day (Anniversary Day) will be restricted to one delivery in the morning. It is understood that the new guns for field artillery work, which are now in Wellington, will be available for uSe during the forthcoming Easter manoeuvres. The Newcastle Cathedral, which is said to have suffered through the recent earth creep, was recently supplied with a fine threemanual organ (costing £2000), by Messrs. Norman and Beard, who built the Wellington Town Hall organ. The business to be transacted at to-mor--1 row evening's meeting of the Miramar Borough Council will include the striking of the special rate on the recently authorised loan ■ of £71,000 (for watitf and drainage); tho 1 confirming of the liev by-laws; and consideration of tho taking over of tho Last : Burnham Land Co.'s streets. A special meeting of the Trades and . Labour Council is to he held to-morrow 1 evening to alter the rules in order to enable i country unions to have representation on the , Council. Hitherto country unions have been \ at a disadvantage in this respect. The Flnx- ■ millers' Union lias boon tho first to mako , application, and it is expected that others > will follow.

Tho officos of the Supreme Court will b'o closed to-day (Anniversary Day). y

In addition to commemorating the birthday of the province,, to-day marks the seventh anniversary of the accession of King Edward VII.

A contract has been signed by Messrs. 3. Duthie and Co., Ltd., to supply'steel pipes, roquircd for the raising ofthe main . ill connoction with the- Kelburne water supply plant. The price is £270 9s. 2d. -l The' only other tender received was sent in by Mr. ;J: M'Lellan, the price quoted being £273 13s. v

Inspector Seed told the Society for . tho Prevention of Cruelty to Animals -yesterday, that ho had repeatedly, warned tradespeople -about the habit of leaving nails lying in tho street after opening cases outside" their premises'. Within the last few days this practice had caused injuries to a valuable horse; which, in consequence, had to be destroyed.

Military hygiene is to rcceive: systematic attention in future, according; to, a circular, which has been issued from District Headquarters. Surgeon-Captain Mason, .'Chief

Health Officer, will deliver two lectures on military hygiene, tho topics of which will include water sterilisation, disposal of refuse, field-sanitation, etc. .The first- lecture is to bo delivered next week. , .

At yesterday's meeting of the local committee of tho Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Inspector Seed stated in his' report that horses suffered a good deal for want of drinking-places on tho roadsides, especially at Karori, Miraniar, and Kilbirnie. The committee asked Mr. Seed to look" further into the matter with a view .to making some definite recommendations to the local authorities. ■ ■ . ; ■

A. solemn requiem, mass was celebrated at the Basilica, Hill Street, yesterday morning at 8.30 for tho ropose gjHho soul of the late Mother Mary Xavier. v #s Grace Archbishop

Redwood sang massthe Rev. Father A. M'Donald was the deacon, Rev. Father -F: Bowden, sub-deacon, and Rev. Father Herbert master of ceremonies. A choir for the vocal music was formed by Rev. Fathers Ainsworth, Kimbellj Moloney, Herring, Venning,- and Barclay.. ..

In tho courso of Mr. Chas. Seager's jubilee

function at tho Commercial Travellers' Club yesterday morning, it was mentioned' that

the coastal steamer Putiki was praqtically designed by Mr. Seager. She was built-in Auckland, and engined by Mr. David Robertson, of this city, and wlijle it was mentioned by one speaker that she ■ could'carry more, coal for hor draught than any other coastal steamer, another stated that she was' tho

ne3t steamer that N had been built south 'of 10 lino. i ; '

It is a common practice, according to Mr. F. Seed, Inspector for the Society for tho

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, for owners of horses which become injured to turn them out on ,the roadsides without having thorn treated. " Some horrible cases have como under my notice," reported tho Inspector yesterday, " such, as injured limbs

alive with maggots. These horses have had to be destroyed. Under the Police Offences Act, the owners aro liable to be brought up for cruelty." '

Tho Flasmillers' Union, according to -Mr. \Y. H. Westbrook, Secretary of the Trades and Labour Council, is a body with 800 members. Mr. Westbrook says they should contribute some good men to tho cause of Unionism. "In one shed which I visited I saw four men in bunks reading the classics,' and another was reading a "Greek Testament!" The.reason suggested for finding educated men thus employed was that flaxmilling'was an occupation easy for anyone down in tlio world to learn.

Tho contract for the ercction of the new Mount Street Gerard Church in Upper Ghuznee Street, for tlio Rcdcmptorist Fathers, has been let,-to Mossrs. Campbell and Burke, of this city. The church, which will ho, of brick and cement, in accordance with plans

•hich have been doscribed in these columns.

will cost about £5000. The property of tho Rodemptorists in Hawker Street was formerly the residence of Mr. Fitzgerald; late Controller-General of New Zealand, and commands ono of tho finest views in the city.

Soino figuros have become available as to. the net result of tho New South Wales immigration policy last year, and (says the "Sydney Morning Herald") they are far from satisfying. Despite tho fact that 1907 was a year probably of greater prosperity than the State had over previously experienced, the total number of immigrants that reached those shores through tho instrumentality of tho Government was only 3520. We are not informed (says our contemporary) what was tho cost of this paltry importation, but a sort of minimum estimate is officially made that these immigrants brought with them an aggregate capital of not less than £42,000. Their importation could not have cost the State one-half that

"Stop thief 1 Stop him—it's not his biko!" scroamed an aged woman, as sho rushed from a right-of-way olf Upper Cuba Street on Monday evening, with- her grey hair streaming out behind'. Sho was so excited and loud in her exclamations of dismay that many people stopped to watch developments, and some even made as if to arrest the. progress of the undisturbed cyclist, who pedalled quietly away, slowly putting distance between himself and the pursuit. "Isn't tho bicycle his?" asked a bystander. "No —oh —thero —you—are, Johnny!" a gasp for breath between each word. "I —thought— he —- had—oh!—stolen—your—bike—oh!— oh!" Tho presonco of Johnny with his bicycle proved pretty obviously that a mistake had been made, and Johnny did not at all appreciate tho "situation" his dear old mother had provided in jumping at a rash conclusion.

We understand that the municipal authorities have received complaints from shopkeepers about the conduct of some of the fruit hawkers who are plying their trade in growing numbers in the main streets of the City. It is stated, that these hawkers sometimes cry their wares so noisily as to cause serious annoyance and inconvenienoe to buyers and sellers in the shops, and that some of them do not scruple to make themselves seen and hoard as much as possible just in front of the promises'of fruiterers. It is held that, although most of the fruiterers arc Chinamen, they havo as good n right to fair play as anybody else, and accordingly the attention of tlipi polico has been drawn to the matter. It may bo mentioned that the hawkers have to obtain licenses from the Corporation, and that 110 fee is charged. Any hawker who misconducts himself has, thoreforo, to face the possibility of the non-renewal of his trading permit.

Mrs. Ethel V. Do Costa, LLiU. (neo Miss Ethel R. Boujamin, of Dnneiliil), after practising for some years in that city, has .commenced practice as a barrister and solicitor in No. fi Nathan's Buildings, cornel" Grey and Featherston Street, Wellington. Mrs. Do Costa has the distinction of being tho .only lady practising at tho Bar in tho Dominion. lutendina clients can depend on prompt nnd careful attautiou at Jlra. Da Costa's hands.

, The Postal 'authoritiesadvise "that the mail which left Wellington on December 13

by the s.s. Wimmera, and conncctcd at Sydney with tho Naples mails per R.M.S. Ortoria, arrived in London -on tho. morning of January 21). . ■ -.■■■.'.■■ The Senate of the New Zealand University will commence its annual session at Victoria Cqllcgo to-day. Th'o inaugural Bitting will be opened at' midday, when the Chancellor of tho ;Umvorsity, Sir Robert Stout, K.C.M.G., Chief Justice, will \ deliver h;s annual address. Tho Senate, has not met in session ill this city since 1904.'Last year the-sit-tings were held at Christchurch. /'.V; In connection with the.Wellington Racing Club's meeting at Trentham to-day the pub-, lie' should note that' the totalisator "closes, for, investments on tho first race at twelve, noon, and for every at n stated time, which will bo cluly indicated on tho front of; tho machine; It-appears-that there aro many people who aro not yet acquainted with tho working of the Gaming Act in tcgard to the totalisator; A crowd in Wellington quickly gathers, and when a cab with a pair of spirited horses and a liveried idriver and footman on ; ,tho box seat drow up last evening at the Grand Hotel, a score of people: hung about, and then the name "Clara Butt"■ flew around. In a few moments the score of people bad increased to hiindreds, and at eight o'clock, nearly-a thousand eager onlookers must have been' waiting to catch a momentary glimpse of the,famous singer. It.was not'until-the 'hour of, eight-had been, struck that- tho great contralto emerged from the' Hotels and curiipsity wis gratified.,' -'/'-., V V : About" thirty 'specimens . of 'new. species of mollucia have been -. presented . to '.the (Dominion" Museum, Wellington, by Mr. Suter, of Auckland/ When the Australasian/Association for the Advancement of Science'-,uiet in Duncdin some years ago,. a . committee was appointed to which a certain, sum was allocated for the carrying "on .of ■ dredging, operations up to the 100-fathom lino;-round New Zealand coasts. Dredging has. been performed at intervals, with the result, that numerous specimens of the marine fauna have been obtained, and are being, classified by Mr., Sute and other experts.; -The gifts to the Museum include some :of these, discoveries.