LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 102, 23 January 1908, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At a public meeting at Hastings on Tuesday night, it was decided to ask t'he North Island Brass Band? Association to hold its next contest at Hastings, tbe Association to be guaranteed against loss. - ••

At noon yesterday the Fire , Brigade received a callby means of the automatic fire alarm at Messrs. Kempthorne, Prosser) and Co.'s warehouse in Victoria Street, ;but on turning out discovered that the alarm was a mistaken one. '

The Native Land Commission, which consists of Sir Robert Stout and Mr. A. ,T. Mgata, M.P., will sit in Napier on February .7, to deal with the Waimarama Block, and will then go, oil'to AYangariui iariditho King. Country. A fortnight will then probably be spent in preparing reports, and after that the Commission*', jvill .go. to Auckland. '

In ono respect, ihusicians, athletes,' footballers, and others are on; a common footing., 'l'his fact was referred to at the Conference of Musicians yesterday. Professional musical Societiosi. pointed out a speaker, had only the Unclassified Societies Act under which, to register ■ their• Societies. ' 'Fancy,'' added' the speaker, with an amused air, "tho-Act under which football and cricket clubs are (Laughter.)

The old/building at the corner of Featherston and Hunter Streets, formerly the warehouse of Messrs. W. M. Bannatyue and Company, is to be demolished shortly, and the site is to be occupied by a fine sixstoried brick.building, the plans for which are being prepared by Messrs. Penty arid Blake. There is about 70 feet frontage to each street, ,so that the building when completed will be very nearly a perfect cube.'

■ Tho Premier has received a petition from a nuipber of pcoplo in regard to the opening of tho gates on the Parliamentary Building grounds at Hill and Sydney Streets. The Premier has given instructions for this to bo done as soon as means have been taken to guard tho public against danger from the brick walls of tho partially-destroyed building. It would not be safe for poople to bo allowed to . use tho paths without this precaution.

One result of the formation of the Makara County is that tho Hutt County Council loses tho members who represented the territory that has / been cut off. In order to give tho latter body tho statutory number of members, it has been decided to allovr one additional representative to tho Murigaroa Hiding. Nominations closo with Mr. J. \V. Cudby at the County offices next Tnesday, and the election will ho hold, if required, on tho following' Monday,. , "Halt!" It was a naval officer addressing a patrol of eight or ten mon outside the Opera House. One of the men was detached to make inquiries as to whether " all was quiet along the Potomac" in the theatre as far as tho behaviour of ; men-o'-warsmeu was concerned, and tho patrol moved on to do tho rounds of the hotels. The officer was questioned as to why the patrol was out. Ho courteously replied that they were doing it nightly while-in port, because in Christchurch tho men took charge of Fuller's Entertainers on New Year's Eve, and commenced to manage the railway station on distinctly naval lines.

A deputation, consisting of, Messrs. Robert l'arker, Laurence Watkins, C. D. Macintosh, Horace Hunt, and . Band-Lieutenant Herd, waited on the Finance Committee of the City Council on Tuesday to urge the appoint* mont of n city organist. After hearing the various arguments put forward in favour of a city organist, His Worship the Mayor (Hon. T. W. Hialop) said that the Council had under consideration the matter of appointing Mr. Maughan Barnett to the position, and had arranged to meet him in September last, hut for somo roason or othor tho mooting had not taken place, which was probably a fault of the Council. .They were prepared now to meet him ufith a view to discussing terms, and an effort would be made to give offcct to the wishes of tho deputation .

Mrs. Ethel R. Do Costa, LL.B. (nee Miss Ethol R. Benjamin, of Dunedin), after practising for 60me years in that city, has commenced practice as a barrister and solicitor in No. 6 Nathan's Buildings, corner Grey and Featherston Street, Wellington. Mrs. Do Costa has the distinction of being tho only lady practising at the Bar in the Dominion. In* tanning olionta can d«pcc4 on prompt and 'careful Attention at Mrs. D« Costa's hands.

•,,I'he inquest oh tho body of Hour? Ernest Davis, who died suddenly somo weeks ago, will bo resumed at'the Morguo at 2.30 o'clock this afternoon,. It will bo remembered that traces of poison wore foijnd by Dr. Fyffo in deceased's stomach, the contents of-which have sirioo been analysed V Tha Conciliation Board having . fixed v -its itinerary in connection with the shearers' dispute beforo tho parties had decided to. meet at a oonferenco, a formal sitting; was held m Wellington yesterday morning, and tho Hoard then adjourned until advico should bo reooivod as to tho result of tho conference.:

There were musicians l at . the -Conference yesterday who could not clearly discern what legislation .to protcct their interests, now would load to m tho future.: C D. Mackintosh;, (Wellington); hinged' a; joko on .the possibilities.; A teacher might bo adjudged by tho Socicty to bo competent to teach ono instrument only.. "If that comes about," said Mr..- Mackintosh, " will • a clarionet player be restricted: to his instrument for his. living.' 1 I can assure you a man cannot live on a olarionet." (Laughter)'