LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 103, 24 January 1908, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tlio Customs revenue collected at Welling;on yesterday amounted to, £4509 15s. 2d.

A conference, of delegates of the Ironmasters' Association of 1 New Zealand is to-be held in Christchurch on February . 10. : Most of the local ironmasters, with Mr. H. F. Allen (Secretary of the Association) will; attend. . Lionel Terry, who is at present an inmate of ScaclifE Mental Hospital, is t ; o : be transferred to one of the gaols, and the portion of tlio institution in whiciy he "is confined will be declared a mental hospital. This •decision was arrived at by the Cabinet at a moeting which was held yesterday. The first number of the new 'issue of the. Labour Department's Journal was published yesterday. It contains 76 pages of labour market reports, legal decisions, recent Magistrate's Court, Supremo Court, and Arbitration Court judgments affecting labour, statistics of the Department's work, and general artiples of interest to employers and workers. -v ' /'■ '>• i< Before the arrival of the Squadron' here arrangements hid beeil made by Mr. Moore, of the -Missions |o Seamen,, for various' fixtures between tho sailors.' One of these events has been arranged for to-morrow afternoon—a football match betweon the crows of the Powerful and Prometheus—and by tho courtesy of the City Council, the Newtown Park has been placed at the 'disposal of the men. > Sir James Mills, managing director of the "Union Steam Ship Company, who is 'on a visit to Wellington, \ states that tliero are no further developments in regard to the Patent Slip, ill which the Company was said to bo acquiring a large interest. Sir James is to meet the Harbour Board in respect to tho matter, but it is understood that,that body is to proceed with "".he acquisition of the property. . Regarding the water supply, the City Engineer informs us that ho has cut off tho Karori supply altogether for tho present to givo the basin a chance to fill. Tho faithful Wainui stream is just about holding its own, still filling tho basin to tne overflow' point each night, and receding a little during tile day. Tho greatest care in the use of water js still urged by the municipal authorities, for the anxiety will not bo removed until wo are treated to a good downpour of rain. Tho Fire Brigade received a call from Central Terrace, Kolburue, at 5.39 p.m. yesterday. It was found that a cupboard in a house owned' and occupied by Mr. Joseph Itoacho had caught fire, but the outbreak had been extinguished by means of a small hand chemical apparatus by Mr. Johnstone (of the Kelburno Brigade), who lives pext door. Tho building is insured for £600 in tho Liverpool, London and Globo Office, and, the contents for £200 in tho Australian Alliance Office. Telegrams are now delivered free at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin for a distance of three miles between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., and for a distance of one mile and a half after 6 p.m. Carriage beyond theso limits is chargcd at th'e rate of 6d. por mile or fraction thereof up to threo miles. Carriage beyond threo miles will bo made by special messenger, and the cost will bo added. Theso concessions, with others of the sumo character for country towns, camo into force on the publication of the Gazette yesterday. Tho artistic temperament was apparent in one or two little excitable outbursts at tho Conference of Musicians in the Town Hall, but in each case commou-sonse prevailed at tho proper moment. There wore also amusing interludes. In ono instance a speaker, adverse to legislation on the matter of tho registration of competent teachers, was proceeding to state that tho public could protect itself from imposture—it knew its pwn business best. " No, no," ericd a gentleman from a corner of tho hall, rising suddenly with hand aloft, " permit me just for oneo to say that the public does not know its own business best!" Loud laughter followed at the undoubted earnestness and conviction of the interjcctor. Mrs. Ethel It. De Costa, LL.IS. (nco Miss Ethel R. Benjamin, of Dunedin), after practising for some years in tlmt city, has commenced practice as a barrister and solicitor in No. fi Nathan's Buildings, corner Grey and Featherston Street, Wellington. Mrs. Do Costa has the distinction of being tlio only lady praetisiug at tlio Bar in tlio Dominion. InI tending clients can depend on prompt and 1 carcfui attention at Mrs. De Cora's bands..

By. a notice in tho'Gazette, melanose and narcissus' fly (Mcrcdon equestns) aro declared to bo diseases within tho moaning of tho Orchard and Garden Pests Act. The distribution of tho sum of £3000, which lias been votod by Parliament for tho assistanco of public libraries, will tako place on February 4. Claims must reach the Secretary for. Education; . Wellington,on; or. before January 27.. ' . V . In the opinion 'of. Mr. Robert Parker, of Wellington, expressed at the Conference of Musicians, .' the .''mucb>abnsod" '.musical ./examinations have dono a great deal ,to raise tho standard ,of, music, and (jo improve music-teaching m Now Zealand. . Ho was sure that a sifting process was - resulting from tho properly conducted; examinations l of the ; Trinity College Examination Board. • ,i ' A contract has been let to --Messrs; A. Reyiiell for the erection of a six-storied brick building, consisting of private hotel I of' 90 roonis'with shops .-underneath; on-ono I of tho vacant blocks -in Loiver Cuba Street, I near- tho Town -Hall; to tho order of Messrs. Dwan Bros. The cost of the building, when completed with electric - lifts and' all appliances, will, it is' stated,' bo'' over .£12;000, Mr. J. M, Dawson is the architect. 1

...vTh'e. .supplementary' examina; tions, made necessary; by the destruction candidates' papers in the;' firo. at'tho Parliamentary: Buildings; were commenced ,'yestorr day m Wellington and throughout the-Do-' minion, arid will bo concluded to-day. • The examinations were the subject of'an interest'ling discussion at" tho meeting' 6f : the' Senate yosterday, which', is given in 'another.Vart' of. this issue in 1 ' the report of the proceedings if that body." - -

Mr. E. ,'W: Petherick states that tenders avo to be. called within ( tho next few; days for the ■ extension; of the Public Library at Newtown. . Tho original plans drawn' by Mr. Potlietick have been altered, at the suggestion, of tho .City Engineer,, to. provide' for dividing tho extension int-o ; two . sections, in the form of an addition, to both the north and south sides present building, instead of haying it all on the north side. Tho extensions provide on the south side for a largo lecture hair and dressing rooms, and on the north ifor an ■ enlargement of the bookroom,; and the provision of a large reading room. The additional accommodation upstairs, will be for , the. extension : of .- : tho, museum. .The idea of having an art gallery in the building 'at Newtown has been abandoned. , .;