LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 115, 7 February 1908, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Eleven Chinese' arrived by. the Moeraki from Sydney yesterday. Eight of them have not .been in New Zealand before. : " No' work that has'boen done'at Miramar' has been done better than that of, the City Council's staff," said the Mayor of Miramar at-tho Couucil I 'meeting last night. • ' A fire amongst some grass'and' trees "at Creswick Road, Northland, at 1.30 p.ni. yesterday, resulted in a summer-house, owned by.Mrs. Putnam, being 'damaged.' The Fire Brigade Was called upon, but the outbreak was extinguished by some, neighbours. "I think some more Sunday, Schools would do good, out there," said the Mayor of Miramar, after telling tho Council of what he .saw at Seatoiin Park' on Sunday morning. There was a surprising number of small boys wandering about the placo, evidently bent on mischief. They were rolling ;tar barrels about,- and doing other things liable to cause damage to public property. On Wednesday morning, His Honour Mr.. " His wish was that he should be buried d<x3ently with that," remarked a witness at tho inquest on a Pole named Reitz, who died suddenly'on Tuesday, referring to a sum of £4 found in a tin bos in the workshop in which deceased had' lived., Tho Coroner expressed the opinion that any reasonable request of the kind made by a foreigner'who had taken up his abode in New Zealand should be respected. Subsequently, a witness asked if be would bo allowed expenses for his attendance, to which the Coroner replied that it was one of the privileges of British law that in cases of the kind time should b'p given for the sake of ithe public.

About 50 Australian workmen who came tb Wellington yesterday by the- Moeraki oalled on tha Labour Department in search of employment. This is tho largest number of Australian applicants the Department has had from ono boat for twelve months past. Most of " them, were miners, aud " navvies," and they ,were unusually free from the objection which most immigrants have to taking woTk in distant parts of 'the country. Fully half of the newcomers willingly agreed to go to situations at Stratford, Strathmore, Ohakune, and other distant places; othors said that they would wait a day or two, on the chance of getting work in the City, the town' has large attractions for the majority of immigrants, who turn their backs with great reluctance on tho pleasures of . a citylife. The recent newcomers by the Corinthic were an exception to this rule. They included a fair-,proportion of Scotchmen, and Scottish immigrants, it is found, go to the country much moro willingly than English. Wellington ladies are now convinced that to' render the hair bright and glossy, and to keep it in good condition, soap must be avoided, and only Calvo Shanlpoo Powders used; price'Gd'. cach, or ss. doEen. Obtainable ONLY from D.1.C., Fletcher's, Chemist, and Mrs, Rollcston, 3 Willis Street (over Can-oil's), Hair Physician and Masseuse, Certificated, by whom thoy 'aro specially prepared and recom.manaodt

The pictures purchased in England for the Wellington Art Gallery are now being hung, and will be exhibited to the public immediately. It is notified by Gazette that dates for the election of three members of the undermentioned Fire Boards (among others) havo been fixed for February 10: —Danuevirko Fire Board and Petone Fire Board. A sitting in Chambers will bo hold by Mr. Justico Coopor at 10.30 this morning, when, among other business, the order of cases for the civil sittings,' which open on Monday nest, will bo settled. The postal authorities advise that tho Victoria, which left Sydney on Wednesday tor Auckland, has on board an English mail for Wellington. It should, in the ordinary courso arrive by Tuesday's express train from Ply mouth. The Customs revenue collected at Wellington yesterday, amounted to £2591 10s. Bd. Tho amount paid in beer duty yesterday was £9 lOs.j and from eight Chinese, who arrived by tho Moeraki, the sum of.£Boo was collected as poll tax. The Commissioner of Police (Mr. W. Dinnio) has received a telegram stating that a man has been arrested at Mokai, Rotorua district, at-the instance of the' New South Wales police, on a charge of having aided and abetted in a serious offence in Sydnoy. •

At the meeting of the Acclimatisation Society, held on Wednesday night, several instances of small boys poaching in the KaiWarra stream were reported. It will be as well for -parents to bear in mind that the Society intend to prosecute any offenders brought under their notice regardless of age. ■ . A young man named. Charles Buchanan,22 years of age, employed at a printing establishment in the city, was admitted to the Hospital yesterday suffering from an -injury caused through '■ one of his hands being caught in some machinery. It was found necessary to amputate two fingers. Justico Button, sitting in Banco, will hoar, argument in the special case of the Commissioner of Taxes v. the trustees in Jacob Joseph's .estate, also argument in the case Public Trustee v. D. P. Loasby, ,of Greytown, storekeeper, an appeal from the decision o{ Mr. W. P. ( James, S.M. ' The Minister for Lands (the Hon. R. M'Nab) has received a telegram stating that over 900! applications have been received for the forty-nine sections 'in tko Otekaiko: estate, near Oamaru, whioh tho Government is offoring for selection'on a thirty-three years' renewable lease. There will' be 701 participants in the ballot, which is to take place to-day. ' .v' ;■/.',.

There is on view in the window'of Messrs. Inglis Bros.,' Willis Street, a 100 guinea cup, 1 which has been; presented by the Star Engineering Company, of Wolverhampton, manufacturers of the "Stuart" cars, to tho Canterbury Automobile Association for competition in New Zealand. The cup, which, is of very handsome design, is to be won twice in succession, or three times'at intervals, hefore it can become the absolute'; property "of tho winner. ;

A dispatch from the-Secretary of State ..for the Colonies, published in . this weeVs Gazette, announces that the limit of. time within which the death from war service; of •an- officer,' 'warrant .'officer, or. soldier must occur in order that his family may ba.eligible for petision, cto., from Army funds'hag been extended from two to seven years' from' the date of removal from duty for wounds, injuries, or disease. - ' ■■' ;. - A little Chinese girl'arrived at Wellington by the Jloerakryesterday' in chargo;'df,a:lady. missionary, l , who is visiting New Zealand On furlough. Tho little alien has an interesting history. She was saved from & violent death by tho missionary, who has practically adopted her, and intends to train her as.a lady doctor for work among her own 'Vex in An undertaking has been'entered .}nt« to pay tho poll-tax if- sho. remains in the Dominion, but ,sho will g6'back to the East with her 'guardian. ' . .' " "

. Mr. C. W. Palmer, Secretary of the New Zealand Navy League, has received adviie that a large case of 'books is on board the Ruapehu 'containing 1000 copies 'of Freemantie's " Life; of Nelson," for free distribution among second-year (juvenile) members of the League.- A first.supply of the Navy League's Annual is also on board. Bach lady menir beris to receive a copy of the latter. ; There have been numerous inquiries made m reference'to the " Annual," which has a large circulation in the Old Country.. A serious accident occurred yesterday 'on the face of the- -hill between Petone aiid Ngabauranga. A married man named David Kay, of Alicetown, was working on the face of the Killi when 'tho . grass' caught alight above him. Calling to his mates, he caught,hold of'the rope, which had burned away at the top, the result, being that the man fell down the. cliff. -He was, very, severely injured, particularly about the: nead and shoulders, and was convoyed t© the Hospital, where he now lies in a sorious condition.' ' ■ ;

'At the Wanganui Magistrate's',Court recently, Mr. C. F. Newham, photographer, Victoria Avenue, was fined £5, and costs, for paying a young woman, who had'been over four years at the' trade; less than the wages allowed by the Factories Act. Tho information was laid by the Inspector of Factories, who informed the Court that.the defendant had continued the offence since Felj-. ruary last. The penalty under this section of, the Act is ss. for every day such default in payment is madO. As the defendant had pleaded guilty, the Inspector did not' press for the extreme .penalty in this casei-but,. owing to the difficulty of obtaining a conviction under this section of. the Act, a-heavy fine should be imposed as a warning to others. • ■

At kit night's meeting of the Miramar Borough Council, a letter was received from tho City Tramways Engineer, who wrote that it was proposed to make some alterations; in the Miramar time-table. Since installing the new feeder, an'improved pressure had "been obtained, and the journey from Government Station to Miramar, via Lambtoii Quay, could now be done in forty minutes. In tho new time-tables, therefore, it had been arranged for the. Miramar cars to run through Lambton Quay instead of Jervois Quay. Thero would be no alteration in the times of departure of the regular cars, but the morning and evening extra cars would require to leave five minutes earlier. The approval of the Borough Council was desired for .these changes.. It was proposed that the extra cars should t leave Miramar at 7.1 a.m., 8.21 a.m., and 5.41 p.m.; and Government Station at 7.41 'a.m. and 5.1 • p.m.- The Council readily gave its approval to the proposal!. Mrs. Ethel R. Do Costa, LL.B. (»c6 Miss Ethel R. Benjamin, of Duriedin), after practising for some years in that city, has commenced practice as a barrister ; and solicitor in No. 6 Nathan's Buildincs, cornor Grey and Featherston Streets, Wellington. Mrs. Do Costa lias the distinction of being tho only lady practising at the Bar in the Dominion. Intending clients oan depend on prompt and cartful attention at llri. Da oaiU"*,Juu* 1 >

The following students for the ministry; of the Presbyterian Church, who wore competitors for tho scholarships advertised for such, have passed tho matriculation examination in the following order, and with a total of marks in six subjects as follows:—Mr. R. S. Watson, of Foildiiig, with 446 marks; Mr. E. T. Tipler, of Auckland, with 397 marks; Mr. T. P. White, of Pleasant Point, South Canterbury, with 354 marks; Mr. W. W. Raff', of Dunedin, with 352' marks; and Mr. J. P. Boylo, of Hastings, with 351 marks.: Mr. Watson therefore wins tho Yulo No. 1 scholarship of £25 a year for three years; Mr. Tipler wins tho Sommervell No. 2 scholarship of £20 a year for three.years; and the others (says tho "Outlook") will very likely havo scholarships given to them when tho Theological College Committeo can meet to decide.

According to a statement made to a Dominion representative by Mr. H. Judd, of Carterton, who has just returnod from a trip to the Islands, Tonga is tho'most wonderfully governed kingdom on earth. The only rate levied is l 4Bs. per annum on every man, woman, pnd child in the country, but against this every child born there inherits eight acres of land from the State. "There is no national debt. .On the other hand, the coun-. try flourishes under a perennial surplus, which; at the present time is £30,000. Nobody has to work; in fact, tho industriouscitizen of Tonga becomes an. outcast, until he reforms and does nothing. A proof of this statement, says Mr. Judd, is the time which the Govetnmcnt has, taken over tho erection of its strong-room for State documents. The edifice was bogun about ten 'years- ago, and has now progressed as far as the eaves. * All the work bafc been done with prison labour at a snail's pace. It-is expected that, at thG present rate of building, the place for the retention of' State documents will be finished in about five years' time. ' 1

: When :in Wellington this week, , Mr. Hornsby, M.P., waited upon Sir Joseph Ward regarding the proposed FeathOrstonMartinborougli railway, and was informed that the' Engineer's report on tho survey would practically determine' the route, and that the wort would be. amongst the first to be gone on witlrafter the completion of the Main Trunk line. Preparations were being made for plans and calling of- tenders for the Featherston Post Office, which is to bo of brick, and to- cost £1000. Regarding the proposal to increase the size ,of the-South Wairarapa Hospital at Grey town, at an approximate cost of £3000, the Minister, the Hon. G. Fowlds, :was. favourably 1 inclined, if the Wairarapa residents could raise £1000. Mr. M'Nab, Minister, for Lands, promised to deal with the cases of the Tawaha settlers, who' are said to have been great losers during the past year through flood and fire, and the Postmaster-General made a statement to tho offect that telephone communication with Longbush, Waihakeke, and Morison .Bush would be pushed on so soon as the preliminaries had been arranged.