LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 125, 19 February 1908, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tlio annua] picnic of the City Council at Wainui is to be held towards the end of tlio month.;

At the meeting of the Auckland Univorsity College on Monday afternoon, a recommendation of the. Committee was adopted providing that two premiums should be given in addition to those already established for tho benefit of the Sohool of Commerce, 0110 for economics, and the other for accountancy.

It is probable that the Wellington Musical Union will commence the rehearsal next Monday evening of " The Golden Legend."

A young man, 27 or 28 years of age, was arrosted by Detcctive Lewis yesterday on a chargo of indecent assault on a girl, 12 years of age, at Brooklyn.

Dotectivo Williams arrested a man named Edward M'Kenna yesterday afternoon on a charge of forging the narno of. Alexander Young, of Wanganui, to an order for payment of £17 10s. wages.

Burglars entered the residenco of the Rev. P. W. Faircloiigh on Sunday evening, and stole several articles of jewellery, valued at about £19, and a steamer ticket, value £3. Tho occupants of the house were away at church at tho time of the burglary.

Tho Commission to adjust accounts between the Hutt County Council and Eastbourne Borough Council, consequent on the separation of tho borough from tho county, wjll be held by Mr. W. S. Short on March 3 in the Hutt County Council OlEce. , '-'V

With a view to improving deer herds in Otago, say 3 a Press Association telegram, the. local Acclimatisation Society has decided to engage three expert stalkers from February 21 till.March 21 t-o shoot malformed heads. Mr. Leatham, the well-known English stalker, has also agreed to assist. It is oSpected that, by tho opening of tho season in April, tho ground of complaint regarding "malfonns" will bo removed.

; Connected with a proposal to establish a post office at a place hitherto called Oldham's Creek, a few miles out of Nelson, a fact transpires which is worth recording. .Mrs. Oldham, tho proprietress of the property, is accustomed during tlio fruit season to leave a largo basket full of ripe fruit at her gato for the benefit of travellers. Tho basket is labelled " Help yourself." It is proposed, in order to perpetuato so kindly a memory, to name tho new office " Atawhai," meaning kind-hearted, or liberal, if that name bo found to be good Maori. V

According to a Press Association telegram from Christchurch, Mr.'Millar, Minister for Marine; told ah [interviewer that it had been definitely decided'to erect a now lighthouse on Capo. Brett, the 'most prominent point south of the North Capo. The lighthouse" will probably bo completed at a cost of £10,000 in twelve months. Referring to the correspondence between the Promier and Mr. . Deakin in regard to the proposed lighthouse' at The Snares, , tho. Minister said that no reply had yet been received from Mr. Deakin to the propdsals submitted to the 'Commonwealth by Now Zealand. 1 .' .

.The Rev. Charles ■' Inwood conducted a Bible-reading in the Congregational Church,. Courtenay Place, .yesterday afternoon, and in the' evening addressed a second meeting for'the deepening of the spiritual life in tho Vivian Street 1 Baptist Church.' There was a fair attendance at the meeting, and tho ,Rov. C. Porter presided. A very earnest address,, given by Mr.: Inwood, was followed with deep interest and sympathy. Tho missioner will: conduct another. Bible-reading in the Courtenay Place Church this afternoon, and a'third meeting at Vivian. Street this ovening.

: His Excellency tho Governor's. Private Secretary, Mr. H. C. Watcrlieid, : was: approached yesterday on the subject of Lord Plunket's place of residence during such time as .Government ;H6uso.' is being; 'the purposes of Parliament. "Oil, yes, I was wondering ""if ; you' wefo'going to ask m<3 that," lie replied; "We.havo heard that His Excellency is to r.esido at the Hutt, Palmerston North, Christchur.ch, Wanganui, and heaps of other places, also that Lady Plunket is going to take up her residpneo permanently in Auckland. The Governor has been' offered places everywhere, but- you have authority' to. contradict', all. or any of the rumours that have, been circulated. Absolutely nothing has yet : been; decided upon." ' ' '

. ; It has- been ascertained- on inquiry that the tramway authorities are: not to. blamo for the restriction that prevents passengers leaving a car at tho motorman's end - wlisir tho oar is stationary'.. This', is ono i of tho' restrictions imposed by the Government that deserves re-consideration., Tho prohibition' makes for a clumsy service, delay, and positive discomfort and inconvenience to pasr sengers. By allowing passengers Venter at . tho rear and leave in front, it is obvious' ■that the ' motorman would not think of .starting , his -car-' until, all those who., wish to alight had done so—it, gives him a check on the passengers leaving the car. .The present;'system of allowing people to alight at' only one end of a box car is one of the worst features of a good-tramway system. .' \

■ r Mr. W. C. Dawes, chairman of diiectors of. the New Zealand Shipping Company, and of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantilo Agency Co., Ltd., who is on a visit to Now Zealand, pays a tribute to' New Zealand scenery. "It must'bo a surprise," ho said to a reporter, "to anyone to go through the country and. see its. beautiful scenery." No matter whero one travels he cannot but bo impressed with it. Take, for instance, tho trip across Lako Wakatipu. There is nothing.l have seen that is more magnificent, and I am told that in tho North; Island somo of tho.scenery is equally as good, .though of a different description. Everything; I havo comb across has been a very agreeable surprise.. Tho travelling on tho railways is comfortablo and cheap, while, - with rogard to the coastal service, and that maintained by the Union Steam Ship Company, I do not know that you would . find anything of tho kind to touch it in the world." .

- The re-opening of the Rov. Mother Mary Joseph Aubert's Homo of Compassion at Island Bay has .been fixed to tako piano' on March 14. It will bo remembered that this Homo for incurable children was formally opened with much pomp and ; circumstance . last year, but it was subsequently discovered that the structure was defective to such a degree that it was not safo for habitation. The city was shocked at the discovery, and the. -publication ! of the details in. this paper induced' widespread sympathy for tho Rev. Mothor. There was work to be done in other directions, and His Excellency the Governor and Lady Plunkot were tho first to offer manual assistance in connection with the construction of a reservoir. Others followed suit, - and ; finally volunteer companies, tho Corporation employees, •the Post and Telegraph hands, and others were drawn into tile work, whoroby a largo sum of "liionoy was saved to tho institution. In'tho meantime repairs havo been effected, under the supervision of. Mr. John S. Swaii, architect,, by Mr., John MofTatt, and tho structure is almost ready for its purposo. Lord Plunket will officiate at the opening ceremony. _

Mrs. Ethel Iw ■Do Costa, LL.B. (neo Miss Ethel R. Benjamin, of Duncdin), aftor practising for some; years, in that city, has commenced practice as a barrister and solicitor in No. 6 Nathan's Buildings, corner Grev and Featherston Streets, Wellington. Mrs. DeCosto has the distinction of _ being the. only lady practising at the Bar in tho Dominion! Intending clients can depend on prompt and aarefuf attention >t Mrs. De Costa's hands.

Invitations are being issued by the. Lower Ilutt Borough Council to a function to be held at the local Town Hall on Saturday after tho opening of the waterworks.

There is to be a meeting or the Rhodes Scholarship Executivo Committee at Government House on Friday afternoon, when the Dominion scholar for the current year will be selected.

A meeting of the Executive Council was 1 held last evening at Government House," His Excellency Lord Plunkct presiding. The Ministers present were the Hou. W. HallJones, tho Eon. Dr. Findlay, and the Hon? J. M'Gowan, .who aro tlio only members of' Cabinet in town at present.'

The northern section of the Third Wellington , Battalion' of Public School Cadets arrived in'town yesterday morning, and proceeded by the 1.20) p.m. train to Petone, whore the full battalion assembled, and,'led by their bands, marched to the camping ground at the old racecourse, Lower Hutt, where a week's training will bo undergone.

Has your Vwifo got an income of hen own?'; 1 ask'od' a solicitor, who, was - crossexamining a judgment debtor, as to 'bis, means, yesterday., " Not that I know of," camo tho read}- reply. The legal light .fixed the judgment debtor with a cold, steely eye, and asked in his most severe professional tone, "Has she got, any income that you' don't know of?" ■

The Tramways . Committee , of . the City. Council met yesterday afternoon to consider, tho . report of Messrs. Morton and Richardson on the matter of extending the' electric tramway system to ' Wadest-ownl'By; the agreemsnt under which . that suburb was absorbed by the city, it' was ; arranged '• that a trairway, system should be reported on, but further than that the city is. not' committed;, It will be a matter for tlio: ratepayers :of Wellington to say whether ..the extension shall be undertaken, and all three schemes'will be placed bbfore them at.-the

, The funeral of the late Dr. W. B. Tripe took place yesterday: morning, when a -•service/: conducted by theßevs. G. P; Davys (vicar) and A. M. Johnson, was held at St. Peter's Church. Members of Parliament, the Mayor and City. Councillors, clergymen of the different denominations, medical 'men,, and private citizens were present.The : casket,covered with wreaths, and preceded by the clergy, was attended by the sons and near ( relatives of the deceased, arid borne up-the' aisle. The first portion.of.the burial service was read ,by the officiating, clergyman, and tho choir rendered, the ,hymn, " Peace, perfect peace," and the'"Nuiic Dimittis." . As the procession left : the Church; Handel's "Dead March", from the oratorio.of "Saul?, was played by Dr. W. Fyffe. The 'interment of a private nature, v only tho relatives! and a few personal friends of the'deceased being present., • ' . ' ■ '/ ' :'' ' Writing in-the latest " Strand Magazine," Mr. J. L. Bashford; M.A,, quotes the Kaiser of Germany as'having said:—" Wo shall al-. ways follow the: lessons of I the -British' 'Navy,--and look up,:t'o the British Navy as our ' model; but wo can never—even if : we would .—bo ; strong.,enough;, to [be. a..'menace "to' Britain. We havo no wish to challenge Britain's. naval supremacy; but we want, to have a. fleet- strong I 'enoughto protect ourselves if .attacked ; to adequately represent the name and: power.; ,of . Germany, in foreign waters; and to'-protect German commerce' in all parts of 1 the world!. My' great'aim is t to: maintain • the[ peace.of "the'world, not; to.challenge the .supremacy of Britain on the seas or to' an enemy;-of Britain.': It would bo folly for us'G6rniiahs : ! to- try-16' attain to' the-, height' M'" Britaints -naval power. I cannot comprehend', how people eau ;thus misunderstand my. aims and intentions." •• • V.-..--.'.' .. . ' 1 A revival of an unpleasant episode in the ; history of is afoot.: Some years ago a woman named Mrs. . Henderson - was charged with the murder of a young woman, the result of an illegal operation, and, after one jury had,.disagreed,: sho was convicted . of : manslaughter: Sho' sorved her sentenco, and,'last session' petitioned Parliament for redress, in corisideration;[of , the ill:treatment she had suffered' while in prison, which had ruined, hor health and left hor crippled and helpless. Sho is now embarked on a' campaign to prove her innocence of (tho charge . on which she was originally convicted,, and • withiwhich she'alleges Bhe was : made the scapegoat of others more fortun-" ately. situated than herself.'.The; matter will bo brought before . Parliament : next: session,, and ip tho meantime Mrs. Henderson is : stated to bo collecting evidence to re-open ■ the whole proceedings.' "Attending the funeral to-day. of'a friend of many years, a good father and a good citizen," writes a visitor, "I turned away from the very breezy knoll and saw grief . in a most pathetic form that might: make some of tho citizens'who rush along in greed of gain hesitate—even 1 when'they attend the ' obsequies of a long-time friend they keep, looking at their watehes and lteoD an oye on. tho corner;'at which they can desert'from-the procession. Sir, I have travelled in many lands, and the ' cities of .Now Zealand are well known to 1110 for ovor fortv years, but in none of them is comparison to be made with the Empire CitV .for hustling back to work after a pseudo attendance at a funeral. This day's funeral was not bad in what I am now describing; quite tho-reverse;• but ■ from royalty to paupers I have not seen anything so hard of heart as tho general . public of Wellington at all obsequies ..of .'the... dead.' I am a visitor from Manawatu County, whore all busy men cau spare time to show ( some real resuect for deceased ' friends.''' '