LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 142, 10 March 1908, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The necessity of having some kind of check 1 , on the goods disbursed, by local bodies <in the country as charitable aid was brought under the notice of the Wellington and Wairarapa Charitable,, Aid Board some • weeks ago 'by 1 this paper. The' members' 'of ! the Board saw the wisdom of thV suggestion, and after, looking into' several "of the accounts forwarded with voucher's from different parts of the country decided that an-inspector was wanted: both to ; check charitable'aid " goods," and to enquire into. the genuineness of all cases'receiving such aid,. . The! Board has now come to an-arrangement with the Wellington Benevolent Trustees whereby Miss Amy Kirk, official inspector for; the latter body, shall make a round of the districts where " cases " ' reside during such time l as/can be spared from- her duties in town. $liss Kirk is'an excellent inspector,-' and has had the experience essential, to the carrying out of. the work, asked of h<^., The Customs revenue oollected at Wollington yesterday amounted to £3001 17s. 2d. A meeting of creditors in the estate of William Henry Belfit, sbddler, iof TJpper 'Hutt,vwill be held in the Official Assignee's office on March 17, at 11 a.m. V/ • . The only Cabinet Minister at present absent from Wellington is the Hon., G. Fowlds, who will'reach hero on. Wednesdaynight. Important Cabinet meetings, are, to be held .this week..: ... ' • ' ' , ; Notice has been received that tho following motions will be moved at the City Council i meeting on Wednesday eyening:—By Councillor Bias: "That in tho opinion of this Council the demand for public markets is not sufficiently pressing to justify their establishment at the present timo."! By' Councillor Biss: "That n Committee of flvo members of the Council bo set up to deal with all matters ! affecting the fire brigade of this City, such Committeo to submjt a comprehensive report within six weeks, more with regard to' stations, plant, and men." ' '

Mrs. Ethel H. Do Costa, LL.B. (neo Miss Ethel R. Benjamin, of Dunedi»),.aftor: practising for some years in" that city, has-:com-menced praptico as a barrister and solicitor m No. C Nrltlmn's Buildings, corner Grey and Featherston Streets, Wellington! Mrs. De Costa has the distinction of being , the only lady practising.' at the Bar in'the Dominion. Intending cliontß" can depend' on prompt ■ and wust'uf attention at Mrs.. Da Costa's bands,.

Tho fortnightly meeting' of the City Council will'lie hold to-morrow'evening in-' 1 stead of Thursday, in order to enable the ( members,, most of whom are bowlers, to 1 attend tlio party which is to bo given on 1 Tluibday evening .by Mr. T. B\igh ; President [ of tho Wellington Bowling Club, and Mrs. J Bush. Tho sum of £1000 was balloted for by the shareholders in No. i group of tho United Building Society at the Chamber of; Commerce last evening, (the lucky members being Messrs. John S. Swan (five shares) and Mr; W. G. Gre'nsid*} (three shares).'.As this only accounted for £800, it' lias' been decided by tho directors to hold the sale of - a further £1000 a forthieht hence. . -' ■ . Accounts presented to the Sydney City pouncil recently showed that the 'electrical supply' undertaking yielded a,profit':of - £iO,OOO last year. In view of the disclpsure's made in-tho special, r.eport prespntod by Mr. .Julius', concerning t-ho-.'condition 'of - .'tho. n]acliinery. at tiie 'power-house, the Eleeirio Lighting Committee is to go into the whole question, as it' appears that the alleged profit should have been;spent in keeping the machinery ■'in'repair.'■'''■ Thp route .of tlio projcctcd railway from Gisbprne to Motu, a distance of. about, forty ,mil£s,' 'was'travelled by Mr. Hrj. H! Blow, 'Under-Secretary fof Public .Works,' in tlio c'ourso of his -'recent trip! Tho lino is open from Gisborno to Pulia (twenty miles), a.nd construction work is now in hand as far as Waikohu,, three and-a half miles further on. This part of thp line, Mr. Blow states, is practically finishod, except for tho bridgo over thp Waiko.hu riyo'r, "at the Willows crossing. The lino will bo available for. transport of goods and passengers as far as thp crossing very shortly. '' The Conciliation Board will hold a sitting ■at .Wellington on Friday' morning ju" cpnriec~tion .with'tlio sheaiers' case. At. its firstsitting at -Mastertoh. on February 17 th.: Board undertook, in the event of the parties coming to a settlement, to make the. agree meat its recommendation.. On. receipt of.th; agreement, however, tho. document' re-1 cast,-and, in view of the altered phraseology, the Board 'decided to hold a .special sitting; at which . a..- representative' of , each',; part'/ should bo present.' Hqncp. the meeting en' Friday, at which Messrs. J. C.'Cooper" and E. W.'Abbott will-represent the fiocliowners and. the shearers' .respectively. .' ;V. ;. Thp sittings of the Native Land Court at will probably not conclude.befqro ;the' eiid 'of - tho'month'; as additional cases are notified''for hearing", ph', and. after Th'urs-, day' : next.' .At tho sitting' held yesterday rnorniiig, whpii Judge Johnston presided and . Mrl Iliaia Hopu /Whalviimairu act|d as. as- , sessor, Mr. support.' 'pf'.an . application. for' the 'partitipii of blocks Nos. 2, 4, and 5, Manaia, 1 Wairarapa district. As further, iiiformatioii was required, tlio application was hold' over.; The most important business transacted at the afternoon sitting was a minor-question in'regard, to succession to : Waiwhe.tu Pa. 'Thei sittings will, be "'resumed to-day.' '. ' ■

j The 'outbreak, of typhoid, foyer, this year (says tlio Auckland " Herald") is an unusually seyero one. ■; The .usual accommodation at the 'Auckland Hospital for-such' cases is 1 fully taxed, there being oyer .60. patients iri the : institution^"and the staff are kept goiri£'. at high'Vpitch;' "The cases, are frorn'a widespread area;-andeach district iscbntributiiig its quota, though s'ome' ; are sup,-,' plying maXv more than the others.'' In view, of.' the possibility', of tho" epidemic'increasing* the hospital authorities havo made all neces-sary.-arrangements' for the'housing of' additipnal' cases in the old infectious' diseases hospital buildings,- on : portion; of tho Oul or Domain. . " 1

A I movement.' is on „foot;'.to institute,'in Wellington a New Zealand Natives' 'Association on Hnes'.similar .to those so-, successful in Australia and. Canada, and, preliminaries are now being Arranged' to' ensure' a good beginning?. .'There'was.' : at' one .time a tivesV. Association existing'in this city, but: it was hardly run upon the lines that were likely to ensure' permanency. Since those days—some ten or. twelve '. years 1 ago-rtho national sentiment , has become more' clearly defined, and there is every -prospect- of the new-body proving itself to be a; need-7—if the right lines are adopted. Those responsible tho movement havo written to tho Australian, and Canadian Associations for 'copies 1 of their rules, ''from' which it is hoped, a ' sound ' constitutional base may:, be ' ovolved; There aro prospects already of a membership of over one thousand.

• r Mr.; W.S. Short, Chief Clerk of tho R-oads Doparjinient,., will' bo dealing. with ■ familiar facts, to; soino extent, in' sitting as a Com 7 missioner,.next month to between the Christelmrch City Council, Christchurch Tramway ■ Board, ■.Woolston Borougli• Council, 1 and.Heathcote Road Board, the. cost 'of main-' tonanco, of tho'ferry bridge' over tho Heatli : cote river,- near Sumner.' Some "years.'ago Mr.,' Short. held : a commission t0... allocate amoiig tho local bodies tho cost of ma'inten--aiico of tho old bndge; which preceded' this ' one. More, recently, .'iyhen the present, structure: \yas decided iipqn, itifell to him to alltv cats, among tho ,samo. Ij6dies tho cost.'! of. ; construction. ' Now .how. conditions''' aro' said ~to havo. arisen affecting .''{.lie : Question of. maintenance, and tho 'other Jocal bodies claim, 'with' pleasing 'unanimity,' that tho iTramway Board should .contribute to tho cpst of upkeep to th'o'extent of '40 per cent. The Tramway Board does not see things in thp -same' light, "and Short, will'-act as arbitrator. l The date of the' cpmmissiph is not fixed.' ■ The . suggestion : which has been made lately that the Goy'ernment..: should acquire, tha Nativo areas on Kapiti Island,-which,' under. Maori ownership, threaten danger to tho sanctuary ; from fire,' is ;not r by any mean? !a new jOiie'. -.No, steps can lie taken to acquire, .these lands, however, .until special legislation has beon passed, as tho Kapiti Island Act of 1897, under .which the reserve was made,. exempts from it:s provisions areas belonging' to tho original Native owners, and their heirs or successors according to Native custom. The Maori lands occupy two areas of 1040 acres and 496 acres respectively. The; importance of acquiring tlio, whole island has' boon represented to the Government by various persons in the'past, and the State has made overtures to tho Natives on more than 0110 occasion to induce., them to part with thoir possessions. The lato-Wi Parata, who died upwards of a year ago,' had a predominating interest in the laud, and, true to the old Maori ,belief that his'mana was identified with the soil, ho consistently, refused to part with, any portion of.'his heritage, It is possible that' with his death, the old order . havo changed sufficiently for the Governmont to renew its overtures with moro 'prospect of success.

All ladies ; desiring to • beautify their hair, also reiider.it Klossy and in good condition for . tlio various balls; etc., during, the coming season should now book appointments . with Mrs. liolleston, Hair Physician, of: 3 Willis Street (over Carroll's). Courses' of treatment, including .necessary lotions, from 30s. Advica 'i'ree. Tel. 1598 7152

Of tljo 270 passengers due • from England by the llimutakn, on Thursday, 49 are assisted and 25 nominated passengers,. the latter being mostly" relatives pf persons' settled in the Dominion. The assisted passengers confist "of one University professor, 17 "domcß-' and 21 farm labourers. Tho • Hospital authorities entertain. hopes that' JJrs. Itoper. (wife of Mr. J. Roperj Employed on tho Hutt "duplication works), who attempted' to.commit' suicide ' e jrly .911 Sim-. '." day morning, ■ will'reewver. It appears thai ¥?■' had inissed liis wife) heard ft' tW afldi on'continuing tlio searcli, found her']yiib'g*in'-a pool •. . ' of blood with ah open'razor alongside her. had 'b'eeii'.'pbtauied, ' ¥?*•'• j .-wHo-has■ been iri delicate health lately, ■ was : removed tp the hospita^.' " It seems, as if, the Brjtish Vaccination; Act . ' . is strenuously 'administered. A lady , left England fpr New; .Zealahcf, lVaving failed to supply a thdt .her child had been vaccinated. Tlio officials sought her out in-Net/' Zealand, but. were that - she could ~ < l not be ; foimd. They sought ; again, and this ■ time with success, but :the Isidj* \\Tote Homa that her child was dead. ■ This, however, was not sufficient, and tho authorities demanded a certificate of death, and the lady had to ■ apply to the' lccaT Itegistrar'for'the necessary document. '•••'• '• ••." • " . ': Application has been lodged in tho Supreme Court for a new trial'of the action Hebei Brown v. Hcenan and Froude, Lfol. It Will bo remembered that, on February. 26, a jury awarded 'plaintiff £500 in- respect'of personal injMics/'received at the new dostnictor, for iyiiich defendants are'the contractors. The main' grounds...pji which the !.'■ application is based , are that'the: verdict'was against tho weight of evidence, and that tho. amount of awarded, was' cxccssiyo both; at common law, under tho Employers' ■ Liability Act, and generally;: Mr. ■ Menteath /' is - acting for the appellants', • and Mr.' Skor-. rett, K.C., for tho respondent. ; The: discomforts'', of the '." rcadless north," . beyond Auckland;' were, impressed, by sad V oxponenco upon ■ Mr. H: J. H. Blow, UnderSecretary- for Public Works',, during his re r ; cent' visit to thatdistrict.:- ; Mr '.Blowstates: V . ft somo instances' the had.'condition- of. . tho ,roads, is due to absence ofi road metal| 1 '■ ■ but iri other cases,, where a sufficient quantity ,of admirablo. metal is available, tlio . scant funds of the smaller local bodies liavo ' .'®s • ??pwea .of. its'. 'being.: broken up,' and 1 lumps; of rock' a quarter of a : cubic yard,in size give, sonio rude' sliocks .te i vehicles. \ Tlio rev.enuesof tlio local bodies' r. . tiro. aßrorJjeS ;|jd 'tho-iiwmt^iancorof' tW'maid >v [ thoroughfares, and fpr other roads' they ba'vp - only- available the airiouiits given them'by the • t Roads. Department for". this.' : purpose. • • V • ... Three old identities, who, last- met: at ; R-otorua' at the of theTarawera' erup- .« tjon, formed a.happy' lunch in AVel- '■•'* lington ;.They. ; ■ ' st-ou, of tlio Native Land Court, who waa i . then-residest.ageiit ( at Rotorua; Mr. Georgo , Baker, of; Wa'iororigohiai,". who was. at -that tnno on tho staff at -M'ltae's hotel, Wau-oa; : and Mr.- R.. J. Greening, of Blenheim, who • was a noted:driver.. I 'in. the..coach, service, be-. ■: - tween Rotorua aud Wairoa m tho early days. • j It.yyas a;. tnftfc. th« .•thfeo s who ; had not" seen.one"^" anpther.Nifpr • over i twphty years should happen',^to'dine'at . tlio r same hotel ; yesterday. i.Yffpwev.cr,Clisid. it .not 1 been . that.:, the. ■ conversation accidentally; - tnrneds tb l Ahp''qu^idh';^;'ca^9^M, s, tlioy , - ti,,might :not.have. liad''the, pleasure "of ;renewmg'the acquaintance. %■ o. ' \ f' The artisans- of .no ' other, country -aro . "• better'informed; concerning .lac.al,'''^natioual, ? andjinternation'al;' more especi--I ally * regarding •' Labour ; matters—than"; the meinbei'«;'prthe working''classes : in. New' Zea : ' . i land'." 1 ' So frequently has :the truth of this J ,1 statement beeitf affirmed; that .it ljlrarply, if"-. 1 ovor, questioned. ■ Yesterday, however, . s bvidrace.:Vwas' : . not■••.wantingthat scores 'of ■. j workers! in "Weliingtp'n' and'suburb's were uh- . aware that tho) Arbitration Court, had bcoii' t. required forthwith to'; proceed te'.Greym'quth • . 0 to hear a charge against tho Miners' Union 3 of having caused the Blackball strike. ! 0 Shortly; after 10. o'clock numbers of people, >: ' . y principally .-, artisans; ..who. are, interested ,in . . j cases - sot';-'down 'for;hearing : at^'the^fprtt-• . , q. ."coming ' sittings of the .Court AYellingtoi 1 ),' e originally fixed . for, yesterday, aospmbled at , £ '•'thp : Supri^e / \ M tings will bo held. In consequence, tho Court ' . j oiEciai's, wero' 'kept 'busily ' ,!(jver '. Half;an,hour notifying callers th'at ;tnj sit^-.. p' tings had been ..