LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 145, 13 March 1908, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tho closo season for seals has been extended to Juno 30, 1909.

Letters of naturalisation wero granted to six persons in tho Dominion last week.

Now regulations under tho Scaffolding Inspection Act aro published in yesterday's Gazette.

Th'o City Council has accepted the tender of Messrs. Briscoe and Co. for tho supply of a weighbridge. .

Tho namo of the Western Spit, in Hawko's Bay, has been altered by Governor's proclamation to Westshoro.

It is understood that applications still flow steadily in for admission to tho benefits of tho Publio' Sorvico Superannuation Fund.

The. mails which left Sydney on February 18 by tho R.M.S. Moana, arrived in Vancouver on March 11, at 10 a.m., one day early. Tlie dispute between the Gas Stokers' snd Cokers' Industrial IJnion of Workers and the Wellington Gas Company, has been referred direct to the Arbitration Court, on tho application of the Company. ' The Electrical • Engineer has been authorised by the City Council to run extra cars to Newtown and Eintoul Street from 'the Government Station and Aro Street to cope with the heavy traffic at 5 p.m.

> The postal authorities adviso that. the Manuka, which left Sydney on Wednesday last, has on board a Brindisi mail for Wellington. It 13, in the .ordinary course, due here by Tuesday night's express train from New Plymouth.

A meeting of the Trades and Labour Council was held last evening, Mr. Parlano. being, in tho chair. Nominations of officers for the ensuing year were taken, and a large, number were rc-ceivcd for the various offices., Tho rosults will be announced next week. ,

; During the voyage of the Ilimutaka, which arrived from London yestordoy, a magnificent display of the Aurora Borealis was witnessed on March 2. The natural illumination lasted about four hours, and it gave sufficient light to read ordinary print. '

The Customs revenue collected at Wellington yesterday, amounted to £1958 15s. Bd.

The following areas,: have been constituted permanent scenic reserves: —Wellington land' district —1341 .acres in .the Tauakira' Survey. District;, 176 acres, AYaipakur'a S'.D.j Taranaki District—3o acres, Ohura S.D., arid 270, acres, Totoro S.D.

Exception was taken by Dr. A. M'Arthur, S.M., yesterday to the calling of a child as a witness in an assault case. " I am not going to have a child like this called," remarked His Worship as the juvonile witness approached tho box'/ ".Run away out of this, my child. I don't want you in the Court, at all,", concluded' 'the Magistrate, addressing the child. \

A grocer, a . storekeeper, an; ironmonger, and a painter and . papqrhanger were adjudged bankrupt in tho Dominion last. week.

: The following reserves, among others, will 'bo administered in future under the Tourist and Healtlr Resorts, Control, Act:—Little Barrier; Island, Piba Domain (Auckland), To Aroha Hot Springs Domain, Rotorua .Sana-; torium Reserves, Pukeroa Reservo (Rotorua), Kuiau r Domain (Rotorua), Whnkarowarewa Thermal Springs Reservo.; Forest. Resorvo, Lako Waikaremoana, Hanmor - Thermal Springs- Reserve, Puk'aki'- and Abrangi . Domains (Canterbury), and. Resolution Island (Otago).:- \.-. -

Another immigrant ship steamed into the harbour yesterday,' afternoon—tho Rimutaka. Sho was moored to the wharf, soon after 6 o'clock, and the newcomers soon began to make acquaintance 'with ,as much of their adopted country as was within reach.- The Rimqtaka's assisted. immigrants are. a< less, numerous batch than most of _ those which have preceded them during l the present summer, there being only 270. Most of them have brought a little money with them,'and they : appeared to be of an industrious,: inder pendent, class. They include a number :of farmers' with their , wives, but several: othsr trades and . occupations .'.. are represented /amongst them. Tho majority are bound for the South' Island,: Auckland, and :Taranaki, and . will go' to their respective destinations by ,tlio earliest available • boats. Thoy , all arrived in good health, Dr.-Macdougall, -who passed the , ship, being able-to givo a most satisfactory. report. 1

A largely attended meeting of chemists was held at Mr., Godbor's Rooms last evening. It was decided to hold a conference of chemists and others interested an 'the profession .from 'all parts of the Dominion. The universal opinion expressed ,by . those, present, and in many letters from country chomists, was that it was time that matters of Vital ■ importance to tlio profession ,w6re discussed in detail by: delegates and representatives of all parts of New Zealand. It is anticipated that-the conference will take place about the middle of tho y«ar, so that any; resolution or line of action decided ori by the conference may be put before members of tho House; Committees were drawn up, and preliminary steps taken towards the consummation of the movement. 'The following constitutes the Committee to draw up.-a programme to be placed before a General Committee of a later date:—Messrs. M'Kenzie, A. Meo, Gpwer, Palliser, Eames, arid Pickering. ,' -

Half, a million ova was the modest sample of Atlantip snlmon for which tho Government 'requisitioned tho' Canadian .Fisheries Department: " Can't be done," was in effect the Department's answer;. Nevertheless; Mr. C. Ayson, manager of the Hakataranioa hatchery, was ■ sent t-o Vancouver, 1 in tlio belief that half a loaf is bettor than no bread, and the faint hope that his.persua-sive tongue might charm the Canadian authorities into greater liberality. At tho same time the Marine Department hatcheries cabled again to Canada, emphasising the great desire of this Dominion to obtain ,the whole loaf if possible, for casting upon its-'waters. An answer was received by the last mail, (expressing the regrets of the Canadian Department that tho requirements of its. own enormous waterways are greater than its salmon, hatcheries can supply, ' aiid that , 100,060 ova are tho most that can bo spared.Mr. Ayson.is presumably on his way back to New Zealand with tho precious freight, if tlie Atlantic salmon should hatch out as well as the quirinat bva previously imported, even 100,000 eggs wilL furnish, a respectable beginning for an Atlantic salmon colony. In the ease of. the quinnat ova, from 93 per cent, to 98 per cent, was-hatched successfully in different years, and tho proportion has never fallen below 90 por cent.—a. highly satisfactory level—since systematic importations wore commenced. •

Airs. Ethel 71. Do Costa, LL.B. (neo'Miss EUicl R. Benjamin, of Dunedin), affer'practis. inp for some years' in that city, hag commenced practice as a barrister and solicitor in No. G Nathan's Buildinpß, corner Grey and Featherston Streets, Wellington. Mrs. Do Costa Una the distinction of being the only lady practising at the Bar in the Dominion. ending clients can depend on prompt, and tareful attention at' Hru< Do Costa's hands; .'

The name of Cemetery Road, Kelburne, lias boen changed to Raroa Road.

A Ministerial interpretation of the Tariff Act in respect of numerous articles is given in this week's Gazette.

The Johnsonville Rifles paraded last evening, Captain F, T. Moore commanding. Thero were 38 on parade. ' ■ : ■

A section of two acres at Belmont has been set aside by the Government for purposes of the Wellington-Napier railway.

The National Mortgago and Agency Company of New Zealand, Ltd., was the successful! tenderer for the supply of 30,000 gallons of castor-oil for the New Zealand Govern--ment railways.

The initial stages of the voyago of the Rimutaka from London to New Zealand were the reverse of pleasant. A heavy fog prevailed, and considerably impeded . the progress of the vessel. When off Blyth Buoy, below pravesend, the Norwegian steamor. Skirm collided with the Rimutaka, and carried away about 30ft. of iron railing. Both vessels were under control of pilots at the time of the collision. \

A meeting was held yesterday,evening at tho "Friends' Hostel," Murphy Street, for the purpose of establishing an Adult School Union, It was decided to start a'school, and the first meeting will bo held on Sunday morning at 10 o'clock in tho' Druids' Hall, Taranaki Street. - The adult schools have done much good in England, having been established there on a large scale. The men meet on Sunday • morning and discuss selected passages from the Bible. ' One night a week is given to tho social improvement of the members, when coffeo suppers, etc., form the attraction. . A sick fund and library are run in connection with the. institution, also a reading-room. Visitors make periodical sunshine visits to tho ; sick members, and do their best to cheer them. It is run on the same lines as the Quaker adult schools in England, this one also being controlled' by Quakers. All are invited, to: attend on Sunday morning. ' '

Upon the recommendation of tho Tramways Committee tho City Council , on Wednesday' evening docided to accede to; the request of rthe'.Technical Education Board, for co-opora-tion in the matter of setting up an Electricians' Board , of; Control, with . power ,• to arrange , and .conduct examination!!. forjthe certificates' of this school, ' which , shall lie acceptable by tho City Electrical Engineer fronl applicants for licenses as electrical fitters or wiremen: Tho writers intimated that they approved the. following constitution for the proposed Board'; of Control The 1 | Board to consist of five members,', including the City. Electrical.. Engineer, a; ; member of I the Wellington Technical Education Board, a representative of tho masters of electrical fitters, a representative of the journeymen electrical 'fitters, and; the' r director of the Technical School; (2) the Board to ..have power ."toarrange .all . matters connected,withtho courses and. examinations, < subject to the. approval, of the Wellington Technical Educa-: tion Board. ~ .