LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 157, 27 March 1908, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tfyo Customs revenue collected at Wellington yesterday amounted to £4322 Os. 7d.: ' Representative ! teams from the Highland Rifles and the Post and Telegraph Rifles will engage in . a match with two t-oams of , the Karori Rifle Club at Trentham on Saturday. A request of the Miramar Pony Racing Club for a concession of the tramway, fares, 011 race days, to the Miramar Racecourse was not entertained by the City Council last night. .• '. _ "■ ; ' .The of both' parties to tlio butter-workers' dispute for the conversion into. an. .award of.'the agreement recently arrived, at; mutually will bernado whilst the Court of Arbitration is sitting at Palmerston North. '' The resignations of oertain members of' the Wadestown School Committee were before,the Education Board at. its meeting yesterday. It was decided, in view of the near approach of the annual school .committee elections, to take no further actioii in the matter!

The ..Wellington.'Education Board ' has . accepted tenders, for works : as uiiderlnfant School at Johnsonville, F. Johnston ; Infant School at. Levin,, t: Arcus and Son; water service at Island Bay, ,C. W./Martin ; lnt: riries at Mungaroa,' Hewitt, and: Jamesoiu '

Dr. A. M'Arthur, S.M., takes strong exception to boys appearing in the public portion. of' the Magistrate's Court. His Worship's keen .eye lighted- ; on a .lad, 111 the Court during the hearing of. a case yesterday, attd he'remarked,- sternly: "What's that boy doing here?" Tho boy lost no timo in' getting out of the Court. ' ,-

A meeting "or" tho Wellington Centra of the New: Zealand Amateur Swimming Association Was held i last ovoning, Mr. L. W. Ludwig. presiding. A .long discussion took place in reference'to the Government grant, but eventually tho matter was held jvDr until noxt meeting. Accounts in, connection iv' bii tho recent carnival wore passed for payment.- . There is a crop of special orders for loans gazetted each' week. \ The current week's Gazfitte proclaims the following: — Elthani County Council, £3000, for forming and metalling roads; Horowhenua County Council, £2000, , for . road . construction; Pict-qn Borough Council, £4000, for water supply purposes; leathers ton County Council, £100 (addition to £1000); Waitomo Council, - £1000, road construction; , Pohangina County Council, £800,*' bridge construction; An irrepressible female litigant gave, the presiding Magistrate and her own , ebunsol p lively time at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, the result being that both the 'Magistrate ~ and counsel lost their patience. His Worship 'to litigant: "Will you allow Mr. to conduct this ease?" Silence followed, for a minute, Hut the interjections commenced again. Counsel to client: "Bo quiet! Be: quiet! I'm running this. show. If you want .to conduct the case I'll drop out." The'lady subsided for a' while, ; but broke out; again, whereupon His Worship said, ''Will; you kindly hold-your tongue? I'll have to stop you by putting you out of Court." ' A resident of Now South Wales, who ■is deaf and dumb, recently endeavoured to enter. New Zealand in order to take up a situation as a slaughterman, at £5 per week but was refused admittance to the Dominion because of hisphysical ltiisfortune..' Tho members of the Australasian Deaf and Dumb Association havo addressed a petition to Sir Joseph Ward, in which tho restrictions laid down under tho Imbecile Passenger Act, 1832, are characterised as unjust. ■ It is pointed out that deaf and dumb people resent being classed with lunatics, idiots, and undesirables. The average educated deaf muto is mentally and physically sound[ and the loss of hearing is a burden sufficiently hard to bear, 'without being further handicapped by that section of. the community which should make easy, not more'difficult, flioir way through life. A memorial bearing on this matter was presented by this Association at tho last Premiers' Conference held in Sydney in April, 1906, and, as a .result, the Premiers of Victoria and New South'- Wales camo to an agreement botwoon themselves that in future they would look upon, tho deaf as entitled to the same opportunities as fcha community at large,-and in Juno, 1906 on tho occasion of his visit to Melbourne a similar memorial was presented to the Right Hon. Richard Soddon. Ho promised to give tho matter, serious consideration.

Mrs. Ethol R. do' Costa, LL.B. (nee Mies Ethel It. Benjamin,- of Duncdin), afteri practising for Rome years in that city, has commenced practice as a barrister and solicitor in No. G Nathan's Buildings, corner Grcv and Peatherston Streets, Wellington. Mrs. De' Costa has the distinction of being the only lady practising at the . Bar in the Dominion. Intending clients can dopend on prompt and careful attention at Mrs.' De Coata'a hands.

The Johnsonville Rifles paraded under Captain F. T. Moore last evening. There wore only six men on parade.

The issue of money orders and the transmission of correspondence to T. Rae, Sydney, is prohibited by a notice in the Gazette.

Tho Victoria College students have been granted the use of tho gymnasium at the Normal Training College on payment of £5, and tho cost of lighting and cleaning.

It was dccided at last night's meeting of the City Council that the electric light be conncctcd to new premises frco of connection costs, provided thS cost does not exceed £2.

The balanco to profit and loss of the New Plymouth Savings Bank for the year ended December 31 last was £2165 lGs. 4d. Tho assets wore set down as £24,544 ss. Bd., and the'depositors' credits as £22,378 9s. 4d.

Tho Native Appellate Court will hold a sitting in Room No. .14,' Government Buildings, this morning to hear an appeal from tho do; oision of tho Native Land Court in tho matter of tho Tahoraite near Dannevirke.

The Government has a'ccepted the tender of Mr. H. H. Lange, of Westport, for the erection of the Orawaiti bridges on the Westport-lriangahua Railway. The contract price is £1139 Os; lid. The tender of Mr. Geo. Garner, of Wellington, for'the erection of Government Buildings. at Hokitika, has been accepted. The buildings are to cost £0966. ./

The "City Council last night dccided, on the. recommendation of tho Baths and City Reserves Committee, that instructions be given to itho ofijeers to resume Town Belt sections whero the tenants have not given:effect to .tho terms of their leases, and that the Council proyido in .next year's estimates an amount of money necessary to carry out the eradication of gorse on such sections as may bo determined..

At a sitting of tho Native Land. Court on Thursday, Chief Judge Jackson Palmer granted an ex parte application for an injunction restraining certain Natives ; from interfering with sheep dips, situated'on a property at Levin, until the question of tho ownership of the land has been settled/ Mr. Lynch (Messrs. Skerrett; and ' Wylie) appeared on behalf of the applicant,. Edward Nicholson.-

City Councillor Cohen wishes to know whether the official who is re-numbering the houses has authority to re-name the streets' also. At any rate, No. 64 Woolcombe Street, has, he says, been, altered to 172 Wellington Torrace. This, he ooiitended at'the meeting of. the City Council last ■ night, should not have been'done. That/stfcoet had; been known as Woolcombe Stroet ever sinoe Wellington was Wellington. : 'The Mayor: said 'it was rather a pity'. that • such .a, thing' should lw' done. ..The matter would be* inquired into.

Tho Baths and City Reserves Committee reported to the City Council last night that they had been in consultation with-the City Solicitor,-who, had prepared a draft Bill dealing .with the leasing of portions of the Town Belt and; reserves to sports . clubs for the purposes of forming sports; grounds, and he had submitted. the .same'; to : the; committee. The committee : submitted tho document. for ,the.- consideration of the .Council, and: intimated that it-%ould~ask~a£-tlie next Council meeting to tq take' the necessary steps to ofifttirti to giro' offect to the same. ,

Councillor Cohen raised the question of advertising 'on-' the " tramcars at'last night's meeting of the City Council. He had noticed that advertisements of the "Zoo" .concert wore pasted on .the windows of the cars, and thike ; had' lately -been-large calico signs advertising a ' dramatio performance. . If • advertising was to bo allowed 1 -on-: the cars it should be put on a proper, basis and charged for. The Mayor said that in the one case it was a municipal concert,' and in the other it was, the.kind of entertainment which the Council , had helped in the same .way beforo. He thought the. Council ought not to go any further in the samo direction.

• fJHr.; R. Nairn, of. Christchurch;, who passed through .Wellington yesterday after a visit.toi Auckland; states that , fruit is very much cbcaper here at present than in the northern city. Apples and pears are not being retailed in Auckland at \ less than 4d. and 6d. per lb., and 6d. is tlie general price. Even green-house grapes are' dearer in ' Auckland than in Wellington,- .though ■ the price; of outdoor '''varieties is about the same. The doarness of apples is due to the prevalence of the codlin moth, whoso ravages havo been worso this lyear than'-ever before. iThe Orchard and Garden Pests Act has been enforced strictly, and only a very limited quantity of 'apples : has been able' to pass the inspectors. . 1 ' ' • • •

. Another unstamped rent book, tendered as evidence in a civil case at tho Magistrate's' Court, was impounded by Dr. M'Arthur, S.M., yesterday. "This is another one—l will take this," said His Worship as soon as he had scanned the pages, and found that the weekly rent of £1. 2s. 6d. had, in the majority, of cases, ,been paid fortnightly, and; had been entered as paid every week, thus avoiding the necessity for a stamp on the receipt as provided by the Stamp Act. ''You havo defrauded the Government of at least fifteen pence," remarked His Worship to plaintiff. Plaintiff said she was quite willing to make good her, default, to:, which the Corirt replied: "You will probably have to pay a fine of £5. We will keep your book, and ,you- will no doubt hear more about it later on." '

The secretary of the General Labourers' Union wrote to last night's meeting of ; the City Conncil stating that the action Ipf the officers of the Council Tin refusing ,to .pay: tram fares to employees engaged on works more than two miles from tho Town , Hall (or tho workman's home) was not consistent with the usual policy of the Council. Despite the statement made by the City Solicitor to the Court of'Arbitration,''the Union held that the office erected on the Duppa Street works was not an office for any practical purpose "exoept to kick holes in the Arbitration Court's award." No .private employer would, it was stated, bo allowed to evade, his responsibility in that way, and the fact that, no such oflice was considered necossary on Anderson Park was, the Union thought, a proof that the office was orccted to evade tho clear intention of tho Court. In conclusion, it was submitted that Judge Sim's statement that the interpretation given by tho Court should not bo taken as a precedent by private employers was a clear indication that tho Council should not take advantageiof a provision which could not be adopted by private employers. The communication , was referred to tho Finance Committeo for consideration.

If you are contemplating removing, tlie first thing you should do is obtain a quotation from J. Keir, 12 Featherston Street. Ho has had manv years' experience in. this class of work, and is in a position to pack, store, and remove any description of furniture. Ho also .clears goods through Customs, and. despatches packages and parcels to any address in the world, Telophonoi No. 1180. / C 566

On Saturday! .morning Mr. Justice Chapman will pass sentence on Henry George Hogarty, committed on a charge of theft.' ;-;

At the annual meeting of the Wellington Cycle Corps, held at the Central Drill-shed last evening, Colour-Sergeant Fountain was electod. lieutenant of the corps.

. v o periods in life femininity declares itself to he older than it - really is—before it has reached eighteen and after it has reached eighty-five—"Health."

Tho tender of Messrs. AV. Cablo and Co. (which was the lowest) for the supply of tanks and piping for the Tramways Department was accepted by the City Council last night. . ;;

Councillor Fisher- has presented a petition to tho City Council from sixty residents of Hataitai to have tho three principal strceta lighted with electric light. The petition, has been referred to tho Lighting Committee.

A sitting in Chambers will be held . at; 10.30 this morning.by Mr. Justice Chapman. Mr. Justice. Chapman yesterday' granted probate of tho will of the late C. W: Bniibow and letters of administration in tho estate of G. S. M'. Heaton (dcctased).

The City Council resolved last night, on the motion of Councillor Fisher" Tlmt a committee bo set up, consisting of the \vhpl« Council, for tho purpose of: considering' the question of taking over, the rights and interests of • the Kelburne and Karori Tramway Company,. the i : committee. to report to the Council a;t tho earliest possible date, five to bo a-quorum."

The following important motion will coma before the City Council at its next meeting, on notice by Councillor Fletcher v" That the Council take into serious consideration the question ■■ of undertaking the. widening of Manners Street (as from Willis Street to Cuba Street), and hereby resolves to take such steps as: may be deeiped necessary to effect the improvement of. this congested and important thoroughfare."'.

i: The Labour Department has not yet been pressed for 'employment, by thg- flaxmill workers, tq the number of several, hundred, who have been thrown out of work in various parts of the. Dominion by the closing-down of - mills owing to the fall in the price 1 of flax.' There is a good demand from-Taranaki fop grass-seed men, and labourers ;for road contracts. 1 A considerable -liumber of : positioiia in private employ are also open.' ' . -

The following notice of motion has been tabled by Captain M'Donald for consideration by the Wellington Education Board at its .' meeting That the members,. of" the Board, accompanied by the Clerk of Works,. visit and,inspect and report upon the means' providod' for the-escape of the children in case of fire, and ' that \Mount. Cook Girls' School be dealt .with first'.".' "' , . .

The. electrocution fatality , at. Island Bay was the occasion of a-short discussion in the City Council last night, when it was suggested thatj as trees in' proximity; to the wire, were supposed to be the cause of its tall to the ground during a gale, an inspector should, be sent to warn people who had trees near the wires. The ]M a yor said the matter had already received attention. It was also assorted that in somo plaoes trees chafing the wires-had destroyed .-the insulation. This complaint was noted for -further inquiry.' ■.

■ At the'bi-monthly meeting of tho Wellington' School Commissioners, tHerowere pre-, sent Mr.' J. R. Blair (chairman;,- and Messrs.. A; W.' Hogg, and'F/ Y;- Lethbridge,■ MlP.'s; Accounts'amounting- to' £68 5145.' sd.* were passed for payment, and a sunr of £500 for primary education was allocated'.to the-Wel-lington and Wanganui Education Boards. Ib Wa3-resolved .to i authorise the:, chairman to take any ; steps .necessary to determine the , lease of 7000 acres held.by Mr. T."P.-Gird-wood, near Alfredton,' so that ; the property, having beon subdivided and-re-valued, may bo submitted to public f competition; The Board placed on record its appreciation of the; services rendered. :by the Commissioner of ■Lands, Mr. J. Strauchon, while;a member,, Tho question of uniformity in school books, a report upon .which was presented; to the Education Board .byi. the inspectors at tho February meeting, and discussion upon.which was, postponed, came up at the Board's meeting yesterday. Mr. A. H. Vile brought forwajd -the following . which he had tabled at the previous meeting:—" That this Board is of' opinion {hat a uniform system l.ofschool .books, if' subject to'such changes aa circumstances necessitate, would bo in tho' interests of education." . This was -eoonded by Captain M'Donald. Mr. Hogg ob-jected.-Ho considorod that rivalry was rha ■ life of education, and that uniformity signified, stagnation.,' 'Mr."Vile. was.strongly, of ■' opinion that there should bo a uniform series of books throughout the district,-riot only for, ! tho' parents' sake,, but for the children's. -;. The motion, on 1 being put, was carried on the oasting voto of the chairman.'- - Mr. S. Dalrymple, Inspector of Machinery , at Wanganui, was making his - annual. inspeotion in tho Mokau district recently, when tho launch on which he was to make the upriver trip was found to have its propeller . shaft broken. To avoid delay, Mr. Dalrymple/. . decided to effect temporary repairs wit-h .the scanty, material and appliances available, About fivo inches of the shaft, including t-'uv taper, had been brokon off,. but the propeller was saved. A 13-in. picce of 1-in. diiimeter galvanised iron pipo was found, into which .the broken shaft , was .inserted, tho * ends being kept the requisite distance apart. . Bolts through pipings and shaft completed an 1 effective sleove coupling, the propeller \ was fitted on, and .the launch was ready for V use within; six hours ofthe repairs commenced.' A ton hours' trip next day at- ' testbdtlie effectiveness'of the repairs; and ■ enabled Mr. Dalrymple to complete his work in'tho locality..: ; . V

Those citizens who favour the establishment in .Wellington.pf a " Zoo," which shall be. worthy' of: the, capital city of the Do-.. minipn, have found ardent supporters in the members of\the Baths and' City Reserves Committee. To last night's mooting of:the City Council the committeo forwarded the following recommendation That,' in their 'opinion, tho adjacent ground/can, rfith moderate expenditure, bo; mado suitable for a ' Zooof. proportions creditable to tho: city and Dominion, the. park: forming a very attractive feature' in the arrangement. To bring tho matter to a definite conclusion they recommend: (1) That the Council resolve that it is desirable to enlarge tiio 1 Zoo,' and bring it up. tb date as to collection and convcnioiices of tho fauna. (2) To give effect to Clause 1,. the services of a>' competent curator bo obtained to develop and manage the undertaking." Tho committee. ; intimated that tho decision of tho Council would be asked at the next meeting.'

The Island Bay Volunteer Fire Brigade held their first annual smoke concert at (ho' Blue Platter Tea, House, Island Bay, on; Tuesday evening last,: foreman Jones presided, ana read the annual report . and balance-sheet. Superintendent Hugopresented the medals won at the Brigade's touruawont, : and. : a pleasant evening was snent. " ■"■■■