LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 204, 22 May 1908, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Customs revenue collected at Wellington yesterday amounted to £2704 7s. 7d. At the Supreme Court; this morning, sentenqe will bo passed, on Frdderick Percy Pilcher for theft and forgory. • The schools in the AVellington Education District will close this aftei'noon for thefirst winter term vacation, reopening, on Monday, Juno 1. -v ■ . The servicos of tho Christchurch Technical College Rifle Cadets and tho Ngairo Defence Rifle Club have been accepted by His Excellency tho:Governor. • • i.- ~.,.1. - 1 The Goyornment has-' acdepWd; the tender of Mossrs. 1 Radoliffo. and Burton, of Auckland, for the erection of a t post office at Matakohe. Tho price is £749. 1 . 'Mr. Justice Cooper will sit in Chambers at 2 o'clock this afternoon for tho purpose of settling the list of cases set down for hearing at tho forthcoming civil sittings of' tho Supreme Court. The wrestling match, catcltras-eatch-cnn, 1 sot down to tako place to-night between Clnrenco Stevens and Harry Sandow at tho Belvedere Club-rooms, Cuba Street, has been, 'declared off owing to tho.latter having dislocated his shoulder. . Tho first -library ,lecture .of the winter series will be given at the Town Hall this evening by tho Rev. D. C.. Bates, and will be entitled, "A visit to the Melbourne Zoo.", The lantern views, especially taken by Mr. Le Soeuf, Director of,the Zoo, are said to>bo very lino. A mission is 1 being conducted at St. Anne's Church, Now town,, by the Rev. Fathers Lowlian and Crcagh, and it will continue until tho end of the month. There have been crowded Congregations both morning and evening. A week's mission will also be held at Island Bay and Kilbirnie. " The City Council last-night passed a resolution confirming tho purchase of a section at the corner of Murphy. Street and Pipitea Street for £1525 for fire brigado purposes. Councillor Ballingor, who proposed the resolution, mentioned that the Corporation section, which it was at first suggested'should be used, was valued at £4000. Cancellations of Unions registered under tho Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act continue. This week's. Gazette contains the notification of cancellation of tho Hamilton Typographical Industrial Union of Workers, the Duriedin- Wharf Labourers' Industrial Union of Workers, and the Taranaki Master Bakers' Industrial Union of ]sm-. ployers. ■ A South Canterbury deputation waited upon the Hon. J. M'Gowan yesterday morning to put tho case in favour of an increased subsidy for the Tiiiiaru-Heirmitage motor car service. The: Minister asked them to put their re.quest in writing, together with all tho facts bearing upon it, and promised that the matter would then be fully considered by tho Government. A new Baptist Church is to be built at Brooklyn, alongside the present place of worship, on a site already belonging to the Baptists. At tho first meeting of the Building Committee, held on Wednesday night, the sum of £115 was'subscribed by twenty members to form the commencement of a fund.

It is hoped to ercot a church, in brick for proforonce, at a cost of about £1400. Tho present building has almost oiitlivod its usefulness. The Ngahauranga Meat Works havo been exempted from the provisions of tho general labourers' award. Tho general labourers wrote to tho Trades and Labour Council, complaining of the continued Exemptions that are granted to moat companies and local bodies in the various industrial districts! Tho lotter was discussed at some length by the delegates at the Council meeting last night. The following resolution expresses the feeling of the delegates sn tkt %*esti«»i " Hint this Council is of tin tlflit all award of the Arbitration C»nrt should govern any worker and emplpjer in tho district to which tho award applies, and it protests at tho granting of exemptions to local bodies and moat Companies from tho awfrrdn 'of the di&r&il) Unions."

i Tho Marine Department advises that there ' will be no> further inquiry made into the accident to the Ttkapuna, which occurred (it Wellington about tiro weeks ago. The opening of the section of the Gisbornc-Motu railway has been postponed from Monday next till tho following Wednesday, to enable the Native Minister (the Hon. James Carroll) to bs present. The City Council has accepted,' with thanks, tho offer of tho Wellington Professional Orchestra to give ono or more concerts on Sunday afternoons or evenings in tho Toirn Hall or x »t 'the Botanical Gardens. Mr. TC. H. P. Barber, M.P., has pointed out to us that, in onr report of his spoech at TTorser Bay, his remarks on the land, question suffered slightly from the process of condensation, inasmuch as it was net made clear that he is opposed to any further sales , of the freehold of Crown lands. ! The Baths and City Reserves Committee reported, at last night's meeting of tho City Council, that it was strongly of, opinion that the time had arrived when a proper survey "of all of tho reserves of tho city should be prepared and submitted to tho Council. The desirableness of undertaking the work was affirmed. Again tho long-standing complaint about shortage of railway rolling stock is raised. The Union Company's 6teamer Komata, which has a large cargo to put out at Wellington, is being delayed through tho Government Railways Department being unable to supply sufficient trucks for the reception of the cargo. Chaplain-Majors F. T. Sheriff and W. Shirer will conduct the service at the Town Hall on the occasion of the,Wejlington Garrison church parado to be) held on Sunday. Chaplain-Major Sheriff will read the prayers, and Chaplain-Major Shirer will read tlio leg--sons and deliver an address. The service will commence at 11 a.m., and printed copies of the hymns to be sung will bo distributed. It has been freely reported that the bakers' cash coupon system- in the Manawatu (Palmerston, Feilding, etc.) had broken down. Mr. H. -F. Allen, .secretary of the New Zealand Master Bakers' Association, has boon advised by Mr. W. Hawkins, secretary of the Manawatu Bakers' Association, that this is not so, but, on tho contrary, tho system is a' great success, and is working most satisfactorily. Some sarcastic remarks wero made at the meeting of the Shopkeepers' Association last evening, 'on tho excessive number of Saints' days and holidays in this Dominion. "Isn't there a National Saint for Now Zealand?" asked ono member. "Yes, but ho hasn't been dead long enough," replied anothor. Tho President (Mr. H. H. Seatoii) remarked facetiously that the Government intended, within tho next three years, to gazette the .working days, instead of the holidays., A discussion took plaee at an inquest yesterday regarding the.indiscriminate sale of j: firearms, and it was thought that dealers in' these articles should be licensed. A juror remarked that,:owing to-the number of burglaries which had taken place recently, a' revolver was needed for protection. The Coroner, Dr. M'Arthur, S.M., undertook to writo to. the Minister for Jnstico, stating that, in the opinion of tho jury, no person .should be allowed to sell firearms without a license, and that all sales should-be recorded. At the' instigation of. .the. Canterbury Trades and Labour Council, tho-Wellington Trades, and Labour Coiinoil at 'its. meeting Jast night' passed • tho following two resolu-tions:—-''.That 'tlio' (Government be' urged 'to'! oppose any amendment of tho Conciliation and Arbitration Act whereby farm wOrkors would be excluded from the benofits of that Act," and "That this Council strongly protests against any legislation being introduced which would make any difforenco between . tho wages of married and single men; and furthor, tho Council expresses its determination to advocato'the principle of equal pay: . for equal work."

I A petition from a number of-pork-butchers and small-goods dealers was dealt with at last night's meeting of the City Council. They'etatcd that thoy desired that tho following hours of closing should be observed :—' During the months of 3V.«y, June, July, August, September, October, and November: Mondays and Tuesdays, 8 p.m.; Wednesdays--1 p.m.j Thursdays and Fridays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays,; 11 p.tiv During tho months of January, February, March, and April: Mondays and Tuesdays, 9 p;m.; Wednesdays, 1 : p.m. j Thursdays ' and Fridays, 9 p.m.; 'Saturdays, 11. p.m.; on the eve of any day which shall hs observed as a whole holiday, 10' p.m. Tho Council resolved that the petition contained a majority of tie persons in the businesses in question, and authorised tho affixing of tho Corporation seal to' the documents. In answer to a correspondent of The Dominion, Mr. H. A. Gold, tho liquidator appointed by the Court, states that he is now engaged ill winding ' the affairs of the Public Co-op6rativo Stores Society. . The compulsory order of the Court for so doing was made on March 6, and on May-1 a first dividend of 10s. in the £ was paid to the oreditors., The final result Will bo that the creditors mil no doubt'receive another 2s.' 6d. in the £ after all expenses have: been paid. The shareholders will not get back anything on their Capital, . All the proceedings of the liquidator are being done under tho supervision of the Court, and finally accounts will bo submitted to the Court for approval, and the shareholders will receive a report as soon as the winding up process is completed. Meanwhile . any shareholder or creditor can obtain information as to what is being done by applying to the liquidator.'

The secretary of the Industrial 'Association, Mr. H. F. Allen, has sent a letter to the headmaster or headmistress of every Government school in the Wellington Education district .to inform them that, in connection with the New. Zealand Industries Week, whioh is being held in Wellington from Juno 4 to Juno 10, tho Association will give ko cash prizes, the first of £2,25., and the second of £1 Is. to tho writers of the two best ossays, by children under lo years of ago, on any Now Zoajand-made article in the shop windows in Wellington. Tho essays are not to exceed 500 words in length,. and are to be in not later than June 15. It will bo explained to the children that tho object of tho exhibition is to educate tho miild concerning what is being manufactured in the Dominion,, and to appeal to the people to purchase Now Zealand-mado goods-. The children are expected to see tho articles by taking advantage of the excursion fares on tho railway. Mr. C. Wilson, Parliamentary Librarian, has kindly consontfed to act as judje for the children's essays. (nM Miw Btk.lil. iSiijiHii, .f *fter praotii--115 f ® r so'ita years in that city, has cosmonced practice as a barrister and solicitor m No. 0 Nathan's Buildings, cofiier GroV and Featlierston Streets, Wellington. Mrs- Do Costa has the distinction of boirig the only lady prdotising at the Bar in tho Dominion. In'tending olients can depend- on prompt and' cwoful attention at Mrs. Do Ccsta a hands. '

A sum of £1000 was placed on the estimates by the City Council last night for providing new cases for the museum and library, for the erection of an' additional wall, also for the under-pinning of ttio present building. A few days ago tho harbour ferry steamer Countess and tho coastal steamer Defender collided' near Point Halswell,. neither' vessel receiving any damage. The matter has been under consideration by the Marino Department, which has decided that an inquiry is not neccsiary. The following is the full list of tenders received by the Public Works Department for the erection of the Seddon Memorial;— Accepted: Edwards and Son (Wellington), £2746. Declined: W. J. Helyer (Wellington), £2S6S; Michael Train (Wellington), £3645; J. Bouskill (Auckland), £3910; J, And A. Wilson (Wellington), £3996. The directors of Router's Telegram Company, Limited, havo declared the' usual dividend at tho rate of 5 per cent, per annum for the half-year ending December 31, 1907. Tho amount of the Company's reserves is now £93,152. Cash in hand, bills, and investments at December 31 stood at £118,356, whilo freehold properties are set down'at £45,899.. Wellington again occupies tho most • enviable position of. tho four centres in regard to tho death statistics for April. Its deathrate por thousand of population was only .4.4, as compared with. .72 for .Christchurch, .92 .for Dunedin, and 1.03 for Auckland. There were 31' deaths in Wellington, 43 in Christchurch, 55 in Dunedin, and 79 in Auckland, during April. 'A.dispute between two labourers, in reference to tho merits of certain- boxers, led to trouble in tho city yesterday afternoon. The disputants waxed enthusiastic, and at length ono of them clinched the argument with a pint-pot, with which, it is alleged, ho laid open, the chc-ek of his follow debater, who had to be removed to the Hospital, where five stitches wero placed in the wound.

Recently the Wellington Rugby Union applied to the City Council for permission to usq Newtown Park for> five, representative matches during the present season, with power to charge , for admission. The" Conn-' oil last night, on the recommendation of tho Reserves Committee, decided to grant tho Union the ..use of tho park for one representative match on June 3, with power to take up a collection. . - The Chairman of the Native ■ Land Commission (Sir Robert 'Stout) left last night for Auckland, via the East Coast. . The Commission will sit on June 2, at to deal with matters in respect/of Whakarowarowa. . This session is expected to last a week or ten., days. At Hamilton the Commission will'deal with Native grievances re-, cently laid before the Premier, and sittings will then' bo held at Thames and Coromandel. The Commission will return td Wellington about the-first week in July. .

There was an attendance, of over 20' at a meeting held in one of tho City Council's committee rooms last evening,. when it was unanimously decided to. make an effort to rovivq the , defunct Wellington Orchestral Society. Mr. W. J. Harland presided. :A committee,' consisting of the chairman. and Messrs. Robertshaw, \L. Cohen, and T. R; Cooke (secretary) was appointed to go into questions of ways and means, and report to ■another'meeting to be held in"'about "a fortnight's time. Tli6: .late. Orchestral .Society left some property and funds, and it is ' expected .that these will be obtained for.''its successor. . The., committee will endeavour ' to make arrangements accordingly. ; . '

! The BathS and City Reserves Committee of; the City Councillast' night submitted an ostimate of the receipts and expenditure in' the departments under, its control for the ensuing year. Following are tho details :— City Reserves.—Receipts: £800.' ' Expenditure: . Ordinary—Wages and salary, £3922; material, £1124. Special-—Grubbing gorso, £500; ten chains picket fencing, Newtown Park; £82 10s.; widening paths in Botanical Gardens, £80; repairing .and painting, pavilion, Basin Reserve, £32 145.; painting iron fence and gates/ Sydney Street Cemetery, £14 3s.'; painting band stand, Newtown Park, £7 Bs. Total) £5762 15s'.; Cemetery.— Receipts : ' £1950. Expenditure: Labour, ,£950-;' material, forage, etc., £100; interest;£280; sinking fund, £60; total, £1390. -The, estimates were referred to the Financo Committee for inclusion in the general estimates. It was agreed at last night's meeting of> the City Council that tho Government'should .be urged to amend various statutes relating to the powers of municipalities. Following aro the most important of tho suggested alterations:—Tramways Act: Tho promoters should not bo liable for damage to luggage for which a spceial fed is not Public Health Act Amendment Act: That, in the event of the Department condemning a building, in lieu of demolition, the Department, through the Council, may require structural alterations,\ additions;, and repairs. Municipal Corporations Amendment Act: . That, whereas only lodging-houses built in contravention of the clause relating to air spaco are liable to be pulled down, the scope of the; clause be widened to include dwelling-houses. Local Bodies Loans Act: That, in respect of loans raised by special order to pay off existing loans', the restriction that the charge on the district should not be increased be struck out, thus leaving the Corporation subject to the limitation imposed by the Municipal Corporations Act.

Tho Minister for. Internal Affairs (Hon. Dr. J. G. Findlay) announces that Princo of Wales's Birthday (June 3) and Arbor, Day (July 22) will be observed as holidays by tho Government offices throughout the Dominion.

While tho duplication of'the Wainiii main was under consideration at the City Council meeting last .night, Councillor Fisher urged that a number of loans in contemplation should be lumped together, and floated as one loan of £290,000 on tho London market.. Tlio Mayor (Hon. T. W. Hislop) was not nt all favourable "to this suggestion. He considered

it would be foolish to go to the London market with the loan of .-650,000, which was a legacy from a previous Counoil. That would bo a somewhat difficult loan to deal ivith, but. ho believed it could be done to tho satisfaction of the Council. It would bo foolish to rush to the London market at the present time with a number of loans, as that market was not too favourable at present. The loan for tho duplication of tho main could wait until a year when tho work could ho undertaken. Councillors should remember that the London market had had to absorb

tlio . olectrio light loan, as the persons who took it up had to float it again. If tlio Council tried to float a loan of £290,000 instead of tho £100,000, which they hopod to float for tho drainage works of outlying districts, they might bo told that thby would b* nnifel* t* d» oi.

A speciality or JTtlr and Scalp Treatment is made by Mrs. Rollcslon. Ladiei troubled with falling hair, dandruff, or any sOalp complaint should call for .advico (gratis) at lior rooms, first floor," 3 Willis Street, over Carroll's, Or itelopliSh# appointment 1599. Personal attention only. Certificated. t . . . fijjj