LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 21, 4 June 1908, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

« At the Mount Cook Polico Court yesterday, beforo Mr. J. Coogan, J.P., Alexander Driscoll was fined ss. or 2i hours' imprisonment for being drunk and disorderly. ■ Mr. A. H. Turnbull has sold his yacht lorangi, which has been laid up for the last twelve months, to a resident of I'ctone. The lorangi was built bo tho order of Mr. Turnbull in'l9o3 by Logan Bros., of Auckland.' rThe detective in his time plays many parts. According to evidenco given by Detective Cassells in a vagrancy case, it vj no uncommon occurrence for a member of the detec tivo staff to get employment for a discharged prisoner. Tho now quarters of Parliament are still far from being in a state of readiness for the session, and to have the place completed and cleared up by tho end of tho month double gangs of men will have to bo workod. It is understood this will be done. '' Wo have to acknowledge receipt of tho first issue of a new papor published at Hobart, " The Daily Post." Tho " Post," which appears as a ten-page paper, makes a very presentable beginning, and seems to have ovorcomo most of tho initial difficulties usually associated with tho birth of a metropolitan daily newspaper. It is an advocate of democratic Liberalism, a staunch supporter of Mr. Deakin, and aims especially to promote tho interests of the small farmer. At last night's meeting of the Philosophical Society, Mr. A. Hamilton (Director of the Dominion Museum) explained that the mystery surrouuding the identification of the gigantic moth which was found alivo at Northlands in March last had been solved. Tho moth, which is seven inches across, was, he said, a species which occurred in South Australia, and passed its larval in the eucalyptus. Its scientific names was cossus eucalypti. The probabilities were that it had been introduced in tho piles brought over for the new wharf. Tho business at 'the Magistrate's Court'yosterday morning was disposed of in a few minutes. Frederick Pcarco, charged with drunkenness, was convicted, and ordered to entet tho Pakatoa Inebriates' Home for a period of 12 months. Fred Wilson was convicted and fined 10s., in default 48 hours' imprisonment, for insobriety. Thomas Halley pleaded not guilty to a charge of failing to provide for the maintenance of his illegitimate child. A remand was granted until, June 8, bail being allowed in tho sum of £50, and two securities of £25 each. .

An amusing incident during last evening's .performance of tho ."Prisoner of Zcnda" at the Opera House raised a titter of laughter. Tho' curtain had gone down on the gorgeous coronation scone amid applause, and was raised for the usual bowing of acknowledgments. It was raised a second time somewhat unexpectedly, and Mr. Julius Knight and Miss Humphrey, bravo in their coronation robes,, wero discovered in, company with a prosaic black-dressed maid, who was preparing to assist Miss Humphrey. The sprightly exit made-by tho maid induced the heartiest laugh of the evening./ JTorty-fivo years ago this morning—namely,' ■on June 4,1363, —tho first attack was made by 1 tho British in the second war at Tataramaki (Johnnie's Flat), Taranaki. Tho attack was mado in consequence of the massacre of a party of'tho sth regiment a month previously, when Lieutenant Traggett, Assistant Surgeon Hope, Colour-Sergeant Ellens, Sergeant Hill, and Privates Banks, Flynn. Kelly,- M'Oarthy, and Ryan wero killed. Tho British casualties totalled three, and the Maoris lost about fifty. Governor Sir George Grey and General Cameron wero spectators of tho attack, which was led by Colonel Warro, C.8., afterwards Sir H. J. Warre. A rare Maori curio was exhibited to members of tho Philosophical Society by Dr. Nowmail last night. It was shaped oxactly like an English marline-spike. Dr. Newman stated that lie had shown thp curio (which had boon dug up at Taradalo) to a nnriiber of experts, including tho Rev. S. Williams and Messrs. Percy Smith and Skinner, also to a learnod Maori, who had declared that it was a very fine specimen. By the Natives tho spike was, Dr. Newman- explained, called an aliao or purupurtj. Its use was the same as that •of tho English marliho spike—to caulk vessels. At tho thick end wero four, holes through which two cords were put. Tho threaded aliao drew these betweon' tho seams, and they wero pulled tight. It was made, concluded Dr, Newman, from tho lower jaw-bono of a whale, and was a very rare curio—tho only'known one.. The Newcastle-upon-Tyno Royal Artillery Band- reached Adelaide on Wednesday, May 20. • The conductor, Mr. Robert A. Smith, says that tho band, was formed sixteen years ago, and, until he left for Australia, its full title was the Newcastle-upon-Tyno Royal Artillory Volunteer Band; but since his departure from tho old country shores the territorial force .has been gazetted, and lie and his bandsmen are now regularly constituted soldiors of the Empiro, a unit in the. newly-organised and powerful territorial divisions.. Tho English people call tho new development "Terriers," for short. Most of the members of .the- band have been connected with it since its formation, and there are 36 of them altogether. Their services are always in demand in England, and to mako tho Australian tour, Mr. Smith had to cancel engagements at tho Franco-British Exhibition and the forthcoming Scottish Na- j tional Exhibition.: -

At a largely-attended mooting of the Central Pharmaceutical Association, held at Godber's ou Tuesday night, Messrs. Len M'Kenzie and A. Hobson wore appointed Wolliugt-on Contro delegates to the conference. They wero instructed to support tho formation of a New Zealand Federation, and wero askod to proposo that a Press committee be set up to give tho details of each day's proceedings. Tho constitution was read arid adopted. Letters wero received from chomists in all parts of New Zealand wishing the coniing conferonco every success. Tho secretary was instructed to thank tho Hoii. G. Fowlds and Messrs. Fisher and Aitken, M.P.'s for their assistance. It was dccided to givo tho visitors a supper on Juno 11, and Messrs. Hobson, Palliser, M'Millan, Spragg, and M'Kenzio wero appointed an entertainment committee. Tho Pharmaoy Board wrote granting tho use if its room gratis, , and this won ;;lndly accepted. Mrs. Elnel It. do Costa, LL.D. (neo Miss Ethel R. Benjamin, of Dunedin), after practising for some years in that city, has commenced practice as n barrister and solicitor in No. G Nathan's Buildings, corner Grey and Feathcrston Streets, Wellington. Mrs- Do' Costa has tho distinction of boing tho only lady practising at tho Bar in tho Dominion. Intending cllonts can depond on prompt nnd n'lefuT attention at Mir De Costa s hands.