LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 221, 11 June 1908, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A branch of the' New Zealand Socialist party has boon formed in Gisborne. A'Trades and Labour Council has just boon formed in Gisborne. Practically all the unions in the town have affiliated, and the total membership represents about 1000. • Application has been made to the Clerk of 'Awards to add the Wellington Branch of tho Federated Seamen's Union of Workers as a party to the Seamen's 1 Award dated April 4,' 1908. ■ . ■ r ■ ■ ... - The whole of the working plans of the now General Post Qffico for "Wellington aro now ready. It. is expected that tenders will be called for the erection of the building next week. Tho sito is to bo cleared forthwith. The majority of tk& passengers' who arrived from Sydney by the Warrimoo last night! had rather a bad time coming across.' Somo fomale passengers endeavoured to raiso a cheer for tho Health Officer, who went out in the tug Dueo and cleared the vessel soVas to enable her to berth last night:

The first annual ball of the Johnsonvillo Riflo Volunteers was held in the company's drillshed at Johnsonvillo last evening;" There were about sixty couples 'present.. Tho visiting officers included Captain Esson (Wellington City Rifles), Captain Ross (Hutt Valley Rifles), and Lieutenant 1 Page (Zealandia Rifles). Several members of tho Hutt Valley Rifles wero also present at the function, which proved most successful. Owing to the fact that the' District High School at the Lower, Hutt is greatly overcrowded, it is thought that not only should tho erection of the new school on. the site recently purchased at tho northern end of tho district bo expeditiously proceeded with, but that substantial additions should -ilso be made to tho existing school. It is stated that representations in that direction will Le made to the Education Board shortly. Tho following resolution was passed at a meeting of the Executive of the Wellington Timber and Sawmill Industrial Union \of Workers in the Trades Hall on Tuesday evenhig:—"That this Union protests against the suggestion mado all over tho Dominion by the Farmers' Union that tho Arbitration Act be made inoperative for farm labourers, and that'the Government be urged to-maintain tho present Act as'far as farm labourers are concerned."

Residents of Petone are anxiohsly awaiting developments in connection with .the erection of tho hew school on tho western site. Difficulties and delays over the acquisition of tfiis particular site from tho Native owners concerned, together with tho congested state of the main school in Jacksoii Street, havo brought about-much dissatisfaction. The site at the western end is to be taken under the Public Works Act, and the necessary processes will probably extend over several weeks. Present indications, it is stated, show that it. will be Quito six months before the school building will be ready for occupation. ' Several candidates .for. the Hutt Electorate at the next election aro spoken of. The sit . ting member, Mr. T. M. Wilford, will, of course, be a candidate for re-election, and it is stated that Captain T. W. ATDonak], of the Lowor Hutt Borough, will also enter the lists. Another .contestant is announced in the person of Mr. M'lCenzie, of tho Railway Workshops Department at Petone, who will break a lance for Labour. Mr. D. Shortt is also expected to make an attempt, to capture the seat, while a fifth candidate, a " dark horse," is roported to bo in training. Masterton's representative, Mr. A. W. Hogg, is threatened with an attack from tho northern portion of his constituency, it being currently, stated that a certain well-known settlor of Eketalmna will contest tho seat.

Mrs. EM. K. do Costa, 'LL.B. (neo Miss Ethel Iv. iJcnjamin, of Dunedin), nftor practising for some yours in that city, lias commenced practice as a barrister and solicitor in No. G Nathan's Buildings, corner Grey and Featherston Streets, Wellington. Mrs. De Costa bus the distinction of boing the only lady practising at the Bar in the Dominion. Intending olionts crni depend on prompt and etirofui attention at Mrs. Do Coata t hinds.

The Council of Defence met yesterday, and transacted routine business. A grant for the purchase of a vehiclo for tho conveyance of tho children of the To Hautero district to the To Horo School has been made to tho Education Board by tho Department. The settlers, for their part, will provide tho horse and driver. Fj-osh tenders aro being called by the Public Works Department for tho construction of a new post office at Fcatherston. A mistake was made in tho lowest previous tender, which was accepted by the Departtaent, and tho tendorer could not see his way to sign the contract. Mr. Robert Parker, under arrangement with the Wellington Education Board, will commence a series of thirteen lectures on singing and deep-breathing'at the Normal Training College on Saturday next, at 11.45 a.m. Mr.'Parker will also, if possible, givo lessons in tho largo city schools later in the year. Complaints as to tho inadequacy of the first-class passenger accommodation provided on tho morning business train from the Hutt to Wellington are loud and vehement. Yesterday morning a number of first-class passengers had to be provided with seats in tho second-class carriages. Country teachers desirous of attending instruction classes in singing and cookery will bo provided with railway passes conditionally on attonding such classes on. each occasion upon which N tho tickets are used, such attendances being not. less than 80 per cent, of tho total number of lessons. The second course of tho teachers' instruction classes in cookery-will commence under Miss Ivey, on Saturday, June 20, at 9.30 a.m. • poachers attending this class will undertake a course, both in practical and theoretical work, with a view to thoir passing, in June, 1909, tho London City and Guilds 1 Examination. A pass in this, examination will count as a pass towards a teacher's certificate. Complaints were made at last night's meeting of the Wellington Rugby Union as to the' number of articles stolen from tho clothes of taking part in games at Miramar. Ono member of the committee stated that ho knew of a man who .had lost a gold watch, and other members had heard of losses of sums of money. The secretary stated that ho had communicated with the polico, with the object of getting a constable in plain clothes sent out to Miramar in tho future. . Cable advice received last night .states thatArthur Joseph Wicks, music teacher, of Wellington, Was arrested in Sydney yesterday, on tho arrival of tho- steamer Ulimaroa from Wellington, on a warrant issued at Wellington, on a chargo of, obtaining £5 ss. from Mr. A. I. Grabham, of Messrs. Grabham, Ltd., machinery importer? and general indenters, Wellington, by means of false' pretences. Accused was ■ brought before the Court at Sydney yesterday, and remanded. One of tho members; of the local detective force will leave for Sydney by the Mooraki on Friday next to bring accused back to New Zealand, and should arrive in Wellington, with his charge on Wednesday week. Yesterday Mr. Marks, representative of ' the Hawera ward on the New Plymouth Harbour Board, and Mr. C. Major, M.P., interviewed the Hon. J. A. Millar. (Minister for Marino)', in'connection''with' the proposal of tho. New Plymouth Harbour Board to borrow £350,000. ■ Tho Board proposes with this loan to pay off certain -existing loans, and'.to extend their wharfage accommodation to provide berthage for ocean-liners. The people of South Taranaki, said Mr. Marks, took no exception to the proposal, but could not agree to their lands being pledged as security for the loan. Three-fourths of the volume of. their. export trade was with the ports of,Waitara and Patca, and they, therefore, had little interest in the proposed works. The. Minister, in reply, said that as / far as ho oould see tho provisions' of the Gisborne Harbout Act would have to be followed, viz., that the people excluded from tho rating area but using the harbour w;ould pay a percentage on the goods imported and exported. Mr. Marks: intimated that;this proposal would, give satisfaction to South Taranaki. '

A matter of interest to Patea was brought before the Minister for Railways (the Hon. W. Hall-Jones) yesterday by Mr. 0. E. Major, M.P., and Messrs. G. V. Pearce (chairman of the Patea' Harbour' Board" and of the Patea County Council) and Mr, E. C. Horner, secretary of both bodies. The deputation complained that the Railway Department, by taking away access to certain Harbour Board reserves, had greatly depreciated tlio value of tlieso reserves. A valuable asset, and one that should be increasing each year, was being rendered practically valueless. The Premier had previously said that the Board had been compensated for the land which oomprised tlio access, and that they were not now entitled to recompense. But it had been found that compensation had not been paid for all portions, of the land. Tho Minister, turning to somo documents, and to the surprise of the deputation, said that £250 had been paid as compensation for the land tho deputation spoke about. Ho referred to the difficulties of giving the access desired, but sa;id he would have a report furnished, and, upon receiving that, would state his decision. Tho man in tho mail train chafes at tho number of stoppages at small country stations; but the man in the country sees tho other side of tho question. Yesterday Mr. C. Major, M.P., Mr. G. V. Pearce (chairman of the Patea County Council), and the county secretary, Mr. E. C. Horner, waited on tho Minister for Railways (Hon. W. Hall-Jones) in reference to. the stoppage/ of tho . mail trains at stations between Patea and Hawe'ra. At present the .trains, said Mr., Major, stopped at Kakaramea and Manutalii,; but only to put down passengers. Mokoia,'by an agreement with a previous Administration (the result of a land transaction), was a stopping place for both to take up passengers and allow others to alight, but this station was of little value to the district. Tlio de- [ putation were present to urge the claims of Ball Road as a stopping placo for passengers who wished to alight there or book. Out of about 777 persons who would uso tho three intermediate stations, 377 would find. Ball Road tho. handiest. This stoppage would also bo convenient for technical-school pupils. Tho Minister painted out how necessary it was to accelerato tho speed of mail trains by having as' few stoppages as possibly and if they gavo *Ball Road the privilcgo asked for at tho expense of Manutalii, Manutalii would probably complain. If lie had his way,, ho would have no stoppages at all between Patea 1 and Hawcra, but would have another train 1 to pick up people to enable them to catch I tlio mail trains. However, the request would ' be looked into. '

. A spoclallty of Hair and Scalp Treatment la maclo by Mrs. Kollcston. Ladies troubled with falling hair, dandruff, or any scalp complaint should call for advico (gratis) at lier rooms, first floor, 3 Willis Street, over Carroll's, or tolephono appointment 1599. Personal attention only. Corticated C 733

The Hon. J. A. Millar will deliver a political speech at Napier on June 16. Ho will deal principally with labour matters. A deputation, headed by Mr. W. H. P. Barber, M.P., waited on the Hon. J. M'Gowan, Minister for Roads and Bridges, yesterday, in reference to the exemption of Henry Street, Kilbirnie, from the provisions of the Public Works Act, regarding its width. Tho 'Minister promised to make inquiries into the matter. A claim for £400 has. been made by Johanna Cameron, of Foxtou, against Olliver Austin, fiaxmiller, of Foxton, the employer or her late husband. In her statement of claim, silo alleged that tlio deceased whilst engaged in loading flax sustained rupture of a valve of the heart, and expired immediately. At the meeting of the Masterton Licensing Committee yesterday (writes our Wairarapa correspondent), tho , chairman (Mr. W. P. James, S.M.) stated that it had coine to the knowledgo of the members that two persons, who had had prohibition orders against them, wore malting a practice of drinking methylated spirits, which wero obtained either from chemists or storekeepers. Mr. James expressed strong disapproval of the practice, and said he hoped that, for their own good, those in the businesses meutioned would exercise the greatest, care in the sale of a liquid which was so injurious when used in such a shocking manner by these unfortunate degenerates. Tho question of whether or not a doctor had the privilege of refusing to give evidence in criminal oases heard in a court of law was raised during tho hearing of a doctorfs evidence' at the Magistrate's Court yesterday. Counsel for the defence, in crossoxainining a medical witness, suggested .that the doctor had a right to object' to : answer-ing-ycertain questions put by the prosecution. Subsequently, Chief Detective M'Grath took tho opportunity of pointiug out that counsel for the defence was not quite correct. The Chief Detectivo proceeded to explain' that although a mcdical man was still privileged in civil actions and had .been privileged in criminal cases up to a couple of years ago,, he had no option but to give the evidence, under tho present law. Counsel did not appear to be convinced. .. .. ..

To escape from a steamer with a dog that has not' received an official "permit" .to , land is 'not always a laughing, matter. Quito recently a Whangarei lady, who had> come over, from Sydney with a pet dog, neglected to wait for her permit, but, gathering up her bolongings and her poodle, she went without delay to her Yfhangarei home.- She was for a while diligently sought by officers of the Stock Department and officers of tho ship, ' and was finally traced and compelled to return to Wellington for identification and bring tho dog with her for his permit. Another caso ocourred in which' a dog from .Australia ar-'' rived by a Home steamer. Under our.regulations lie would havo to be quarantined for six months after landing, becauso thero t was no proof that he had not come into contact with disease infection from .the Northern Hemisphere while on the steamer. The man who owned him, however, took him ashore without even a; permit. This >rendered the captain' of the ship liable to a fino'of £100. It is said that tho ship's butcher and other, officers scoured the city very exhaustively before they finally, discovered the dog and his owner. Tho . dog lias since been Sentenced to : six months' . quarantine, >t the owner's expense—about £5 10s. are informed that the permits for dbgs hot - subject to : quarantine may bo procured with no delay or expense from the port officer on .'the. wharf or from the ship's purser, so that,thero is no excuse for passengers neglecting their duty in that respect.