LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 225, 16 June 1908, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

English, Australian, and American mails arrived in town by the' Manawatu express last night. Tiie English and Australian mails are ex Victoria at Auckland, and the American mail is ex Boveric from San Francisco. The Prime Minister will deliver a political address at Groytown on June 24. The Hon. W. Hall-Jones has notified tho Shannon people that he wiil be unable to open the new bridge over the Manawatu River on Juno 24.' The Hon. Dr. Findlay is to deliver a political address at the, meeting of tho' Wellington branch of the Liberal and Labour Federation to bo held at Godber's Rooms to-morrow evening. In reply to a question yesterday, the Minister for Labour said that though aware of jilio intention of Mr. P. J. O'Regan to resign the chairmanship of tho Conciliation Brfard, the Department had not yet received official notification from Mr. O'Regan. Until this notice was received he could say nothing as to the future. Bottled milk is fast becoming a popular item in the domestic commissariat. "The demand is greater than the supply," said Mr. Brandon, manager of tho Fresh Food and Ico Co., which firm distributes the bottled milk. " The output is now over ,300 bottles daily 4 " ho continued, " and the popular prejudice always displayed by the public towards anything new is rapidly disappearing before the fact that a good article is being sold at a reasonablo price." It is understood that the candidates favoured by the New Zealand Civil Service Association's executive committee out of the nominees for the Superannuation Board are: Messrs. Sponce (Customs Department), Auckland ; H. W. Bishop (Stipendiary Magistrate), Christohnrch; and Kinniburgh (Government Life Insurance), Wellington. This does not necessarily mean that these three gentlemen will be . Tho popular impression is that three Wellington candidates will bo elected. As ono of the speakers at tho Draughtsmen's Institute "smoker" in the Hotel Windsor last evening wittily observed, the Institute was an affair of modest beginnings it originated in a cellar under a tobacconist's shop. There, the preliminaries were arranged. Their next meeting was in an auctioneer's room,,or rather, it was to have beon held thero, but owing to somo unforeseen oircumstanco they were locked out, and their solemn deliberations were carried out in tho street. "Tho third meeting," lie coneluded, "was held somewhere in or about the •Basin Reserve, and now," —he waved Ilia arm about—"we have achieved tho luxury of a palatial apartment." "".Ethel. K. do Costa, LL.B. (nco Miss I'jl hoi K. Benjamin, of Dunedin), nftor practising for 6omo years in that city, ha 3 coinuioneou practico as a barrister and solicitor iu .No. 6 Nathan's Buildings, corner Grey and Feathorslon Streets, Wellington. Mrs. De' Costa lins tho distinction of being tho only lady practising at the Bar in tho Dominion, Intension diciita onn depend (vu prompt careful attention at Mrs, Co Genua luuiJoi

Nothing has yet been done by the Hon. W. Hall-Jones (Minister' for Public Works) in regard to the decision of Cabinet to test tho efficiency of the brakes of tho Auckland trains. The mails which left AVellington per the s.s. Moeralti, on May 8, and connected at Sydney with the Brindisi mails per R.M.S. India, arrived in London on the afternoon of June 13, one day early. Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P., was asked on the telephone yesterday what he proposed to do about the challenge to a debate on Social-' ism, which Miss Powell, of' the Socialist party, issued against him at His Majesty's Theatre last Sunday. "My reply to that," said the member for Hult, "is a huge smile." Mr. Donald Reid, jn;i. (states a'Press Association telegram) will not, for private leasons, seek re-election for Tnieri at the next general election. Last week it was published that Mr. T. Mackenzie, M.P., had been asked by soveral Taieri electors to permit himself to be nominated for that seat, but that he had declined as he would not oppose Mr. Reid, the sitting member. It was telegraphed from Auckland on Saturday that tho special Board appointed todccido tho tramway's dispute had been unablo to agree as to the election of a chairman, and that the task would therefore devolve upon the Government. Questioned yesterday on the matter, tho Minister for Labour said that the Board had not yet officially reported its failure to agree, and no action could bo taken until sucl\ notification was received. The Fire Brigade received a call to 29a Hankey Street, whore a fire had taken place, at G. 14 last evening. Tho houso was occupied by .Mr. Lowis Polford, and owned by Mr. H. S. Woolcott. Tho damage was very slight, a window curtain and wall paper being burnt, and tho fire was extinguished before the Brigade arrived. The outbreak was caused by a lighted candle coming in contact with the curtain. Tho Karori Borough Council intends to spend £2000 on levelling, laying out, and planting the recreation reserve and erecting buildings thereon. Tho money is proposed to bo borrowed under the Local Bodies' Loans Act, and it is calculated that the special rate will not exceed one-twelfth of a penny in tho £ on tho unimproved value of all tho rateable property in tho borough. The schemo will bo considered at a meeting of ratepayers, convened by tho Mayor (Mr. C. Dasent), to be held in tho Borough • Council Chambers on July 9, at 8 p.m.

Rumour had it that the bakers were growing tired of coupons, and were going back to credit. Truly, a startling rumour, in view of tho fact that not long ago an enthusiastic chorus was raised by the members of the Master Bakers' Union, in approval -of the coupon system, and gratification at its success. Inquiries by a Dominion representative proved that rumour was a lying jade. The system is still in vogue—cash, coupons, or nothing—and working very well. "If credit is being given," said ono master-baker, " it is eithcT by a supplier who is not a member of tho Union, or by an employee of a member of the Union, without tho latter's knowledge—and he cannot keep that up long."

A letter received yesterday from a New Zoalander, resident in San Francisco, gives a lively picture of that city's reception of tho American fleet. ■ "Things are very' lively here at present," the writer states. "Tho fleet arrived yesterday. I saw them go through tho Golden Gate, 21 ships and five torpedoes. The streets are nothing hut stars and stripes; can't see anything for stars and stripes; streets and fleet were all illuminated at night. There was a great procession to-day, and thousands of visitors in tho city. The newspapers exaggerate even' moro than usual. The 'Examiner' said:— 'Tho guns thundered in tremendous roar, as the mighty mass of moving mechanism moved majestically up the grandest harbour in the world.' That sounds protty good, but it made me laugh, becauso \I saw the mass, and tho fcllori- I was with remarked, 'Listen to those guns, they sound liko crackers.' But you want to read an account of thing in this country, not seo it." .

An Aucklandor, who travelled down the Main Trunk line the other day, informed a Dominion representative that the journey was one of extreme discomfort, and that it was a surprising thing to him how the tourists endured it. He referred especially to the 16mile coach-service between the rail-heads. There was apparently a dearth of coach accomodation, and on the day lie came through a number of passengers, including women and children, had to be left behind. The coach ride occupied a period of threo hours, and on a good road. The time could bo easily cut down by half. Another cause of complaint was that travellers by the coach had a wait of three hours for the train at a bush railway station, where there were no conveniences of civilisation whatever. Notwithstanding all the inconveniences, the Aucklandor stated that he would not .have missed the trip on any account, owing to the magnificent spectacle presented by the. mountains, Tongariro, Runpehu, Ngaruhoo, and Egmont.

"This town's too respectable," gloomily observed a' momber of tho "Students' Association" to a Dominion reporter' yesterday, in reply to a question as to what the undergraduates of Victoria College wore going to do on "Capping Day" (Juno 25). " Christchurch for me," he went on. "Yes, I' believe there will be a cay and festivo time on June 25 all right, but think of the scolding and metaphorical spankings in store for us afterwards; Now, in Canterbury College," and he glowed reminiscently, " what is done, is done —custom, tradition, Medes and Persians, as it was in tho beginning, is now and ever shall bo, etc. On Thursday, June 25," ho jerked his thumb in the direction of Kclbnrne, " we will attend the 'capping,' get what fun we can out of it, and in the evening get off a lively entertainment, with a good comedietta thrown in. This will be repeated on Saturday. There will also be a graduates' supper on Thursday night, and a students' dance. At the Canterbury College ceremony the speakers observe tradition with becoming respect. After one of them has been on his legs for fivo minutes, someone calls 'Time!' and ho obediently sits down, the students rattle off a chorus, and thon give him another fivo minutes. And so on —just liko clockwork, see?" Tho pressman saw. A speciality or Hair and Scalp Treatment Is iuado by Sirs. Kolleston. Ladies troubled with Tallinn liair, dandruff, or any scalp complaint should call for advico (gratis) at her rooms, first floor, 3 Willis Street, over Carroll's, or telephone appointment 1599. Personal attention only. Certificated. C 739 It is always a sign of weakness when goods are offered for sale' with prizes and gifts attached. It implies that the goods cannot be sold otherwise, and in effect means that tlioy lack merit. Furthermore, these gifts and prizes must be paid for by the customer in the quality of the article. Crescent Bleud Tea, 2s. per lb., is sold ou its merits. There are no coupons, gifts, limericks, or cash prizes. You get puro honest tea for vour mOjioyi aaa that Is *11 you vast "CSSS

At a special meeting, to be hold next Thursday evening, beforo the ordinary fortnightly meeting, the City Council will be asked to pass a re-solution, by way of Special Order, to,widen.the street, known as Cliilders Terrace or Rodrigo Road, by adding to it a piece of land containing 20 porches, being part of Sections 75 and 76, South Kilbirnie.

An extraordinary meeting of the Committee of the Wellington branch of tho New Zealand Civil Service Association was held last night in order to nominate its representative to tho Civil Service Superannuation Board to bo elected on July 6 next. There wero present:—Messrs. P. Galvin (in the chair), S. J. Collett, Edmund Jones, C. E. ftiggi T. Creetlon, H. Larkin, J. W. Collins, E. M'Ca-rtby, E. W. Arnold, jun., and AY. L. Gibson. Owing to tho unavoidable absence of Sir. J. D. Avery, the secretary of the. branch, Mr. C. E. Rigg acted in his placo. Messrs. Radcliffe (Mines Department), Allport (Marine), Bennett (Roads), Kihnibiugh (Government Life Insurance), and Kelleher (Tourist), addressed the Committee. After a ballot, Mr. Kinniburgh (Government Life) was nominated as the candidate of the Wellington branch of the Service.

Although there, is no question .as to which is .the better play, "A Royal Divoroe" is ranging side by side with "Tho Silver King" in point of public popularity. It has now been played in Wellington for five distinct seasons, and each time it appears to gain rafeher than lose in favour. On Saturday evening the receipts represented tho record house for any show given in the Opera House under the auspices of Mr._J. 0, Williamson, .but this was eclipsed last evening, whan actually hundreds were .turned away. The early door crowd commenoed to assemble shortly after 6 p.m., and by the time tho doors opened at seven o'clock there was a crowd stretching across the street, cut into by cars every few minutes. The rush when tho door (or half the door) was opened was iiot a very elevating spectacle, men and women struggling violently to get through the narrow way. It would have been much better to have opened the doors an hour earlier to avoid such a sceno.

The "Investors' Review" of May 2 states: —Sir Joseph Ward is nothing if not optimistic, but if the Colony of New Zealand really has gathered in a. revenue for the financial year ended March 31 last amounting ' to £9,055,940, then indeed it should bo prosperous. This revenue exceeds by £656,870 that of the previous year, and Sir Joseph Ward boasts that there is an available balance of £850,000 in the Treasury after paying' off Treasury bills to tho amount of £150,000 and handing £sOO,OOO from revenue to the Public Works Department. Since 1891 this Department has altogether received £6,430,000, which Sir Joseph apparently asks us to believe tho ordinary revenue provided. But last year public worka altogether absorbed £1,855,590, and presumably over £1,000,000 of this was borrowed, and the probability is that when tho Budget figures appear New Zealand will be found to have again added upwards of £2,000,000 to the aggregate of its debt. While that borrowing system lasts it is impossible to believe in either the present or the futur« prosperity of tile country.