LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 229, 20 June 1908, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The new Corporation destructor at Clyde Quay will bo taken over by tho City Council on July 1 next. About 24,000 settlers and workers havebeen granted assistance under tho Advances to Settlers and Workers Acts since the commencement of the schorao in 1895. Tho lecture proposed to be given by J)r. Mason in tho Concert Chambor of. the Town Hall on Monday next, June 22, on "Some Facts about Milk," has been postponed till Monday j Juno 29. Entries for the annual examinations in all practical subjects held by the Associated Board of the Royal Academy and Royal College of Music, London, close on Thursday, July 2, at the Board's office, 124 Lambton Quay. Tho examinations will be conducted by Mr, T. F. Dunhill, who carriod out the work in 1905-6. ' . A painter stated in the Magistrate's Court yesterday that ho was unablo to get work in tho City owing to slackness in the trade, and ho knew of one firm alone that dismissed 20 men a short timo ago.. Ho had tried oyery shop in tho town, but without success.' Ee could get a job for a timo and would then bo put off on account of tho slackness. Dr. Frongloy, District Health Officer, states that there wero only two objections to his decisions made at tho conclusion of a v visit of inspection to the forty-two dairies and milk-shops' in Wellington. In one of these, cases tho Health Officer took objection to tho shop where milk was purveyed, and as tho. outcome of . his action the tenant has submitted another shop for approval. At a woll-attended meeting of the St. John Ambulance District Nursing Guild, D.r. Elizabeth Gunn gave an instructive and interesting lecture on scarlet fever. Tho doctor traced the course of' tho fover through ita various stages,. and dealt with tho means of preventing infection, the duties of a nurse in tho sick-room, disinfectants, etc. On the motion of the president, a hearty voto of thanks was accorded the lecturer. The estimated expenditure of the Hutt County Council for the current year is £11,422, and the total rateable value on April 1, 190S, was £1,539,945. The Council, at a special meeting held yesterday, adopted the estimates, nnd resolved to striko the following rates: —Epuni, Horokiwi, Wainui, and Whareroa Ridings, Id. in the £; Mungaroa Riding, 1 5-16 d. in' tho £. The resolution is subject to confirmation at a future meoting. ' • ■ > The Minister for Justice (the Hon. J. M'Gowan), when asked yesterday regarding tho expression, of regret, recorded by tho Now Zealand Alliance, that he (tho Minister) had failed to adequately respond .to a request of the British Government for. information respecting tho operation of local option in New Zealand, declined to make any statement. A high official in the Justice. Department was approached, and tho answer waß a donial of the allegation. It was also pointed out that tho channel for such a request for information from the Homo Governmentwould be through tho Governor, arid tho Prime Minister, and would not be through the Minister for Justice. It is not always wise for a politician to bo too hasty in coming to a conclusion when addressing a political meeting as Sir Joseph Ward found out on Saturday nigbt (says a Gisborne exchange). One of his most glowing panegyrics on tho country and its people was greeted by an interjection of a supporter who ejaculated " Quite right." However, tho Premier thought the man said, " What rot!" and back ho flung tho nasty epithet at tho interjector. " What rot? "he queried in indignant tones, but before he had timo to demolish his imaginary foe that worthy repeated his former words, " Quite right." " Ah, yes," returned Sir Joseph in mollified tones, " you aro quite right," but tho audienco roared as they saw the laugh' was against the Premier.

Mrs. Ethel It. ere Costa, LL.B. (nee Xllss Ethel R. Benjamin, of, Dunedin), after practising for Bomo years in that city, has communccd practico as a barrister and solicitor in No. 6 Nathan's Buildings, corner Grey and Fcatherston Streets. Wellington. Mrs. D 6 Cosra has tho distinction of being tho only lady practising at tho Bar in tho Dominion, Intending clients can depend -on prompt and curufuT auoation at Mrs, Be Casta s hands.

Tho annual examinations for certificates under tho South Kensington Science and Art Department aro now being held at the Technical School. Tho Primo Ministor, and probably other mombors of the Ministry, will attend the dedication of the Scddon memorial pulpit at St. Paul's pro-Cathedral on Monday night. The Volunteers of the Palmcrston North District will hold a church parade to-mor-row, when Captain Pringle, on the Mounted Battalion stall, will bo presented with tho Now Zealand Long and Efficient Servico Medal. "Might I ask," said ono of tlio speakers at tho Teachers' Institute meeting last evening, "whether any teacher has retired on a pension of .£l5O a year under the Superannuation Board?" "No," replied tho President (Mr. Foster), who is a member of tho Board. "My reason for risking," said tho first speaker, "was that I heard tho other day of a policeman who retired on £IG4 a year, and another on £175." "Tho largest retiring allowanco granted so far to a teacher," said the President, "was ono of £98 a year," , Tho team, to represent Wellington at the .Now Zealand Boxing Championships at Christchurch in August will be selected on Monda,y evening. It is understood that tho intention is to send a competitor for each class. Although Selway • won the bantam weight championship, there; is a consensus of opinion that oither Kerr or Shields would prove a - moro doughty aspirant. Of tho feather-weights, Porter's claim, to be sent cannot bo challenged. Watchhorn was, undoubtedly, the best of the light-weights, and. if arrangements can. bo made to send him to participate, general satisfaction will be felt. Devitt, Leckie, and Hales carried their claims to represont tho provinco in tho welter weight, middle-weight, and heavy-weight classes respectively. It is reported, that the status of one of the winners at tho recent championships is in question. Tho annual Diploma Day celebrations in connection with the Victoria University College aro to bo held in Wellington on Thursday and Saturday of next week, and a programme of attractions, for the new graduates, tho students, *.and the general public has been arranged. A luncheon to graduates will bo given by the Victoria College Graduates' Association on Thursday, and on the same afternoon the formal ceremony of conferring tho degrees will take place in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall. In the evening, at the same place, the students' camival will commence at 8 o'clock, and will consist of' a programme'of new students' songs, hakas, aiSi solo items, .together with an original musical extravaganza illustrative of the perfectly smooth working of the Industrial Arbitration and Conciliation Acts. A number of well-known public men will bo present, both on tho platform and in tho body of tho ball. Afterwards there will bo a supper and dance for students only. The carnival'performance will be repeated in full on tho Saturday evening.