LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 230, 22 June 1908, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

" All arrangoments for the reception of .the American Fleet are now complete," said Sir Joseph Ward last evening. Questioned last evening as to the probable length of tho session Sir Joseph Ward answered in tho words of a provious reply, viz. " About three months." It is understood that tho Friendly Societies of the Dominion are appointing Parliamentary agents who will meot in Wellington about the commencement of the session, and tako steps to safeguard the interests of tho socioties in view of intended legislation. The Rev. J. Dawson, of the Webb Street Primitive Methodist Church, announced from the platform of the Town Hall Jast evening that the election of the Mount Cook School Committee would be held next Friday. "1 urgo every Protestant in that district to be thore to do their duty," Mr. Dawson said. Beforo commencing their match on the Athletic. Park on Saturday afternoon tho Melrose ancj Oriental teams paraded in front of the grandstand and gave thrco cheers for Mr. S. S. Brown, chairman of the Wellington Rugby Union, through whoso efforts tho Park has again been secured for Rubgy players.

A large and most enthusiastic meeting of non-commissioned officers of the Wellington Garrison was held at the Drill Hall, Buckle Street, on Saturday evening, Staff SergeantMajor Colclough, of the District Staff, presided, and about forty N.C.O.'s were present, nearly every corps in tho Garrison being represented. It was unanimously dccided to forip a Non-Commissioned Ollicers' Club, and a sub-committee, consisting of Staff SergoantMajor Colclough, Sergeant-Major Avery (D Battery), P.O. Williamson (Wellington Navals), Colour-Sergeant M'Donald (Highland Rifles), ' and Sergeant Hulbert (Post and Telegraph Hides), was appointed to arrango dotails and draw up rules. Staff Sergeant-Major Colclough was appointed secretary pro. tem. A meeting will bo held noxt Saturday week, when the report of tho sub-committee will bo considered, ollicers elected, and the club duly constituted.

Mrs. ElTiol It. ffo Costa, LL.B. (neo Miss Ethel It. Benjamin, of Dunedin), after practising for 6omo i years in that city, lias commenced practice as a barrister and solicitor in No. (i Nathan's Buildings, cornor Grey nnd Feathcrston Streets, Wellington. Mrs. Do Costa has tho distinction of boing tho only lady practising at the Bar in tho Dominion. JutoniUng ollotitn can dspond on prompt and c&rq/ul attention at Urn, Do Coata't liiwda. '

The following eases of infectious disease wero reported to the Health Department for the week ended on Saturday:—City: scarlet fever, 13; diphtheria, 3; tuberculosis 3. Two cases of diphtheria wero reported from the Hutfc County.

At Thursday's meeting of ( tho Harbour Bbard the Hon. T. K. Macdonald, 'M.L.C., will movo: —"That the acting engineer be instructed to proparo' a scheme by which the P. Store can be converted into effective offices for tlio use of the Board's clerical staff, and officers and the members of the Board." :

There was a more than usual amount of rough play and feeling shown in tlio Mcl-roso-Oriental match played at the Athletic Park on Saturday. A section of the spectators appoaled lustily to the referee to " put him off" oil several occasions when they saw incidents which did not meet with their approval, and thoro wero many of these. Punches wore openly exchanged between opposing forwards, one brief encounter taking place in tlio open right in front of the stand. Before the game was through a forward from oach side was ordered off the field.

The attendance at the senior Rugby games on Mirnmar Park on Saturday afternoon almost readied vanishing point. Although three matches had been set down for decision there, only 35 enthusiasts (including a number of youngsters) put in an appearance. The " star" match, > Melrose r. Oriental, which was played on Athletic Park, attracted about 3000 spectators. As patrons have shown such a marked disinclination to attend obntests at Miramar—especially when the (Weathor is at all unfavourable — the authorities, it is considered, would do well to play the two best city matches on Athletic Park every Saturday in future.

In Willis Street yesterday afternoon an accident happened to a Laurin-Klement nine horso-power motor-ear owned and driven by Mr. Schaefer, tlio woll-known photographer for illustrated papers. He was coming down Willis Street, and when opposite the Hotel Windsor the car skidded on the greacy woodblocks and ran into the.kerb with considerable violence. The forco of tho collision smashed ovory spoke of one of the forewheels , and twisted tho steel. frame-work beneath tho engine (which fortunately was uninjured). This is not the first occasion when motor-cars have' skidded on gfftasy woodblocks in the same locality.

A business firm in Sydney the other day imported 60 "nigger" wigs, which cost £2 os. 6d., or about BJd. each. The firm suggested to the Customs department that they shouldj bo passed as fancy goods, under which the total duty would bo about 10s. The local Customs officials communicated with Melbourne, and a'reply was received that nigger wigs must bo charged 10s. each., or 20 per cent., whichever is the highest. According to this total the duty would be £30, arid the importer was informed that before entries could be passed the duty must bo paid. Thirty pounds works out at about 1500 per cent., and the importer is considering the best moans of getting rid of his importation without running 'the gauntlet of the Customs.

In a recent lecturo at tho United Service Institute, Sydney, on the lessons to be derived from the Manchuriau campaign, Colonel Foster said that students could study the diaries of the Russian officers, the dispatches of all the Continental attaches, were available; German, French, English, and American observers had all drawn conclusions; General Hamilton and other writers had published books on the subject, but the most important and valuable source of information was entirely closed to students. No history of the war or its lessons had issued from Japan. Tho Japanese had decided to give out nothing that could possibly be of value to other Powers. Whether orders had been given that the results and conclusions drawn froni the late contest should bo kept secret or not was not known. Certain it was that though Japanese Generals would read all that the world's leaders of military thought could say on the subject thoy would give nothing in return.

"Tho Princo Chap" Comedy Company, hoadod by / Mr. Harry Roberts, which has concluded a wonderfully successful tour of tho South Island, arrived from Lyttelton yesterday, and will leave for Marton by this morning's express, ! whore the North Island tour is to be inaugurated. Speaking to a Dominion representative Mr. Harry Roberts said he was amazed to see ; what great strides New Zealand 1 had made during his ten years' absence. . He admits to having had a very fair acquaintance, born of many hard-working tours, with the country, but all tho towns ho had visited seomod to have grown out of recognition during a great wavo of prosperity that seemed to have been experienced. The growth of . Wellington in tho past ton years seemed as if the touch of a fairy's wand had changed it from a mildly prosperous town into a bustling city, whoso streets wore becoming .flanked with buildings of a class that would not discredit- any city in the world. The smaller towns, he said, used to be deadly dull and stodgy—now they wore all alive and kicking, an it all made him fool that it was good to be a Now Zealander.

Comment has been made, ill and out of hockey circles, at the fact that on Saturday tho girls-had pluck enough to "play tho game," but the men cried off. Certainly tho weather was bad, and there was some excuse, but the outstanding fact is that the girls dared the elements —slipped and fell on tricky grounds—while the allegedly sternor sex stayed quietly at home. There is, however, something "to be said from tho malo point of view. The men wanted to pipy, but circumstances were, against them. There wero four Senior matches, all to bo played at Day's Bay, and tho grounds woro soddon with rain. The caretaker had seen "the impossibility of playing on them, and had not marked them. A match cannot well be played on an unmarked ground, and one of the matches which wero to havo been decided was tho United-Karori fixture. This ivill be tho most interesting contest of tho season, and it would have been manifestly unfair to players, referee, and spectators to play it under the circumstances. Most of tho girls' games were played on the Miramar grounds, which are hotter in wot weather than those at tho Bay, and tho'postponement of the men's matches was quite unavoidable.

A speciality or TTatr and Scalp Treatment Is nmdo by Mrs. Rollestori. Ladies troubled with falling hair, dandruff, or any scalp complaint should call for advico (gratis) at her rooms, first floor, 3 Willis Street, over Carroll's, or telephono appointment 1599. Personal attention only. Cortiiicated. 0739

It is. always a sign of weakness when goods are offered for sale with prizes aud gifts attached. It implies that the goods cannot bo sold otherwise, and in effect iWus that they lack merit. Furthermore, theso gifts and prizes must bo paid for by the customer in tho quality of tho article. Crescent lilend Tea, 2s. per lb., is sold on its merits. Thero are. no coupons, gifts, limericks, or . cash prizes. • You get pure honest toa for your motitiy, nod that if all you wast CBS3

A special meeting of the-,City Council will be held to-morrow evening to transact tha following business:—(!) Consideration of following Bills:/ Wellington (City). Town Belt Preserves Leasing Bill, 1908; Wellington City Empowering Bill, 1908. (2) Consideration of proposed remits .to Municipal Conference. (3) Notices of motion by Councillor Biss. (4) Any other urgent business.

The plans referred to in the report of Messrs. Coodo, Son, and Matthews regarding the extension of Lyttclton Harbour and the Sumnci-Hcathcoto' Canal, have been received ■by the secretary of the Lyttclton Harbour Board (Mr. C. Hood Williams). They are at present being lithographed. The plana each measure * about 35ft. by 2ft., and go into all the details referred to in the engineer's report.

Up North (says the latest "Bulletin") thoy are telling weird and disquieting tales of how Japanese survey boats are making charts of the Barrier Reef. Of course, it is not being done openly, and the boats engaged on the work arc ostensibly beche-dc-mer fishers. One Queenslander relates how he surprised a boat.taking soundings, while an ofiicer on deck was engaged in doing something with a large sheet of paper fastened to a drawing-board. Immediately tlio Queensland boat hove alongside the sounding was suspended, and the drawingboard carefully covered up, while the Japs, suave as ever, gave the Queenslander the water ho was short of. This boat was working south. A couple of days later ho fell in with anothor boat of tlio same sort, working north, from which he concludes that the Japanese Admiralty's survey of the Barrier Reef is just about complete.

A proposal in regard to a site for the new Masterton Courthouse led a deputation from the Masterton Town Lands Trust to interview the Minister for Justice on Saturday morning. The deputation, which was introduced by Mr. A. W. Hogg, M.P., consisted of Messrs. J. Mitchell (Chairman of the Trust), W. H. Jackson and 0. Pragnell (members). The deputation's proposal was the exchange of -certain lands which, would enable the Government to secure a. batter site for the new Courthouse and Police Station. Some time ago, it. was recalled, Mr. M'Gowan had agreed to exchange the present site of the Courthouse for a piece of land offered by the Trust and a'monetary payment of £1000. The Trust, however, desired to effect the negotiation without the' payment, and had decided to offer an additional section to the Government 'if. the existing courthouse sito were transferred. After hearing the deputation Mr. M'Gowan said lie was inclined to look favourably upon the offer, but he could not decide hastily. He would go carefully into the matter and forward a definite reply in a day of two. '