LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 231, 23 June 1908, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tho rates for tlie year will be struck at a meeting of tho Mifamar Borough Council, to bo held on Thursday evening.

Yesterday a start was made in some directions iii. transferring books and papers to the Parliamentary Buildings from*the Government Buildings. Ministerial secretaries will bo busy this week tailing up their uew quarters.

Tho initial lecture in connection with a ladies' first-aid class will bo delivered by Dr. Hogg in the To Aro School this evening. So far, there has not been sufficient inducement to warrant tho establishment of a men's class.

Householders who havo coppers built in in the open would do well to protect their property. It was stated in thd Magistrate's Court yesterday that a number of coppers so situated havo been broken up. by sneak thieves of late, and sold to dealers as old copper.

At an early hour this morning tho Fire Brigade received a call to a nine-roomed Buller Street occupied by Mr. John Ilott. Tho. fire is believed to have been caused by a defective fireplace, and somo damage was done to the mantelpiece and lining boards. The building was insured for. £825, and the contents for £330, in the South British.

Several important matters will be discussed at a meeting of the 'Wellington branch of the New Zealand Civil Service Association to bo held on Wednesday. Among other questions fbr consideration are tho following: — Proposed amendments to the Superannuation Act; matters in connection with tho election <S the elective members of. the Superannuation Board.

•Saturday's Poverty Bay "Herald" states: "Tho fines imposed by'tho Arbitration Court in connection with _ the recent slaughtermen's strike at Gisborne have almost all been collected. It will be remembered that the Labour Department recently proceeded against thoso responsible for unpaid fines, as tho result of which proceedings attachment orders were to-day issued against tho men's wages, and tho fines were thereby-collected."

, A meeting of members of the Fifth New Zealaud Contingent was held at Tester's, tobacconist, Courtenay Place, last even-

ing, to consider arrangements for holding a re-union of tho "Fifth." Nothing definite was done, howover, as the meeting sym-

pathetically adjourned upon receipt of a message from Colonel Newall, C.8., who commanded the regiment in South Africa, to the effect" that Mrs. Newall . died at 7 o'clock in the evening.

Tho Newtown Brass Band gave its second subsidised municipal concert at the Town Hall last evening, when there was a fair attendance of the public. The band was un-' der tho cbnductorship of Mr. J. Parker. Tho tone' of the band was excellent, and thoso present enjoyed a pleasant evening's entertainment. The following programme was submitted March, "Vive La Classo" (Milok); "Midsummer Waltz" (Marigold);

" Echoes of Songland" (Eaps); duet, cornct and euphonium, "Little Blue Flower" (Trotere) j waltz; "La Nouveauto" (Harris); march, " Berlina Luft" (Lincke); waltz,

" Paradise" (Marigold); quickstep, "Petite Tonkinoiso"'' (Christine).

Four Axis deer aud four Bhar.il sheep, consigned to the Tourist Department for acclimatisation purposes, will arrive in New Zealand by the Rimutaka, which is due on July 29. Tho Axis deer, which is related to the sambur, and belongs to the jungles of Southern India and Ceylon, has been

liberated in this country before. Thoßharal sheep, sometimes called the blue sheep of Tibet, is found on most of the plateaux of Western Asia, but never comes bolow 10,000 feet above the sea level. It is a strong, prolific animal, roving in herds of up-to 50 in number, and an agile climber. Owing to its colour, it is difficult to detect on rocky country, but can be approached with ordinary sportsman's caution. Tho male has curving horns from 24 inches to 26 inches

Mr. H. J. H. Blow, Under-Secretary foi Public Works, who has just been over the Main Trunk line, states that if uninter-

rupted fine weather is experienced, the construction of the railway should be sufficiently Advanced to enablo a Parliamentary party to be taken over it all tho way by train at

iho time of the American fleqt's visit, in August. A break of a few hundred yards in the line, Mr. Blow states, would make this project almost, as impracticable as a break of several miles. It would mean

that all the travellers' luggago would havo to be carried from one train to ahother over unformed, country, possibly through mud and slush, and in tile midst of heavy rain. If

tho line can be sufficiently completed to allow a luggage van to cross the last remaining interval that will be sufficient for

tho Parliamentary venture. If three or four ft'ocks' bad wenther is experienced it will bo impossible to havo tho line so near completion.

On the advice of the Native Land Commission an Order-in-Council )has been made

prohibiting for.ono year all private alienation of specified Native lands in tho Auckland province, of a total' area of 170,000

icres. Tho majority of theso lands consists of blocks to which thfi titles havo just been ascertained by the Native Land Court, and on which the Native Land Commission has not yet reported, though reports aro expected very soon. It is stated that the eyes of land speculators havo already been turned to theso areas, and to prevent all interference with Native interests beforo.the recommendations' of tho Native Land Commission can bo known nnd acted upon, the Government has forbidden any private alienation for ono year. This has been dono before in tho caso of one or two special blocks, but not on anything like so largo a scale. Tho blocks aro in tho following survey districts:

—Manngataniwha, Matigamuka, Punakitere, Whangapo, Omapere, Waoku, Waipoua, Motatau, Kawakawa, Hukerenui, Russell' Tutamoe and Mangakahia, and Bay of Islands. , .

Ef'iel. R., so Costa, LL.B. (nee Ethel It. Benjamin, of Dmiodin), aftor practising lor eotno years in that city, has com. A^| IC °. n n n i!' nrristl ' r Bnd in No. fi Ivnthan s Buildings. corner Grey and Peatherßton Streets, Wellington. Mrs. Do Costa has the distinction of being tho only lady practising at the Bar in the Dominion. l u . totulltw olientß can depend en prompt and curofui uttantioa at Mou I)a Coista£

Owing to M. R. Taylor, brewer, having to undergo a surgical operation, the first meeting of creditors in his bankrupt estate, which was to have been held to-day, will be adjouraed siiie die.

Applications to enforce the provisions of tho Conciliation and Arbitration Act, 1905, against twenty-nine employees at the freezing works, Caste Cliff (who, it is alleged, went out on strike fecently), have been filed with the Clefk of Awards.

Our, correspondent telegraphs that Detoctivo Williams pi'osectttcd a young man at likotahuna yesterday oil a charge of theft of a registered letter containing £10,' from th« Atea Post Office. • Defendant "pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supremo Court for sentence. \

Tho preliminary work in connection with tho initial section of the additions to the Supremo Court is now well in hand. - It has been found most convenient first- of all to enlarge tho library, which will ultimately extend to the building line of Ballanco Street. .

A telegram recoived by the Marine Department from Mr. T. K Y. Seddon, M.H.R,, states that last Wednesday several residents saw three icebergs from Chesterfield Beach, south of Hokitika, Tlie icebergs were re> ported to bo drifting in a northerly direction, and Mr. Allport, Secretary of the Marine Department, has notified officers of - vessels to keep a lookout.

Everybody likes to hear when their rate! aro likely to become due. The rates f<sr th< year having been struck the clerical branch, which deals with that part of . tho municipa' business, aro now making the adjustments, and tho City Treasurer (Mr. Collins) states that the rate demands for. the first half of tho year 1908-9 should bo ready for. issue about tho middle of next month.

At a meeting of the Now Plymouth Chamber of Commerco 'last night, Mr. T. 0. Schnackenberg, the President, - introduced the question of industries week, And it was decided; to recommend the Retailers' Association' to arrange displays of New Zealand industries during the we«k of the. British football team's visit to New Plymouth. The idea is likely to be heartily taken up.

A prominent official in tho amateur Rugby football world in Southland has forwarded a cheque for £1 Is. to Mr. W. Coffey, with instructions that he shall pay it into the Baskiville Benefit Fund. The donor ex. presses his sympathy with the relatives oi the late secretary of tho professional team, and his admiration of the manner in which the deceased footballer organised the recent tour. ' ■

It was decided last night by the New Plymouth Chamber of Commerce to support' any, proposals in opposition to the movement in somo quarters to make the certificate the Government grader of produce binding on the consignee.. The President submitted a sample of half-rotten and very small unmarketable potatoes taken from tho middle of a sack imported from the South/ and so hidden as to defy detection by ordinary grading methods.

What has become of tho Wellington Crematorium? ' The tenders for tho incinerating plant closed somo weeks ago, and an inquiry was made from tho Town Clerk yesterday as to whether anything was being-done in the matter. Mr. Palmor said that tenders had been received, but; nothing had beeii done with them, as in tho meantime news of a greatly improved style of crematorium had come to hand, particulars of' which had been cabled for. If tho new plant;was all.that was claimed for it, it would be worth the ~ extra delay. ■ .

The Conciliation Board met in Wellington yesterday, Mr. P. J. O'Regan in the chair. As the parties to tho Napier painters' dispute had complained that some of the provisions of the Board's recommendation were not identical with those in tho agreement signed by them, it' was decided to file tho original document, which, .tho chairman said, had been so ill-drafted that he for ono would disclaim all responsibility in connection therewith. The proposed recommendation in the dispute between the Tailors' Union of Workers and the employers was then further considered. It is probable that that recommendation • will also be filed today. ' :

A lecture on " Shakespeare and Modern Life" is to be delivered to-morrow evening in tho Municipal Concert Chamber by Mr. J. W. Joynt, M.A. Sir. Joynt will deal with the vitality of Shakespeare's work generally, and its significance for . all periods, and ha will undertako a survey of the order of •Shakespeare's development .by grouping his plays, pointing~but the more abiding characteristics of each, and especially the moral problems suggested by the tragedies. A long list will be given of familiar Shakespearean phrases, ' which have become engrafted in our modern, every-day speech. Tho lecture will then treat of Shakespeare's conception of wonlen, quoting in illustration most of the leading female characters. The poet's feeling for nature and rural life will bo dwelt on, and an attempt will bo made to place him in his true light towards the polities, religion, and literary spirit of tho present day. ,

Tho liquor question is still a troublesomo ono in the King Country. The thriving; and growing town of Taumarunui is legally a Maori kainga,, and, thorefore, no alcoholio drinks may be brought within its boundaries." During Sir Joseph Ward's lato visit to the Roll© Potad, a deputation of Taumarunui r» sidents askod him whether an accommodation licenso could be granted. Thoy stated that tourists often complained of the want of such facilities, and they also pointed out that just across the railway line, which forma tho boundary of the township, tho "kainga" restrictions did not apply. They statod that To Kuiti also was formerly a kainga, but was not so now, and they suggested that a similar change might be made at Taumarunui. The Primo Minister, in his reply, said that the restrictions had been imposed for the protection of tho Natives, and it would bo a very difficult matter to get thom lifted. Tho matter would receive consideration. ATe Kuiti deputation asked whether legislation could not be passed to give them tho right, enjoyed by other Europeans throughout the Dominion, to vote on tho issue of licenses in thoir own district. To both deputations Sir Joseph stated that there was no prospcct of any licensing legislation being passed this year. •

A speciality JT Half and Scalp Treatment la made by Mrs. Jtollejton. 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 telephone appointment 15i19. Personal attention only. Certificated. C 739'

It is always a sign of weakness when, goods arc oliored for sale with prizes and gifts attached. It implies that the goods cannot bo sold otherwise, and 'in effect means that they lack merit. Furthermore, these gifts and prizes jmist bo paid for by the customer 111 the quality of tho article. Crescent, Blend Tea, 2s. per lb., is sold on its merits. Theta are no cpupuiw, gifts, limericks, or cash prises.... i ou get- puro honest toa (or your wonoy, and that is all you want, C6sg

. The following prisoners are awaiting sen-, tence by the Supreme Courtat Wellington: ifrriest Wehrstedt, six charges of'theft,, faiso pretences, and forgery at Ormondvillo; Joseph Zimmerman, doing actual bodily harm at Willineton. A Bittitig of the Compensation Court will be hold at Wellington early next month. Tho following fixtufes havo been made:— July I,' Smith and Smith v. tho City Corporation } July -i Bayliss' v. tho City Cor-, poration; and, subsequently, four claims in cormtctioi/with recreation grounds.