LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 240, 3 July 1908, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities advise that tho Moann, which loft Sydney on Wednesday for Auckland, has on board an English and Australian mail, which is duo in Wellington by tho" express train on Monday evening.

Dctcctivo Cassells arrested a youth yesterday on a charge of being concerned in tho recent theft of copper wire from tho yard of tho electric light power house.

In connection with the motor car accident on the Hutt Road on April 5, in which a young man named Murdoch Gillies (formerly of Tapanui) lost his life, a writ has been issued by the Public Trustee, as plaintiff, claiming £500 damages on behalf of the parents. M. A. L. Herdman io solicitor: for the claimant. The case will be heard at tho next sittings of the Supreme Court.

1 It was decided at last night's meeting of the City Council " that tho question of encroachments on publio streets enclosed by fencos be referred to tho City Engineer, with authority to deal with same, having regard to tho principle that 110 fence is placed 011 the street other than 0110 of a temporary kind, and that the true alignment is also indicated by a fence."

The Waterside Workers' Fodoration has resolved to institute an agitation against tho dangerous practice in voguo at some of tho ports of overloading cargo slings on tho wharves. Ono of tho speakers at tho Cc-nferonco yesterday said that ho had known a sling to havo been so heavily loaded that when hoisted over tho hold tho strain had proved too much for tho winch, and tho load had £;ono down into tho hold with a run. In tho opinion of the delegates present, the limit should bo fixed at two tons.

In tho opinion of tho Waterside Workers" Conference, tho shipping companies ought to provide the wharf men with shovels during coaling operations, loading or discharging. Somo time aeo tho Union Company agreed to a request from tho Greymouth Union for shovels, and a supply was sent ■down, but after being used for *a day. or so tho Company took them away, saying that it was against tho usual custom for employers to find tools forworkmcn. "Wo wouldn't liavo minded so much' if wo hadn't seen tho shovels," said 0110 of tho speakers at tho conferenco yesterday, "but it was hard lines to bo allowed to handle them just long enough to bob that. they wevo pood ones, and then bavo them taken from us."

Tho City Council decided last night to Invito applications for tho position of curator for tho Zoological Gardens.

The Wa'.rarapa drovers and shepherds' dispute has been referred direct to tho Arbitration Court'. In consequence, the Conciliation iioard will not meet to-day with reference to tho matter.

A meeting was held at St. James's churchroom on Wednesday evening to consider a schemo for Sunday school extension. Plana were produced and adopted, and it was decided to collcct a certain sum before commencing tho extension works.

Preliminary arrangements are being n.de by the Wellington Trades and Labour Council with resard to the celebration labour Day, 1903. All unions aro to bo circularised regarding the appointment of delegates to the Organisation Committee, and a permanent official is to be appointed, who shall take charge of all arrangements for six weeks prior to tho event.

The Building Committee of tho Wellington Trades and Labour Council has decided to recommend, as a, suitable site for the erection of tho new Trades Hall, a vacant section in Marion Street, off Vivian Street. It is estimated that on a capital of from £6000 to £7000 it will be possiblo to proceed with tho construction of a building fully representative of the strength and aims ol Labour.

One of the subjects to bo discussed in connection with the Maori Congress this month is that of the responsibility of health officers, and sanitary inspectors for tho supervision of sanitation in Maori settlements. Nine sanitary inspectors under the control of the Health Department will bo present, also Drs. Pomare and Buck. Tho meeting will be chiefly instructional in character. Opportunity will bo taken to instruct tho Maori inspectors. Dr. Mason, Chief Health Officer, proposes that a District Health Officer shall give a lecture 011 drainage.-

Many of tho Native clergymen and superintendents who tfill attend- the Maori Congress in Wellington hope to speak in city churches on Sunday, July 19. At tho meeting of tho Wellington Presbytery yesterday, a lettor was road from Mr. A. Ngata, M.P., secretary of tho Congress, asking that arrangements should ho made to place pulpits at'their disposal. Mr. J. G. W. Aitken, M.P., said ho thought that this was an admirable idea. The Congress would to a very important gathering, which should result in much benefit to tho Natives in the future. Mr. Ngata was ono of the best Maoris, whom ho had ever met, and Sir Robert Stout was also taking a ;»rcat interest in this matter, aind would preside over tho Congress. He thought that the churches should seize tho opportunity whioh the presence of these ministers would givo. It was decided to make an allocation of pulpits.

'i'ho judgment debtor who has tho, misfortune to be haled before tho Magistrate's Court is. submitted to a searching crossexamination by counsel for tho judgment croditor, who insists upon knowing what debtor's means are, how much lib gets a week, how many children ho has and what they oarn, what house rent ho payß, and so on. Counsel was in hot pursuit of an order against a debtor yesterday morning, and was hurling the time-honoured queries at the debtor one after another. "Have you any family?"- interrogated counsel. " Yes—two," was tho roply; "one one year and eicht months - old, and tho other six -months old." Another of tlie stereotyped questions common to judgment debt cases escaped counsel, who remarked to . debtor with all seriousness, " .Neither of the children oarning anything P" Tho ripple of laughter that wont round the Court at the thought of children of tho ages mentioned oarning money warned counsel that , his query was not .apropos, and ha joined in the laugh.

According to Mr. C. J. Fulton, chief hemp export under tho New, Zealand Government, who returned from St. Helena,, via Australia, by the Maheno on Wednesday, tho introduction of the .hemp industry in „the island, tho prospects for which it was his mission to investigate, would ho of some benefit to tho people, although it would not solve the industrial problem. The flaxmill at within a few hundred. yards of the historic house wherein the gloat Napoleon lived and died, was managed by Mr. Fulton for a month, and a "few tons of fibre and tow, which, realised oxcellent prices in London, were turned out. Tho fibre brought top prices, while the tow sold at an advanco of £3 per ton 011 that obtained by tho New Zealand product, and that without Guarantee or certificate as to quality. Thero was, at the time he left, a regular exodus of tho young mon of the island, nearly. ono hundred having left for West • Africa, under a four years' engagement. at the gold mines. Mr. Fulton speaks very highly of the advantages of St. Helena as a health resort. He spent about four months on the island, and found the "Yamstalks," as the inhabitants are locally termed, most hospitable.

A strong deputation of residents from Kelburne Extension, Knight's farm; and Taitville (which became incorporated in the City last year) waited on the City Council' last night with a view of urging the Council to accelerate the installation of a proper drainage system and a water supply for that district. Mr. H. -Burnett, who acted as spokesman, said tho residents feared that, if the works were not undertaken in the immediate future, typhoid or other diseaso might break out. Thero were about 150 houses in the district, which was. growing at a rapid rate. Tho necessity for water was most apparont last year. At the present time, there were several cases of diphtheria,, which tho doctors attributed entirely to the imperfect nature of tho present system of drainage. The residents were quito prepared to pay for the sorvices. Tho petition which ho had the honour to present contained 136 signatures, but others could have been obtained if time had permitted. He had been led to understand that the cost of reticulation would bo about £2000. Councillor Cohon asked if tho roservoir at Kelburno was Lfrgo enough to supply Northlands. The City Engineer said that, it was not designed for tho purposo. It would bo largo enough for some time, until it ,vas enlarged, or a supplementary supply was obtained. Tho more economical plan would bo to put in another basin on tho opposito ridge. Tho Mayor informed tho deputation that their requests would .bo given every consideration.

A speciality or Hair and Scalp Treatment is made by Mrs. Rolleston. Ladies troubled with falling hair, dandruff, or auy scalp complaint gUoulcl call for advico (gratis) at her rooms, first floor, 8 Willis Street, over Carroll's, or telephone appointment 1593. Personal attention only. Certificated. C 733

Crescent Brar.d Tea brews a strong rich *awny liquor, with a fino smooth toxturc, and laves the palate most agreeably. It has a distinct and delicious flavour, and is the most favoured for tho morning cup of tea. The quality and flavour of Crescent Brand Tea never vary. Tlio samo to-day as it was yestorday, and tho price is 2s, por lb, Obtainable from all grocers, CBSS

. The animal • Colonial Conference of the Now Zealand Farmers' Union will be lieltl in Wellington on July 23, 29, and 30.

The state of tho roads in and about Tory and Taranaki Streets was described as disgraceful by Cr. Shirtcliife at the meeting of the City Council last evening, The Mayor said tho matter would bo looked into.

Tlie American Consul in Wellington has rcceivod a message from the Consul in Auckland to say that all American Consulate ilags will fly half-mast for thirty days out of respect to tho memory of Mr. Grover Cloveland, at one time President of tho United States. The necessity for devising a system whereby the public would know in what order the cars wero being despatched for tho terminus near tho Government railway station was referred to by Or. Fisher at last night's meeting of tho City Council. Sometimes, he said, half a dozen cars, all lighted, stood there at the one time. A peVson might get into a car and ultimately find to his sorrow that other cars wore leaving before the one in which lie had taken his seat. Recently ho and another Councillor, who wero on their way to a meeting of tho Council, found themselves •" in the .same box." (Laughter.)