LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 242, 6 July 1908, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Saturday dawned m Wellington on a crystalline city. It was the first hard frost of .a particularly,' mild winter. At J a.m. the thermometer registered' 88 dee Fahrenheit in the shade. . ■ For tho week ending July 4, the Health Department reports tno following cases of infectious disease: In tho city—Scarlet fever 8, enteric foyer 1, diphtheria 1, tuberculosis 3. In tho Hutt County—Nil.

At the Primitive Methodist Church, Newtown, yesterday, a " gift" Sunday was observed, when special gifts of money towards tho working fund of tne church wero received to tho amount of £6 ss. 3d., in addition to the usual collections.

Saturday was tho Fourth of JulyAmerica's Independence Day. In honour of tho occasion, and as a compliment to the American members of "The Prince Chap" company, tho orchestra played tho American National Anthem. An Ainorican ship in port was also gaily dcckcd with the Stars and Stripes.

In connection with the recent murder trial at Nolson, the two prisoners, Olaf Halinon and Anders Anderson, who were each sentenced to sevou years' imprisonment, woro brought, to Wellington by tho Pateena yesterday. Georgo Bland, who was sentenced to' nino months' imprisonment at the samo sittings of the Supremo Court, for theft at Motueka, also arrived by the steamer.

Tho Kiugston Memorial Fund, South Australia, stands at about £150. So far tho principal subscribers liavo been tho Commonwealth Prime Minister (Mr. Deakin), tho 'Chiof Justice of South Australia (Sir S. Way); Sir Lnngdon Bonython, Mr. 11. Rarr Smith, and tho South Australian Locomotjvo Jinginemen, Firemen, and Cleaners' Association all of whom cavo £10 each. A public meeting is to be udd to forward the movement.

The values of the oxports from Wellington for tho month of Juno were:—Wool, £44,462; frozen iamb, £37,057; flax, £25,807; frozen mutton, £18,001; skins, £15,421; tallow, £14,334; frozen beef, £0330; hides, £4746; butter, £3630; legs and pieces mutton, £2984; cheese, £2013; tow, £912; grain and pulse, £175; timber, £20. Tho Wellington Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Society's twenty-sixth annual show closed on Saturday night. Tho attendance, was only moderate during tho first two days, but on Saturday it was large, and among tho visitors thero was a good number of fanciers from other parts of the Dominion. Tho show has been successful, but full details aro not yet available. Ho had beon on joying to the full in his own peculiar fashion a day ashore from tho warship, and was labouring heavily along the Quay inoro than half-seas over. He was yawing dangerously, and, jibing at last, fouled a shop window. On clearing the window ho sheered off on a starboard tack, and just managed to weather a verandah pdle; putting about before bo reached tho tram line, he luffed up against a portly citizen, to whom he clung as ivy to a wall until a fresh course was set him. Along the new course ho wobbled his uncertain way, probably to founder in the Police Station. Mr. W. F. Mnssey,. Leader of tho Opposition, has kindly consented to give an' address in connection with tho opening ceremony of the Maori Congress, to commence on July 14. Messrs. W. H. Herries and A. L. D. Fraser, M.P.'s, will deliver short addresses in connection with Maori representation in Parliament, and the distinctions between pakeha and Maori. His Excellency the Governor has intimated that he will; bo pleased to give his patronage to tho entertainment to bo given in tho Town Hall in connection with tho Congress on July 15. The Prime Minister, Lady Ward, and His Worship tho Mayor and Mrs. Hislop havo also extendod their patronage. Our Napier correspondent telegraphs:— A striking invention, which bids fair to play an important part in fire preventive appliances, is shortly to bo placed on the market through tho ingenuity of Mr. C. H. Westnoat, a Napier resident.' The invention is one of singular skill, and should go far to solvo tho problem of spontaneous combustion. In appearance tho invention is simplicity itself, being nothing more or less than a large-sized thormometer, which indicat-es its alarm on an eloctrio bell. Tho thor- 1 mometer can be regulated from 30 degrees below zero to the different degrees of temperature, and it acts with tho sensitive touch of a compass needle. '

Two fires occurred on Saturday. At 3.19 a.m. a two-storied workshop in Upper Adelaide Road, occupied by Messrs. Humphries Brothers, builders, and contractors, was badly damaged. There is a brick oven close by for destroying shavings, and it is thought possiblo that somo adjacent timber became overheated and ignited. Tho building was insured for £250 in the New Zealand Office and for a similar amount in tho Sun. The cpntonts wore insured for £00 in tho latter office. Tho second fire, which occurred at 5.16 p.m., was caused by a lighted candle coming in contact with a curtain in a bedroom of a dwelling-house in Adelaide Road, occupied by Patrick Diver. The . damage was very slight, and tho fire was extinguished before tho Brigade arrived. Tho building wns not insured. A chimney firo in Aurora Terrace caused tho Brigade to turn out again just after 7 p.m. yesterday.

Tho Auckland city electrical engineer reported to tho City Council on Thursday evening that ho had obtained a tendor from Messrs. Turnbull .and Jones, of Wellington, for tho now generator, with all accessories, tho price, including erection, being £2259. He had obtained a prico for this set beforo leaving England, and his estimate of tho cost was within £19 of that quoted locally, and therefore ho considered tho latter price reasonable." Owing to his being obliged to nso up " spares " already purchased, it .was not' possiblo to havo competitive prices. The Works Committee had , agreed to accept the contract. Mr. G. Knight moved that.tendors should bo called. It/was explained that there was only one firm making tho particular generator required, and if was useless to call , for tenders. . The engineer was satisfied that tho prico was- fair 'and reasonable; Tho motion was lost by, nine votes to four, and tho contract was, accepted. £ays the " Manawatu Evening Standard " : —Palmerston will heed to keep' a watchful oyo on the proceedings of the committee ap-. pointed by tlie-Houso of Representatives at the instance of Mrl T. K. Sidey to consider tho simplification of nomenclature in the Dominion. Tho idea is to inquire into tho cases whero two towns have the same name and to recommend that one of them adopt a now appollation to prevent confusion in the postal department and in other directions. Palmerston, by reason of the existence of a similarly named town in tho South Island; will be greatly interested in the outcome. : This question of-names has been raised before; and, judging by Sir Joseph Ward's remarks in the House,_ that gentleman has a very vivid recollection of tho resentment with which previous attempts at' alteration have beon received. He may rest assured that local residents are as determined as ever to prevent, any encroachment on their rights, and that they will meet futuro attempts in a hka spirit. . "If tho unemployed in Christchurch put their names on tho employment books it would bo a revelation to those people who say that there aro. no unemployed in this city." This statement was mado on Friday by a union official to a "Press" reporter, who had drawu attention to the alleged scarcity of work in sovoral trades in Wellington. Ho proceeded to say that a fair number of names were ..on tho employment books; but ho doubted if they represented one-tenth ofi tho men who wertj' ac- i tually out of work.j Personally,' lie ■ knew of a number of tailors who were unemployed, whilo others were on half-time. Plasterers (oxcept first-class _ men) found difficulty in getting work, whilo there woro any number of painters, carpenters, and general labourers waiting for work. The men seemed to havo an objection to putting their names, on tho employment books of thoir union. If thoy could bo. induced to enter their names it would bo seon the position of affairs was far less rosy than was generally supposed. To decido on a name for a now theatre is by no means, an easy task. Mr. William I Anderson,'who is erecting a new play-house in Russell Street, Melbourne, has got the Australian publio to assist him in christening it (says a Sydney paper). Tho result is 'that tho title, " Tho King's " now stands in rich gold, letters on the; top of tho structure. Mr. Anderson called for suggestions, offering a prize of £5 Ss. for a name that might be adopted. In less than three weeks considerably more, than 10,000 suggestions oamo in. They camo from east, from west, from south, and north. Tho naino of overy (governor Australia has had has been proposed—" The Hopetoun," "The Dudley," "Tho Tennyson." Politicians have not beon ignored. " Tho Deakin Theatre," ' " Tho Kingston," "Tho Georgo Reid." All Australian birds and animals havo beon repeatedly suggested "The Emu," "Tho Jackass," "The Wallaby," "The Kangaroo." From Now Zealand, too, camo scores of " Kia-Oras." One Australian wrote "Tho Boomerang" because, as ho explained, anyone seeing an Andersonian production is bound to come back. Next to "The King's Theatro," Mr. Anderson considers the ' best suggestions were " Tho Theatre Australia," " Tho Commonwealth,"- and "The , Federal." "The Southern Cross Theatre" was suggested by many hundreds. Scores said, " Why not call it ' Anderson's,Theatre'?" More than a fow submitted "Tho Theatro Eugenie." after the popular actress, Miss Eugenie Dugßan From various places far away from civilisation camo several urgent wires. "Am I too late?" asked one. "I suggest 'Tho Australian.' " Another wired, " Austrolympus " meaning "the scat of the gods in thc'South'"

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Tins ■ morning, at 10 o'clock, Mr. Justice llchvards will pass sentence on tho following prisoners:—John Donghi, theft at Dannevirke; \t alter Donghi, housebreaking and theft at Ormondvillo; Joseph Kenny, alias Jlorrissoy, breaking, entering, and theft at Wellington; and Arthur Joseph Wicks, false pretoncos at Wellington.

Saturday night's audience at the Opera House showed such appreciation that, at r!l. e tlio curtain on " Tho Prince Chapj Mr. 11. R. Roberts came forward and said—"Oil behalf of Mr. Allan Hamilton and Mr. Harold Asliton, the company, and mysolf, I thank you from tho bottom ot my heart for your kind approval and appreciation." (Applause.)

Ihe Matersidors in Conference assembled discussing on Saturday tho propriety of u earing distinctive badges. Olio delegate objected strenuously. 'Til wear it if you have • painted on it/' lie said. "Not otUomse, T unless you'ro going to fine mo, and then 111 have to wear it, but it will bo worn low down/ 1 and ho indicated tin unostentatious spot somewhero in tho region of his ankle.

A movement has taken' definite form for v!° publishment of a branch of tho Young Juen s Christian Association in Napier, and arrangements aro being made for Mr. Holmes, general secretary, to pay a visit in ordor to create public interest. A local gen.tleman is taking active measures in securing a guarantee in order that the services of a permanent secretary may bo obtained " for the district for a term of three years. ,

The number of passengers who arrived at Wellington direct from oversea ports last month was 1217 including 23 Chinese. Tlio total-is made, up of GGI from Australia, 507 from tho United Kingdom, 39 from Capetown, and seven from Tasmania. The number leaving tho port for overseas was 11S3,\incIuding six Chinese. Of the departures 1029 were for Australia, and 154 for tho United Kingdom. .

An excellent motoring feat (says our Napier correspondent) has just been accomplished by Mr. W. M. Gilbertson, of Rotorua, who is at present in Napier in his 36 h.-p. car. Mr. Gilbertson has taken a party of English. tourists from Rotorua around the different centres where the Anglo-Welsh team has played. Tho party has been as far south as Inveroargill, but owing to the state of the road it was not possible to go to Gisborne. The car has covered a distance of 3000 miles, and in the wholo of that distance there has been only one mishap, which is a remarkably fine record.

_ A meeting of the Victoria College Debating Society was held at the college on Saturday evening, Mr. C. H. Taylor being in tho chair. The motion discussed was "That Sir Walter Scott is tho greatest novelist of English'literature," the movers being Messrs A. MacDougall and H. D. Skinner, and the opposers Messrs B. E. Murphy and C. A. L. lrcadwell. Tho motion was lost by .13 votes to 21, and Mr. T. S. Weston, LL.B., who judged the debate, placed, the first five'speakers in the following order:—Mr. E. Armit Miss Coad, .Mr. A. MacDougall, Mr. Gi H.' Gibb, and Mr. C. A. L. Treadwell. Mr; Murphy did not tako part in the competition. At ( the next meeting of the society, which will be hold on Saturday, July 18, the motion for discussion will be. "That the adoption of vegetarianism would benefit the human race." •

At the close of the proceedings at Saturday s sitting of tho New Zealand Federated Waterside-; Workers' Conference, Mr. Farland (Wellington) said that certain remarks uttered by him at one of the previous sittings, with reference to tho danger of tho men's coats boing infested with vermin if hung.up in cupboards in proximity to those bolonging to "casual undesirables" from tho country and elsewhere, had given rise to some, misconception. He desired to make clear the fact,that in referring to ''casual undesirableSj he had in his mind those stray few who visited the wharf occasionally; : some of them were in a condition which did hot inspire, in the regular wharf labourers (who wcro a,clean, tidy, and industrious class of men), any desire for intimacy. The Chairman of the Conference, Mr. F..Burton, said that -Mi? Farland's previdus'.'remrifks, were perfectly l dear to tho- d©leg&tGS;"and h© saw iio reason 'why "th'(s" r regular workere should take any exception to them. '