LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 260, 27 July 1908, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Iho Australian and English mail, which arrived at Auckland from Sydney yesterday, will roacli Wellington by to-niglit's express. The' following cases of infectious discaso are reported by tho Health Department for tho week ending Saturday last: —In tho City—Scarlet fever, 4; diphtheria, 2; blood poisoning, 1. In the Hutt County—nil. Mr. Ellis was roportcd to have said at the deputation to members on the question of increasing tho duty on Oregon timber, that the price of timber in Now Zealand had only increased by 6} per. cent, in five years. His statement actually was that tho price of timber in the South Auckland district had only increased to that extent in tho time named. Tlici'o is an impression abroad ; given currency by a statement appearing in a country newspaper, that tho provisions of the School Attendance Act do not govern private schools, and that truancy is' rifo in such institutions. Mr. J. Dineen, Truant Inspector for tho Wellington Education Board, say 3 thnt the Act does_ apply, and, so far as tiio Wellington educational district is concerned, is carried out very thoroughly. In a number of instances irregular attendances at privato schools have caused parents to bo summoned to Court, and fined for breaches of tho Act. . . Tho phenomenally heavy fall of hail on Friday evening was severely local in respect to the area alFectod. Hail fell at Island Bay, KilbirniOj and the Lower Hutt, but in none of the suburbs did it rattle down so thickly and in such huge drops as in mid-city, which, was evidently tho Centro of tho ice-fall. On Saturday morning the city awoke to find tho drabness of its streets hidden under an icy blanket, which fought so hard against the wintry warmth of tho ann, that lato in tho afternoon masses of hail still remained in shady spots; and on verandnli tops with a southern aspect they may still bo seen. Two delegates from another city to the Trades and Labour Council's Conferenco have not by any means seen eye to eyo with their brother delogatos on many points, and their comrades expressed their opinion of tho objecting ones in somo verses. Copies of tho vorsos wore distributed at.the conclusion of tho Conferottco to tho discomfiture of tho delegates concerned. Tho pamphlet concludes: —"Wo hereby sincerely, affirm and promiso that if wo are only returned in Bafety to -— we will never,' never wander forth again without the'protection, of our parents or guardians, who will bo able to take tho' responsibility, which is too heavy for us." It has lorn; been a subject' of comment that Wellington lacks a Sports Club such as finds favour with tho athlotic-loving portion of the community in the leading Australian citics, and Auckland and Cliristcliurch.' The Wellington Boxing Association has taken tho injtiativo in tho matter by convening a meeting of all those, interested in the project for this evening, at Mr. Armit's, Lambton Quay, where ways and means will be, discussed to givo practical effect to tho wishes of many citizens and sportsmen for tho establishment of ail up-to-dato sporting institution. The proposal for tho formation of a Sports Club has many 'supporters, and to-night s meeting will givo thoso who favour tho schomo tho opportunity of bringing tho quostion prominently to tho foro.'

A largo number of city working men cmployed at. Hutt and Petono were introduced to the Minister for Railways by Mr. Izard, M.P., oil Saturday. Several women wero among tlio deputation. Mr. Izard said tho desire was that tho train that at present left tho Lowci' Hutt at 5.20 p.m., and arrived here at 5.49 p.m., should be dispatched from tiro Hutt at a few minutes after five, thus enabling tlio workers to reach here earlier. Tho great majority of tho passengers by that train wore employed.at Petono and Ngahaurniiga. . It-' was also, represented that somo 320 mon wcro subjected to this long unnecessary wait, and only about tllirteon of thoso concerned wbrlicd at tho Hutt, and if these men could catch tlio 12 train from tho Hutt on Saturday, surely they could catch tho train suggested by tiio deputation. The Minister agreed thnt. the wait of twenty minutes was too long.' In about two months a portion of tho duplication would bo completed, and then an alteration might be made. In tho meantimo ho would.seo if tho timo could not bo reduced by a fow minutes.

Tho Central Police Station, Lambton Quay, is beginning to show signs of wear, and every heavy downpour of rain finds weak spots in the structuro. A representative 'of Thu Dominion burst ill upon Chief Detective M'Grath during tho hail storm on Friday evening, and found tho chief of detectives with his hands full. ■ Tho five digits of tho left hand clutched a huge umbrella, and tho other hand was driving a pen across a pago of foolscap. "The barometer of crime is Tow, but there is plenty of rain," laughed the Chief under tho shade of Jlio umbrella. A survey of the room, which is situated on •tho second floor of the building, showed a big leak in the eastern corner, and tho "pat, pat,, pat" of the hail drops ,on tho tin. pipe of tho gas stove explained tho reason for the hoisted umbrella. /"Tho old building is not so sound as it-was a few years ago," said Mr. M'Grath in answer to "a question. Further inquiry elicited tho fact that there was sleeping accommodation for constables abovo tho Chief Detective's oflico, but tho pressman. was unable to gain access to this quarter to see if it was Hooded. A pool of water on tho stairs leading to the bottom floor showed that the leak into the Detecroom ,was' not tho only one in the building. . - . Tho police and populace camo to blows and kicks at about 10.30 o'clock on Saturday night, when tliero was something approaching a riot in Manners Street, threo or four hundred excited citizens forming 0110 side and three polico officers tho otlior. Sergeant Kelly and Constable Cripps, who were 011 duty in Willis Street, were informed that there was troublo at the Clarendoil Hotel where, it was reported, 0110 man had cut another man's head open with a bottlo. As Constable Cripps approached the hotel ho heard tho smash of glass and saw a man running away. With tho assistance of Constable Reynolds, the' man was caught, and it was subsequently alleged that he had thrown tho bottle. When tho man was beiiw escorted along the street it is stated that Tie became violent and resisted tho police, and a hostilo demonstration was niado against tho constables, by a section of the crowd. The constables' threw their charge down on tho road and attempted to handcuff him, but were prevented from doing so by tho crowd. Tho constables were hustled and bustled by tho following crowd all t-lio way down Willis Street, and, at onp time, both tho polico officers and tho'man were knocked down on tho road, tho policemen being kicked and otherwise maltreated. Tho man was lodged at tho Police Station at length, and subsequently another man was arrested 011 a charge of resisting and obstructing tho polico. _ During tho sitting of tho Nativo Lands Commission, in Mastorton, writes our Wairarapa correspondent, Sir Robort Stout, Chief Justice and Nativo Lands Commissioner stated that tho . Nativo Land Court had at times infringed HIIO law, year after .year. He was surprised that this state of things' was allowed to continue. Thoro had been much talk about tho salo of Maori lands being hedged with too many restrictions, but it was a fact that tho Natives wore 110 match for the Europeans at making bargains. Sir Robert said that'ho had proved this for himself, at every place at which 110 had sat 011 tho Commission in the North Island. ' In tho course of furthor statements, the Chief Commissioner stated that lie had a grave distrust of allowing tho Natives to invest money for themselves, and ho cited a case' in the North Island whoro somo Maoris squandered £4000 in a particularly brief space of time,' simply .through wanton tliriffclossness. Tliero was Another instanco, ho said,:wlicro a Maori received £900 in cash for his lands. The Nativo went through his uowly-acquired wealth, in record style! -The sum of £100 was given in ono lump as a present, £550 went in a motor-ear, and tho remaining £250 was quickly frittered away in other luxuries. It had taken less than ono year to spend tho whole £900. It was a well-known fact that Maoris wero very generous when thov Had monoy, aud 110 doubt they also copie'd tho mannors of degenerato Pakehas in ."knocking down cheques," but unless tliero was an iiltorationm their habits, the extinction of a noble race was inevitable.

The annual Conference of the New Zealand Trades and Labour Councils lias concluded. I'lie next one will be held in Wellington this timo next year. The necessity of providing adequate light for dark steps was emphasised a night or two ago, when a lady descending the steps from the Terrace to Dixon Street : had a letter snatched from her hand by somo man, who immediately made off. The descent is a very long one and_ there is only one light, which is only occasionally in use.. Messrs. Robert Parker and J. Maughan Barnctt, with two or three members of tliq llrducation Board, will visit the city schools some time this week, in order to see how tho school singing and deep-breathing exercises are carried out. Sucli visits should prove of valuo to the teachers, especially if the visiting musicians givo one or two model lessons in tho various schools. _ In speaking to a vote of thanks to tho I ress for the roports of the annual confereneo of tho Trades and Labour Councils, which concluded on Saturday, Mr. D. M Larch said: —"On occasion, wo complain of the capitalistic Press, but under tho circumstances .of the present state of society, wo consider that we have to recognise that the Press has allowed us fair opportunity of expressing our views, although it often takes tho clianco to- abuse us."