LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 274, 12 August 1908, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr. Justice Chapman will deliver judgment this, morning in t|io csso. of Arthur Feist v. John Judd. The following prisoners will' be sentenced at the Supremo Court on Monday morning: —William Morgan, theft from a dwelling Herbert William M'Kay, ten I charges of theft. ' A trial of a now reversible turbine, invented by Mr. Frank N. Warbuftbn, is to bo given at tho Victpria Street power-house on Friday' afternoon. Mr. Warlmrton claims that' his turbine works equally well going eitjier way; -tliat it is very simple in construction, and takes up but httlo room; and that ml entirely "satisfactory power can be obtained pn a minimum pressure of steam. At a meeting of the officers of tlie No. 2 Battalion, Wellington Public School Cadets, held yesterday afternoon at Newtown District High School, it was decided to hold a battalion parade on September 18. Tho question pf holding tho annual'reunion of tho officers of the city battalions was held ovor, ponding a consultation with tho staff of No. 1 Battalion. An interesting report on a recent visit to tho Technical School by a committee was read at last night's meeting of tho Industrial .Association. It was stated, inter alia, that about 90 per cent.' of the students who pass through the commercial classes secure positions in offices, etc., and that it was satisfactory to learn that give • their employers satisfaction, and by their work prove that they havo bcon well trained. " A most striking feature is their youth— the average cannot, be twenty-five.'' Tlius a contemporary, commenting on tjio youthful look of'tho American tars at present in Auckland. An old story bearing on tho youth of the average mail mot in American cities is worth reproducing. An English visitor was bping shown over a big American factory, and was so struck with the yputh pf the workers that lie remarked to the man who was doing tho honours that there appeared to bo no old men about. "No," replied the pilot, " I guess wo keep the old men in another factory ; come along hero and I'll let you havo a sight." Tho visitor followed for some distance, and was at length shown a cemetery. Tho construction of tho Oriental Bay retaining wall has been completed as far as Hay Street. Tho men engaged on the job have coased work, and its continuation to the kerosene stores is deferred until after the filling of'thp portion already prepared. Satisfactory progress is'boing made with the filling in. Tho material for this is being obtained from' Fitzgerald Point, and has thus to' bo transported only a short distance. Already a groat improvement is to bo observed along the Orioiital Bay Road, which seems in sonio places to have almost doubled its width. When the rovotment, or superstructure is laid down, tjio improvement wijl bo very conspicuous, not onjy for practical purposes, but aesthetically! and it will certainly add to tho attractiveness of tho walk on a sunny morning, popular as it is at present. Summer is coming on, and it is to bo hoped that tho work will bo finished bv that time, so as to allow tho young folk tho delights of paddling in tho sea. _ Tenders arc being' called by tho City Council for the demolition of tho old destructor at CJyde Quay, which has doiio more or loss faithful work for tho past twenty years. Tho old destructor (erected during, the'regime of Mr. Samuel Brown) cannot bo said to havo been a bad investment as its original cost was only £4403, at which price it was orected (in. 1888) by Messrs. Manlovo, Alliot ami Fryor, and it was quite equal to tho denrmds tuado upon it for the. first ten years. Iflvtcr, however, tho growth of tho city becar/e sp rapid that the destructor becamo quite in? adequate for tho consumption of tho city's refuse, and during tho last foai ror five years the City Engineer's department was put tp some trouble in finding ways and mains tp disposo of tho ever-increasing output of rubbish. Tho whole of tho fittings, furnaces, fencos, and buildings, bridgo and platforms aro to bo demolished, but tho specification does not include tho demolition of the chimney stack, which stands ill such friendly proximity to tho pow ferro-concroto stack of tho new destructor. It is hoped that sonio use may ho found for it in the near future; but so far nothing has boon decided upon. Tho prico of tho old destructor has been mentioned. The new one, erected by Messrs. Hocnan and Fronde, cost ■ and together with buildings and adjuncts, £22,000, b

The city councillors have arranged to visit Ngahauranga this afternoou to inspect the sites for tho proposed abattoirs for the city.

Detective Cassells arrested a youth yesterday afternoon oil a charge of theft of tho sum of £1 7s. Od. from a wages bag in the shop of Mr. W. Hendry, tailor, Lainbton Quay.

A letter from tho Tramway Employees' Union was received at tho mooting of the Hospital Trustees yesterday morning,' asking for tho use of a bed at tho institution. It was decided to offer tho uso of a bod at £52 per annum, the aggregate number of weeks it is to bo occupied to bo not more than fifty-two.

Tho l'ost and Telegraph new classification lists are now in tho hands of tbo Government printor and will bo ready for presentation to tho House' immediately Parliament returns from Auckland and elsewhoro. The classification is being awaited with great eagerness by tho service, fpr though the annual increments are moro or less fixed by statute and rise according to classes, in somo cases a little doubt exists as to how tho arrangement will work out. It is also expected shifts will require to bo made in some offices, and perhaps certain retirements will ensue.

The question of back debts appears to be giving tho Wellington Hospital Trustees a good deal of concern. They have appointed a collector, and during the past fortnight, lie brought in a total, of £19 4s. 'this was considered a very small amount by some of. tho trustees present, but Mr. London pointed out that tho collector saw a groat nifiny people who were t quito unablo to pay, and the amount stated did not represent the actual work and trouble of the collector. Unfortunately, howover, there wqro somo wl)o wero quite ablo to meet their obligations, and who would not. It was this matter that should Jiavo further consideration. Tho question was again referred to the Finance Coniinittcp.

A few days, or perhaps weeks, ago a lady's purse, containing' £14, was picked up 011 Lambton Quay by an honest man. He advertised his find, and tho purso and contents wero. claimed by tho owner, who offered the finder tho munificent sum of ss. as a reward. Ho refused tho mopoy, but diplomatically siiggested that sho should signaliso her good fortune in having her purse restored to her by donating ono of tho fourteen pounds to tho Hospital, and paying for the advertisement. Tho lady repelled the suggestion, and said she would send the finder something. It came in tho form of. tho purge 110 jiacj picked up (empty, of course) — a cheap imitation crocodilo leather affair, worth two t shillings, perhaps, when new. His faith in'human nature, however, has sinco been shattered by tho recoipt of an account for eighteen pepec for tho advertisement.

It was recently reported by cablegram that threo children had been burned to death during a display of life-saving given by the crow of ono of His Majesty's ships at Durban, Natal. From private advices received by Mr. •V. G. Hume fr'olll Durban, the facts are as follow: — Captain Lambert, of the Durban Fire Brigade '(who will, no doubt, bo remembered by many New Zealanders then resident in Natal), with his men arranged tho display, and placed his own two children on tho roof of the house to bo fired. This was carried out successfully, and arrangements wore made for a public display tho next day, and a very large number of people gathered to view tho operations.' Captain Lambert again placed his two children and another child on the roof, Through some mistaken signal tho house was fired prematurely, with tho result that Captain Lambert's two children, aged 9 and 5, wero both burned to death, and at the time tlio letter was written, a fireman bad also succumbed to his injuries. _ In tho letter received by Mr. Humo there is no mention of any naval detachment being present whatever.

Reference was mado at last night's meeting of tho Industrial Association to tho delay which has occurred in connection with the acquisition of a suitable site for tho new technical school. Mr. J. P.. Luke remarked : i£ay' | iyei 1 y much on tho subject at the present time. It was, however, due ..to tho members that they should be posted up in the matter as far as possiblo. Tnere had been aigreat deal more (lifliculty in securing a convenient sito than ' most people imagined. The Government threw tlio responsibility 011 the City Council. which had met tlio Board in a splendid spirit. Many sites had been offered, ■ but most of them .did not meet tho requirements. He felt sure that the site which was ultimately selected wojild meet ' with the general approval. It was .worth noting tjiat the centre of population was gradually shifting southward.; Mr. Winder: Has the suitableness of a City Corporation property at the top of Pirie Street been considered? Mr. 'Luke: Yes. also your corner. (Laughter.) Mr. Seaton pointed out that Mr. La Trobp liad prepared a 'map showing wliero tlio students resided. Tlio centre of tho area, as at present indicated, was at Moqnt Cook.

Tho layman who sets out to conduct his qwn civil case in a court of law usually gets into a hopeless tangle, and rides roughshod ovor the recognised rules of procedure. A mail who was suing for' something over £100 in the S.M. Court yesterday mot with disaster before lio began. Plaintiff had haunted tlio Court sinco 10 a.m., and strode forward jauntily when tho bailiff calloc] his caso at 3 p.m. Plaintiff was directed to a seat, and was unfolding his papers with a business-ljko air whon tho Clerk of tho Court in an audible whispor remarked: "There is — shillings hearing fee, Mr. ." Plaintiff's faco fell, and he proceeded to explain that ho did not know a hearing fed had to bo paid. " You don't cot much out of a court for nothing," said his Worship. "You take it upon yourself to conduct, your case and you should know how to proceed." Counsel for tho defenco protested against any concession being granted plaintiff. If 110 could not bring his caso in tho' proper manner it should bo struck out. After somo argument it was decided to adjourn tlio hearing 011 condition that plaintiff paid £1 Is. costs and produced t)io hearing foe before tho case was called 011 again. Plaintiff left the Court as many litigants' have dono before him—a sadder and a wiser man.

A " Constant Playgoer" writes to say that his chiofost amusement is marred by Wellington's Opera Houso being fifty yoars behind tho times in its arrangements for the convenience of the public. "I have withheld . from attending the theatre, with my wifo and daughters on many occasions recently for tho fsimplo reason that on wet nights you cannot bo sure of attending in anything like comfort. Tho chief cause is that there is no verandah to protect ladies in light evening shoes from gottingwet in crossing tho unprotected pavement 011 soaking wet nights. In most other cities this is regarded as a necessity,, particularly as tho verandah roof is usually, utilised as a balcony for some purpose or other. In the caso o'f Wellington it would make an adinirablo promenade for dress-chclo patrons on warm' summer nights, instead of tho existing poky littlo concern that is neither 0110 thing nor "tho other. But protection against the rain should he a first essential, not alone iii the interests of dress-circlo patrons, but those of other parts of tho house who often stand in tho rain waiting for the doors to opon. The tiny dress-circic entrance becamcs choked' on wet nights after the performance with people waiting for their carriages to como along, whilst blocking tho stand ppposite the entrance are cabs waiting to pick up fares on the pff-chanccj. This is a niattor for polico regulation as in other centres. As a result of this system or lack of system, I liavo seen people wandoring across the street to their carriages on tho opposite side, which could hot got up to _ the eiitranco for the block of cabs not specifically hired. There is 110 commissionaire to call up tho pnvato cabs, and no policeman interferes with, the jumblo of uncontrolled traffic to bo soon any night aftor t)to theatre." A speciality of TTalr and Scalp Treatment is mn'do by Mrs. Rollcstoii. Ladies troubled with falling hail', dandruff, or any scalp complaint should call for advico (gratis) at her rooms, first floor, 3 Willis Street, over Carroll's, or telophono appointment 1599. Personal attention o»ly. Certificated. C 739 Women find out things, and any married insn will lull you that. And women know a good thing when they sco it, or try or taslo it. Women know that Crescent Brand Tea is ii's good as it is possible lo'get tea. * It is pure, rich, fragrant, and with' a full flavour that laves tho palalo' most agreeably. ' It is the favourite morning cup—infuses' warmth and givos n fooling of freshness to tho system. Crescent Bnuid> Tea is tho ideal - tea for tho homo. All grocors, Is. 10d., 2e, a lb, CSS3

It is reported tljat three men attacked and severely inaulod a young baker returning homo at an oarly hour on a recent morning.

" No technical school is complete without a green-bouso and an aviary. These are amongst tho 1 wanteds '' at tho Wellington Tccjinical School."—Extract from report on a visit paid to tho school by a comnutteo of tho Wellington Industrial Association.

Yesterday's meeting of the Benevolent Trustees was attended by Messrs. D. Robertson (in the chair), A. H. Cook and Mrs. Darvall. Tho number of inmates at tho Ohiro Homo was reported to bo 103 (71 males and 32 females). Applications for tho position of assistant at tho. Ohiro' Homo V'ere considered. Out of a total of 28, five men wero selected to sec tho Trustees and,- after consideration, Mr. A. Crighton, a recent arrival in the Dominion, and late of the Seal'ortli Highlanders and Royal Army Medical Corps, was chosen.

Some time ago, there appeared in Tub Dominion a statement, emanating from the headmaster of 0110 of the city schools,.to tho olfect that a boy wl(o liad been forbidden tho Health Department to attend schod owing to an outbreak of scarlet fever in his homo had utilised his spare time by obtaining employment iis parcel boy at au establishment in tho city, and the question was raised as to tho propriety of such action. Tho Health Department now asks, in connection with tliia matter, how it can bo possible to take action unless specific cases are reported. Even then, the utmost that can be uono is to condemn food packages which may lie known to have been biinclled by " fever-contacts."

At the inquest at Hastings into tbo defith of Edward John Lonergau, who accidentally drank some disinfectant containing carbolic acid in mistake for beer, a brother of the deceased introduced tbo occult as an agetit in the unfortunate affair- Ho said the deceased was suffering on the night previous to his death from some occult force operating on bis mind. " They were the threats of some mind working upon his," ho said. Witness had suffered from the same thing himself, and knew what he was talking about. The Coroner, howover, said he did not understand what was meant, and the witness explained that his brother's death was due to telepathy, and he wished tho Press to isake a note of it.

" There, are a larger number of outstanding subscriptions. this year than has been the case in any year during tlio history of tho institution," observed Mr. H. J l . Allen (the Seoretary) at last night's ' footing of the Industrial Association, Continuing,; Mr. Allen remarked that fib fewer thaji sisty-threo members had so far ojiijttpd tp pay their subscriptions. It looked as. if he were being placed in tho position of a debt collector. (Laughter.) The fiiiiincial year, ho added, would close 911 August 31. Mr, Crease,• ''Q-jie subscription fee is a small one. It is hard tiiat tho Secretary should- have to take up tho volo of active collector. Let us; hopo that all outstanding, subscriptions will be sent in' forthwith."

Tho bottom, has dropped put of the boom for ono individual, who has appeared before the S.M. Court several times recently _ on judgment summonses. Under cross-examina-tion yostorday dobtor was interrogated in reference to several estates in which bo liad been interested: The cross-examination went something on tho following lines:—Counsel: " You aro interested in land at r Dobtor: "No; I had to sell that three years Counsel: ''You own land at : ; Debtor: "No; I had to sell that nearly six years ago to pay my Cppnspl (after fnrthor examination): "Why dont you ma your schedule?" His Worship: l°F'W a iio has not enough money." Coupsel, after aiiothor attempt, murmured 111 resigned tones: "He seems to be keeping his creditors at arm's length."

Until a short time ago British ships were not allowed to trado between the Ujiitea States and tho Philippine Islands. According to a dispatch received by tho Commonwealth Gpvornor-General from tho Seoretary of Stato fpr tho Colonies (Lord Crewe), the prohibition has now been withdrawn. Tlio dispatch,states that a communication has been received from the British Ambassador in Washington, reporting that a Bill lias been passed by Congress permitting foreign vessels to engago in trado between top United States and the Philippines'. There 'exists also a similar prohibition against trading between Hawaii and the United. States. Tins is one of tho principal reasons why the Sydnoy to Vancouver steamors do not call at San Francisco. Tho Gbvernor-Goncral g dispatch states that a Bill lias been introduced into Congress to permit this trado also. J.ne second Bill' had not boon passed at tho time of the British Ambassador's report.