LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 280, 19 August 1908, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tins week's English mail is duo to arrivp by thp Manawati} train this evening. The Wari'imoo, with an Australian mail, is due this afternoon.

farlia|npnt wjjl resume its sitting to-day at 2:80 p.m. The rpggiar wbrk foj- tho day will be the submission pf Ministepal rppjjes to questions and bedates thereon. The jija'jpfity of the had j'.etyrned t<>-Wel-lington yesterday, and Ministers alsp are all'liere.'

, e foH° w Mlfi subscriptions were received by the St. John Ambulance Association (ambiance department) during tile year:— Bishop pf Wellington and Sirs. Wallis,' Mr. J!;. Balcpnibe-Brpwn, Mrs. Burne, Miss £1 Is. each;- Mrs. S. A. Rhodes, £20; Mr. Geo. Willis, 65.; total, £24 9s.'

.A conference of the eight stock inspectors m charge of the various districts throughout New Zealand under the Agricultural Department v, _ as commenced yesterday, Mr. 33. Clifton,. Chief Stpck Inspector, presiding. The object of the conference is to ensure uniformity and efficiency in this division of tho service. The conference will probably conclude to-day.

Preparations for the annual dinner of the Yorkshire Society, to be held on Monday, August 31, are almost completed, and it is iipticipated that it will be quite as successful as-any previous gathering. Invitations liavo been accepted by the Hon. the Pier lllicr, the Minister for Public Works, ancj tho Attorney-General. Mr. Massey, tlio Mayor, and Mjy Dntliip will'also'be present. Hjs Excellency the Governor will attend if in town. '

Playgoers visiting the Opera House should note that the pailtomir.io performance be T gips at 7.45 p.ip.—a quarter of an hour ber tore tho curtain usually" rises. Last night thoso who had taken their seats ip good time wore pijt tp a great deal of inconvenience by their view of the stage being interrupted by late-comers passing to their seats.' .'There i$ a good deal to. get through in "Htiinptyr Diplipty,'' and in commencing the performance'fifteen n)ihntes earlier than usual tho desire of tho management is"'to allow patrons to reach their hopies at a reasonable hour. •

A statement was made in Parliament recently hy' afr. T. M. Wilford, M.l\, to thp effect that there " was a considerable amount of distress among the Maoris of Hotonia, but this was subsequently contradicted. Yesterday Mr. AVilford received the following telegram, signed by Tackata Tenaera, Wabaroa, Wiri liatete, Tai Michell, liev. p. Bennett, and TijijjtiWj Bbjierp:—-'4s j-pprpsenting the Natives in the Itptprua district; )ye desireto express our appreciation of your services ill championing our catise. Many of thp Natives in different settlements arc in a state of great need. The right to fish for as lood would be of inestimable benefit to a largo number of Natives. Do your utmost for lis."

It appears tljpt the depression in tho labour market still continues. A reporter was informed yesterday that the position was serious for those workers engaged in the building trades. . Tiventy-fivo plasterers (unionists) are out of work, and a good number of painters and carpenters aro in a similar plight. Bujldings, said the informant, (a local union official) were certainly going lip, but there were not so many as at, this fims last year. Buildings were approaching Completion, not commencing. Speaking of tho question generally, he said that a good many men were going to Sydney, and a number left last Friday. The speaker, however, was not a pessimist, for he felt sure that thp lapse of another month would seo a material improvement. t

"Tho Oregon prne bogv is being donp fp death." So said sn Elietahuna sajymiller a day or two ago (writes our Wairarapa cbrrcjspondeiit).,.Ho had, he said, orders in haiid which would take hi?n fully four months to fulfil. His trade had increased simply because he made a practice of supplying a good article, and keeping faith with his custpr mers. . A largo aniptmt of the timber sup r plied ill some districts was of a inost inferior description, rind this was tho greaji source of trouble to the industry in New Zealand. This statement was borne out by a -(vell-knowii Wellington architect, who in r formed our correspondent that in a nc\y contract for a big building in the City, the heart of rimi} joists required by the specir fications had to be discarded on account of inferior quality, and Oregon pine substi ; tuted in their place. •

When attending a hunt club meet at Martinborough tlio other 'day, a curious experieiice befell Mr. 0. 35. Brewer, a local resident. '-It happened," sfiid Mr. Brewer, to our Wairarapa correspondent, ''that' I was wearing a new waistcoat, the' front of which was made from the skin of a young fawn.-1 had never attended a hunt before. With a few friends including some ladies, I drovo up in a vehicle in order, as they said, to see the 'throw off. 1 Immediately we arrived upon the scene of action, the dogs (I believo that the correct name is houluls), well, the dogs rushed pver to pur vehicle yelling very loudly. I thought that this was part of the hiisinoss, and c]jd not take' much notice, until some of the dogs tried to jump into our trap. Then the huntsman galloped up on horseback, and tootled a horn, and wl|pn he got up tome, ho said, 'Why don't .you throw out the meat?' I said 'There's no meat, only what's alive' (meaning my? sejf and my friends); but he could not have heard my vpico; there w,is so much noise, and ho cried out again, angry like, 'Why don't ypu throw out the me<)t?' At this tlio dogs speiiied to get more excited than ever. Thoy jumped and yelled so much that 1 thought they wero going to tear us nil to piccos. The ladies screamed, and one fainted, and all the timo the huntsman was crying out, 'Why don't you throw out the meat?' By this tiiuo our vehicle was surrounded by the hunting party, and all the people who had coipe to seo the hunt. They did not seem to bo ablo to fix things up satisfactorily, and as the dogs wero getting moro excited and tlio ladies moro frightened, I decided to cll'ect a retreat, I set the horsa lit a gallop followed'by tlio dogs,'liut after pursuing mo for ;a quarter of a mile, tho huntsman tootled them back to him, and we escaped. I learned afterwards that the dojjs that (Jay were after my new fawn waistooati"

_ The Napier Drivers' dispute has, at the instance of the workers, been referred direct to the Arbitration Court for settlement.

Messrs. Crichton and M'Kay, architects, are preparing plans for a brick and steel building, to bo erected at the. corner of Featherston and Waring Taylor Streets (at the rear of Messrs. W. and G. Tnrnbull and Company's warehouse), for Messrs. Dalgety and Co. Tho structure, which will have a frontage of 50ft. to Feathcrston Street and 9()tt. to Waring Taylor Street, will consist ot three stories and a basement.

It is not very often that the Empire City is stated to bo a city of cheap living, but an applicant who appeared before the benevolent Trustees yesterday gave this as a reason for shifting her quarters from Auckland to Wellington. "It is much cheaper •to live here than in Auckland," she stated. "I have lived there for a long time, and I can manage with much less here. You can got a shilling's worth of coal in Wellington, but you never can in Auckland."

there is evidently some mistake in the figures received by the newspapers or by the secretary of the New Zealand Rugby Umoji jn connection with the football match played in Sydney between the English and Sydney Metropolitan teams on Saturday last. Tho Press mpssage stated that about 35,000 witnessed the match, but Mr. Avery has received a cable message sta.ting that the gross receipts f.or the match totalled £700. Calculated at one shilling per head, the 35,000 would account for £1750, which engenders the hope that a figure might have been dropped in'tho message forwarded to the Union.

Yesterday morning, about eleven o'clock, a horso attached to a milk cart belonging to the Central Dairy Company was left standing jn Boulcott Street while the driver was serving a customer. The horse took frigljt and polted from Boulcott Street doivn Wellington Terrace, and, after bumping a butcher's cart, careered to Museum Street, where the cart overturned and brought the horse to a standstill. The trap was considerably damaged and a quantity of milk, cream, and butter lost, but the horse escaped injury, as likewise did the pronertS' of tho butcher.

Tho questioning by the Benevolent Trustees of applicants for aid is pften productive of amusing results. An aged mail exainined yesterday was rather uncertain ip regard to dates, and when asked regarding Jijs age gave the reply: "Well, sir, I'm no scholar, but if you can tell me when Mr. 1 and Mrsi Manning were executed in London,! I knpw how old I was then." His divisions] of time were apparently one with tho important sensations of the criminal calendar. 0)1 Nijvepbpr _ 13, 1849, Fred. George Manning and his wife Maria Manning were ex.eciiteq! for the miirder of a' man named 0 Connor in Jlpj-semonger Lane, London.

Mr. A. L. Her.dman, who is a candidate for the Wellington North seat at'the coming gepcral elections, is to deliver his first, addrpss at the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall this evening. Sir. Hcrdman, who stands in tlio Opposition interest, will, in the course of his speech, criticise the action of the Government ill regard to recent breaches of the Arbitration Act, aiid will compare the methods adopted by the New South Wales Governi'uent in tho suppression of illegalities with tile attitude of the Ward Government in respectto the same thing. The candidate will also urge the matter of the appointment of a Public Service Board as a substitute for Ministerial control in the administration of t!?e service.

The statutes made and provided, supported by the good sense of the community, are apparently powerless to cope with those irresponsible individuals —generally boys and callow youths—who ramble about with firearms, looking for the übiquitous rabbit. If they discovered and shot the rabbits no one would complain, but very often they shoot other and more valuable animals. The other day a cow was found in a dying condition in a paddopk in the l'etone district, and apparently suffering intense agony. On exr arniiiatipiij the hide, .according, to, Mr. Seed, Inspector for the Weiiiiigtoji .Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to 'Animals, was found to be simply uAt.imercifu} termination wps soon put, to the pitiable suffering of the animal. Stern measures are the only remedy for this form of cruelty,

Some of jiiic American visitors arc poll? ■tipians, ai)d orators to boot. lii the streets (says the Auckland "Herald" of Wednesday last), they may frequently be seen discoursing to gtoups of listeners upon various ma.tr ters of pqlicy- (mil such like. There was. for example, a pp'tty pfficer from one of "the battleships, ivjip had a good deal to say oij the wagAs question. "1 have ; 'been all''over tho world," lie declared, "and I can tell you men of New ypu mechanics partial; larly, tha| any pquftjry like this, where you can earn mpt'p than two dollars a day," is a good country to jjye in!" What about tlio cost of living?" asked one of his auditors. "Isn't it higher hero, than in America?'* "No; sir,"'was the emphatic reply, "it is not. From all.l can gather, New Zealand is the hotter country of the two for the worker. Take my advice and stay right here,"

Just while the question of corporal punishment for children is onco, nioro agitating the public mind, a Christchurch paper appropriately records the following incident which was connected with a presentation made to Mr. W. Brock, who has resigned the headmastership of the Itjchmond School, and ■jvhicli caused considerable amusement'among thpse who saiv it. Just before tho presentation was made, one of tho school pupils handed an envelope to tho chairman of the gathering with a shy request that ho should include it in the presentation. Tho onvelope contained a pretty little- silver plate, handmade, pn which Sir. Brook's name was engraved. With the plate wp.s a note which suggested that as a well-worn strap that Mr. Brock had would no longer be an obr ject of droad to erring youth, it might serve a useful purpose in securing his travelling rugs. The writer hoped that the plate would bo attached to tho strap as a memorial of tho respect lie would a.lways feel for it.

During a brief interval with a Christy church "Truth" representative, Mr. M'Niib stated his business in Southland had chiefly been connected with the timber busir ness, there. The licenses, he said, consist of tivo classes—tlioso for Crown Lands and thp others for State Forests. ' Tho former are controlled by the Land Board, and tho latr tor by the Minister as Commissioner of State Forests. Dijring the Inst twenty years several radical alterations liavo been made in tho regulations, and during a number of years in' tho administration of tho State Forests. In some parts of New Zealand the Commissioners of Crown Lands have dealt with the applications as if tho word "Commissioner" meant. Commissioner of Crown Lands yhereas it really meant tho Commissioner of Stato Forests. In some parts pf tho Dominion this procedure has produced a somewhat chaotic condition of affairs, and Mr. M'Nab has been visiting Invercargil} endeavouring to elucidato matters there. In regard to' Otekaike, the Minister said that a rather humorous point had-arisen. Petitions were coming forward for relief anil compensation for the great loss occasioned there by the last hailstorm, while at the same timo petitions were before the House from people who had wanted to get on Otekaiko, hut had been unsuccessful. The cpnr sequence was that petitions from those who liacl obtained allotments and thoso who had liot'were under consideration at the samo time. Questioned as to whether tho Government had received any applications for relief iii connectjpn wjtli the lpsses sustained by the settlors in Central Otagp through tho recent .heavy snowstorm, tho Minister replied that the losses w'ould not bo known tilj shearing timo, and at tho present time tho farmers were too busy ascertaining what stock they had lost, to trouble about applications for financial assistance.

A spocialiry of Hatr an;l Scalp Treatment Is made by Mrs. Rolleston. Jjadies troubled with falling hair, dandruff, or any scalp complaint should call for_ advice (sxatis) at her rooms, first. floor, 3 Willis Street, ovor Carroll's, or telephone appointment 1593. Personal attention only. Certificatpd. C 739

Women find out tilings, and any married man will tell you that. And women know a good thipg when they fee it, or try or taste it. Womon know that Crescent Brand Tea Is as good as it is possible to get ten, . It is pure, rich, fragrant, anjl with !V full flavour that laves tho palate most agreeably. It is the favourito] morning cup—infuses warmth and gives n feeling of freshness to the system! Grpapent Brand Tea is the ideal ten for tho home. All grocers, Is. 10d., 2s. a lb. CSSSj

The table of teachers' salaries prepared bv the Educational Institute, > ■ and referred to in our leading article yesterday oil "The Teaching Profession," will be found on page Bof this issue. It was by ail oversight omitted from'yesterday's paper. In view of tho unfortunate breakdown last week of Mr. Charles Saunders, the eminent English tenor, the news that lie lias been engaged by the Wellington Choral Society'to sing at two miscellaneous concerts to be hold on September 16 and 18 at the Town llall will bo heard with pleasure.. Oil thoso occasions Sir. Saunders will sing Eome of tha gems of his repertoire, including soli i from tho best-known oratorios. , ; It is understood that the Tramway Committeo will recommend the City Council at Thursday's meeting to call for tenders, at onco for the material for tho v establishment: of a tram service from tho junction of Coutts Street a;id Onepu Road, South Kilbirne, which is the present terminus, to Lyell Bay Beach. The distance is about forty-four chains of level road, and tho work should, if authorised, bo finished by the summer. The estimated cost is £4000. St. John Ambulance students have 110 need to fear that their course of lectures this "'inter will be interfered with by the Wellington Medical Association's action in insisting on fees for all lectures delivered in Hie future. Arrangements have been' made for lecturers to complete the whole of this season's -syllabus, a few medical-men having given their, services on condition that their action is sanctioned by the Association, and others have consented to lecture unconditionally. It is understood that the action of the Association in regard to fees for ambulance lectures has not met'with the unanimous approval of the profession.

By some people leniency and consideration are regarded as a sign pf weakness. A cfiso which came before the Benevolent Trustees yesterday disclosed that the husband of an applicant had been sued for maintenance, and the Magistrate had cancelled arrears amounting to £25 on the understanding that future payments would be made regularly. When the next due date came round, however, tho man showed his gratitude by promptly defaulting. ' "That was very kind of the Magistrate," commented the Chairman, on hearing the story; "but I think there is only, one way to deal with such people, and tHat is by putting the law into inpnediate execution,"

Ail irate business man climbed the stairs that lead to the offices of tlio literary staff ,of this paper last night to enter a protest regarding mail notices. Ho. states, that the. Moana left Sydney late., on Wednesday last with instructions to zig-zag.in. search of the drifting Hawea, and ivas therefore bound to be la to iii arriving at Auckland (she arrived at 4.30 a.m. yesterday), yet in addition to placjng tlio English mail on a steamer that- was to look for another one that is missing, the notice board in the vestibule of the General Post OHice announced throughout the day, and was still announcing at 9 p.m., that that mail would arrive liere last evening. Our informant, who states that several business men wero tricked into waiting for their English mail last night, forgets that quite a number of Auckland people rcceivp mail matter from England. The notice board mistake needs an explanation. The Moana's mail will arrive this evening. The Warrimoo is due hero from Sydney direct this afternoon.

An exhibition of a dissolved acetylene gas lamp and flasher was given yesterday afternoon by Messrs. Hawkins and Young, representing the manufacturers, the Acetylene Illuminating Co., Ltd., of London, be-' fore Mr. T. M. Wilford, Chairman of the Harbour Board, Mr. R. Fletcher, a member of tho Board, and shipmasters and others interested. It was explained that dissolved acetylene is clean, dry, purified acetylene ready fpr use in cylinders. The cylinders are filled with a .porous material soaked in acetone, gas is pumped into the cylinders and is dissolved by the acetone. The pressure in these cylinders is only 1501bs. when fully charged. As the pressure is released, the acetono gives off the gas as wanted until the Cylinder is'exhausted.. The lamp is used for harbour lighting, buoys,, lighthouses, railway trains, -and motor car's, etc. It is claimed that. the gas is delivered at tho burners cool, dry, and at a steady pressure, most suitable to ensure,proper combustion and consequently maximum efficiency; .it caii be'turned on immediately end. can ba. turned low without choking the burners; it has no element of danger, no smell, and it does away' with all unpleasant. manipulations; the consumption is shown by gauge, and tho quantity remaining can be seen at a glance; the • increased brilliancy of the light is due to pure gas which permits small burners to be used, and it is adaptable to anv lamp. This lamp is much used at Home! Mr. Wilford, after making_a thorough inquiry, requested tho agents to write to the Board, asking it to'purchase what lamps wero required. The matter will come up at next meeting.