LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 290, 1 September 1908, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tho postal authorities advise tlmt tho Gymcric, which left San IJrnrcisco on August 28, has on board a largo mail for Now Zealand, duo horo about September 20. Tho Mooraki loft Sydney on Saturday for Wellington ivith an Australian mail, and is duo horo to-morrow morning. _ Tho Brindisi mail arrived ill town by last night's express from Now Plymouth.' ' A new newspaper i.*? scheduled to mako its appearance in Carterton to-day. "It's a creed of mino never to lot a man o(f who hits a woman," remarked Dr. A. M'Arthur, S.M., yesterday, when dealing with a.man charged with unlawfully assault; ing his wife. "Now Zealand," says tho "Westminster Gazette" of a rccont date, "can hardly bo said to have covored itself with glory in tho matter of a memorial to tho most famous of its Prime Ministers, tho late Mr. Seddon," Tho Clyde Quay Wharf is making satisfactory progress. Pile-driving appliances are in readiness for tho work, but all tho f; n'oconcroto piloa aro riot ready yot. Rows of wooden pilos, to act as supports, havo to bo drivon in first, and tho work of putting idown tho concroto pilos will not bo commenced for a eouplo of months yet. Mossrs. F. T. M. Kissel (engineer to the Wairarapa South County Council), D. Puisford, N. Halse, and Hatch (an Australian visitor) yesterday mado as ascent of Mount Hcctor in . tho Tararuas. Thcro is no track up tho mountain, which is 5016 feet high, writes our Wi\iraraj)a correspondent, but the snow lino was roached after eight hours' travel from Cartorton. A fine view was obtained, and- tho party returned to. Cartorton last night.

"You will havo to give mo timo," said a defendant who had been fined in a case at tho Magistrate's Court yesterday. Defendant moant to convoy to the Court that ho would bo obligod' if his Worship . would allow him timo to pay the fine. His Worship took exception to thb tone of the demand, and ropliad, "I'll givo you 'time' clsoivhoro—but perhaps that is not what you want." Defendant was eventually allowed a fow days within which to pay the fine. A capsizo in tho harbour on Saturday afternoon, which might havo had serious results, befell tlireo local yachtsmen, commonly known as tho "Nancy Stair" (Donkey) crow. They loft' tho Boat Harbour on Saturday afternoon in a 14ft. half-decked boat for Martin's Bay. On getting out into the middle of the harbour, tho boat was struck by a squall whilo tho occupants, were skylarking, and capsized. They were picked up by a launoh, after being in the water for twenty minutes, none tho wotso for theif expdi'ienos. It is understood that application has been mado for a new trial of tho action, James Joseph Kennedy, farmer, v. Sergeant Miller, of Masterton, heard at Masterton in Saturday. Plaintiff claimed £200 damages on account of having, allogcdly, been unlawfully assaulted, and dragged out of a seat in the grand-stand on tho Masterton Show Grounds on, the occasion of tho football match, Wairarapa v. Britain. After having deliberated for two and a half • hours, tho jury awarded plaintiff £6 damages. Tim ground on which the application is based is that tho verdict was against the weight of evidonce.

Mr. R. H. \V. Bligli, White' Cross lecturer, will address a men's meeting in the Town Hall 011 Sunday next. Mr. J. P. Firth, prihcipal of "Wellington College, will preside. It was notified in the churches on Sunday; that Hon. Geo. Fowlds would occupy the chair; but ho lias now to fulfil engagements in Christchurch which will prevent him being hero. ' Two years ago Mr. Bligli had an audience of 3000 in Wellington Town Hall. One father, who was present; mot Mr. Bligli yesterday, and givo £1 Is. towards tho expenses of tho work. In tho course of a conversation, ho said: —" I took three sons to hear you last time. This time I will havo a fourth with mo as the last is now fourteen years old." A variety of Maori treasures was securcd by Mr. A. Hamilton, Director of tlio Dominion Museum, during his recent Northern trip. Among them is a small tomahawk, tho former proporty of a chief at Jerusalom, on tho Wanganui River, to which a thrilling history probably attaches. A moro murder-ous-looking hand weapon could hardly bo imagined. The steel head is wedge-shaped, 1 with a broad cutting edge, and is set on to' a handlo of smooth, polished whale's bono, with a thong to socuro the weapon to the wrist. Tho extremity of tho Jituitllo, k below tho head, is carved in tho resemblance of a human form, protruding from tho haft. Tho lower part of the handlo is also carved., 'l'hero is a second axe of rougher workmanship, and another curiosity is a whalo's' tooth pendant, of , most unusual shape. Tho greater' part of Mr. Hamilton's acquisitions aro still in courso of transit.

The financial results of tho tour of tlio British football team will not bo available until the returns with respect to tho visit to Australia come to handi It is understood, howover { that tho profits in conncotion with tho various matches in tho Dominion amounted to a sum sufficient to meet tho cost of bringing out the team and in addition covered theirt ravelling and hotel ex-; penses in Now Zealand. Tlio profits in • regard to the matohos playod in Australia are stated .to have been much smaller than had been anticipated. It is jirobablo that they will be suffioiontly largo to pay the extra oxpenso of sending tho team home via Canada and leave a small balance. Tho delegates to tho annual meeting of tho New Zealand Rugby Union .resolved that in tho event of any "profit accruing as a result of tho tour as a wholo it should bo distributed on a pro rata scale among the various'affiliated unions. _ Tho alterations to the corporation electric light offices in Harris Streot, in connection with tho fusion of that dopartment with tho tramway department, aro approaching completion. AVlidt' is being dono is to raiso tho roof and thus convert tho building into a two-story one. Jlio workmen are busily engaged, and the offices should bo occupied bv tho combinod stall's within a month. Tho general offices will bo on tho ground floor, facing Harris Street, and in adjacent offices tho accountant and staff will bo locatod. Upstairs, in tho frdnt portion, there will do tho City Electrical Engineer (Mr. Richardson), tho Assistant Electrical Engineer" (Mr. Cable), and staff, and also the chiof clerk's office. At tho back will bo found tho lightilig and other inspoctors. Tho change will he welcomed by tho staffs and public as well, and tho confusion arising from tho scattering of tho different departments will thus bo obviated. Tho amalgamation will also allow tho work I to procccd on a tuoro economical and coii-! Voniout basis, i

There woro 168 births, 78 marriages, and 71 deaths recorded in Wellington during the month ended yesterday. Of the marriages 18 were performed by tho district registrar (Mr. G. G. Hodgkins). ■ During the month of August, just closed, tho total rainfall was 3.38 inches. Showers and squally weather were frequently experienced, but heavy rain -was recorded only on two days out of the 31. Tho' various sheets of working plans in connection with tho now post office for Auckland are now in tho hands of the Government Printer for tho lithographic process. It is expected that tenders 'will bo called for the worlc within three weeks. Anxiety is increasing i;s to the safety of tho 'Frisco mail steamer Aeon, which left San Francisco on July >5 for Auckland and Sydney via Samoa. Tho Lord Sefton, which arrived in Auckland on Sunday, had instructions to keep a snurt lookout for tho missing vessel, but throughout the voyage failed to sight hor. Other 'vessels using tho Aeon's routo have also reported •" no signs" of tho missing Aeon. ' . "Hawkhurst," tho fourteen-roomed residence at Opaki, Masterton, formerly owned by Mr. -J. W'atchorn, of North, was totally destroyed by fire on Saturday morning about 4 o'clock. Tho place had just been purchased by Mr. W. P. Simpson, who, however, had not furnished tho building. Tho insurance was £600 on tho house, which was valued at £1400. Mr. Simpson's manager lost his furniture, which was uninsured. Tho Rev. C. Porter, who was to have moved a motion at a meeting of the Council of Churches last evening on tho subject of Sunday concerts, was prevented from attending by an important prior- engagement, which ho had temporarily overlooked. Sevoral other members of tho council sent apologies for non-attendanco on tho scoro of other meetings, and last night's meeting of tho council was adjourned after the reading of tho minutes. Thorc is every prospect that tho boxing tourney to bo hold at tho Opera House this ovening will bo a great succcss. Both Ireland, of Sydnoy, and Gosling, of Wellington, the principals in tho " star" contest—a fifteen-round professional match —are in splendid fettle, and it is anticipated that tho encounter will bo decidedly interesting. "Doss" Burns and "Ted" M'Gibbon, who aro matchcd to fight six rounds, and Morgan and Thornton, of tho Wellington Training School, who will also meet, may bo depended on to givo clever displays.

' Tho fact that tho overhead tramway wiro broko oh Lambton Quay on Saturday morn-i iilg, and camo away from a bracket opposite Messrs. J. Dutliio and Co.'s premises in Willis Street'tho same night, seems to call, for rigorous inspection. Stout copper wito such as is used for tho tramways might, as a rulo, bo expected to show some signs of wear, or a flaw, beforo a break could occur, and it is to 'dotect such weaknesses that inspection -is necessary. Thore is _ always an element of danger with a live wire twirling about, particularly in wet weather, especially when the streets aro crowded as on Saturday nights, and tho greatest' precaution should ho taken to provent the recurrence of theso mishaps.

A correspondent writes: —Thero has been a generally expressed opinion that the Justice Department would bo wise'if,' in the allotting of tho stipendiary magisterial business in tho four cities, tho civil and criminal departments were separated and confmod to the jurisdiction of ono magistrate in each instance. There aro two magistrates sitting in each of the four ceil-; tres, and the civil and criminal business is mixed up betweon them inextricably. Tho result is tnat there are frequent cases of misunderstanding botween tho officials, and with the expected increaso of 'work tho position is not likely to bo improved. Tho matter appears to demand consideration by the' Minister for Justice.

On Wednesday night, or early on Thursday morning, the Government steamer Hinemoa leaves Wellington or: tho Brothers and Stephen's Island. The vessel' is taking to the latter place the flagstaff for signalling, which is to be used, now that the island has connection by telephone with the mainland. Tho Hinemoa is taking a gan<j of men to erect the' flagstaff, who on completion of the work, will "carry out necessary repairs at tho lighthouse. On arrival back at Wellington the Hinemoa undergoes somo minor repairs beforo starting out oh her southerncruise. Similar gear to that installed at Stephen's Island _ will be ' placed *on Centre Island, which also has telephonic communication with the .mainland.

Mr. Roosevelt (savs a Router telegram from New York, dated July 12) is being bitterly assailed for certain ideas and theories on Socialism' advanced by him recently in an address at the unveiling of a monument. Ho declared that ho believed emphatically' in equality of opportunity, but not in equality of reward. The latter lie characterised as one of the grossest examples of privilege —dishonest, harmful, and unjust—in a theory crude, vicious and foolish. "Let opportunity be equal," ho said, "and if tho service is equal let the reward bo equal, but let the reward depend on tho sorvico. ■ However, in securing tho immeasurable equality of opportunity, wo must no more be led astray by the doctrinaire, advocates of a ■ lawless and 'destructive individualism than by the doctrinaire: advocates of a deadening Socialism." Ono of tho most striking buildings in tho mazo of, now structures that now cover tho old Grainger Street block is tho ,0110 that Messrs. Nelson, Moate and Co., tho wellknown tea merchants, have entered into J)ossossion of at the corner of Blair and Victoria Streets. There is no mistaking this building, as its exterior desigii is as unique, as the'interior lis convenient "for the purposes of tho firm. It is .a ferro-concreto structure, finished attractively in rough; cist, tho groundwork of which is tinted a; rich cream colour with facings picked out in dull red — a pleasing contrast. There is ; probably nobettor lighted warehouse in Wellington, and there is amplo room on tho three floors for dealing with tho vast quantity of tea that has to bo carefully mixed and blended beforo being put up in packets for ■distribution to tho four points or tho compass. No less than 4,000,0001b5. of tea .can bo conveniently placed in tho amplo store-; rooms without encroaching on the apartments set aside for tasting mixing, and ; packoting. ■

Should tho Govornment appoint a quantity surveyor to the Public Works Department? Yoars ago such an appointment was urged by the Departmental lioads, and was on tho point of, being made when, a change of Government took place, and tile mattor was hung up —hung up until to-day. It is contended that the need for such an export is greater now than over. For- tho last four or five weeks builders in' all parts of New Zealand hav ( e been engrossed in making calculations, in connection with tho new Gciieral Post Office. Each firm must takes tho best-part of a month to take out the quantities in connection with tho. work,. a task that must involve _ a vast amount of labour, ninoteonth-twentioths'. of which is absolutely thrown aWay. On the other hand, it is urged; if an expert quantity surveyor wcro employed, as in tho Old Coun'-.' try, ovcry tenderer would bo supplied with tho quantities, and tho work of making up a contract prico could be accomplished ill as many days as it now takes weeks. It would be economical, too, as evory contractor adds to his prico tlto cost'of getting out his tender, a bill which the_ Govornment lias in tho eiid to foot. 'l'his occurs in,, every contract, so that the sum paid away to contractors indirectly during a year must ho out of all proportion to tho annual salary of a good quantity surveyor. Tho case of tho General Post. Oflice will bo repeated in a week or two in tho case of tho Auckland Post Office, and in a grealor or loss degree in ' connection with every structure which tho Government has built by tender. Mrs. ltolleston, Hair Physician, Faco Specialist, and Masseuso (ccrtificatcd), who is at present visiting Sydney, returns oil Seploni-' bor 2. . . • C 739 The men of Now Zealand aro becoming groat tea-drinkers,, and aro now rather fastidious. There was a time whon they took anything in' tlio way of tea olTorod by the womenfolk, but now they want palato pleasure—they want Crescent Brand Tea evory time. This blended tea. has distinguished qualities, for it is a combination of tlio strong toas of Dat:-; jcoling and tho fine delicate teas of Ceylon. CBSS

In grahting tho application of a managing clerk in a solicitor's' oflico for exemption from service on a jury yesterday, Mr. Justice Cooper remarked that solicitors were exempted, and he did not seo why their managing clerks should bo required to serve. The city inspector (Mr. J. Doyle) is pay. ing attention to the overloading of vehicles, and ho has decided to prevent drivers from riding on top of heavy loads and so adding to tho weight. Drivers say tiiat th«v cannot judge the weight of :heir" loads, but Mr. Doylo will decido tho point for them. Tho growth of tho New Zealand Publio Trust Department is evidenced by tho fact that■ at the' present time ■ its total staff numbers seventy, against seven a quarter of a century ago. It is estimated that at tho present rate at .which tho business of tho Department is .increasing ten years hcnco the staff will number one hundred and seventy. At tile meeting of tho Wellington Lawn Tennis Association, held in tho ofneo of tho Phoenix Insuranco Company last evening, tho secretary (Mr. Kimboll) Was authorised to negotiate for tho Day's Bay grounds (No. 1 hockey ground) on condition that tho area is 'extended another ten feet. Tho meeting considered the alteration of tho association's rules Up till ablate hour last.evening. • -