LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 299, 11 September 1908, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities advise that the Mokoia, which left. Sydney on Wednesday for Auckland, lias on; board an English and Australian mail, which is duo hero by tho express train from New Plymouth on Monday ovening next, September 14. It is intimated in this week's Gazette that tho date of taking the agricultural and pastoral statistics under the Statistics Act, 1908, has been fixed for October 12. The tomato fruit-fly and shot-holo fungus arc declared to bo diseases under tho. Orchard and Garden Diseases Act, 1908. African boxthorn is declared to be a noxious weed. A case of some interest will bo heard in tho Upper Hutt Court on Monday next. The action is one by which tho Upper Hutt Town Board are seeking to compel the Sisters of Mercy to have the trees in tho Convent grounds, which overshadow tho road, felled. A letter from the Northland Municipal Electors' Association in regard to the completion of Anderson Park was before the City Council last ovening. The Mayor stated that tho matter would bo considered shortly, when tho council's loan proposals wero brought down, "I hope instructions will bo given to the Government not to put an yof tho artillery into Nowtown Park to cut up tho ground, said Councillor Luko last night, in rcferenco to an application for the uso of this reserve {of Dominion Day ceremonies. Councillor Luko remarked that the council knew to its cost what damage could bo done by artillery. Tho Mayor stated that the Government had undertaken that no injury should bo caused to tho park. i The following tenders have been received for tho erection of a new courthouso at Lower Hutt :—Accepted—Adams and Smart, .Wellington, £1344. Declined—Lowin and Bull, Petone, £1367; 11. M. Davis, Wellington, £1444; G. Sykes, Lower Hutt, £1460 175.; Muir and Rose. Wellington, £1467 Is.; W. G. Emcny, Wellington, £1525; A; Clark and Son, Wellington, £1545; R. A. Wakelin and Son, Wellington, £1631; A. Cooper and Son, Wellington, £1779. The trucks and other gear have been put on the ground at Kilbirnio in connection with tho intended reclamation of 18 acres for reserves by tho Wellington Corporation. Tho outer line of the reclamation will commence at tho Lyell Bay Road, where it reaches Evans Bay, proceeding thenco to a point on tho other side of the old Kilbirnio baths. The spoil is being taken from tho adjacent hill. The land to be reclaimed will occupy a very sheltered position in tho lee of tho hill. _ Does tho now destructor smell ? Councillor ShirtclifTo has his suspicions, and at tho meeting of the City Council last night ho askod if any complaints had' been received. That day, ho said, tho whole of To Aro had been pervaded by a most offensive smell,' and as thero was a Strong north wind blowing tho assumption was that the odour, which was almost unbearable, camo from tho now destructor. Residents in the locality would complain very bitterly if the nuisance continued. Tho. Mayor promised that inquiries should bo made as to the destructor's guilt. v Tho proposed Bill prepared by tho City Solicitor to deal with the Required exchange of sites for the Technical School was tabled at tho meeting of the City Council last evening. Councillor Luke asked that the Mayor and 'members of the Technical School Board, with power to add to their number, should bo authorised to deal with the matter, and that if the proposed Bill were agreed to, and' could be introduced this sossiou, Mr. J. G. W. Aitken, M.P., as a member of tho board, should be asked to take charge of it in tho House of Representatives; and tho Hon. C. M. Luko in tho Legislative Council. Tho proposal was agreed to. A recommendation in tho report of the Fire Brigades' Committeo.of the City Council —"That they be given leave to call for! tenders for the alterations and additions to the' Thorndon Tiro Station, as tho amended, schedule submitted to the Financo. Committer does not exceed tho amount passed in this year's Estimates"—was alluded to last night by Councillor BallingoK He said ho noticed an articlo in The Dominion drawing attention to tho state of tho. building, and a letter lie had received confirmed the report of that paper. From a personal visit ho was aware that all that was stated was correct, and ho was of opinion that it was time that the matter was attended to, as tho station was certainly ill need of repair. Tho Merchants' Association held its thirteenth annual meeting yesterday afternoon in Mossrs. Levin and Co.'s offices, and at tho termination Mr. Focke, of the firm of Messrs. Castondyke and Focke (and ono of tho founders of the association) was presented with a handsome cabinet of silver and cutlery. Tho chairman, Mr. A. E. Kernot, mentioned during the proceedings that the first meeting was held in Mr. Focko's office, and the practico continued for years until the time of the' disastrous firo which destroyed so many buildings. Ho mentioned that tho Association was deeply indebted to Mr. Focke for his advico and good offices over tho whole period of its cxistencei Sir. Fooko replied, and the proceedings terminated. All inmate of tho Veterans' Homo at Onehunga, named Joseph Horvey, formerly of tho Royal Navy, died oil Monday night from goneral debility. Deceased served on board H.M.S. Hannibal in 1854. At tho outset of tho Crimean war this vessel was employed convoying French troops from Calais to the Baltic, and afterwards the Hannibal was engaged bombarding Sebastopol and Baltic Sea forts, losing. soveral of her crew in action on sea and land. At tho conclusion of tho Russian war Voteran Hervey emigrated to New Zealand, settling at Hokitika, and engaging in gold-mining pursuits, until he joined tho Veterans' Home. Shortly before his death he received an unexpected visit from an old shipmate, who had been an officer in the Hannibal, and had been wounded in action with the enemy. They thus mot after 54 years of separation. Threo scholarships of the yearly valuo of £35, tenable for two years at To Aute College, Hawke's Bay, are offered for competition. One of these scholarships, to be called the senior scholarship, is open to all Maori boys not over sixteen years of age at the end of tho month preceding tho dato of the. examination; the other two scholarships are junior scholarships, ono of which is opon to all Maori boys under fifteen years of ago at .tho end of tho month-preceding tho dato of tho examination who have attended a Native school or schools under tho control of the Education Department, and whoso attendance at school during tho previous year is considered by tho inspector of Nativo schools to have been satisfactory; the other is open on similar conditions to Maori boys whose attendance at any school other than To Aute and St. Stephen's during tho previous year has been satisfactory. The scholarships aro open to Maori boys on tho conditions laid down in the regulations of the trustees of tho Te Makarini Scholarships Fund, as printed in the Appendix to the Native Schools Code, 1008. Tho examination will be held at convenient centres on December 7 and 8, 1908. The Civil Service Junior and a Junior National Scholarship and free place examination will bo held' on or about December 9. Tho Civil Servico Senior examination, and tho examination for teachers' certificates of Class C and 'Class D will be held in January, 1909,. beginning on or about tho fifth, day of the month. The Civil Servico Junior examination is a qualifying examination for senior free places in secondary schools and district high schools- also it is the first examination for piipil-tciiclievs. With tho Junior National Scholarship examination will be taken the junior frco place examination (including the examination, for junior frco places in technical schools), and candidates may qualify for junior frco places in either examination. Entries for Junior National Scholarships and for junior and senior frco places must bo made through the principals or head teachers of tho schools attended, and will be received by secretaries of education boards not later than September 30, 1908. Entries for ether examinations will bo received by the Inspector-General of Schools, at Wellinuton, until Soptember 30, 1908, or, with n, late, fflp of £i in addition to tho ■ ordinary i'oo, until Qclobor 15, 1908. .

An unusual amount of smoke rising from a plumber's fire-pot in Hunter Street led an over-zealous citizen to alarm the fire brigade at 2.13 o'clock yesterday afternoon. A notice in this week's Gazette states that tho superannuation provisions of the Public j Servico Classification and Superannuation Act, 1903, shall not apply to_ persons employed at To Waikato Sanatorium. '' The annual conference of delegates of the Now Zealand Post and Telegraph Officers' Association will be held in Wellington towards tho end of next week. Tho committee of the Wellington branch will cntertam tho visitors at a smoke concert to be held in the Oddfellows' Hall on Friday evening next. Tho Saturday course of instruction for Wellington teachers given by Mr. R. Parker at tho Training College, came to an end last Saturday. Arrangements liavo been made with Mr. Parker for a similar course to bo given at Masterton District High School, beginning on Saturday, September 19, at ouo o'clock. Tho. teachers' cookery class will resumo after the term holidays, on Saturday, September 12. Wandering cattle at Kelburno were tho subject of a complaint brought by the, local Ratepayers' Association before the City Council in a letter .referred to last evening. A reply had been sent that everything was being done that could be done with the staff available, and that a number of informations had been laid. "Sarno old complaint," murmured one councillor,, and another, queried "Same old cattle?" "I hope that tho council will push on with these abattoirs as soon as possible," said Councillor Luke last night, in moving beforo the City Council the recommendation of a committee:—"That tenders be called for tho erection of tho abattoirs on Garrett's site." Councillor Luke desired that as a majority of the council had decided in favour of this site, no time should be wasted in regard to the -establishment of tho abattoirs. The committee's recommendation.was adopted. The Mayor (the Hon. T. W. Hislop) stated at the meeting of the City Council last evening that in connection with the Newtown Public Library it had been considered right - to put some memorial on the new building to Mr. Petherick, to whose 'munificence tliey owed tho erection of the museum and the designs of tho building. He moved that the' Library Committee bo authorised to procure and adopt designs for a memorial. _ Councillors Smith and M'Laren bore _ testimony to Mr. Petherick's generous public spirit, and tho motion was unanimously adopted. Owing to lack of a quorum, no meeting of tho Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union could bo held last night. Of seven available members, only three — Slessrs. Galbraith,' Laughton, ■ and their seats at 7.30 o clock, tho usual time for commencing business. An hour later, Mr. Isaacs, who had been, communicated with by telephone, put in an appearanco. As another member was still necessary to make- up tho required number, it was decided, after waiting until close on nine o'clock, to hold the meeting on Saturday evening. Tho Mayor informed the City Council last night that he had .expected to put proposals before them that evening in regard to proposed borrowing for various purposes, but some matters were' not quite complete. Ho proposed, if councillors agreed, to call a special meeting of the Finance Committee, to consider various proposals, and immediately they were agreed to by tho committee statements of the proposals would be dis-' tributod to eouncillorsj so that they might bo able to deal with the matter at the next mooting of tho council. Special resolutions might be prepared by that time, which tho council could adopt if they thought fit. , ;■ A committee of the City Council was set up some timo ago to go into tho matter of negotiations for the purchase of the gas company's property. Councillor Fletcher pointed out at the meeting of tho council last evening that nothing had been heard since respecting the committee's progress, and ho wished to know if anything had been done.'! -The Mayor._.replied.that;a.-voluminous report had been received from Mr. Ford, who was appointed.by.ihe,council.te.iexamine the i pf&})'oVtyS > '-'and r ' committeo wore endeavouring to digest that - report at present. He liad no doubt that councillors \vho wero interested would be able to peruse the report. Before tho Arbitration Court this 1 morning, the question-of the payment of the fine of £100 imposed on tho Wellington Bakers'. Industrial Union of Employees will be raised. Tho Court gave the union till to-day to pay its line, on the understanding that if the amount was paid by that date to the Chief Inspector of Factories only nominal penalties would be inflicted on the individual strikers. If the fino was not paid in the timo, it was stated that the individual penalties would be substantial. The Labour Department had not received tho fine yesterday.- but it is generally oxpect-ed that it will bo forthcoming in time to avert heavier penalties. An unpleasant change from the smiling 'spring weather of the previous day came with yesterday's dawn, a bustling northerly whistling along in a manner which caused Wellingtonians to clap their hands on their hats as they went round corners. The wind was accompanied by plenty of promise of rain, but all the fulfilment was a few heavy showers in tho early forenoon, a bright sun being in evidence during the latter part of tno day. The damage done locally consisted of a broken window in tho Brandon Street side of the D.1.C., and the collapse of-some shaky fences. Apparently the wind in Wellington was-eclipsed in tho South, for from 9.30 to 12.30 telegraphic communication with tho South Island, from Nelson and Blenheim down, was broken off. Rain was included in yesterday's forecast for all. parts. ■The old, old grievance. of the renumbering of the streets was raised by Counoillor Shirtcliffo at the meeting of the City Council last evening. The councillor .asked, m anxious tones, how the numbering .process was preceding, and especially when it would be finished. He had been trying recently-to find No. 31 Vivian Street, and, after a long search, found it, but not the No. 31 for which he sought. . There were, two Nos. 31, it seemed, a considerable way 'apart, and on opposite sides of the road. Councillor Shirtcliffe "gave a pathetic description of the maze of other numbers int-o which ho wandered during his search. The Mayor admitted that tho renumbering process had not been getting on very satisfactorily. The Engineer was doaling with tho matter, and if there were no better results it would bo taken out of tho contractors' hands, and tho council would take over the renumbering itself. America has its fourtli of July as an opportunity for its people to blow-off their exurberant patriotism. Tho victims become obsessed with the notion that they are not looking as patriotic as their friends would expect them to be if-they wero not assisting to create a din in some way. Detonator sticks—sticks ferruled with a hardened phosphoric composition—are ono i of tho horrors to be seen (and heard) in American cities on tho Fourth. Ono cannot escape tho ceaseless fusilade of these and other noise-creators, aud by midnight the outsider, if still ablo to sit up and take nourishment, has a decreased admiration for tho intellectuality of tho avorago American citizen. Wellington has no Fourth,' but it has a Fifth (of November), and already certain shopkeepers are decking out their show windows with pyrotechnic concoctions, which in action are eitlior a fizz or a bang. Included among theso aro boxes of small dctonntors, ■which explode on being thrown on the pavement. Theso liavo already become popular with the small boy, and only yesterday tile writer witnessed sonio old ladies and a horse frightened by their use. AVhat troublo they will cause beforo tho anniversary of tho Gunpowder Plot is celebrated crin hardly be accurately estimated. A specialty of Hair and Scalp Treatment is made by Mrs. Rolleston. Ladies troubled with falling hair, dandruff, or any scalp complaint should call for .advice (gratis) ut her rooms, first lloor, 3 Willis Street, over Carroll's, or telephone appointment 1539. Personal attention only.' Certificated. C 739 The men of Now Zealand aro becoming ?re»t tea-drinkers, and are now rather ■ fastidious. Thoro was a timo when they took anything in tho way of tea offered by (no womenfolk, but now they want palato pleasure—they want Crescent Brand Tea every time. This blended tea has distinguished qualities, for it is a lmppy combination of tho strong teas of Dar- ' jcolinfi and tho fine delicate toas of Ceylon, CSSS

, A letter from the Council of Churches ex* pressing disapproval of the holding .of Sunday concerts in the Town Hall has been referred to the Financo Committee of the City Council. A scarcity of water, suffered during certain hours by residents of tho higher part of Nairn Street, is to be inquired into by tho City Council's officials, as the result of representations made by Councilloi Shirtclilfe at last night's meeting of tho council. During July 245 artisans and 3189 labourers were employed on co-operative works by the Public Works Department. The total number on the Main Trunk railway was 884. The number of labourers employed by tho Roads Department was 2432, making the grand total of co-operative workers in the Dominion 5866. Tho agreement under which tho lease of the Athletic Park passes to tho Wellington Rugby Union has been signed. It is understood that tho Union has acquired tho whole of tho assets of the Athletic Park Company, which will in consequence go into liquidation shortly. Tho project is being financed' by the Now Zealand Rugby Union. The steamer Rippinghain Grange, from Liverpool, which is expected to arrive in Wellington about the middle of this month, has on board about 100 immigrants for the Dominion. They include farmers (8), engineers (9), labourers (5), domestic servants (o), aud a painter, weaver, coachman, joiner, blacksmith, bootmaker, maltster, brickmaker, and representatives of various other callings. The Tramways Committeo reported to tho City Council last evening that the agreement with the tramway employees had been referred to the city solicitor and the electrical . engineer to put into proper form. In answer to a question by Councillor Cohen, the Mayoi stated that thoro wero only a few very minor points requiring settlement. Tho council would receive full information on the matter when these were arranged. Three burly policemen had a few exciting moments opposite tho Lambton Quay police station yesterday afternoon. A young man,- * who was being examined on a charge of lunacy, broke away from his captors, and rushed out of the police station on to the Quay. Three constables gave chase,* and the pedestrians on the street were treated to a lively scuffle, which ended in _ the arrest oftho runaway, who put up a. vigorous, if not artistic, defenco before he was taken back' to tho station and laced in;a. strait-jacket. The matter of new milk regulations, which tho District Health Officer (Dr. Frengley) has been framing was raised at the meeting of tho City Council last evening by Council-' lor Biss, who wished to know how far the" Milk Committee of tho council and Dr. Frengley _ had gone in the matter. Councillor Shirtcliffe, acting-chairman of the committee, explained that tho committee had had a conference with the district health officer, who would submit a revised schedule of milk regulations in time, it was hoped, for consideration at the next meeting of the committee. In that case a report would be laid before tho council when it next met. A copy of tho " Annual Review of Australian Oversea Exports and. Directory, of Australian Exporters;" the supplement to the Daily Shipping Index" of Australasia, is to hand. The book which is well printed on superior paper is_a useful and interesting containing articles descriptive of tho various ports of tho Commonwealth,' the wool, _ frozon meat and butter export trades, mining manufactures', etc. In addition to the articles and illustrations, tho exports from the Commonwealth, with the names of the shippers-and the destinations of the goods, are given for the year ended June SO, 1008. The' Directory of Australian Exporters contains thd names and addresses of firms in 'the export trade. The book also contains the Customs tariff revised to date.