LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 303, 16 September 1908, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

'J'he postal authorities advise that tho Maitai, which left Sydney for Wellington on Saturday, has on hoard a very heavy Australian mail, which is due hero this afternoon.

Tho Stowart Island oyster season closes at Hie end of tho month.

The new church of the Redemptorist Fathers in Hawker Street will bp opened on Sunday, November 22. Archbishop Redwood will perform the'opening ceremony, and it is expected that Bishop Grimes, of Christchurch, will bo present.

Five cases have already been set down for hearing at tho next criminal sittings of the Supremo Court, wliic'p open 011 November 16. Following is a list of the charges:— Walter Alister Lindsay, criminal olfence; George Leech, forgiry; Alfred Herbert Hayes, shooting with intent at Grcytown; John O'Sitllivntii finmulfci Ales. Lnv. sou, breaking and entering.

Wellington City's total indebtedness amounts to £1,079,924 17s.

The foundation stono of tho new Presbyterian Church at Kilbirnie will bo laid on October 7.

The postal authorities advise that tho "Northern Mail," published at Whangarei oil Saturday mornings by Mr. John Bryce Bony, has been registered as a newspaper.

Tho Roman Catholics of Brooklyn aro considering the question of erecting a. church in that suburb. Tlioy have already a site, and a certain sum of money is in hand and a further sum promised for construction. A meeting will bo held on Friday next to decide whether they shall proccod at once with the building.

Mr. Byron Brown, who delights in extolling tho manifold advantages possessed by residents of semi-tropical Otaki over dwellers in less favoured climes, forwards us specimens of Otaki-grown violets of astonishing size. The stalks are from twelve to eighteen inches in length, and the blooms rival the pansy in size. Otaki should bo famous if only for its magnificent violets.

Tho draft Bill prepared by tho city solicitor (Mr. J. O'Shea), to deal with tho exchange of sites for the Technical School, is being treated as n matter of great urgency, and to-day it will bo placed in the hands of Mr. J. 6. \V. Aitken, M.P., who is to take chage of it in tho House of Representatives. It is to be hoped that the measure will go through this session.

Offers of Wairarapa land to the Stato for Government buildings threaten to become an epidemic (writes our AVairarapa correspondent). Following Mr. T. Kempton's Greytown offer of 50 acres, a Matarawa resident has come forward with an offer of 200 acres, which area, lie informs Mr. J'. T. M. flornsby, member for tho district, he is willing to present free as the Government Buildings site of a new capital.

Relics of ancient Maori history continue to come to light at Seatoun, where formerly thoro were populous Native settlements. During excavations a few weeks ago some stono axes were unearthed, and more recently some workmen discovered, near Kail Bay, a Maori skeleton und skull. The latest discovery is a number of remains of posts at -Seatoun which mark tho position of an old Maori palisade.

In connection with the Press Association message from Gisborne published yesterday in reference to a fire at Whataupoko, Mr. C. M. Montofiore, general manager for New Zealand for the Ocean Accident and Guarantee Corporation, Ltd., writes to say that Mr. Nocross's insurance of £250 on his furniture and effects was not made in the Ocean office as stated by the Press Association, but with the State office.

Wo are in receipt oftho Wellington City Council's hand-book for 1908-9. This is a noat little publication giving in a concrete form all particulars of municipal utilities, the names of past and present mayors, and councillors, names of members of committees and of other local bodies, a list of the city loans, and detailed information as to our waterworks, tramways _ system, recreation grounds, electric' lighting, libraries, baths, destructors, etc. Tlio little booklet is freely illustrated throughout.

The committee of tho Clyde Quay School has passed tho following resolution:—"The committee of the Clyde Quay Public School desires to congratulate tho Minister for Education upon the Education Act Amendment Bill now before Parliament, and expresses the hope that it will be passed into law. Tho committeo further trusts that the Minister will stand by Clause 12 of the Bill, so that boards of education may bo enabled to transfer teachers from one school to another, when, in tho interests of education, it is necessary that this should bo done."

Regarding a tramway and electric lighting schedule published in yesterday's Dominion, tho town'clerk (Mr. J. It. Palmer) drew a reporter's attention to the fact that tho publication would cause a mistaken impression, as tho items mentioned wore only suggestions and. not decisions. He pointed out tho report . mentioned tho sum of £3000 in connection with tho Thorndon pay-in office, but this amount included £250 for rent and a substantial sum tor interest charges during tho year, besides other expenses. Tho offer for the land was almost £1000 less than tho gross amount as published. ■

Speaking on the subject of tho reform of criminals at Roseneath last night, Mr. W. M'Leau, a candidate for tho Wellington East seat, expressed 'the opinion that crime was •just as muoh a disease as small-pox, and it was not right to punish a man who had no more control over Jiis faculties than the man in the moon. (Voice: Question I) ' The speaker said he was sure of his facts, as the matter had' been scientifically considered for thirty years, and he referred to Professor Lombroso. At present the mentally afflicted woro merely herded like sheep, and something should he done to improve their lot, even at twico or thrice tho sacrifice. (Hear, hear.)

At last Thorndon is to havo a new fire brigade station. Tho City Council is calling for tenders for alterations to a building to be used as a fire station at Thorndon. Tho building'in question is a wooden one at the corner of l'ipitea and Murphy Streets, which has been used as a private school. It is to be converted into a fire station, and tho present structure will be used as far as possiblej but another story has to be added to provide accommodation for tho resident firemen, engine house, dormitories, mess-room, etc. When completed it will resemble tho station at Newtown. The present Thorndon station lias long been in need of repair, and it is satisfactory to see that action is being taken.

A fortnight's experience of tho extended hours at the Post Office has shown that they are largely availed of by the public. During tho first week tho total numbor of transactions at the counter, numbering 979,' included 673 transactions after 5 p.m., the former closing time. In the second week, out of 1320 .counter transactions a largo majority woro after 5 p.m. In the parcels branch tho public show a tendency to defer their business till the later hours. Last week, for example, only two parcels came. in between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., and 300 were received between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. The evening rush makes matters very inconvenient to the stalF.

"Builder" writes to the effect that it is unfair to thoso who went to the great trouble of ;making out tenders for the General Post Office'to find that all tenders are being rejected because none aro closo enough to the Government architect's estimate. What does it prove, it is asked, that none of the tenders submitted were within £25,000 of the estimate, and others were £35,000 ahead of it? To the writer it showed that tho architect had not designed a building that could, under existing conditions, be orected for tho amount estimated, and, that being so, it was next to useless to call for tenders at all, It was like a boy inarching into a shop and asking for a shilling cako for. ninepence, knowing that ho has no chanco of getting .it.

The Roman Catholic, School for bovs and girls at Palmerston North, conducted by the Sisters of Mercy, is now inadequate- to requirements. and it is intended to provido a separate school for boys. A valuable site near tho present church ha-s been acquired, and it is intended to build a school, which will almost certainly bo under tho chargo of the Patrician Brothers. This Order of Brothers is new to New Zealaud, but it has general branches in Australia, and conducts a. Roman Catholio Collcgo at Ryde, near Sydney. The arrangements with tho Order are complete but for a low formalities, and it is expected that as soon as those aro ratified a commencement will bo made with tho school. It will ho necessary also to provido a residence for tho Brothors, who will probably talii- charge from tho beginning of tho new year.

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