LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 305, 18 September 1908, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

•»- The postal authorities adviso that tho Wimmera, .which left Sydney for Auckland on AVodnosday, lias 011 board an English and Australian mail for this port, which is duo hero 011 Monday evening by tho express train from. New Plymouth. A new schedule of lighthouse dues is published in yesterday's Gazette. A notico validating the public notifications of tho order making the spccial rate as tho security for tho loan of £1164 for the construction of drainage works for tho Kaiwarra drainage-area is published in this week's Gazette. At 1.32 p.m. yesterday thq Fire Brigade was called to a house, 20 Talavera Terrace, occupied by Mr. Win. Clayton, and owned by Mr. Henry Crump. The mantelpiece in tho kitchen was slightly damaged through somo beeswax and turpentine boiling over. Numerous notices of lands to bo opened for sale or selection in tho Auckland, Canterbury, Nelson, Otago, and Southland districts appear in this week's Gazette. Large areas of second-class land on tho Hanmer Plains, and 1947 acres in tho Waimea County, Nelson (for selection only), are included. At Nelson on Wednesday an A.B. named W. A. Brown, belonging to H.M.S. Encounter, while opening a bottle of soda water, met with a painful accident. Tho bottle burst, and a piece of glass lodged in tho pupil of his right eye. Tho injured manarrived from Nelson by the Arahura last night, and was taken to the hospital for treatment. Only a few weeks ago' Brown had' a finger amputated at Auckland, tho result of a whitlow. The Native Appellate Court will deliver one or more reserved judgments to-day. Members of tho Court proceed to-morrow • to Wanganui, where business which will probably occupy their attention for a fortnight awaits transaction. Subsequently the Court will again sit in AVellingtou for a few days, when a case relating to certain lands at the Chatham Islands will be taken if the parties are ready. Sittings in the Otago district will follow. During a discussion in tho Christchurch City Council 011 the Government's request for a holiday to he declared 011 Dominion Day, Councillor Parsons objected to the holding of .1 holiday ou either Empire Day or Dominion Day. Ho did not think it propel to celebrate those days while the Dominion was sponging on the Old Country for her protection. "WJiile we do not protect ourselves," he added, "I think any saluting ot tho flag or any jollification wo' may go in for is in bad taste. I think wo are wrong in celebrating those days at all until we pay our fair share towards the defence of the Empire." An apparently simple arithmetical pro-, position puzzled the members of the Waimakariri River Board a few days ago. The minutes of the previous meeting set out that a certain motion had been lost by six votes to two, and added that the majority against the motion was four. This finding was challenged by ono member of the board, who stoutly maintanied that the majority against the motion was six. There wero eight members present, lie argued, and as only two voted for tho motion there must havo been a majority of six. The other members listened to his elucidation of his argument, and feebly attempted to controvert it,, but were Anally induced to v entertain doubts as to their own ability to do tho simple sum. "It would never do to ullow this mistake to go down to posterity," said the objecting member, and the board resolved to strike out tho words "majority against tho motion, four."' Mr. Geo. Shirtcliffe, a member of the Tramways Committee of tho City Council, stated to a Dominion representative that 110 hardly thought tho comparison of the Auckland a lid Wellington tramways profits in our issue of yesterday was a fair one. From what lie could make out tho amount quoted (£32,551) was tho gross profits of the Auckland Tramway Company, out of which tho dividend had to bo paid, which represented the interest Wellington pays on • its/loans (between £14,000 and £15,000). Out of the same total the Auckland Company put aside au amount (approximately £10,000) as a contribution to the reserve fund, as Wellington provided a sinking fund. Then in tho caso of Wellington depreciation was provided for, out of tho gross profits. " Auckland does better financially out of its trams than we do," said Mr. Shirtcliffo, " on account of its larger revenue and tho reduced expenditure compared with Wellington, but tho difference is not nearly so great as has been shown." The Rev. R. R. M. Sutherland, of Ivaikorai, who was prevented from moving in the Duncdin Presbytery his overture with regard to tho Rev. J. Gibson Smith's book, has sent to tho "Outlook" part of the statement which lie would-have made in support but for "the high-handed and unconstitutional action of tho Presbytery." Inter alia, he says:—"But Mr. Smith and his supporters may say that tho doctrine which lie seeks to destroy is not now a doctrine of this Church: the Declaratory Act has changed all that. That is just what somo of us want to know. If the Declaratory Act has so changed the doctrinal constitution of tho Church tliat tho substance of Mr. Smith's book may lawfully be preached from the pulpits of this Church in Wellington, the sooner that fact is known the better—the sooner the Church ceases to live in a fool's paradise the better. If it may be taught in Wellington, it may be taught in Dunedin, it may be taught in tho new residential college and theological hall, for which Mr. Borrio is diligently: working to get up an endowment of- £15,000. Mr. Smith may be tho Church's next professor, for tho writing of 'a noble book' 011 an important theological subject is usually tho stepping-stone to a professorship. These are somo, of tho things some of us want to know, and aro determined to know, before we are much older." Is the earth crust of Rotorua cooling? This is tho question which is now being asked and answered in the affirmative by many tourists who havo mado a practice of regularly visiting tho New Zealand thermal regions during the past quarter of a century. One time, before the great eruption of 1886, there were no extinct geysers at Wliakarcwarewa, and tho waters in tho pools in tho whole area, were about as hot as they could possibly be. With the eruption there came a change, gradual but sure. Waimaugu, it is true, exploded, hut numbers of tho geysers ceased activo and continuous operations, and played only at intervals. 111 courso of time Waikite and other lesser geysers' almost stopped playing, whilo Wairoa, once a sight in herself day in and day out, would only play under tho influence of soap. In other portions of the district pools have dried up or aro not nearly so warm as they wero formerly, and- tho earth lias become so hard that there is now 110 danger of crowbars being lost when digging post-holes. That there is somo reason for the foregoing statements is borne out by the assertions of a number of tourists, and also by Mr. J. O. Bidwill, of the Wairarapa, to a Dominion representative. Sir. Bidwill states that he lias been a visitor to Rotorua since 187G, and he says that ho has. no doubt whatever that the crust of tile earth of Rotorua is cooling. A specialty of Hair and Scalp Treatment is mado by Mrs. Uolloston. Ladies troubled with falling hair, dandruff, or any scalp complaint should call for advico (gratis) at her moms, first floor, 3 Willis Street, over Carroll's, or telephone appointment 1593. Personal attention only. Certificated. CT3D The men of New Zealand aro becoming preat lea-drinkers, and aro now rather fastidious. There was a time when they took anything in tho way of tea offered by the womenfolk, but now they want palato pleasure—they want Crescent Brand Tea every time. This blended tea has distinguished qualities, for it is a happy' combination' of tho strong teas of Dar-> jeeling and the lino delicatg teas of Ceylon, CSSB

- An area of 51 acres has been reserved for a public domain at Waipawa, under control of tho Waipawa Borough Council. Tho Aotea Maori Land Board, which has been meeting at Wanganui, adjourned to meet agaiii at Wellington on September 29. With the arrival of the Maitai from Sydney yesterday morning, the Chinese population of the Dominion was increased by nine. All save one were "now chums." On Monday evening Mr. Martin Chapman, K.C., will deliver a lecture on "Old Forms of Procedure" before members ,of the Wellington Law Students' Association. Yesterday's sitting- of tho Post and Telegraph Officers' Association was mainly devoted to a discussion of superannuation, special attention being paid to tho allowances for widows. At Mount Cook Police Court yesterday, before Mr..'l'. S. Lambert, J.P., Charles James Barron, an old offender, pleaded guilty to being drunk in Taranaki Street, this being his second conviction within a week; he was fined 205., or seven days' imprisonment. Tho Marino Department advise that the oyster supply from the Bay of Islands and Hauraki Gulf is still good, and all orders aro being filled. There has been a slight •falling off in the demand lately, only about 300 sacks being required last week. It is expected that tho demand will' bo greater towards the end of this month, when the Stewart Island season closes. The tender of Messrs. Trevor and Son has been accepted, out of twenty-three received, for the construction of the new To Aro Post Office in Ghuznee Street. Tho building, which will be of three stories, in brick, with composition facing, will be an improvement to the looality, and its capacity will servo Te Aro's needs for many years ,to come. The contract price is a little over £3000. Mr. Joseph Lewis announced at last night's smoke concert in connection with tho Patriotic Political Association that it was intended shortly to open branches of the asso- . ciation at Brooklyn, Miramar, and Petone. They liad already made arrangements for a ladies' branch, which, ho thought, was only right since tho ladies' votes were as good as tha men's, and they had every right to take a part in politics. Mr. H. Davis, Mayor of Ashburton, after hearing a charge of drunkenness at tho Magistrate's Court at Ashburton, stated that there seemed to be a good deal of drinking going on during Sundays, judging by tho number of persons brought before' the Court on Monday mornings on charges' of inebriety. He intended to do .his utmost to discountenance the habit, and offenders that were brought before him in future for drunkenness on a Monday morning would be severely dealt with. _ The following is the result of the competition in connection with tho 190S exhibition of the Academy of Arts:—Design for catalogue cover, G. Garnham, prize two guineas. Painting from still life (oil or water colours), Miss A. Paul, Ist., two guineas; Miss E. Gyles, 2nd, ,one guinea. Head from lifo (oil or water-colours), Miss Gyles, 2nd, ono guinea; no first prize awarded. Head' from life (black and white), Miss E. Gyles, Ist, two guineas. _ Landscapo or marine study from nature, Miss A. Paul, Ist, two guineas; Mrs. A. A. Bender, 2nd, one guinea. Up at tho Alexandra Barracks there are at present standing some old cannon. They have long since outlived their stern purpose, but there they stand, frowning down upon the city. They are in the way at tho barracks, and the authorities would be glad to get rid of them. But there still remains ono hope for them, if the Municipal Corporation of Wellington is desirous of obtaining some useful ornaments for its public parks.' A couplo of tho black monsters, on their carriages, would look. very well on the terrace at Newtown Park, and when the remaining recreation grounds aro completed they would help to adorn an odd corner or so here and there. The consumptive man whose case has been before, the Benevolent Trustees at several meetings Went- td GHristchurch,'' with his wifo and child, on Wednesday. The case, calls attention to the inadequate provision for consumptives of an advanced stage in tho Wellington district. Tho limited accommodation at tho Seddon Hospital is always fully utilised, and at the Otaki Sanatorium only incipient cases are taken. In oiie very urgent case the Benevolent Trustees mado use of a shelter at the Ohiro Home for a consumptive. Tho Government Sanatorium at Cambridge? is nearly always crowded. The Health Department states that the accommodation for consumptives in _ this district is deficient, and that provision in most other parts of the Dominion is inadequate to tne demand. The report of the Government, Meteorological Oflico on the weather conditions during August (published in the Gazette) states that although some exceptionally heavy rainfails were recorded in many parts of the North Island and also in some places in the South Island, yet, with the exception of tho southern part of the Wellington province, the totals recorded were everywhere below tho average, for the month in previous years. Anticyclonic conditions prevailed, and, generally speaking, the atmosphere was dry and clear, bright and sunny by day, with cold and frosty nights; but the weather was somewhat unsettled and showery between the 23rd and 30th in most parts of the Dominion. Tho southern part of a cyclone passed over the North Island on tho 4th and sth, and a westerly area of low pressure, which prevailed from tho 16th to the 20th, caused the heaviest and most general rains. Lecturing at tho Auckland' Institute on |'"Tho Comparative Sanity of the Immigrant and tho Native Born," Professor Segar referred to <>tlie statements which had been published from the annual report of _ last year of the Inspector of Mental Hospitals. These figures, said tho lecturer, represented that there was about five times as much insanity in tho immigrant population as in tho native born, tho rates being 1 in 129.2 and lin 613.6 respectively. The qualification of this statement had unfortunately been overlooked when Dr. Hay's report was published. He had also stated tliat tho liability to insanity prior to twenty years of ago was very small, and it was hardly fair to includo that proportion of tho population iu the table. Tho qualified figures were, Now Zealand-born 1 in 246.9, and foreignborn 1 in 128.9. Even those figures, added the lecturer, wore rather sensational. Taking two five-year periods, tho rate of insanity between the ages of 20 to 25 was 13.3 per 10,000 in this country, and between 65 to 70 it was 134,34, a rate ten times as great. A paragraph in The Dominion of yesterday's dato made some reference to the subsidence of a portion of the new wharf at Rona Bay, part of the pier having sagged. It was suggested that the subsidence was caused by the recent heavy weather, but tho Harbour Board's engineer takes a different view. He says that tho stress of rough weather would not affect tho submarine portions of any structure below a depth of about sixfeet. Tho subsidence of the Rona Bay Wharf has been ascertained to bo due to a strong undertow from the Hutt River, which alternately deepens and shallows the shingle bod upon which that portion of the wharf is built. When the wharf was completed there was a depth of about nine feet of water at that particular portion; sinco then, however the undercurrent has scoured the shingle' and quite recently there was a depth of about nineteen feet of water. This, however, has been gradually getting shallower again. Tho engineer takes exception to the statement that tho piles underneath tho sagged portion of the pier are swinging in the tide. As a matter of fact, ho says, tht'y are perfectly firm. Tho work of restoring tho pier to tho horizontal again will bo a comparatively simple matter, and will be undertaken shortly. Tho addition to the end of the wharf,* the contract for which lias boon Jot to Messrs. jM'Lcan, consists of a triangular projection which will enable tho "ferry steamers to berth ond-on to tho southerly. rr yon aro contemplating removing, tso first thing you should do is obtain a quotation from J. Koir, 36 Jervois Quay, Ho lias hail many yenrs' experience in this class of work, and is in a position to pack, store, aud romovo any description of furniture. Ho also clears goods through Customs, and dispatches packages and parcels to any address in tho world. Telephone No, .llSOv Q6G