LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 341, 30 October 1908, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tho postal authorities adviso that tho Victoria, which left Sydnoy for Auckland 011 October 28, lias on board an English and Australian mail, which is due here in tho ordinary course 011 Monday ovoning from New Plymouth, by tho express train. , They also adviso that tho Marauia, which left Suva for Sydney on October 27, has on board a Vancouver mail, which is duo hero on Tuesday, November 10.

At a meeting of the Central No-Licetiso Council, held last evening, the following resolution was passed That tho attention of this council having been called to a letter, signed by 'True Temperance,' roflecting ou the statemont made by Mr. Baxter in reference to Invercargill's contribution to the Hospital Fund, it was resolved to point out that Dunediu represented six electorates, so that the enso for ittvercflrfiil] (whinb h&» ftvo) ji bettor thou as stated by. Mr. Bast or."

Deteetivc Lewis arrested a youth about 14 years of ago yesterday on four chargos of theft of money, totalling about £2 2s. 6d., the property of his employer.

On Saturday morning, at 10.30 o'clock, Mr. Justice Cooper will deliver reserved judgment in the following cases Smith v. O'Donovan, and Wyott v. Smith and Smith. Our Shannon correspondent advises that there is a possibility of the suppliers of tho local butter factory leaving at the end of this month and patronising the local creamery. Tho butter would probably, in such an event, be manufactured in Palmerston North.

A silver-plated spike will bo driven by tho Prime Minister to mark .tho official opening of tho Main Trunk line. Tho ceremony will take place at tho north end of the Manganui-o-to-ao Viaduct, where there is a space of lovel ground. Tho rails actually met on the viaduct.

As tho nooustics of tho Board Boom at tho Education Board offices in Mercer Street are far from satisfactory it has been decided to drape the wajls with a view to improving the condition of things. Should that not improve matters a false ceiling will probably be installed.

During September 3922 immigrants arrived in the Dominion. Of theso 2202 were for Wellington, 1120 for Auckland, and 600 for Invercargill. The departures from the Dominion totalled 1821, as against 1831 for September, 1907. Of the various countries from which the. immigrants came, the Gazette gives a total of ILo from the United Kingdom.

In the Lands Department Office at 2.30 p.m. yesterday five village ■ homestead* allotments were disposed of by ballot. The seotions will be held on a renewable lease of 66 j'ears. Tho successful applicants were:—Section 29, Mataroa Village Settlement, Patrick Clearkin; Section 27, Mananui V.S., Gertrudes A. Dunn: Sections' 1 and 9, Pnkeroa V.5.,. Charles A. Amundsen; Sections 2 and 3, Pukeroa. V.S., Herbert Raivson; Section 10, Pukeroa V.S., Arthur Young. For tho Mananui lot there were 28 applications, and ten were received for Sections 1 and 9 of the Pukeroa Settlement. Only a few inquiries were made .for the other allotments.

Some excitement was caUsed on Wellington Terrace soon after midday yesterday through two horses attached to a luggage van, belonging to Mr. Fred Barley, taking fright and bolting whilst their driver was delivering some luggage. The van collided with a telegraph post, breaking it in two places, and doing considerable damage to the van. The horsos became detached from the vohicle, and galloped towards Sydney Street, where they were brought up. In the excitement of the first bolt, the horso attached to Mr. Iliaven's cart took fright, and bolted in the same direction. The horse came into contact with a wall at the top of Woodward Street, where the cart was overturned aud the horse secured. '

Tho attention of the Laud Board was called yesterday to the delays which sometimes occur bccauso the consent of tho Minister has to be obtained in connection with all land transfers approved by the .board. Mr. Harold Smith, of Pahiatua, who attended the meeting in support of several applications, mentioned the matter as one which was causing great inconvonience. He did not think there was any avoidable delay, but tho system necessitated it. Tho previous arrangement, he said, had been very satisfactory, when the board's approval was the final step, if the Minister know of the inconveniences often caused, he might revert to the old sysThe commissioner replied that the law required tho Minister's consent on 1 all transactions, but he would look into the matter and seo what could be done.

It is just possible that another interesting contest will be added to the programme in conneotion with the tourney under the auspices of the Wollmgton Boxing Association at the Opera House next month. When H.M.S. i owerful was hore some time ago two A.B.'s Queorstreet and Isaacs ,who are capable boxers, asked the association to arrange a match between them under its auspices. Tho committee, in reply, stated that, if it could do so, it would arrange a contest on the occasion ot the next visit of the vessol. Queerstreet and Isaacs have just written to the association to the efieot .that the -warship will arrive m Wellingou on November 17 and not take her departure until November t „4 S T tou "iey is to be held on Novem-•i-V-i ? committee will consider the advisability of putting on a match between the seamen.

The terms and condition of lease of villago and homestead allotments in Ohakune Village Settlement appear in the Gazette this month. J. he lands enumerated are described as , nrst-class lands. They will be open for selection on December 1. Preference will be given over all other applicants to landless married bona-fide cooperative workers' with children who have been engaged on the North Island Main Trunk railway or oh any of tho roads or other works < pertaining thereto, and preference will be given to single co-operative workers employed on the same works over all other applicants not so employed. In order to . secure preference/every applicant will require to forward to the Commissioner for Crown Lands with his application a certificate, signed by an officer of the Public Works or Roads Department, showirig that ho has been employed oil the works mentioned for a period not less than'three months during the twelve months preceding the ballot. . . • ,

On Wednesday afternoon the, Hon. W. Hall-Jones, formally opened the bazaar at the Skating Rmk, organised undor the auspiccs of Jupp s Band, which is in need of new uniforms ana instruments. There was a large attendance of the public, and everything points to a successful finish to the enterprise. Tho stallholders are:—Fancy Stall—(Lupin) —Mesdames Jupp, Sheedy, H. Jupp, C. Jupp, Misses Braid, Ferguson, Mexted, Contessa, A, Murphy, Anton, Noon, Woollett, Leggett, Walsh, O. Murphy, Harness,' Hunter, Murphy, Parkin, Elliott. Kiosk—Mesdames Bassett, Brantham, Harness, Misses Strawbridge, F. Strawbridge, -Williams, Fearn, Bailey, and Bassett. Produce StallMrs. Dutton, Misses Pauli, Fox, Lowe, Profitt, Coyle, Hamilton, and R. 'Fox. .'Fancy Stall (Lilac)—Mesdames Holmes and Robins, Misses Fulton, Wainwright, Gunderson', Bayliss, Boyce, Smith, Tapplin, Mack, L. Wainwright, Flaws, Taylor, and Bayliss. The band played through the principal streets in the evening, and on subsequent evenings the friejidly services of the Garrison and Newtown Bands are being tendered in assistance. The judgment summons case Leo De Laval v. Edward John Searl, which has been before the Courts for some time past, was disposed of before Dr. A. M'Arthur, S.M., yesterday. Searl was present when the oa'se was called, but was not asked to go into the witness-box. Mr. I'oogood, who appeared for De Laval, and who stated when the case was before the Court on Tuesday, that Ho did not wish to see Searl sent to. gaol if he had not the moans to settle tho judgment summons, informed the Court, that he could not get any specific information which would .enable him to prove to the Court that Searl had the means to pay. Counsel stated that he had learned from reliable sources that Searl was not in a position to pay, and under the circumstances lie did not propose pressing the matter further. He took it, however, that the order would stand, and could be proceeded with at any time if evidence/could be produced to show that debtor had the money. His Worship said that from what Soarl had told him after ho had surrendered himsolf to tho bailiff, ho (his Worship) had gathered what he considered to bo tho true position, and had told Searl the Court would hear him on the question of his meansi His Worship believed that Searl had misunderstood tho position wlion tho order was made against him, and- that ho could have brought evidence to show that he was in straits.financially. The understanding now was that if any other information as to means did come forward debtor must be prepared to be examined.

A number of letters to the editor are in type, and will bo published at the earliest opportunity.

Supreme Court sittings for the trial of criminal cases are set down for February 3. Sittings for civil actions begin on February 10.

The hearing of the case of Reed v, Simpson and another, which was to have been taken yesterday in the Supreme Court, has been adjourned sine die.

Although the Makara County Council lias only been m existence a year, its general election is duo next month. Nominations are receivable by Mr. G. R. Hislop on Ihursday noxt up to noon.

i I 1 fo '!°iy. in 2 tenders have been accepted by tho \\ ellington Education Board:—Western bchool, Petono, Messrs, Croft and Soil; additions, Manakau, Mr. A. P. Westbury Maku and Ballance (small works), Messrs. M Konzio and G. de la Haye respectively.

9 , r c h'°f centres of the Dominion, 'Wellington has the smallest death-rate for the month of September. According to last issue of the Gazette, the mortality rate per 1000 population of the capital was 0.63. Christchurch is returned at 0.74, Auckland at 0.93, and Dunedin 0.97. The rates are based of the assumed populations for January, 1908. These aro given as follow:—Auckland (and suburbs), 89,577; Wellington, 70,9-47; Christchurch, 73,462; Dunedin. 69,495.

There is a scarcity of intelligent farm labourers just now, and a good hand is highly prized. A Hutt Valloy dairy farmer was just on the point of congratulating himself upon securing a "good milker" the other day. . He went to town on the strength of the added assistance, only to return homo in the evening to find that the "good hand" had practically ceased operations with his departure for the oity, after casually inauiring of the other man on the . place if there was any allowance for a two hours' nap at dinner time. He returned at dinner time— a little late, nearly 2 o'clock in fact—and then good-bye.

Writing on behalf of the Manchester Unity 1.0.0. F., Messrs. J. F. O'Sullivan, Prov. G.M>, and Charles D. Robertson, Prov. D.G.M., state that the utterances of the district officers of their Order were not in condemnation of Sections 15 and 16 of the Friendly Societies Consolidation Bill, 1908. One of the fundamental principles of their Order, they state, is financial stability. Therefore they as district officers could not do otherwise but_ commend Section 16, and as regard to Section 15, they thoroughly endorsed tho resolution passed at the Colonial Conference of Friendly Societies held in Wellington in May, 1006, and which it is proposed shall take the place of same.

The barometer of crime was exceptionally low yesterday, the criminal charge sheet at the_ Magistrate's Court being bare for the first time for a number of years. A clean sheet is a rare happening,, although on numerous ocoasions the Court has only had one or two charges of drunkenness to deal with. • None of the Court officials can remember the date of tho last clean sheet, but ono officer was positive in a statement that there had never been one since tho Court had been sitting in tho now building—a period of five years, >or for some time-be-fore that. Another Court officer of 26 years' standing recollects a clean sheet on only orio or two occasions during his connection.with the Court.

At length Brooklyn has a real fire brigade, distinguishable as such by the most youthful eyes. There has been a brigade in Brooklyn for four- years, but only yesterday it attained to the glory of gilt buttons and a uniform. Superintendent O'Brien, of the City Firo Brigade, the regalia at a mooting held in Fullford's Hall last evening on the anniversary of the Brooklyn force. The 'fire police, entertained their brothers at a card tournament, and speeches were made by Captain .Wright, Lieutenant Biggs, and Lieutenant Cusack, of the city force, and responded to by Foreman Anderson and tho deputy-foreman of ,the ; suburban ,fire contingent. Appreciation .was expressed of Mr. Fullford's kindness, as a member of the fire police, and as lender of tho hall, 1 . . '

The Rev. J. J. North, .who assured the members of his congregation last night that he carries on his social crusades purely in his odd time, will soon be on the warpath again. He stated last night .that he had beon visited by a gentleman, who had an intimate knowledge of the Chinese life of Wellington. The visitor declared to him that since the breakdown of a. recent prosecution in regard to pak-a-poo, Haining Street had been allowed to go its own way, and that out of 700 Chinamen in this city 150 had given up work were living by gambling; they were debasing their own • peoplb and a very large and growing circle'of' Europeans. _If the police were going to sit still and say it was no concern_ of theirs, the Christian Church was not going to do so. The Church ought to have, and would have, something to say.. Mr. North, also spoke in strong terms against the club which holds races at Miramar. He stated that Sir Joseph Ward had practically promised to do something towards suppressing this thing, and they should see that he was kept to his word. He (Mr. North) had seen enough on the other side to know what the unrestricted multiplication of race meetings of this character meant.

The Mayor of Miramar (Mr. C. J. Crawford); at last night's meeting of the Borough Council entered, a strong protest against the persistent vandalism which is . carried on at Seatoun, Karaka Bay, and Miramar North. Trees were , cut and hacked , about, and lately the irresponsible perpetrators of these and other outrages had taken to throwing stones on the roof of the tramway waiting shed at Miramar ; North, a species' of amusement which resulted in a number of the roof tiles being broken. He moved that a reward of £10 be offered for such information as would lead to tho discovery and" conviction of the vandals, \and that the local school committee be asked to co-operate in tho council's endeavour to stamp out the nuisance. Some time ago, when some foolish youths had. played tricks with the council's tramway arc lamps, a reward of £20 had been offered for their detection, and this had the effect of stopping the hoodlumism. The speaker was inclined to think that if the parents of the district exercjsed more control over their children there would be less heard of this vandalism. Councillor M'Leod doubted whether the school children were really to blame. "I don't know," said tho Mayor, "who pulled out Mr. Barber's bulbs on his property at Seatoun, and scattered them all over the road?" The Mayor's suggestion was adopted.