LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 475, 6 April 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Dominion will not be ' published on Good Friday. A shock of oartkquako was felt locally about 7.30 p.m. yesterday. An American and English mail, ex Manapouri,' via Rarotonga and Tahiti, is duo hero to-day. A ten-year-old boy, named Louis H. Patton, who left his homo at Jolinsonvillc on Sunday on n fern-gathering expedition, had not returned tip to yesterday afternoon, and was being searched for by tlio police. Acting-Detective Abbott arrested two lads yesterday on a charge of breaking and entering the premises of Mr. O'Hagan, dairyman, Vivian Street, on Sunday, and stealing £4 in money. The boys will bo brought up beforo tlio Juvenile Court. Hemp and tow, which suffered in tlio recent "burn" at J shed on tlio wharf, and received a second baptism of firo on the reclaimed ground, near the Glasgow Wharf, on Saturday afternoon, is now apparently given up as non-marketable. It is being put into tho reclamation tip. The late Mr. Joseph Haydon, of Christchurch, mado a donation to tho Senate of the University of iNew Zealand beforo his death, for the purpose of founding an annual prize for the best essay on tho development of sea power from an Imperial point of view. At its last meeting, tbo Senate framed regulations to govern the competition. The selected subject for the present year js: "Tho Valuo of the British-Navy to the Colonies." Replying to an inquiry by Mr. Chapman, K.C., on behalf of tho Bar yesterday, the president of tbo Court of Appeal intimated that cases in which foreign counsel were engaged could stand over until after the Easter vacation. As it would bo necessary, however, to (ill up Wednesday, the Court would expect local cases, and Crown cases in which only local counsel wero engaged, to bo ready. His Excellency the Governor, accompanied by Captain Gathorne-Hardy, A.D.C., and Mr. H. C. Waterliold, private secretary, is deer-stalking on Mr. E. J. Riddiford's estato at To Awaito, Lower Valley, Wairarapa. Tho vice-regal party aro to leave on a trip to tho Bay of Islands on April 15, and, on May 5, bis Excellency is to attend a Masonic function at Now Plymouth . Telegrams of congratulation on tbo Dreads nought offer are still being received daily by the Prime Minister from individuals and local bodies. The Pongaroa Progressive Society, llangitikci County Council, Kawhia County Council aijd Town Board, a public meeting at Auckland, and the Progressive Liberal and Labour League, Helensvilk, were among tho senders of such messages yesterday. As the rapid disappearance of the weka lias been a source of deep regret to everyone interested in the preservation of New Zealand fauna, it is comforting to know (says tho "Otago Daily Times")- that thoro is a possibility of the'pert little fowl not becoming altogether extinct. A member of the council of the Otago Acclimatisation Society says that the Hon. T. Mackenzie- told him that ho bad, when iii tlio Milford Sound district, given the conditions of lifo of the weka eomo study,, and as a result of bis observations he believed that the bird was, if not increasing, at least holding its own, despite the depredations of its relentless imported enemies—the weasel and the stoat. A prominent Auckland citizon who ovinces a keen interest in tho operations of the Tourist Department (writes our Auckland correspondent) said on Saturday that ho welcomed tbo amalgamation with tho Department of Agriculture, and thought that under tlio Ministerial direction of tlio Hon. T. Mackonzio a progressive! policy would ■bo pursued. "Tho Dominion cannot afford to neglect tho encouragement of tourists, which moans the circulation of ready capital through all avenues of trade," he said. He pointed out that the valuo of tho traffic oversea and local to New Zealand during the past year was between half and threequarters of a million, and it was reasonable to expect a further steady growth.

A rather painful scene- marked the conclusion of a case at tho Lower Hutt Magistrate's Court yesterday. Jane Howland made- application for an order of separation from her husband, William R. Howland, and for tho custody of her children. Oil tho understanding that the defendant would make provision for his family, tho caso was adjourned for a fortnight. This was the last caso to bo heard, and as tho occupants of tho public gallery turned towards tho door, tho quiet of the Court was broken by a piercing scream. At ouoo it was evident that Howland, acting on advice, had caught up his little daughter, who offered violent protest. Her cfies wore taken up by the complainant and the threo other chiHren. It was a minute or two before tho police could restore order. This done, tho magistrate (Dr. M'Arthur) remonstrated with tho defendant, and sent tho complainant and her family away quietly. Moving in the direction in which other suburban districts have gone in tho matter of having some direct representation on tho City Council, a meeting of the Roseneath Ratepayers' Association was held last evening, to consider the nomination of a candidate to represent the district. The chair was occupied by Mr. Chas. Monaghan, president of tho association, and there wero 13 otherratepayers present. The chairman stated that the ratepayers' associations in other districts had, or intended to, select candidates, tho idea- being that the whole should combine and form a ticket of suburban representation, the expression of opinion from time to time having been that the present representation was not at all satisfactory. After some discussion, it was decided to nominate Messrs. Monaghan and Bridge. These names will be considered at a meeting of delegates of tho combined associations, to be held tonight. The names will be chosen by delegates, in the order given, the extra number being nominated in case the same association happens to select tho same candidate.