LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 511, 19 May 1909, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A sitting in Chambers will be held by Mr. Justice Chapman at 10.30 o'clock on Thursday morning. Mr. A. L. Herdman,' MJ?., w2l introduce a deputation of auctioneers to fee Hon. D. Buddo, Minister {or Internal Affairs, at 2.30 this afternoon. A prisoner, who arrived from Auckland last'night, will be bhArged at • tie S.M. Court this morning witfc having, at.'Wellington on May 4, stolen a horse valued at £10; the property of Jas, Brotiherton. Tho Fire Brigade was called out to Luxford Street yesterday.. afternoon. It was found that a small fire had broken out in' a building which was'in' the hands of tho painters. 'Practically no damage was done. At a well-attended meeting of St. James's Literary and Debating Society last evening an interesting discussion on the "Breadnought" policy took place, the arguments in favour being led by Mr. C. Francis, and tho negative by Mr. Fl Finlayson. On the vote being taken, the principle of tiio policy was negatived. ; <. ' .. > Whilst the order in which the cases for the Civil Sessions are to bo heard was being fixed yesterday, it was stated that the following actions had been settled:—William Alfred fteay and Eliza Jane Kcay v. Wellington City Council, claim for £501 damages through collision; and Agnes Wilson v. tho Gear Meat Company, Ltd., claim for £2000 damages, in respect of fatal accident. . The hospital authorities apparently • watch for possible rises in the price of necessaries with a view to the economical conductor 1 the institution. At yesterday's meeting of the trustees, 1 the House Committee recommended that forty or more boxes of butter bo purchased for storage. The chairman (the Hon. C. M, Luke) remarked in explanation: "Butter is on the up-grade, and the stewards expect a further rise." The recommendation was adopted.

Concerning the Aurora Australia thai was visible _ from _ some points : in. New. Zealand last Friday night, our Christelrurch correspondent says that Captain Oliver, of tie barquo Ganymede, mentions that on Friday nigat, just after the vessel had passed Otago Peninsula, a magnificent display of the Aurora was seen by those, on board, lasting all night. Captain Oliver stated that the display was the finest he had ever witnessed, and he mentionedthat an extraordinary: effect was noticed in the barque's standard compass, which showed a deviation of 18 degrees.;

At the fortnightly meeting of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals last evening the following contributions were acknowledged:—Messrs."'Dalgety and Co.. £1 Is.; Mr. G. H. Scales, 10s. 6d.; Mrs. Alee. Forrest,' Messrs. J.'Nathan, and Co.; Wardoll Bros.* A. Milligan, and M'Tavish and Co., 10s. each; Messrs. J. C. Webb, D. S. Thompson, A. N. Palmer, C. M'Adam, J. Maokay, Caterer and Carey, W. JEL Bartlott, T. H. Gill, S. Stidolph, M. Beck, H. W. and Co., and "Anonymous," ss. each; .Messrs. C. Haynes, A. Forrest, J. W. Oopithorne, Mrs. J. J. Boyd and two friends, 2s, Gd. eaohj'totalj £7 16s. 6d. .-■' ■ '• |.. Advices received by the Marino Department touching the imported Atlantic ova are very satisfactory.! Of the last shipment 380.000 went to Lake To Anau, and 130,000 to the salmon hatchery at Hakataramea. Tho first shipment comprised 160,000 English and 250,000 Rhino ova, while the second consignment was 100,000 English and 120,000 Rhine ova. There are now available for distribution at Lake To Anau 149,000 English and 212,000 Rhino fry, and at Hakataramea 9000 English and 115,000 Rhine, making a total of 485,000 fry. The ova-collecting operations in connection with; the quinnat imon are in! full swing, and there is now promiso or a very successful season. Ai soon as ,tho quinnat salmon are ' finished, brown trout ova, for distribution amongst various acclimatisation societies, will be collected.'..

It is stated that over since the Manawatu railway was taken over by tho Government, an increasing proportion of traffic from, the Napier section-has been diverted to this line, instead of 'being takon over the Rimutpjkas. Tho diversion has had to be carried out gradually, owing- | to tho necessity for 'increasing siding and other accommodation on tho Manawatu line. It is stated that, however great the ultimate transference'may be, the Wairarapa traffic by itself will be sufficient to demand the full utilisation of all tho haulngo plant at Cross Creek, on tho northern side of the Rimutakas. ; The alteration of present timetables to allow a rapid service. between Napier and Wellington by way of tho Manawatu, is Departmentally argued ' to be impracticable if the interests of Wairarapa and country residents aro to bo considered. Some important questions in relation to the Anglican Church in New Zealand will bo discussed at conferences, to bo held in Christchurch next week. On Wednesday next the .Maori; Mission Board will meet, and on the following day tho Divinity Degrees Commission will assemble. The commission was sot up by tho General Synod, which mot in Dunedin m 1907 to colisidor tho question of conferring theological degrees in Now Zealand, and report to tho next General Synod, which will _meet in this city in February next. Parliament has refused to permit tho Senate of the University to confer these degrees, and it .has now to bo decided whether the Church shall grant them. A meoting of bishops will also bo held in Christchurch, at which the resignation of Bishop Williams, of Waiapu, will probably be accepted. The election of a successor to Bishop Williams will be a matter for tho Diocesan Synod to arrange. Other matters to bo considered in Christchurch are the Mission of Help, which is to visit the Dominion next year from England, and the possible devising of a better systom_ of appointing Primates. At present the Primate is elected, when a vacancy occurs, by tho General Synod, and a majority of all three orders is required for his election. If after threo ballots no bisliop has obtained tho requisite majority of tho Primacy falls to tho sonior bishop. Tho system is not considered altogether satisfactory, and a committee was set up by the last General Synod with the object of discovering some bettor procedure. Bishop Wallis and the Revs. A. M. Johnson, T. H. Sprott, and C. C. Harper (Palmcrston North) will attend the Christchurch meetings. There aro two elements in tea—thoino and tannin; thoino has'tho stimulating effects for which wo alono drink tea. Tannin produces dyspepsia, and is, tkoreforo, injurious to,'tho systoiu. Tho percentage of thoino in teas varies, and the variation is jeeording to tho quality. Thoino is the attract from tho leaf, and puro toU must consist wholly, of leaf and littlo or nothing of fibre'..and' dust. Crescent Blend Tea is all leaf; it is exnuisito in flavour, rioh, and of full strength, Croscont Tea canUvalos tho pal&U. All grocers, at 2s. per Lb, <

It is stated on good authority that two of the leading local legal firms—Messrs. im t - t Wylio and Messrs - Chapman and Tripp—intend shortly to amalgamate.

lho postal authorities advise that tho Maitai, which loft Suva on Friday, May 14, for Auckland, has on board a Vancouver mail, which is duo in Auckland to-day.

At tho Supreme Court.this morning sentence will bo passed on tho following prisoners: George Richardson, forgery at Mangaweka; Arthur Frake, theft and forgory at Napier; John T. Driscoll, theft from a dwelling at Wellington; Rose M'lnnes, making a falso statement on oath at Hastings; and George Allen, forgory and uttering at Carterton. A largo number of important resolutions passed by tho recent Conference of Chambers of Commerce wore forwarded to tho Prime Minister some littlo timo ago. Sir Joseph has replied formally acknowledging the receipt of the same. Among those ho has singled out for his own "special attention" is that ono protesting against the Saints' days being observed as bank holidays.

Says our Lovin correspondent: "On Monday evening a letter was read at the Borough Council from the General' • Manager of Railways, stating that it was deemed advisable to facilitate tho watering of tho engines on tho North Island Main Trunk express at Levin, and offering to take in a supply of 3,000,000 gallons per annum, at S)d. per 1000 gallons. Tho council resolved to accept the proposal. This will mean tho Alain Trunk express's stopping at Levin— but we must got the water laid on first." Tho Masterton County Council having appealed against the apportionment for the year 1909-10, on account of an amount of £1800 being included in the estimates for tho maintenance of tho Victoria Homo, an institution hitherto maintained by the Wellington Hospital Trustees, the Minister for Hospitals and Charitable Aid has requested this board to appoint a commissioner to sit with Dr. M'Arthur, as president, and a commissioner appointed by the Masterton County Council, to hear the appeal. Tho next ordinary meeting of this board will bo held at tho secretary's offico on Thursday, May 27, at 11.45 a.m., at which meeting such appointment will bo made. At a meeting of the Alfred Hill Complimentary Concert Committee held' last evening, the Programme 1 Committee submitted a skeleton programme! which is to include at least four orchestral items. On the motion of the chairman (Mr. J. W. Joynt) it was decided to. write asking the co-operation of tho Wellington Professional Orchestra in the orchestral part of the programme. Several additional offers of assistance from artists of high standing wcro received and referred to tho Programmo Committoo for consideration. Mr. H. Plimmer was appointed secretary of tho Concert Committee. .

Cabinet yesterday authorised the expenditure of £760 on the Midland Railway, £1412 on post and telegraph stores; rebuilding Geraldme School, £315; and' the following sums out of roads and bridges 'votes :yRoading Braebnrn Settlement, £250; Rangitikei Bridgo, £750; Waihekupa Bridge, £400; Kumara - Springfield Road, £400; Kaikoho-Mangakahia Bead, £250; Pu-. nai , Bridgo, £900; Otorohanga-Pirongia Road, £300; Ohura Bridge,-£3OO Kakalii Bridge, £300; Hauturu Road, £350; Napier Wairoa Road, £250; Karana Road and Bridge, £300;,- Gisborne-Hungaroa Road, £300;,Horopito Block Road, £978 15s: Buller River Road, £250; Marangao Block Road, £500; Lee River Block Road, £500 Runanga Township-roads, £1000; Belgrove-Wostport-Roofton Road; £450; Wangiuini River Bridge, £1000. A tender was accepted for the Waiau Road and Railway Bridge. Professor DavH was a guest of the Amateur Association in Sydney recently at their annual dinner. Naturally speakers devoted considerable ,• attention to the subjects of fish and the fishing industry. Professor David said that. there was no doubt'that the waters of tho Antarctio Ocean teemed with animal life; in which fish was largely" represented. All the fish that tho party were'able to catch were not only, edible . but -, uncommonly good eating. Professor David went.on~.to explain that by moans of an.ingenious trap devised by Mr. Douglas Mawson they were able, by baiting with: seal flesh, to mako very, fine catches. This'.':means,'- however, entailed, considerable labour, as it'.meant brcakiug through 6ft. or 7ft. of ice. There were some very largo fish, remarked the professor, which wore formidable indeed. Some of the party had a somewhat terrifying experience with Irillcr i whales. A few members of the expedition found themselves afloat on an ico floe drifting out' to tho open sea. . To add to tho dramatic situation, ,the floe was surrounded by a numbor of these killers. Every now and again one of thesd monsters would view the castaways with glassy eye. as they nosed around the odgo of tho floe; It was disconcerting in the extreme, added Professor David,. for Jf ■ thoy could not catch seals they would not turn'their noses up at man. They had an opportunity once of watching due of these killer whales grab at an unsuspecting seal on ,a\ floe. The huge teeth, however, only grasped the fur; but, added tho professor, when the seal sized up the situation it did one of the fastest quartermiles inland oh record for an Antarctic handicap.