LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 638, 15 October 1909, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A claim for compassionate allowanco was received by Parliament from the -ividow' of the » te Mr. James, S.Mi, of Masterton, yesterday Iho petitioner stated that her husband was in the .public servico for 42 years. 'It was hie intention during his last .illness to retire, but betore . the - necessary arrangements 'could, bo concluded ho passed away. , Had his services been dispensed with ho would have been en.titled to over ,£2000: She had only recoived as compassionate, allowance the sum of representing two years' Salary. . Iα view of' tho loiiL-period that he had beon in the service, and Uio ouicient manner in which ho had per. formed his duties, she prayed that, a further sum should he allowed W. '■.■■■

.Tho_visiting delegates to the.Empire Chambers of Commerce Congress, who are in Christchurch will arrive, in Wellington on Sunday morning by the Maori. In the afternoon are to ho taken for a ': motor-car "it ti,' m P\ er arrangement wtn the Wellington Automobile Club calling on the return at Mr. John Dutbie's rtsidenco at Nai Nai, where they are to be entertained at tea.' So far'the programme for Monday has not.been definitely arranged, but the visitors are to be entertained at dinner m the evening. On Tuesday the party leaves for the north, and, divides at Mmerston North, one section will remain : there for the day, .while .the other will continue on to Feilding. In both, instances the visiting delegates will' he, the guests of the local chambers of commerce. . .

Island oranges have been bringing bigprices' at the , local fruit exchange during tho past week, the range being from 155..t0 13s. i>cr case, with plenty of demand at those prices .New Zealand has now a further .competitor for island produce in the new direct service from Melbourne, and it is anticipated.that fruit from the islands will generally be dearer than in tho past. . > ,

Adenoids wera spoken of by Dr. Truby. King in his lecture last evening as ouo of the most common troubles of young peoplci "In some districts," he said, "the difficnlty is h>fine, a boy or..a girl who is not , so afflicted." During the lecture photographs illustrating the serious effects, of aneroids on the lungs and brain were-shown; ,Tho ilootor pointed • out that, if children were brought up under com-mon-sense principles,'actehoirs i\ud" similar growths would disappear. ; "■■:•'. ~-.'.

'.'So far.there' hiive been no applications fov actual cremation," remarked Dr. Newman when discussing the: city's new, crematorium yesterday. Ur. Wewman : pointed out that a considerable number of inquiries have, been retpived,'which indicate that the crematorium will shortly be used. The inquiries came not oulj lroia. \yeUiugtoDi; but from other ceu.Wfa ' '' ■';'■' ■'".■■; '. :'•■ ' ' ' ■":.■ ..-:

The tramway traffic returns for Labour Day ehow the total receipts to have been JE579, as against .£596 taken on the previous Labour Day. ' ' ■' ■. .-■■.■;.

i A considerable amount of local feoling has arisen in Stratford'over the transfer of some local bankruptcy proceedings to the charge of thp Deputy Assignee at.New Plymouth. The Minister for Justice, on being asked what was the position of affairs, stated yesterday that when tho District Court was abolished it was not intended to interfere with the local administration of. bankruptcy, estates, and that ho intends to issuo circular instructions to the various, registrars of the Suprcirie Court to forward notices of adjudication in bankruptcy to the Deputy Assignee who resides nearest to tho locality lit which tho bankrupt carried on business. ."■• '.'•■ • ■ ■. ■

It is understood that at tho instance of Dr. Findlay, Minister for, Justice, the Judges of the Supreme Court are considering tho framing of a new rule to simplify the procedure in applications for probate and administration. It is proposed , that such applications may be ( transmitted by post to the various registrars of the Supremo Court, instead of being filed personally, by a solicitor as at present. It is' thought that the now practice will provo very convenient, and will tend, to lessen the cost of obtaining probate, etc. The Wesleyan Literary .and Debating Society is the winner for , 1903 of the "Short-paper Tournament" instituted by the Debating Societies' Union, St. Anne's Club having defaulted in tho final event, which was to have taken .place last evening., '■ . ';

.Rail-grinding operations to remove corrugations in the rails aro at presont being conducted by the tramway department in the vicinity of Brougham and l'irio Streets. A fresh supply of carborundum blocks came to hand from' America recently, so that other portions of the lines will also be submitted'to the grinding process during the summer. , The Karori section will' probably be the next treated. . '

The six Judges of tho Supreme Court at present in New Zealand sat in Wellington yestcrday. Their Honours Justices Williams (ActingChief Justice), Denniston, Edwards, Cooper, and Chapman were on the Appeal Court bench* and his Honour Mr.: Justice Sim presided'at a sitting of tho Compensation Court.

■ During the tree-planting operations in' the city last winter tho'.corporation planted over 42,000 trees, comprising from 25 to 30 different species. Of the above total 20,000 haTe been planted-on the slopes of Mount Victoria,, and 12,000 at Kolburno Park, whilst various smaller plantations have been commenced in various 'spaces-about*'tho'city. A largo number of shrubs have also been planted in hitherto waste pieces of land. '"Practically the whole of,the trees are said to havo taken root, and to be doing exceedingly well. A number of the trees planted are of, flowering varieties, and will therefore do something towards beautifying the city when the.trees grow up. ■ v ;

Charges of keeping and selling liquor in a no-Jiceuse district (says- our llasterton correspondent) wilLbo preferred against a board-ingliousc-keeper at the Magistrate's, Court at Masterton on Friday morning: -. . ■

The Brooklyn Baptist Church is , steadily accumulating its, building fund (according to the roport. of the secretary of, the Baptist Union), and confidently hopes to be able, in tho course of a few to call for tenders for its ninbh ; needed building. ... '••-.■..:

"Referring to tho local option poll last November, the reportof the New Zealand Baptist Union says: "We rejoice unfeignedly,in tho marked i advanco registered by tho nolicense cause! In the strenuous fight preceding the poll, our ; ministers and .leading'laymen took a prominent part, and in their efforte were backed by the whole body of our people." .';'.. i : ■'-.■■■

. The committee of the Baptist Union records with pleasure the success which has, attended the publication of the primer on Baptist history by the Eev. A. "Dewdney; of Brooklyn.. "Ho has placed tho denomination under a deep obligation,",says the committee in its report.. .' ■ '„■ ; \ ■....: . '' - : - : '. , ■

, " There are many, large churches in this country, which wish to God they-were smaller in regard to seating accommodation," 6aid tho Rev. J. J. North, at tho Baptist Assembly yesterday, He referred to the heartbreaking experience of preaching to empty benches, and urged that buildings should not be enlarged beyond the '■ needs of their normal congrega■tions. It was better that.new churches.should bo , built in outlying districts. ', ',: '-.■;.' '.' The Cliinaniah. wlio.\vas prevenfe'd from landing from tho'Manuka qn : Wednesday en the grpuild'.'tbatlU«'hadi"l}SeliT(«<a)'."f¥din' l N6w .Zealand'for,mdre than the four years prescribed' in-the .regulations.is,' it appears, quite eligible to.'landi It 6eems that the man has an exemption certificate, vhioh-'holds' good : f6f"t'en years, and which was granted under the former regulations. , ■ .'"'■..' ..■:■•..-,. ...i:'-: ... Passengers. leaving Wellington by the MocraM to-day: will include about 27 Chinese. Ono Chinese family supplies eight of these, the husband, wife, and six children. - : -. •

The nnnuiil conference of the New Zealand ITcderation , of. Builders, and Contractors,, of which Mr. W. A.; W. Grenfcll is general secrotary, will bo held at on November 2. The local delegates' ore Messrs. W. H. Bennett, D, M'Lean, and L.- S. Humphries. ■ The annual mesting of-.the-Wellingtonßuild-ers' nnd..Contractors .Association, which. , was to. have' been held last night,, was. adjourned ■until Thursday next.. ;■'. . > .... .■■.'.;.

'During the current week the annual. "Self Denial" campaign, of the Salvation Army is being conducted throughout : tho: Dominion. At present; little is known of the l progross of tho movement. Tho- anticipation is that in certain -centres .which-have boon affected , by the recent depression,- the results may not be 60 satisfactory, as in previous, years. , The unexpected, however, ol'ton happens, and the Army is out.to.beat previous.records,.-if possible. The final results will : not be known until th 6 end of next week.. .'...■. ■■■•■'■■

I Tho aiinnal: meetings, of. New. Zealand Paptist Women's Missionary' Union were held it Vivian Street'schoolroom yesterday,'simul-. taneously with the session; of tho Baptist Union Conference: In the absence of,tho president (Mrs. H.'Wi Smeetqn) the chair was occupied by Mrs. Kirwocd, ; rice-president for Auckland. The business meeting: was attended by delegates from' the following,branches Nejson, Roslyn, Spreydon, iWanganui, Napier, "Auckland,' Christchurch, Palmerston ; North, Waihi,-jPctone, Berhnmpore, -Pon,sonby, Grange; Rood (Auckland);' Mount Eden, Feilding,' Brooklyn, Hamilton, Thames, Ashburton, and Gisbbrno. Tho business included the reception of secretary's and treasurer's reports, whish were very , satisfactory. Tho'former reported; tho formation of three' new branches, making a total of 32 with a membership of C 42. The financial report showed subscriptions of ,£316, being an incrcaso of nearly ■£113 ovnr last year.'" Tho' election , of. officers resulted as follow •-President,. Mrs. A. North (Auckland)) vice-presidents, Mrs. Kirwood (Auckland), Mrs. Dowdney" (Wellington), Mrs. Wilson (Taranaki), Mrs. Gray (Canterbury), nnd Mrs. lindlay (Otago)j secretary, Miss B- Spedding (Auckland). There was a large attendance at , the public meeting for ladies, held in tho afternoon, inqludinß n number of visitors from other denominations. Mrs. Smeeton's presidential address (read by Mrs. Kirwood) briefly reviewed i the work of tho year and outlined the proposed work for tho coming year. The meeting was also addressed by two returned missionaries, Mrs. Tnklo and Sliss Gains-ford.-Their remarks wero. followed with keen interest. ■■ A eolo, much.enjoyed, was rendered by' Miss Cathie,-arid a happy' meeting was broughtto a close , by tho Benediction;' .

A Gorman battleship, which,' not so very long ago, wns visiting Singapore, recently called at Labuani Tho Resideut; anxious to do nil ho could for the entertainment of tho visitors, on one of the. days'.organised a- shooting expedition which- was ft thorough success and very much enjoyed, albeit only :ono head of deer was snot. One of the officers, eager to possess some memento of tho shoot, , said he would much like to take away the quaintlooking hunting knife which ho noticed was possessed by one of tho Malay beaters. When Ilia wish was interpreted, the Malay oppressed his willingness to part with the knife, whereupon tho officer offered him 3.dollars for the trophy, which-'.was readily accepted by the beater, who assured him, in answer to hie earnest inquiries, that it was a genuine native article.; The officer; much pleased, walked off with his knife,'but-to his amazement and to the -.-Resident's ill-concealed amusement, on drawing the'weapon from its. sheath, ho observed inscribed on the blnde—Mado,in Germany. ' ■ ■ , : .

"To my mind a borough balance-sheet is a most hopeless thing."—The Mayor of Miramar, during; a discission on the tramway accounts or tho borough. .-.-. ■'.•■. Trawling is prohibited . in a portion of Hawke's Hay by a notice in this week's Gazette. ■.•.'.■ ,

■The Havelock Poet Office is nihflo a plnce where miners , rights may be. obtained by'a notice jn the ourrent Gozette.

In correction of a misapprehension, Mr, ll' C. 'iewsley stated at last night's meeting of accountants that he had no sympathy with tho idea that,; because the New Zealand Society of. Acconnlnnta had now been legally constituted, tho older body, the Institute of Account ants, should ■ die out immediately. Ho held strongly that. until tho nuw society, was thoroughly, nnd soundly established, the in-««J«.*l};u«l-continue in itsentiroty and with edr its vitality* ■■ , . - ■ ■

'On, October. 7\lfr, Ct. : H. Heid. M.P. <Ne« South Wales) received::.Aβ'"-following letter from Admiral Sperry, who- commanded,' the American Fleet, which- visited Australia last year:—"U.S. Naval War College, '■ Newport, K. 1., Sept. 3, 1900. Dear. Mr. Iteid,-Your little note.-'expressing satisfaction', with my, remarks in Australia aiid New- Zealand, 'ae one of the publio 'men of Australia,' lies bo. foro .me, and is almost, tho pleasantest souvenir of the visit when coupled withyour article iii the 'North American Review' for last March.. Such Approval coining from one who so fully recognises tho complex political. and diplomatip situation, lying; under tho surface of the sincere and generous hospitality ex. tended, is most grateful. Curiously enough, but happily it seems to be expected with profound conviction iii this country that' the cruiso of that heavy armament promoted, pence, not by reason of its strength, but becau'so of the tone and temper of your people, and of our people, and because no one on either side could believe that cither temper or nialico or pretence had any part in the demonstration. On our part it has created such a trained sea-going body .of seamen and gunners as our navy never beforo possessed. And in.Manila Bay the gunnery scores of the previous year were actually doubled. Tf). have been : instrumental in- sncli snccessfuu'fvprt makes a. very comforting conclusion tive oareer as a naval officer. yours, very sinceroly, C. S. Sperry.'.'.. . . . ■':

On tho morning after tho battle of Bothasbore, when Manie Botha made his ondeayour to; weak through the linVof a "drive," Sergeant IC. Malcolm made a careful sketch of tho ground—a very tragic scene it must have been even after 25 New ( Zoalandors had been buried and 33 more removed from the scene. Sergeant Malcolm has nowi developed his sketch into a , canvas in oils, which ho intends to exhibit in the window of \ Mr. Beadnall's premises, Wellington.' Concerning the picture, Colonel Bauchop states:—"l considor this representation of the ground a good one, and the route accepted' on to tho outpost- line clearly'shown. Also tho position of the trenches coincides with my memory of the place.' Sergeant K. Malcolm, who_ was prominent in the engagement, has a distinct and, clear .vision of the action." > ''.•■. , ' .

The Besses o , th' Barn Band is to pay Auehalia and New Zealand another visit under tho management of Messrs. J. and N. Tait. A champion cornet soloist and other "star" instrumentalists have been specially engaged,' for the tour; which commences in South.Africa next month. After three months 1 in that ceuntry. the famous. band conies on'to Australia. ';.•■.'.■.•..■.■>■ ; '

Entrenched behind batteries of'briefs, and with ponderous tomes beside them,'.the legal fraternity ie Usually represents dat the local hall of justice on days ,wiion civil business is transacted; to the number of twenty odd. But. yesterday, the Magisterial-hall'was overspread' with an unwonted calm—in fact, the rays of. joyous, sunlight, or as many of them Hβ were successful in' eluding the tops of'the! surrounding buildings, were scarcely able to' dispel the gloom: ■„ The liet was unusually short, "and only six or seven, counsel put in an appearance, and even the public gallery, was almost devoid of • occupants. .'The cases woro, as usual, read put seriatim, but case after caso went by without evoking.a. word from tho representatives of the Bar, but at Inst a clear voice broken tho stillntss with "I .ask for judgment,- your Worship.". - The number of solicitors present dwindled.to four, and oventually to two. .The speedy disposal or tho cams,was maintained, with the rather.unusual result that, the undefended liet had been got through in less than 7 forty minutes. ■