LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 826, 26 May 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

3 . In Hie course of his speech at Hokitikii las tniglit the Prime Minister said the Government had asked Lord Kitchener lo recommend un officer of high standing and ability to take charge of the territorial forces in New Zealand, and wero expecting advico at any time now. "This is tho first timo that many Maoris have scon anything in the wav »f a unmet in the sky," said v.u educated Southern Maori, when speaking lo a "Press" reporter on Monday, lie wont nu to say that they did not rcgim! Halley's comet with any dread, but one of their traditions was Ihat any unusual display in the sky portended' sonii! remarkable occurrence. The Southern .Maoris bad, when tlie- ronicl first made it* appearance, believed (hat it portended (he death of some prominent persnu;i!,M\ and they were qnile satisfied Hint Hie death of Kin;; Kclward was a fullilment of their apprehensions. Speaking to oui representativn yesterday the Hon. .1. A. Millar (.Minister for li.i'ilivnys) remarked that he would prolialily be able, in a few tlayj , lime, (o :;hv his replies In the rcpreientalions which were recently made to him by, tiits executive of thn Amalgamated Society of Kailwny Servants.

Tho circumstances attaching to tho al-1 leged assault of the footballer Eider at tho llntt last Saturday will coino before the magistrate on June G. That conscience which is said to make cowards of us all lias made a bravo man of at least one member of tho community. The Eev. Father O'Connell has, on bchnlf of a member of the Honian Catholic Church, luimlcd to the Phoenix Fire Insurance Company a chorine for .£3so—conscience money. Any insurance manager can testify that on many occasions money has had to bo paid out under circumstances which are known to be of a doubtful character, but 'it is seldom indeed that such an act of restitution is recorded as tho ono under notice. It is understood that the Libraries and Museum Committee of the City Council, which held a meeting yesterday, is not prepared to recommend the appointment of a paid scientific curator for the Newtown Museum. It is considered that the classification of exhibits, which is admitted to ho necessary, can be carried out without incurring the expense of such an appointment. A classiiication of tho IJunodtii Museum was performed some time ago by students of the university, who were glad to gain tho experience of carrying out sucli a work under tho direction of Professor Parkes. It is possible that somo such method may be suggested to the City Council for classifying the museum at Newtown, and it is further expected that when the estimates for the year are brought down provision will be made for more attention being given to the museum, without the expense of appointing ft Hcientitic curator. Politics were humorously introduced into the proceedings at last night's meeting of the Wellington Acclimatisation. Society. As on many former occasions Mr. Bruce, of Kaugitikei, had given what he described as his annual account of his stewardship—au interesting story of the numbers and condition of native and imported game in his district. In replying to a vote of thanks for his address, Mr. Bruce said that nothing gave him greater pleasure than to meet his brother naturalists at each annual meeting. It was a pity, ho said, that town dwellers did not have greater opportunities to study the glories of forest life. "Now, I don't want to introduce polities," ho continued, "but I do think that when any of them do come out into the forests they should take their politician friends with them. Some politicians nowadavs think that they can do practically anything by Act of Parliament. (Laughter.) After spending any length of time in a forest they would learn what a great conflict is ever going on thcTe between organism and organism. And so it is in connection with man—Nature's highest product. Yet these same politicians think that they can interfere with the operations of Nature by legislation. Why, I would not have been surprised i£ a law had been passed to see that the comet. did not come anywhere near the earth. (Laughter.) Nor would it have astonished me if a Royal Commission had been set up to ascertain the length of its tail." (Renewed laughter.) Upon inquiry yesterday, a Dominion reporter was informed by the Hon. D. Buddo (Minister for Public Health) that no additional cases of plague had occurred at Auckland, also that the two laundrymeu affected were doing as tvell as could be expected. Owing to absence from town the Hon. J. A. Millar (Minister for Marine) will be unable, for some time to come, _to meet the deputation from Foxton, which ■n-as recently appointed to interview him with reference to the control ofToiton Wharf. Speaking of Government'land ballots, at a meeting of farmers in Tiinaru recently. Mr. John Talbot said he was sure tho Farmers' Union was in accord with tho generally expressed desire that the ■ acquiring of land for subdivision should bo energetically proceeded with. They must recognise, however, that to do so meant still further increasing their borrowing, unless the option wero given to the i present leaseholders of buying the freehold as they became in a position to do so. This, ho thought, might be dono with advantage to the State and parties concerned. It is understood that tho extensive staging which was erected in the Parliamentary grounds in regard to tho memorial service in connection with the death of King Edward will be left undisturbed for tho ceremony in connection with the official welcome of the now Governor (Lord Islington) to New Zealand. Tho successful tenderers in connection with the construction of several small lengths of tho Wostport-Inangalma railway aro as under:—No. 1 contract, Messrs. M'Williams and Andrews, .€4708; No. 2 contiact, Mr. P. M'Lellan iMOS; No. 3 contract, Mcisrs. B. Hannon and Co.; No. i contract, Messrs. H. H. D'Brien and Co. .£3531; No. 5 contract, Messrs. M'Williams and Andrews £Wia; and No. G contract, Messrs. E. H. O'iSrien and Co. .£l9-14. 4bout X members attended the monthly meeting of the Wellington Accountant Students' Society last evening, when tenminute papers were read by Messrs. 1. eA. Allen, F. A. Snoad, R. W. Nelson, A. 1). Barclay, and E. Cumming. The papers wero subject to a full discussion, and the writers wero accorded hearty votes of thanks. The papers are to be printed in the joint transactions., Jlr. A. J. Petherick occupied the chair. The Tourist Department is engaged in the preparation of a handbook which will present in a compact form information that will servo as a directory to the trout streams, stalking districts, and other spots offering sport. "To date 130 boys have been received on board the Government training ship Amokura (says tho annual report of tho Wellington branch of the Navy League) of whom 60 still remain; 55 have been found berths at sear -18 of whom wero placed in the merchant Rerrico, and others in his Majesty's service. The smallness of the Amokura must still be felt very acutely by all on board, and it is regrettable that the ship will not ■ permit of schooling for boys, some of ■ whom have no doubt received but scant i education. A shore establishment (on sim- ' ilar lines to the Navy League's Sen-train- ! ing Homo at Liscard, Cheshire) run in ■ conjunction with the Amokura and in ! close proximity to it should overcome : these diflicuUios: and at a minimum of ; cost would bo the means of extending ■ and popularising the sea-training move- ■ ment. The practical work of the ship ; should have a very lasting'effect on the . boys, owing to the nature of the voyages which are of lengthy duration and in very buisteroiis latitudes. It is a notc- ■ worthy fact that tho Amokura has covi ?reil upwards of 1 b,5(.0 miles, and has ' been steered continuously by tho boy . sailors." "Thn recent adoption by this Dominion of universal military training and the spread of the Boy Scout movement are •says the annual Tcport of the Navy League) matters for warm congratulation if only from tho point of view of the inculcation of self-reliance and discipline (iinnng our younger generation." Mr. R. A. Kcenan, v secretary to the Wellington Orphans' Club, has received h communication from Sir Joseph Ward accepting office as, patron of the Orphan's Club. Tho \ Prime Minister and other members of the Ministry will, in all probability, be present at tho concert to mark the official opening of tho club on June ■! in the Marine Institute, Mnlgrave Street. A programme of ex- ■ ceptional excellence has jwen prepared, ' and, altogether a most enjoyable evening ' is anticipated. Visitors' tickets arc ob- . tiiinable from any member of tho committee. Some time ago Count Morner, Danish 1 Consul-General for Australasia, visited the various districts of New Zealand and ' Australia,"and as a result of his tour ' forwarded advices home to Denmark stnt- ■ ing that the labour market in thesu col--1 onies wns in a very depressed state, and - warning intending immigrants against ■ cumint; here. This report raised a pro- ' test in Australasia, and the subject was I hotly debated in recent cablegrams. A ■ letter h:is now been received by Mr. IT. ' B. Sorcnson, Dimifli Consul for tho South s Island, from the Danish Minister of For- ■ oigu Affairs, asking if Count Mornur's ■ pessimistic icport is justified, and re--1 questing him to forward further informai tion on the matter. Mr. Sorenseu is at present engaged in collecting the required . information, and will in due course for- • ward it to the right quarter. Shampooing, Clipping, Hairdresaing, > Manicuring. i.''a<* Massage. Treatment of > Falling Hair, and Dandruff. Combings ', made up. Natural Hair-pads. Mrs. • Rollestoii (over Carroll's), 14 WiJJis Btreet. 'Phono 1509.—Advt,

. Owing to the death of Mr. A. I. Littlejohn, senior vice-president of tlie Chess Club, tlie chess match arranged for tonight is postponed. • Found guilty of manslaughter, Eobert Corkill will como before the Chief Justice (Sir Eobert Stout) for sentence at 10 o clock on Saturday. The following prisoners, who have pleaded guilty to the oftencßs charged against them in tlio Blenheim Magistrate's Court, will al«) bo seiil-on«"(l on Saturday :—Albert AVilliam Foou-, alias Jennings, alias Leighton (breaking and entering and theft), and Henry Gordon (breaking and entering and theft). Tho criminal list of the Supreme Court may bo disposed of to-dav. with tho exception of a retrial, ordered for Wednesday next, in tho ease, of Alice Mary Ausnee, charged with performing an illcal operation. At 1(1 o'clock this morning, before the Chief Justice and a jury, Lberhardt Ferdinand Kemicr will lie charged with having committed arson at Wadestown. Eennc-r wds tried at the February sittings, but the jury which heard tho case then did not agree upon a verdict, 'fho only other case still to bo heard is that of I'ercival M'Kcrnan Braithwaite, who is charged with theft at Wellington. The Orepuki "Advocate" learns that additional plant for the Orepuki Smelting Works is now on tho way from England. An amusing illustration of the strongly-marked individualism of a young New Zealander occurred on the 9 o clock train to Papatootoe on Monday (says ' the "Auckland Star")- At Newmarket a boy of about five years of age boarded the train, and commenced walking from one end to the other of the train, passing from carriage to carriage with perfect ease.'i Finally soma passengers stopped the child, and in response to. questions elicited, his namo and address, also the fact that he was going to Palmerston North, and that his mother was at home. He was then handed over to tlio guard for safe-keeping. Tho latter remarked that he had noticed the child board the train at Newmarket, but as there' was a gentleman getting on at the same time, he naturally inferred that the boy was with him. _ The rabbit eiport trade in Southland is reviving, and .exporters state that "bunny" is coming to hand in good quantities now. This is doubtless in, some measure duo to the depreciation whicL has taken place in tho value of rabbitskins on tho London market, and reflected locally, causing trappers to abandon skinning and resume railing to the works. A peculiar feature of the trapping industry (says the "Southland News") is, that many of tho best and most successful trap"pers are still skinning, and have not'so far been persuaded to again patronise the freezing works. The trade at present is largely maintained by men who have not hitherto thought the industry sufficiently remunerative to embark in it. There are several centres in tho North Island which the Hon. E M Kenzio (Minister for Public Works) would like to visit in the immediato future, but he does not think that he vrill have an opportunity to do 60 before the ensuing session. • , The Harbour Board's summary of working for the-six months ended March 31, 1910, was adopted at last night's meeting. In tho following parcituiars, the figures in parentheses are those for the corresponding period of the previous year:—Number of vessels arriving, 1781 (1756); tonnage, 1,493,961 (1,532,493). Tonnage of goods inwards: Foreign, GO.Oll (73,315); colonial and coastal, 80,355 (78,905; transhipments, 68,053 (62,385); totals, 208,419 (214,605). Tonnage of general goods outwards: Foreign, 23,540 (21,643); colonial and coastal, 53,465 (52,931); totals, 77,005 (74,574). Wool exported, 138,151 bales (increase, 3287 bales); hemp, 53,721 bales (increase, 15,613 bales). Coal was imported to the amount of 232,808 tons, an increase of 27,653 tons. The Harbour Board has decided to ask the Arbitration Court for an interpretation of Clause 15 of the Wellington harf Labourers' Award. This clause provides that "in loading or unloading cargo j -..,,! ...a truck-load:for oie man shall, as near as practicable, not exceed skwt." Casks of cement are the cause of the difficulty. The yweigkt 3Jcwt. each, and it is stated that hitherto it has been customary to treat two as a truck-load, but objection has been taken to this practice, Hence tho decision to seek an interpretation of the clause. By the Moeraki yesterday there arrived in Wellington, en route to Tahiti, thirteen Chinese—five men and eight women. These will embark on the Mokoia to-morrow for their island horned Tahiti is being rapidly populated by Chinese, who are reported to be making a prosperous living. Some of the women of tho party are wives, while others are proceeding to join prospective husbands. Yesterday morning at tho Mount Cook Police Court, before Mr. Thomas Bland, J.P., J. O'Neill Bell, charged with insobriety, was convicted and discharged. G. Pouman, for drunkenness, was fined 10s., in default 48 hours' imprisonment. In tho case of two first offenders, one was fined 10s., in default 18 hours' imprisonment. Tho other , was convicted and discharged.