LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Evening Post, Volume LXVI, Issue 45, 21 August 1903, Page 41

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

In the House of Representatives yesterday the Arbitration Court Emergency Bill, the Supreme Court Judges Bill, and the Shipping and Seamen Bill were read a. second, time. The new clause proposed to be added to the Inspection of Machinery Act Amendment Bill now before the Legislative Council, intended to enable a certificate of service to rank with a certificate of competency, was reviewed yesterday by those members of the Wellington Employers' Association who are employers of engine-drivers. It was argued that the effect of the new clause would be serious, inasmuch that it would destroy the existing classification, and a man who had never been anything else than a. fireman could rank equally with an expert tradesman. It was resolved to interview the Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones in opposition to the clause, and also make representations to members of the Legislative Council. The Secretary of State for the Colonies has informed the New Zealand Government that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty are pleased to approve of the sons of officers in the permanent naval and military forces in New Zealand, if exclusively employed as such, being eligible for the privilege of admission to the OsSorne or Britannia Colleges on the reduced charges of £40 a year, under the same conditions as naval and military officers of the Imperial forces. The number of such cadets to whom tihis privilege can be granted is strictly limited, and in the selection of candidates regard is paid solely to the pecuniary circumstances of the cadet. It will, of course {says Mr. Chamberlain), he understood that no preference can be given on account of the fact that the candidate for the reduced scale of pay has receiveda colonial nomination. The Government has officially recognised the Wairarapa Public School Cadet Battalion with the following officers: Henry A. Parkinson (Greytown Public School Cadets) to command ; Andrew N. Burns (Masterton High School) to be adjutant; W. H. Jackson (Masterton High School) to be quartermaster. The next examination for surveyors under the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors and Board of Examiners Act will be held in Wellington, beginning on Tuesday, 22nd September next. •At Messrs. Macdonalcl, Wilson and Co.'s land sale yesterday the total amount paid for the Bishop estate was £7001. The land and residence of Mr. Justice Edwards, which has a frontage of about 200 ft to Hill-street, -was passed in at £3600. At a meeting of the Welbngton District Hospital Board to-day the matter of extending the Otaki hospital was postponed ior another three months. The recent storm did damage to the 'Napier harbour works to the amount of about £150. A slight?" subsidence of the pell-mell apron took place, about twentyseven old rails were torn off the breakwater, four temporary blocks and staging thereunder on the end of breakwater were capsized, and four blocks were also washed over the side. A i few store blocks on the set-off were knocked slightly out of line, and a few hundred yards of shingle thrown on to the breakwatei near the root. To-day Herbert George Feltham, chemist, Avas charged under the Sale of Poisons Act, 1871, with having sold prussic acid on the 30th July wifhout having made an entr^ in the book kept for the purpose and as required by the Act. The poison had been purchased by the late Mr. Hugh Vallance, and defendant said that, knowing him well personally, and as he (Mr. Vallance) was in a great hurry that day, he did not get his signature. The Magistrate said the oversight might be very serious in some cases. It might cause a great deal of trouble in a criminal case and might break an important chain of evidence. It was not a mere formality, as some people thought. Defendant was fined 20s and 7s costs. An open meeting of journalists under the auspices of the Wellington Branch of the New Zealand Institute of Journalists will be held at the Press Room, Parliamentary Buildings, to-morrow evening. Mr. T. L. Mills will read a paper ''Some Troubles of Young Newspaper Men." All journalists are invited to attend.

The visiting players in the Ladies' Ilockey tournament are to be the guesus at a ball in the Sydney-sk-eet Schoolroom. The arrangements are in the lianas of a committee consisting of Messrs. G. N. Arber, C. E. Bridge, C. E. Finch, F. B. Haxvey, F. C. Bjorring, N. W. Kelson, E. Rawson, E. J. R«id, A. li. M. Ehind, A. Sclanders, R. N. K. Swanston, R. M. Tolhurst. Mesdames Finch, H. Rawson, and Rhind and Misa Coates will act as chaperones. We have been requested by the Public Trustee to state that the application by Mr. H. B. Crawford, of Timaru, for an older of the Supreme Court directing >the payment to him of a sum of money held by the Public Trustee is unopposed. The money was paid in under the Public Works Act against the wish of 'the Public Trustee, who from the first recognised that the monty was Mr. Crawford's. Once money is paid into the Public Trust Office under this Act an order of tho Court is required before it tan be paid out again. The order in this ease was for payment of £323 8s 9d, being part of compensation for land taken for th« Oamaru railway station. A Pahiatua firen — Messrs. Gilderd and Gore — have introduced to the market au invention which several of the medioai faculty have recommended as being especially suitable for tho hospital or private house. It is in the form of a port, ablo commode, so designed that the patentoes claim it to be absolutely sanir tary and without nuisance. It has been recommended by Dr. Dawßon, of Pahiatua, and Mr. Gore, one of the patentees, is in Wellington with a specimen of tho invention. An advertisement olsewhero gives further details. The s.s. Duchess will run excursions to Day's Bay to-morrow at 10 a.m. and 2.30 p.m. The Duco will make a trip to the Bay at 1.15 p.m. Full time-table appeara in another column. Messrs. R. Hannah and Co., 28, Cubastreet, direct attention to some desirable footwear for girls and children. Joh E. Lindberg, tho Cheap Cash Dra. pep, Cuba-street, announces having received ex B.s. Paparoa, a large consignment of new goods to be offered at sale priceß with " discount stamps tomorrow. Now is tha time to have your cycla overhauled. We enamel and plate machines for 30b; free wheels from 30s ; repairs to all makes of cycles. Oates -Lowry and Co., Cuba-street.— Ad^!.