LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 98, 22 October 1904, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

• The Licensing Bill was the piece de resistance in the Legislative Council yesterday. The bona fide traveller was abolished, and the institution known as Bellamy's was put on a level w.ith the ordinary hotel as far as the sale of liquor is concerned. The Cook Islands and Local Elections Bills were put through final stages, and the Shops and Ofhues, Mining Act Amendm and Public Officers Appointment and Powers Bills were read a second time. In the House an interesting debate (reported fully in another column) took place on the report of the Commerce Committee on the contract with the Federal Company for the West of England service. The Native Lands Rating Bill was put through final stages, and the Plumbers' Registration Bill was; read a second time. The chemists of the city assembled last night in the Pharmacy Board-room to discuss the annual report of their association, and to elect officers for the ensuing year. Mr. Wallace was elected President, Messrs. M'Kenzie and F. Castles Vice-Presidents, and Mr. Arthur Hobson Hon. Secretary and Treasurer. " Reciprocity among colonial chemists " will be the subject for discussion at the next monthly meeting. Dissatisfied, apparently, w.ith the action of the Education Board, which, on the advice of its inspectors, decided that one central High School for the Hutt district would meet the needs of the case, a Pctono deputation yesterday interviewed the Minister for Education and asked for assistance in the purcKase of a property for the purposes of a High School for Petone. It was urged that the Petone School was overcrowded, and that there were sixty-five pupils ready to receive higher education. Mr. Seddon said he was willing to assist in giving all the facilities for higher education provided for by Act, and he asked to be supplied with details of the proposed scheme of acquiring property, in order that he might bring it before Cabinet. A young man named Sydney Baxter, who said he came from New South Wales six weeks ago, was this 'morning sent to gaolby Dr. A. M'Arthur, S.M., for 14 days' hard labour on a charge of having stolen articles of clothing valued at 28s, belonging to John Maxwell For insobriety William MTtfeekin and John Casey were each convicted and discharged. One Srst-oSmding inebriate was fined &, in default 24 hours' imprisonment. Partly made-up robes in boxes at the exceptionally attractive price of 19s 6d each are offered by Kirkcaldie and Stains, Ltd. The skirts are made in the prevailing styles and daintily tucked, material and trimming for bodice is supplied. Turn to page 7 for details.— Advt.

The cases of infectious di&eases reported to the Public Health Department this week are as follows : — Wellington j Scarlet fever, 3 ; diphtheria, 2 ; total, 5. Hutt County : Nil. Something like twenty-five summonses have been taken out by the Corporation officers against owners of stock found wandering within the Melrose Ward of the city. The Customs revenue collected at th» port for tiie week totalled £20339 5s lid, and the beer duty £146. To-day's Customs returns amounted to £1875 4a 3d. On Monday morning at 10.30 the Full Supreme Court will give judgment in th« case of Fairburn v. Stead, affecting bookmakers' rights on racecourses. Th« Appeal Court will give judgment tha same day in: — Lee Smith v. Christie, Bell v. Wilson and another, and Beet* j ham. v. Bell and other*. At the Old-age Pensions Court this} morning an elderly man named William Henderson was refused the grant by JL>r. A. M'Arthur, S.M., on the ground that he had been convicted of vagrancy several months ago, and had failed to main.* ,tain his child, which is under fourteen years' of age. The tender of Mr. R. A. WaJselin, of Wellington, at £416, has v been accepted by the Public Works Department for ths supply of fittings, etc., for the Mines Department's laboratory, Sydney-street. Other tenders are: banders Bros., Wellington, £477; Brown and Johnston, Wellington, £498; A. Wilkening, Island. Bay, £553; J. Reneuf, Wellington,, £888. In connection with, the male voice choii' now being formed to take part in tha evening concert of the new Town, Hall, 'Opening ceremonies, tenors and basses willing to become members are notified that applications must be sent to the conductor, Mr. Maughan Barnett, not later than Tuesday next. The first rehearsal will take place on Friday evening next at the Dresden Rooms. The drawing of the art union in connection with the late Garrison. Band and Football Bazaar is to take place nextt Tuesday evening at bt. Peter's Schoolroom. The articles left over at the various stalls will be sold by auction during the evening. The Garrison Btad will be in attendance, and will enliven the proceedings with selections. The public are invited to attend at tha Socialist Hall, Cuba-street, on Sunday evening, when Mr. Hampton will deliver an address entitled "Is there need for an Independent Labour Party?" Socialists are invited to attend at the Cuba-street) Hall on Monday evening at 8 o'clock for the half-yearly meeting. Sunday-school anniversary services will be held in the Terrace Congregational Church to-morrow, and the annual tea and public meetings will be held on Tuesday next. This is the Diamond dubiles of the Sunday-schooL Special music will be rendered by the scholars, assisted by the choir and an orchestra. The Young Men's Christian Associa« tion, which has made such rapid progress during the two years of its existence, is making arrangements to celebrate its second anniversary. A Gospel service will be held in the Opera House on Sunday evening, when Mr. A. Jolly will speak on "The Tragedy of the First Temptation.'.' The second anniversary will be celebrated on Thursday in Wesley Church by a tea and public meeting, at which, Reva. P. W. Fairolough and feaac Jolly, M.A., of Palmerston North, will speak. To-morrow will be "Children's Day" at St. James's Presbyterian Church, Ade-laide-road. Three services Trill be held, at .which specially selected hymns will be euiig by the scholars and congregations. On Wednesday there will follow a tea for scholars, and a children/s entertain* ment for friends. The President of the Bible-in-Schoola Conference (Rev. Dr. Gibb) has "written as follows to the Premier: — "St. John'i Manse, Wellington, 20th October, 1904: The Right Hon. R, J. Seddon, Prime Minister: Dear Sir, — I am instructed by the Executive of the Bible-m-Schools Conference to express their earnest hope and desire that notwithstanding Wednesday night's voting in the House, 4 the Referendum Bill may become law this session. You are of course awaxe that the inter«*t felt by the Executive and the very great number of citizens ■whom they represent in the fat* of the Bill is due elmost exclusively t» the fact that* it 'makes provision for submitting, by simple resolution of both. Houses, the question of Bible lessions in schools to the decision of the electors. May we, therefore, respectfully suggest that if there ia any danger of the BuT« failing to pass, it is not too late to bring in and carry through Parliament a short measure making provision for a plebiscite on the Bible question apart from any other. It seems to us a thousand pities that our clear-cut and definite issue should be complicated by being mixed up with the variety of issues in the Bill now before the House. W« should have held our peace about this, however, if the Bill had gone, through without a hitch — for the sate of the matter which we have so much at heart we shall be thankful if the Legislature accepts the Bill in the form in which ii was submitted by the Government. But surely after the promises made by yourself and others, we have a right to expect that in one way or another Parliament will this session take such step! as are necessary to enable the people to decide whether or not lessons from tha Scriptures aro to form part of the curriculum of the public schools of the colony. There can, I presume, be no objection t« the publication of this letter, and 1 shall accordingly send a copy of i v t<p ( he press." The Theatre Royal platform will be occupied tq-morrow (Sunday) evening by ( Professor Bickerton, of Christchurch, wha will lecture on "The Natural Human Life." Professor Bickerton presents hit subjects in attractive and instructive form, and should attract much attention. On Friday evening he will lecture *n tht New Centu,ry H>ll on "How Stars arc ' Made." "Dickenstown," the title of the bazaal to be held in the Drillshed early next month, promises to attract a lot of at tention. The construction party is just finishing the stalls, which represent old buildings in Dickens's works— -Peggothy't boathouse, Blue Dragon Tavern, Old! Curiosity Shop, White Hart Inn, etc.— and should make a unique and pleasimj effect. There are to be 150 assistants dressed to represent characters selected' from the novelist's works. A meeting of the Building Trade* La bourers' Union ifi td be held in its room! in Willis-street neifc Tuesday evening. The attention of members of the John eonville Cricket Club is drawn to tw* notices in anothei column. Mr. R. M'Nab, M.H.R. for Mataun* is to give an address in Victoria Hall Newtown, this evening, on "Absolut* Majority and Preferential Voting." Dr Findlay is to preside, and it is prob able that Sir Joseph Ward will be present. Mr. M'Nab will illustrate his subject on the blackboard, and by means oi a mock ballot. The railway arrangements in connection with the Cartertou Show next week are advertised to-day. The Health Department cannot find better than Defiaocb Fatter, It is always, fresh and has the finest flavour.— Advt s

"Mrs. Pearson desires to acl.now ledge ■Überal contributions from tbo following wholesale houses, in aid of Ihe Nursing Guild bazaar . — Messrs. Ross and Glen'ieiining; Bing, Harris and Co. ; Mao kay, Steen and Co.; Arch. Clark and i^onet; and George and Doughty Ratepayers of the Karori district who »ire in favour of obtaining better communication with the city are requested to meet at the refreshment next lo Lee's store, on Monday evening, to discuss the matter. Munt, Cottrell, and Co., general carriers, Customs and forwarding agents. Storage a speciality. Furniture packed md removed. Office ; Queen's Chambers; Telephone No. 23.— Advt. Furniture carefully packed, stored, and removed by experienced men; special low rates. New Zealand Express Company, No. 20, Customhouse-quay. Telephone 92. -Advt. Afternoon Tea*— At O. Smith's, CnbaI'troet, ladiea oan see the prettiest assortment of pure linen afternoon tea oloths, hemstitched and embroidered; also 9. few handsome embroidered linen bedspreads, doylies, and duchess runners, etc. These goods are the best value we have yet seen, And Are confidently recommended. Blouse muslins, delaines, voiles, silks, etc., in freat variety of design and colouring, pots everywhere, but no spot better than our Cuba-street shop for a grand seleotion ■t moderate prices. — O. Smith. — Advt.