LOCAL & GENERAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 7 May 1910, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL.

| If the sky is clear to-morrow morning these who rise early enough will be rewarded by what will probably be a unique spectacle. The three most prominent of night astral bodies, the moon, Venus, and Halley's Comet, will be; grouped within a few degrees of arc in !he Eastern heavens.

Several Ministerial decisions unde: the Customs Duties Act are gazetted.

"You think it a point of honour never :.o give in—to a magistrate."—Mr Haselden, S.M., to irrepressible counsel who persisted in arguing a certain point, j

General orders of the Council of Do fence, just issued, contain the condition for the Empire Day CadelS' Challengt Cup.

It is notified in the "Gazette" that Tuesday, May 24th, being Empire Day, will be observed as a public holiday in *he Government offices throughout the Dominion.

An old age pensioner named Joseph la Roche, alias Diagorne alias Lugun, who, on the 4th inst., was fined £1 for drunkenness, was again before the Magistrate's Court to-day on a similar charge. He pleaded guilty and was linedj £2, in default 7 days' imprisonment. The Magistrate said that he had given the defendant a warning on the 4th, but it had not been heeded, and' the defendant's oension would now be cancelled.

An appropriation in connection with the Nelson Terminating Building Society was drawn last evening. The successful shareholder was Mr. 11. James, tin holder of two shares. Another appropriation will be drawn in about s month's time.

The highest rainfall officially recorded in the North Island for the month of March was 23.26 inches at the Mountain House, North Mount Egmont, the west was'l.27 inches 'at Opau, North Makara. The highest and lowest records for the South Island were: 20.09, :it Otira. and .03 at Waikawa Valley.j Otago.

Luke McGinn, formerly a fireman on the Cormna, whilst sitting in a reflective mood on the edge of the Queen's wharf at noon yesterday, fell into the harbour. He was floating feet upwards when George Jackson, residing at Ghuz-nee-street,' dived in to his assistance. Both men were soon hauled up on to the 'wharf, and appeared to suffer little from the experience. Falling off the wharf is becoming quite a habit at Wellington with some people, remarks the "Times."

Not infrequently there are sent to lis samples of manufactured goods. ! vegetable freaks, etc. The bulk of these, however, are in the nature of patent medicines, which we effectively use to tone down the exuberant spirit? of the office boy. To-day we have been singularly fortunate, and have received a handsome jewel casket, filled with dclieioiys chocolates. This comes from Messrs Cadbury Brothers, and is a sample of the free gift they are making to users of their Bournville Cocoa. The office boy is of opinion that he if not fairly treated. He gets the medicine, and thinks the sweets {should be his too!

Messrs Bisley Bros, and Co. will hold their usual weekly stock sales at their Richmond Yards on Wednesday next.

Ladies will find some exceptionally ■ stylish ready-to-wear Hats shown now at Mrs AnsliceV at very small prices. These pretty hats are all of the latest shaping ■iiid smartest colourings and trimmings Call in mid try on. You'll find caib one moht slylish and reasons nly priced.* A long coat to keep you dry in the wet. and warm in the cold, and always look smart and dressy, is essential td '"very lady. Mrs Ans'ticc is showing ?|

|jvpry fine line of stylish Long Coats ir I all the new winter colourings and shap mgs, and you're invited to call in am try some on. You'll find one hero t< I suit you in style and. price.* | With the cold, wet days coming ahead ione is only too glad to take to a dark warm skirt. There's a splendid seleclioi of smart new dress skirts awaiting yo" :it Mrs Anstice's. These are in black navy, and all stylish and serviceable co Murines and materials, well cut and fi nished. and marked at very small price;. See them now.*

Fifty-six estates of deceased persons 'were placed under the charge of the Public Trustee for management during the month of April, 1910. I "When I entered Parliament," said hit Hogan at the Druids'banquet in Wanganui the other evening, "I thought jit was the most, corrupt body under the sun. Now 1 know that I was wrong) and I can honestly say that the ParliaImcnt of New Zealand is the straightest jffoing Parliament on the face of the jglobe." \ deck passenger (an Indian Runner duck) by the steamer Nikau, jumped overboard at the Queen's wharf tho other morning, and several attempts were made to catch it when it swam near the wharf. The crowd which collected were much amused at the efforts of a poultry expert who endeavoured to 'catch the duck with a fishing line. The Iduck had evidently seen the trick before and ignored the bait. Someone ; spread the rumour that the fun was got lup for a moving picture photographer.— ! "Times."

The grain carried over the railways in Canterbury, Otago, and Southland to date this season is (stated by the "Otago Daily Times" to total over a million and a quarter sacks, which is roughly equal to five hundred thousand sacks more than was carried during the corresponding period of last year. The quantity of grain standing at the various stations is, however, slightly less than was the case at this time last year.

When retrenchment wa|s operating in the Civil Service during the year 1909 a large number cf promotions, and consequent increments, were withheld from railway employees. The Amalgamated Society of Jtailwa'y Servants has on many occasions approached the Minsiter for Railways to secure that the usual proportion of first-grade employees shall be made up bv promotions, and the executive council of the pociety, during an interview with the General' Manager of .Railways on Thursday, says the "Times," was informed that the percentage of first-grade men shall be madeup to 50 per cent, this, year.

Regarding tho wrecked Waikare, the diver on tho scene at Dusky Sound -•iates that the vessel lies hard and fast t>n a hard, sandy bottom, with her foreDortion resting on a rocky ledge. The Httings that have been taken from the Waikare are, so far, only those light in trear and easily removed, but when heavier gear and explosives arrive operations can be carried out on a larger scale, and practically all the interior fitting and cargo will then be rejmoved. Nothing has been decided yet Jin regard to an attempt to salve the Waikare as a whole.

"I have been asked," remarked Mr W. R. Haselden, S.M., at Wellington the other day, "whether I did not pity 'he unhappy creditor who could not meet his engagements because his debtors would not pay him, and I say I do pity him, and if by making an order against the debtor the money would be forthcoming. I would often make tho order. But putting a married debtor into prison and throwing his wife and children on to charity in order to avoid starvation would not help the creditor. That is the fallacy of the judgment summons system. The magistrate only refuses to make an order when the effect would be to deprive the debtor of the means of lievlihodd for himself and family."

The "Outlook" appears this week as a Presbyterian publication pure and simple. The Congregationalists withdrew from their connection with the paper somo time ago, and Methodism has decided to essay a journal of its own. The "Outlook" will now have more .*pace for Presbyterian proceedings and special articles, and its appearance has also been improved considerably. The first of the new numbers contains excellent photographs of the members of the Dr Henry Mission, and a verbatim report of Dr Henry's address given in the Town Hall, Welinglon, on the three great perils of young men: Drink, gambling, and impurity.

The tenth, volume of awards, agreements, and decisions made under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act during 1909 has just been published by the Department of Labour. Besides containing a record of the whole of the cases dealt with by the Arbitration Court, Conciliation Commissioners and Magistrates under the Act, the voilunie also includes a very complete appendix showing all the accepted recommendations, industrial agreements, awards, interpretations and important enforcements during the last ten years. The volume consists of just over 900 pages.

At the Native Land Court at, Wairoa the hearing of the Te Keinga block case is still proceeding (says the "Gisborne Times"). A story lias been told which shows the cold-bfooded calculations of the ancient Maori. Being desirous of avenging the death of his brother, one of the chiefs engineered a, raid upon his own pa by a neighbouring chief. The first chief directed that preparations should be made for a great feapt. These preparations so tired the people that they wero very easily surprised next morning. Wlien the raid took place its arranger stood on the parapet of the pa and coolly directed the raiding party which portion of the people should be destroyed and which preserved. This raid was paid for in land, hence the introduction of the story into the present proceed ings.

"Do you ever go to church?" asked Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M., of a man who at the Christchurch Magistrate's Court displayed an ardent fervour for the Anglican faith, and insisted that his children should be brought up in that faith. "Well, no," replied the man. "You see, I'm not much of a scholar." ■'Well, that's the first time I've heard that scholarship was necessary for a man to attend church/ said Mr. Bishop, my eyes are bad. your Worship," returned the man, "and I can't see." "But you go to church to hear, don't you? said the magistrate. "But the place seems so small to the church I used to 20 to," answered the man in a last defence, which later was swept away by the magistrate, who said: "I don't think :he man thinks any more of religion than my boot.' -

Further inquiries arc beins ma( k ty the Railway Department, with reference tothepqssibility of using oil for fuel or the locomotives. In connection . with previous tests, the difficulty lay in the fact that the impure nature of the _ oil interfered with its continuous flow into the fire box. When the experiment* were made- on the Lytlclton-Christehurcti 'line it was found thai a pound of oil was .equal to a pound and a half of coal. The use of oil in place of coal necessitates xvery plight alterations to the fire boxes, hut a disadvantage is that unless the "I is kept at a certain temperature it =nlidifies"to such an extent that it blocks up the minute apertures through wnicn _ ■i is infected into the fire box A further Vial, says the "Dominion, w •iow about to be made on the New riy-nnutli-Hawcra section.

Our London buyer has sent us a .case ,nf Moirctle Underskirts of cxceptiona lvalue. The colours are good shades nt noss-green, brown, navy, black, rei , *ky, etc., they are beautifully cut, ana , r ; very full'sizes. We have never had better value in these goods. } n fj*jf lid. 5s 6d, 7s 6d, 9s 6d. 10s lid, to 17s Oil each.-Trallicn and Co."

The Nelson Education Board invites applications for teachers for various schools. '

• The Garrison Band Concert advertised for the Botanic Reserve' to-morrow has, been postponed owing to the death of! his Majesty the King:

■ Owing to- the death of His Majesty the-King the opening Korero of the Savage Club, announced for this evening, is postponed. , ' '

The monthly meeting of the Chamber of Commerce will be held on Monday evening next. A'full attendance is particularly srequested, as matters of importance" will come up for consideration. Hies Harris, Nile Street, has shown m three interesting paintings relating to past Comets and the eclipse of the Sun, and they will be exhibited in Jackson and Co. a window, Trafalgar .Street, on Monday, when there will be a total eclipse o'f the sun, invisible in New Zealand. .' The : nrstof the pictures represents the brilliant 'comet seen in 1882, painted by the late Mr. Edwin Harris; the second represents the double-tailed comet; seen in April, 1901, painted at Wakapuaka by Miss Harris; and a picture of the total eclipse of the sun in September, 1885, painted by the late Mr Harris, : is th,e third of the series.

Morgan O'Flaherty; (who gave his age as 17, but.koked much older,) and who ! was arrested yesterday on, a charge of theft of articles, from the Royal Hotel; • was brought before! the Magistrate this morning. OTlaherty was; first charged with having on the sth inst., stolen 6 shirts, a'Freßch'Grammar book, a tin of boot polish, polishing brush, .of the total value ef 30s, the property of Mr. Robinson; a second charge was that on May sth he stole a' portmanteau valued at ss,- the property of same person or persons-unkiiown..Accused pleaded guilty toboth Sgt. Dougan etatecf that the accused was employed at the Royal, Hotel. \He was warned by the licensee against, excessive drinking and took the'" warning to mean discharge. He left the hotel the same night,'by means of the fire escape. The articles were stolen from a portmanteau that had been left at the hotel by Mr. Robinson, but it was not known to whom the port- ' manteau; whicn the accused had taken, - belonged. When'seen by the constable on the Scow Ngaru, O'Flaherty at once admitted taking the things. Accused, in answer'to Mr Evans, said that he took the things on the spur of the moment. He had half a week's wages to come to him. Mr Evans said that he would take into account accused's age, and that it was perhaps his first offence, but he . understood* that he was not going to make' it a" practice to admit to probation those'guilty of theft from a hotel, as at a hotel the rooms were accessible to anyone. The report of the Probation officer would be obtained, and the accused would be remanded till the report was available.