LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13397, 28 January 1907, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

It is riot an unknown tiling for a dog to assist his master to arrest by the police, but it is less common for a dog to take upon itself (lip responsibility of helping a stranger who happens to be in such a plight. However, on Saturday a dog took this risk, with the novel experience, of being arrested itself. It happened in this manner. A policeman was endeavouring to get a man to accompany him to the police station, but the latter was not at all willing. A smartly-dressed young detective went to the assistance of the constable, audi the dog, being attracted by what seemed a warm dispute, also took a hand in the affair. His sympathies were with the prisoner, for he tackled the detective, and bit him on the leg. The man then submitted to arrest, and the detective turned his attention to the dog, and after some trouble arrested! it. The dog spent yesterday inside four high fences at the Police Barracks. No doubt, if the owner turns up, lie will be able to get the animal out with perhaps the moderate bail of a pair of trousers.

An English mail, via Suez, which left London on December 21, arrived from Sydney by the *.s. Victoria yesterday, and personal items and other interesting news from our London correspondent will be found elsewhere in this issue.

Recent surveys carried out by surveyors disclose the fact that Lake Rotomahana is considerably higher than it way seven or eight years ago. .At that time it was 65ft higher than Lake Tarawera, while at the present time it is 99ft Gin higher. About 18 months ago, however, Tarawera Lake, it will be remembered, burst through its boundaries, and it was thought at the time that the water had receded Bft, but it now transpires that the fall in the hike was lift. Deducting this lift, the increased height of Lake Rotomahana is actually 25ft.

The Onehunga Wharf presented a. very busy appearance on Saturday, when the Rarawa, Corinna, Kia Ora, and collier Kittawa. were all engaged discharging and taking in cargo. The lack of proper wharf facilities and conveniences was at once apparent, and eventually it was deemed necessary to let: the collier stand aside until this morning. If the authorities intend to improve the conditions existing, the time to do ski has undoubtedly arrived.

For some time past gangs of men have been employed at the approach to the Onehunga Wharf laving down a double siding for shunting purposes. The lines have now been laid, and reach almost, round to Geddes' 'Basin. The scoria will be tilled in and the work completed this weekThis new siding will prove of great convenience, and will help to relieve the overcongested conditions at present existing at the wharf.

A special meeting of the Auckland Guild of Master Painters has been held for the purpose of considering the provisions of the Scaffolding Inspection Act, which cam* into force recently. The opinion was expressed that while regulations were exceedingly necessary and important, in the erection, etc., of scaffolds, great hardship had been imposed on the painting trade by the sudden and unnotified promulgation of the Act. Several speakers considered it unfair that an Act of such importance to the trade should become, law 14 days before anyone was notified of its coming into operation. Several of the provisions, it was stated, were faulty in the extreme, especially those referring to ladders and swing stages, as well as the indoor painters' scaffolds. The meeting considered that the Act had been hastilv drafted, without due allowances being made for the different branches of the building trade. and desired to point out that the total immunity from accidents enjoyed by the painting trade in Auckland for more than 20 years past proved the efficiency of masters, men. and plant in carrying out the work required. Steps are to be taken to make some, representation to the Government in the nutter at an early date.

Willi reference to the letter which appeared in Saturday's issue, complaining of the indifference of the Railway Department to the comfort of first-class passengers, particularly in tin- present service between Thames and Roioiua, the officials at Auckland explain thai the Department is working under difficulties, owing to the Hood, and is doing its best: to rectify matters with the quickest possible despatch. As a result of the interruption of the service mi the Waikato liii<- the greater part of the rolling-stock is cut of! from service south of Pokeno. and such being the case the Department has to run such trains as it can on the sections south of Ilunt'y with the limited supply of carriages at its disposal. As soon as the present interruption is got over this matter will receive atteii: lion, and the best carriages will lie put on for express and other passenger trains. As regards the delays complained of the officials slate that these must necessarily arise, a.s the lines arc only temporarily re paired in places, and the trains in ton- • sequence have to go over such portions at a very slow pace. Kvcry endeavour, i however, is now. being made to plate he lines in proper working order. Touching j on the question of the lav ato it was ! stated that the condition of these «nt largely due to the manner in which they were used by the public ; but notwithstanding this the Department always had them properly cleansed at the various terj mini, As regards incivility on the part of J railway servants the officials stated that j the public had their remedy in this respect, as all they had to do was to complain to headquarters, and the matter would be iiij quired into.

The s.s. Riirawa. from Onehunga to >>>«• Plymouth, did not leave yesterday until 4.46 p.m., having waited for the Southern portion of the Suez mail.

Last Tuesday morning the scow Reliance, Captain Wilson, left Onohunga for Waitara, laden with 70,000 ft of timber. Since that time tin' Reliance has been hovering about the Manukau bar, but never .seemed able to get across. Yesterday she was lying in an awkward position, with little prospect of getting out. so the auxiliary ketch IClsie was requisitioned from the Northern Company, and wont down and towed the Reliance to Huia Bay. In the event, of a favourable breeze not being met with, the Reliance will probably be towed across the bar.

A mild sensation was caused in Custom and Lower Queen Streets shortly after one o'clock on Saturday afternoon by a horse bolting with a vegetable cart. The animal for some unaccountable reason took fright while it was standing outside a restaurant in Custom-street, and bolted into Queenstreet, to the imminent danger of a. number of pedestrians who were crossing the road at. the time. The affrighted animal continued its career up Queen-street, and turned into -street, where it fell. No damage, was done, but there were a number of narrow escapes.

A fire broke out in a bedroom in the twostoreyed shop and dwelling of James Harrison, confectioner, Ponsonby Road, shortly after six o'clock on Saturday, but was quickly extinguished by the members of the City Fire Brigade. About £10 worth of damage was done, and this is covered by a policy in the Sun office. The fire is supposed to have been accidentally caused by Mr. Harrison's children when playing with a light,

It is related of a certain official in charge of some road work proceeding in the Wanganui district that he observed a roadman cutting a. channel to drain off some water that had accumulated by the roadside, and he suggested that a better method would lie to bail the water out. It is only fair to state that the official in question had but recently been promoted to his position, and that he showed considerable aptitude in his former occupation —needless to say. not connected with roads. Since the incident above recorded he has gained some, experienceat the expense of the public purse.

There appears to he no doubt, judging by the information given to Mr. Atlee Hunt by Mr. English, an assistant resident magistrate at Rigo, British New Guinea, that Paupa will in time become one of the most important of the world's suppliers of rubber. Papua has an advantage over the Congo and other rubber-producing lands in that it possesses an abundant supply of two rubbers—the tree rubbers and the vine rubber. The prospects of the opening up of a great industry are excellent. With respect to sisal hemp, too, there are most encouraging reports from Mr. English. It is even suggested that a. gross yield equal to about £75 an acre is obtainable from the cultivation of sisal hemp.

The Mangaweka Settler complains that guards on the Main Trunk Railway with a, long service record receive only 8s 6d a day and are charged 8s per week rent for four-roomed cottages, while engine-drivers receive 12s a day. are provided with a fix-roomed house and their rental is fixed at 8s 6d per week, or an extra charge of 6d only is levied for the use of two extra rooms, with a salary which is one-third higher than the unfortunate guij.rd. The Settler says the question naturally suggests itself, Why this inconsistency'.'

Recently a cowardly attack was made on til** wife of a settler at Chudeboye (South Canterbury) who ha/-; just arrived from South Africa. It appears that in the absence from home of Mr. Pemberton a powerfully built man, apparently a swagger, went to the house, ami on Mrs. Pemberton going to the door be asked if her husband was at home. Not liking the appearance of the man Mrs. Pemberton replied thai, if he wanted him she would call him. The man then attempted to enter the house, but Mrs. Pemberlon pushed him back. He then dealt her a severe blow on the face, severely cutting her click. Mrs. Pemberton looked round for some weapon to defend herself. Luckily there was a window blind roller within reach, and with this she dealt him a heavy blow on the head, breaking the rollei into three pieces. The man was evidently cowed by tin- plucky defence made by Mrs. Pemberton, and took to his heels.

A small boy tool; a rather sensational story to the Christchurch police station a, day or two ago. telling of a quarrel in which a man had been stabbed with a carving knife. Detective Waul went to the locality to investigate, and found a. domestic quarrel in progress. A woman had, in the course of a difference of opinion, used a table knife to enforce her arguments, and had cut her husband very slightly on one hand and the leg. Seeing that the quarrel had passed the serious stage the. officer left, after trying in vain to effect a complete reconciliation.

The growth of Mastertou during the last few years lias been of quite a. phenomenal nature, and the rapid expansion of the town steadily continues. Speaking generally it may be said that the town lias doubled in size during the past live years, and there is no indication of any slackening in progress. A feature of recent expansion has been the subdivision of various estates within and without the borough. The latest estate recently purchased for cutting up into building sections is the Wrigley Estate of 18i acres, in the heart of the town, The cut ting up of this estate will prove a very considerable improvement to Misterton,