LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13462, 15 April 1907, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

In i-: New Zen land Government steamer Hinemoa, which arrived tit Onchunga on Friday, will start on a visit of inspection of the lighthouses, buoys, and dolphins in the Manukau Harbour to-day, going an far as the bar, should the weather be calm. The inspection and overhaul will, it its anticipated, last over several days.

One of the occupants of tlio police cells last nigh! was Bertha Victor, alias Levi, the young Jewess who was before the Police. Court on Wednesday last up. a charge of drunkenness. It transpired during the hearing of the evidence against her that Victor had been masquerading about the town clothed in male attire. She pleaded ha id for a, chance, and was convicted and ordered, to come up for sentence when called upon. On Saturday afternoon Victor was arrested on a charge of drunkenness, and using obscene language. She wis then wearing male attire. This morning she will make her reappearance at the Police Court.

A .Suez mail, which left London on March 8, arrived .from Sydney by tho Miowera' yesterday. Personal Items and other interesting news from our London correspondent appears elsewhere in this issue.

The Waikato Argus reports that Mr. Al-t leu Bell lias consented to contest the Waikalo seat at the next general election, im l the Opposition interest, if requested to do' so by the Political Reform League, whicbf is now being organised throughout the* electorate. On© of the objects of tho league,, he states, in to choose a candidate and prevent the splitting of the party vole. He thinks that the selection of a candidate should be left with the organisation, and he will place himself entirely in the hands of the league.

A fire broke out shortly after one o'clock on Saturday afternoon in the premises of the Now Zealand Laundry Company, in Quay-street. The City Fire Brigade were quickly on the scene, and a red of hone was run up through the stairway to the top storey of the building, where Ham** were reaching from the floor to the roof. The blaze wai' extinguished after a few pounds' worth of damage had been done. The employees left the building at one o'clock, and by accident one of tin: ironers left a gas-iron alight. The iron frame becoming heated, the woodwork on which it was resting ignited, and the flames spread to the roof.

The Northern Company's steamer Kia Ora, which went on the slip at Onehunga Inst Friday, for her annual examination, and overhaul, is now berthed alongside the wharf, where the overhaul will be completed. It is expected that the vessel will In; able to resume her time-table after Wednesday.

Before Mr. R. W. Dyer, S.M., at the Police Court, on Saturday, William Williams, a middle-aged man, for whom Mr. Singer appeared, was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon on a charge of committing an indecent act in Durham Lane on Friday night. Three first offenders were each lined 5s and costs, or in default 48 hours' imprisonment, for drunkenness, and another was fined half that amount, or in default 48 hours' imprisonment.

A young man named Labrun met with a painful accident at Waiotapu on Wednesday morning hod. He hid tethered a horse, and when in the act of releasing it the animal reared, one foot striking Labran's arm and the other striking him on the head, inflicting a severe cut. Dr. McLoughlin was sent tor and proceeded by motor car to, the aid oi the sufferer. The doctor found it necessary to stitch up the wound, .seven stitches bring put in, and the patient is getting along favourably under the circumstances.

Several years ago (says the Wanganui Herald) the Government paid away a considerable sum of money in the purchase, from the natives - , of about 30,000 acres of land in the To Tuhi and Aim Aim Blocks, adjoining the Wanganui River, nearly opposite Atene. The land was duly surveyed and subdivided, and in 1903 more than three years ago— offered for selection. For more than three years this ls.nd_remained unapplied for, and the reason was obvious. There was no access to it. The Government officials responsible for this state of things were fast asleep so far as this particular business was concerned, and they apparently resented the gentle " prodding-up" the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce gave them. During those three sleeping years the colony lost the interest on the purchase and survey money it lost the very considerable direct and indirect revenue accruing from settled land, and the progress of the colony was retarded. The public may well ask, would any commercial concern conduct its affairs along those lines? The answer is obvious. Mot for one moment, and a manager who was responsible for such a thing happening would quickly be carpeted. The colony is paying men big .salaries to do its executive work, and this is the way they neglect it. f

About 12 months ago a number of Wellington citizens interested themselves in a movement for the erection of a crematorium, and their appeal for fund* in furtherance of tin; project was well responded to. The committee which has the matter in hand is now only waiting for one promised contribution, and when that is received the work of getting the necessary plant in position will be put in hand without, delay.

The Exhibition orchestra leaves Christchurch on the 20th inst., and will tour the colony. They lirst visit Dunedin, then do a few of the smaller towns, and return to Cbristchurch. Later they will visit Wellington and Auckland.

At a largely attended meeting of creditors in the estate of E. H. Bennett, Limited, on Friday hist, it was agreed that the reconstruction scheme should be carried out.

Win. Nicbolls, the seaman who fell a distance of 20ft down tic bunker stokehole of the s.s. Hatiroto (not the s.s. Arawa, as picviously reported), on Friday, and sustained internal linjuries, is reported to be improving.

A young man named William Stone met with a painful accident in Marmkau Road yesterday. He was riding on horseback, in Company with another man, when his companion's horse lashed out and struck him on the kneecap, with the result that it was badly fractured.

A seaman from the c.a. Iris, named Edward Quintall, was admitted to the hospital early yesterday morning, suffering from head injuries, supposed to have been caused by a fall. Quintall was in an unconscious condition last night.

The occupants of the police cells last evening were six persons charged with drunkenness, two with using obscene language, and one with criminal assault.