LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8797, 7 December 1906, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Work at the Seddonville State colliery is proceeding steadily at present* A reduced number of men «r» •mpMy* cd.

Mr T. Gapes, J.P., C. Gill, J.P., and J. Hadfield, J.P., presided at the Magistrate's Court this morning, when three first offenders for drunkenness were each fined 5s and costs, in default twenty-four hours' imprisonment.

Questioned by a "New Zealand Times " representative as. to whether the Government had taken any stops in regard to the £53,000 placed on. the Estimates last session for the development of electrical power from the water-ways of tlie colony, the Minister of Public Works stated that he was awaiting further detailed information before submitting the matter to the Cabinet. .

. There has been forwarded to this office (says the Timaru "Post.") a somewhat remarkable freak of Nature in the shape of a hen's tiny egg, about the size of a pea, which was found within a full-sized egg, the product of a Timaru hen. The exact biological cause of such a peculiar happening ie wrapped in mystery, and the case in poirt appears to be unique iii the hiaftorj of the strange, doings of domestic poultry.

Last football season a Wellington referee was assaulted by a spectator after a match. The Wellington Rugby Union inquired into iha case. Later, the New Zealand Union took it up, expressing its dissatisfaction with the «fforta of the Wellington Union to find the culprit. The Wellington Union indignantly remonstrated. The New Zealand Union held on ita course (says the "New , Zealand Times "), and the other day the police, at the Union ? s instance, were about to effect an arrest. But, as the time approached, the person it ( was intended to arrest was not to be found in his usual haunts. There the matter stands.

Speaking at the annual dinner of th« Wellington Law Students' Association, Sir Robert Stout said that the students of to-day held a grave responsibility, as they were to fill the places of tn« „ heads of the profession and those on the Bench. Students now had much greater advantages than these of the early days. The juniors should, Sir Robert urged, never despair, though all seemed to go against them, and he illustrated his. advice by relating incidents where " forlorn hopes" had been realised. He urged .students to* act up to the highest ideals in their profession, and as citizens of a free State, co as to keep the flag of tiiat State flying high.

Captain Edwin's weather forecast, telegraphed at noon to-day, is as folows: — "Westerly moderate to strong rinds; glass fall; tides moderate; sea noderate." Three cases were dealt with at the jytteltoh Police Court to-day liy Mr J. A. Lewin, J.P.. and Mr G. C. Smith, F.P. Andrew Jeffreys was fined 4o and :osts for failing to send his child rerularly to school, and on a similar sharge Robert Boyd was fined 2s md costs. In the case of Adani Chalriers (Mr Beswick) v. Jamee Norton md Jabez Ryder, a charge of trespass, ;he defendants were each fined Is, with xjfits, and expenses amountiug to 183 ;ach.

A meeting of the Programme Comnitip? of the New Brighton Gala was leld last night, at which a draft programme was drawn up, to be submitted x> the General Committee. It was desided to have swimming and boat •aces on the river, and the secretary vas instructed to communicate with ;he secretaries of the clubs in both de>artments. It was also determined ;hat greater prominence should be given than hitherto to children's and narried and single women's races. The irrauging of the evening's programme ras held over till next meeting.

A meeting of the Canterbury Land Joard was held on Thursday, when here were present — Messrs E. C. Gold Smith (Commissioner of Crown Lands), L C. Pringle, J. Scaly, J. Allan and T. Stevenson. A large amount of •outine business\ was done, including ;he granting or confirmation of one implication for land, two for freeholds, ifteen for transfers (one being reconinended to the Minister of Lands for ipproval), eight for approval of mortgages (four recommended to the Minster), and twenty-one applications in avour of the Advances to Settlers )ffice, having been approved by the 28iiHBissioner, were confirmed. According to a cable message pubished in these columns Renter's Shangtai correspondent reports that, accordng to the native papers, the Chines? lavy reorganisation scheme, ' at a cosb rf 20,000,000 taels, besides 8.000,000 laels of annual grant, has been postxmed indefinitely, the provincial viceoye protesting that they were unablo o raise the money. When seen, by a ' Star " representative in regard to ;his message the Chinese Commiesion>r, Hwang Hon Cheng, said- that it vas quite true the provincial viceroys rere not at present in. a position to •aisoi. large sums of money. The Chinese xovernment hoped to be able to proseed with the naval reorganisation scheme at a later date.