LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 12, 9 October 1907, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

"There must be some nice Christian people about Ngnhauranga," remarked a member of the Hutt County Council in regard to thefts from that body's traction engine and stonecutting plant, reported by the foreman yesterday as having been made in this locality. Ono of the Council's workmen was- alioged to- hare lost tools to the value of from 255. to 30s.', and four cwt. of coal was included in a list of other material which had disappeared; "They will take tho wheols off the traction onginb soon," observed another councillor. "The rust will soon, account for them," remarked a third. It was decided to call tendors for tho purchase of the unfortunate engine and plant. Journalists aro popularly supposed to bo a notoriously fmpecunious body of mon, but it would appear that they have formidable rivals in lawyers. During the hoaring of the civil cases at tho Magistrate's Court yesterday, morning, no fewer than three wollknown lawyers were unable to produce tho necessary shillings. demanded by the Court for hearing fees. An 'effort is being made to get tho Athletic Park in roadiness for cricket oil Saturday next. Three wickets are being prepared . To-day being Labour Day, one delivery only of mail matter—tho morning one —will bo made by tho local letter, carriers. Tho weekly moeting of the .Penovolent. Trustees yesterday afternoon was attended by tho Chairman (Rov. l W. Evans), Mrs. Darvall, and M-ssrs. M'Cosh and G. Lundon. The secretary, reported that it had been ascertained that the intermediary waid proposed to be erected in connection with the Ohiro Home, would cost nearly £300 more than the Trustees wei-s pispared to expend on such a building. It was agreed to defer consideration -~i tho matter until Tuesday next. Mr. J. M. Roberts was appointed assistant to tho master, of tho Home. There were nine applicants for the positirn. It was reported that there wwo 7 1 males and 29 females in the Homo on October 8. Twelve applications ior relief were dealt with, and the mretirg concluded. The Boys' Institute picnic, to H held to-day, is to take place at,Miramar, ,not at Day's Bay, as was inud/ertently mentioned. Tho ordinary meeting- of the Wellington Hospital Trustees was held yesterday, when the following members were present: : —Hon. CM. Luke (chairman), . Messrs. J. Danks, G. London, J. Trevor, H. Cook, S. Nash, R. 0. Kirk, and R. Lee. On the recommendation of tho House Committeo, it was resolved —"That tho Trustees accede to tho request of tho Government with regard to tho treatment of delirium tremens cases until a suitablo ward has boon orected, tho cost of maintenance being borno by them; and that the tender of E. Clarke for channelling in tho new grounds at 3s. per yard bo accopted." It was reported that there were 214 patients in the General Hospital, 121 malos and 93 females, against 189 at the corresponding ppriod of last year. Tho patients in the Victoria Hospital wore 20 males and 19 females; and in tho Seddon Hospital 11 males and 6 females, making a grand total of 270 in-patients. Outpationts totalled 331. Tho resolution of tho City ■ Council striking a special rate of ouo-fiftioth of a penny in tho £. to provide interest and a sinking fund on a loan of £15,000 for the erection of an abattoir, will come up fo rconfirmation at the meeting of tho Council to-morrow evoning. A labourer named James Thomas Cripps, residing at No. 21a Wellington Torrace, had his foot badly crushed whilst .working'in No. 3 hold of the steamer Pondon yesterday moriiing. it appears that tho accident occurred through a beam falling and striking Cripps. The injured'man was removed to tho hospital for treatment. Mrs. Ethel R. Do Costa, LL.B,,(neo Miss Ethel 11. Bonjamin of Dunodin), after practising for somo years in that city, has commenced practice as a barrister and solicitor in No. 6 Nathan's Buildings, comer (Jros - and Ji'eatlierston Streets, Wellington. Mrs. Do Costa has tho distinction of boing imo only lady practising at the Bar in tho Dominion. Intending clients can depond on- prompt and careful attention at Mrs, Do Costa's hands,

Local coal dealers do not sell State coal. The reason thoy give for not soiling Government firing is that thoy aro unable to obtain supplies. An enquiry at the State Coal Offico elicited as the reason the allegation that somo dealers, when dealing in tho Stato commodity, had worked off an inferior coal as Stato coal, to tho detriment of the Stato's business, honco the decision not to supply local dealers. This action, according to the general manager, Sir. W. C Gascoigno, has had the result of doubling the consumption in Wellington of Stato coal from what it was nt this time last' year, which means that 1000 , tons were being sent out from the depot weekly, apart from that supplied to railways, etc. The output of tho Port Elizabeth mino (Greymouth) was now 1000 tons a day, in which work 320 men woro employed, as against between 80 and 90 men at Seddonvillo, where betweon 200 and 250 tons a day wero being produced. Tho mines' pay-sheet had reached a total of £2600, and judging by tho success in Wellington, Christchurch, and Wanganui, only tho advancing summer would lessen the wagesheet. The State briquettes were going off satisfactorily, and eggettes (consolidated slack about' tho size of an egg) for usoin ranges and grates woro now boing turned out at tho Stato Coal Department's works 'at Groymouth. A meeting of tho General Committeo of tho Industrial Association was called for last night, but a quorum could noty be obtained. Tho mooting was adjourned until Tuesday' next. At the annual meeting of tho Victoria College Tennis Club, the following woro elected officers: —President, Professor M'Konsie; vice-president, Mr. It. S. J. Bcere; secretary, Mr. A. Fair; treasurer, Mr. N. Mansfield; committee, Misses Taylor, Scott, and Mackellar, and Messrs. Wilson, Eichelbaum, and. A. H. Bogle; auditor, Mr. D. S. Smith. Messrs. Gillandcrs, Dixon, and B. C. Smith were olected life members. Subscriptions were raised from 10s. to 15s. for ordinary members; for those who had not attended lectures for two years previously it was fixed at £1 Is. . Dr. Pomare gives an explanation of the famous mystery of the thr.ee fingers that aro always seen on Maori - carvings, which recalls in its simplicity tho true explanation of the origin of Bret Harte'B palaeozoic skull. Scientists have connected these throe fingers with all sorts of mystical significations, but tho doctor states, on Maori ovidenco which ho believes to be incontrovertible, that they are accounted for in this manner! The first Maori' carver had but three fingers— his name denotes, indeed, "he who carved with his stumps " —and to ensure his immortality he gave all his' figuros tho same number, identifying them with himself by this ingenious trade-mark. Later carvers followed his designs, and so came down the phenomenon which has in modern times baffled wise inquirers. In a circular addressed to the Education Boards by tho Department, details of the proposed systom for paymont of school teachers' salaries by ,means of money-orders to be issued by the Boards aro sot out. Special monoyorder and advice forms, printed on paper of a colour distinct from any other orders used, will bo supplied by the Post Office! and a form of receipt on each order will bo provided to cover tho service in respect of which payment is made. The orders may not be drawn for payment outside NewZealand. An officor of a board will preparo and sign tho orders and advices. Ordors aro not to bo posted to teachers until after the advices have been handed to the Chief Postmaster. The Chief Postmaster is to date, stamp, and countersign.the advices, and then ■forward them to the postmaster in charge of the office at which the orders are payable. .The subsequent treatment in all respects will be governed by the regulations dealing with ordinary, money-orders. The same rate of commission will be charged as on ordinary inland ordors, viz., 6d. for each £5 or fi action of £5. Tho total cost of the installation of tho electric tramways on tlio Karori section amounts to "£21,010 10s. 6d , made up as follow:—Overhead equipment and,feeders, £9573 18s.; plant and machinery, £660 10s. 4d.; preliminary oxpouses, £432 ss. 6d.; perma-nent-way, £7009 15s. lid.; sundries, £491 9s. id. ;• labour, £2730 os. 7d.; preliminary expenses'(2), £112 lis. id. The Karori 'bus service is not a divi-dend-producer. It is quite the rever.se, for the losses on the service, to dato, amount to £289 16s. 4d., plus £22 10s. for interest and depreciation. Within a few days Brooklyn is to have a water service independent of the elevated tank at tho back-door. Tho machinery at the pumping station at tho head of Epuni Street is all in order, and it is tho intention, either on Friday or Saturday next, to tako a turn'out of tho electric motor that is to drive tho gear. TJiib machinery is to send water from the city's mains through a 10-inch pipe to a 450,000-gallon surfaco reservoir of concrete, which has been erected on the top of a knoll above Mitchell Street, Brooklyn, 770 ft. above the lovol ot tho sea. Tho gear at Epimi Street includes a powerful Mathor and Piatt multi-stago turbino pump, driven by a motor supplied with energy from tho power-hbus'o, which will draw off a supply from the mains during tho night hours .to fill the reservoir, which is estimated to carry a three days' supply for 2700 people. Tho reticulation or Brooklyn proper is practically complete, and it is hoped that residents coimectod therewith will bo able to turn on tho tap with somo result next Week. The city's balanco-sheot for tho yoar 1906-7, which was brought down, to the last meeting of tho City Council, will bo considered at a special meeting to bo hold in conjunction with the-ordi-nary meeting of tjio Council to-morrow evening. Tin! mooting will commonco at 8 p.m., instead of 7.30 p.m., as has boon tho case during tho winter months. ' At tho meeting of the City Council to-morrow ovoning' Councillor Godber will move: —"That a special committeo bo sot up to consider the advisability of purchasing undor the Public Works' ;Vct or othorwiso a suitablo aroa within or adjacent to the City for tho purposo of erecting workmen's hemes."

Says tho Victoria Collego " Spike " : " A movement was lately set ou foot in Australia for 'tho collection into ono. volume of tho best students' songs written in Australasia. At the request of tho editors of tho publication tho Students Committee has sent copies' of all tho Victoria College Capping songs for porusal, and wo are glad to learn that many have been selected for inclusion in the collection. Some songs containing topical allusions have been much appreciated, and a request has been mado that they bo adapted so as to be suitable for general use. But tliero was one surprising comment from tho publishers. Thoy have committed tho unpardonable sacrilege of questioning 'the Latinity of our College song."