LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 35, 5 November 1907, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Although the King's Birthday will be generally observed on Monday next this will not be the case with the banks, which are compelled by Statute to close on the actual day of the holiday, and will therefore be shut on Saturday. f It is three hundred and two years ago to-day sinco Guy Fawkes was arrested in connection with' tlio Gunpowder Plot to blow up the British Parliament. The banging of sundry crackers and the exhibition in' Chinese shops of a few grotesque masks are all that now keep the memory of tho event alive. ' Somo Maoris can boast'longer pedigrees than the bluest of Norman. bloods. Mr. Fraser produced charts at his lecture, last night which traced tho descent of the Hon. J. Carroll back for forty-seven generations, and that 'of Mr Parata, M.H.R., for fortythree generations. "And there is no faking these records, they are all genuine," declared tho lecturer. The promptings of conscience have resulted in the return of numerous sums of money to various Government departments. The latest department to benefit is the Customs Department, which yesterday received tho sum of £1 Is. from an unknown source. The covering note simply explained that the action was prompted by an uneasy conscionce. • ■ ' Strollers on the Oriental Bay parade on Sunday. morning may have been surprised to see a tall gentleman of military bearing delivering a homily to a squad of urchins who wore bathing in the bay. The gentleman in question was a prominent police official, who had been attracted by tho scanty clothing of the swimmers, and had taken tho opportunity of giving a warning. Seaside bathers in general might tako the hint and save unpleasantness in the future. - ' There-is an air of activity in keoping with the spring obsorvablo at Seatoun and thereabouts. In addition to the tramway, track laying operations, now, nearing completion, the Messrs.. Crawford are putting a cutting through tho hill at tho back of Seatoun, following the lino of a depression known as Pass Branda. This will open up further seasklo land for settlement, and will bo a short cut to the ocean beach near the entrance to tho harbour, making tho journey shorter by about a mile than tho route. On tho other side of Seatoun a fine doposit of first-class blue metal has beoti discovered at Karaka Bay, and botween thirty and forty' men and a big crusher ■.-.re employed there at present getting out thrj metal for tho Messrs. Crawford, who are disposing of a quantity of it to tho city. When the Maori of old Wanted to express his feelings, he was at a disadvantage. For, according to Mr. A. L. D. Fraser, there was no swear word in his vocalubary— nothing even beginning with "a big, i big, D.", "If he wanted to insult another he would malic reference to parts of his body, and that would be more hurtful" to the feelings than the most lurid language of a back-blocks bullocky," said the lecturer. The Hon. T. Kennedy Macdonald, M.Jj.C, a prominent citizen of Wellington, is not (says tho "Lyttolton Times") satisQed with tho operation of the system of rating on unimproved values in tho northern city. Chatting with a "Times" reporter on Friday, lie said that he had been a strong advocate of the system, because lie believed that it would break up a monopoly that existed amongst certain largo land-owners. It had done that, but it had called into being a vory much worse evil. It was destructive of the amenities which helped to make a city beautiful, v such as gardens and othor pleasant surroundings. Some men in Wellington found that tho rates they paid on tlteir gardens wore equal to the rent of a largo dwelling-house. The tendency was towards a subdivision of lands laid out in gardens. Ho felt bound to say that in the city of Wellington proper the unimproved value system had proved n curse instead of a blessing. Mrs. Ethel It. Do Costa, LL.B. (neo "Iha Ethel It. Bonjnmin of Duncdin), after practis. Mr for some years in that city, has com. inunccd practice as a barrister and solicitor in No. 0 Nathan's lluildings, corner Grej and Foathtireton Stroots, Wellington. Mrs. Do Costa has tho distinction of liehiß the only lady pra;. tisinc'at tho liiir in tho Dominion. Intondmif clients can depend on prompt and cari>f->< 'itton. tion at Mis. Do Costa's hands.

It was found necessary by the Hospital surgical staff to amputate the leg of the man Thomas Isaac, who was. injured in the knee whilst out rabbit shooting at Brooklyn on Sunday. A delightful , interlude at tho lecture in the Town Hall ,last night was a recitation by Mr. Kgnta, M.H.R, It pictured the life of tho pah in various phases, with its hakas of welcome nnd frenzied dances of defiance, and so vividly was the scene conjured up by the eloquent Native member that one seemed to see the poi dancers swaying gracofully in the sun, then heard the tattooed braves hurling grim defiance over tho grinning gods on the spiked ramparts. Tho poem was written by Mr. Ngata, and -the andionco clamoured enthusiastically for an encore, but the Native member smilingly explained that it was not the kind of .'thing to be repeated with effect. The contents of boxes opened yesterday, which had been left at hotels and with nurses, raised the total amount derived from Ambulance Saturday to £328 11s. Bd. The best station was found to be the one at Kelburne Avenue, on Lambton Quay, where Mrs Corrigan and her assistants collected £53. There was a large response from Carroll's corner, and a fair sum was obtained from sports-lovers at the Basin Reserve. The best single box was handed in by Miss Bauchop, who-collected £12 25.-. 4d. The Wellington Garrison Officers' staff rido at Johnsonville ou Saturday was very successful, 23 officers taking part. It was unfortunate that a larger number did not attend, as the absentees missed an exceedingly valuable and useful object lesson. The operations commenced at 2 p.m., and 'did not conclude until about G p.m. They will bo further amplified by future tours, which, it is hoped, will attract larger attendances. Tho operations were, it is understood, greatly in advance of anything previously attempted by volunteer officers in this district. At tho conclusion of tho ride, Colonel Robin (Chiet of tho Staff); said that he was very proud with the results achieved. To-day is the 26th anniversary of the historic final call to arms , at Parihaka. A number of those engaged in the bloodless battle are still, in Wellington. Chief-Detective M'Grath was one of the one hundred men, selected to lead the'attack on the pull under Major (now Colonol) Gudgeon. Inspector Bakowoll, of the Education Board, was in the volunteer force at tho time; also Hon. C. J. Johnston, and Colonel Newall. A luimber of othors are distributed over the Dominion, but a large number have crossed the great divide. Tho Education Department has issued circulars to tho various Boards with reference to battalion camps of cadets. In future, the Department will, it is stated, grant assistance as follows:—Train fares for a distance not exceeding twenty njiles, allowance of 3s. 6d. par capita for a seven days' camp, camp equipment as far as available. . Not less than 200 of all ranks must go into camp, includiug an adequate number of experienced officers, and, whenever practicable, an instructor of tho Defence Office will be attached. The Committee of the Hadfield • Memorial Hostel has had j several meetings during the month (statfes the "Church Chronicle"). The contract for the erection of tho "Harrington Wing" has been signed. Some minor alterations in the original plan were rendered'necesssary by the requirements.of the borough authorities, and these have been arranged. Sub-committees have been set up tp provide for the furnishing of the hostel when tho building is completed, and to arrange for a fit and becoming ceremonial at tho laying of tho foundation stone. The stone will be laid by Bishop Wallis on-November 13. , A statement of the condition of the fund in the same paper gives the total of subscriptions as £895 10s. id., including a second contribution of'£lo from Mr. W. F, Jacob, and a contribution of £15 from the Rev. J. H. Dove, per Miss Hadfield. ■ Why is a woman on shore like a kahuwaj in tho sea ? This was the conundrum Mr: A. L. D. Fraser asked his audience last night, and they unanimously gave it up. It was an old Maori proverb, he explained; and its subtlety lay in the fact that the kahuwai was caught with a bit of pretty shell, which gleamed and glittered in the sea, and inevitably lured the guileless fish to its doom. The inference concerning women being caught by pretty and dazzling baubles was obvious enough to sot the masculine portion of tho, audience 1 chuckling. Other ancient' Maori proverbs . wore quoted, one being an exact equivalent to our "once bitto'n twice shy." . In .Maori, it was to. tho offoct that, "If a weka once gets into a snare and escapes, he will never go hack again." p , .. Some curious contributions found their way into the Ambulauco Saturday's collection boxes at Christcliurch. They included lead and b'rass Jliscs, a marble, a small, thin key, a penny of one of the Georges, ends of cardboard match-boxes, hair pins, lucifer matches, a school medal souvenir of the visit of tho Duke and Duchess of York, tags of plug tobacco, pennies with holes in them, pins, a 20 centissimo piece, a piece of a brass watch chain, two Jockey Club passes, and an 1.0. U. for Id., and another for 25., buttons of various sizes and descriptions. No fewer than sixteen totalisator tickets wero contributed, but, unfortunately, none wero on any of tho winners. Advantage is being taken of the fine weather at low water to effect temporary repairs to tho Te Aro baths, which have been '.in a rickety condition all the winter, but which wore badly smashed by the heavy "weather of last wee k. The proposal to oncloso the baths in a stout concrete wall is taking shape, and no doubt the work will be put in band this summer. The plans provide for the erection of a substantial concrete wall, to bo built, at right angles to tho northern wall of the Boat Harbour, eighty feet further to the westward than tho present outer sea fonce of the bnths, whijh means that double tho present swimming space will bo walled in—a wise provision against tho neods of the future. This wall will be 260 fnet in length, and will show IS inches above the water at normal high tide. It will "bo 7ft. Oin. in breadth at the base, narrowing to 18in. at the top. There is hardly as much buffeting to be withstood by the northern wall, which will join the long wall with the present street wall, which is still pretty solid. Without- providing for any further dressing-rooms tho new wall will enclose an area of water 260 ft. by 154 ft. A fine selection of photographic enrds, Dominion Day and E..\f.S. ■ Turakina on Piro now on view at ZAIv'S PHOTO DEPOT, 24 Willis Street. On sale at popular prices. CISU Well dressed means becomingly dressed, not merely the weariug of smart clothes, but pirments designed to emphasise- the good points of the figure. Henc6, tho premier and most essential item a fashionably attired woiniui needs is a perfectly cut corset, nrtislically moulded to the "human form." C. Adams and Co., 35 Cuba Street, have a most iip-to-dato corset department, and a. liuly expert is always in attendance for the purpose of "fitting." Upsides having all tho most fashionable makes of corsets to select from, C. Adams and Co. aro agents for tho Messenger Corset Manufacturers. Your measure is taken by an expert, fitted and made to your order within a work. Inspection invited. CCJ-i

St. Patrick's College Cadets have gono into camp at Trentham for their annual training. The camp will bo open to visitors on and after Wednesday, November 6. Tlio bunting of the Union Steamship Company's steamers in port yesterday was sported in honour of the arrival back in Dunedin of Sir James Mills. A curious incident is reported to have happened at tho Ashburton Show, last week. An eighteon-inonth-old Shropshire owe'with lamb at foot, belonging to tho executors of tho late Mr. James Stringfellow, was disqualified on the ground that the lamb was not the offspring of the ewe shown. Tho executors protested, and made a declaration to tho effect that the ewe shown was the mother of tho lamb. A special meeting, of the committee, after haaring the veterinary surgeon's report, decided to readjust 'the award, and the blue ribbon has been given to the ewe that was disqualified. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Churchi will meet in St. John's Church, "Willis Street, at 7.30 p.m. to-day. The retiring Moderator (the Rev. G. D. Monro) will conduct worship: and preach, and the Moderator nominated at last Assembly, (the Rev. A. Don) will then be elected,, and will deliver his inaugural addre.ss. St. John's choir, with Mr. Maughnnf Barnett at the organ, will lead the singing; and render the Te Deum. Most of the visiting delegates to the Assembly-will arrive this morning, and 240 delegates, half ministers, .half elders, aro expected to attend. To-morrow at 10 a.m. there will bo a celebration of tho Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, to which all church members are invited. On Thursday evening there will be a young people's rally, and Friday evening will be "missionary night." The annual meeting of the Wellington South, Ministers' Association was held yesterday morning at the Wesleyan parsonage, Nowtown. The following officors were elected for the ensuing year:—President, the Rev. W. J. Williams; secretary, Rev.. J. Cocker. A discussion took plase concerning the conducting of religious services in public institutions, but no.decision was arrived at. The following resolution was passed dealing with the new Gaming Bill , introduced by the Government; —"Whilst/recognising the many excellent provisions contained in the-Gaming Bill, we strongly protest against the clause providing for the licensing.of bookmakers, thus giving them a' legal standing. We also express our profound regret that no attempt is to be made to deal with the totalieator, especially seeing' that 36,471 persons iiave petitioned in favour of abolishing it." .