LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 44, 15 November 1907, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The customs revenue collected at Wellington yesterday amounted to £2091 16s.

Mr. Justico Button will hold a sitting in, Chambers at the Supremo Court at 10.30 this morning. 1

, Tho annual meeting of the Socioty for tho Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is to take placo at tho Chamber of Commerce at four p.m. to-day.

Tho Port Nicholson Yacht Club will open its racing season on Saturday with contests for first, second, and third-class yachts. The three events will bo started from the Queon's Wharf.

A quantity of, beeswax and turpentine boiling over in a house in Derwent Street, occupied by Mrs. Andrews, was responsible for tho Firo Brigade turning out at 1.20 p.m. yesterday, Tho firo was extinguished by tho Island Bay Brigade, but Mrs. Andrews was so severely burned about tho hands and face that she had to receivo medical attention.

Tho Christchurch members of Parliament were yesterday inundated with telegrams from Christchurch residents protesting against tho sentences imposed upon tho Christohurch bookmakers for trespassing. on the local racecourse, and the complaints were, brought before the Minister for Justice. Mr. M'Gowan stated that he qould do nothing in the matter, but he would obtain a report regarding it from the Stipendiary Magistrate. '

According to a San Francisco paper the Firo Officers' Committee in the United States has placed the North Island of Now. Zealand on the highest scale list in respeot of premiums charged against fires caused by earthquakes. This Island finds itself in the same category with such distressful countries, so far as natural convulsions are concerned, as the West Indies, Central and much of South America, Turkoy in Europe, Asia Minor, and Japan, the rate for all these countries being 20s. per cent.

The prostrato body of a man in Victoria Stroot attracted the attention of a pedestrian at 8 o'clock yesterday morning; The police were communicated with, and Constable Stewart was sent to make investigations. He found a labourer named (George Findlay, forty-two years of age, in an unconscious condition, and apparently suffering from an apoplectic fit. Findlay, who bolonged to Scotland, was removed to the Hospital. Ho was in a critical condition at' a late hour last night. Findlay has no frionds in New Zealand.

A youth named Arthur Pearson, 16 years of age, residing at Dee Street, Island Bay, employed as an apprentice at Gaby's founds 6°' his loft hand caught in somo machinery yesterday and had the top of his thumb taken off. Louie Clark, employed 1 at tho bos factory in Adelaide Road, and living at 17oa Willis Street, also had her hand soveroly injured yesterday through slipping and falling into somo machinory. Both accidents woro attended to at the Hospital.

Though Monday was observed as the King's Birthday, tho tramway returns totalled only £224, as compared with £470 on Saturday, £326 on Tuesday, and £179 on Sunday. Leaving out Sundays and including only working days, Monday was, in fact, the worst day of tho presont year for receipts. Tho reason is obvious: a fine holiday means very big traffic, and a wet working day generally means good traffic, because people must go to business, and tho rain makes them ride j but a day which is neither a fino holiday nor a wot working day comes in nowhere. People who aro not forced out in the wet will not come out of choice.

The question of Sunday opening at Wonderland was before tho Miramar Borough Council at its mooting last niglit. Tho Church of England Men's. Society wroto regretting that the Council had allowed the proprietary to open the pleasure ground on Sundays. The Mayor pointed out that the Council had given permission for tho tea kiosk to bo opened, and for tho band to render suitable selections. It would appear that tho writers had erroneously gathered from the advertisement that the side-showa were also open on Sundays. He might mention that tlio Council had only dono what would be expected of any other Council in a British country,

Further particulars have been received by tho police in reference to the fire at Jlartinborough on November 12 which destroyed tho dwolling and stables of Mr. T. Ross. The dwelling contained two rooms, and was value# at £60, the furniture, etc., being valued at £40. Tho two stables were valued at £170, and tho contents destroyed were worth £9. Thero was no insurance on any of tho buildings or contents. Tho firo originated in tho dwolling, and is supposed to have been caused through a lighted cigarette having been thrown on tho floor. Sparkß from the dwelling 6et firo to the stables about two chains away. Mr, Ross, who ,Tas at tho Taratahi Races at tho time of tho fire, ostimatos bis loss at nearly £300.

Mrs. Ethel E. Do Costa, LL.B. (neo Mita Ethol R. Benjamin of Dunedin), aftor practising for sorao years in that city, has commenced practice as a barrister and solicitor in No. 6 Nathan's Buildings, corner Grey and Featherston Streets, Wellington. Mrs. Do Costa has tho distinction of boing tho only lady pracJ tlsing at tho Bar in tho Dominion. Intending clients can depend on prompt and fareffit ittoation at Mrs, Uo Coata's hand*.

The Arbitration Court will sit at 10.30 this morning to hear the Cooks' and Waiters' dispute. Tho next meeting of tho Wellington Education Board will bo hold on Thursday, November 21, a week earlier than usual. Tho tender of Mr. H. W. Boon (Stratford) at £850 for tho construction of the Huiroa Station buildings on the Stratford-Ongarue railway has been accepted. The "Gazette" intimates that duties leviable under the Land and Income Assessment Act 1900 and Land Tax and Incomo Tax Act 1907 by way of land-tax and of further graduated land-tax shall bo paid in one sum on Friday, November 27, of tho present year, at tho oflico of the Commissioner of Taxes, Wellington. In compliance with a memorial of the City Council, the Governor has proclaimed as a recreation ground reserve an area of ten acres at Island Bay. A reserve of five acres, to bo known as the Paraparaumu Domain, is made for a liko purpose, and also a reserve of three acres twelve perches at Torero, Tho Warrimoo, which arrived from Sydney yesterday morning, ,brought nearly 1300 tons of cargo for this port alone. Inoluded among this great bulk was a large consignment of Mediterranean dried fruits for the Christmas season, some 2000 cases of American apples (ox Moana), and the first instalment of Australia's new season's plums and cherries. Councillor Fisher has given notice that at the. next meeting of the Council he will move—"That tho Council notes with pleasure the negotiations pending between the Wellington Steam Ferry Company and the New Zealand Government regarding the purchase as a national scenic reserve' of the natural bush at Day's Bay, and urges upon the Government the desirability of acquiring tho same."

Tho Chief Engineer for the Dominion (Mr. R. W. Holmes) statos that dreadful weather conditions have prevailed on that portion of tho Main Trunk Railway now undergoing construction during tho spring. From August 9 to October 14, a period of 66 days, there were only fivo days on which rain did not fall, and for the first fortnight of last month there was an average rainfall of half-an-inch per day,

Yesterday afternoon about 80 boys of Wellington College visited the Home of Compassion at Island Bay, and put in close on two hour? 1 good / solid work with Bpades and barrows. The boys were taken along by Mrs. Firth. Altogether, about five'tons of soil were handled. On Saturday week, November 23, a party from tho Wellington Trades Unions will 'bold a working-bee at tho Homo, and their united efforts should result in a substantial improvement to tho grounds.

A dep ltition of Northland residents yesterday interviewed the Hon, Dr. Findlay with a request to have the Municipal Corporations Act 1900 amended to cpable tho maximum i rea of "Wellington City to be extended. Legislation will probably be introduced this year to include Karori, and the deputation desired the Government to go ' further and extend the area to their district. The Attorney-General promised tj go into,, the patter with, his colleagues, at tho samo time pointing out that tho application'- had been left very 'late.

By an Order in Council, published in tho "Gazette," it is provided that recreation associations and clubs, and any branch theroof, shall in future be non-mercantile societies, to which the linjitation of interest-bear-ing, amounts of Post Office Savings Bank deposits .shall not apply. It is required that a copy of the rules of any such association or club,, tho funds of which it is desired to deposit in the Post Office Savings Bank, and of every amendment thereof, be rendered to the Postmaster-General, with tho names aud addresses of the trustees or officers for tho time being.

.It is stated that at a mass meeting of workers employed at 'the Petone workshops a resolution was carried protesting against tho Railway Classification Amendment Bill being passed in its present form, as no provision is made in it to give aay incroaso in pay to the tradesmen in tho service.. No objection was raised to the provisions made in tho Bill to improvo the position of the first division men and tho few second division men who will benefit by it; but indignation was expressed at tho apparent ignoring of the , largo number of men who have been practically promised increases in pay for which they have been agitating for somo time past.

At Martin Court yesterday, bofore Sir. Stanford, S.M., a boy hamed C, H. Loughnan (telegraphs our correspondent) was charged with haying turned off a Westinghouse brake tap which might have obstructed tho working of the railway. Mr. Hutton (Wanganui) appeared for tho Department, and pressed for a heavy penalty. Ho pointed out the seriousness of' this act, which might have resulted in a bad accident, similar to the railway catastrophe which happened on tho Rotorua lino. His Worship said ifc seemed to him wonderfully stupid on- the part of tho Department not to havo theso Westinghouso brakes protected in somo way. They could easily bo boxed in and mado secure by tho uso of special koys, and for the protection of human life it was. absolutely necess-iry that such precaution should bo taken. Mr. Stanford scolded tho boy, but said ho would inflict no penalty as it was tho fault of tho Railway Department, He ordered tho lad to pay costs, amounting to £1 7s.

During his recent wanderings on the Continent Mr. J. W. Bridgo, tho woll-known Wellington dontist, visited a small Swiss town about eighteen miles from Lucerno, where tho soldiery was undergoing its annual training in arms. "Tho place," says Mr. Bridge, "was like a fete. There were flags flying, and any amount of amusement, but amongst it all the troops went through their course of training, and seemed to enjoy Each canton has to, assemble its mon at a certain point each year to undergo either a month, fortnight, or week's training, according to tho class (ago) they belong to, and in ordor to bo with their men-folk tho pcoplo savo up and make it tho groat holiday timo of tho year. The shooting isdono under cover. Through squaro aperturos in a shed; tho men shoot through a hole in a wooden wall somo distauco off at the targot. Tho piorcod wall is to intercept any wild shots mado, and so prevent accident. They, haven't an unlimited range of country as tho butts, so this means is adopted for arresting those bullets that are not going to hit tho target. There is a boy beside each marksman, taking a note of the effect of ovory shot. Switzerland has a regular army of only 800 mon, but recently there was a sudden call to arms given by way of a test, and in twelve hours there were 50,000, and in twenty-four hours 150,000, men under arms."

In accordanco with a requisition from occupiers, tho Minister for Labour has directed that from and after November 18 all ironmongers' shops in the City of Wellington shall bo closed not later than 6 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and not later than 9 p.m. on Saturdays.

At the meeting of the Miramar Borough Council last night tho Mayor remarked that, as it had been reported that the Wellington Gas Company had now decided not to erect their now works in the, borough, it would ha as well if lie made a statement on tho subject. Continuing, he said:—"lt is now some time since the directors of the company and a committee of the Council mot in conference, and, after threshing out the various matters in dispute, arrived at an agreement. Mr. Martin, who had been appointed as joint solicitor, was present, and he was instructed to embody what had been agreed upon in legal form. Since that date Mr. Martin and I have had several con« vorsations on the subject, and nothing has transpired to lead mo to believe that tho company do not intend io carry out theiy part of the agreement."

The great North-West has opened up wonderfully since I was hero last," writes Dr. J. M. Bell, Director of Geological Survey 1 in Now Zealand, from Ontario under date September 25. "Just imagine, for over twenty-four! hours we travelled in the fastest train across the American Continent through a vast. corn-field. Since coming East we have had a canoe trip into Northern Quebec, and it was awfully nice renewing my acquaintance with tho lakes and rivers, not to speak of tho picturesque but smelly Indian wigwams. I also visited the great silver field of Cobalt, which is truly marvellous. Over five million dollars of silver have been exported up to the'end of 1906, and hundreds of- mines have been opened up, though tho fiold only started in 1905." I saw one silver vein, almost solid natural silver, some 27 inches wide. It: was guarded night and day,. Since my return I have beon very busy making preparations- for my lecturing tour. Thero has beon no dearth of places to lecture in. My trouble has been to fill in all the engagements, and many places will have to be left out. At present my programme stands as follows:—On September 31 I speak before tho Canadian Club of Perth on 'Travel in Unexplored New Zealand;' on October 10 at tho Victorian Club of Boston on 'The Mineral Wealth of the New Zealand Hinterland;' on the 11th at the Appalachian-Moun-tain Club of Boston on 'Exploration in the Heart of tho Southern Alps;' on the 15th at Kingston, Ontario; on 'The Southern Alps of New Zealand;' on October 17 at Harvard University, on 'Travel in Unexplored Now Zealand;' on October 18 at the Harvard Travellers' Club on 'Exploration in the Southern Alps;' on October 21 at the Somerviilo Club; on October 22 at Harvard on 'The General Geology of New Zealand;' on October 23 at Yalo (twice) on 'Tho Economic Mineral Features of Now Zealand' and 'Tho Salient Physical Features of New Zealand.' I oxpect to sail from New York on October 26. In England the Royal Geographical Society's - lecture has been fixed for November 11. The other day the High Commissioner cabled me asking if I would speak before the Royal Colonial Institute on November 19, and I replied that I would dc so. I leave London immediately afterwards for Naples, where I catch my boat or. tho 24th." ,