LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 58, 2 December 1907, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It is matter for rogret that wo are not able this morning to express our views on some phases of the criminal libel action which occupied the attention of the Supremo Court i>n Thursday and Friday of last week. The case is not yet clear of tho Court,; and wo are, therefore, prevented from commenting upon its merits. We would commend the attention of our readers, however, to tho strong indictment by Mr. Justice Cooper of the immorality existing in this city, and more particularly in relation to interference with young girls. ;In connection with the reebnt trial, we havo of necessity been compelled to do the accused person somo injustice, as, owing to its nature, wo have not been able to publish in full the ovidenco upon which he based his charges against the prosecutor Pollock. A Press Association messago states that just on 8000 bales have been catalogued for the opening wool sale at Napier next Tuesday, as against 7148 last December. Jurors summoned to attend' at the Supremo Court to-day are notified by advertisement that they will not be required to attend until to-morrow morning at 10.30 o'clock. A meeting of delegates of local bodies for tho election of six ropresontatives on the Board of tho Wellington Hospital Trustees will bo held in the Town Hall at 11 a.m. to-day. At the Supreme Court on Saturday it was intimated that a stay of proceedings bad been entered in the cases against \V. Burford, charged with having performed all illegal operation and with having counselled and procured a woman to commit tho ollenco. Prisoner was discharged. During tho hearing of the charge against Arthur Beeson of having published a defamatory libel, His Honour Mr. Justico Cooper paid Mr. Wilford a high complimout. He observed that no oxception could be taken to tho way in which Mr. Wilford (prosecuting counsel) had conducted tho cross-examination of tho female witnesses for the defence, adding that he nevor had had any fault to find with Mr. Wilford in this respect.

On Thursday afternoon 50 men from the Permanent Artillery are going out to help in the construction of the reservoir at the Homo of Compassion at Island Bay, and on Saturday 10U of the Wellington Rifle Battalion aro going out under the charge of Lieutenant-Colonel Dutbie.

A man named James Brotherston, a carter, was arrested oil Saturday by Detective Williams on a charge of theft of a bag of sugar. Brotherston was employed by Mr. J. Collio, carter, and was engaged carting for Messrs. A. S. Patcrson and Co. at the timo of the alleged offence in August last.

Twenty-eight applications, have been received from England, five from New Zealand, and four from Australia for the vacant professorship of mathematics at Victoria College. They will bo considered by the College Council at its next meeting on December 18.

The Brigade received a call at 11.2 p.m. on Saturday to a one-storied, seven-roomed house, No. 7 Myrtle Crescent, occupied by Mrs. Paget, and owned by Mr. Henry Davis, of 97 Adelaide Road. The fire occurred in a front bedrooni, .which, with tbo contents, was slightly damaged by fire. The outbreak was caused by a lighted match being thrown down carelessly.

Soon after eight o'clock last evening an incipient fire was discovered at house No. 1 John Street, occupied by Mr. Andrew Brown, and owned by the estate of the late Ebenezer Gray. The room in which the fire occurred was occupied by Mr. Martin Strange, and the outbreak occurred through a window curtain being blown against a lighted candle. Tho only damage by fire was to the curtain and the wall-papsr.

The police have crossed the trail of the "Feather Gang" again. It is alleged that representatives of the gang broke into Messrs. Cable's foundry some time between Friday and Saturday. Several windows in the foundry were broken, and half a dozen boxes of candles and some steel , stamps wore' stolen. The same youthful gang are suspected of having broken into Mr/ Smart's store in Old Customhouse Street, and Messrs. Dalgety and Co.'s wool store on Friday or Saturday. •

Pegasus (Commandor Quayle) arrived in the harbour unexpectedly yesterday morning from Melbourne. Enquiry elicited that the warship replaces H.M.S. Challenger on the New Zealand sub-station during that vessel's absence in the Islands. The Pegasuß experienced head winds and a heavy sea. for' the greater part of the voyage across the Tasman Sea. It is understood that she proceeds to Auckland after a stay in Wellington. The cruiser was decked in bunting yesterday in honour of Queon Alexandra's birthday.

Some excitement was caused in Willis Street at 9.55 on Saturday night when a couple of horses attached to a cab bolted down the street. The horses dashed along Customhouse Quay, and then into Lambton Quay. When opposite the Police Station the cab collided with a telegraph pole, and this finally checked the runaways. The axle of the cab was broken, and the body of the vehicle was knocked about. The telegraph pole was also brosen. George Richards, the driver, fell off the cab ' in Willis Street, and was picked up in an unconscious condition, with a wound at the back of his boad.

A meeting of the Parliamentary Committee' of - the New Zealand'' Employers' Federation was held on Friday, when tho draft report of the work done during the session ivas considered. The report- was adopted, and referred to tho Advisory Board of tho Employers' Federation, with a request that it be printed and circulated among the employers throughout the Dominion. Strong exception was taken te the rush of legislation towards the close of the session, and to the passing of amendments to the Factories Act and tho Shops and Offices Act without sufficient notice having been given to tho Employers' Federation. The committee, by a, unanimous resolution, thanked tho secretary, Mr. Pryor,'for his services during the parliamentary session. Tho Supreme Court authorities were notified on Saturday that three out of tho four claims preferred against the City Council, in connection with the Brooklyn tram accident on May 5, had boen settled. Mr. Thomas Bell, . of Richmond, Nelson (formerly of the. Murchison, West Coast), wlio claimed £2000 damages on account of the death of 'his wife, and £501 on account of injuries which he sustained, has now agreed to accept £1000 in full satisfaction of both claims, including costs. Arthur Smith, who claimed £300, has now accepted £125. Tho unsettled case is that in which Richard Elliott claims £250 ou account of injuries sustained. Mr. D. M. Findlay (who is also acting for Mr. Elliott) represented Mr. Bell, Messrs. Wilford and Levi acted for Mr. Smith, and- Mr. J. O'Shea (withf him Mr. Gray) for tho Corporation. Messrs. Crichton and M'Kay, architects, have accepted tho tender of Mr. W. Ward for the erection of one section of tho new hospital buildings at Napier.. Two separate buildings—a Nurses' Homo and a Home for Chronic Invalids—aro to be erected in tho I hospital grouuds on tho site formerly occupied by the Old Men's Refuge. The Nurses' Homo is to 1 be a two-storey brick building finished externally in red pressed bricks and rough cast, with a 1 gabled roof of Marseilles tiles. It covers a section of ground 90ft. by 75ft., and will contain thirty-two bedrooms, ' a largo dining-room, parlour, kitchen, and all modern conveniences, including sahitary arrangements of tho most up-to-date character. Tho elevation of the Chronic Invalids' Home will also be of redpressed brick relioved with bands'of rough cast. It is designed on lines that will combine the maximum of comfort and convenience both to the inmates and the administrative officials. Occupying a section 100 ft. by 100 ft., tho wards run down each side, the male apartments on one side and female on the other, separated by a large square courtyard, which should be a fine shelter for those patients to whom fresh air r.nd sunshine is bencficial. The prico for the two buildings is £9100. Mrs. Ethel R. De Costa, LL.B. (nee Miss Ethel It. Benjamin, of Dunedin), after practising for some years in that city, has commenced praciico as a barrister and solicitor in No 6 Nathan's Buildings, corner Groy and Featteiston Streets, Wellington. Mrs. De Costa has tho distinction of being tho only lady practising at tho Bar in the Dominion. Intending clients can depend on prompt and careful attention at Mrs. Do Costa's hands. Photographic post cards of the "Compassion Home" workers, military tournament at Palmorston, Dominion celebrations, Turakina firo, etc., etc:, on sale at ZAK'S PHOTO DEPOT, 24 Willis Street (price id. each). CGII A fashionably attired woman needs a perfectly cut corset, artistically moulded to the "human form." C. Adams and Co., 35 Cuba Street, have a most up-to-date corsct department, and a lady expert is always in attendance for tho purpose of "fitting." C. Adams and Co. are agents for the' Messenger Corset Manufacturers. Tour measure is talien by an expert, fitted and made to your order within a wecU, Inspection invitod- COM

. As reports undor fcho heading of " l'ho Turf'' indicate, thirteen bookmakers paid a 'iconso feo of £15 each, and appeared at tho rakapuna (Auckland) races on Saturday, hilt iouthem bookmakers refused to pay tha £20 liconse f§o asked by the Tahuna Park Trotting Club, and did not appear on the course. Recording to a Press Association tolegram from Dunedin, the Tahuna Club's license used to bo £5. The telegram adds that a protest,was wired to tho Premier and to Mr. Millar, Mii)istor for Marine, who replied that, in their opinion, tho club's action was a very unwise one. Our Dunedin correspondent telegraphs that at Tahuna Park only ono book-, maker presented himself for admission, with the result that lie was told ho was not weloome, and wont away. At Feilding races there were no bookmakers.