LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 81, 30 December 1907, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Tho Customs revenue collected at Wellington on Saturday amounted to £852 Us. Tho total amount of duty collected for last week was £11,690 2s. Sd., and the amount paid for boor duty for tho same period was £555 2a. 61 . I Tho Firo Brigade were called out at 9.30 o'clock on Saturday evening. It was found that a chimney at No. 156 a Cuba Street, a fish shop occupied by John M'Brearty, was afire. On Saturday evening olevon persons wero arrested on charges of drunkenness, two charged with using obsceno languago, ono with resisting a constable, and ono with committing a broach of tho peace. A young man named William' Aldridgo was struck by a trauicar on Lambton Quay at 8.50 o'clock on Saturday evening. Ho was thrown o:i his head and rendered unconscious. Dr. Fell, who attended tho injurod man, found, that he had sustained a slight scalp wound. Almost immediately afterwards, Aldridgo was arrostod on a charge of drunkenness. If there is a structure that should be kept as bright and attractive as possible it is a sports' pavilion. Tho City Council evidently thinks othorwiso, for the grandstand at tho Basin Reserve is sad-toned to a degree. A close inspection indicated that its sadness omanates from a conglomeration of patches whore tho paint has absolutely worn off, leaving the grey weatherrstained timbers bare to tho breeze. With tho number of attractions that are bound to take place at the Reserve during tho nest three or four months, the Council might hide tho' nakedness of tho grandstand with a coat of paint. Several additional cases of houses having boen broken into during tho absenco of the inmates are reported. So far as can bo ascertained, however, nothing of any value is missing. It is probable that tho culprits were juveniles. In every instance a back window was broken in order to effect an entrance. On Friday the residence of Mr. Harry Black,' Waripori Street, of tho firm of Rouse, Black, and Son, was entered, but only a few articles of jewellery were taken. -Tho residenco of Mr. M. MacDairmid, Mein Streot, Newtown, was also entered on Friday, but, as the family have not. yet returned to town, it cannot bp ascertained l whether anything of valuo waS removed. Other cases of, minor importanoe aro also being investigated by tho police. An appeal that deserves consideration is being mado by tho • vicar, churchwardens, and vestry of St. Mary's Church, Levin, for funds for tho enlargement of tho church. The enlargement is required in order that tho church may provido accommodation for between .70 and SO boys from the Weraroa Industrial Training Farm, which' is situated near tho Lovin township, and, as tho lads in that institution eome from all parts of tho : Dominion, the church authorities are of opinion that they are justified in making an appeal to outsiders for assistance. This, too, is strengthened by the fact that the Lovin Church people havo built the church, vicarage, and Sunday School within the last • soven years, and still have a hoavy debt to pay oft. Donations'may be sent to tho vicp (Rev. A. E. Worsley), or to tho treasurer (Mr. Wv ;H;'.Beccher, !(Levin). On Tuesday ■ afternoon aboy named .Dvvah had a narrow escapo from' death oh tho-Onohunga Wharf. The littlo follow had just arrived from Wellington with his parents, and while standing near tho llarawa's gangway his foot was caught between a plank: and tho'railway lino. Just at the saiuo moment tho mail van was being pushed down tho line, and, seeing tho little olio's peril, tho mother screamed, whereupon' throo bystanders endeavoured to get the child clear, but without result. Sergeant J. Two--nicy, Constajilo M'Glone,. and others then made an attempt to stop tho van, and this proved successful, for it was' pulled up touching tho child. Had the engine been shunting tho. van instead of . tho wharf bonds, nothing would have saved the child, for it was only released by the cutting away of the sandal; For years past (says the Auckland "Herald'') the grooves in the wharf havo been a source of'danger, for it is very easy to get one's foot caught in. the unnecessarily wido openings for the lines. The brigantine Galilee, tho American vessel which is engaged in making a magnetic survey of the Pacific Ocean, arrived at Lytteltou on Tuesday .'afternoon. The presence of the Galilee in theso waters (says the "Lytteltou Times") is part of a plan for tho completion of a general magnetic survey of tho accessible regions of tho globe within fifteen or twenty years. Tho work is divided into two branches, ono dealing with the "sea and the other with the'land. Tho Carnegie Institution, of. Washington, has undertaken to have a survey -made of 1 tho Pacific Ocean. Two years ago the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism of tho Institution was authorised to undertake the survey, and the necessary funds were allotted. After a great deal of advertising, tiio Galilee was chartered,, and was adapted for tho purpose. After the alterations had been made, the steel rigging being replaced by hemp rigging, tho vessel entered upon her duties in August, 1906. Somo practical results havo been obtained from tho work. ' It has been found that in tho North Pacific. Ocean charts wero out to a considerable extent. In tho region between San Francisco and Honolulu, for instance, the compass pointed from one degree to two degrees farther oast than was shown by tho charts used in directing the course of a vessel between those ports. Tho distance is about 2000 miles. If there was an averago systematic error of -only ono degree, it might happen that during a cloudy or foggy passage, when no sun or stars wero visible, and when sole reliance, was placed on the compass and the log, tho vessel, at tho end. of i her voyage of 2000 miles, would find herself too / far north by about thirty-five miles. Already the Galileo has covered a large part of tho Pacific Ocean. She went from Santiago to Honolulu, via Fanning Island, and back to Santiago, then from Santiago to Yokohama, via Samoa and back, then from Santiago to Shanghai and on to Sitka, via Tahiti and Samoa, and finally from Sitka to Lytteltou, via tho Hawaii and Marshall groups. She will go next to Peru, probably calling at Easter Island, and thou back to San Francisco. That will complete her work as at presont arranged. Mrs. Ethel It. Do Costa, LL.B. (nro Miss Ethel R. Benjamin, of Dunodin), after practising for eome years in that oity, has commenced practice as a barrister and solicitor in No G Nathan's Buildingfl, corner Groy and Featbeiston Streets, Wellington. -Mrs. Da Casta has tho distinction of beiiu; the only lady pnatieing at tho Bar in the Dominion. Intending olienrs can depend on prompt and earoful at tention at Mrs. Do Costa's hands. Wo aro selling Jiicyclo Tyres and Inner Tubes at lowest possible prices. In addition t-i this, wu are, for the next tour weeks, presenting overy purchaser of a Tyro or lubo vith a new Bell, free of chargo. A. B. 1 ownall and Company, 20!) Lambtnn Quay. 'Photographic post cards of "Hospital Saturday" collection, Parliamentary Buildings, firo series, and otlior interesting events, on sale at flak's Photo Degot, 24 Willis Street (price 4d. . each).

On charges of drunkenness, nine men were brought beforo Mr. J; Collins, J.P./ on Sat- . urday last at tho Mount Cook Police Court. James Gibson was fined 10s.; Findlay M'Cormack, 205.; live first offenders, 10s. each ; and tv.'o others, ss. : Lieut. Herd, who lias been appointed Judge of tho North Island Brass Band Association's contest, to be held ill Now Ply. mouth in February, has been bandmaster of tho Wellington Garrison Band for nearly oighteon years, during the whole of which time that band has held a very high position in the Dominion for musicianly. work. A telegram states that immediately'on learning that Lieut. Herd had been appointed Judge, the Kaikprai Band decided to withdraw its entry. Possibly such action was taken under tho impression that tho Wellington Garrison Band would bo amongst the competitors. If that is so, it will ease the mind of the touchy southern baud to learn that the local Garri - son Band decided some timo ago not to compoto this year. Another reason may bo the stupid old prejudice about a New Zea|ander being selected to do anything'that demands knowledge and impartiality. Formerly we have imported men as judges from Home and Australia, but that does not prove, that just as able men'are not procurable in Now Zealand—it is only proof that thero has been a lack of faith in the local product. It is the old story of the prophet; that is without honour in his own country—a prejudice that should be crushed whenever it makes ite appearance. It is gratifying to learn that a majority of the bands affiliated to the Association preferred the local to the impoi'at man. ■