LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 129, 24 February 1908, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The City Council meeting will bo held on Wednesday (instead of Thursday) this week. A first meeting of creditors in tho estate of John Stevenson Pearson, salesman, will bo held in the Official Assignee's offico on March 3, at 11 a.m. An Auckland Press Association telegram says that Mr. E. G. B. Moss, formerly member for Ohinemuri, will contest tho Parnell seat at the general election. His Honour Mr. Justice Chapman will hold a sitting in Bankruptcy this morning, when applications for discharges will bo made by Georgo Finn and Joseph Saba. A fireman named Phillip Ryan was arrested yesterday by Detcctivo Lewis on a warrant charging him with having committ-od an indccent act at Lyttclton in December last. Tho Health Department reports that, four cases of scarlet fever, one of diphtheria, and ono of tuberculosis wero notified last week in tho City of Wellington. Ono ease of scarlet fever was notified in tho suburbs. Tho Inspector-General of Schools has, it is -understood, stated 111 a letter to tho Auckland National League that tho scheme for tho establishment of outdoor ritlo ranges for all public schools is underconsideration by tho Education Department. The water famine is being reflected in the diminished subtorranean supplies of the Canterbury Plains. Tho underground supply at Rangiora is reported to bo decreasing daily, and pump pipes are being sunk lower. It is necessary to go as low as thirty feet to btai.n a good supply of water. Two civil actions are set down for hearing at the Supremo Court this morning. His Honour Mr. Justice Chapman will. hear tho case, Haitaitai Land Company v. John James Boyd, a claim of £27 9s. 7d., which amount is alleged to bo due under an agreement, and His Honour Mr. Justice Button will take the partly heard action Smith v.. Biss. Mr. E. J. Carey, secretary of tho Amalgamated Society of Cooks and Waiters, Wellington, is at present in Christchurch for the purpose of forming a Union, which is. to bo called the Canterbury Hotel and Restaurant Employees' Union. The initial meeting in connection with tho proposed Union/will bo held this evening. Mr. Carey will return to Wellington on Wednesday morning. Tho Customs collections . on Saturday amounted to £1927 ■ lis. 6d., as compared with £2072 lis. 9d, for tho corresponding date of . last year. The .collection for last week totalled £25,822 9s. 2d., as against £21,815 os. 3d. for tho corresponding week a year ago. Tlio beer duty for- the week amounted to £IG3 Is., as against £158 12s. a year ago.

Sixty-seven birds, representing thirteen lofts, competed in the "Wellington Homings Society's Derby for young birds from Waipawa—an air-line "of 133 .miles. The 'winning, bird, 0. Haynes's Progress, took 4hr. llniin. 35sqc. to fly the distance, and takes Captain Edwin's medal. The second bird was W. Bailey's (924 yards per'minute), and the third; A. Clark's bird (922 yards). 1 : ■■ ;Tho Cfturt Of Inquiry into tho stranding of the steamer Waihi oh Karori Rock during a run from Blenheim to. Wellington was _ unable to deliver its decision on Saturday morning oh account of ono of the assessors, Captain Gray, being taken ill suddenly. The proceedings had to bo (adjourned sine die when the Court met on Saturday to allow of Captain Gray being consulted before the de-cision-was announced. It is understood,that tho result will bb made known* this week.' Tho funeral of the late Mr. J. C. Wilkin, formerly managing director of tho "Lyttelton Times," who died in Paris towards the. end of last year, took place in GhristchiiTch yestorday afternoon, and was very, largely, attended.' Amongst thoso present (telegraphs tho Press ' Association) were newspaper men from other parts of'tho Dominion, and many representative men of Canterbury. A vei'y; largo number of beautiful wreaths were received. . The only candidate who has definitely taken tho field for the Mayoral election in Wellington is tho present Mayor, the Hon. T. W. Hislop. . It has been that a deputation of citizens will wait upon Mr. J. G. W. Aitken;-M.P., in order to ask him to stand, but Mr. Aitkcn, when questioned, said that lie knew nothing of, such a deputation, and he declined to make any statement as to his intentions. Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P., has also been mentioned as a possible candidate, but ho also refuses to be drawn. Soveral important mattors will bo dealt with at tho conference of delegates to tho i\ew Zealand Athletic Union, which will bo held at New Plymouth' on the evening of Wednesday next, tho first day of tho second; annual championship meeting under the axispices of the Union. Tho principal questions lor discussion are tho suggested removal of disqualifications imposed on athletes who participated at tho sports meeting promoted by tho Scottish Society of Christchurch during tho Exhibition; tho position of those who Imvo . taken part in proprietary sports up to date j and the advisableness of having all the members of the Executive resident in tho ono city.

A gentleman prominently associated with the milk business' in Wellington was consulted on Friday in regard to the much-de-bated and oft-postponed question of a clearing house for Wellington's milk supply. Ho went as far as to say that he heartily approved of the idea'of a depot- where all milk, should be tested, but he doubts if the municipality could mako a success of tho distribution. The depot authorities oould only assure the public that tho milk was puro and good ; when it left tho clearing house, but, as many connected with tho business know, some manipulation could take place between the depot and the consumer, which if practised would leave the conditions much as they aro at prcsont, Ho suggests that each vendor should, be licensed by tho City Council, and that if found guilty at any time of aiiy malpractico his licensi bo instantly cancolled. Tho appointment of a couple of smart inspectors, empowered to tako samples from any milk-cart or milk-rending shop, on tho top of that, would practically assuro to tho city a puro milk supply. Tho schome is worthy of consideration.

. Mrs. Ethel K. De Costa, IjTj.ll. (Nec Misa Elhel E. Benjamin, of Dunedin), after practiainß for son™ years in that city,' has commenced practice as a barrister and solicitor in No. (i Nathan's Buildings, corner Grey and Featherslon Streets, Wellington. Mrs. De Costa lias the distinction of being the only lady practising; at the Bar in the, Dominion. In; tending clients oan depend on prompt and xaieful attention at .Costa's bonds.

It having been suggested that the corrected statement with reference to Mr. Frank Cookson, published in our issue of January 31, may not havo been soen by somo who saw tho erroneous statement published on tho 30th, wo desiro to agajn state that the statement mado on tlio 30th that Mr. Cookson had been arrested was incorrect, and that Mr. Cookson was concerned, not as defendant, but as promoting tho prosecution in a caso of assault against certain defendants. Wo exceedingly regret tho : annoyance that such a statement as ours of tho 30tlr caused to Mr. Cookson and his friends, and trust that this announcement may reach all who may have seen tho erroneous statement.

Tho opening of the Salvation Army's new barracks in Constablo Street has been postponed until Saturday, March 14, as tho contractors arc unablo to' Complete-tho work by tho dato originally fixed for tho ceremony. "Wo feel confident that Invcrcargill at any rate will return to the House a candidato pledged to support tho formation of an Independent Labour party." The above is an extract from a letter just received by tho secretary of tho Wellington branch of tho Political Labour League from tho secretary, of tho Southland branch. "Much indignation is expressed locally (telegraphs our New Plymouth correspondent) at the refusal of tho Minister for tho Interior to closo tho Government offices for tho band contest. Ho will be prepared to consider applications for leave on ono afternoon to bo selected by tho Band Contest Executive.* Thcso arrangements contrast in marked dogreo with tlioso mado for the sculling race at Wanganui, but it is still hoped that commonsense and some consideration for Government employees will prevail." On Saturday, at mid-day, a seven-roomed wooden house, situated in Crawford Street, Kilbirnie, and owned •and occupied by David Lewis O'Donnell, buildor, was, together with a portion of tho contents, destroyed by fire. Tho outbreak originated through a tin of beeswax and turpentine, which was being warmed' over a keroseno heater, eatchiiig alight. The building was'insured in tho Commercial Union office for £800, and the furnituro in the South British office for £350. The outer wall, roof, and ceilings of the sevenroomed house adjoining, which is occupied by John Girdlostone, wero also damaged by fire and .water.' The last-mentioned structuro is insured for £500 in tho Sun office, which also has a risk on tho furniture of £300. There was a good supply of water, and both the Kilbirnie Volunteer Brigado and tho City, Brigade wero present. Yesterday afternoon the Brooklyn Volunteer Brigado turned out to extinguish grass fires at' Fitchett-town, and at 8.47, when a recrudescence occurred; the City Brigade received a call from Polhill Gully.