LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 130, 25 February 1908, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

In our issue of Saturday wo quoted extracts from, articles published,'in tho Ministerial morning journal to show that on February 21 it violently attacked tho Opposition for its " campaign l of misrepresentation " in styling tho Government a Socialist.'Govern-. ment, whereas tho paper itself,, as recently as October' 22 last, exulted in. applying the same torn to the Ministry of which it is tho 'mouthpiece. Yesterday' it published its retort, and wo must concede that its stock of offensive epithets, if hot choice, at least' exceeds in, strength those usually adoptod by reputable journals in Now Zealand. Wo are accused of deliberate and wilful misrepresentation, of "fraudulently underquoting", from its columns, of ; " flagrantly dishonest tactics," etc., etc. Long paragraphs in [capital letters aro quoted to emphasise our iniquities, and they prove—what? That the Ministerial ■ journal on October 22 did state that tho Government was'a Socialist Government. And this, and no other, was the charge wo brought agniiist it. The fact that it denied that tho. Ministry- was an. "extreme" Socialist Government, or a " rabid, revolutionary" Socialist Government', or a "rampant, revolutionary " Socialist Government, is dragged in to 1 cover its discomfiture' and to confuso the issue, but will deceive no intelligent person who reads the article. Wo made a direct statement that tho Ministerial journal had styled the Government a " Socialist ". Government. We have proved that statement absolutely from its own columns, and we havo met tho retort wo expected from 'the paper's present management—abuse. . The Customs revenue collected at Wellington yesterday amounted to £2872 Bs, Bd. His Honour Mr. Justice Chapman will hold a sitting in Chambers at 10.30 o'clock on Thursday morning. It is understood that the decision' of the Court of Inquiry into the striking of the steamer Waihi on Karori Rock is to be given at 3.30 on Wednesday afternoon. In his address at Motutapu on the Friendly Societies Bill (reported in another column), Sir Joseph Ward said he had becomo an lion, member of tho Fountain of Friendship Lodge, which has the distinction of being not only the oldest established branch in tho province, but which is also the third wealthiest branch in the world. ' ' . . When the question ~ of • tho destruction caused by busli fires was being discussed at the meeting of tho Auckland Executivo of the Farmers' Union a member said it was significant that now the,.farmers from end to end of tho country were suffering loss thero was no talk amongst tho town unions and societies of sharing that loss with tho farmers. • Tho agitators who talked so loudly in timo of prosperity were silent now. For Shampooing, alKJlair, and Face treatments, visit Mrs. llolloston, Ilair Physician, Face Specialists and Masseuse, Certificated. Trained under medical supervision. Special treatment for Falling Hair, Dandruff, Grcyncss, Fans Massage, etc., personal attention, Ist Floor, ? Wjijij Street (over Carroll's). Tel. 1523. 7MB

Sixty-five assisted immigrants are expected to arrivo from England by the Arawa to-day. They are mostly farm-labourers and domestic servants. The Wellington Education Board has let the contract for the erection of tho new school at the Dytr Settlement to Mr. H. Waterhouso. . ' . The postal authorities advise that tho Wnrrimoo, which left Sydney on Saturday, will bo due in Wellington to-morrow morning with an Australian mail/ On Friday next, February 28, at 8 p.m., the diplomas, medals, prizes, and certificates awarded to successful candidates at the Trinity College music examinations of 1907 will bo presented by Mr. J. G. W. Aitken, M.P., at the Town Hall. Dr. Pomare, Health Officer to the Maoris, who has returned from a visit to the Chatham Islands, states that ho found tho Natives there in a prosperous condition, their circumstances having considerably improved sinco their lands ysro individualised. Mr. S. P. Andrews, speaking at the quarterly meeting of tho Christchurch Employers' . Association, put tho case of tho unions and tho employers in a humorous fashion, says tho "Press." Ho said it reminded him of when they were boys and ran after a cart to get on the back.- Some got' on the back, and those who did not called out "whip behind." That seemed to him to illustrate' pretty fairly tho conduct of the unions at the present time. During the hearing of a black swan poaching caso at Invercargill J tho defendant's counsel insisted that the swan was not a very edible bird at tho best of times, and was not in itself sufficiently desire ble to. tempt a shooter break tho gamo laws. On tho authority of a well-known 1 shooting man, he declared that as an article of sustenance the swan required to be buried for two years, to be boiled for three years, and then it took tho rest of one's life to chaw it. One of tho most important matters which; the proposed Federal Agricultural Buveau will take in hand when, it is. constituted next year'is a soil map of Australia. This map is expected to be of considerable assistance to tho High: Commissioner's office in London, whon tho Government's adrer-', t-ising programme is fully developed, besides being of great uso to farmers and minors in the Commonwealth. when doveloping' the rural aiid mining, industries. , An . Imperial Edict, published' in Pekin on January 27, granted tho veteran Sir Robert Hart, Inspector-General of Customs, long, leave, with tho rank of a Board President. Sir Robert E. Bredon, another distinguished Irishman," who has been Deputy-Inspector-General of Chinese Customs since 1898, succoeds his late chief with l , tho rank of a Lieu-tenant-Governor. Tho Hongkong daily Press' prophesies with 1 confidence that • Sir Robert Bredon will maintain' the excellent traditions that have lifted the Imperial Marine Customs almost entirely out of the miro of political diplomatic intrigue..,' ... Tho' Seamen's Union has been in correspondence' vyitli the Anchor "Shipping and Foundry Company, of Nelson, on the matter of lamp-trimmers being'required to ',get ,up steam' on. donkfey boilers in port. Under the aVard, donkeymen havo'to get up steam whbn required without being paid overtime, but lamp-trimmers,'' not being included in the term, donkeymen, the Union has contended that they - cannot be compelled' to . do' this work without;' being paid overtime. The company has replied that in , future lamptrimmors on its vessels will bo paid overtime accordingly.■ ,

The ."Bruce Herald" understands; that it is proposed by the Lands Department to subdivide the Cairn run, the lease of which falls in shortly, into' three. This run is one of the Clutha River Trust endowments, and comprises 13,300 acres, its carrying capao'ity beings'about .5500 sheep. The opinion has been expressed that, the run will bring.in.l -moro rental in ono lot than if it were cut up, and that , tho revenuo will suffer if tho subdivision, is carried, out. The Clutha River Trustees held a meeting, recently, •and this is the conclusion 'thoy., arrived at.. They havo referred the matter to the River Board for consideration at'its next meeting; Recalling some incidents in the career of the late Detective Browne, whose death was announced recently, ono of his old colleagues told a Christchurch "Press" reporter tho following anecdotelnspector Brqham was conducting 'a'case,'and sent the : Court orderly to his officelo bring "Roscoe on Evidence." Tho nian dashed off down the street, and finally turned into a barber's shop where Johnny Roscoe, a publican, was being shaved. Ho dragged the unfortunate Roscoo out of the chair, and bundled him into Court half shaved, in- spite of Browne's desperate interference,... Mr. Fitzgerald, R.ji., and all present in the Court '(excepting Inspector Broliam, Johnny Roscoe, and tho orderly) shrieked themselves hoarse with laughter. ' , A very good specimen of an jold shell trumpet has just been added to the collection in tho Dominion Museum.' These trumpets were made from a certain large'shell found very occasionally. 'at the Auckland Islands, and, owing to tho rarity of the shells, the instruments were exceedingly uncommon, and held by tho Maoris in proportionately high estimation. -Often they descended from generation to generation in a family. . A wooden mouth-piece was affixed to the apex of the shell, carved after a uniform pattern. Attached to tho upper part of the lip ..of the shell by a cord passed through a hole .was a 1 tuft of feathers oif the swamp-hen, kakapo, or some , rare bird. The sound of the shell trumpet could be heard for a very considerable distance. There were previously two specimens of these trumpets in the Museum collection, but in.some respects the new addition is superior to either. •v' Another of tho Maori War veterans; has just passed away. Lieutenant-General George Hyde Page, colonel of the Lincolnshire Regiment, whose death took place on January ; B,.at; Hove, was born in 1823, and joined the Army as an ensign in 1841. Early in his career he saw. service in Now Zealand with tho 58th Regiment. Ho was'present at the storming of Kawiti's Pa, took part in tho night attack on tho River Hutt; the skirmish, at Taito, and fighting at Wanganui. Ho also served in'the Crimea with the 41st Regiment, but roached the theatve of operations after the fall of Sebastopol. Ho was promoted major-general in 1882, and retired with tho honorary rank of lieutenantgenoral in 1885. In 1903 lie was appointed to tho colonelcy of the Lincolnshire Regiment, having been selected for a reward for distinguished and meritorious service in 1882. Mrs. Etliol It. De Costa, LL.B. (uoo Hiss Ethel R. Benjamin, of Dunedin), after practising for some 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. De Costa has tho distinction of being tho'only lady practising at the Bar in the Dominion. Intending clients can depend on prompt and eaiet'ul attentioA >>K Mia, De Costa's lmnds.

Ah artesian supply of water bas been secured on the Ashton sido of the Ashburton River month. It is the only artesian llow in Ashburton County. The now Garrison Hall in Bucklo Street is now almost completed, thero remaining only the finishing up of tho reconstructed portion, and the building will bo finally handed over to the Trustees on March 20. It is expected' that tho opening coromony will tako place shortly after that date, but whether or not' His Excellency tho Governor . will bo ahlo t-o attend tho function is, so far, uncertain. His Excellency will bo in town on March 14.' Tho caso sot down for hearing at tho Supreme Court this morning is'.that of Hebei"'Brown v. Heenan and Froude, Ltd., a claim' for £1000. damages. Plaintiff, it will be remembered, sustained severe injuries at the new destructor (for which defendants are tho contractors) through being precipitated to tho ground as a result of a piece of timber giving way. Tho question at'issue is whother he had any right to'be standing oil tho plank. Two young men named Aubrey Biss and Aibort Mason, aged nineteen and twenty yoars respectively, wero supposed on Sunday to havo becomo lost in tho bush at tho back of Day's Bay. A search party was organised on Sunday afternoon, and was accompanied by Constables M'Leod and Jones. Anxiety with regard to tlio ■ young men's whereabouts continued until yesterday afternoon, when thoy were discovered nono the worso for their bush sojourn, and camo back to town. The "Otago Daily Times" states that it is anticipated that within a few months from now the south-going trains from Dunedin will be run on the new line—that is, on the overhead system—as far as the Caversham Gasworks cutting, thus avoiding the level crossings at tho' various points.> Further, it is highly probable that in'about eighteen months the Department will be in a position to rim on tho new track as far as Burnside, which means' that tho big double" tunnel will have by. that time been completed and will be in'use. . ; : ' One of the disadvantages of the roomsharing system was exposed at tho Magistrate's Court, yesterday, when a man, who had been sharing a room with: another, was placed in the dock. It appears that ho rose early and left the room ( he had been occupying, and about tho same r timo a pair of trousers, containing some money belonging to his room-mate,' disappeared. An information was sworn against tho departed lodger, who was duly arrested. Subsequently, tho trousers, etc,, turned up, and, on tho caso being called at tho Magistrate's Court yesterday, tho circumstances were explained by tho policei, with tho' result that tho, chargo was withdrawn by leave of the Court. Dunedin registry : office , keepers report numerous enquiries for harvesting work, and men offering themselves at lOd. per hour exceed the demand. General /arm hands, milkers, and ploughmen cannot be obtained, and there are daily enquiries for this class of labour. Milkers are always scarce, ■ despite tho fact that pastoralists. offer comparatively high wages, but a sufficiency of ploughmen (255. to 30s. per wdek) is expected when harvest is over.' The demand for flaxmillers and general labourers is about equal to the supply. . Station cooks,'for. whomup to 325. ;Gd. per week is offered, are difficult .to obtain. The domestic servants simply .cannot be got, and easy positions t in. hotels at 15s. a week; aro advertised, but, seldom meet with any responso. With reference to tho Mount Cook Hermitage, the Attorney-General (Dr. Findlay) told: a Christchurch reporter that tho consideration of somo improvements had been left to Mr. Donne, chief of the Tourist Department. The Government hoped to have the work 'started, there early, next month,. Tho plans would provide for a two-story building and a large hall.. There would also bo'a wide verandah ,and balcony, so that visitors .might uso thbm as much as possible for sitting out. "From what I last heard," Dr. Findlay j continued, " the tourist season promises to be one or the host wo havo over had. I boliovo that at llotorua this .year it will be a record,, but. that might be due to tho carnival which : is now' proceeding. ' Tho Christ-, mas holidays, though' thero was no.; special attraction,' saw more people at Rotorua than .ever beforo. When I was at tho Hermitage tho number of visitors up to that time was tho biggest ever recorded, and I don't thinl: that oven the Exhibition year will beat- the present one. I cannot speak with'any certainty in regard to the southern tourist resorts, but I am confident that taken' all round the season has been a ; most satisfactory one everywhere." .