LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 251, 16 July 1908, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

> 0 ! A sitting in Chambers will be hold on Friday mornins. Thb Now Zealand Universities Rugby football team returned from Sydney by tha Maitai yesterday. Tho Civil Service Conference, which is to consider tho Superannuation Act, Classification Act, leavo of absonco, and other questions, will bo opened in Mr. J. D, Avery's office at 2,30 p.m. to-day. While at work at tho railway workshops, Potono, yesterday, a boy of 15, named Christian John M'Grogor, was struck on tho head by machinery. Ho recoivod three scalp wounds, and was admitted at the Hospital about nvo o'clock. Tho Commercial Travellers' Conference, which will bo opened at Wellington on Saturday morning, will bo attended by delegates from all parts of • tho Dominion. Among othor important questions for consideration are tho following Proposal to form a New Zealand Federation; question of affiliation with the Australian organisation, About 8 o'clock last night a soaman named Frod Ford, belonging to the Shaw, Savill liner Corinthic, met with an accident. 110 was ascending tho crano steps which lead to the: vessel whon ho missed his footing and fell on to: tho railway lino beneath. , Dr. Henry was summoned, and on examination found that.Ford had injurod his back. The injured man was placcd on board the Corinthio. Tho membors of the Boys' ■ Institute cadets paraded last evening under their officers, Capt. A. J, I-larloy, Liouts. F. C. Smith and F. H. Barnard. Staff-Sorgt. Major Rose, tho now instructor in place of Sergt.-Major Cololough,. was presont, and gave a short looture to tho lads on muskotry instruction, which was very interesting as well as instructive. . The uniforms aro expected in about a fortnight, and tho prospects of tha corps look very promisinc. Last week a suggestion appeared in our columns to havo vessels passing Stephens Island recorded at 1 the Post Office, in addition to those reported as passing Capo Farewoll. Tho need for such a roport was amply illustrated yesterday, whon tho Warrimoo, from Sydnoy direct, arrived in tho harbour without having been tolographed as passing "Farowell." Tho XJnion Company (by private arrangement) receivo advice when their vessels pass Stonhens Island, and, if tho Government couM seo its way clear to havo tho advice, posted on tho telograph board at tho G.P.0., it would bo of great convonionco to tho shipping fraternity and to tho public generally. Hairdrossing Is an art that should bo studied by all who desire to improve, thoir porsonal appearance. Mrs. Rolleston instructs ladies, also drossos hair in the latest mid most becoming styles,'including the Ondule waving. 3 Willis Stroot (over Carroll's); Tol, 1!>90, C73P Crescent Brand Tea broivs a Birong rich 'awuy liquor, with a fine smooth toxture, and laves the palate most agreeably. It has a distinct and dolloious flavour, and is tlio most favoured for tho moraine cup of tea. Tho quality and flavour of Crescent Brand Toa novor vary. Tho 6anio to-day as it was yostcrday, and tho prico is 2s, per lb, Obtain, ablo from all grocers. fwy

It is probable that the Board of Conciliation will file its recommendation in the engineers' dispute to-day. Mr. Justice Chapman will preside over the Compensation Court on Friday, when the caso of Smith and Smith v. tho Wellington City Corporation will be taken. Mr. Charles Wilson broke a lance for the Victoria College students at the Council's meeting last evening. He had paid a visit of inspection to tho Students' Debating Room, and his heart bled for the unfortunate frequenters thereof, for it was, ho said, a cold, inhospitablo barn of a place. Could not something ho dono to secure a littlo comfort for- them? His fclljnv-mcmbers agreed, and it was -decided to spend £10 in improving tho .heating arrangements of the room. > A novel suggestion was mado by Dr. Ponffiro at tho Maori Congress yesterday, in regard to Nativo. scholarships. This was, that instead of the scholarship examination being niado a condition of entrance to a collego, it should form a test of progress after the student had commenced his course, scholarships for the period' past being awarded to such students as had qualified. Tho student would thus have less difficulty in securing admission to tho college, and greater stimulus to effort during his college course. Tho Wanganuf Chamber of Commerco's latest'agitation is to have mail train cars dispatched from Wanganui itself so that through travellers may not. bo obliged to transfer themselves and their luggage from tho local train on tho branch lino to the mail train on tho other side of tho platform at Aramoho. Ono member thought that another iniprovement that might bo made by the Railway Department was tho setting aside of compartments for mothers with children. ..Men had smoking cars, so why not cars for women? The preservation of the seals at the Steeple. Rocks, off Capo Foulwind, was brought up at tho Acclimatisation Society's Conicrenco yesterday by Mr, 0. E. Major, M.P. Mr. A. J. Rutherfurd said that the fishermen had been agitating about tho matter, but this was ono of tho few colonics of seals wo had, and anything tho Conference could do should be in the direction of protecting and not destroying thorn. (Hoar, hear.) It was pointed out jtlmt tho Bullcr Society should make representations to tho Minister for Marino. , ... In stating at tho Nativo Congress yesterday, that many of tho Maori chiefs had set a porsonal example of hard work, Mr. A. T. Ngata, M,P,', said that this was . tho more oreditablo on their part, as in the olden days a chief was not supposed to labour. Ho told a (story of an old chief ;vho showed, before tho Nativo Land Commission, that ho still held , traditional ideas about the dignity of his olass. "Wliero aro your cultivations ? ho was asked.' Indicating by a stately gesture the ranks of his followers, he replied: "Thes.o tiro my cultivations." In connection with, tho. bakers' • striko, a oiroular letter has, boon sent out by Mr, W. H, Wostbrooko (secretary of the Trades and Labour Council), on behalf of tho Strik"o Committee, making'an appeal to tho various, unions for financial assistance for tho men on striko. It is stated that tho Bakers' Union funds havo been oxhausted, and the Trades Council has taken tho matter up, and is determined to pull lit . through. There aro stated to bo now eight bakeries with which tho union has no griovance, including two .or threo small shops whore tho masters do tho work without any assistance. Tho delogates to the Acclimatisation So-> oiotios' Conference attended a social at tho Hotel Windsor last evening, Mr.'L. 0. H. Tripp, tho prosidont, .boing in tho chair. An apology for absonco was received from tho Hon. Dr. Findlay, Tho Chairman proposed tho health of tho visitors,' and Messrs. R. Chisholm (Otago), IS. AY. l'ayton (Auckland), and Dr. Moorliouso .(Canterbury), responded. "Acclimatisation. ('Work" was pro-,-posod by Mr. W. ,A,;Sandilands (Feilding), iand replied to by Slr.'.L. J. Itoid., Mr. W, Pollard (Marlborough)'proposed the toast of "Tho Chairman." Songs, recitations, otc,, were rendered by Messrs, Carr, Ballanco, Twiss, .Kenny, and Marks.' " For a littlo whilo yesterday afternoon somo of the delegates at tho Maori Congress werq at cross purposes. Tho; topic sot down for discussion was "Employment" (trades, comtnorco,' Civil Servico, and professions), but' ono or two delegates, in their addresses, took for their text tho -burning question of -"Agriculture," and -were somewhat surprised to learn that they were out of order. Explanations followed, and it transpired that in tho Maori transcript'of. the Agenda: Paper, the word " Ahu-whonua" (tilling the soil) had inadvertently been sot down as the interpretation of Employment," {whereas tho proper transoription should hayo been "Mahi-a-ririga" (handicrafts and trades). Many people (says tho "Westminster Gazotto") have probably noticod ' that we do not got siioh long'telegrams from Now Zealand now as wo did in the days when "King Dick" Soddon was ruling thdt' section of tho Empire. \ That departed potentate used the, cables with royal prodigality, and rogularly dispatched to London, regardless of expense to'-tho Now Zealand Treasury, a. full summary of almost every speech ho delivered. His successor, Sir J, G. Ward, has been modost and economical in-this department. But Sir Joseph has iiow entered into an agreemont with Router, under which 100 words will bo telegraphed thrice a week, " to mako Now Zealand bottor known abroad and to assist in tho development of its resources." A deputation of owners of craft using the boat harbour at Clydo Quay Waited on. tho Harbour Board ypstorday afternoon, with reference to its management and control, and also with regard to the dredging of the enclosure, which lias become necessary. After hearing mombors of tho deputation speak, the Chairman of the Board (Mr. T. M, Wilford) intimated that tho Priestnian dr'edgo vrould start operations in the. boat harbour within six wcolss; that tho control, instead of being vested in tho Harbourmaster alone, would bo delegated to tho Harbourmaster or members of his staff; that tho Board would! allow tho City Council to' erect latrines, and would loaso to that body a.pieco of land for that purpose; and that a shed would bo let to tho couimitteo of tho boat harbour ;user3_for tho purposes of a meeting lioiiso at a nominal icntal, subjeot to it not boing let to a tenant. Tho deputation thanked -tho Board heartily for tho consideration it had shown, and left contont with tho knowledge that it had done I a, good afternoon's' -work. - ' ' Lieutenant-Colonel G. F. C. Campbell, Officor Commanding tho Wellington Division of Garrison Artillery, asked what he thought of the suggestion outlined in our issue of yesterday's date,.of sending a t'oam of, garrison gunners to competo with tho Australian gunners, said that, whilo thoro was a 'good deal to bo said ir. favour of the idea ot intercolonial competitions in gunnery, thq : difficulty was to ensure that the competing teams would bo abloto carry out their firing on equitablo 9onditions. Ho was afraid that tho Now Zealand gunners would bo placed at a serious disadvantage if they entered a sfcrnngo fort, whoro tho communications, gunmountings, etc., were difforently arranged, and the Australians would bo at exactly a similar disadvantage in a New Zealand fort. Intimate , knowledgo of tho structure and on ganisation of a particular fort was an essential factor in its efficient manning,. and this was sometimes overlooked. Ho was vory much in favour of competitions, as tlioy woro carriod out at present in New Zealand, for thoy mado for efficiency.. What was thoro.to prevent the Now Zealand and Australian gunnors from engaging in competition, each in their own forts, under proscribed conditions as to.targets,, ranges, and so,forth? That, ho-thought, was more'practicable, and would bo of value. i"