LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 289, 31 August 1908, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Brindisi and Australian mails per Mokoia, from Sydney, arrived at Auckland yesterday. Tlio Southern portion of the mails left Onchunga at 3 p.m. on the same day, and will arrive_ in Wellington by 'tho Manawatu express this ovening. — ; Tlio nil too frequent false alarm resulted in the Fire Brigade being called out at 10.40 oil Saturday night. The alarm nuisance has become so pronounced of late that tho City Council has decided to give a reward of £5 for information which will lead to tho identification of offenders. At' _ St. Paul's pro-Cathedral yesterday morning the Rev. T. H. Sprott mentioned that Tuesday, September 29, was tho festival of St. Michael and All Angels, and also tho fiftieth anniversary of tho Dioccso of- Wellington. It was, therefore, intended on that day to hold a united service, as it wis not a healthy- sign for any institution to allow tho great landmarks of its history to pass unnoticed. In the Town Hall this evening, Mr. Moore, of tlio Mission to Seamen, will deliver a lecture, one of tho Public Library series, in which lie will deal with "A Sailor's Life, Ashore and Afloat, its Advantages and Disadvantages." Roference will bo made to tho great changes in ships and men now as compared with tlio past, and to the cause of many of tho men's complaints as regards their treatment, their food, tho many traps laid for tho sailor when ho conies ashoro, etc. Such an interesting subject should command a numerous attendance of the public.

Tlio Inspeotor of Buildings at Hastings went over tho now publio library on Saturday, with a view of discovering whether the structure sustained any injury by tho recent oarthquako. Tho rear wall of tho upper story shows a crack extonding from tho centra of the right-hand window to'tho floor, but the inspector states this crack was in ovidenco some time before tho shako, and ho attributes it to the sandy foundations common to tho district. He does not, however, anticipate any cause for alarm in the near future, although in tho courso of years the stability of the buildings must become imjiairpd.if remedialsteps t are not. taken. , At the annuai dinner of the 'Yorkshire Society, to bo held at Godber's Rooms this ovoning, tho toast of " Tho Dominion " will bo proposed by Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P., and will bo responded to by the Prime Minister (Sir Josoph Ward) and Mr. W. P. Massev, Leader or tho Opposition. Mr. Charles Wilson will propose " Our Nativo Country," and the ReV. J. S.vkes will reply. "Our Guests" will bo proposed by Mr. G. T. Hall, and responded to by tho Hon. Dr. Findlay, while tho toast of "Wellington Town and Trade" will bo replied to by His Worship the Mayor and Mr. John Dutliie. A capital programme .has been arranged. ■ . Tho following letter was received from a lady by tlio Auckland City Council last week:—"l was visiting tho Art Gallery a few days ago, and when I was leaving I found my umbrella gone. I would like tile Council to mako my loss good, as this is tlio third ono that has been lost by our family within a short time." The fact- that tho family had lost threo umbrellas may have seemed t-o the lady a good and convincing reason why tho Council should replace hers, but that body did not view the, matter in the samo light. The Counoil was not inclined to accept responsibility, and referred the matter to tlio Art Gallery Committee. Tho caso of an old man has attracted somo attention in Ashburton. Tho "Guardian" states that tho old man has been living in tho Ashburt-on river-bed, and his physical condition . is such that ho can movo about only on hi 3 hands and knees. He is precluded from beneiits under the Old Ago Pensions Act, though no serious charge has .ever beon preferred against him, and ho has been unablo to gain admission to tho Old Men's, Homo or tlio Hospital. He has lived alone in a miserablo whare, and some charitably disposed person has provided him with food. Tho caso was placed beforo tho Mayor of Ashburton (Mr. H. Davis) by a constable who had visited the man on several occasions, and an effort will be mado to have tho man properly cared for. In the meantimean Ashburton resident has undertaken to provido for_ him, and has had him removed to a boarding-house.

There seems to bo an opinion among several farmers who liavo studied the subject (writes our AVairarapa correspondent) that it would bo in the interests of tho country generally if tho Government placed a veto on the further Construction of large wooden bridges. It is contended that, under present conditions, tho wooden bridges are worn out just about tho time that tho building loan has been paid off, and tho opinion is expressed that tho State should in futuro see that all tho largo traffic bridges on the arterial and other roads should be mado of ferro-concreto or steel. At tho present timo thore arc many traffic bridges in tho Wellington and other provinces which will shortly require rebuilding, and there aro also new bridges contempltited. . The quostion appears worth consideration by the State and the local bodios. Our Hastings correspondent writes:—Tho management of tho Government experimental station at Arataki has always been faced with the difficulty of an artesian water supply. On Saturday morning, however, acting on an invitation, tho Rev. Mr. Mason, of Otaliuhu, in tho Auckland district, accompanied by Mr. Absolumj, of tho Stock Department, drove over to the' station with the object of locating water. Tho rev. gentleman has already ticon successful in attempts to fiiid water, and on tho present occasion ho indicated six dilforont spots'on the property whoro flows could bo obtained by sinking. His methods aro exceedingly simple. He lias 110 divining rod, and 110 depends altogether on a subtlo instinct which informs him of tho presence of wator under his feet. A certain area is then marked out, and when ho gets to tho exact spot whero the flow can bo obtained ho plants his heel down, and tho placo is pegged; ' Mr. Mason states that ho has never yet failed, and he is quite confident that bores driven down in placcs indicated by him will find water. Mrs. Itolleston, Hair Physician, Face Specialist, and Masseuse (certificated), who is at present visiting Sydney, returns on Seplem-i bor 2. C 739 The men of New Zealand aro becoming great lea-drinkers, and aro now- rather fastidious. There was a time when thoy took anything in tho way of tea offered by tlio womenfolk, but now they want palato pleasure—they want Crescent Brand Tea every time. This blended tea has distinguished qualities, for it is a, happy combination of tlio strong teas of, Bar-; joehiig and tlio line delicate teas of Coy lon, CSSS 1

The Health Department report the following cases of infectious diseases for the week ending August 29:—City: Scarlet fever, 14; diphtheria, 4. Hutt County: nil. The Lord Sefton, which arrived at Auckland yesterday from San Francisco, and Apia, failed to bring any news of the steamer Aeon, which had not been reported at Apia on August 21, when the Lord Sefton left. Again the shortage of railway trucks is delaying shipping at Wellington. The Union Company's chartered steamer Navarino arrived from Newcastle last Wednesday, and so far has been unablo to discharge any of her cargo into trucks, through the inability of tho Railway Department to supply them. The departuro of tho Komata for Westport and Sydney "has been postponed till to-day for like reasons. Tho local branch of tho Navy League is doing its best to keep the name of Lord Nelson green by forwarding a wreath to bo placed on tho Nelson monument in Trafalgar Square, London, on Trafalgar Day. The wreath, which is composed of red, white, and blue flowers, intertwined with New Zealand foliage, has been enclosed in a block of ice, which _ has been consigned to London by the Riniutaka. The wreath, arranged by Hiss Murray, was "put on ico" by the Welling Meat Export Company, and is being taken to London free of charge by the New Zealand Shipping Company.

"It is very difficult to fix a date for the hearing of any case in Wellington during the next few weeks," observed Mr. Justice Cooper during a sitting in Chambers on Sat-, urday.. Continuing, His Honour remarked that the list of cases to be beard at Wanganui by Mr. Justice Chapman was very heavy,. and before returning to Wellington Mr. Justice Chapman would hold sittings at Palmorston North and Napier. He (Mr. Justice Cooper) would hear a number of civil actions in Wellington during the next fortnight, but lie would then'have to take tho sessions at Hokitika, which might last a month. It had to be borne in mind also that tho Court of Amfthl would sit again early in October. His Honour added that the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) and Mr. Justice Denniston would be in Wellington for a few days during next month. _ An analysis of the table of the causes of insanity included in tho annual report on mental hospitals reveals tho fact that at the time when the table was compiled thero wero two patients at the Auckland Mental 1 Hospital and one at Porirua who were officially returned as "not insane." .Mr. Wilford asked an explanation of this entry, when the Estimates of tho Department were under discussion last' week. • Tho Minister (Hon. G. Fowlds) said that one of the men at Auckland had just recovered when .the return was made up, but his discharge, which had to be carried out according to tho regulations, had not then been effected. In regard to the other man at tho same institution, tho Court had held that he was insane, but the medical superintendent held a different opinion. Tho man at Porirua, tho Minister added, was in practically the same position. . Owing to the poor crops which resulted last year growers of »strawberries in tho Northcote, Birkenhead, Mayfield, and Birkdalo districts (Auckland) have this season put a smaller acreage under cultivation. Outside of these districts, howover, strawberries have been planted to a larger extent than usual, particularly at Helensville, Henderson, and Papalcura. Tho Waitemata Fruit-growers' Cooperative Association expects to handle more strawberries this year than ever before, and, anticipating a heavy business, tho principals have placed an order for a quarter of a million " chip " boxes with the Blind Institute, Parnell. This style of bos, by the way. has come very much into public favour, and one of the leading jam-manufacturing firms in Nelson is endeavouring to induco raspberrygrowers thero to ( use' it who'll marketing their fruit. In addition, growers of strawberries in Canterbury and Otago' are being supplied with these boxes.. Those qualified to judge state that it- is too early yet to forecast ..the.:; pro.sp.ects/,f.os strawberry soason. ' . " '■

Picture entertainments have become so popular that Messrs. Fuller and Sons have decided to abandon vaudeville performances for some months. Seen on the subject by a Dominion reporter on Saturday evening, Mr. Bon _ Fuller said that the chango' in :tho public tasto came at a timo when there was practically a dearth of fresh- talent in Australasia. Ho went on to say that on and after Friday evening next pictures would bo substituted for artists at tlie Theatre Royal in Wellington. Already the chance had been made at his firm's theatres at Christchurch and Dunedin, and only a brief period would elapse before tlie branch at Auckland fell into lino. In tho coursa of further conversation, Mr. Fuller recalled; tho fact that his .firm commonced in business 13 years ago with a picture entertainment under the title v of Fuller's Myriorama Co. The namo which it had now _ decided to adopt was Fuller's Motion Myriorama Picturell. "We are hero to cater for the public wants in thofltrical matters," observed Mr. Fuller in conclusion, "and, when another change in popular taste takes placo, wo shall immediately provide tho class of entertainment then required."