LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 400, 8 January 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal; authorities advise that the Whnraora, which loft Sydney for Auckland on Wednesday, has on board an English and Australian mail, which is due here by the express train from New Plymouth next Monday, evening. ' -'

The secretary of the Homo of Compassion Christmas Tree and Fete, Committee (Mr. A. Amodeo) states that those who collected and contributed to the fund will bo able to inspect a full list of the •amounts collected. The list will be publishcd'early next week. .

. A statement of the position of the current municipal.: rates for the city of Auckland; as at December 31, 1808, and also comparative figures for the years 1900, 1905, 1906, and 1907, have been .submitted'to the Mayor (Mr. Arthur Myers) by Mr. J.'S. Brigan (city treasurer). From this it appears that; while thfe .total sum to bo collected for the current year; is .'£28)388- in excess of that for 1900, the amount outstamiJDtoauhai; is £5939-les&

Tlio Wellington Navals will proceed to Mahanga Bay by the Janio Scddonon Friday evening, and go into camp for their annual 16-day course of instruction. Big-gun shooting will bo carried out on tlio mornings of tho second week in camp. .

Tho petrol fire motor just imported by tho Dunedin Tiro Board is the most up-to-date machine of its kind in New; Zealand. The Dominion's Dunedin . correspondent states that it can travel -thirty miles an hour on the flat, and can climb High Street (grade 1 -in. 6) on its intermediate gear, and put out a small fire with its chemical supply. ;

Mr. 0. W. Palmer, secretary of . the. Wei-, lington branch of , tho Navy League, dispatched a cable message to Commander JTyler, of H.M.S. Encounter yesterday, condoling with him on tho tragic accident which occurred in Sydney harbour on Wednesday, resulting in the death of fifteen bluejackets.

No longer will tho deliberations' of the Wellington Trades and Labour be closed to the press, for at last night's meeting (Mr. 6. H. Ligktfoot, presiding) the motion to admit tho reporters' was again brought ;up, and was discussed-at considerable length. It was finally decided that the proceedings of the council should'not, b'e/ conducted privately in future.'

" Tho mails have been late nearly every iligkt since the Government took 1 the line over " was the remark of a shipping man to a representative'of The Dominion last night, referring to the mail to catch the southern steamer. /'.There you are I We. see' that every night," continued the man of the sea, indicating two cabs which had just driven up from the railway station, but were too late; to enable their fares to catch the southern boat, which even then had been delayed a quarter of an hour.

■The Manawatu train service, under the Railway Department's administration;, : is not yet running, with strict punctuality. It is stated that, in; addition, to the embarrassment caused to'drivers by a change ot .coal, which was originally put forward in explanation , of delays, the service is hampered by the inadequate 'facilities for watering along the, lino. . The .weight of transport lias increased since the Government took control ot the railway, and: appliances which were sip; ficient for, the/,company's; needs .are inadequate in the now circumstances. \ , Mr. Geo. Allport, Secretary of the Marine - Department, returned yesterday Irom his toiir of inspection of the southern lighthouses. While in the south Mr. Allport visited the Hakataramea- salmon' hatchery, and touna everything 'working well,' and, reports .that therej are at present 27,000 young salmon there.- ■ -A visit of ■ inspection was also made to the Portobello hatchery in; Otago,; where the lobsters and crabs and various other specios of- sea fish are being leaied tor acclimatisation • purposes.. These Pite also reported to bo making good progress. : When Wellington winds scatter dust far and,'. wide,; Wellington housewives ~aro. frequently. harassed in their' search for an instrument which will gather', up the : partioles which spread over floor, wails,and furni- | ture. A of. a cleaner which, ' it is claimed,, will do this was given at the D.I.C. .yesterday afternoon. The Maxim Vacuum Dust-cleaiier has tho groat advantage of being easily handled. .It consists of a pump for creating' t a vacuum suction, and various* cleaners to be attached.' Forthe .demonstration particles of. dust, etc., wero scattered over tne carpet, and these. 1 the machine gathered up cleanly and quickly. ,

■ A shocking case of, cruelty,to a Ijorse. lias eomo under our notice, says tho "Herald." From what we are able to loam, ' about three weeks: ago somoporsoiis were .driving in from the Pohgaroa district, and on .'reaching the Makuri .Gorge l - one .of tho horses became knocked up, , apparently through being over-driven. The horse was set free and left on the broadside,; gradually getting weaker, and eventually it; fell > over tho bank' into the gorge; where it was found lying a, few . days ago terribly, bruised .and cut and'tormented by a, myriad of, flies. Con-r stable Tanner went out to the gorge on ]Tn : day'last'and shot the animal. ' He, is. now looking for.' the, person; responsible wiot -a view of instituting proceedings against; him. air. G. V. Hudson writes Tho 'following remarks ;by W. Peck, F.R.A.S., relative 'to,a trans-Neptunian planet,'which appeared; in- his, f Popular Handbook and . Atlas of Astronomy, published in 1890, will; perhaps,; be read': with some, interest at the present time:—'Neptune is-the most distant known planet in the. system. Very,; probably, however, there is another planet, if not . planets, revolving round the sun beyond his mighty, oi'bit.'. From the movement of certain comets it is thought :thafc the, nearest, of these ; far-, off planets, ,if it .exists", is situated'at; a distance, hot of double that of. Neptune's, but at; about, 4400 millions of miles, ,and will, therefore;, as, in the of Neptune and Uranus, complete its orbital revolution in i.doublo.the time, occupied by Neptune,, or' in about 330 years."' „ ■ ......

With two members of the clan Mackenzie; in theyCabiriet there is likoly' to be some; lively confusion' when : Mackenzie," the Minister, is-referred to, for 'whichever way ; it is 9pelt,. " MoKfjnzie," " Mackenzie,'' or ■" M'Kenzie," tho spoken -word -conveys? the. same significance. A correspondent writes: —" It .'puzzles a good many people' why. one .of the name should insist on' spelling; xt I ,one way and another should grow choleric if it is not lettered some, dthei' w ay, and I'call on some intelligent Scot .'to say why. M'Kenzie, Mackenzie, MacKenzio, apd McKcnzio should not be spslt ono and the same way. In the 'case of the twa Scots of tho historic' : name in tho Ministry doubt as to which' is' meant will doubtless bo brushed' aside by calling, the ono ' Roddy' and th& other ' Tom,' as they have always been distinguished among men,"

An innovation which is considered likely, 'to. appeal to the English adyocates.of cheaper; 'telegram and' postar facilities ' was' 1 to" come into force in Paris on December 1. On and after that date it would bo possible to send from any important town in France to; an-, other what were to be called letter ' tele-' grama. Tho rate waß to be' a. centime a' word- or in other words, 10. words for a penny, with a minimum charge of,five centimes ;(one hsif-penny). ; These letter tele'gramsj' it was arranged, were, to be 'received, •for transmission Sfter 9 p.m., telegraphed in ;tho usual way, and; delivered early on the "following , mormhg'bj the postman. At prer : sent" a ; letter from' Paris to Marseilles takes ; on an .average 24 Hours to reach, its destina-" tiori. The saving ,of time . under, the now system,-it was expecte'd,' would be 'a great ,boon ,to i French business, 'people.; -- : ' : V

; The Hon. 6. Fowlds, on Tuesday, after-' noon (his last day ■ as Minister for: Public Health), was .waited'upon by a deputation of milk vendors,' introduced by; Mr. J. P. Luke, M l'. The-speakers'woro Messrs. H. AY. Jolly and G. C. Highet. Replying to their requests, .the. Minister, said he did.not think 1 it: was practicable for. one Department to havo solo control of the milk from ithe cow to the consumer. The AgricuMral Department was notin a position to'undertake the* extra duties, and .the Health Department; could hot. relinquish its control or supervision of the .supply ■of milk intended for human consumption. He saw. the value of haying a .central, depot, of, some kind. Ho was firmly iMnvinoed .that. the . proper authority, for .dealing',with 'this matter was the City Council, and ho hoped the Wellington City Council would take such action as would secure a central place of , supervision ,of all : the milk; supplied to the citizens of 'Wollington. ' • ■ . A "through" goods service between Wellington and Auckland by the Main Trunk line was' inaugurated, yesterday. It will tako two days, at least, for goods tb travel between tho two citios. Tho General Manager for Railways, Chief Engineer, for Railways, and Engineer in Chief.of the Publi9 Works Department left yesterday to make an inspection of that portion of the lino which m still •in the hands of the Public Works authorities.

Their ostensible object is to judgehow soon the line will be : sufficiently completed for its entire transference to tho Railway Department, 1 and the 1 institution of a daily; express seryice. As, however, a daily oxpross service, was run with creditable punctuality; in addition to the present two days' service, throughout tho holiday season, one would suppose that tho expresses might bo'mado permanent at once, it the Department's roll-, iiig stook were adequate to its needs. A number of station buildings along the lino ,aro still far : from completion; but they are sufficient]}' advanced to cope with traffic! It will probably be a couple of months before all the -work of building androading is finished.

' A lighted candle, Getting fire to. some curtains and wallpaper in a four-roomed' cottage at the back of . the Masonic Hotel, Cuba Street, caused the brigade to turn;out at 8 pim. yesterday. The outbreak, was quickly j extinguished. ... 1 i i.-. •, : An exhibition of smart sprinting was wit-' , nessed ih Ciiba Street last evening, when a ; man dining in a restaurant hroko a picce of : crockery ware and refused to pay the dam- ; age done. On hid appearance outside a : policeman happened .to be lioar, and set sail after the , fugitive. In , a few. yards .the, man was captured, and, after being escorted back to'.the shop, matters were, rectified.: Then this " what's up crowd that 'had gathorod - folded up its tent like the . Arab, and stolo silently away. . . The Trentham riflo range is receiving some attention in the matter of a few much-de-sired improvements. Yesterday a gang or men proceeded to the range under contract to carry out certain improvements to the 200,; 500, : and- 600 yards mounds on the Sommerrille Range i The slope of the mounds is to. bo made, more comfortable by raising the.front. It is'also intended to further improve the Collins range, and asphalt the trenches,'the latter being a very necessary work, . The'question ol water supply is also to. receive practical attention very , *£oou. The efforts of tho residents in- the.vicinity of the Otaki Gorge to secure, a post ottce have at last been crowned with success (sajs the Otaki "Mail"). The new post: oftce, whicb'is at Mr! Beauchamp's rMidence, near the Waihoangp, Extension' Bridge, was opened on Monday last. Mr. Beauchamp is postmaster, while Mr. Hayward, of Hautere Cross, is tho mail carrier.. There is a triweekly mail on Mondays,; Wednesdays, and Fridays, .and the mail earner, drops ; his mails at the varions.homesteads, on jus journeys to the post office, .which, is a great convenience. .J The new post has been designated .the "Waihoanga Post Office. Tho Wellington Education Board has found .itself confronted, with, a. ; position wjiich- an explanation will probably fail to undermine, so far- as the; protesting partes .are concerned, ! sajs vthe Eketahuna Express. Some renovating work, was recently lot in, Eketahuna!without tenders being called, and irate tradesmen overlooked have t forwarded a petition to ttisjnanner. of-un-dertaking public ; works. The - petitioners 'point out,' amongst other things, _ that the favoured contractor has not any children attending the, school,which was .sufficient jus-. tiUcation. for.the terms in' when. tne petition. was couched. .;":/An-efei.Uoa^ the noxt meeting , of the \VoUnigton Tramway Employees'. Union on .7: Tho ■ candidates are Mr. W. T. Yonng, who has held the office without for the last four years, 1 and H. A\ estbrooke. Tho office of secretary of New Zealand branch of the" Australasian Federated Seamen's . Union,' which has been nelcl by Mr, W. T. Young for ten years and a half, is also about- to bo contested fpr the first" time during: that period. Mr. . David Holmes, of iWeUington, .will Jlr. Young. .The nominations ; wero forwarded-to the head office- at Dunodin yesterday; and the voting, which will bo oonductcd through tuo post, will closo about February 15. D Battery; Avhich gees 'into eamp- at'the ,Hutt Park for its annual 16-day courseof. training,.' is - now; 'in' point .of'numbers, the strongest volunteer field artillery... corps _in New Zealand. -The battery will spend twelve of the sixteen days at'the Hutt, and the remaining .four- at Pigeon. Bush, Wairarapa, journeying thence-'by, special train oirThurs-' day, January 21, and returning, to'"Wellington' on Sunday. January 24. During; theso four days, the battery will carry• out its'annual service class: - firing'. l '. This was • fired at Trentham ■ last - year,; •' but closer settlement, and the thick scrub ;biv the'hills' are factors which ..render 1 of, artillery-field firing very ' inconvenient.': Captain F.t, J. Courtenay, active - list,' '.(unattached), r-has' been granted permission ;; tb .go into .camp with tie battery.'. , . ...

There ' was fanamusinginterlude,, in '■ the Aucklaiid:''P6lite''CoMrt pn:Tuesday.;inorning.', The namo "Tom"Burns" was; called by;the: clerk in connection with a ;.'charge::of.- committing a breach', of. the '. A titter' wont jound>tho. building,as .tlielawner. of somewhat famous name stepped.into fthe box. He wasW coloured hian;'.Awhisper was heard from .the body ; or the Court,;" It's '/Johnson, - not Burns." Thero was something suspiciously like a twinkle in the eyes .of Mr.' 0, 0.. Kettle,. S.M., as he turned to tho- accused and asked,'with emphasis, '"Did you say your namo .was -Burns ?," .The 'coloured person in the dock smilingly'iiodded ah'aiSrmative. : "No relation' of- —" commenccd his Worship, when Sergeant Hendry drily : interjected, : "We had Johnson here' last•; week, Jsir.'', There .was' laughter., in \Courtj', and' 'the:'?. ;c'ase '■ ceeded.—", New. Zealand Hbrald?" \

; Several of the warships on the Australasian station'are : be docked at Calliope Dock, the question. of responsibility for; docking, .which.,was;raised_ a. few months,.ago,, having been satisfactorily adjusted'' on ' Tuesday (states the; '! Herald ").\ >; Speaking cn tlie matter at the Harbour Board meeting, the chairman (the Hoh.;E. Mitchelson) said the commanders ,of : warships did .not wish ": to tako the responsibility, of the docking, and; if ihi? liability, had to rest with them, the vessels would not bo ,docked afc;Auckland. The board's By-Jaw Committee had undertaken to recommend that the by-law, which required the'docking to be '.carried out, by the owners' of vessels, should be. altered so as to leave the responsibility with the board.- .The new. i by-law had not yet been drafted,, but he, 1 as. chairman, had informed the Admiral that the board,, would acoept 1 tho responsibility. The board ; unanimously confirmed the action.. :;

It has been decided by the No-License party at Manukau, where reduction was recently carried,' to nominate a.ticket for thelioensing committee, election, to' be- held' nest March.. At a meeting held recontly to consider this question (states, the Auokland " Star") a sub-committee, was: appointed to select suitable.men as candidates. At the same.time, the ;Opihion was expressed by : some of the mem Mrs. that it would, be wise'to open up negotiations with the-"other side" with the View to a. compromise, thereby ..saving . the. cost of an election.' Some of the more enthusiastic workers',spoke Vgfcronglv against. the suggestion, and argued that the temperance people oiight to bo.ablo to elect a licensing 'committee which, would be pledged to close the: maximum: number (4) of hotels, v and also to refuse an accommodation license at the; new ' saleyards in connection/with the, abattoirs at Otahuhu. The resolution to no-! miriate temperance candidates was carried by 20 to 2. Mr. Justice Grantham,, during a murder trial jat Norfolk Assizes (says: the London Daily Telegraph made some strong re T marks with regard to the marriago of people whisk, family history, is tainted,-'with insanity. The .prisoner .was Mary. Chatten (38), wife ■of ail liotelkeener. Evidence showed that sho got up early in the morning of September IS, cut,her infant's'throat with a razor, and then jumped down a well, being subsequently rescued. It was stated that her grandfather committed suicide," one brother died in an asylum, another was,an idiot, whilst : she -herself was in an asylum before'she married. Several of , her cousins wero'also insane; .Her husbind told .the judge ho knew his ''wife ; 'had beon in-.an : asylum, and his lordship remarked that it was almost a wicked, thing for. people, to marry' when they knew there was mental weakness in the family. It was wicked for parents to allow children to marry wheh they knew of insanity, without giving information to the person who was going to marry, the child. In this case the man know, but however much lie might have loved tlie woman, it passed his lordship's oomprehension that ho. should, have married her, knowing her history.' '• Prisoner was found guilty, but insane, and_ was ' directed to bo detained during, his Majesty's pleasuro.,.-

For instructions on the-, latest and 'most becoming style of Hairdressing,: for-Hair Treatii)ont;:l;'aCo Massage and Shampooing, visit Mrs. Bolleston, .Willis Street (over Carroll's). Personal attention, advice' free. . Tel. 1599. C 739

There are /more ways tnan one of branding tea, but there's only one honest nftd right way and that is to blend for. quality. Many teas a re blended for value—that is, lea 9 of- certain prices aro lumped together in order to make certain of profit. Crescent Blend Tea is blended for quality, irrespective of the prices of the teas required to make tie blend., It is a scientific, combination. of .the strong robust teas of Darjooling and tho fine delicate teas of Ceylon. Xwo Bhillingft lbi from all stores,—Adytv

PERSONAL ITEMS.

•♦ ' ' His Exoellency the Governor returned his residence at Palmerston North yesterday. Sir Joseph Ward, the Hon. J. Carroll, the Hon. J. A.'Millar, the Hon. It; M'Kenzie, the Hon. A. W. Hogg, tho Hon. D. Buddo, tho Hon. T. Mackenzie, and tho Hon. A. T. Ngata will bo in Wellington to-day. Tho Hon. G. Fowlds is en routo for Stewart Island, and tho Hon. Dr. Findlay is at Dunedin. i; Dr. Fell returned last night from a visit te Nelson. ■■■■ ".A i -.-• I'-'The.Hon.-A. T. Ngata.will arrive in-Wel-lington this morning. -

Mr. It. Carter, Collector of Customs ■ is; to leave for Auckland to-day on relieving duty.

' The-Hon. It. M'Kenzio (Minister for.Public Works) will probably leave for Nelson on Saturday.

vMrs. PlummoTjwife .of the chief officer of the Bimutaka, is to leave for London by the Arawivon Sunday. 1. ' vV.

Mr-- John Duthie ■is a -passenger from Auckland by tho Mokoia, which is due to arrive .-ait Wellington to-day. " ". . . -Mr- and Mrs. Gifford Marshall and family, and_Miss Darley, of Wanganui, are leaving for London by the lonic on February 25.

,Mr. A. J. Hum,'late of the Grand Hotel, is leaving Wellington for London by the lonic on l'ebruary 25. Ho will bo accompanied by, his wife and family.-- ' •

. Mr. R. B. -Ross, M.P. for .Pahiatua, is visiting town on,- business; connected . with his constituency. He will return homo tomorrow. - -

: Colonel R. H. Davies, C.B.j InspectorGeneral of the Forces,'who is'at present in town, intends to be present at tho field and garrison artillery camps this .year. : - :; .

Mr. W.- H. Millward, managing director of;the Gear -Meat, Company, accompanied by. Mrs. Millword, sre to leave Wellington for London by the ionic on February 25.

Mr. a.nd Miss M'Kellar, son and daughter of-Dr. Al'Kellar, of Sydney, passed through "Wellington yesterday, en- route to Dunedin, where ~ tliey- pick up theWaikare for tlia Sounds excursion'. ' /-•'

Christmas "holiday, is about to take :a fewdays' rest in tho south.He ; wiir leave. for Lyttelton to-night with Lady Ward and Miss •Ward. They will go, to Elderslie and Mount Cook, fwhere:;they . intend- to stay about, a week. . -

• Mr. Rsx Bridge, of tho local staff of the Bank of New South Wales/ and well known in. athletic circles in; tho city, returned •from-,(i 'five weeks- visit to' Sydney by-tha Maram.ron Wednesday.

Mr. A. J.'Taylor, solicitor, of Sydney, ar. rived by tho-Marama on a holiday'- trip on Wednesday. Ho leaves' by the: Arahura to. morrow for Nelson to do the West 'CoastMount Cook trip. * •

. Mr. Wilcocks, chief vofficer of Amokura, who has been. appointed .' Assistant -Marine .Superintendent at Lytteltpn, came' ashore yesterday, .and .Mr. Brindle, late officer; of .the mission, steamer. Southern Cross, took,.up; his duties. " ' ' i: ""

Mr. and Mrs. James Macfarlane,, and Miss Macfarlane,- of Edinburgh, are: visiting Wei-lington,-after. a* tour, ot the North Island. Thoy are. now. to visit places, of interest in the -'south-,/returning -here'.in- time ..to -leave for London by the .I'ainui on January, 28. •

Mr. J. J. Burke, the well-known wool« buyer, returned to New Zoaland by the Sydney, boat on, Wednesday. Mr. Burko visitei? London, , and then .went , across to ' IrC-iand, whore he was married:: Tka return journey was made; via the; United States. •-' •■ :

Mr. J. G. Ballard, 1 Inspector, of Telegraph Offices, who has been incapacitated by pqoi health for some months past,; .has 'resumed his'duties, and Mr. Harrington, who. has been acting for him. in. his Absence,: resumes his old . position as Officer in' Charge; of Telegraphs at Wellington,

Visitors to Wellington staying at the Em« pire (Hotel include Messrs. F., Gilniore.(London)'; ; H. i Hargraves (Napier); ■ Pratt (Dunedin) ; F. W- Urcen (Waterfalls) ;Jlarri< son .(Waverley); .Lee ; .'Major (Hawcra); G. H., Parker .and Geo. Haylej. (both of Christchnreh); ;F, Files (London)} and* Donald (Dunediu) ' -:: .

*. Leaving:. Wellington £.• for! London :by, tho Tainui on January 28 are Lieut.: H. -S. 0, Knox, itbo. Navy League' lecturer; Mr. -H; E, -Evans (son of Captain Evans), of B<?ll,"GuUy, Bell/, and 'Myers's: staff j.-Lieut.-Col.' Ldmbton and ' Captain vPakenham, 'of' the Imperial A rmy; and ■ Dr. Ross'- and ",familyj of Master* - _ Mr. G. F'.' Brodie, .'of' tts 'Evening Post'* literary staffj who left for New Plymouth yesterday morning in ordor to take up his new duties-' of-' thei-.::; Taranaki Herald," was on ;Wednesady farewelled by his late associates on tho "Post," and made the recipient of a token of regard. Mr. Gresley: Lukin, editor of: the ,:"Post," made the presentation. -' ' • '. .. "-- • A Press Association'telegram from Nelson announces the death,:- after:'a. lingering ill- , ness, of : Mr.'J. T.: Catley, aged 78, formerly i for forty; years in tho Lands Office as Receiver of Land Revenues; and of Archdeacon Wright : (Anglican), after a, long illness, su«. pervening on a paralytic stroko over* tw« years:ago.-,:/ rj >. Colonel .A. Pole-Penton, :of- the. Ordnanca Board,. Woolwich Arsenal, and formerly Commandant of. the New.Zealand Forces, has-been appointed to the command of -the iloj® Artillery at Malta, with the local-rank of majorgeneral. This'is' a very important artillery command, i Malta is an Imperial fortress and a naval base; it is garrisoned by about 7000 ImpeHal . 'troopf, of whom about . 2000' ara artillerymen.'::-/../ /. ,- • On' Wednesday'last, : at the residence" of Mr. J; M'Kelvie, Carnarvon, the Rev. Mr. Aitken, who has conducted Presbyterian services at' Carnarvon for some months past, wis presented ■ by: the - settlers,, in. recognition, of his good in the district/ with a number: of beautifully bound theological; works'. \, Tha . presentation was made by Mrs. M'Kelvie, on behalf of the. donors. Advantago was also taken of -the: occasion to welcome Mr,. Evans, in whose charge the parish now is.—"Horowhenua'Chronicle." - V; The following is the list of those, staying at Day's Bay House at-, present;— Mrs. David Nathan and Misses Nathan (2) ; llrs. Dr. Herbert and baby; Dr. and Mrs. Fitchett; Mr. and. Mrs.- C. B. Russell and fatnily; Dr.' Elizabeth; Gunu; Mrs.': Hugh: Williams XMastcrton);: Mr., arid Mrs. D. M. Findlay and family;. Mr., and Mrs." S. - Myers and familyV Mrs;' and Miss Richmond; Mr. arid Mrs. Hudson; Mr:, and Mrs. P.Blundell and family; Mrs. Harpir ; Mrs. J. Caselberg and family (Ma'stertbn); Mrs. ( A. Gnselberg: and family; Mrs. Colbeck .and family i (Palmerston North). Among the passengers to leave for London by the'Araw a on Sunday is Mr. Raymond F. M-Intyre, the accomplished Christchurch artist,; who goes Home . to: acquire breadth and atmosphere in tho artistic centres: of the Old World.. ; Mr. M'lntyro.is numbered : araonc tho : very limited'. few in New' '• Zealand whose work is Illumined; by bright promise. l . Canvases of his that attracted'marked: attention at 7 our last-, little. show 1 - wero "The Piiik Necklace," a delight- • fully- light and dainty impression af tor- the Parisian stylfe,.'and "A Child's Head" (which, •was, judiciously purchased by.,the academy)./ Among the passengers who arrived in Wellington: by: the Marania..yesterday:,was Mr. J. S. Barton, director bf, Banks's Commercial College. Mr. - Barton , has been -on a tour of New South Wales,- Victoria;; and Soilth: Australia, and has .visited all the chief , commeiv cial colleges of Australia. Throughout his tour lie found that; the commercial 'instruction available in; Wellington -was.,quite up to tlie standard obtaining in Australia, and ho made arrangements with: .the principal business colleges in the leading cities to introduce: the; business/system of instruction : at present , in . use, here , at. Banks's. : , .. Leading colleges also purchased .tho teaching rights of Mr. Barton's accountancy text-book, ''Twentieth: Century Commerce and. Book-keeping."

. Brooklyn - .residents" complain v'■ that' ; ' tie streets of that suburb were not lighted .last evening. Tlw Gfts Compnuy, it seems, lias certain privileges as to lighting■ the street lamps on' moonlit nightsbut residents complain tliatj when the sky is overclouded, as was the case last crcninßj tijo Btreots should'most certainly to liiited. ■"