LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 408, 18 January 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

■ The! postal authorities, advise.Ythat ', the Maliuka, with Brintlisi' and.; Australian mails on board, arrived at Auckland at 7 a.m'; yesterday: ' The' mail, should reach Wellington by this evening's,train. ';'■■, •'...,;•:..

The Eastbourne Borough;-CounoiLdecided ,on Saturday night to contribute on a valuation basis to tho upkeep of the.Hutt Park,and to forward.a cheque for £3; 9s; 6d. to .tho .controlling committee. -.;-

.■" The wintry snap, of Saturday .afternoon caused tho Star Boating Club to postpone its annual swimming 1 sports. .An cft'ort will probably bo made to hold tho.sports next Saturday, as. tho, succeeding week-ends are filled up for somo time, to come.": 1 ;'-- ;V-; ■•-. ; '- .»

Only three cases of-. scarlet fever wore reported to the Health Department in Wellington laßt. week. Other cases of-infectious diseases .reported consisted of.one'case:pf enteric and three of diphtheria in the city,' and one caso of tuberculosis in'the Hutt; County.. At 10.12; p.m. yesterday the fire brigade 'received, a call to' No, 4 Minerva. Street, the residence of Mr. C. H. Cheriton. The fire, *hieh was a blaze hi a window curtain iii a back scullery, was put out without any difficulty. '

Doteotivo Connolly arrested a' young man yesterday on a charge of obtaining a box of butter from the Fresh Food and. Ice Company by means of false, pretences. ,Qn the arrival of tjlio southern steamer yesterday Detectives Connolly and Cameron arrested-a man on a charge of-theft of £12 at Dunediu. ■':.''■.

Tho sneak thief has been operating, with some success at the two local baths of late. Ono'bather had.27s. 6d. taken;out of his pockets .at Thorhdon, and a sovereign was stolen from,a.swimmer at-.ToAro. .The host moans of. making sure that ono will leave the baths with the money and valuables taken in is to deposit them with, tho custodian;.

Dr. Hocken "Bibliography of New Zealand," which is to be published by the Government, will bo a work of great value to students and future historians. Its aim is to furnish a record of overy book and pamphlet, containing a reference to New Zealand and to supply brief indication of tho nature of the reference. The volume, which will, of course, be a bulky one, will probably" be out of tho printer's hands before the meeting of Parliament. ,

Actsiof vandalism and carelessness in tho Eastbourne Domain havo roused the governing board to action.' It was decided, at a mooting on Saturday night, to have notice boards erected warning tho public against destruction of bush. Tho board also agreed to bring campers more directly under its control by the following resolution:—"'That no person bo permitted, to occupy or pitch tents in tho domain without a permit from the secrotary first_obtained, the charge for such permit to.be ss. per month."

Pedestrians on Lambton Quay on Saturday morning witnessed a smart piece of work in the stopping of two runaway horses attached to a.cab, which came whirling down the Quay minus a driver. AVken the runaways were galloping past Hannah's Building, ■ Mr. L. Magce, who was standing on tho footpath, sized up the.situation whilst others stood to see what the cab would bring up against."Mr. Magec ran out to the bolting pair, and managed to. get hold of the reins, which were trailing. ■■ Ho laid his weight oil the reins,, and after being dragged for some dis•tance, pulled tho horses up opposite Messrs. Kirkcaldio and Stains'B Buildimis.

The "Southland Daily News" and tho "Southland Times" have made their appearanco ascight-page papers.

Mr. Roland T. Robertson, Italian Consul, acknowledges' the following subscriptions to tho Italian Earthquake Fund:—"O.T!," 65.; Major latum,-£lO 10s.; R. D. Hanlon, ss.

'All crickot matches woro postponed on Saturday, owing to the soaked condition of the grounds. After-Friday's rain tho Basin Reservo was * quite unfit for play, and'on Saturday, morning the association announced that senior and junior matches would bo put oft'.. This is the first Saturday:of the season upon which lovers of the summer game havo been denied'..their' afternoon.in the Held.' Some beauty and a lot of mystery are i wrapped- round every /war steamer, and even a third-class. cruiser, when thrown open for inspection, never, fails, to prove what .theatrical people would call a "draw." On Saturday tho ship's company of H.M.S. Cambrian were "at homo" to visitors, and a large number of people spent the afternoon in wandering over tho fifteen-year-old'vessel, and the guns, projectors, and other appointments. To those with an inquiring turn of mind,. "Jack," as usual, proved a. willing instructor; and many . landsmen were given a sort of first lesson in gas-checks, interrupted. screws,. • obturators, De Range pads, telescopic sights,' 'breechblocks, and other things which make modern warfare so complicated and interesting.. ' ' Travellers on the Main' Trunk Line can obtain a very fine view of Ruapehu on a clear day. The mountain is snow-covered'in patches; but in one of the great valleys.facing the railway line, - there may- be seen, a big glaciaHcefield. At the present time'the, area of this glacier is .about five acres, and forty, or fifty feet in height!'.. Tho.mass, be-: comes bigger as the snow melts.- Looking at it from Ohakuno, it would appear as it it wero going to topple over every minute and fall down the mountain. The glacier has.been' in its present locality for the past ten years. It appears, however, according to Mr. Ernest Hastings Show, of Rangataua, that it is moving but very slowly. Of the other mountains in the vicinity,'Ngaruhoe has now very little snow, while Egmont may be seen about.eighty miles distant'from the Makatote Viaduct.

•Receipts" ..does not often ■ appear as a heading in tha' return of election, expenses which a Parliamentary candidate must fur-nish'-,to tho. Registrar.*, /.-It. .appears in. thereturned furnished by. Mr. Byron Brown, who unsuccessfully contested the Otaki seat at. tho general election;. His "receipts" are sot down as ££000 in "improvement in character and political knowledge." His "ox*: pendituro" amounted'■'"' -to. £2159 /7s. 10d.," which included £1000, each for "improvement ..of.character ~by example .set to be avoided" and ''knowledgCl , of how to win, at next election.",' Other items of expenditure are: "Bribes, lies, humbug,, etc., £0000,?' .."wear and tear on:character, £000," .and so oh. His actual, cash expenses amounted to .£ie9:'7s';-.-1pd.,,',-''-.' ■' ;:::' ; ;,"" ~-:-"■.;- '•-,-•' ■■Eastbourne has been endeavouring to convince the Oommissioner.for Police.' (Mr. W. Dinnie) .that '. : it; requires a resident police constable and. a new lock-up.' In reply to: a ,first requester, these essentials of progress, the commissioner '.replied that;-the- present, police station.was most suitably situated, and therefore he. could not: respond. '.- A more' pressing'and detailed letter was then'sent.by tho Borough Council, urging various . roa-' . sons'in support of their, request, and askingthe commissioner to give the .matter further - careful consideration. Mr. Dinnie did so, and a.lettor was read at tho meotirig of the.council on. Saturday, night stating that he had : visited,tho- locality and found .that a position near thoßona; Bay/Wharf would answer police purposes/ -He would; bo prepared to give: the matter .further consideration; at i the termination :of tho twelve months' agreement in respect;of the present police station. The council decided .to acknowledge I receipt' of; tho letter, and ask .the.commis-J sionerto keep j. the. matter, in view.- '';;'

■. .. That' the hemp, industry : is reviving .was the gist of: communications. made by Mr. 0. >J. Fulton, Chief Government/Fibre Expert, to an' " Otago. Daily Times " . reporter. Some little time-ago this industry;'was,. as far.as Otago and Southland ..'were .concerned;', reported :to be iria somewhat perilous state.: Now it has. taken a more hopeful turn by virtue of the fact that millers'are devoting their attention: to turning out '. a. fine grade article; which is worth from £1 to £5. per' ton in advance of good fair grade hemp. In the' North Island:.some of. the big. mills, are profiting .considerably by this new move, for they are reaping.tho advantage.of the.extra price, with very, littlo additional cost in production. Whore'labour is costly and royalties are heavy, and the' mills are not built on such' big;lines,/as, for/rnstancojin the/Manawatu district, it has ; beeri found,a difficult probleiri ,to keep going at a profit;: but.the fact.that a. big percentage ,or' the .mills running are turning out fine' grado'hemp ■ is; Mr. Eultori states, 'decidedly encouraging./,Then,..again, millers'are,now each year' becoming more acquainted with;the finer/points of the industry.and this is •■ resulting in.'the production of an improved article. One thing that has to be'contended against, this year,: said Mr.' Fulton;/is:;■ the . existence, of diseased leaf! which is pretty: general throughout New land. ' When it comes'.to'gi'ading, the presence: of/this diseased leaf is responsible for a; lowering of -the grado,> which is. doubly, unfortunate, occurring in .a season such ■as the present.., .•■; Further, anomalies Jri the' Railway Department, have/been discovered by' the "Otago: Daily Times.":; It is/an- 'interesting fact (says that paper), ,and -one whioh 'sets not a; few.;: people thinking; that the .railway' freight on goods carried from-Christohurch to Dunedin is lower • than what ■'■ it is ; oh goods carried from Dunedin to Christchurch. 1 his apparent anomaly:is' explained away by -the.existence of:special (arid reduced) rates over certain sections of the lino. Between Dimedin and Oamaru there is: a special rato for.. goods;' conveyed both ways, and ' from Christcnurch.'to Timaru—but riot from Tiiuaru to Christohurcli-rrthere is also a special rate. It will, therefore,.,bo seen!that in sending goods from Dunedin to Christchurch, ;■ only one special fate is to be availed of, but from Christchurch toDunediu there are two sec-, tions over-which a special rate applies. For" example, the freight on tho A class of goods' being railed, from Christchurch to Dunedin; with two special rates availed of, is, 635. (3d. per ton, while railed from Dunedin to Christchurch; with the-special rato only' over tho Duncdin-Oaniaru section, it mounts tip to 745. 4d. per ton., The introduction of these special rates was brought about a good many years ago,, when, the Railway Department first found shipping companies entering into competition with it, and, singularly enough;. the/ remain in existence until this present ;day.-. ' ■;• , •>".'•' :;■ :,:. /.'.' ./,',■

; A Masonic function of more-than' passing interest has beea fixed to take place in -Dunedin, this week (states tho " Otago Daily .Times."). ..During tho vice-regal .visit jiext Wednesday, Lord Plunket, as Rii;ht Worshipful .Grand!Master,-of -New Zealand, will lay tho foundation-stone of the new Masonic Hnll in Great King Street for Lodge Hacremai (No. ,155). Tho Grand Master, will be assisted by fully a dozen.Grand Lodge officers from various parts of the Dominion, in addition to'a very largo number of local craftsmen, and; the ceremony will be performed with full Masonic honours and ceremony, with all the eclat pertaining to ancient Masonic custom. Tho ceremony will bo a public ono in. its fullest sense,; a! cordial welcome being extended to! all. Lord! Plunket will also preside at a'-.Masonic- function- in the Masonic Hall, Moray Place, in the evening when, he will consecrate tho newly-formed '" Masters' Lodge,"- and install -Right Worshipful Bro. D. A. M'NicoU' as 'WorshipfulMaster for. tho first term—a.delicate compliment to the Irish'-Jlasonic.Constitution which has been worthily represented in the south of the Dominion by the gentleman who is to bo honoured by, ; the craft on "Wednesday evening..,. '-.- -: -.. ~..-•! ■■!'.;

For instructions on the, latest and most be coming style of Hairdressing, for Hair Treatment, Face Massage and Shanipooimr vkit Mrs. Rolleston', Willis Street (over Carnli's) Personal attention, advice free.: Tel., 1599. 0739 There are more ways tha-none of'-blendin'" tea, but thero's only ono honest and right wav" and that is to blend for quality. Many teas are blended for value—that is, teas of certain prices are lumped together in-order to -•alee cortain of profit. Crescent Blend Tea is blended for: quality, irrespective of the prices of the teas required/to.make the. blend.'lt is a scientific combination of the strong .robust teas of Darjeeliinj and the fino delicate teas of Ceylon Two shillings per lb. from all.stores—Advt,

At the Mount Cook Police Court on Satut day morning; before Mr. John Smith, J.P., .two,first, offenders were charged with insobriety. •■ One' was fined 55., and tho other convicted.and discharged. '' .!.

The Department of Industries and Commerce has received- from the-Quartermaster-General in India a form of tender calling for the-supply of. unsalted. tinned beef and mutton, likely to ho required by the Supply and Transport Corps in India in 1909. These genders are to be.delivered at'tho office of the Quartermaster-General in India, Calcutta, not later than April 15, 1909. , ■ v

The. motor-car; race;- which: forms' theculmiuatmg sensation .of "The Great.Mil-. i? nal n?''' cause<l moro sensation than even ■fir. Bland Holt desired when tho play was being performed at: Oarnaru last Wednesday W m. Tho first: car: ( stat « 3 th e " Otago k\ ™ 6S ') S° fc across the stage safelv, Dlit the pursuing car, the -occupants -of ,whieh were Mr. Holt-and -Mr/ Maxwell, got out of hand,, and instead, of stopping in the middle of the stago, ma'de straight for the oothghts. Mr. Maxwell, jumped out on the ftotlighfcv and-.triedto"holdtho car. Mr. tlolt; stuck to tho steering-wheel,-.'and, with the car, /dashed over into the' stalls. The car_ turned a complete somersault, with Mr. Holt underneath, and - fell . with a terrifio crash into the stalls:' How Mr. Holt escaped injury, is a mystery, for the car had to bo lifted.clear before the. popular actormanagor could-bo, dragged from underneath. It was then discovered that .'Mr., Holt had received a severe shaking,' a,' cut on : the forehead, ant] a bruised shoulder.•; Tho incident caused 'something of a. panic,. : particularly'.: -in the, front-. stalls, ..where. ladiesscreamed and fainted. In. tho pit forms were broken by peoplo trying-to'get to the windows. '.-"..Tho- orchestra rail was smashed, and tho' gentleman* who; was playing tho double bass had a narrow escape,) the..car rolling almost :o'n top of. him.; The.car'was lifted' 'back on to -the stage by willing hands, and the -play proceeded as'if nothing unusual had happened.' 'Mr;- Holt: met-, with" a- great :'re-. ception on'his reappearance. ■....