LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 437, 20 February 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Students of Victoria College have com-, monced. training, on the Wellington College ground, for the inter-'Varsity tournament to. be ,hold in Wellington at Easteh . The special meeting of the Wellington Presbytery to consider the call from Balfour. Church to Rev. W. Marshall, of Huttj has beeii postponed till March 3. The Maheno, which left for Sydney yesterday, sailed at 6 pita;, instead .of 4 p.m., to. allow, of passengers by the Main Trunk line from Auelda-nd. catching tile st-enmor. The Sydney boat will-leave at the later hour in future. ■ :• • Wo have received from the RegistrarGeneral's office the volume, of- statistics of tho Dominion for .1907, with Statistics. of Ideal governing bodies f<jf the year elided March 31, 1908. The voluihe, of ov6r 700 pages, is crowded with statistical information of much interest ahd value. Mr. W. Oliver, a member of the sciontifib party who spent ten: months oil the KermadecS, has presented to the herbarium of the Dominioft Museum a set. of the plants collected by him, together with sections .of tree stems. Tht collection forms a .very io-tercst-ing addition to the. herbarium. ■ In connection .with a charge of theft of a iamb; preferred agiinst John O'Keefo, of Otaraia, a nolle prosequi has been entered by the AttorheyrGSheraL Accused wasj, it will be remembered; acquitted at-the recent criminal sittings on a charge of stealing .three sheep. On page 14 of this issue will bo found important- statements by tho Anglican Bishops of Wellington (Dr< WalliS) ana Christchuroh (Dr. Jmius) on the proposed changes in. the Prayer .'Book referred to in yesterday's Dominion ; also the results of the teachers' examinations. Turf.jiews wilt be found oil page 13, the report of the Supremo Court oh page 10j and Our Australian, Letter on page 15.

..Mr* H. J. H. Blow, TJnder-Seoretary for Public Works, who returned yesterday from holding an inquiry into Workers' grievances at Domett, states that.. most of the complaints were of a petty nature, afld remedies Were promised oil the spot. Mr. Campbell, who was at the head;of the discontent, has 'since left the works. Mr. Blow mil submit a report to the Minister (the Hon, R. M'Kenzie), .. The Commissioii, consistingof Sir Robert Stout and the Chief; judge of. the Native Laud Court (Mr, Jacksofl Palmer), which was appoihted to Report- .how: best, iinoceu-' pied . Native lands can be utilised and settled, and what afeas should be set apart rfor various pUrposeSf as well as to draft suggested legislation; and consolidate existing Native land laws-, is making good . progress with At pres.erit the Commission is mafelhg investigations in regard to the, leases or the Mokau-Mohakatino block, of 57.000 acres, in Taranaki, made to Mr, Joshua! Jones by a . special Aqt- of 1883. The consolidation of statutes is largely in typo, and th& Commission: is'': cohfident of completing its . labours "before Parliament moete.

"I hope the Euh-inspeotor will not introduce a, now stylo of evidence that a coilstable was telling mo about tho other day," said Dr; M'Arthur, S.M.j . durihg l the course of the farowell to Snh-Inspector M'Gr&th yesterday, . His Worship their proceeded to tell a ; story of how, when coining in froiii Porirua, with a constable recently; tho latter enlighteiied him in respect of corroborative evderice, ,It was the oustom in a certain placo, according to the policefiiaftj for two officers to be present when an arrest was made, "And why is that?", queried his Worship. "Well, your Worship," repHei the Oonstabloj " it's so as to have co-opera-tive evidence." ■ ■ ■ ■■ ;. Soriio interesting notes On Wellington Methodism are givon in the official plait of I services, and meetings " for the Neiv. Zealand Methodist. Coiifererice, ,to be licit]. iff Welling- , ton "ijexVweek; • iijjtiistet Was the i.Rev 1 -,3'\Aldred,...who !)jrriyed An December 123; 1840. Tho fifst quarterly meeting was held-in September, 1842. The flfit church Of raupo was built in Taranaki Street in 1840, and x was- blown' ddwn by a gale. The second. ohurohj of wood, was built iiV 1942. The third churchj- of brick, was built' in 1845, and destroyed by oirthquake in 1848: The fourth church, of wood, , was'biillt in 1850. The fifth church, of wood, was built in 18G7, and destroyed by fire in 1879. The Sixth church, of wood, was opened in 1880, and is the Wesley Church, Taranaki - Street, in : , which ; this year's conferOnco will sit. . • .

_ Arrangements arc being made for ilm election or a Kcenaing Cornmitteo in Oamaru, although that district is under the.. Noj License regime (states tho " Otago Daily Times "), A committee is also to bo eleoted for tho Aahbtirt-qn district. . The other No--I/jqensg districts in this Mataur», Clutha,: and Bruce—are apparently not t<j bo provided with Ijioenaing Committees) and complaint is being mado in Oamaru and Ashhtirtah that the local bodies there are being made t-o bear the expense of an unnecessary election. Tho distinotion betw'een their case ami that of the othef districts seems to lie ift the fact-that Oamaru and A'shburton now, through the alteration of electoral boundaries, include localities where there .are hotels, . for which the licenses run Until Juno SO next, aiid that committees have to_ be'constitute to deal with possible applications for transfer of licenses, and so on,that may be made before that date.".

Tho branch railway between Stratford, on the Tarahaki line, and the Main inwk railway, at Ongaruhe,.' is being stesdily pushed ahead. . There axe- ; now.-between 30Q aiid taeii on the works<The. line is open for. traffic for sixteen milea inland from Stratford, and a further'. section of six miles will bo opened before the end of tho yeaiv. There. is still a gap" of. nearly, eighty miles from the. present terminus t<j the Main Trunk . ]ine. ■ Mr< Yf. "A. M'Outohan,' who has for many years taken a, prominent part in local government in the ;Wha'ngamompna djstriqt, and who is. on a" visit to' Wellington, says that satisfactory progress; Is being made .in the settlement or. the, country v between Stratfprd and Ongaruhe. The general feeling of tho settlers with regard to the future is a sangijino one, notwithstanding the present .finanoial depression. Mr. M'Cutehan says that tho Government valuor reCeiitly put up the unimproved. And capital value of the land very substantially. In one case the valuation, of a section has been raised from 17s. to £11 10.s. an acre,- Probably over the entire district the valuations would bo trebled.

': A. Chinese is not often tea ten in business by a European, but Chan Yuan, a fruitdealer, sits in his litjtle shop near, the railway line at Ohakune, and niuseS arid, dreams of the manner' in which a Caucasian. triumphed over him., It was in the midst of the. December land boom at Ohakune, when qnarter-aores of tush were being sold at- per foot,, that a small section Upon a bush gully near the OhAk'une railway; station was sold for! £105. There wis a certain amount of murky uncertainty, about th& whereabouts of 'the Miro Ruad, which the Government'is

ping to run from the station to the town in a straight line, and this particular quarter of an aefe beoAme.a thing for serlofls: speculation, owing to the fact that it was understood to be the corner allotment ii the new thoroughfare. Chart Yuan offered to buy the section from its now owner for. £200... This offer.was refused, and next day when ho canie along And stated. that he would agree to the . price, he was informed that it was now £300. - Wondering deeply why ho should be exploited on such sordid lines, Chan Yuan .went away and thought the matter out for twelve hours, when ho decided to capitulate. It was a deeply chagrined Chineo who heard then that his/offer could not be accepted, as the price was no\fr £400, and that in another, hour it would be £500. - With much bitterness Chan Yuan closed tho bargain, and took possession of his little bush gully plot, where ho erected liis fruit shop, .only to find now that the property, will not ho a corner section,:and that the new road from the railway station will bo constructed dbwlt five chains aw.iv from his place. ■ Teas grown in. different lecalitiM have different characteristics, and even the tea from any particular garden is not the same ,in two: snc-' Qosaivd seasons. • Climatic changes, i differences Qi£ou> taertoses influences, • and it ia tho art of tho tea blender-to bring together tha different teas and by combination t6 produce a particular flavour. Crefioent Blend Tea is a ohoico combination df Ceylon and Indian Teas.-and tfco flavQu* cater vajiea* All storekeepers. 2s, tor 16- .-'

The Underwriters' Conference, at present being held in Wellington, continued its sitting yesterday) but tbo business dono was of a. formal and private nature. . A water polo match was played' at the Thottldon Baths yesterday evening between the Swifts and Thorhddii Swimming Clubs-, the game resulting in a. win for Swifts by two goals to one. , : . ■ Intimation has been received by Mr; Stubbs (Clerk of Awards) from Mr. Justice Sim that, compensation cases will be taken upon the first any of thenoxt sitting hire, March 15.

Grievances of the Poton© Workshops employees in respect df appbihtrdehts Veto submitted to the Minister . for Railways (the Hon. J. A. Millar) by a deputation from .the Amalgamated _ Society of Railway Servants. The Minister is said to have given an asshranca; that all future appointments. will. Bo made acooi'dihg to seniority, other qualifications being equal. Ail appointment of a for*. mer.^anawatu .'employee, to protest against which an indignation meeting was held; was explained to be merely temporary. Rev. Dr. Wallis, Bishop of : \V ellington, has beeli appointed'- 1 cbrrebpote: dent for. Isew Zealaiid for the English Committee in conhection . with the Mission of tiolp Tvhieli is to visit the • Dominion next year,,: Several pf the New Zealand bishopfy ,P Dr. jAValliai have suggested names. of English, ministers who thoy think would be desirable, missioners. The Archbishop of Canterbury and York .v/ill write letters strongly recommending 'the mission. : Tho work of erecting tbo hew Legislative Council Chambei 1 ) which is to adjoin tho pro. seht. Government House, fronting the drivd ■ from the Bowoli Street entrance and teach* ing nearly to tho tennis court at tho back, was commenced yesterday. The building will bo an unpretentious, temporary struts tiire of wood and iron, containing the Legislative Council Chamber (41ft.. by 25ft. ; and 18ft.)| two :,committoo rooms, rooms for the Speaker and Chairman of - Committees, iiid fbr? the clerk, assistant clerk, ' and itiic& ■- sengers. ■ • s -.- ■ .

At a mooting of the committee of tha Wellington Cricket ' Association last'Tuesday 1 evening, 6 snb-oohinilttee to f6r'nied; fdr the purpose of. takiilg stejis. .t<> raiSo a fund to enable the''association fo.bring out a class. English professional to coach tha younger generation of cricketers, of the city. Already promises have been received to the extent of £60 a. year; guaranteed for thtea years. Tliis should, induce others to con« tribute to. a very worthy purpose.. It is am / ticipated that it will fiost .between £300 and £35Q a yoar to. bring out and keep hero tha first-class professional; required. : Hostility to . the Intesi educational toy— - free school books—was . expressed at last night's meeting of the Petono School Committee. What was tllo hse of books frhioli l could not bo taken home P asked the' chair* man (Mr; D. M'Kenzle). ■ The ■ Ror. A Thomson observed that the Government Wat

simply. fooling with ■ their, free. book iimova. tion, and "he . specially objected to. the ttansfe* of theso books from oluld to child. In- th« course of discussion it -was; mentioned ,tlia} this .was not > a Government provision " but merely a regulation mado by; the. Education Board. Eventually tlie committee : d«idc4 j to write . to the hoard expressing the opinion that the children slioula be allowed'to taka the books homo, and- that (in the infant classes especially). there should to no transfers.. S ";,■■■

At the School of Engineering) Canterbury Collego,-which reopens'oh Mdroh 6,-provision 1 js now* made forvthe training of engineers | in 6yery branch x of.the profes3k)ri. Theoretical instrijction' by means .of'lectures, and practical instruction in th 6 lajboratories we given -, in steam . .and gas-engiiio engineering, v hydraulic; constructive, marine, 1 . railway, and ' electrical engineering, and in surveying; A ; hydraulics laboratory .has been added to the buildings, and will 09 opened , during the present;session. Thero.are complete courses 'for' ; the"' degreed ;of the Tfaiyefaity- ; : of New: Zealand/courses' of less aiffleiilty.for,. ; the Asso<iiitesh]p':of' , thD r 'Sohobl = (wh)cl£ are ep3ijwntly v .s.iii{able' for yoiing men taking up engineering 'work in the Dominion), and tfiera are also evening colirses for those-dsisirQua" of -obtaining : a third-.marine, engineer's certi- . fida'te,.: a& well-M fta "apprentice? land* ,o;tlier« V engaged "aU" ; ;of ] ;#gineering. .These, courses in engineering, are (witji those . of the M'Gill University), the only; courses outside Englind officially'recognised :by the Institution- of Civil Engineers. A' liberal scheme -of scholarships' has been instituted ; by the Board: of Governors. ■ . .Considerable excitementiwas caused at-Tai-: hape on Wednesday : lait' when it became known that a mishap had overconie the rtott X engine. It. appears that the engine -was attached to the through train, one of the chief officials- being in charge, and scarcely had 300. yards been negotiated when what appeared like a flash of nrd -burst into vietf, followed by a cloud of steamy and the tram : came a, stop. After a while the train ■ backed , into the station again, and the engine was sent to the shea The only explanation of the affair that could ho gathered was that .'. a : 4ifl.: . steam pipe serving thd high-presSUre Cvlindits had burst, and the ocoUpants of the cab tiarrowly escaped being scalded by the stSami As it wa3 they had an unpleasant experience, but. suffered no injury. The engine v)as ah 16. to steatn to the . shed ( by .means of - the' low-pressuro and isl Be-i: . ing overhaul®!., ', .ihfluuie'S. 'ngxt morning, states the "TaihapeTiin&s," failed to elicit any ' itiforiftdtioli on. thei. iaaiteT)' so that it" may be. inferred there is Some ground for this reticence, arid that the mishap was dno . to Borne causQ.'that wiU : the authorities. The train finally got away an hour late.

:: While tho public has always some grievance against the Kailway Department) the Department, sometimes feels that it has cause of complaint against the public. The travel!t who reserves his exclusive: berth': in a sleeping car,'' and thon iaonopolisea a scat in the smoking carriage of a crowded train 1; for twelvo hours ;ou end,--is 'then latest, bete ijoir : of tho officials. The traveller who reserves a berth in the "sleeper! 1 is supposed to koep to .his. own car.»: Ho; has somo excuse for trespassing on the smoking accommodation briefly,; since, none is provided in his own proper domain, but it is held that ho should pot monopolise tho "smoker" for hottfS on end at the cspenso of passengers who do jot enjoy portion of a Ho should .either srcako on tho platform, at his, own; risk, or usq : the : smoking ' room in. moderatiou. ,If;.there is no restraint,: the Popartmont threatens to throw open to other passengers the reserved accommodation in the "sleeper I ''wliioh is vae'at-ed while its proper qcoupupts arc . preventing ' ordinary travellers from the use of t}iQ smoking Carriages. o{i-American trains a; slnaU smoldrtg room; U' provided in conjunction with the Sleeping car, but the combination was ap-. ; parently too expensive for* adoption on Now Zealand lines. - .