LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 464, 24 March 1909, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tho Ohiro Home is still fully occupied, thero being 113 inmates at present in the institution. Of this total, 81 aro males and 32 females.

The Secretary of tho General Post Office lias received a telegram dated March 22 from the Postmaster, Waimaru, Pelorus Sound, stating: "Post office completely destroyed bv fire yesterday. No particulars available.

No date has yet been fixed for the hearing of tho Penguin appeal ease, but it will prob" ably bo hold .one day next week. Captain A. Forbes, of Dimedin, la to of tho New Zealand Shipping Company, and Captain 0. J. W.Lake, of Napier, formerly of tho Union Company's service, and at ono time in command of tho Penguin, have been appointed assessors. Mr. Justice Cooper will preside.

A statement made by a Paremata corrcs[xmdent regarding the preparation of a grave for a woman who was still living was referred to at yesterday's meeting of the Hospital Trustees by Mr. J. Rod, who rose in protest. No discussion took place, however, the chairman (Mr. K. C. Kirk) merely remarking: "It has nothing to do with thio meeting."

Land hunger still exists, despite tho alleged depression. A largo number of applications havo been received by the Wellington Land Hoard' for tho 28 sections into which tho 0110-acro Carrington Estate has been subdivided. The board is to sit at Carterton on Friday to oxnniitio Applicants, and on Saturday the ballot will take place.

In reference to the street-widening question, now beforo the Financo Committee- of tho City Council, a sub-committoo has been sot up to confer with Mr. Goodall, Willie Street, whoso property is affected, and a report will bo presented to tho council.

Several cases have already been set down for licariug at tho sittings of tho Court of Appeal, which commence on Monday next. They aro as follow:—Rex v. Garr (Crown ciso stated); Hex v. Godbaz (Crown case stated); Harris v. Ford' and others (caso roniovod); To Roc ra Tnrclia v. Guthrio Smith and another (caso on appeal).

The Industrial Association of Canterbury has fixed upon tho week commencing April 27 for tho New Zealand Industries Week this year. Displays of articles manufactured in New Zealand will be made in tho shop windows of Christchurch from April 27 to May 4 inclusiyo. Tho association, invites manufacturers in any part of the Dominion to send articles to Christchurch for that purpose. Particulars will bo found in the advertising columns. A rock that might make shipwreck of a beneficent Act of Parliament was alluded to by Mr. Justico Cooper yesterday. "I wish it to be clearly understood," ho said, "that prisoners who deliberately, a-nd through their own fault, break tho conditions upon whichthey are admitted to probation forfeit all fight to further consideration, so far as I am concerned." His Honour added that it was most important in connection with tho administration of tho Act that tho conditions on which probation was granted should ho complied with. Ho could not pass over breaches of tho conditions; to do so would be to destroy the spirit of a beneficial measure. It sounded like sarcasm until it was explained. A member of tho W.C.T.U. deputation had been complaining to tho Minister for Education that tho "School Journal's" articles on temperance- physiology were "very weak." Mr. Fowlds, in reply, suggested that somo 'of tho fair deputationists (there were sixty of them,' by the way) should contribute articles—"You have all the ability." (Deprecatory smiles, blushes, and cries of "No, no, Mr. Fowlds.") Tho Minister proceeded: "I am afraid you misunderstand me. I was saying that you have all the ability and knowledge necessary to writo a good strong article." Tho Baptist Sunday School semi-jubileo anniversary services were continued at Fullford's Hall, Brooklyn, last ovoning. There was a largo attendance of adherents and friends. An apology for absenco was received from the Hon. G. Fowlds. Tho report, which showed that thero were 200 on tho school roll, an increase of 20 during tho year, was adopted. Tho year was commenced with a balance of 145., which, at tho close, had increased to £4 ss. Steady progress has been made in the various classes. The prizes won during tho past tWolvo months were presented by the Rev. A. Dewdney, and, during the evening, ail interesting programmo of songs, recitations, etc!., was given.

Sir. E. Ne-n-raan, M.P., introduced a deputation from Marton to tho Minister for Railways (Hon. J. A, Millar) on Thursday. Those present were Messrs. It. K. Simpson (Rangitikei County Council), T. Purnell (president' Chamber of Commerce), and T. H. Bredin (Marton Borough Council). They asked that access to tho railway platform at Marton Junction should he improved by extending the present subway to the end of Kitchener Street, and that road access should be provided by another route. The Minister said he had intended to provide a footbridge, but if the local bodies would provide the extra amount necessary to build a subway, between £300 and £400, their requests would be granted. The deputation suggested that tho Railway Department should help the local authorities by guaranteeing to purchase a quantity of water annually, and should send an engineer to report as to the best scheme to bo adopted. The Minister undertook to obtain a Departmental report, and go carefully into the matter. .

Not tho least interesting feature of tho military work .at,.Ens.t.ei;,w,ill .bp encampmonts tor tho riilo club incn. As has already boon stated in The Dominion, the riilo clubs throughout tho district have been iuvitod to go into camp at convenient centres for two days instruction ill Geld firing exercises with ball ammunition at unknown ranges. Each man who goes into camp will receive an allowance of 4s. per day, mid thero will bo present, during tho course, a staff-officer and staff sergeant-instructor. TJp to the present something like 50 riilo club men from tho Wellington clubs havo decided that tho idea is worth tho trouble, and the Defence Department has definitely fixed ono instruction centre at Palmorsten. Should a sufficient number of men, come forward from faranaki and Hawko's Bay, centres will bo established at Wanganui "and To Auto respectively. Thero is a feeling among tho local' riilo club men that they would havo appreciated much moro an invitation to encamp for a longer period, and share, to sonip extent at least, some of tho experiences'of tho volunteers. A mooting of the Karori Ride Club will bo held .towards tho end of the week to consider tho question of going into camp at Palmersten.

_ Referring to tho meeting of businessmen interested in . tho Citv Council, Harbour Board, and Hospital Trustees' leases, Mr. R. U Kirk, acting-chairman of tho Hospital Trustees, speaking to a Dominion reporter, said that it was no doubt a vol-y desirable thing that tho present law should m> amended in tho direction proposed, both in the interests of tho lessees and tho trustees. There arc a good number of hospital lenses in Wellington; somo of them have already been converted into perpetual leases, and others arc being converted. Tho leaser, were for a period of twenty-ono years, with :i further torm of twoiity-onu years, the rental to be increased by 50 per cent. Now, tho rents paid wore a .'oug way below what was tin? actual lotting value of tho leases. Thoy wore lot at what was considered a fair rcrtal at tho time, but the prepress of >'ib city had been so great that tho lotting value for rental purposes was vastly higher. Many of tho present tenants were anxious to convert their leases into peipotual oi Glasgow leases in order to secure permanency of occupation at tho end of theii terms. The hospital's endowments arc ir. Adelaido Road, Molesworth Street, Mulgravo Street, Tinakori Road, Eitzherbert Terraco, and Talavera Torracc. With tho exception of the 'Hotel Cecil, they are all residences;

After an absence of a few days, tho wharohou havo returned to Flat Point, with the advent of tho now moon, and the heart of the fisher is glad. Mr. J. Milcsi, manager of tho Wellington Fishermen's Association, says that, like most othor things, tho fish are alfected by tho moon, and their habits in respect to tho ago of tho moon can bo relied upon. Tho fishermen knew when they set tho nets on Monday night that there would be a big haul (much bigger than for tho preceding three or four days), because thero was a new moou. , Tho argument does not seem conclusivo, but it is fairly well borne out in fact, and that is enough for fisher folk. Mr. Milosi is so confident that tho wharehou will not fail all this week, that he engaged freezing spaco on tho Victoria, without having any in store. He firmly believes, for example, that the whnrehou now in shoal off Flat Point, to tho southward of Pencarrow, will six weeks hence shoal in Wharehou IJay, at Makara, because he has studied the habit of the fish for ten years or more, and their way in tho ocean is as a blazed track to the skilled fisherman. What other wharehou havo done, thoir successors do instinctively. Those fishing under tho aegis of Mr. Milosi secured no. fewer than 3560 wharohou yesterday, Averaging theso at 81b. each, this gives 30,8801b., or over 13,} tons deadweight of fish. Altogether there must have been 20 tons of wharohou caught yesterday. It is expected that wharehou will bo plentiful for another two months at least. Though it bo leutcn time, Wellington does not eonsumo all these fish. About 20 tons of wharehou havo been sent to Sydney, and another 20 tons will go forward on Friday.

Teas grown in different localities havo different characteristics, and oven the tea from any particular garden is hot the same in two successiyo seasons. Climatic changes, differences of soil, exercise influences, and it is in the art of the lea blonder to briiifj together tho different teas and by combination to produce a particular flavour. Crescent Blend Tea is a choico combination of Ceylon and Indian Teas, nnil tho flavour nevor varies. All storokoepers, 2s, per U> - '

A burglary of a rather profitless kind was committed at tho Ngahauranga Railway Station yesterday between the hours of 1 a.m. and 7 a.m. Tbo "haul" consisted of a pair of gloves and two overcoats, the proporty of the stationmaster. Tho affair was reported to tho police, and soon afterwards Dotectives Lewis and Andrews arrested a man on a charge of being connected with the offence. Tho alleged offender will appear before tho Magistrate this morning.

The weekly meeting of tho Benevolent Trustees was hold yesterday afternoon, when there were present: Messrs. John Smith (in the chair), J. Wakeham, R. W. Short, D. Robertson, tbo Rev. W. A. Evans, and Miss M. Richmond. The following tenders were accepted for supplies for the coming year: Moat, Dickinson Bros.; coal, S. Brown and Son, Ltd.; funerals, J. Morris, junr.; boots and Ehoes, Hannah and Co.; broad, F. G. Tonks; tea, Price and Co. Messrs. R. Keeno and J. Reid, of Wellington, owners of the gasworks concession at Taiiranga, havo let tho contract for the installation of tho gas-plant to Messrs. A. M. Harris and W. J5. Crmnn, builders and contractors, of Tanranga. As the bulk of the plant is already on tho spot, it is anticipated that the works will be ready in about four months' time. Tho plant is being supplied by Messrs. Gibbons Bros., Ltd., of Dudley, England. In connection with tho Otago anniversary celebrations, tho Prime Minister sent the following telegram to the Mayor of Dunedin :—"I desire to tender my congratulations to tho residents of Otago U]xm tho sixtyfirst anniversary of tho foundation of that important province It is my sincere hope that its progress and development during tho coming years may bo as great as the descendants of tho old pioneers, and those who havo since come to livo within its boundaries may wish— J. G. Ward." During the afternoon meeting of tho W.C.T.U. yesterday, Mrs. Tasker and Mrs. Vaughan, who camo as a deputation from tho Wellington Domestic Workers' Union, asked tho union to carry a resolution petitioning tho Government to appoint matrons to accompany tho assisted immigrant women from England. Mrs. Tasker was anxious not to convey tho impression that the condition of things at present existing was an unhappy one, but she pointed out that there was no supervision over tbo girls who come in great numbers, and she suggested that ono part of tho ship should lxs set apart for tho immigrant girls under tho caro of a matron.. Tito possibilities of gold mining around Cape Terawhiti aro again beins discussed. Messrs. R. A. Wright, M.P., andG. D. Hewitt called on tho Minister for Mines yesterday and discussed the question of Government assistance- to prospecting in that vicinity. Mr. Hewitt asked if the Minister could soo bis way to send out a party of geologists to examine the country. Mr. M'Kenzio said he could not promise to do this, but tho Government would contribute on a pound for pound basis to tho exponsos of prospecting, provided that the stono was crushed in an : up-to-date and scientific manner, and properly tested. Mr. Howitt intends to follow up the matter. Hβ states that sonio years ago 75 ounces of gold wero taken from 50 tons of quartz by a syndicate which worked the same ground. Nineteen years ago six ounces were taken from 15 tons, and 9oz. 3dwts. from 10 tons. Sydney, like Wellington, has just seen a campaign against Sunday concerts. Tho llev. Y>'. G. Taylor, Superintendent of , the Sydney Methodist Central Mission, who is visiting tho Dominion, gave an account of it to a i representative of this paper last evening. "Wβ have had a City Council in Sydney," said Mr. Taylor, "that was determined to let for Sunday concerts not only tho Town Hall, but also the Prince Albert Park building, seating 4000 or 6000 people, and in spito of repeated complaints made by representative deputations to tho Lord Mayor, these concerts wero held. Tho expression of public opinion was, however, so strong and . wide-spread as to force the council ■>to '• 'hack •'• down ' ■ and withdraw all leases, and decide that in. future its leases shall never bo used, fdru conceits or entertainments of any kind on Sundays. No, there is no exception in favour of concerts which have charitable objects. Tho feeling of the community in Sydney was such that the council was forced to take that action. Tho opponents of Sunday concerts aro also helped by a Bill which our Premier, Mr. Wade, has carried through the Houso for the licensing of public buildings. In this Bill drastic clauses aro inserted that wilt render it impossible to conduct Sunday entertainments of any kind in any licensed building in the city. Tho machinery regulations of the Bill aro now being framed. , '