LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 470, 31 March 1909, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tho next sitting of the Bankruptcy Courtwill bo held on Monday, May 31. During February 4141 persons arrived in tlio Dominion, as against 4567 in tho corresponding month last year. Tho departures for last month totalled 2857, as compared with 2906 for February last year. Tho Mirauiar Borough Council announce that on and after to-morrow, April 1, the lato Wednesday car to Scatoun will discontinue running. The lata Saturday car will run as usual. Clerks at tho City Council Chambers are busily engaged in checking tho half-holiday petition filed last Saturday. A great deal of work is entailed in ascertaining if all the signatories are enrolled, and in seeing that no ono has signed twice. Tho result should be available to-morrow. Four hundred seta of tho Consoliflated Statutes have been sold to dato by the Government Printing Office. A special index volume, containing all the separate indexes and analyses to tho various Acts, has still to bo issued, and may nppear before the beginning of next session. At the request of tho Mayor (tho Hon. T. W. Hislop), Lieutenant Shackleton will make a special trip to Wellington, and will.de?. liver a lccturo in tho Town Hall on April 14. Ho has generously decided to devote tho proceeds to somo public institution, and it has been resolved to give them to Victoria College, where they mil probably bo used in aid of tho gymnasium fund. The intended amalgamation of the Minos Department with that of Public Works is strongly rumoured in-tho Civil Service, The two Departments are now under tho same Minister (the Hon. R. M'Kenzio),_ and the Primo Minister has stated that it is not intended to appoint a successor to Mr. T. Hamcr, the present Under Secretary for Mines, who is being transferred to tho High Commissioner's staff. Considerable interest is being taken in tho fato of tho sis Mnstorton hotels, following their closing as licensed houses on Juno 30. Considerably .over £100,000 worth of

property is involved, and it is stated on very good authority that overtures have been made for tho purchase of two of the hotels by banking co-operations, which have brancli businesses in Masterton. According to the statements made by commercial travellers, there will ho a good business in Masterton for at least ono first-class tomporanco hotel.

Mr. J. Duncan, M.P., while assisting the Wairau Harbour deputation _to put its caso before tho Hon. J. A. Millar yesterday, made reference to tho condition of some of tho trucks oh tho Blcnheim-Seddon railway. He said that it appeared to ho tho custom of tho Department to place nouo but secondhand trucks on that lino. A particularly unsatisfactory lot of thirteen had lately been sent there, and ho had noticed ono that was quite unfit for use. A now truck was so rare a sight as to cause quite a sensation in the district. The Minister made a note of the complaints. Tho annual meeting' of the _ Wellington Drivers' Union was hold last night in tho Trades Hall, when there was a fair number of members present. Tho Hon. John Rigg attended ami addressed tho union on the subject of tho proposed Labour paper. Subsequently it was decided to take up 25 shares in tho paper. Tho balance-sheet, which was presented to tho mooting, showed a credit balance of £32 Is'. 4d. on tho halfyear's working. A recommendation from tho Management Committeo to withdraw from tho Trades' Council was not adopted. Tho draft constitution and rules of tho proposed' Federation of Drivers' Unions wero submitted and approved.

Proceedings at last night's meeting of tho Now Zealand Natives' Association were considerably enlivened by tho reading of tho following letter from Mr. S. Pearson, ono of tho members:—"l beg to suggest that you call a special mooting to discuss tho following questions and to got up a deputation of twenty natives to wait on tho Primo Ministor: (1) Every married man with a family to recoivo a block of 25 acres of land from tho Government, to ho hold for 15 years, until his boys grow up, when it reverts to tho State. (2) That arrangements bo mado to get 10,000 domestic servants in ono year and 10,000 agricultural workers brought to tho Dominion, froo passages to bo granted theso immigrants, who may como from Northern Europo or Great Britain, tho education test to be waived, health tost only to bo applied." Tho possibilities suggested by the letter wero discussed in a humorous vein by mombors, and shortly afterwards tho writer ontercd tho room and dealt with tho matter at length. "I hopo you gentlemen will take it seriously," ho commenced. "This is our country, and it is being run by Singlctaxcrs, Socialists, and trades unions. Now Zealandcrs do not caro twopenco for tho country; tho ono idea is sport. It is sup. posed to bo a democracy, but it's an autocracy when tho head of tho Government can givo £2,000,000 for a Dreadnought. It is liko the Tsar of Russia." (Laughter.) "I think the speaker is getting right away altogether," interjected someone Tho chairman (Dr. J. W. M'Kenzio): "No, he is not. Ho is on tho right track." Mr. G. T. London: "Wo must credit Mr. Pearson with sincerity of purpose, but I am sure it is premature to place these matters boforo the Government." Mr. A. 11. Vile suggested tho postponement of tho discussion. Mr. Pearson: "I will withdraw it, but it is not quixotic." Accordingly, tho letter was withdrawn, and the next business war, dealt with. v Teas grown in different localities havo different characteristics, and oven the tea from any particular garden is not the same in tiro successive seasons. Climatic changes, differences of soil, exercise influences, and it is in the art of the lea blender to bring together the different teas and by combination to nroduco a uarticular flavour. Crescent Blend Tea is a choico combination of Ceylon and Indian Teas, and tho flavour uover varies, AH etorekwpers, 2s, per lb,

Tho Firo Brigade acknowledge receipt of £3 3s. from Messrs. M'Leod, Weir, and Hopkirk towards tho recreation fund. Tho donation was made in recognition of tho sorviccs of the brigado at tho firo at tho firm's building on March 13. At tho Mount Cook Police Court yesterday morning, bofoi'o Mr. Thomas Bland, J.F., Ruby Kirk, charged with being drunk and disorderly, was fined 405., in default fourteen days' imprisonment. Four first offenders wore fined 55., in default 24 hours' imprisonment.

A suggestion was made at last night's meeting of tho Cricket Association (luring a discussion on tho question of a professional coacli that tho public schools, in return for services to bo rendered by tho coach, should lie asked to contribute, say, £5 each per annum towards his support. Mr. Vanco, who mado tlio suggestion, said that in Auckland a sum of about £100 per annum was raised in this way, about twenty schools contributing. Tho money was raised by means of annual concerts. In conversation with a cricketing schoolmaster tho other day lie had mentioned tho matter, and tho master had expressed tho opinion that at least £50 per annum could bo secured in Wellington. Other funds towards tho support of the professional were reported to stand at about £101, guaranteed for three years.

Botwoen twenty and thirty members of the Draughtsmen's Institute listened attentively, last evening, while tho Eev. D. C. Bates lectured on "Clouds." Tho classification of clouds was explained, and the nature formation and movements of frost, fog, I and hazo wcro described. Among many useful hints for the would-bo weather-wise, Mr. Bates mentioned that a red sunset, if very brilliant, was usually a precursor of bad weather; that mixed grey clouds indicated rain; that blue-black, or deep orange, clouds gave warning of thunder, and that if yellow clouds wcro seen, wind might bo expected. Anvil-shaped clouds and pyramidal clouds, with tho apex downwards, were followed by bad weather, and saw-like clouds by thunder. Mr. Bates made it clear that-no central bureau could forecast tho weather accurately for every locality, and it was therefore necessary for thoso interested to make careful individual observations. Advice as to how this should- bo done was lucidly given. Tho lecture was illustrated by diagrams, and at tho closo Mr. Bates received a hearty voto of thanks. Mr. J. Bcsant presided.