LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 471, 1 April 1909, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Owing to pressure on our space, several articles' liavo had to be held over for our next issue. Tho doer-stalking season opens to-day. A petition in bankruptcy has been filed by Thomas Matthew Clarke, mercer, of Wellington. ' Tho prisonor, Joseph Norman, who recently received an addition to his sentence for assaulting the Wellington gaoler with a chisel, has been transferred from tho Terrace Gaol to the Porirua Asylum. "A Friend," writing from Tokomaru, sends 10s. in aid of a ease of extreme poverty mentioned by our Featliorston correspondent in Tire Dominion of March 27. We have forwarded the amount to our locil representative for payment. At the next meeting of the Miramar Borough Council a proposal to alter tho tram faros in the borough will bo discussed. It is desired to raise the ordinary fare over tho borough's lino to twopence, and give special rates to Miramar residents. The guarantors of tho lino aro being consulted on tho matter. Arc lights for Thorndon and To Aro baths aro recommended by tho Baths Committee of tile City Council. Tho installation, if sanctioned, will be made next summer, and tho idea, which is after the stylo of what obtains in Melbourne and Sydney, is that tho innovation will allow swimming carnivals to 1m held after nightfall. It, is anticipated that tho results of theso will justify tho cost. Tho ruling of Mr. Simpson, tho Official Assignee, at a meeting of creditors vestorday, to the effect that a company cannot be represented by anyone but its secretary, as a; proxy, caused quite a commotion amongst companies. Their minds can now be sot at rest as Mr. Simpson has written to the company in question (.Messrs. Levin and Co., Limited), to tho effect that his ruling was given under a misapprehension, and that lie is now prepared to admit tho proxy held on their behalf by Mr. Nation. A lengthy report in reference to tho disinfection of books, and containing a general warning on tho subicct to tho public against using books coming from places where infection lias been known to exist, was presented to yesterday's meeting of tho Libraries Commilteo of tho City Council by Dr. J. I'. Frcngloy, District Health Officer. It was endorsed by the City Librarian (Mr. H. H, Baillio), and recommended for adoption by the City Council. The opening of tho new schoolroom in connection with St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church will bo held to-night. Previously, an out-of-date structure had to shelter the scholars, but it was found utterly inadequate, and a capacious building lias been erected in its stead. Tho main hall is very large, and should provide accommodation for a long period: It measures 60 x 40 feet, is 21 feet in height, and will hold 3<G scholars. A platform, suitable for entertaitfuients, has been provided. There are four ctnnmodious classrooms, and a vestry and library. Excellent ventilation has been provided) and gas lighting is arranged throughout. Tho building is of wood with concrete foundations, erected from plans prepared by Mr. J. Bcunio. Sir Piobert Stout, in an interview with a representative of the Melbourne "Argus," made some interesting comments on Australian affairs. "As an outsider," said Sir Robert- Stout, "I have always taken a great interest in tho Commonwealth I..cause of the federal spirit in its constitution. We had a kind of federal constitution in New Zealand until 1876. The danger I thought I saw in tho Australian Constitution was that there might arise a demand for unitary government, as opposed to federal government. That is to say, Stato rights might bo lessened or even abolished. People, might ask, 'Why cannot one Government_ do for Australia?' I still think the possibility of unification is the great dangev before Australian Federalism. In some respects I think Australia has not quite realised what Federalism really means. It means specialisation in government, just tho same as specialisation in industry, which lias been found to ho the most economical way of carrying on manufactures. The aim should not merely lie to get what is termed good government. The true aim should be to interest every citizen in tho government of tho country. If you had one Government, far removed from tho people, established in sneli a vast continent as you would have no intelligent political action. Some people think that if the Stato Legislatures were abolished they would have cheaper government. I doubt it very much. 1 believe that the nearer >oa bring government to ■ the people the mo o deeply you will interest the people in it, and the nearer yon will approach to cheap and effective government." Teas grown in different localities have different characteristics, and ever, tho tea from any particular garden is not the same in Iwo successive seasons. Climatic changes, differences of soil, exercise influences, and it is in the art of the tea blender to bring together the different teas and by combination to produce a particular flavour. Crescent Blend Tea is a choice combination of Ceylon anil Indian Teas, anil tho flavour liovor varies. All storekeepers, :!s. per lb.

The monthly allotment of stands for fruithauktrs will be mado by the City Inspector (.Mr. J. Doyle) to-day. Tho Libraries Committee of tho City Council lias received no fewer than fortvfour applications for a vacancy as lady assistant at tho Public Library. No appointment has been mado as yet. The date set down for tho writing of the essays on local industries by school children for prizes offered by the Wellington Industrial Association is May 20, not April "0, as was stated yesterday. Industries week is from May I' 2 to 19. Tho amount of civil business transacted at tho Magistrate's Court during tlio quarter ended yesterday has never been equalled ill New Zealand before. Tho criminal sido of tho Court shows a falling off as compared with tho March quarter of 1903. Tho following tenders lmvo been accepted by tlio City Council: —Printing tram tickots (for three years), Turnbull, Dickson, and Goodcr; fire brigade uniforms, A. Levy; firo brigade boots, I{. Hannah and Co.; saddlery and dog collars, P. A. Laws; brass and zinc work, A. and T. Burt, Limited; painters' materials, R. and E. Tingey; bricks and limo, E. Tonks; timber, C. and A. Odlin; chemicals, Sharland and Co.; and firewood, Kcllaway and Johns. Tho main entrance to the now vice-regal residence, to bo erected on tho site of the Mount View Mental Hospital, is to bo from Sussex Square, in a lino with, the western section of that thoroughfare, and not from Brougham Street or Adelaide Road, as has been suggested. To that end the Government lias purchased several properties iu College Green from Mr. Bourko, of Kilbirnie. This arrangement will placo tho entrance of tho main drive opposit-o the south-west corner of tho Basin Reserve, and within a few yards of St. Mark's Church. Tho firo brigade motor travelled t-o Hataitai on Tuesday night by way of tho tramway tunnel for tho first time. This has been mado possible by laying down a track with an inside flange, which acts as a guide to tho wheels when the car is negotiating tho hole through the hill. Tho advantage of allowing tho motor to use the tunnel will be appro-1 ciat-cd by Kilbirnie and Hataitai residents, I who are by this means brought within a few minutes of tho fire brigade station, instead of t-lio car having to travel in a roundabout way via Rosenoath or Kilbirnie. On Tuesday night tho motor had to wait for a car that was running through tho tunnel, but as soon as it was clear, tho signal was altered to prevent another car from attempting to enter, and tho motor glided through safely at the rate of about five miles an hour'. Tho Moeraki, which arrived from Sydney yesterday morning, brought tho remains of Mr. Charles Hudson, ono of tho Victorian Railway Commissioners, and formerly Assistant General Manager of Railways in Now Zealand. Tho funeral, which took place yesterday afternoon, halted at St. Paul's Pro-Cathedral, where a servico was conducted by tho Rev. T. H. 'Sprott. Tho chief mourners wero Dr. Hudson, Messrs. W. B. and G. L. Hudson, brothers of tho deceased, and among thoso present wero tho Primo Minister, Hon. Jas. Millar (Minister fov Railways), Hon., Dr. J. G. Findlay, Hon. T. Mackenzie, Mr. T. Ronayno (General Manager of Railways), aud Mr. W. M. Hannay (lato manager for tho Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company). Tho servico at the graveside at Karon was also conducted by Mr. Sprott. Mr. W. Alexander, instructor in engineering at tho Technical School, completed his thrco years' engagement, and delivered his filial lecture last evening. Ho will leave for England via south and Mclbourno by tho Moeraki to-day, having some patents which ho thinks there is money in' to introduce to tho notice of tho engineering firms at Homo. When Mr. Alexander arrived from Glasgow thrco years ago, ho had littlo more than four bare walls to commenco with. Now tho school had quite a neat littlo engineering shop, where good student work could bo done under fair conditions. Speaking of tho punils he has had under him, Mr. Alexander has come to tho conclusion that the average Wellington boy is not earnest enough in his work—lie is far moro casual in his methods and outlook on lifo than tho Homo boy, but at tho same timo ho confessed that in a fow instances the boys were brighter than ho had ever come in contact with in Glasgow. Shortly before half-past seven on Tuesday night all tho electric lights, or at any rato 'those in tho vicinity of tho' Government station, suddenly went out, plunging tho city in darkness. Simultaneously the elcctric trams came to a suddon stoppage. The effect was quito ( weird, alul for a moment' tho people in tlio streets seemed dazed. Just at this juncture a heavily-laden passenger train steamed into tho station, and tho darkness was filled with hoarse cries of cabmen. Tho mystified travellers could bo seen standingin the entrances of tlio station, which was still alight, staring out in rather an uncertain way into the surrounding darkness. Somo had oven started to gropo thoir way across tho street, when a perfcct fountain of sparks from the trolly-pole of an adjacent tram told that something was about to happen, and almost simultaneously the lights blazed up again, the trains moved, the great purple, arc lights glowed, and tho tramway offices resumed their normal brightness. Nothing more lias been heard concerning tho scow Rona, which left recently to attempt to salvage tho cargo of tho wrecked Ben Avon at Palliser Bay. Tlio Marine Department advise that the training-ship Amokura will leave to-day to search for tho missing vessel. Our Featherston correspondent states that there was a rumour that tlio scow Rona was ashore at Palliser Bay. Several residents near tho bay wore communicated with, but so far as they knew the rumour was incorrect. It was thought that the Rona had been on her way to the wreck near White Rock, and if she had been in tho bay when tho southerly weather camo on she would have certainly been driven ashore. It is well known that the best of sailing ships give Palliser a wide berth.' Yesterday tho constable from Featherston wont to the'ferry to see if there was any sign of a wreck, and has not yet returned. It is pretty certain that if tlioro was a wrcek in tho bay, the residents would have been sure to see or hear something of it. A statement- was published in the local press on Monday last that the Government Labour Bureaux could not got sufficient men to work on tho Catlins Railway. It was stated that 50 more men were required, but that men wore not ready to leave tho cities for hard work at good pay. Mr. F. Browne, secretary bf the Wellington Building Trades Labourers' Union, says that a member of that body who has been travelling in search of work, saw this paragraph on Monday last at Palmerston. Yestordav he went to- the union's oflice, and told j\lr. Browne that lie was going to Dunedin to take up work oil this railway. Br.. Browne made inquiries, | and learned from tho Labour Department that there had never been a scarcity of men, and that when moro workers wore required, they had been transferred from another section of the line which was completed. It ia stated that tho previous report had caused men to go to Dunedin from all parts of tho Dominion, spending their scanty' means in travelling to billets which wore already filled.