LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 482, 15 April 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Over two hundred civil cases have been set down to be called at the S.M. Court this morning. The total iuclutlcs about 30 judgment summonses.

The Petono Firo Brigado was callod out at 10.30 last night to a small cottaco on tlio beach occupied by Mr. Golding. Tho cottage was burned to tho ground.

A peculiar difficulty lias arisen botweon tho Onslow Borough Council and a Kaiwarra resident. It appears that tho liouso of tho lattor is on a road, and tho council can noither rato him nor supply him with drainage, etc. After discussion, it was dccided to obtain legal atlvico on tbo question.

Steady growth continues to mark tho career of tho Wellington Wharf Labourers' Union. During tho first half-year, from Juno, 1899, to Decombor, 1899, the receipts totalled £99, and tho expenditure £59. For last month tho figures were £127 and £61 respectively. Compared with tho first year, tho business of tho organisation is now eightfold greater.

Replying to a request from tho Council of Churches for his views on tho Sunday concerts question. Mr. Wilford, one of the candidates for the Mayoralty, has stated that it has never been his practice in public life to answer by letter questions in regard to which tho whole public is concerned. He has suggested that some member of the Council of Churches should take an opportunity at one of. his meetings to put to liim any question that it might be desired to ask him. Mr. Wilford added that if ho were asked to do so, ho would bo most happy to express publicly, instead of to a section of the people, his views on any question in which they might bo interested.

A very largo gathering of pupils, teachers, and friends assembled in the Sydney Street Schoolroom last evening, tho occasion being the presentation of medals, diplomas, and certificates awarded to the successful candidates in the various grades of tho practical and theoretical examinations held some time ago by Mr. Henry St. George, under tho auspices of the Trinity College of Music, London. Mr. J. G. W. Aitken presided, and thero were also present Messrs. J. P. Luke, M.P., and' J. W. Joynt. In tho course of a few prefatory remarks, tho chairman quoted from tho report of the examiner, Mr. St. George, who had stated that tho results had revealed a splendid standard of excellence in New Zealand. Some good work had been noticed among tho Wellington candidates, notably in tho preparatory section, whore it was remarkably good. The examiner had been somewhat astonished to find that so few candidates had taken up the violin. As regarded tho singing, in two instances in Wellington the examiner had heard nothing finer. After sorno further remarks of an encouraging nature, the medals, diplomas, and certificates were presented. During tho evening musical items wore contributed by some of the successful candidates.

Mr. Percy Grainger's researches into old L'nglish folk songs, many of which he has by tho aid of a phonograph succeeded in rescuing from the oblivion whereto otherwise in tho nature of things they would speedily liavo boon consigned, are hold in great esteem by the musical world. During his recent visit to Now Zealand, tho "Ago" says, ho_ has busied himself taking records of Maori music, much of which he considers to bo most interesting. In addition to his work in tho Dominion, tho collecting of which has been his own special hobby, a friend of his has also supplied him with phonograph records of native Rarotonga part songs. Theso ho describes as "full of the joy of life, and voicing a tremendous, glad, teeming energy, genuine polyphonic music showing much sonso of harmony." As it is usually in four, and in eight, parts, he finds tho task of transcribing the records "appallingly hard"; but he is keen and enthusiastic, and finds tho work "fascinating." These Polynesians, he says, must evidently have had a musical civilisation of their own, on a par, artistically, with their legends, carvings, and decorative patterns. Mr. Grainger has signed a contract for a series of piano recitals in Scandinavia next summer.

"Slaves of tho itinerant system" was tho tolling phrase used by Mr. E. Rosovear at a special farewell meeting at Trinity Church, Duucdin, to the Rev. 0. 33. Laws, when ho was referring to the causes which secured Mr. Laws's return to Christchurch. Ho did not go by tho will of Trinity Church, but because of tho disposition of the pastorates by the General Conference. This, Mr. Rosovear was n matter which called for reform, a'hd he believed the time was: not far distant when somo modification in regard to tho term of pastorate in, at any rate, tho larger city churches of the denomination would be instituted. Ho considered tho ministers of the largo city churches, which, owing to tho trend of population to tho suburbs, comprised largely moving congregations, should remain in thoso churches for at least seven or 10 years. By that he did not mean a fixed term— ho believed in extended terms. Tho same opinion was given expression to by the Rev. C. H. Laws in tho course of his reply to tho farewell speeches made to him. The present system seemed to mako too much for experiments, and he thought tho adoption of some schemo of extended terms would lcavo greater permanenco and givo more general satisfaction.

Iu tho course of an address given in St. Andrew's Church, Dunedin, tho Rev. E, A. Aselsen, agent of the Presbyterian Social Servico Association, quoted " some striking figures in proof of the pressing need for such work as is undertaken by the association ho represents. Since June last, he said, lie had had under his supervision no fewer than 84 boys of the juvenile offender typo. Fully 50 of these had passed through the local Juvenile Court, and all of them deserved to have done so. Tho seriousness of the position was accentuated by the opinion of a Wellington S.M., who had recently told him that, from a criminal point of view, Dunedin was the cleanest of tho four centres, the order of tho towns in that respect corresponding oxactly with their geographical order—viz., Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. Mr. Axelsen attributed this state of affairs' largely to the easy conditions of lifo in the Dominion. Tho worst featuro in this part of his work was that, though the offences were often serious, ho could hardly recall a case in which the culprit had shown a proper sense of shame or disgrace. The moral sense was sadly lacking, and ho took tho opportunity of urging tho necessity of giving every child a thorough grounding in the great spiritual truths of tho Bible.

Beneath six Geneva red-cross flags there was carried 011 day and night continuously, at the volunteer encampment at Oringi during Easter, the work of tending the sick. From Friday until Monday it was necessary to keep an efficient day and night staff in the field hospital, until 011 Mondav the cases treated numbered 119 Among 'these wore men who would otherwise have had to return to town, had it not been for tho careful and willing attention 011 the part of the hospital orderlies, under the supervision of tho medical officers. In the drenching rain on Saturday night, a squad was called out twice to bring men up from tho damp and unhealthy quarters of the lewer cainp, and tho promptitude in their turning out was in itself exemplary. Due probably to tile heavy rain on Saturday and Sunday, eases of cramp, cold, and rheumatism were numerous. On Monday tho majority of the cases were sufficiently convalescent, and others, with one colic case, were transferred to the Danncvirko ]3aso Hospital. Tho field work also was of first-class order, and the praise of tho principal medical officer, in addressing the ambulance corps at tho conclusion of the camp, was well earned by all who shared it. Several minor accident cases also were treated, and dressed during tho camp, though fortunately these were not of a serious character. Majors l'urdio and Hogg superintended the work, and were assisted by a staff of six surgeons.

Teas grown in different localities liavo different characteristics, and oven tho tea from any particular garden is not the same in two successive seasons. Climatic, changes, differences of soil, cxerciso influences, and it is in tho art of tho tea blender to bring together tno different teas and by combination to produce a particular flavour. Crescent Blend Tea is a clioico combination of Ceylon and Indian Teas, and the flavour novor varies. All storekeepers, 2s. per lb. /

Tho amount of monoy collected on tho tramways during Good Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday totalled £2200, which was transferred from tho Receiving Ofiico at Thorndon to tho Union Bank yesterday morning.

A charge of stealing four sums of money, amounting in all to £27, is to be preferred against a 15-year-old lad in tho Juvenilo Court this morning. The alleged offender was arrested yesterday by Detectivo Kemp. Tho money belonged to tho firm which employed tho lad.

In reference to a paragraph in yesterday morning's issue complaining of the fact that tlio Municipal Chambers were closed 011 Tuesday, it is explained that somo years ago it was decided to closo 011 this day instead of St. Goorgo's Day, which eomcs on April 23, and thus make the holiday continuous. Moreover, the banks were closcd 011 Tuesday, and it was considered inadvisable to remain open.

A sensation has btjen caused at tho Bluff (telegraphs tho "Ot-ago Daily Times' " correspondent) consequent upon tlio report that the hoad of a well-known Southland financial institution has been missing from his usual haunts for a period of nine days. Report has it that serious financial shortages aro tlio explanation of his disappearance. Tho amounts involved aro said to run into thousands of pounds. Diligent inquiries have failed to disclose his whereabouts.

Although tho details of tho new defenco sclicmo which is to supersede tho present system are not likely to bo made public before tho next parliamentary session, it is quite on tho cards that an announcement concerning the salient features of the scliomo will bo made by the Prime Minister before then. In a conversation with a representative of The Dominion last evening, Sir Joseph Ward said that lie might refer to the matter in one of his pro-sossional speeches.

Tlio "Marathon" piano-playing crazo is still running its course in New Zealand. A few months ago Mr. Charles Parnell played continuously for 52 hours in Auckland, putting up a record for Australasia, if not for tho whole world. Telegraphic news was received last evoning by Mr. Alfred Linley, of His Majesty's Theatre, that Mr. Edward Travcrs, who plays for tho Royal Pictures at Auckland, had exceeded Mr. Parnell's timo, and there was no reason to doubt that ho would last for 60 hours.