LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 510, 18 May 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A number of letters to the Editor aro in type, and will appear in to-morrow's issue.

Mr. Justice Cooper will sit in Chambers at 10.30 this morning, to settle the Civil list.;. ' . ..■■■■ : '.•• .

A petition in bankruptcy has been filed by Fanny Potty,'storekeeper, of 126 Taranaki Street. : ' . . : . ■'• '

Regulations for the increased'staffir<s of distnet high schools, of which there are about sixty in New Zealand,, will probably be gazetted this week.; . ■ , . - .

■ At the meetiiii; of tho committee cf the Wellington Orchestral IJnion held yesterday afternoon, it was* unanimously decided that they should give their assistance at the forthcoming benefit concert for Mr. Alfred Hill

Some delay was caused to a oar in Cour-' tenay Place yesterday by the trolly-pole coming off the wire and getting entangled in another wire. . The cars were blocked for about ten minutes; but no damage was done.

The'■• District Health Officer (Dr. Frengley)rreports the following cases of infectious diseases for.the week ending May 15:—In the city: Scarlet feyer 6, enteric feyor' 1, diphtheria 1. Karori Borough: Soarlet fovor 2. Petone Borough: Scarlet fever 1.

With regard to a suggestion that' European swallows " should be introduced into Now Zealand to deal .with tho insect pest, Mr. A. Hamilton, Director of tho Dominion Museum, ■ statesi: that, on many occasions, Ua.c|i; .swallows, from Australia and \mmama have visited New Zealand, especially Nelson and the northern part of the South Island. They have even been seen in Napier, but for some reason they have never succeeded in establishing themselves in this country. '.'/. ...-,.

, "Wo have'to th'arik the cadet movement," said Captain Corrigan at the annual meet-" ingof the Zealandia Rifles last evening, "for bringing in to us a number of very efficient men. . Not only.is.ono of. our officers:a man ; |.o£ cadct'training, but also.one of our;smart- : est non-commissioned officers, and a number of .meii;i,in;..the. ranks who have >; proved '■ of :'muchlielp'to ; the company. They show that tljpv havn h.?d pvcollt-nt tr^nin? , •'"" '"-r\drill, and oan\ give an excellent account of tliuinscilvvs oii'iiiorauijc, one _.i..../ iparticularly'so. I bclievo the cailet. movement will prove of immense help to,the' de-. 'fence forces,in this Dominion." ; , ;

j Good painters of animals are very' rare, chieHy owing- to' the long course of anatomical study' that is essential to attain anything like truth in tho subject under treatment. Miss Maud farmer, of Gisborne, has evidently made a study .of that phase of art, otherwise her painting of Mr. \V. E. Bidwill's. racehorse, Elevation,.now on.exhibition at Mr. Butlei's .studio on Lainbton Quay, would not be so- satisfactory. Those who know the horso well; state that the artist has caught an excellent likeness, even to ttio peculiar ihade of its chestnutty-brown coat, that. gleams satin-like in tho light. Miss i'armer has, a delicate touch in colourblending, :and a tnie eye for proportion, and should-do well in a phaso of art she is well adapted to pursue successfully. ' :

Professor Starr, of Chicago University, has ; repeated and emphasised in a lecture given at New York, his predictions of disaster for Mr. Koosevelt's African expedition. When he himself went to Central Africa he was thoroughly acclimatised after twelve years in tho tropics, and was also young; but Mr. Roosevelt, who has had 210 such experience and is fifty years old, will never, in Professor Starr's opinion, survive tho fevers with which he is bound to be afflicted To' a young .man thoroughly acclimatised they would be a serious danger, "but to a man of the ex-President's age, the trip is little short of suicidal." Professor Starr is one of the leading American authorities' on , anthropology, and has carried out extensiyo researches in Mexico, Japan (among tho Ainu) and the Congo Free State. It is pointed out in reply to his sensational forecast that the Eoosevelt party will bo as well equipped in medical attendance as a military expedition.

The desks for members of Parliament, in the reconstructed chamber will bo of a new type. A rathor jiarrow table will bo surmounted by a small escritoire, .which can be let down for writing and shut up and Jocked when the member' goes out of the chamber. The desks are being made by the Public Works Department, and tho timber is kauri stained and varnished; The flat top of the escritoire will be convenient as a resting place for notes' when, the member is speaking, and impassioned orators will'find it just the right, height for thumping. 1 Thn alterations in the House are going-on' apace, and will apparently result in, giving Parliament more accommodation than it has ever enjoyed before. : There will be over 30 rooms for committee and other ,purposos in the library wing. Sir Joseph Ward .takes'-a great interest in all tho details affecting tho comfort of members and officials, and he may be seen nearly every day looking round at tho work that is going on. .

After about, a year's collecting, the fund which is being raised throughout the Dominion to do honour to the memory-of Sir James Hector, a scientist of Teal ora'ineuce, who performed unselfish services for this country, still stands at less than £300. Die amount may bo increased soon, for the Wellington Philosophical Society has just contributed £10 10s., and the other Philosophical .Societies of the Dominion have yot to forward thoir roturns. About 2000 circulars have recently been sent out, and every week sorao donations are received, bnt, considering tho reputation and deserts of tho lato scientist, the. progress of tho fund must bo considered very slow. A prpposnl which is now being made, to hold a series of semiscientific icctniTs to assist tho fund, cortainIy seems to contain a reflection on tho public s recognition of • a deserving cause. It ia proposed to devote- tho Hector Memorial Ji'und'to some form of encouragement of sciontilic research.

There am two elements in ten-thoino nncl tannin; thoino hn.s tho stimulating effects for which wo alone drink tea. Tnnum produros dyspepsia, and is, therefore, injurious to the system. Iho percentage of thcir.o in tens varies, and the variation is accordinp; to tho quality. Theino is tho attract from the lenf, and pure tea r*ust consist wholly of lent and little or nothing of fibre and dust. Crescent Bldid Tea is all leaf; it is exquisite in flavour rich, ftud of full stvongth. Crescent Ten cap. turcs tho pilato. All Etooers. «1 2s, par lb,

Tbo secretary of the Penguin Relief Fund (Mr. J. R. Palmer) haß received from Wio Shipwreck Relief Society of Dunedin a sum of £200 as a contribution to the fund.

The postal authorities advise that • the Wamrnoo, which left Sydney for Wellington direct, has on board an Australian' mail, which is due hero on Wednesday morning.

It is stated that there arc a number of unlicensed carriers plying for hire. The City Inspector (Mr. J. Boyle) warns them that ho is taking down names with a view to prosecution.

The few bathers who turned' out for the matutinal dip at To Aro Baths on Sunday wore surprised to find the remains of an octopus.in the enclosure.' Tho tentacles of the unwelcome visitor, which was speared inside the bath, are said to have measured about 6or 7 feet across. :

A Conciliation Council will sit to-day at 10.30 a.m., Mr. P. Hally, Conciliation Commissioner, presiding, to deal with an application by the pastrycooks of the Wellington industrial district, extending as far as Wanganui, for ah award covering their trade. Hitherto thoro havo been bakers' awards, but no pastrycooks' award. Tho assessors representing the employers will be Messrs. Carroll, J. Godbcr, and W. S. Dustin (Wangamri), and those representing the employees Messre. A. Collins, L. 11. Goodehild, and T. Dillon. Tho claims put forward by the men have been already reported in The Dominion. .

A veil of mystery (says. a Melbourne paper) still hangs over tho identity of that young and misguided budding telegraphist who, at some remote station unknown, amusod himself by practising on—and incidentally blocking—a special direct wire between Melbourne and Sydnoy,' while tho telegraph operators at each end,: with accumulating piles of work, were obliged to sit for upwards of an hour waiting for tho time when he would deign to finis '■ There have been communications between \iho bead office at Melbourne and most of.the country stations, but no one professes to bo able to' name the delinquent.: Nor have the authori(tiea been' ablo even to locate tho station, 'where the trouble originated. A few weeks back a similar incident, occurred,- and in, that case also the result of inquiries proved fruitless.- ■ , ■ ■ . . : :

The suggestion of Mr. J. A. Hanan, M.P., to promote Civil Service efficiency by annual examination tests among the offiucs of Departments is not received with much enthusiasm in tho quarters most concerned. The opinion of a number of Oivil Servants who were interviewed on the suggestion yesterday was that though a system of examinations directly bearing on the work of a Department might have some benefit as a stimulus to tho men, the head of a Department know, if he was interested in his staff, what members were efficient and what members did not earn their salaries. The problem was not so much how to discover efficiency and to dotect incapacity, as; to ensure tbat efficiency would be rewarded and incapacity, when: recognised,. receive no more than its deserts. In most Departments it' would be difficult to devise tests that would so oleariy demonstrate' the abilities and shortcomings of the staff, as the constant experience'of thedr work on tike part of watchful superior officers. . : • . '.-.

At the annual meeting of the: New Zealand institute, it was decided to make an alteration in the method of publishing the annual volurno of "Proceedings." In future, tho "Proceedings" will bo published separately, as often as material comes to hand, probably three or four times a year. Part I is now. ready' for issue, and contains full reports of ; the anuual meetings of tho Institute, and of the Wellington, Otago, Canterbury, and Manawatu Societies, with" abstracts of\the ; papers read. The reports of the other societies, which were not received in time; will be published in the next number. It is proposed to include, in future, volumes of the "Proceedings" extracts that may be of use to members from books that are published from 'time to: time in other countries. The forthcoming number will probably contain a resume of the references to Now Zealand .birds, ,in : Socbohm's comprehensive work on petrels.' Arrangements hflvo been'niado with .scientists in various branches of.;knowledge to contribute- notes .from time. tp-.time.-iji:- :.!-••■ .■ ■;-." ■■- ■:.:,-■

A meeting: of _ the: oxecutSvo. committee: of the recent,- publio meeting. caUed' in opposition te compulsory military training was held, in the. Federated Seamen's Union roome jastnight, ;Mr. P. J., O'Regan presiding. Objection was made by several speakers to the report circulated as te who was responsible for tho 'disturbance at .the recent meeting convened by the Defence League, and on the motion of Mr. D. M'Laron, M.P., the following rosolutipn was carried:—"That this committee., denies that any. organised disorder was created at the meeting in the Town Hall by those who are opposed: to compulsory military training, and affirms that the disturbance was mainly duo to a body of young men who were marshalled in support of the convenors of the meeting, together with one of Uμ snoakors m' favour of the motion." It was.deoided bhat a .preliminary mcetinc be called for Monday night to arrange a large pubhc demonstration in tho Town Hall against compukory military traininj: Tlie secretary (MrJ G. G. Farlaad) and the chairman wore, deputed to make all necessarv arrangemonts. '. ' ..' J

.Compulsory training was Toferred to by at tlto annual meeting of tne Zealandia Rifles last evening. "There are not lacking indications," ho said, "that DDforo long tho work of commander of a comE? n y will I be on better lines than heretofore. Ihe chief trouble is that we do not koep our men long enough to turn them out in the end as efficient as they should bo. So much time is lost in going back to pick tho latest comers, and we do not get sufficient of the finishing held work to ensure the competence of the officers and the full. efficiency of tho men. \\ ith a system • which would provide for the continuance of the training of men in field nianoouvres, a company would quickly reach a reasonable state of efficiency. Something moro than the , , volunteer system provided is .certainly required. In my mind, thero would bo no necessity to trench unreasonably on tho time of tho men, or to interfero with business or manufacture. If our young men would put in half the timo per year that is now given to football by way to completing their military training wo would soon have, I think, an efficient defence force.. My experience is that military training is a groat advantage to the men physically, and some system of such training would bo a great advantage to the rising generation from a health .point of view.". .• : . ■ v - , .

There .was'an amusing interlude at the Supremo Court yesterday. "Will you kindly choose your foreman?" remarked the- Registrar to a jury which had just been conpanelled. The jurors looked at one another; there was desultory conversation;', and then all sat upright. ■ After a few blank minutes had ticked by, the Registrar said to the juror who was occupying the seat which it is customary for the foreman to take: "Have you been elected?" The juror shook his head., When a few more unemployed moments had vauiched. Mr Justice Ciopman remarked: "There ought-to bo-no difficulty in tho matter." The twelve "good men, and true" now entered into a long and earnest consultation. They were again interrupted by his Honour, who observed: "I have never heard of any difficulty of the kind before." I" reply, the juror who had been addressed by tho Registrar said: "Nobody seems to oaro for tho position." His Honour: "Tho juror who is selected should tako the position. It is not for .the Court to suggest who should bo appointed." Then another juror pointed * ou(' that' tho previous speaker had been called upon to occupy tho position "I havo never boon on a jury before," declared ho upon whom it was nought to confer tho honour,'and-the deliberations remained as barren of result as before- Tho judge at - length'- remarked that if tho juror who was elected lad any scruples another should bo tried. Tho' Court clock was .becoming quite noisy in another great oxpnnw of silenoo, when a juryman ventured nn audible opinion to the effect that Mr. was willing to act. Roplyiiig to hie llonour;\tJio other jurors said that flicy approved of tho selection. Apparently, however, Air. -—— had also never eorved o<n a jury, for, instead of taking his proper seat,' ho stepped out into tho body of tho Court ns if awaiting instructions, and everybody smiled. However, the main problem had now been solved—the jury (had got a foreman. Hut tli<> selection, lik* the death of Cbarke U, took on "unfiftnfHv'ftnnhlo tixno* ,1 ' I

; The Reserves Committee of the City Council is preparing a report in reforonoe to tho estimates for' tho ensuing year for oxpenditure on tho resolves. It is not yet ready, but it will bo dealt with at tho next mooting of tho committee.

Among a number of jurors who sooght exemption from service, at the Supreme Court yesterday was one who pleaded that if he wore not excused he would be "inconvenienced." In reply, Mr. Justice Chapman ob,served: "I can't grant exemption merely because service will entail inconvenience Everybody who is summoned to act is inconvenienced more or lees" •'.-'■

In connection with the inquiry into the way in which the inmates of tho Zoo were being cared for, it will be romombered that tho Reserves Committee of tho City Council asked Mr. W. C. Quinnell, veterinary surgeon.,'to report on Zoo matters generally. The report was received at a meeting of tho committee yesterday, but consideration waa postponed. ■ .'

Tho Martinborough Town Board asked tho Hon.. A. W. Hogg on Saturday for some Government assistance by way of endow•nonts. They iwanted about. 6000 acres of the 30,000 acres sot apart by the Government .is a door park. The Minister replied that ondomnents were a question of policy, and the board should apply to the Minister for bands.; ' - ■'■-.'<

Three- of tho Amokura boys were attached to tho crow of H.M.S. Challenger vested day. Commander Da Costa reported that thoy were a good type, and thanke to tie two years' training they had r.2dergono -on the Government training ship thoy. should i» a very short time make efficient seamen. Four other boys from'; the Ainolcura have just boon placed in the mercantile marine, and Captain Hooper hopes to find a berth for another' to-day. In. this manner tho liitlo training ship is proving her capacity to turn out useful lade for maritime purposes;

A Foxton correspondent i writes :—Under yonr Pahnerstoji corresjiondont'a notes in Friday's issuo tho following item appears:— ." Diphtheria'; has made its appearance at Foxton. One of tho victims—a child aged throe 1 years—died on Sunday." From the foregoing it might easily, bo assumed that an epidemic of dipntheria was,raging here. ' Aβ a matter of fact, not a single case of diphtheria has been reported in. the district for months past.'' Tho cause of death alluded to, as reported by Dr. Adams,, is :" diphtheric croup," which is, I undoratand, of fro(fuont onough ocenrrence everywhere, even in Palmerston. There is no need to suggest an, epidemic of that dreaded thoria. . : .'."'. ■~'■ . ;.■■ ' ..

Last touches, aro now being, put to a big work, Our Paimerston correspondent riates that, on Friday, the Kovonunent Engineer inspected the now Manawatu Gorge bridge,' and passed it, , suggesting' a couple of improvements which will possibly be given effect to. The structure is one thousand and sixty foet long, but not very wide. Although & couple of traps havopnssod each other on it, it was very closo sailing. So, in all likelihood, the bridge will be widened' in two places, sufficiently to, allow vohioles to pasß with ease. The punt has been broken up, and the gear is being collected together in readiness for sale. . .-v. '

Quite a large number of people have taken advantage of the- opportunity afforded them of inspecting the H.M.S. Challenger, whilst noored alongsido the wharf. With obliging "Jack" as demonetrator; informal, discourses on gunnery, ballistics, A.P. projectiles, and the high explosive article, have been think Kb autamn loaves in Vallombrosa," and ono does not need to bo an export to be interested in the splendid co-ordination' of forces which a visit, to, oven a Deoond-class pro-:, tectod cruiser discloses; Tho Challenger, of course, is' not a Dreadnought, but she is a line ship, as far ae her close goes, and a visit to such a vessel is :■•: always , "worth vhile." Her next point of call is Napier, for which port she leaves to-day.

The Minister for Roads (Hon; A. W. Hogg), at tho request; of Mr. ■ Buohanao, M.P., proceeded oil. Saturday to Featliorsten and Martinborough, where he mot the members of the County -Council, together with, several of the local- residents .and settlers. Tho deputation',asked' why the .White' Rocks Road'was. not being formed and proceeded with.' vlt was "poirrtfed out that % road led to'thoEast.CoastViuid that's sum of £1600 had been provided for it on tho Estimates. Tho Minister replied that ho had asocrfciined that tho road w.as far from urgent. With tho exception of the owners of one or two large estates, it would only benefit two or three small Crown lease-holders. Ho was -not inclined to make roads andibridges, involving the expenditure of considerable- sums'.' of money, to help the owners of big cstateajta get an • increased price for their properties, should , they sell them to the Government or private individuals. ■ Several counoflloia , pointed out that by a deviation .tho road could bo' made for about half the contom* plated expenditure, and they promised to send details on in writiug.; : ,

During Mb /week-end sojourn; in the Wai. rarapa, tho Hon. A. W. Hogg (Minister for Koaus) paid a visit to tho Dyor Settlement, for tho purpose of'seeing for himself a piece of road,, tho grade of which, is complained of. After viewing tho road, the Minister told those interested that they could hardly expect, hini' to comment on : the work dono by/the engineers of hia own Department. Hβ must say, however, that he regretted ifca oharaotor of tho grade, and wlint. othorwiso seemed to be an exceedingly important roadv and one of easy grade. He would get the Inspecting Engineer,, whoi was ■ not only highly, qualified, but,, coming from another part of the Dominion,, utterly unbiased, to look at tho road, and his decision would have to bq accepted as filial. Later on tho Minister visited the Tablelands Estate, and crossed some small > rivers, where it is said that bridges are required. . The vsettlersstated they would bo prepared to find half the cost of roading and bridging if the Government would -flnd the other half,.and the; 'Minister promised to have tho matter, reported on'and to send a definite reply later on.' . • '. ■ V :■' ■ ' ' ,-■' '■■ ' '■ ' : ; A deputation consisting l of Mr.. J. Bart (Mayor of Eastbourne), Councillors Robert" son, Foley, Ross, and the Town Clerk, Mr. J. D. Avery, waited on Ferry Company yesterday afternoon and informally discussed proposed alterations, and suggested certain improvements, The company was represented by the managing director!. Mr. AY. Watson, and the : manager, Mr. E. Zohrab. .Tho company was quite! willing to land goods on tho Rona Bay Wlinrf if the Harbour Board provides facilities. As to passengers being landed at this wharf on holidays; it undertook to do. w if the manager could possibly arrange it. Tho company was syuipathotio regarding the request ior an additional trip on week days. Tho matter would bo looked into, and if it could possibly be granted it would, Tho concession could not eventuate until the summer l season, at any rate. Aβ to tho proposed improvement of the timo-tablo, the company was quite ready .to improve tho services to meet tho wishes of tho residents as far as possible This afternoon the Harbour Board will bo asked for a goods office ou llio WcU lington Ferry Wha'ri; that no monopoly be granted to any company unless tho submitted time-table is adequate for the district; that there' bo only, two, timo-tabiK— one for eight months (summer) and the other for four months (winter); that the minimum wharfage charges for passengers bo levied.