LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 519, 28 May 1909, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

An ordor has been mado forbidding moneyorder and postal correspondence fortho Canadian Collector Publishing Company, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Timber Commission finished taking evidence at 6.5 p.m. yesterday, and will sit m committee to-day to prepare their report, which has to be presented to the Governor on Monday. A' Gazette Extraordinary' Was issued yesterday, commanding members of Parliament "by tho tenor of these presents enjoined to be and appear personally for the dispatch of business" on Juno 10. Tho Minister for Public Worlrs (the Hon. R. M'Kenaie) and the Minister for Internal Affairs (the Hon. D. Buddo) inspected the Mount Cook Barracks yesterday afternoon, in connection witli the scheme for converting the building into a now Dominion Museum. ■■ The postal authorities advise that the Witnmera. which 16ft Sydney on Wednesday for Auckland, has on board an English and Australian mail, which is due hero on Monday evening next by the express train. \- "I cannot olose these cases without drawing special attention to the necessity for giving notice to defend," remarked Dr. M'Arthur, S.M., at thoconclusion of his decisions in a number of enforcement of award cases yesterday. "•. His Worship added that the' necessity for giving nbtico of intention to defend would not be allowed to be treated as a dead letter for tho future. . .•"" ' \. '■ The amount of timo occupied by the AVoA liilKton sittings of the Timber Commission was referred to. yesterday. Mr. J.' A ? an ?. n **M> shortly before four o'clock, that the Wellington witnesses had had a good innings, and if moro evidence Was taken, it would be merely repetition, \ "If thev liav. anything now to add." ho remarked, -1 would bo willing to stay a weok, but this .repetition is getting wearisome." The quostion of railway rates was mentioned at the limber Commission yesterday afternoon. In reply to a query as-to whether there was any likelihood of a reduction of rates. Mr. T. Ronayno, General Manager of tho Railways, said: "There is >no nrosDcot of that. Instead of lowering them, wo shall have to do something else. Iho time has arrived for the saving of every ..farthing on anything concerned with the railwavs," An employer, having successfully defended an enforcement'of award case at tho S.M. Court yesterday, made application for costs. E,is Worship did not allow the application as no witnesses had been subpoenaed, but gavo a useful hint as to witnessed to employers who may be brought before tho Court later. A subpoena in these special cases can be taken out without any cost, and simply for the trouble of inscribing tho riame of the witness. If the witnesses in tho case under notice had been subpoenaed their costs would havo been allowod. , Members of-the Sluggish River and Horseshoo Drainage Boards woro introduced to the Minister for Internal Affairs (tho Hon. D.. Buddo) by Mr. E. Newman, M.P. for Manawatu, yostjfrday morning. The question of ■ ama gamatiofl, which was first mooted as far back as 1899. was discussed, at considerable length, and finally an understanding was arrived at as to tho numerous difficul» ties in thoway. Tho two.boards'will formally petition the Minister for amalgamation. Subsequently, tome members of the Manawatu and Oroua Drainage Boards attended with Messrs. Buiek, Field, and Newman, M.P.'s, : to suggest some alterations'-in tho Drainage Act: Tho Minister-promised to prepare a statement of .their requests so that proposals for legislation might bo submitted to Sir Joseph Ward as Minister- for Lands. Something in tho nature of a "brecise" occurred at tho Timber- Commission yesterday. In tho course of his evidence,'-. Mr. T. Ronayno, General Manager of the Railways, commented on the dolay in getting orders •suimlied from a Millers' association. The .Deiiartment coiild not deal vnth"tho millers direct, hut- Orders had to go through tho manager or scorotary. He attributed tho delay.-to red tape. A,member: "On the part of tho : Department' 'or : '-the 'association? (Lauffhter). That's a hew'vorsion," ■ Mr, Ml: "What do you mean-by 'red tapo'P" Mr. Ronayno: "I mean oiroumlooution." The chairman (the Hon, T. Y. Duncan): "This doo3 not : come in, the ordor of reference. Mr;. Ell. You aro wasting time.'! Mr. Ell: "I am not." Tho chairman:'"] rnlo so." 'Mr., Ell submitted that allegations had been mado concerning a'eoinbino, and ho wanted to know about - it.: . Mr. Ronayno then continued his evidence. ,Tho application to include several shipping companies within tho scope of tho Seamen's Award was.heard by his Honour Mr. Justice Sim and Messrs. S. Brown and J. A. M'Oulloua;lv at the sitting *of the Arbitration Court yesterday morning. Mr. W. A. W. Grenfcll srtfltod that Mt. Prj-or, who was to,have represented tho Wangaiiui Meat Freezing Company, had beeh further detained, and Mr. W. who represented the union, agreed that consideration in regard to tße Wangaiiui oonipany should bo given by the Court at its next sitting. The Court then ordered that; the scope of-the award should'be extended to inolnde: Canterbury Steam Shipping Company, Limited,' Christohurcli; Moknn Steamship Company, -Woitara; Robert Pitoaithly,, Christchuroh; Invercnrgill Shipping Company, Limited, Dunedin; Kaiapoi Shipping and Trading Company, Kaiapoi; and Keech and Mallby, Kunmra.' . ' Upon tho conclusion of the hearing of tho action Troadgold versus tho Ofßcial Assignee at the fcilpi-enio Court yesterday, counsel for. tho dol'oncO Inferred to a newspaper paragwph to the effect that Mr, Justice Cooper had said that of the witnesses had given their evidenco in a straightforward manner. That observation, counsel said, could not possibly apply to one witness, Mr. Clark, at any rate. His Honour explained that his remark related to tho principal witnesses in the.case. Mr. Clark had certainly given his evidence perfectly straightforwardly... What he had meant was that there had been exceeding difficulty on the part of counsel on both sides in getting any clear statement of facts from the witnesses. Ho did not impute that any intentional mis-statement of .fnot was mado by"any of.tho witnesses. During the course of tho case, as in many other cases, witnesses on either side, from nervousness or some other cause, had difficulty in making themselves understood even to their own conusel. The following fine example of strict observance of the code of professional honour was reported in tho "Evening Standard nnd St; James's Gazette" a short timo ago, It purports to bo taken from that trustworthy source, the "Petit (sic) Republique." Alter some sta'tcments about the health of tho Pope, it is added: "It.is also affirmed that his Holiness is suffering, from diabetes, but. Dr. Lapponi preserves strict professional silence ort" tho point." As Dr. Lapponi died some four years ago, and, we believe, is still dead, the report of his secrecy may probably bo ncccpted as true. We say "probably," as before ho passed beyond tho veil' he wrote a book on spiritism and hypnotism, and doubtless there are manyready to believe that he is still in a position to supply information to adepts in spirit rap--ping. It is aH the more to his credit, therefore, that ; being beyond the roach of any ethical tribunal, ho has refused to breal; the. seal of professional secrecy .—"British Medical Journal." .':.-.' The "Grey Rivor Argus" relates an amusing incident of tho Hon. Mr. Millar's recent tour of the West Const railways. "The Hon. A. R.. Guinness is a pastmas'ter in organising deputations," says tho "Argus," "but sometimes his energy is Bpent in vain. On Saturday morning Mr. Guinness went as far as Moana to moot the Hon. Mr. Millar and on his way up nrrsjieing for a deputation of Antikei residonts to interview tho Minis- i tor at Greymouth.- At Moana Mr. Guinness informed the Minister, that a 'largo' deputation wished to moot him at Aritikci on the question of providihg a, shelter shed. Tho Minister consented, and gavo instructions to stop tho train,at tho place named. . Tho train drew into' tho station, and Mr. Guinness rushed out and found to his amaamient that then were only a man and a dog on the platform: To make matters worse, lie did not know the man, and had to'ask him his 'name-so as to introduce him to the Minister. Tho train resumed its journev, and tho party gavo -Mr. Guinness- no end of, chaff on hia 'largo' deputation-"

A Press Association cable message fwm Adelaide states that Mr. G. Dowdell lias been appointed Government Astronomer. Local examinations in tbo various subjects °; V.'k.. an<l Guil(]s of London commence at the WellinEton Technical School to-day. The Master Bakers' Union announoes that, on and after Monday noxt, if flour prices do not moreaso, tho two-lb. loaf will be sold at 3Jd., and coupons at Ss. 6d. po rdozen. A deputation from Ohariu.' introduced \by Mr -- J -J/. Luko ' M - p -< *'» interview the Prime Minister this afternoon to-ask for imptovod postal facilities and other local requirements. Detectives Abbott and Oamoron arrested a man last night on a charge of having, on May 25, at Christchurch, committed theft of three overcoats, a rug, a. rifle, and a pair of 'sleeve links, of a tdtal value of £10 Ss., the property of one- \V. COnier. The following tenders havo been accepted by tho Public Works Department :•—Erection of post offico at Ngaruawahia, L. M'Kidstoyj Auckland, £1303 ,• post oilico at Mount Eden, W. E. Hutchison, Auckland, £1548; station buildings at Towai (Kawakawa-G«ih.am6t<>wn ■railway), H. G. Foster,< Whangarel, £002, , Twenty-two teachors havo intimated to tho Wellington Eduoatfon Board their desire to attend tho Winter .School of Experimental Agrioulturo at.Grcytown during tie coming term holidays— next week. Th« school WiR Bo under the supervision of Mr. Vita. 0. Davies, Instructor ic Agriculture, With reference to tho appointments of pupil teachers and probationers in public schools, it fe gazetted this Week thwt no one who is at the sarao time the holder of a University Junior Scholarship, or a Boflior National Scholarship,: or, of a' Tamnaki Scholarship shall bo appointed as' a pupil teacher or probationer, or act as pupil •teacher or probationer in any school. "Where in tho secondary department of a district high school a, course of agricultural instruction approved by tho Minister is taken regularly by not less.than ten pupils for not loss than twenty hours, a week regularly thMUg'hout the school year, a payment riot exceeding £5 10s. per annum may be made on account of oach pupil who has regularly attended the classes included in such' course." —Gnaette. Tho .First Battalion,' Wellington Public School Cadets, paraded under Major Heraploman yesterday afternoon on Kclburne Park Tho following wts the parade stato:—Mount Cook, Captain. Foster, 81; Te Aro (No. 1, Captain Gould, 51 ;,Terrace. Captain Erskino 68; fhorndon, Captain Edio, 77; Brooklyn Captain Lpok, 40; Mitcholltown, ' Captain Darroek, 28; Karon, and Northland, Captain Bennett, 50; Wadestown/Captain Joplin, 30; Tc Aro (No. 2), Captam Henderson, 53; .total, all ranks, 482. . 'At-tho monthly meeting', of the Central Pharmaceutical Association, hold at Godbor's Booms last night, Mr. A. Hobson presiding, tho following motion was carried':—"Thai pnlo having ho objection to nurses and other ladies ouahtying-as ohemists uudor tho prosent Pharmacy Act, this meeting of pharmacists strongly 'objects to tho" apprenticeship of m hospital, dispensaries, 'as their training is certain to bo totally inadequate for tho. carrying on of tho • business of a chemist and safeguarding tho publio interest;" .Challenged by the Hutt branch of tho National Smglo Tax: League to a debate on 'the subject.of compulsory military training, Mr. P, C. FreOth mot tho representative of tho league, Mr. ■ Gosso, on the, public platform at Petono Oddfellows' Hall last evening. W, M'Ewau (Mayor of Pctonc) prosided, the audience numbering about 500. Proceedings wore orderly,' and both speakers had an attentive hearing.. At the conclusion ot tho debate, an amendment, submitted by Mr. .Freeth supporting, compulsory military, training, was lost, in favour of tho leaguo's motion, urging the workers throughout tho Dominion to hold meetings and make indignant protest against compulsion; ':'■ / "Wo must bo oarofiil not to attempt to place the'cart before tho horse," . observed Mr; W.< M.P.. commenting at the Education Board's mooting yesterday' on the proposal to establish a Cripples' School in .Wellington.. ;Ho thouglit.th.it the board should reflect, when considering.-tho(Scheme, that tho first essential was health, and: that 'the'necessity for providing for tho education of the cripple should not Tie allowed to overshadow'that ossentiol, He doubted whether the strain of attending school would b» within the physical resources of some of the cnpplos. Again, tho location of the school at tho hospital, Newtown, Would impose somewhat trying conditions, upon thoso 'children who might havo to travel all tho way from Thorndon. : / Apparently the Education Board can only maintain its- staff or\rclioving teachors at a financial loss. Major T. W. M'Doilald has .long considered that the relieving teacher* should be, remunerated, at the same rate as •fhpse.w'hom.t'liey relieved, many of them bo ;mg m his opinion, quite inadequately paid, and (tc-mo time ago lie asked for a return setting forth tho scale of salaries paid to relieving teachers since 1005. Tho return was laid on tho table at tho board's mooting yesterday, and an inspection, showed that'thor* . was .Mime nistifieaUou of Major M'Donald's position. In a note appended to the: return, the board's secretary (Mr. G. U Stewart) states; i. If more liberal allowance is mado it is a question Whether the board can provide as fullrelieving supply as at present. Thestato ;0t the relieving account was in debit as'Mte *H° Ilm1 lm L of balances:1906, £138 45..9a.'1907,'£575 3s. 2d • IDOS £626 13s. lid,; 1909, £052 I8s ; 8o\» " ' H.M.S. Pioneer, tho'Navai .Reserve drillship, which is duo hero on June 6, will be berthed at tho King's Wharf for the convenienco of local reservists. Captain Smith (superfntnoiidont of morcalltile marine at Wellington) states that there are still vacancies for suitable seamen and stokers in tho Reserve, ■and. expresses.-surprise, that applicants'have not been more numerous, considering tho inducoments that arc held out. Tho conditions aro .that seamen, are to'servo 28 "days and stokers 21 days in the year for five years. After the first year stokers, need only servo 14 days. In return thoy get about 365. a week, and a suit of clothes, and £5 retaining Wago for tho first year, and £8 a vear for th(t remainder of tho term. They aro oiilv .called uyoii to drill between tho hours of 9.30 a.m. ali'l 4 p.m., and, as most of the training is > .no in port, they are allowed tho option ot sleeping aboard or ashoro. Under ,such conditions the lot of a Reserve man is by no means an unpleasant one. abound in the new city of San I'ranoiEco,'; Mr. Garnet Holmes, a visitor f !S m California, informed an Auckland 'Herald' reporter. "In fact they aro more a feature than before the earthquake, and, owing to the number going up, thero is more ofiice accommodation to' let than ever before At tho same time the lessons .of the shock have not been entirely forgotten, and. tho buildings.. aro. being mado as strong and earthquake-resisting as possible. Already about half of San Francisco has been rebuilt. In some respects, tho now City is filter than tho old, and iu some rospects the disaster has precipitated chances in configuration that timo would havo evolved there were, for iristniiue. many* aristccvatio dwellings on Nob Hill, but witli tho introductioii of the automobile, tho tendency' was for the wealthy to 'liyb farther out of 'town. The earthquake involved the nrisWcratic quarter of Nob Hill m destruction, and now the wealthy are building at n neater distance from tho city. The residents; do not worry about the probability, of another shook."