LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 523, 2 June 1909, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities advise. that the t'limnroa, which loft Sydney en. Saturday last for 'Wellington, hns on board.an Australian mail, which is duo here this morning. Amended regulations for the supply ■'. of water power for mining purposes were adopted by Cabinet yesterday. 'The changes are in the direction of enabling mining companies toobtain power on easier tormß.

: "1 was going bonus then," remarked a police constable, who was giving evidence In a Tease at tho B.M. Court yesterday. "You mean you were gding to the polieo station, 1 " iaterpdsed counsel. "Most people don't reoosniso. that as'home.",

lenders for supplies and stores 'for various Departments were dealt.with by Cabinet yesterday. It was found.that the tenders from Wellington, Ohristchurch, Dunedin, and InVercnrgill Were so high, as compared with those from elsewhere, that it was decided to decline them-all.;

Writing to the Wellington Hospital Trustees in reference to a previous communication regarding a vacancy for a Maori pupil. Miss 11. Mac Lean, Assistant Inspector of Hospitals, advised that a position had been procured for hor at the talmorston North Hospital. •''■:■'

The Wainui-o-niata water supply was wade available soon after midday yesterday. The break in the main was repaired In the morning, end the water was turned on very gradually, so as to guard against any further break., There is thus no further need for residents, on the high levels to ■ storo water...

Speakihg at the meeting of the Hospital, Trustees yesterday, Mr. G. Londdil re-' marked that tho management of tho hospital had boon freely' criticised lately, but on Monday he paid a visit to the institution and inquired from tho patients botf thoy had been treated. Ono and all, ho Was pleased to say, Spoke in terms of praise of tho treatment accorded them,

. In accordance with the decision of tho Miramar Borough .Council, the tram fares in tho borough wore reduced by a penny on the Miramar North line. The new fares (or rather the original fares, tie they were only increased recently) came into operation yesterday. ' It is stated that, owing to tho changes, a large huinber of footballers ceed to Miramar in brakes on Saturday afternoons instead of using the trams.

The Hon. T, ¥. Duncan, Chairman of the Timber Commission, told a. Christohurch reporter that although the commission had boon through nearly all parts of the Dominion, it had seen no signs of trade depression. If there had been a cloud of that character,- it had passed away, and, as far aS the commission could ascertain, prosperity,, if it had departed for a time, had returned again.

The offer of Mr. John Fullor, jun., to Contribute £200 and provide a suitablo building for the purposes of an industrial exhibition, has stirred tho Wellington Industrial Association into activity, and tho question will probably ho broached at tho next meeting oPthat body, on Tuesday next. It is not thought that any proposal of tho kind would be well received just at present, owing to the dull times, but, with winter past, and tile hope born or spring 'peHncating the commercial mind, the idea might ho crystallised into something delinits.

Tho depression ih tho timber trad© in. AVestlnnd romains as aoute as Over (sliyii tho "Wcstport Times")) orders coming tu band Vary slowly and for but small ■ quantities. The optimistic, prophecy of somo months ago that normal conditions would bo experienced about this timo of the ycai 1 Jiiis not been fulfilled; tho situation is as bnd- as it was in November last. Tho SawrnillerS appear to bo relying on the report of tho Timber Commission, with tho faith that a drowning man has' in a straw. If this goes in tho direction of nftordiiig tho ■industry that protection it rightly deserves, nil Will bo well. .But if hpi, tlw .position..■vCill faultily ,booauA<l a precanOUs ana.

Tho committee promoting the benefit cononit of Mr. Alfred Hill applied to tho City Council for the freo usa of the Town Hall for

the concert. Tlio authorities have decided to decline to accede to tho request;

The cstimotcß and ratos for tho coming year were to eonlo Up at te-lti'aht'B mooting of tJio City Council, but it luwiiow been decided that they will not be presented until a. later date as the Finance Committee has not yet prepared tho neoossary report.

Members of the l'etone Borough Council will interview the Minister for Railways (Hon. J. A, Millar) on Friday morning at 11.30 to ask that the up mail train should atop ftt Petonc. A deputation from the Dar.nov'irlto Borough Council in regard to an overbridge, at tho local'station will wait upon tho Minister after the meeting of Parliament.

The Minister for Justice (Hon. Dr. Findlay), in reply to tho appellants who left tho Hamilton Assessment Court as a protest against, allege!! unfair treatment, has telegraphed' that, as the compliants wero against tho Court ias a whole, and not against tho presiding magistrate, lio could not fakooognisanco of tho matter.' Tlio Assessment Courts Came within tho sphere of tho Minister for Internal Affairs (lion. 1). Buddo).

Ffankton Junction, in tho Waikato, has bocOmo a very important traffic centre sincG tho opening of the Main Trunk railway. .It is there that passengers to and fronf Thameß, Waihi, and Rotorua connect, with tho through trains. The local traffic also has grown conof late years. A comploto re-organisation-of tlio station yards haS| therefore, heun decmetl necessary, and Cabinet docided yesterday to expend £10,000.

A number of members of Parliament aVe expected to arrivo in the capital'on .Friday. The General' Assembly; Library will observe sessional hours, keeping opeh until midnight, en and after _that date. Tho carpenters and painters in tho ffliili Parliamentary Building aro expected to practically finish to-morrow, but the work in'the. old. building adjacent to tho Library, where a largo number of rooms are being fitted up, will take several'days to complete. Cabinet yesterday authorised tlio expenditure of the following amounts Brobt lighthouse, £1004; Nelson Mental Hospital, £470; Coal Creek railway. £5000; RceftonInangahua railway, £2000j Qrallamstown railway, £2357; North Island: Maih Trunk railway (North .of Auckland),: £1300;" Midland railway, £2500; raids in, various districts, £1200; removal of rocks in tho Holyford River (West Coast), £300. Tenders arc to bo invited for tlio erection of post offices at Rahotu and Onga Onga. :

Tho J Juno 2 issue of tho 'Weekly Press" on sale here to-dny is a magnificent Empiro number. The illustrated pages/ of which there are twenty, arc chiefly devoted to de- : picting the celebrations throughout Nof? Zealand on Empire Day. A largo map of the world, With tho British possessions specially, marked, and many other interesting = pio-. turco, including portraits of "builders of tho; Empiro," aro also given in tho issue. Tho Bpccinlly-prmted covor in colours-will be omblematio of tho occasion, and there should bo a big demand for the publication.

Gratification %as expressed nt yesterday s meotiug of tho Hospital Trustees at the fact' that thore wore forty-one fewer patients in tho Wellington hospitals for the fortnight ohded'Mav 31 than for the' corresponding period of 1908, Tho chairman (the Hrin. C M. Luke)'remarked that tho .health Of the community w»r going up. It was generally noticed that when trade was bad they had: a larger number of inmates, but this did not exactly work out on this occasion. Mr. J. W. M'Ewan pointed out also that there wore not noarly so many fover oases as at this time last year. •

The meeting of the St. James's Literary Society (Wellington South) took the form Of a parliamentary evening. Mr. Lewis acted as Speaker. The Premier (Mr. 8.. Fiulayson) introduced a 'Bill providing for compulsory military training. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. F. Wright) moved an amendment in favour of a reorganised volunteer system. 1 After a godd debate, during which the Premier made.a touchinE,f.cf(.>rC!}Ce to his approaching holidav, tho amendment whs carried' by a large majority. There was; a good attendance; ' '. ' : • ;•••■■■

At tho fortnightly .mooting of the committee' of the Wellington Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals- the ,douations to the funds of tho society were acknowledged:—Mrs, HarriSj Mr. \)'. A, Kollow, and the Scoullar Company, Limited, 16s. each i Messrs. E. J. Finch, W. llMreth, F.'and W. Perkins, J. Myers, Jonos and Co., "B.N.,""and . "S.W.j" os. each; Mcsdames Ev&ns, M'Lcan, M'kenzie, and Forrest, and Messrs. J. Smith, W.-'Hawthorn, W. T. Grundv,' F.' Oastle, Stent and Co.; "R. tt. and Son," "E.8.H.,"- and "Friend," 2s. Cd. each; total, £5 lie.

'T suggest that, an' order should be made against; tho debtor, your Worship," oounsel for tho judgniont creditor in a c.uoj at the S.M. Court yestordny. Debtor ha'' explained that he could not make an uffor to liquidate the debt at present, as ho only earned £2 6Y, por week, out of which he hud to koop himself, o wife, and two childlren. In refusing -to make an order, his Worship remarked that he, personally, would not like to risk it on £2 ss. a week, and keep a wifo and two' children. "ThereCould bo ub smoking of cigars," ooncludod his Worship, meaningly.

Tlio police, it would appear, are mUier slow .to interfere in cases of cruelty to animals. At yesterday's meeting of the Society for the Prevention of, Cruelty to* Animals it was stated that tlio police had ordcrß not to interfere, except in oases of flagrant brutality. It Was' pointed out that' brutality might be variously estimated. What the socioty might define as flagrant brutality would not, . perhapS) bo so regarded by the police. Thoforogoing was apropos of a case which had been reported where an unfortunate horse had been, it was alleged, : brutally flogged with a heavy knotted whip, tho chairman asking whothor the police had not sedil the animal every day.

About £140 remains in hand from tie Oamaru rain-making experiments that were carried out last summer uildcr tho observation of tho Governmont Meteorologist (Uio Rov. D. 0. Bateß). In connection with the disposal of this money, the local committee wroto to Mr. Bates (in justice to whom it should bo stated that ho never had any faith in tho experiments referred to), and' cnat gentleman has replied to Mr. J, Patterson, secretary of the committee, that the money Would be well,s.pent on a local observatory, fitted with a rain gauge, therntomontor, suit.' shine recorder, and wind gauge, which would bo.the means in time of having, data on which the local motcorologioal conditions of tho district at all seasons of tlio year would, be fairly accurately known, Mr. Bates has further informed the oommittoo that the only Way to onsuro a supply of water is by conservation, as is being dono in Australia and other cduntries subject to drought or partial drought. r'■ . . Mr: Justice Copper's suggestion (mado in Court ye6terday) that prisoners should bo compelled to_ work so that 6ome of their earnings, whilo in gaol,, should go to those who had suffered by thoir misoonduot, was mentioned to-tho Hon. Dr. Findlay (Minister for Justice) last night. "Such a system Was tried in America." he remarked "and the work on which tlio. men.were engaged came into' competition with freo labour, and gavo rise to great opposition.- Both individuallabouror, _ and a contract system, under Which- the prisoners Wero-engagod by, contractors, were tried. Soino of-the best modern penologists agree that a prisoner should earn a certain-.amount' of money to givo to thoso dependent on him. .1 have consldoted the mutter fully, but I cannot see my way to iiltrodueo it at present. It Is too much iii advance of our present system; it Ill's far ahead of other rofoniis which are mbro important. I have con■u'.icred what has been dono in America, where the System has been tried with only partial success. I may say that it is in contemplation, but not with a view to immediate adoption." There Aro two elements In tea—tnolno and tannin j tkeine has the stimulating effeots for which wo alen* drink tea. Tannin produces dyspepsia, and Is, therefore injurious to tho syslcm. The percentage'of thoine in teas varies, and the variation is accordine; to the quality. Theiiio is tho attract from (he leaf, and pure tea muse consist wholly of loaf and littlo or nothing of fibre and dMt, Crescent Blend Tea is all loaf; it is exquisite in flavour, <riah\.and Of full strength. Crescent Toa ooj>Uvatea Ui« tml&ts, All jtuwrft, • at. a>. i per lb.

Simultaneous meetings of the supporters' of universal military training will bo held at 8 p.m. on Friday next at Newtown, Worser Day, Kell>UMo, Thorndon, and Pcttmo. Further particulars will bo found'in. our advertising columns. • '

In passing sentence upon a middle-aged man, who had pleaded guilty to bigamy, Mr. Justioo Cooper yostcrday remarked' that ho hoped that, solno day, Bomo system wodld bo introduced providing that men who wore imprisoned would bo compelled to work in such a way that the wages which they earned, whilst in prison, would bo do. Voted to the' maintenance of their wives and children.

Tho Rev, W. J. Mayors and "Dr. Barnardo's Boys" aro booked for a rotum visit to Wellington. They have scoured tho Town Hall for next Sunday evening at 8.30. ('Lifeboat Work on tho Human Sen," will bo the subicct, and photo-piotilros, shields, rind singing 'with bolls and cornet will help to make'lhe evening'attractive Mr. William Allan will preside. There will bo an entertainraent on Monday, when "Tho Most liftmarkablo Child Rescue Work in tho World"

will bo described. ■■' In reference to the question.at'issue bo. twoon tho City Council and tho Gas Company as to whether'or not tho company will bo allowed to. run'mains through-tho Town Belt, tho suggestion has been fiiado that tlio 16QUil'od permission should be granted o'a tho conditions that the hioins laid down by tho company would belong to the city, and that when the undertaking is pui-chawd tie increased business resultant upon- tho portni«Bion being granted should not oaUBo tho good, will of the concern tobo inoroascd,

Interesting papers arc promised For tha meeting of the' Wellington Philosophical Society, which will be held in the ltoininleu Museum.to-night. 'Professor Kirk wilrsubmit sonw! "Notes on Pond Lifo" and "Notes Mi the Rod Colouriaa Matter in Wellington Harbour." Mr. R. Coupland Harding's paper is entitled "Tho New Toy, tho. 'H&s Pendulum 1 ; Mr. Stead'B Fallacies, and Some Remarkable Facta." Mr. C. 15. Adams will exhibit and describe Darwin's Tidal AbaoUß and "The Millionaire 1 ' 1 calculating machine. Non-members'will bb admitted;' '.

■ Oat and dog Ufa was ono of tho topics of discussion at tho meeting of tho Socioty for the Prevention of Cruelty, to Animals yesterday. > Tho society's inspector, Mr. Seed, happened to roumrkt apropos of d opmplaint which had boon soot.in, that terriers and greyhounds, had a special' nrodilootjon fat cats—a hostile predilection, if tho'paradox may be permitted to pass. Dogs, no continued, w<jro 'certainly not humane iri their treatment of cats. A lady who ma present, stood up for tho cats. A eat, she Said, even a kitten, wbb a match for the average dog, which generally had to enlist the services of a friendly cur to .assist in the dispatch of the feline—which is small comfort for tho .cats. .''.

An interesting exhibition of lime-light pioturcs Was given nt tho Y.M.C.A, Hall by Mr. Driffield last night. when, he showed a sorics of fine' clotures of English castles and cathedrals, with views of, Paloetino, and sovoral song illustrations. Mr. W. Goudio sang ''Tlws Holy City." one.of. tho Bongs illustrated. Miss Steolo song "Wtin't You Buy My Pretty. Flowers," and Miss Ewon sang "Daddy," tho third of tho eong sorios. Mrs. Driffield contributed a recitation to tho programme, and Mibs G. Ewon recited. Tho object of ~this entertainment, was-to raise funds towards tho preparations for tho fete, which is to bo held by the La/dies' AuuMary on Juno3o arid July 1 for the Y.M.O.A. fund.

The inconvenience W which the B.M. Court is put, through solicitors making appointmonts, ■ and failing to keep thorn, was tho subject of roninrk by Dr. M'Arthur, S;M.,yesterday nioritiiig,.'whcn tho Court found itself with a licensing mooting, six defended civil cases, M\d a' long drimiual case to deal with. His Worship stated, with some warmth, that a speoial appointment had.been made for.; Monday, by a certain solicitor, but it had not been kept, and tho result was that of tho Court had been dislocated; and'tho whole of tho work' thrown out, it was a great inoonvenicneo, and his Worship took that opportunity of entering n protest against, gentlemen of the profession saying whpiv.thip Court should do its work. From this out, when an appointment was made, it would havo to bo kopt. If tho gentleman who made an appointment found that ho could not keep it,-ho would havo to get some one else to tako it for him.