LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 535, 16 June 1909, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

It is stated that the coat of the Governor's and Ministerial carriages, which; are in course of construction at the Petone Workshops, will bo at least £0000. The postal authorities' advise' that the Moana, which left Sydney on Saturday; Juni> 12, for Wellington, has on board an Australian mail, which is due here this morning. Tho Fire Brigade received a call-at 3.56 p.m. yesterday to No. 69 Wallace Street, a liouso occupied by Mr. Alfred Harbottle. The outbreak, a email blazo, in a conl?}]c<i at tho rear of tho dwelling, was easily dealt with. It has not been definitely decided yet whether a- Conferonco of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals wiJl be held this year. Meantime the local society is communicating with the societies that met last year, asking their opinion on the matter. . . The Hospital Trustees have decided to'reply to an inquiry by the Wellington Industrial Union of Workers, as to tno cost per annum of a bed at the hospital for their members, that they would agree to take £40 per annum, providing that tho aggregate stay of the sick persons did,not exceed 62 weeks. In.the event..of no bed being so retained, the union's patients would be charged at tho rate of 30s. per week. An unusually largo number of applicants for relief camo before the Benevolent Trustees yesterday afternoon—a sinister testimony o tho conditions of ' tho times—and. wore variously-dealt with. At tho tail end of the procession camo nn unworthy half-dozen or so, who liacl manifestly "drowned their sorrows" beforo coming! They were insistent. So insistent Were two of them that the board lost patience and, sent for tho polioc, who relieved the situation.

, One thousand pounds is tho capital of one of the assisted immigrants by tie lonic, but none of the other passengers are quite so wealthy. Their possessions aro assessed at lower sums, ranging down to £25. The assisted immigrants include 42 domestics, 16 farmers, .2 farm labourers, 1 dairy farmer, and 20 wives (with families) who have eomo out to join their husbands. Of the total number, the High Commissioner's. office passed 65 (including 4 children), and. 110 more (including 48 children under 12 years) were nominal by relatives in tho Dominion;. Among tho unassisted passengers aro a number of miners. Tlie passenger list of tho. lonic, which arrived from England yesterday, shows a total of 392 landing here. -They proceed to destinations as follow: —Wellington, 2 first class, 19 second, 90 third; Auckland, 4 first, 17 second, 72 third; Napier, 4 first, 2 second; S-i third; Lyttelton, 1 first, 7 second, 51 third; Dimedin, 9 second, 14 third; Timaru, 1 sccoad, 2 third; Gisborne, 1 second, 5 third; Wanganui, 15 third; Greymouth, 15 third; New Plymouth, 12 third; Wcstport, G tiliird; Picton,-4 third; Bluff, 3 third; Nolson, 1 third; and Oamaru, 1 third. " I regret to report that, although the Stipendiary Magistrate inflicted a heavy fine for [overloading only a fow wcelts ago, it has not had the desired effect." Such was the coriiment of Inspector Seed at yes-' terday's meeting of the Society for tho Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. '"Last week," continued the inspector, "'four more persons wero convicted for tho same offence," He suggested that the City Council should only issuo licenses to carry 30cwt. The Wellington coal carts wero very laVge—much larger than was the case in Sydney, and Melbourne, where lighter loads wero carried, and no hills had to be.climbed. "la addition to overloading," added Mr. Seed, "the drivers are constantly.to be seen urging the horses along at top speed and trotting them back to the boat for another load of coal." Referring to the same matter later in the meeting, tho inspector said the overloading ill the city was simply disgraceful, but he considered that, if the City Council authorities took the matter in hand as they should, the trouble would soon bo stamped out. Ilj.was decided that the society should consult its solicitor and see if it could proceed in tho Court under tho City By-laws. "I will soon take a batch into Court if wo can proceed under tho by-law," was the inspector's concluding remark oil the 'subject.

"The advico of one so long familiar with Land Values, as Mr. Gardner, of Talmorston North, who is also well known to tlio Capitalists of Wellington, should be. of great valuo to Investors, Lending Institutions, and any one who wants to avoid mistakes in tho purchase of land."—Advt.' 8788 Thero aro two elements In tea—tnelno nnd tannin; theino has tho stimulating effects for which wo alono drink tea. Tannin produces dfspepsia. and is, therefore, injurious to tho Bjrstem, The percentage of theino in teas varies, and the variation is nccordinß to tho quality. Theino is tho attract from tho leaf, and pure tea must consist wholly of leaf and little or nothing of fibre and ■ dust. • Crescent Blend Tea is all leaf; it is oiquisito in flavour, rich, and of full strength. Crescent Tea captivate* tho • pidato. All grocera, at 2s, oer lb.

Yesterday Dotectives Lewis and' Cameron arrested a man on a dtairn of stealing a pair of trousers from tho shop-front of Mr. W. Schwarti. At to-morrow's meeting of the Crlr Council, Councillor J. P. Luko will move ma resolution (tho tert of which has already been published) respecting the advisability of duplicating the Wainui main, and Councillor FitzgeraJd will move in the direction of a financial adjustment between Wellington :uid Karori respecting tho taking over by tho council of Northland district.

Departmental red tape camo in for some remark at yesterday's meeting of the Benevolent Trustees. The secrotary reported that ho had latoly received, as "suggestions," proif sheets of annual return forms, which the Department of Hospitals and Charitablo Aid decided should bo filled in at the'close of tho current year. "These returns," said the secretary, "will cost something to get out. Last year we paid £9 for extra clerical assistanco; this year "he gazed at the "suggestion" and shrugged his shoulders. "If the officers of the Department had a littlo moro practical knowledge of our administrative wotk, they would not ask ua for such detailed information." 1 "I suppose,' 1 said Mr. D. Robertson, scowling at the "suggestions," "that they want to find some extra work for the Government employees." The Rev. W. A. Evans gave notice of motion that tho hoard consider tho rfiatter at its next moctin'2.

The fortnightly meeting of the Sydney Street and Northland Primitive Methodist Mutual Improvement Society was hold in tho Sydney Street Schoolroom on Monday ovening, when there was a very good attendance of members. Tho president, tho Rev. C. E. Ward, occupied tho chair, and during the evening Mr. A. Bceson delivered a very interesting and'instructive leoturetto on his trip through Russia in 1901, shortly after tiio comraonccment of tho Russian-Japane&o wair. The lecturer very fluently described his experiences jtvhen travelling from Berlin to Moscow, via Warsaw, and lie gave an excellent desoription'of two great Hussion towns —Warsaw and Moscow. The latter of those ho thought most interesting, especially as regarded its historic nature, and tho part which it played in deciding the destiny of Napoleon.' He also dealt fully witih tho life and environment of the Russian people. An interesting discussion took place afterwards, and a very hearty vote of thanks was acoordod to Mr. Bceson for his lecture.

The. report concerning the proposed tramway to Wadostown brought down at the last meeting of the City Council ivas before the finance Committee of the council yesterday. The report, which was submitted to the full council, was in.effect'that the committeo had recoivod a deputation of Wadestown ratepayers, . who asked that the whole of tho Highland Park Estate and Goldio's Brae be included in the special rating i.rea for the tramway whon the proceedings were being taken afresh, and that tho route of tho line' bp through Park Stroet instead of via Saunders Lane. The original suggestion of tho committeo was that tho first request of the deputation be acceded to, but that the council adhere to its decision to take tho line via Saunders Lane. After a lengthy discussion, it was resolved that the; matter bo referred back to the committee with instructions to consult with three residents of Wadostown and .one from Goldio's Brae, and bring down, another report. The^matter was further considered by the committee, and a ,report will be placed before tho full council

Tho meeting of tho Wellington Automobile Association, which was to have been . held last evening, lapsed for want of a quorum. Among other matters to have been that relating to the formation of an Automobile. Corps, for transport servico in time of war, was of more than ordinary interest. The secretary of the association (Mr. C. M. Banks) has been in- correspondence with the Primo Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) on tho subject, and in reply,to.a tentative suggestion received a memorandum to the effect that the Government would be pleased to consider the idea of forming an automobile, reserve corps in the various districts. That a volunteer automobile' transport,corps can. be of distinct service to the military authorities ,wa« .very, dearly; demonstrated; l in' a recent trial conducted by the rLohdon"Atitomobilo Club, when troops were successfully carried from London to . Hastings. There , are something like: 300. oars, in Wellington, capable'of transporting 1000 odd troops. A trial transport run,- say, from .the city to the forts; at Seatoun, should be an interesting event'. '