LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 590, 19 August 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Arrangements havo been made by the City Engineer (Mr. \Y. H. Morton) for work to be started at the To Aro Baths next week. The principal work to be done ill completing the baths is tho carrying of new dressing sheds out to the newly-formed portion ot tho bath onclosuxo.

The funeral of the late Mr. A. E. Remington, M.l\, will leave his residence, 36S Trnakor! Road, at 2.30 p.m. to-day, for the Karori cemetery. i ■ .

A most enjoyable social was hold by the Diamond (Association) Football Club Lost night in tho Sydney Street Schoolroom. Tho hall, in which dancing took place, was very well filled, but not too crowded. Games wero provided for those guests who did not caro to take part in tho daucing.

The United Building Company (No. 1 fund) balloted for £10U0 last ovomng. Tho marblo, No. 21, was drawn. That group was represented on tho books by Messrs. F. P. Simeon, Jobnsonville (fivo shares), F. J. Courtonay (three shares), and W. H. Brown, Auckland (one share).

According to the Hon. 6. Fowlds, the proposed celebrations on Dominion Day, which falls on a Sunday this year, should not offend the suscoptibilitics of tho keenest advocates of tho observance of Sunday ns a day of rest. : As the combined church parade would bo hold in tho afternoon in the .openair, it would not interfere with thoso who desired to attend church in the morning. The only possible objection that could bo raised was that owing to the service, being hold in the afternoon it would prevent the cadets from attending Sunday school. Under tlio circumstances, lie does not think tniit exception would be taken in this regard, it had not yet been decided whether thoi'o would be any spaochoa by Ministers of the Grown.

Twelve Chineso arrived in Wellington ( by tho Sydney boat yesterday.

Colonel J. R. l'urdy (Now Zealand Medica.l Corps) is to deliver a lecture, to "N.C.O.'s" at the N.C.O.'s Club Room, Gi«risori_Hall, on Wednesday evening next, August 25. Tho subject is "Sanitation as applied to Troops in tho Field or Camp." The lecture should bo a very interesting one, and, from an educational point of viow, very valuable.

In the' Supremo Court to-day charges will be heard against Francis Ramsey (criminal offence at Otaki), Peter Williamson Tait (assault with, intent to cause actual bodily harm), Harry Leo (breaking and entering with intent to'eominit a crime), and William Brown and li-ichord M'Cann (assault and robbery).

Once more there are rumours of trouble at the Petone Railway Workshops. It is stated that tlie methods of working of a newly-appointed foreman are unsatisfactory from tho • men's poii:-t of view. Ho is stated to have set unskilled employees to do the work of tradesmen and vice versa, and that- in consequence discontent prevails. Several meetings have been held, and "passive resistance" was decided upon. Further developments may be expected.

The main' sewer in connection with tho new scheme of kewajje for- Island Bay is practically completed right up to Berhaiupore. The City Engineer (Mr. W. H. Morton) informed a representative of The Dominion that it is intended to discontinue the use of the ejector and let the whole of tho sowage from that portion- of Berhamporo which falls naturally towards Island Bay run to the bay, and thus save pumping in that area. The reticulation of all the side streets is now progressing, and in about a month's time it sboulcT bo possible for a number of houses in Island Bay to bo connected' up. '

Wellington's, smart corps of field artillery —D. Battery—is evidently in very sound condition. Tho real test .of a volunteer company's- condition is tho state of its attendance call, and a muster of 110 out of 11S, as was recorded at tho weekly parade of the Battory on Tuesday evening, must be regarded as eminently satisfactory, Of tho' absentees, three were away on leavo, leaving only .two ilien unaccounted for. Major Pethericl: was in command, and the corps was put through some practical work in fire discipline, l telephony, section gun drill,' and semaphore signalling. ActingCaptain Glendining, and Lieutenants Skelly and Anderson, were also on parade.

There was a battle royal between two firemen, who were being arrested on a charge of drunkenness, and one sturdy policeman in front of the Bank of New Zealand soon after 11 o'clock yesterday morning. The men of the stokehold wrestled and fought- stubbornly for some time,' one in particular offering violent objection to the constablo's invitation to take a ride in a hansom. After some little trouble the-man ill blue "produced the bracelets," and, single-handed, hitched the two men of the sea together, pushed and pulled-them along the sidewalk to the cab, Bundled them' in after a fight, and then entered and presided over them triumphant. It is curious to lioto how the sympathy of a crowd is almost always with the arrested. Whilo there was no demonstration yesterday, not one of a crowd of 200 or 300 present offered a helping hand to tho constable. ' -.'

Ono of the economists to whom Dr. Findlay has appealed .in support of his contemptuous rejection of Adam Smith's wagesfundtheory (it is pointed out by tho "Otago Daily Times") has criticised in the severest terras the selection of realised wealth as a basis of assessment for taxation.' "If my. income belongs to me," he says, "to .spend for my own. comfort and gratification, without any deduction for tho uses of the State* why should I lose my right, to any part of it because-I save it? To tax realised Wealth is to punish men for not-consuming their earnings as they receive them. Yet it is eminently for the public interest thatiinen should save of their moans to increase the c'apitnl of tho country." The'same authority argues that the rule of contribution according to income is, also, subject to gravo impeachment' on grounds' of" since it puts a premium upon self-indulgence in tho form -of indolenco, the waste of opportunities, and the abuse of natural powers.

; Strained relations existed between certain of t'he Wellington- delegates to the Waterside Workers' Conference yesterday. The filling of'slings \\ith heavier loads than tlio award allows-was under discussion, when Mr. F. M'Cann'stated that on ono occasion ho was "sent lo paddock"-.(discharged,) ior. refusing to unload a sling' carrying bags- of wheat weigjiiug 14cwt. 2qr. 71b., wliich was a weight ui excess ,of the awftrd. He reported tlio matter to the secretary of tho union, but no action was taken. Ho.wanted to know why. - Several delegates hereupon rose to order, and Mr. D.' M'Laren, M.P., who is seoret.iry of tho Wellington Whan Labourers' Union, was understood to Say, /'Leave it. to the officers." Tho chairman ruled Mr. M'Cann out of order. A littlo later Mr M'Laren rose and said: "I don't wish to refer to a matter which concerns Mr, M'Cann and his union, further than to say that Mr. M'Caun'a statement is absolutely incorrect."' Mr. M'Cann (stortnily): '"I beg your pardon." Tlie chairman: "I. shall take no reference to the matter."

The Timaru "Post" states that Miss Matthews, tho daughter of Mr, W, Matthews, a settler residing close to the Had. low estate, displayed remarkable courage a few days ago, Sir.' Matthews went:into a field in which a bull was kept. The. animal had a reputation for being unusually quietj but ou this occasion it ruined-its reputation and very nearly killed its trustful owner. No sooner had Mr. Matthews entered the field than the bull gave chaso. Mr.. -Matfthows is by no means slow of foot,- but before ho could gain a placo of safety the bull overtook him, and Mr. Matthews had tho unpleasant sensation of flying skywards.The bull awaited hi 3 return', and then 'in ; . mediately commcncod to gore him. Tho bufl was making short work of its owner, when Miss Matthews,' aroused by tho bellowing, rtishcd out of the ' house. With great promptness, she armed herself with a pitchfork, and made a charge at the bull; Shi drove the pitchfork into its flesh. With a bollow of pain it released its victim, and made a rapid retreat. Mr. Matthews was considerably hurt, but it-is expcctod !hat ho will soon recover.

Tho restrictions placod on tho landing of alleged undesirables, arriving in Now Zealand from elsewhere : acts peculiarly in, some casos." An ombrtrgo was placed'on, a recent arrival, from London by the Corinthic, tlii Customs' authorities, acting under _advice from tho Port Health Oflicer, refusing tft allow him to become a citizen of tho Dominion, despite the fact that lie had some time previously been a resident hero for some years; and has relations in the_Au9kland province. Acting oil behalf of this porson, an institution communicated with his brother, stating that before tho Customs authorities would permit him to land, two bondsmen (at £100 each) were j'equirod as a guaranteo that, the man would not bocome a burden on tho State. A brother arranged for tho bondsmen, and wired accordingly to Wellington, but the Collector of Customs has intimated to intorestod parties that such will not suffice, well-known residents of Wellington (the port of disembarkation) being required. This requirement makes tho effort to detain tho man in tho Dominion very awkward, as tho brother is a resident of a small, town in a remote part of the Auckland district. In tho meantime tho latter has been advised that his brother is to bo sent back to, England by tho steamer Otaki, and the only -nope ho has of detaining him is to come personally to Wellington and arrange for bondsmen hero. Another featuro of the case is tho fact that the man' was passed by the High Commissioner's Office, and giveal an assisted passage, and tho usual passport i issued to such nlo by the High Commissioner's office ondon. •