LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 781, 2 April 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The postal authorities advise that the Wimmera, which left Sydney on Thursday March 31, for Auckland, has on board the newspaper portion of the English mail, also an Australian mail, which is due here by the Main Trunk express on Tuesday next, April 6.

The date for tho magisterial inquiry into tho Duchess-Cobar collision will probably bo fixed this morning. Tho Mann© Department has the question of tho appointment of .nautical assessors under consideration, and an announcemont will be mado as soon as tho dato of tho inquiry is known. The new council of the Chamber-,of Commerce held its first' meeting last evening, when Mr. H. C. Tewslcy was elected president/and Mr. Goo. Wilson vice-president, for the ensuing year. Mr. E. E. Sinclair was elected a member of the chamber. In connection with the visit to Wellington of Dr. and Mrs. Henry and Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Potts, a public welcome has been arranged, under the auspices of the Wellington Ministers' Association, to be given at Kent Terrace Presbyterian Church on Wednesday next, at 8 p.m. The time-table of services to be given at the. Town Hall, April 10 to 28, is advertised. > Inquiry made last evening from the detective branch of the police elicited tho information that no definite'trace of the lost "Leader" picture has yot'been discovered. ■'.'■'''. A cricket social wae held last night at the Boys' Institute, at which the trophies won during the past season were presented. A number of the Institute Boy Scouts were among the guests. Medals were presented to B. .Miller, best bat, and best all-round player in the senior team; to G. Cunningham, best ;bat, and W. Garbitt, best all-round player in the junior A team; and to Leggat, best bat, and A. Leggat, best all-round player in the junior B team., The trophy for the best bat in the club was presented to G. Cunningham of the' junior A, team. Thanks were accorded to Mrs.: Miller and Mrs. G.. Richards for the way they organised the social.; ■■ . :'■■'. A newspaper-runner who appeared to answer a; charge in the Police Court yesterday . complained of deafness, and appeared to have some difficulty in following the proceedings. Certain portions of the evidence had to be repeated in loud tones, that ;he might properly understand the. position of his case. ■When 'the magistrate , had weighed up the evidence agajnst the accused, and expressed ■• his intention of giving_ ihim the benefit of the doubt which existed, the man stood still, staring thoughtfully acros3 tho court, and there' was no trace of gladness in his look. The magistrate glanced at him for a moment, and remarked:' "Well,"I really believe you are deaf!" (Laughter.) Then, leaning over towards the accused, he called out: "You may go!"- The old man's face brightened, and he left quickly., . . ~V. . . , ■ ■'■■':■..' ■■

At the meeting of the North Canterbury , Hospital and Charitable Aid Board yesterday (wire j our special'correspondent) Mr. J.- D. Hall suggested that a copy of the Hospital Institutions Act, under which the. board- was constituted, should be. obtained for ; each member of the board. The secretary stated that the Inspector-General; of Hospitals had mentioned this matter in a letter to him, and had'stated that copies of the Act-would be provided at 2s. 3d.'_each..- Mr.. Hall' objected .to: the imposition of any charge, to the board, and it was decided to write: applying for .copies .of the statute. ■~ ■, :'•.-•',..:.,

] Sentence • will■-■ be' passed.'.- on two prifsonors'.this, morning by ' the-, Chief "Justice, Sir'Rob'ert , Stout.. The prisoners are Raniera Tβ Hau, who pleaded guilty to breaking and entering and theft, at Wairoa; and Thomas Williams, alias ■Wilson,;;alias Richard Roberts) who pleaded .guilty, at Wellington- to a charge of indecency. -The Chief Justice will also dispose of three, civil, matters.

Says, the Auckland "Herald" prevailing land hunger is thus' referred to' by our Papatoefcoe ' correspondent, who has recently been on a tour of the country between Auckland and Wellington : "In Wellington, right through the Manawatu ; and up the Main Trunk line,' in.conversatkra' with very many commercial men, I was particularly Btruck with the genuine desire—l might say it amounts: almost to a 'craving'— that the business man has: to get out of business and on to the land. Whatever the lot of the settler might be,' there' is undoubtedly a: great desire .on the part of the.city man to try the country. In nine cases out of ten the southern man is waiting the opportunity that mil be afforded when ; the large areas of Maori lands in the north are to be opened up. With its climate and soil,there is a general impression that the country around Auckland will show a fair return for labour, and undoubtedly the crux of the. whole matter is the fact that : at present our land is tobe had at a reasonable price."

The report from Rotorua that the launch on. Lake Rotoniahana sunk, in the storm on Wednesday night is. not confirmed. Mr. Robieson, Director of the Tourist Department, told a Dominion reporter yesterday that if such had been the case : he would have been informed at once. In the event Jof the loss of the launch traffic over the lake would be considerably interfered with, as the only other means of transit are rowing-boats. Mr. Robieson also discredited another portion of the .message which stated that in consequence of the sinking of the launch a party, who were doing the round trip, had to walk round the lake to Waimangu. Ho pointed but that to accomplish that portion of the journey would occupy the greater part of the day, and the route was almost impracticable. . , ■ ■ The' valuer 'for! the Newmarket Borough Council (Mr. J. G. Culpa'n) has raised .tjio value of every single property in iNeivmarket for rating pur--I poses, and has had the'unique experience of not having any appeal made against his valuations. . ! ; In a letter,to Sir Joseph Ward,-Ad-I'airal Sperry, writing from tho United States Naval College, at Newport, i with respect to the visit to New Zealand of tho American fleet, says: "Lam more, and more, convinced that the 1 visit of the.fleet with so many of: our intelligent young men has promoted an intelligent: ■'. friendship,. : with . lasting I effect." .-.■■• ... Admiral • Ijichi, of tho Japanese squadron now visiting Australia, replying to the Sydnej Chamber of Commerce welcomo last week, said he was deeply impressed by this kindly reception; "not only," ho said, "because it is pleasing to me personally, but be-* cause I see in it an indication of your goodwill , towards my country. . I see in it an. indication of your desiro that tho commercial and political relations' between Great Britain, yourselves, and Japan may remain always friendly. 1 see in this representative) gathering of your merchant organisation an assuranco most gratifying to the people ol Japan, that you recognise the unity of our interests, and that you dosiro V strengthen tho bonds of intercourse which have so happily grown up between two great allied nations." Reserved judgment will he given by the Chief Justice on Monday in tho" cases Riddiford v. Foreman and the Rhodes Trustees v. the Commissioner of Taxes.

Shampooing, Clipping, Hairdrcsslng, Manicuring,: Face Massage, Treatment of Falling Hair and ■ Dandruff, Combings mado up. Natural Hair-pads. Mrs. RoUeston • (over CarrolTa), 14 Willie

It is currently reported that the; Eltham Butter Box Company intends removing its manufacturing plant to one of its bush sites on the Main Trunk railway (saye the "Argus"). If this i's the case, Eltham is.going to lose one of its most important industries, and will suffer a loss in population that will not easily be mado up. . The. wages fund that is distributed in connection with the Butter Box Company is an important factor in. the business of Eltham. : .

The rabbit season in Southland 1 has this year been an exceptional one, according to a gentleman who is interested in the export of frozen samples of Now Zealand's most prolific pest. On one day at a southern .'freezing works 1300 cratesj each crate containing from 2<l to 28 rabbits; were delivered, and even this record was eclipsed when another day saw a total of 1400 crates received. .Returns like these (save, Y southern exchange) argrie a.very heavy mortality aiaong the.bunnies, and also substantial cheques to the trappers; who receive from 6d. to 7d. per pair. The dry weather during the spring and early summer was all in. favour of the rabbits being exceptionally .numerous, as wet weather is one of the most potent agents in the destruction'of the young, by causing the flooding .of-the nests. \ '"' ■ ■■■ ■■•" ■■/. ■ ■■-■ .■ ■ ■ ■•.-■■•.

A rare note of alarm as to the dan. gers of premature burial is sounded by the Rev. A. M. Mitchell, vicar of Burtonwood, in the parish magazine. "For a very cpnsidorabe number," , ho says, , cemeteries have proved not sleepingplaces for the dead, but waking-places tor the living. Syncope, concussion, catalepsy, hysteria, trance, are feigned forms of death, and arc responsible foi burial of the living with tne dead. The number of .prematurely interred pro-: bably is a little exaggerated, yet it ia much larger than is.generally admitted. Some estimate the average of 2000 a year. -If such approaches anywhere near the truth,' it signifies appalling probabilities as regards ourselves. Premature burial, is too. awful a danger to be trifled with; and na trouble .should be "deemed too great, no pains should- be spared; to thoroughly sift every case, however dubious the gruesome story may seein to be."

The question,. "Are .you a;iteetotaller?" was put to aprobationary constable, who appeared as a witness in a sly-grog, case heard yesterday in the Magistrate's Court.. "I never told'yon so," waß his reply. "Are you not the man I knew in Petone?" cross-examin-ing counsel went on. ."Yes, 1, - admitted the probationer. "I thought I remembered your face," said counsel: "you are teetotal, then?',' : "I am, and I'm not," replied the • witness, "V "Then 1 I understand," said : the lawyer, "you are the kind of man who does ;noj>: touch liquor ordinarily, but will.not refuse to drink whisky in the cause of duty?" "That's just - it," replied - the probationer, conclusively, when the .laughter in the public gallery had subsided. -

As many people have wondered just what Lord Kitchener thought of the New Zealand Volunteer Force .as - ma-. 'terial for building-up an armyj : a state-, ment made, by bis Excellency-,the Go-', .vernor at Port Chalmers on Wednesday ■ evening is interesting. "I had.the pri--yilege of spending a week in.tlie company: of Lord Kitchener," 'said. Lord Plunket, ."and he told me many; things' which I would like to tell you, but-which I may not repeat., But: one thing I will say. Lord Kitchener regarded the troops he saw in different places in this country as being material for absolutely magnificent soldiers. ■ In: some respects he thought \them • almost perfectly, .adapted .to, the 'purpose in: view. He. . said ..that;. if these men were strained as they oiight : to be trained, under his or ' some '. similar; 'scheme/,. -New- Zealand : wouli .then ha-ve force that-might' cope with .-'a -highly:.trained rani;cipHned'forpe; thatmightHbe seiifcageinst; the Dominion from any- part; of;-the world. Is -not any self-sacrifice worth while'-if,-- , -it justifies an!opinion liko that?";.:;;■.;,,;,U'~^'^: : '•■ llr.' and Mrs.. S. StendeniVof\Ruapuhaj. Feilding,' '"returned home ; 'from Sydney '.to-day. (writes bur ■ Palmerston correspondent) after, having had'; a most pleasant outing.. Mr. ..Standeii judged the Ayrshires at the Royal.Agricultuial Society's Show,; and in reply to a. query .'said it was :a record show in every respect. On Good Friday, no fewer than. 78,000 people were registered on tbe turnstiles; : the current year:a sum of.£Booo was spent on stands and stock pavilions, which will give, some idea of-how..the. society'is progressing." Mr., .Standen says the Ayrshire and Jersey cattle are increasing and improving , very;. fast, but Shorthorns, on the other hand, are at a standetill, 1 even if they, are not ■going back. There is grandeiand and -. grass slope accommodation: for,;fortythousand, and Mr. Standen said'it waa a great sightwheu these, were full.' ',';;"

'According to. -the:-.. "Hot, Lakes Chronicle" tip tourist, traffic.' to,,'. Rotorua during Easter constituted a. record. It states that the. inflow 06 visitors commenced on the 23rd, when, fully 400 arrived by the; express.' The train on the 24th contained 900 pas- ; sengers. On the special which' left Auckland for. Rotorua on the 25th, there were a large'number of passengers. Then, again, the express on the 25th carried 500 passengers. Altogether about 2000 people arrived in Rotorua between 'Wednesday and Saturday of last week. .The "Chronicle" adds: "It is to be. regretted that more frequent opportunities are not given to the.residents of the Dominion to visit its wonderland,; as we feel quite sure thousands would be pleased to . com© to-' Rotorua were, ■there facilities in the way of reduced' fares, and the Department would. benefit by the increase of passenger trafficExcursion trains every three months might at least be tried as an esperi< ment.". .- ;' ... : < '- .". The first meeting of contributors to the' Wellington Ladies' Christian Association, under the new Hospitals; and Charitable Aid- Act, will be held atthe 1 Chamber of Commerce at 2 p.m: on Tuesday next,- for the purpose of electing nine trustees, and also a chairman. Meetings of contributors under the new Act' are also announced for 1 the Wel« lingfcon Convalescent Home (No. 1 Corninitteo Room, Town Hall, 2.30 p.m.), and the Society for the Relief of the Aged Needy (No. .1 Committee .Room,' Town Hall, 3 p.m.), on the same date (AprilS). ; ■ / ; , :"■ ■■■ ■• The arrangements for the literary, and. musical , competitions,' to be held in Christchurch, are now well in hand. The '■ competitions' will bo hold :in His , Majesty's Theatre, commencing on May 17, and will continue daily until May 27; It is stated that a large'number, of'entries are now coming to hand, and; tho character recitals and -dialogue introduced for the first- time in New, Zealand are being well supported. The choral contest wilt also be a success, as, in additioi to local choirs, three choirs from outside Christchurch will compete. Competitors are requested to note , that no entries will be received' after April 11; Any information jequired will be forwarded on application, to the secretary, Mr. G. W. Jenner, 176 Colombo: Street, Cbristchurch. Colonel R: J. Collins told a good,story against himself at the annual meeting of the Savage Club last evening. The occasion was tho presentation years ago at the Drill-shed of a long service medaL to Major M'Credie, who was leaving Wellington for Gisborne. :At the termination of the' little ceremony tlic band struck up. Colonel Collins called the company to attention, and brought his hand! up to the salute, at the same time looking daggers at the other officers' who remained passive for what he considered a dereliction of martial etiquette. Hβ did not learn until the next evening that the tune, which he had imagined was the National Anthem, was reallj -'•!EaE-ie!&A-jolly, good fi#<W*