LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 804, 29 April 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tho postal authorities advise that the Wimmera, which left Sydney on Wednesday, April 27, for Auckland, is bringing an English- and Australian mail, which should reach Wellington per Main Trunk express on Monday, May 2. "We must be prepared to defend our soil against, the Asiatic peril," said the Hon. T. Mackenzio in his recent speech at Dargaville. "History reminded us how the Mongol hordes had conquered China and Kussia and massacred 181 million souls. How did we stand in that respect?" Ho was glad to read-that one of tho planks of the Commonwealth Labour party was a citizen army. Even now swarms of Asiatics were landing and "settling in the Northern Territory of Australia. We must have population. Lord Kitchener had given us the minimum necessary for one's defence, and his advice could be accepted or rejected, but it, must not be tinkered with.

A telegraphed report of a civil action heard at Woodville, and published in-our issue of April 21, was, we regret to learn, so worded as to do an injustice to Mr. E. Gallichan. The report of the case made it appear, that Mr. Gallichan, the defendant, was glad to accept a non-suit-, on the ground that the statute barred the action being brought, owing to lapse of timo. As a matter of fact, Mr. Gallichan informs us that he was prepared to defend the action on its merits. His contention was that details" of tho claim had not been supplied to him. He was quite willing to waive the technical defence that the action was barred by the Statute of Limitations, but this could not ho done.

"Some people say to me," remarked the Rev. H.' S. Woollcombe at the conference of ih'e Church of England Men's Society last night, " "Look at the splendid men we have in the Church.' Butt I say, 'No; look at those outside,' whom, we haven't got. The Church is extraordinaril yweak in the way it attacks men." Mr. Woollcombe went on to suggest ways in which this weakness could be remedied by means tof tho^C.E.M.S. A long list of tenders for the supply of coal for the New Zealand Railways is gazetted for the year 1909-10. The following are the sucoessful ■ tenderers for the supply of coal for North Island main lines and branches (a total of about 80,000 tons):—Westport Coal Companv, Limited, Taupiri Coalmines, Ltd., Blackball Coal Company,*,, Ltd., and Messrs J. A. Redpath and Son.

A little incident occurred at the naming of the children's creche i at Gisborne the other day, which proved that even a Prime Minister may make mistakes. Sir Joseph Ward had .to make a presentation of an umbrella to , Mrs. Carroll, after whom the creche was named, as a souvenir of the occasion. The handle consisted of a gold-mounted boar's tooth. Holding the umbr'ella aloft, the Prime Minister said; "This umbrella, ladies and gentlemen, as is only fitting, as showing that New Zealand is surrounded by waters teeming with fish, is surmounted by a shark's tooth." "A pig's tooth," corrected a schoolgirl of about .twelve years of age, who was. evidently better up in. the natural , history of her own country than the Prime Minister, and a perfect roar of laughter greeted the "mistake made by the head of the Cabinet.

The following list of candidates who have passed the Civil Service senior "examination is published in last night's Gazette, and is supplementary to that published in : the Gazette ..of February 24:—Harold ' George Davis, Greymouth; John George Johnston) Dunedin; Alexander Todd M'Caw, Wellington; Norman Henry Mackie, Wellington; Paul Desire Nestor Verschaffelt, Wellington. The places named are the examination centres. ■-'.'','

,' In regard to the decision of the Government to close Government House at Auckland, the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph -Ward) informed a reporter yesterday that provision would he made as occasion required in connection with future vice-regal visits to the northern city; The fact, that communication between Auckland and Wellington by rail had been established was a factor in connection with the decision of the Govtrhment in the matter. From an Auckland, standpoint, ho ehould i think it would be generally recognised ..that ■, ;■ the provision,-!'-! uponr such an area as that, of an .up-to : aate university was of more consequence than the'retention of a building whioh had been occupied.oh an average onlj\ about one month a year dming the past 15 or 16 years. He had no doubt that under the altered conditions the visit of his ■Excellency the Governor to Auckland would be more frequent than under the old system. In connection with the removal of the furniture, Sir Joseph said it was intended that some portions of it should be utilised in the new Government House at Wellington and what was hot suitable for that purpose would be utilised; in the various Departments.' The gift of Mr. George'Bolton for the entertainment of the children of St. Paul's Sunday_ School is and' not J620 as stated in yesterday's issue. ■'. '

At the conclusion of the delivery of a reserved judgment by Mr. W. B. Haseldcn.S.M., in the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, Mr. A.\ Blair, who appeared for tho plaintiff, asked his Woiship to fix the amount of security for appeal. The request is a common one in the Court, and. is usually granted., withunt demur, but a decided stand. was taken by Mr. llaselden against such applications being made indiscriminately. Tne application was frequently made, . said' liis Worship, as an improper protest against the judgment of tho Court, and of late perhaps twenty such applications had been made and nothing had come of them. At any rate there was too muoh of it, said Mr. Haselden. He did not object to appeals against his decisions, but he did object to counsel taking this means of saying, "I don't: agree with your. Worship. Mr. Blair, who pointed out that he'had never made a similar application to his Worship before, stated that he certainly had no instructions to appeal in this case, but if he did appeal the fixing of security now would obviate tho necessity of another > application to the Court. His Worship remarked that some counsel repeatedly asked that security, should be fixed when a case : went against them, and for the future he would not take notice of such applications. .They were quite improper. I won't use my uncomplimentary words," concluded his Worship, "but," he added decisively, after a pause, "it's improper." ' A deputation from the Johnsonville Town Board will wait upon the Hon, R. M'Kenzie (Minister for Public Works) this afternoon in connection with, its application for a grant for the main road. The question of the accommodation at the Normandale School and the matter of free passes for students _ attending university lectures in town, will be tho subjects of deputations to the Hon. <3. f Fowlds (Minister for Education) this morning. New regulations under the Government Life Insurance Act are gazetted. A sitting in Chambers will be presided over by Mr. Justice Cooper at 10.30 this morning. Mr. Justice Cooper will preside over a Banco sitting in ■ tho afternoon. Mr. Justice Edwards will hear this morning the cases of Wade and Co. v. Hardley and others, and Briscoe v. the Auckland Harbour Board.

The Rev. H. S. Woolkombo, at the Ohurch of England Men's Society gathering on Wednesday evening, mentioned a . case. which had come under his own notice, where a, layman, in leading prayer at a meeting, mentioned specifically a number of hotels which lie thought ought to be closed, as well as some others which might be left open. The case of a clergyman who was rather verbeso was also alluded to. At a prayer meeting where the-' present Bishop of London was in attendance and when the prayer had run to considerable length and appeared to be still far' from finished, the bishop ondeavourcd to apply tho closure with an "Amen." Finding, however, that this did not havo tho desired effect, ho at last rose, from his knees, and gave an explicit signal for tho termination of tho prayer. "It was well that ho did," added Mr. Woollcombo, "otherwise wo would not have got homo that night." • ■

An appeal, Jim Young v. the police, was mentioned before Air. Justice Cooper yesterday in the Supreme Court, and hearing was fixed for Monday next, at 10.30 a.m. Mr. T. M. Wilford appears for Toung, and Mr.' M. Myers (Crown Solicitor) for the police. The • appeal is in regard to a conviction on a charge under the Gaming Aot.

"Do let me have an opportunity of getting the information I want You gentlemen will not allow a magistrate to speak at all."—Mr. Haselden, S.M., to counsel who' was proceeding to interrogate a witness while the S.M. was questioning him.

During '.a discussion on motor-car accidents at the S.M. Court yesterday, Mr.vHuselden, S.M., recalled a case in which a witness had volunteered to lie down on a macadam road and allow a motor-car to run over his leg : if his Worship gave him £5. Mr. P. W. Jackson suggested to \tbe Court that the leg may have been . a cork one.

According to the Nelson "Evening Moil," Mr. W. G. Jacobson has reported to the Collector of Customs the discovery of wreckage at a point on the West Coast between Heaphy River and Rocks Point. The wreckage, which consists of hatches, combings, keelson, and other timbers, has certain marks and numbers on it which connect it unmistakably with tho little steamer Ngunguru lost some few years ago. The Marine Department has received a report on the discovery. An by sale was. held by. the United Building Society last evening. An amount of £1000, sold on account of No. 1 Fund, realised as under :-£SOO, 321 per cent; £200, 32 per cent; .£3OO, 30 per cent. A sum of J:1000, offered on behalf of the No. 2 Fund, was sold as follows:—£soo' at 35 per cent; £200 at 33 per cent.; £300 at 28 per cent. .

Mr. Walton, who has charge of the mission work ■in : Taranaki Street, in connection : with St. Peter's Church, stated last night, at the conference of the Church of England Men's Society, that there were 46 cases of juvenile crime before the courts in Wellington during the first three months' of the present year. He knew of no other city of the same size where there were so many. He hoped the local branches of the society would take up very seriously the work of starting a boys' home.

The weekly' meeting of ■ the Wesleyan Literary and Debating' Society held at Wesley Church Buildings last night.was devoted to music and elocution, when an excellent programme was presented and there was a good attendance. Mr. Fuller presided. A dialogue was given by the Misses Dix, and recitations by Miss Luke, Mr. Camming,-Miss M. Dix, and Miss F. Dix. Mr. Travers and Miss Rogers sang solos and Madame Mueller secured a very hearty encore for her song. Miss Mueller and Miss Baker also had to' repeat their item». . , '.

A sub-committee : of the City Council met last night to consider petitions against the new names proposed to be given to certain' streets. The sub-com-mittee will report to the By-laws Committee to-day, and the matter will come before the council at, its next meeting. ! Some months ago it was announced that' ,a, supplementary list of appointments • to the commission of the peace would,shortly bo issued. Upon inquiry in official quarters, yesterday, it was stated that the list is not yet ready.',for publicatien.

Mr. T. E.' Taylor, M.P., has written to the Minister, for Public Works, stating that he has had numerous calls lately from men desirous of obtaining employment, and that the winter is sure to decrease the volume of work , available for both casual and skilled labour in Christchurch and district. He urges the necessity for at once commencing the erection, of the new Custom-house buildings in Cathedral Square. If economy in the expenditure of public money was the only consideration, he adds, the work should be gone on with immediately, but the need for action is tho more urgent when tho prosecution of a necessary public work will both save money to the country and provide employment for a large body of skilled and casual \lahour. Mr..'Taylor's letter .to the Cabinet concludes: '1 shall be glad to hear that the improvement in the Government revenue, which has taken place since last wjntef .removes all obstacles to your giving effect; to-this 'request.".