LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 812, 9 May 1910, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The thickest fog known for years descended upon Waitemata Harbour yesterday, and up till 6 p.m. there- was no sign of tho Sydney boat at Auckland. Whether-tho vessel managed to'get in by B,p.ra. is not known, and the arrival of the mails in Wellington this afternooa is problematical, A woman was arrested by Detective Hammond on Saturday night on a charge of stealing a gold-mounted boar's tusk bangle valued at £2 ss. On the motion of Mr. J. W. Macdo'nald, solicitor for the Public Trust Office, the Supremo Court has.granted probate of the wills of tho following:— Poter Harvey Curtis, of Thames, miner; Walter Whitnall Smith, of Napier, , accountant; Joseph Edwartls, of Wellington, bootmaker; Francis Albert Thomas, of Auckland, storeman; WilJinm Griffiths, of Dobson, miner; John Dalziel, of Bulcluiha M farmer. Orders to administer tho following estates wore also granted:—Thomas Dunmill, of Sydenham, contractor,'and Owen Gilliva.u, of Seacliff, miner. Tho Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand is convoning a conference to be held in Wellington on Juno 15. Miss Davidson lectured at tho Wellington Thcosophical Society last evening, her subject boijig "'The Teachings of Gautama Buddha," this being chosen owing to the fact that tho festival of the Buddha occurs in May. May 8 is known to the Theosbphieal Society ns the anniversary of tho passing of its teacher Madamo Blavatsky.■ Reference to the teachings, of'the Buddha helped to make up an address which was greatly appreciated by thoso present. Extracts from "Tho Voice of'.tho. Silence," - a book of mystical teaching by Madame Blavatsky, were read by Mr. Short, and this was followed by the funeral oration delivered at the crema-' tion of tho late leader of theosophy. Mrs. Williams read apart of Bhavagad Gita, the teaching of the immortality of tho spirit. ' '

Monday next (Whit-Monday) ■ will be a bank holiday. During tho two years which the party of boys trained at Dr. Barnardo's Homos spent in Australia, all the States of tho Commonwealth and also NewZealand have been visited. The Rev. W. J. Mayors, who has been in charge of tho party (says tho Melbourne "Ago"),'is returning to England at the close of the tour, but tho boys will remain behind. Six of them proceed to situations in New Zealand,' two to Tasmania, one remains ■ in Melbourne, and another has goiio to Perth. The main purposes oF the tour have been to bring the work of the Barnardo Homes more directly before the people of Australia, and to endeavour to obtain funds for a hospital which might form an Australian tribute to the memory, of the late Dr. Barnardo. As much as £17,000 has been collected, which is almost sufficient for the purpose. It has been announced by the Hon. R. M'Kenzio, Minister for Ptiblic Works, that the Government has decided to ' start the erection of public buildings at Ghristchurch very shortly, and he anticipates being able to call tenders within a few days. No licenses to sell Native game will be issued this year. Under the Animals' Protection Act of 1908,- provision is made that when there is an open season such season _ shall commence on May.l, and that licenses to sell Native game will not take effect till June 1. This year, however, the open season extends from May 14 to June 14, and the provisions of the Act regarding licenses to sell Native game could not apply. : ; Speaking to an Auckland "Star" representative on the subject of Sir Joseph Ward's' announcement at Winton, that legislation will be brought down next session to deal with the encouragement of the sugar beet industry, the Hon. T. Mackenzie, Minister for Agriculture, said that the difficulty in the.past has been to compete with the sugar beet industries of other countries, owing to the cheaper conditions under which it is produced. A Departmental report had recently been received, showing that whUc the climate and country were eminently suited to the growing of sugar beet, tho cost of production was too great to enablo successful competition with other countries. Ho was now going thoroughly into the question, with a.view to ascertaining if the facts were as had been stated. If it could be proved that the conditions wero favourable to the establishment of the industry in New Zealand, tho Government would legislate to assist in it gaining a footing.