LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 820, 18 May 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities advise tliat the Uliiuaroa, which left Sydney on the 14th instant, has on board an Australian mail, and is duo in Wellington about 2 p.m. to-day. Burglars arc reported to have Bcoured the fruit innrkot promises in Allen Street on Monday night, with little or no reward for the trouble they were put to. Money was apparently the object of the marauders' visit, but all they secured was a few stamps and odd office requisites. According to the Hon. B. M'Kenzio (Minister for Minc=) tho coal deposits at Eotaruke may bo found to contain many millions of tons of valuable coal. Although only superficial prospecting has been carried on to date—viz., a scrutinf of creeks and gullies in the locality— between 2 and 3 millions of tons arc estimated to exist there. If it should turn out that the deposits include household coal which can ue profitably worked it should mean a reduction in the price of that commodity in this and other districts. Owing to the fact that thero is a fall each way from Ketaruke, which is on about the highest elevation on the North Islaud Mum Trunk railways, haulage should prove inexpensive. Mr. M'Konzie also informed a Dominion reporter yesterday that if tho high opinions already held ,in regard to the discovery were confirmed by further prospocting, the locality which was at present ordinary Crown land would bo converted into a coal reserve. Some months might olapso (ho added) before a full report in connection with the deposits was available. Upon Saturday morning, at 11 o'clock, a deputation of citizens who are interested in tho welfare of the Chinese residents will bring under tho notice of the Hon. 0. Fowlds (Minister for Customs) details as to how, in their opinion, the spirit of tho law against the use of opium is at present being evaded. A lusty sneeze from tie Magisterial bench was the forerunner of an outburst by Mr. W. E. Haselden, S.M., yesterday, against the chilly atmosphere of the S.M. Court. "I shall have to leave the bench," said his Worship, "it is injurious to health to sit iu a freezing chamber of this sort. We can't get a fire of any kind." For some days past, it may be mentioned, the hot air heating apparatus at the court has not been in working order. Just before tho 1 p.m. adjournment, the iciness of the chamber was again remarked on. Counsel asked if another case would be taken before the adjournment. His Worship replied in the affirmative, but, reconsidering his decision, he said the court would be adjourned, as lie was so cold that he must get out and get warm. He would also see if ho could not get tho court-room heated. On Friday,. May 20, the Postal Departnent will be open in all its branches Tom 8 to 10 a.m., and, excepting the \loney Order anil Parcels Departments, 'ram*7 to 8 p.m. Mails dispatched by iteamers leaving during the day will ilose at 10 a.m., mails by trains leaving jefore 10 a.m. will close at usual, find nails by the Main Trunk train will close it 10 a"m. There will not be any maile lispatched by trains leaving during the ifternoon. The lotler-carriers will make me full delivery closing at the Chiet ?ost Office at 0.45 a.m. Some notion of the mathematical tasks nvolvcd in marine architecture waf ifforded by certain statements which Mr, ffosking, K.C., elicited from an expert Yitness in the Duco insurance case yes:erday afternoon. Counsel: "You call ;his a simple calculation, although it :ook you all night and part of this norning?" Witness: "It is simplo bj :omparison. It is not complicated. II July involves a little work." A special meeting of the City Council will & held at 2.30 p.m. to-day to consider the question o£ purchasing 24 acre! Df land at Lyall Bay from the trustee: if the Crawford Estate. The trustee; made a conditional offer of the laud al £180 an acre. The council, after con sidoring this proposal, agreed to offei £3500 for an unconditional purchase, bul bhis suggestion was declined by thi trustees. ~, p For tho position of second assistani building inspector under the City Coun ;il, rendered vacant by the removal o] Mr. A. J. Patorson, of the corporation': engineering staff, to Gisborne, and the promotion of Mr. W. D. Murdoch to b( building superintendent, no fewer thar 33 applications were received. These wen considered by the By-laws Committei ypsterday, by whom the number was uar rowed down to six names, from which tin City Council at its next peoting wil be asked to make a selection. The buzz of conversation which in variably accompanies the opening of thi civil sitting of the S.M. Court drew fortl a short, sharp reprimand from Mr. W It. Haselden, S.M., yesterday. "Stop al this disputation and argument in thi body of the court," said Ms Worship who addod: "If you don't, I'll ndjoun the court' for half an liour, and you cai carry on. I can't understand how peo pie "attending any court of justice cai behave in such a way. The trial of Edward John Falknor against whom there are twelve charge of theft and five of forgery, will be com monced at the Supreme Court to-day The case is expected to last two days The only other cases to be taken thi week are those of James Cummings am John Fennessy, and of Edward Wilfrei Kelly, and Alexander Driscoll, tho charg in each case being assault and robbery Both theso cases will be taken on Satui (lay. Witnesses in all other cases hnv been discharged from attendance unti Monday next. The charges which n main after Saturday are:—John Honr Ireson, breaking and entering and tlieft Eberhnrdt Ferdinand Renner; arson; Pel cival M'Kernan Braitlvwaitc, theft Josepli Paul Davis, forgery; Marti: Haines, forgery; Robert Corkill, murder Alice Mary Aiistice, illegal operation John Morris Schapiro, failing to kee proper books. According to Mr. W. E. Haselder S.M., it is not necessary to come int court for a variation of a jndeinen't suir mons order. Tho judgment creditor, sai lus Worship, had tho matter in Ms ow hands, and could say to the debtor tlu lie could pay so much, failin? which 1 would require a writ against his bod; It was only a waste of time and mone; as well as a fruitful source of misrepr sentation, to bring the matter forwai in the manner that was sometimes don It is reported that the Land Taxatic League in London contemplate a pr pagaudist campaign in New Zealand, e: tending probably over two years, wealthy gentleman in London, who is strong siugle-taxer and Free-trader, ar who believes tho principles to be tl complement of each other, has-placed considerable sum aside for the campaig and New Zealand may soon expect to we come to her shores a lecturer, charic with the duty of< expounding the do trines of Free-trade and land taxation. Apparently there is little prospect the split in labour circles being mendi in the immediate future. It is now r ported that, prior to the annual Trad and Labour Councils' Conference, gathering will be held of representativ of all unaffiliated unions, for tho purpo of discussing matters affecting the welfa of the working classes. This conferenc it is further stated, will be held in W< lington. In regard to the unemployed demo stration at Duhodin on Saturday, Mr. E. MacManus, secretary of the Labonrei Union, said: "We could get a lot of the work on the tramways duplication Anderson Bay, only that the Gover ment regulations stand in the way of t work beginning. Mr. Cole (Mayor Dunedin) has assured me that ho h written to the Government to hurry i with tho matter, but so far he is n able to say when the work can sta: The least the Government can do is send sonic more men to the Catlins Eiv railway anil other works in progress not only in the interests of the une: ployed, but also in the interests of t development of the country. It is wint now, and the ordinary avenues of labo are closed. Tho Prime Minister has sn that he has the purpose of assisting I unemployed. We need him to do it once, ion can put it down from 1 that the Government reports are no c tcrion at all of the position. I kn, I have tried to find many men wo and could not succeed." Shampooing, Clipping, Hairdrcsnc Manicuring Fncc Massage, Treatment Falling Hair, and DandrufT. Combin made up. Natural Hair-pada. Mi liolleston (ovor Carroll's), 14 Wil, Street. 'Vhouo 1599.—Advt.

Speaking to a reporter yesterday, the Hon. K. M'Kenzie (Minister for Mines) said that only ono license had been granted under tho water-power regulations. The successful applicants wore (lie continued) the Waihi Company. As had been indicated by tho Prime Minister, it was now proposed that tho Government should deal with the development ut power by this means as a State enterprise. That would mean' that no more licenses would bo granted under the regulations. If the new proposals were approved by Parliament, tho Government would construct all tho necessary works in tho various localities, and sell the power at a reasonablo rental. Tho routine of hard work incidental to unloading a Home steamer—the Drayton ( Grange—was broken in upon yesterday . by the arrest- of a wharf labourer engaged on the vessel, on a charge of 1 broaching cargo. 2 Another attempt is to be made to in- c fuse interest in tho proposal to erect a memorial to Captain Cook, the famous i navigator, and a lecture is to be given < by Air. li. M'Nab, ex-Minister of Lands, i now on his wav from England. A meet- t ing to discuss *the arrangements in cou- t nection with the lecture is to be lield in i tho Mayor's room to-morrow evening. ] In a note from Paris the Hon. R. : M'Nab mentions that he has succeeded j in finding further evidence bearing on J i.ho French colonisation of Akaroa. In ( the Ministry of Marine he discovered a ' large bundle of papers which bad been sent to the Minister by the widow of . Commodore Lavaud, or on her death by ( somebody else. They were all the papers ( of Lavaud himself, with letters from L'Anglois, the captain of the Comte do Paris, and from several of the passengers of that vessel. A cursory glance over one • of Lavaud's own reports reveals the statement thaht on arrival at Akaroa they found the town placarded over with "the May proclamation." "This shows, says Mr. M'Nab, "that Hobson . sent Murphy down, not to declare sovereignty, but to nail up the May proclamation. What we want now, therefore, is not the flag which was "hoisted, but the hammer that drove the nails." The term of office .of members of the Legislative Council will expire either this month or next month. Fol- • lowing are the various dates;— Hon. Maliuta, on May 22; and the Hons.' w. Beehan, S. T. Thome, T. K. Macd'onald, and H. F. Wigrani, on June 22. Several vacancies in the Council through death have not yet been filled.