LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 824, 24 May 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tho mails which left Wellington on April 15 per s.s. Moaua, and connected at Sydney with the Naples mail per s.s. Otway, arrived in London on the afternoon of May 21. Tho Public Sorvico Board of Inquiry appointed to investigate certain chargcs brought against Mr. Peter Heyes in connection with his administration of the Land and Income Tax Department commenced its sittings yesterday in tho Govornment Whips' room at tho Parliamentary Buildings. Mr. F. Waldegravo ("Under-Secretary for Justice) was appointed chairman of the board, whilst the othor members are: Professor Salmond (Solicitor-General) and Dr. Fitchett (Public Trustee). Mr. Stringer, K.C., of Christchurch, is representing the Crown, whilst Mr. Skerrett, IC.C., of Wellington, with him Mr. Napier, of Auckland, is appearing for Mr. Heyes. During tho sitting yesterday the evidence of a number of witnosses, including somo members of tho staff of tho Department, was taken. It is expected that the sittings will occupy fully- a week. A report of the proceedings is being taken by members of tho llansard staff. The total eclipse of tho moon, which will occur this evening, will bo chiefly interesting through its effect in enabling Ilalley's comet to be more clearly seen. The moon will be already eclipsed when it rises, at 4.22 p.m. Tho total phaso will begin at 1.3! i, and will last until 5.30. The moon will have emerged from tiio'earth's shadow by G. 52, and tho last contact with tho penumbra will bo at B.G p.m. Tho Mayor is arranging a citizens' farewell function to his Excellency the Governor, Dord Plunket, to be held, if possible, in the Town Hall, on June 1. Tho To Aro dock works aro still in a state of suspension. Mr. Murdoch M'Lean, of the firm of Messrs. J. M'Lean and Sous, contractors, told a Dominion reporter that tho last experiment made by them, which ho described as tho bucket method of depositing the concrete, was not successful, and a further ■experiment would bo tried. Speaking to a Doinjrrotf reporter last night, the Hon. Dr. Findlay said that tho new polico regulations would not bo ready for publication for somo weeks at least. Shampooing. Clipping, Hairdressing, Manicuring, Faco Massage, Treatment of Falling Hair, and Dandruff. Combings made up. Natural Hair-pads. Mxs. Rolleston (over Carroll's), H Willis fitreot. 'Phono 159D.—Advt,

Tho proposed reorganisation of the Crown Law Ollico is tho subject of a good deni_ of comment in local legal circles. Under tho schemo (it will ho remembered) tho services of the Crown Prosecutor and Crown Solicitor liere are to be discontinued. The lion. Dr. .Findlay, in outlining tho new proposals, also said: "Tho object of the scheme is to havo all the legal work of the Crown, both in connection with litigation, conveyancing, and advico to the various public Departments, done entirely in tho Crown Law Office." Asked last night by a Dominion reporter whether it was intended to cancel the existing arrangements with privato solicitors in connection with various State Departments, Dr. Findlay replied: "When X said that it was intended to transfer all Crown law work to tho Crown Law Department I meant 'all of it.' To put it iu another way: My aim, is to transfer all work at present done by the Crown Solicitor and Crown Prosecutor, and all other work done by any other solicitor or solicitors in Wellington which can bo described as Crown Law work to tho Crown Law Department." Although Dr. Findlay did not say as much, it would appear that all the "outside" work in question docs not como under tho heading "Crown lanwork."

Drill has commenced on H.M.S. Pioneer. Ten naval reservists joined the driliship at Wellington yesterday morning. Four are stokers and the remainder are seamen, who will receive instruction iu gunnery and other branches, the periods of instruction varying in different cases. It is expected that tho driliship will make Wellington her headquarters until about tho end jf July, but she will probably make brief visits to Napier, Gisborne, New Plymouth, Nelson, and Picton. Subsequently sho proceeds south to Lyttelton and Dunedin to drill more reservists.

A stone, thrown by a person concealed amongst tho trees on tho Thorudon Esplanade, inflicted a severe wound on the temple of ono of two suburban residents who were walking to catch the 9.45 p.m. train to the Hutt on Saturday. The wound had to bo dressed by a surgeon. The police are now inquiring into the happening.

In tho Supreme Court to-day, the following criminal cases will be proceeded with John Henry Ireson, charged with breaking and entering and theft; Percival Jl'Kernan Braithwaite, charged with theft; and John llorris Schapiro, charged with failing to keep proper books of account.

A conference of New Zealand chemists will bo held in Wellington on Juno 8 when representatives from all parts of Now Zealand will be present. The following subjects will como under discusSale of Poison Act; (2) Pharmacy Bill; (3) Chemists' Defence Fund; (1) Australasian Formulary; (5) Opium Act; (6) general matters.

At the meeting of tho Eastbourne Borough Council on Saturday, a letter was received from the Wellington Steam Ferries, Ltd., proposing that the borough should acquiro a part of its land for a scenic reserve and for tho purposes of a water supply. Tho proposition was not entertained.

Good work is being done by the now Salvation Army Boys' Home at Eltham, which has been open only about six months. There are at present 38 boys in the home, of whom 15 are fatherless, 7 motherless, 5 fatherless and motherless, and only 5 possessed of both parents. There is room at the homo for only five or six more boys. Brigadior Bray, officer in charge of the Army's social work, visited the institution last week, and was delighted with its successful conduct. The boys receive regular teaching and are under excellent discipline. "I could fill another homo," said tho brigadier to a Dominion representative, "with a class of boy whoso parents won't have him committed to a State industrial school, but would bo glad to place him during a few critical years under tho Army's discipline and regulation." The {brigadier explained that fathers who were unablo to give sufficient attention to a boy's training bccausc their employment took them frequently from home wero among those who would bo glad to avail themselves of tho sort of institution ho had in mind. At the Eltham Homo parents pay what they can towards the maintenance of their children, bnt the. total receipts from pareuts do not amount to more than one-third of tho cost of upkeep of the institution.

Tho work of removing tho mourning draping from the Government Buildings, othor public buildings, and private establishments was commenced 'yesterday. It is understood that the material for tho various public buildings, together with tho labour, ran into close on ,£2OO. Tho material is being stored by the Public Works Department, but it is doubtful whether much of it, especially the purple, could be used again owing to the datiiago which accrued to it through the rain.