LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 828, 28 May 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mails for the- Commonwealth of Australia and South Africa, per Moeraki, via Hobart, close at Bluff on Monday.

Speaking at TVhangaroi last night on tho Native land question, tho Hon. Dr. Rndlay prefaced his remarks by declaring that little, if anything, Kas known by the people in the South Island of the great and fertile territory north of Auckland. "To most southerners," ho said, "the North Island is practically bounded on the north by that great northern, city of Auckland, which bears its injustices with such heroic silence I" (Laughter.) Dr. Findlay added that few parts of New Zealand were less known, and in probably uo part of the Dominion was IhoTe room for more development and future settlement. (Applause.)

The second evening of the winter session of tho Artillery Officers' Institute took place last Friday night, a.t tho Garrison Hall- Captain Ellis gave a short paper on the evolution of ships' armour, finishing with a description of tho British H.M.S. Queen and, the Gorman battleship Kaiser. LieutenantColonel Chay'tor then gave a most interesting lecture on the "Tactics of the Three Arms," which evoked an animated discussion. The lecturer dealt with the special duties of each arm in cooperation, during both attack and defence, and illustrated his remarks with various examples from modem campaigns and the British Army manoeuvres.

The "Southland News" reports that, acting on Diver May's report regarding the prospect of raising the Waikarc, the syndicate concerned has abandoned the idea of raising her, and operations will in future be confined to breaking hor up and salving all marketable machinery and fittings. Diver May left for Sydney last week, en route for the scene nf tho wreck of the Pericles, off Capo Leeuwin. Diver Todd, a New Zealander, has been engaged by the Waikaro salvage party to work at tho wreck in placo of Diver May. He has just successfully concluded a contract in tho Molyn'caux, at Cromwell, under difficult conditions, as can be readily understood when it is remembered that tho Molyneaux is a snow-fed river, which Mows fast, and is almost, invariably dirty owing to the goldmining industry. The conditions prevailing at Dusky should be much more congenial from a diver's point of view. j

The sittings of tho Public Service Commission in connection with the allegations relating to Mr. Peter Heyes, Commissioner of Taxes, have not yet concluded. They v.-ere commenced, it will bo remembered, last Monday, and are expected to finish early next week. It is understood that the evidence of quite a number of witnesses has already been taken.

A number of drivers and owners of vehicles are very dilatory in the matter of renewing their licensos, and it is probable that some of the offenders will bo brought to Court by the City Council's inspector. ,

Tenders have been received as follow bv the Harbour Board for the construction, supply and delivery of n hydraulic wool-press:—-Accepted: Messrs. Gable and Co., £775. Declined: Messrs. AV. Crabtroe and Sons £785; Messrs. S. Luke and Co., Ltd., £789 10s.; Messrs. Robertson and Co., Ltd., £790. Engineer's estimate, £800.

Shampooing, Clipping, Hainirpssim;. Manicuring, Faco Massage, Treatment of Falling Hair, and Dandruff. Combings made up. Natural Hair-pads. Mra. Rolleston (over Carroll's). U WiUia Bteect. 'Phono 1609.—Advt,

, The next practical examinations of tho Trinity College of Music (London) in New Zealand, Tasmania, and Canada will 'be conducted by Mr. Charles Scliilsky, who has teen attached to Trinity Collego for several years and has conducted examinations in India, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Mr. Schilsky, who is a British subject by birth, received his musical education in Berlin, Paris, and London. He has always made the piano and violin his principal instruments, and lias met with success as a performer in several European countries.

Sentence will bo passed this morning on Hobert Corkill, found guilty of manslaughter, as the result of the shooting of Clnistenhcr Denis Smith, in Pipitea Street, Tliorndon. Tho Chief Justice will also sentence Percivai M'Kernan Braithwaite, found guilty yesterday of theft, and two prisoners, Albert William Foote, alias Jennings, alias Leighton, and Henry Gordon, committed from the Blenheim Magistrate's Court, who havo pleaded guilty to charges of burglary. Application will be made this morning for a re-trial of Eberhardt Ferdinand Eenner, charged with arson, upon whoso case two juries hive disagreed.

"Tho more lotter-boxes there are the greater will'he the correspondence," is tho argument of the Postal Department of Germany, which has proved it by experience. Mr. D: Robertson, Secretary to the Post and Telegraph Department, was struck with tho idea when on a recent trip to Europe, and intends to givo it a trial in Wellington. With this object in view a number of small wooden letter-posting boxes (about 30 inches by 12) havo been constructed, and are to be erected forthwith at different points between Clyde Quay and Lambton Quay. These row letter-boxes are painted a brilliant red, but the public is advised that it should not on that account mistake thutn for fire-alarms.

A Gazette extraordinary, issued yesterday, further prorogues Parliament until June 15. The Gazette notifying tho final prorogation will direct members to reassemble "for the control of business."

A lecture was given in the Boulcott Street Hall last evening by the Rev. Mr. Walker, of Auckland,. who took as his subject: "Man Limitless —His Power and Privileges." The lecturer, who is a member of the British Metaphysical Association, was closely followed throughout his discourse, and was accorded a vote of thanks.

The Wellington Philosophical Society has made arrangements for a lecture by Professor A. W. Bickorton, the Christchurch, astronomer, on some aspects of his astronomical theory. The lecturo will be delivered at the Dominion Museum at 8 p.m. on Monday, May 30, aid tickets may bo obtained through any member of the society. At the conclusion of the lecture it* is intended to form an astronomical branch of the Philosophical Society, and to affiliate it with the British Astronomical Association.

Next week the New Zealand Civil Service Association is to hold a conference of delegates, representing branches throughout the Dominion. The opening sitting begins next Tuesday evening. The main matters for discussion are classification, superannuation, and a proposal to establish a monthly Civil Service journal.

This winter's ambulance classes undor the auspices of the local centre of the St. John Ambulance Association are well under way. A home nursing class for women has been started, and the first of the regular lectures.in connection with it will be given nest Tuesday evening. It is intended to hold the annual meeting of the association next month, and Lord Islington will be asked to preside.

Inquiries are being made by the Colonial and Continental Church Society in Australia and by the S.P.C.K. in Now Zealand (says the "Guardian") as to the arrangements now made by the Bishops for the meeting, greeting, and helping the thousands of British Church people on landing after thoir long and weary journey. Both the societies named are most anxious to help the Australasian Churches to provide generously and adequately for their new children from the Old Country, and hope to aid in the provision of a lay agent at some of the ports 'of landing. Tho Rev. Allen Pain, the. Seamen's Chaplain at Sydney, states that the building of the new Home for Seamen there is in progress at a cost of £6000. "With £200 a year a second chaplain might be provided to care for the British immigrants. We are getting too many requests to meet and look up newcomers for our present staff to deal with." . i

On the motion of Mr. J. W. Macdonald,' solicitor for the Public Trust Offico, the Supreme Court granted probate of the wills of the following:— Patrick George Morrissey, of Dunedin, labourer; James Thomas Waffora, of Christekurch, gardener; John Wilson Gilpin, of Christchurch; gardener; Bernard Macintosh Horrocks, of Wellington, farmer; Charles Robertshaw, of Wellington, news-ven-dor; Isabella Sinclair, of Invercargill, dressmaker; John Pringle, sen., of Hokianga, settler; Jas. O'Hara Griffen, of Dunedin, insurance clerk. Orders to administer the estates of the following were also granted:—Alfred Jacobi, of Dannevirke, ironmonger; Alexander Scott, of Wellington, cook; Patrick Burke, of Westport,- contractor; John Ivory, of Opawa, Canterbury, gardener; James-O'Brien, of Palmerston North, labourer.

Last evening a largely attended meeting of the Wellington Railway Mu-. tual Improvement and Social Club was held at Thorndon. A very interesting lecture was given by Mr. G. A. Pearson (locomotive engineer) on "Steam and Steam-making and Valve Motion," this being illustrated with models and diagrams. Mr. Hutchings, president of the club, occupied the chair. The meeting closed with a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Pearson.

A public meeting is to be held at New Plymouth next Wednesday to test the feeling of the ratepayers on tho question of establishing electric tramways.

The annual report of the chief sanitary inspector to the City Council (Mr. Doyle) was before the By-laws Committee at its meeting yesterday afternoon. The report will be submitted to the council at its meeting next Thursday, and will, no doubt, be ordered to lie printed. Fire brigade estimates for tho year were also considered by the committee yesterday.

Interviewed by an Auckland "Star" reporter, Mr. A. M. Myers, a candidate for the Auckland East seat, said that he was seeking election as an Independent Liberal, and, if returned as such, lie would consider it his duty to refuse to move the Address-in-Reply if asked to do so. Further than that, with a view to making it ' perfectly clear that ho was entirely independent of any party, ho would, for the first session at any rate, decline to attend any Government caucus. He wanted freedom of action, not only to support the Government when definite Liberal principles were at stake, but to sen that justice was at times done to his constituents, and tho city ami province generally.

It is stated by a Wairarapa member of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants that the Minister for Railways has already expressed himself as being opposed to granting some of the more important requests made by the executive of the society. One of the demands mado is that tho "bank to bank" principle shall be apoliod to surfacemen.

It is understood that there is still a prospect of the engineers' industrial dispute hem gamicably settled to the satisfaction of both parties. Another conference, with Mr. I'. Hally, Conciliation Commissioner, as chairman, will open on Tuesday, Juno 7.

With reforence to the trouble which was reported to have arisen in connection with the election of the Brooklyn School Committee last month, when the new committee resigned as the result of certain allegations which had been made with reference to tho eonduct of the election, it is officially announced that the allegations made hare since been proved to be baseless. The Wellington Education Board, after due inquiry, and upon consideration of the reports and evidenco of tho scrutineers and 30 residents who were present at the election, has decided that tho proceedings were quite in order, and asked the new committee to remain in office.

Mr. P. Hally will visit Greymouth to preside at a Conciliation Council for the investigation of a dispute filed bj the Typographical Union. The date fixed is June 20.

A social held by the General Labourers' Union at Napier on Wednesday evening had rather an. unsociable termination. Towards the olose of the programme, says the "Herald," but while a few toasts were still unhonoured, the chairman considered it advisable to bring the proceedings to an. end, as a heated discussion had started in the hall with regard to labour matters, and he found it impossible to keep the gathering within proper bounds of control. On the footpath and .road outside the dispute was angrily continued, and eventually fighting, kicking, and "scragging" were the .order of tho night. Tho cKa-innan. received a blow on the back of the neck which wae meant for someone else, several men were knocked down, and early next morning passers-by noticed fiat tho footpath was smeared' with blood. Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt, although a number of those who attended the social will carry evidences of its extreme friendliness for soma days. An officer of the union, who had travelled from the south to attend fto gathering, returned home by the mail train with "one lovely black eye," as an accidentally-obtained . memento of the evening's enjoyment and harmony.

An arrangement was arrived at yesterday in the case H. P. S. King v. the Dannc-virke Publishing Company, Ltd., which will obviato tie necessity of the case being referred to arbitration. It will be remembered that, in the first. instance, plaintiff claimed £2000 for alleged wrongful dismissal, but. (Mr. Justice Cooper granting a stay of proceedings) the claim was amended to one of £233 6s. 6d., and the case was referred to arbitration. Plaintiff has now accepted a sum of £166 13s. 4d. as a solatium, and in fnfl satisfaction of his claim.