LOCAL AND GENERAL,

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 830, 31 May 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL,

According to our practice wo print on another page of this issue, in order that our .readers may not bo penalised, two advertisements which have been supplied to other journals by the Government, but which, under the Government's policy of boycott, wero not'supplied to The Dominion. One gives 'all- the train arrangements for the King's Birthday, and the other calls for tenders for the manufacture of haversacks. Next Friday will be observed as a Bank holiday throughout New Zealand. A. personal reference was intioduced by Professor Bickerton towards the conclusion of his lecture on "The Third Body" given before the Philosophical Society Inst evening. The professor had expressed regret that. his library of scientific books was not so large as lie would like to have it, and ho wont on to give the explanation. "When you become tainted with a theory," he said, "that causes you to be called a faddist, so that you are not regarded as fit to be on scientific committees,'or on the Senate, or to teach boys the elements of science, your purse tightens and tightens till the only thing to do is to throw the poor unfortunate purse away because- there is nothing to put in it." In view of the existence of two cases of supposed bubonic plague at Auckland, the jHealth Department has asked the City Council to impress on householders, through its inspectors, the adyisableness of destroying rats. The council's officers do not consider that- there is any causo for alarm, but it is suggested that householders should bo careful not to deposit refuse elsewhere than in proper metallic receptacles, and to do nothing that might encourage nils. If they will go further; and set traps or poison for tho vermin, it will be jiist a≤ well.

Tho Government has accepted the services of the Chatham Islands Defence Rille Club. Waitangi is to be tho headquarters of tho now institution. Some of the members of the club who have had military experience have offered to supervise gratuitously the training of the cadete on the islands. The formation of the club marks the inauguration of the military defence movement on the islands.

No tenders have yet been accepted in connection with the requirements in tho matter of' curtains and carpets for the new vice-regal residence.

There are still about 15 charges ,to bo preferred against John Joseph Powelka, and a commencement is to be made with them to-morrow. Detective Cassells, who in in charge of., the cases, was in Wellington yesterday, but was to return to Palmerston .this .morning.

A Gazette containing a notification by tho Speaker with regard to. the vacancy for Auckland East, owing to the death of Mr. Eaunie, was published last night. It is not 'known when the Speaker will issue his warrant to the Clerk of the Writs, but it is probable that this will be done within the next day or two. The poll will take place about 11 days after the issue of the writ. In the event of a single ballot the writ will be returnable within 21 days from the date of its issue, but if a second ballot be found necessary an additional 19 days will be allowed.

The position in regard to the observance of the King's Birthday is occasioning a good deal of discussion. It has been announced that no holiday will be observed as far as the public offices are I concerned, llany employers, however, will do** their establishments, but otliers, who are not governed by an award whie.tt makes the day n li<ilidiiy in their trade, intend to remain open. It will bo remembered that a Bill was Introduced two seasons ago to secure uniformity in regard to holidays, but noIhiiiit camo of it. Speaking to a reporter yesterday on the subject, the Hon. J). Bnddo, -Minister for Internal Affiiirs, stated that he was at present dealing with the subject with a view of fornmlatin? some definite proposals tlint would as far as possible obviate the "mixed" system of holiday observance, which interfered with business and was highly unsatisfactory. No further plague developments are reported from Auckland. The Hon. D. Biiililn lo'.d our representative that tho health authorities at Auckland were confident that tho disena- would not spread further. From the outset the area in which the affected patients r«=ido lias been isolated, but it is not considered necessary to take extraordinary precautions. Shampooing, Clipping, Hairdressin?, Manicuring, Van Massage, Treatment of Falling Hair, and Dandruff. Combings made up. Natural. Hair-pads. -Mrs. Kolleston (over Carroll's), 11 WillU Btrcst. Thono 1503,—Advt,

A charge of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm is to be preferred against a man a.t the S.M. Court this morning, as a result of a struggle whish (it is alleged) took place in a cab yesterday afternoon, when Constable Squires was conveying a man arrested on a. charge of insobriety to the Lambton Quay police station. ' It is alleged that tile man, who is a foreigner, drew a knife and made as though lie were going to attack the constable with it. The officer guarded himself, and the result was that the blade found a resting place in the prisoner's leg. A deep wound was inflicted, necessitating the attendance of Dr. Henry. The prisoner also inflicted a severe wound on one of his finger^.

Although the Civil Service Commission, which is inquiring into the charges made against Mr. Peter Heyes, Commissioner of Titles, sat every day last week, only about one-half of the allegations have so far been dealt with. Mr. Skerrett, K.C., left for Auckland yesterday to represent tho Auckland Harbour Board in an action in the Supreme Court, so that Mr. Ileyes will now be represented by Mr. Napier alone. By leave of tho Commission, Mr. Skerrett addressed its members on the case on Saturday so far as it had gone. Mr. Napier will, however, be permitted to review the whole of the facts upon the conclusion of tie taking of evidence. It is reported that a large number of witnesses will be called on behalf of Mr. Heyes. The inquiry is expected to last until the end of the present week.'

The first case of the long-delayed civil sittings will be heard to-day, the parties being James Alexander Hannah (plaintiff) and Charles Nodine (defendant). Tomorrow the Jast ense of the criminal sessions will be disposed of—a retrial of Alice Mary Anslice upon a charge of performing an illegal operation.

A public meeting to bid farewell to the Governor will be held in the Town Hall, on AYednesday next, at 8 p-m. The Garrison Band (under the direction of Lieut. T. Herd) will play appropriate selections, Mr. E. J. Hill and Mr. B. Gardiner will provide musical items, Jtr. Maughan Barnett -will preside at the grand organ, and Mr. D. A. Kenny will act as accompanist

.Speaking at Whangarei on Friday nigjit, the Minister for Justice (Hon. Dr. Findlay) said that the Government, in accordance with the provision contained in last year's Financial Statement, was at present negotiating for the purchase of Maori land in the following districts:— Wairarapa, 20,000 acres; Hawke's Bay, 20,000 acres; Wairoa and East Coast, 30,000 acres; Taupo, 20,000 acres; Bay of Plenty, 100,000 acres; King Country, Waikato, and Tauranga, 10,000 acres; Bay of Islands and Hokianga, 70,000 acres.

In reply to the letter received from Mr. H. C. Tewsley, president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, on the proposed Vancouver mail service, Mr. Gunson, president of the Auckland .Chamber, has written drawing the attention of the Southern Chamber to its change of attitude respecting tho proposed service, and twitting it with jealousy and selfishness in working against the Vancouver service now that Auckland .is definitely spoken of as the port of call in Nev,- Zealand. "In conclusion," runs the letter, "you may rest assured that wo will' not slacken our agitation to secure aji up-to-date Vancouver service, and, after it has been secured, for the benefit of the Dominion we hops that you will admit that its cost was money well spent."

A striking individual tribute to the late King was paid by a veteran splitter, working alone in the forest at Toolangi, Victoria (says an Australian paper). On the day of his Majesty's funeral Mr. W. H. Luly, Crown lands bailiff, was walking through the dense forest just about two o'clock. Everything was still, savo for the regular stroke of an axe. Suddenly the s-trokos ceased, and as they were- not resumed in a minute or so he looked through the vista of trees, and there saw the splitter standing stock still, like a soldier on parade, with his hat off. The man remained in that position for five minutes, and Mr. Lilly con-, eluded that this was the veteran's tribute to the dead King. After tho man had resumed work Mr Lulv approached him, and ascertained that his conjectures were correct. The veteran had read somewhere that at 2 o'clock there would be a cessation of work for a minute or two throughout the Empire. He spoke admiringly of tho late King, and then went on with his work.

Says our MasteTton correspondent:—Tβ Rangitumau, the valuable property to the north of Masterton, which recently changed hands, was, in the early days, held by soldiors 'who had served in the Maori war, in areas. of liO acres. How these areas came to be aggregated is a tale which need not here be told. A number of Wairarapa's most enterprising settlers owe their start in life to the receipt of scrip in payment for military, sen-ices.

The committee of the Wellington Sonth State School is in communication with the City Engineer as to the best way of dealing with the pronounced depression ou thu Russell Terrace side of the school-, ground, in which the water lodges every winter. This is a matter in which Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P., has interested himself, as he considers that the . playing area would bo considerably improved if the ground could be made fairly lovel nt tho place mentioned.

At a meeting of the Wellington Warehousemen's Association, held yesterday, ut. which ■ Mr. H. C. Tcwsley presided, it was decided that members shall close their business premises on Friday in honour of the King's Birthday.

Paeroa is a town of contrasts, having been rendered dry last year by local option mandate,- while before and afterwards there were periods of severe flood. The paradox was seized upon by Mr. Myers in cross-examining tho owner of a 'hotel recently deprived of its license before the Silting Commission on Friday. \"You claim to have sustained damage in the flood of 1907," said counsel, and the witness assented. Asked further if tho property was as valuable now as in the year mentioned, tho witness replied in the negative. "Well," proceeded counsel, "is that due to tho floods or to the drought?" (Laughter.) The reply was that the silt trouble had been a factor in depreciating tho value.

Rules of evidence and Court procedure are not matters which come easily to the lay mind, and, in the. Supreme Court yesterday, a young man standing his trial, having been unable to procure counsel to defend him, apparently found some difficulty in understanding the legal intricacies through which he was obliged to go, in conducting his own case. It was his third trial, two juries having disagreed, and. on the previous occasions, he had had the services of counsel. Yesterday, he told tho Court that the expenses had been great, and he had been unable to find a barrister to appear for him on this occasion, being in poor circumstances. The i Chief Justice pointed out that, hail application been made, the Court would willingly have granted a delay of the trial in order that the accused might prepare his case. If he had made the request, his Honour might have been able to have a counsel assigned for him to conduct the case.

According to Mr. Kensington, Undersecretary for Lands, a witness who remarked "God help tho people who are going to live at Piakq" "before the Ohinerauri Silting Commission had either been misinformed or had not visited the Piako district for some years. Mr. Kensington explains that the Government has not yet put any settlers on the land that has not been drained and made secure against Hoods. There is (he adds) an area liable to Bonding owing to it sharp beud in the Waihou Diver, but the Government has not yet begun :v:iy drainage work in that section. In his opinion the best remedy against the flooding of this area would be to straighten tho rirer l)V means of a canal. How the witness could come to the viow which he affirmed Mr. Kensington is at a loss to understand. Jerry-built houses received condemnation by a builder who appeared as a witness in the Supreme Court yesterday. Ho had been called to give particulars regarding • a house which he had inspected. The house, he said, had been finished throughout with unusual thoroughness, and, if it had been erected by an ordinary builder, instead of by the owner, a cabinet-maker, in his spare hours, it would not have received anything like the same care or the same class of workmanship. "That means increased value," said the builder. "But," asked the Chief Justice, "does it mean that lie would get a better price for tho house?" "No," replied the builder, with a smile, the significance of which was J not lost upon tbo court.