LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 904, 25 August 1910, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It is thirty-two years ago to-day sinco tram services in Wellington wore lirst inaugurated. Yesterday morning the cruisers Encounter and Pioneer indulged in their annual battle practice. The booming ot their six-inch guns could be distinctly heard at Teraivhiti, although the vessels wore over at . the Marlborough Sounds. "It takes about a year to get our grants out of the Department," ob- • served Mr. F. Pirani, chairman of the Education Conference, ' yesterday. "Sometimes two," added Mr. ,C. J. Parr, chairman of the Auckland Board, smiling in the direction of the InspectorGeneral of Schools (Mr: G. Hogben). That gentleman laughed. At 8.34 p.m. yesterday, the firo brigade received a call to Hobson Crescent, to an eight-roomed dwelling occupied by Mr. Uroniu. A, lighted candle in one of the bedrooms was responsible for trifling damage to the bed and bedding.

".Do these embarrassed people gain anything by exchanging embarrassments?" asked Mr. Haselden, S.M., during the hearing of a very complex civil action in the Magistrate's Court yesterday. Mr. 0. I3eoro, with a smile, ventured the opinion that they hoped to, but usually the hope was not realised. It was generally the. promise of a little cash in the transaction that helped on the exchange. . "The cash usually fizzles out," said the magistrate..

Practice at the butts at the Polhill Gully range was continued yesterday by the members of the New Zealand representative. team of rifle cadets, who are to shoot off to-morrow in the Lord lloberts trophy match. The boys were coached by Majors Cresswell and Matheson, ..-and , Staff-Scrgeant-Major Rose. . Captain S. V. Tra'sk, of the Headquarters; Staff, will superintend the firing at' the snoot-off to-mor-row.. The team continues to show excellent, form, and should give a good account of itself when the trial comes.

"I'll give you an instance," said Mr. Mitchell, one qf the representatives of the Otago' Education Board, at the Education Conference yesterday, referring ,to tho policy adopted by the Education Department .towards' tho boards with respect to building grants. "On ofio occasion my board applied to tho Department for a grant for .a school. Tho Department sent an officer of'tho Lands Department to report upon tho application, and ho recommended that the school should bo situated in a'different. spot to that decided upon by the board, .and tho Department made a 'grant of £200 accordingly. Ultimately, the growth of tho population necessitated additions, and the upshot was that tho Department had to make a furthor , grant of £270—aud the school had to be practically reconstructed on tho site originally selected upon by tho board!"

At tho club meeting of tho Wellington Garrison Officers' last evening a very interesting lecture on. tho subject of "Stonewall Jackson" was given by Major Cresswcll, of tho Bangiora Boys' High School Cadets. The lecture, was illustrated with lantern views. •

Speaking at the Education Conference on tho subject of the Government grants for the maintenance ■ and building-of schools, Mr. T. M'Gihbon, of tho Southland Education Board, remarked that he, for one, had taken it as a personal insult when the Education Department announced its intention of withdrawing these grants from the boards. Mr. Pirani (tho chairman), on tho samo subject, remarked that he had known of cases whero an education board had been refused a grant for a school, and tho member for the district had afterwards succeeded in getting it. How, Mr. Pirani did not explain.

Yesterday Detectives Kemp and Hammond arrested a woman named Winnie Kiffin Thomas for alleged theft of three rings and a brooch, tho property of Mabel Taylor.. Accused will appear before the court to-day.

lu. a civil case in the Magistrate's Court yesterday, Mr. A. Fair, solicitor for defendant, asked to be allowed to treat a witness as hostile, although he had subpoenaed that witness.. Hostilities commenced forthwith, and continued for over an hour._ Tho witness was Mr. W. G. Somerville, who was asked by Mr. Fair if he was trading as AV. and G. Somcrrillo at Dannevirke. Witness replied that that had 'nothing to do with the case, hut later said he was practising as W. and G. Somerville. Asked by the; magistrate (Mr, W. R. Haselden) if there was a "G. Somerville," witness said ho had brothers, but none of them were admitted as solicitors.

Some itime ago Mr. Massey stated in the House of Representatives that 'a Queensland gentleman bad offered ' to givo one thousand pounds to tho fund to assist Professor Bickerton in the propagation of his cosmic theories. Tho exact nature of the offer is disclosed in correspondence laid on the table to the order of Mr. Massey. On April 25, Mr. W. F. Aplin wroto from Barcaldino, Queensland, to tho Minister for Education, offering to give £1000 to tho Bickorton Fund, such sum to bo deducted from his claim against the New Zealand Government for £5000, whifth the, Government had had under consideration for somo time. After receiving a formal reply, Mr. Aplin wrote, on July 11, asking for tho necessary papers to sign in reference to his transfer of £1000 to the Bickerton Fund. "I am absolutely certain unseen forces are assisting Professor Bickorton," ho added. "It is not proposed to take any action," the Hon. G. Fowlds replied.

Shampooing, Clipping Hnirdrcssine Manicuring, Paco Massogo, Treatment of Falling Hair, and Dandruff. Combines mado up. Natural Hair-pads. Mrs Eolloston (ovor Carroll's), i Willis Street, -.'Phono 1509,-Advti ' m