LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 982, 24 November 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Japanese Hag waved "over the oflices of tlio Consul for Japan (Mr. T. Y'oung, of Young and Tripe) yesterday. On inquiry as to tho reason,. it was stated the Hag was 11 own-to mark the date of tho second Harvest- Festival.

Asked by Mr. Hogg, JD.P. for Masterton, whether tho Government will undcrtako tho construction of the Rimutaka deviation on condition that the'settlers on the eastern sido of the range, from Palliser .Bay to tho Manawatu River, agree to their properties being rated to sccurc interest at 4 per cent, oil'the outlay, the Prime Minister ssid in tlio House yesterday that the.Rimutaka deviation referred to in the question would l>o an expensive undertaking, costing, approximately, .£325,000. In view of the largo demands for main lines existing at tho present time, find of the fact of tho district which would be served by this deviation being already served by tho Rimutaka railway, it is considered inexpedient to uudertako tho work in the immediate future.

Tho Chief Jristice rather sharply rebuked members of the legal profession yesterday for not. being ready to go on with their cases at tho. commencement of tho civil sittings. He remarked that it was not the same in the old days, and lie thought tho only remedy would bo that proposed by an American Judge, namely, that if "any. adjournment was granted, the Court should bo paid by counsel personally. The result of this unreadiness was that when ho ought to. be working ho had nothing to do. . Mr. Wilford said that if all counsel were ready on tho opening of the civil sittings, there would be fifteen lawyers and fifteen sets of witnesses waiting, .and yet only ono case could be taken. His Honour: "That is what happens in England." Mr. Wilford: It wo.ul(l bo very expensive. His Honour: So is all this delay.

Tho Dunedin correspondent of the Christchurch "Press" telegraphs that a good consignment of wines, etc., from tho wreck of tho Union Steam Ship ■ Company's Waikare, at Dusky . Sound, has been brought to the Bluff, and is a further instance of the, fact that most of the salvaged goods from tho Waikare aro in an excellent state of preservation. Tho wines and other bottled have been totally unaffected' by immersion in ealt water, and tho contents are quite' good.

Despite, more than one official denial of tho report that the Government intend to ' close the Wr.ikato Sanatorium, tho matter has again oropped up in Parliament. Only a few days ago Mr. Herries asked the' Minister for Public Health —(1) whether it is a fact that two colonies in tho Waikato Sanatorium have been closed, and that several of the' nurses have been discharged; and (2). whether the Government intend to gradually close the sanatorium? Sir Joseph AVard replied in the Hotiso yesterday as follows:—"The Plunket colony at tho sanatorium has been closed pending alteration in the septic-tank receiving the drainage of that colony, and a general overhaul for repairs. No nurses havo been discharged from tho institution, but Olio has been transferred to _ tho Taumarunui Hospital; and it is likely that a probationer will bo transferred who wishes to receive training in a larger hospital should a' suitable vacancy occur. There is no intention to close the institution."

Somo days ago Mr. Duncan, M.P. for Wairau, asked the Government whether, seeing that the services of an officer of high qualifications have been obtained by tlio .Australian Government to consider and advise on tho whole scheme of naval establishments of tho Commonwealth, tho Government will consider the advisability of extending to the ofiiccr in question. Admiral Sir Reginald Henderson, an invitation to New Zealand, in order to obtain the advice and report of so eminent an authority upon the naval requirements of this Dominion) Replying in tho'Houso yesterday, Sir Joseph Ward said: "It is not proposed to extend an-invitation to Admiral Sir Reginald Henderson to report upon our naval requirements. Australia is establishing a naval system of her own, and is, therefore, in an entirely different position to New Zealand, .which supports tho British Navy direct."

According to Dr. To Eangihiroa, it is no easy task to collect reliable census statistics from the Maoris. Tho gatherer of .statistics requires to bo a man of infinite patience, with a nose for a Maori' joke. Errors arise from two causes, ovorconsoientionsnDss on tho part of tho Natives, and levity on their part. Some Natives have huts in several villages, and their friends in each village aro fond of including, their names on the return. Tho return also is apt lo be swelled with the iianies of dogs and cattle, for some of the Maoris view census-taking as a joke, and think it excellent fun to have their animals numbered as human beings.

Having inn do a carefal analytical study of evory phase and condition of Baldness, Mrs. ROLLESTON lias jnst returned from the principal centres of Hair Culture in London, Paris, an<J America. Her rooms have been extended and refitted with the most modern appliances for'the treatment of Baldness, i Willis Street (over Carroll's). Tel, 1555,—Advt,

A • transhipment of some 1250 cases of bananas from llio Cook Group via Auckland -caine to hand yesterday morning. The fruit was in such ;\ condition that at least 300 cases have been condemned as unfit for human consumption. Of the remainder 500 cases realised about onetenth'of the usual price. Tlie good cases —which mostly contain green bananasbrought from 15s. to 20s. per case. There has been a shortage of bananas in NewZealand for some months, owing to tho destruction caused by a big cyclone in the Fiji plantations, and had all the shipment arrived green big prices would have been realised in view of the Christmas demand. The condition of tho transhipped fruit is another argument in favour of the direct service to Wellington.

Tho Christchurch Literary and Husical competitions have been fixed to talsjo place in tho Theatre Koyal from April ■I to 13 next year.

Three earthquake shocks wore (says tho Christchurch "Press") experienced at Kailtoura on. Sunday morning. The first, a severe one, at eleven o'clock, was followed by two minor tremors within, a few minutes. Again, at seven o'clock in tho evening, there was a small shock, and about five minutes afterwards a fairly heavy one, which created consternation among those attending tho churches. During Sunday night thero were two minor earthquakes, and on Monday morning another at 8.-15. The frequency of earthquakes, now totalling thirty-six during the past fortnight, is causing a great deal of alarm. The direction appears to be from tho eastward, which may point to some great submarine disturbance. Jfo damage, other than tho cracking of a few chimneys, and the breakage of a littlo crockery, is reported.

According to a cable message which appeared in a Sydney paper on Tuesday of last week, one of the undergraduates at Uethany College, in Virginia, a young mail of the name of M'Coy, has been charged with tho manslaughter of tho captain of the opposing team in an intercollege football match, whom ho is alleged to have deliberately struck, and thus caused\ the injuries that resulted in his death.

It. will bo a dull Christmas Eve ill Sydney. The Saturday closing law, passed by the.. AVade Government, renders it compulsory for all shops to close on Saturday afternoon, and night. 11l reply to a deputation of master retailers, who wished t:o keep open until 10 p.m., the Minister for Industry (Mr. Beeby) said the position was an. unusual one, but the lawjrould have to'bo carried out. "I want to say," ho said, "and I hops I will not bo misunderstood, that there will bo 110 winking at any breaches of laws enacted with the consent of all .parties in Parliament. In view of criticisms of the possiblo conduct of this Government, and of comments which have been mado on the action of Governments of the past, I want it to be clearly understood, there will be ho ground for any insinuation that the Government of which I am a member will 'wink" at any ovasion or breach of the existing laws as we have them beforo us."

Tho iirst of the new season's dried fruits from tho Mediterranean arrived hero yesterday by the Union liner Maraiua,. in good condition. Those interested in the trade will remember the sccno on the Ttiranaki Street Wharf about this time last 'year, when, owing to the number of broken, cases,, tho big shed was literally caked with the raisins and currants which had been spilt. Tho arrangement' this year was much better. The Marama, in order to talco in the fruit—the bulk of which was transhipped at Sydney from the German steamer Linden— stcanied round to Woolloomooloo Bay, and berthed near the Linden, so as to avoid the damage which might have resulted in carting the stuff from AVoolloomooloo to the Margaret Street Wharf, where. the Union Steam Ship steamers lie. Tho shipment consists of iM-,000 packages of currants, raisins, muscatels, almonds, etc., which is one of .the largest (if not tho largest) shipments of dried fruits ever brought to Wellington in one bottom.

"New Zealand, My :Homeland," the patriotic school song, which was sung by the choir of young girls under Mr'. Robert Parker's direction at tho Town Hall on Tuesday night, is a looal production of more than ordinary interest. As regards both words:nml music, it is from the pen of Mr. R. J. Pope, headmaster of .the Kaiwarra School, who was. evidently moved to its composition by the feeling which all educationists have realised of tho dearth of school. songs racy, of tho soil, and their dependence upon imported music of little or no local application, lur. Popo has mot tho need with a song which breathes,the spirit of love of country without dropping into anything in tho nature of bathos. Moreover, he has set the words to a piece of puro and original melody which bids fair to live. At present it is written in two-part harmony, but it would admirably suit four voices, and is worthy of adaptation to use beyond school limitations..

At tlio last regular meeting, of tho Pioneer Lodge, No. 11, 1.0. G.T., the following resolution was carried ..unanimously:—"That this lodge of Good Templars strongly protests against the retention of the three-fifths majority clause/ in the Licensing Bill, and maintain that' it is an unjust handicap upon us."

Included among the passengers who arrived here by the Marama yesterday was one Chinese. Ho had no difficulty in passing the education test, and was permitted to land.

Mr. H. W. Shortt, Mayor of Eastbourne, after negotiation with the Wellington Steam Perry Company, has succeeded in muking arrangements for an improved ferry service between tho city and Rona Bay., On holidays the Ferry Company will run boats from Wellington to Roifa Bay, leering Wellington at 10.15 a.m. and 2.30 p.m., and returning at" 7 p.m. A Wednesday night boat has also been instituted, leaving tlio bay at 7 p.m., and returning from town at 10 p.m. A further improvement is in the Sunday evening service, commencing from December 1. Tho steamers will leave Day's Bay at 8.10 p.m. and Rona Bay at 8.20 p.m. Tho company has also agreed to land cargo at' Rona Bay at the request of consignors.

The secretary of the New Zealand Racing Conference, writing from Christchurch Under dato November' 22, to tho Clerk of the House of Representatives, states that ho is. directed by the president- of the Racing Conference to acknowledge receipt of tho committee's report on the petition of Mrs. Annie Troweek (who petitioned tho House in regard to the Woodville Jockey Club refusing to pay out on certain totalisator 'ticket's issued by the club by. mistake), . and has communicated its opinion to the Woodville Club. The letter states that the president will also submit to the next' meeting of the conferenco tho suggestion as to the numbering of tickets issued from the totalisator on any race.

According to a statement made by tho, Hon.'l). Buddo last evening, about 11,000 aliens havo been naturalised in New Zealand • during the past' ten or fifteen years.

A special statutory meeting of the Hutt County Council was held yesterday. Mr. J. Lynch was appointed chairman for tho ensuing year. It was resolved that the entire council should bo a Works Committee and a Finance Committee.

Following upon the adoption by the .Tohnsonville Town Board, of a water-sup-ply scheme, that body and the Makara County Council lately agreed to 1 a readjustment of boundaries. Tho Government, as a preliminary to sanctioning tho alteration, demand that a new plan of the districts shall be drawn and submitted. The Makara Council yesterday agreed to pay half cost of preparing, the plan, on condition that its liability should not exceed .£lO.

One of the problems by which tho Makara County Council is faced is that of meeting the requirements of' heavy traffic on the Ngahauranga Gorge Road. It was remarked by Mr. F: -T. Moore, at the meeting of tho council, yesterday, that it was rather difficult to decide upon a proper course. A certain nurnbor of ratepayers urged the council to entirely prohibit the running of steam wagons over the road* while others took a more progressive view, and recognised that steam wagons had come to stay, and that roadways must bo reconstructed to meet the requirements of this heavy traffic. The council had been warned that a serious accident on the Gorge Road would probably result from tlieir ( allowing steam wagons to run over it, but happily nothing of the kind had occurred. Tho speaker hoped that horses would soon become accustomed to the steam wagons as they now were to motorcars. In his opinion, the fast-driven motor-car was much more dangerous to lighter horse-drawn • traffic than any steam wwou.