LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1067, 4 March 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

"I admit," said a witness in the Supreme Court, yesterday, "that sometimes, under pressure, and when work has been badly done, I have used forcible language." "That/' said Mr. Justice Cooper, whilo the listeners smilocl, "is doubtless a cuphuistic way of expressing it." Under the existing police conditions, no rank in the dctcctivo branch can bo reached above that of chief detective. In order that further encouragement should be given to. the dctcctive branch of the service, the rank of dctcctivesorgeant is to be created, and detectives of . senior service and good record will bo promoted to that grade.

A Maori adze has been added to the collection of curios got together by tho Manawatu Philosophical Society. The adze was ploughed up at Awapmii about twenty years ago by Mr. H. Vaughan, who has presented tho relic to the museum which is being formed by the society mentioned.

The public arc now able to sco the magnificent collection of butterflies at the Dominion Museum, the director having made improved arrangements for their display.

Cabinet has decided to contimio the Thames polico district as a separate policc district in charge of an inspector. The district is at present in charge of Sub-Inspector Wright, and it is assumed that ho will ho promoted to full rank and be given charge of the district.

About forty men aro at present busily engaged in repairing tho damage caused to the Karori mam road during the rain-storm of a week ago. A service line has been laid 011 tho road from

the biggest slip to a point on the other side of tho road, and about a couple of hundred yards higher up. Spoil is being obtained hero in ample quantities from a bluff overlooking the road. Drays have also betn pressed into service to bring spoil from other convenient points along the roadline. Into the biggest slip of all, that on tho right-hand side of the road going towards Karori, something like a thousand tons of spoil liavo already been emptied, and by appearances several thousands more will

be required to make the damage good. The tramline, at tho point where it was undermined, has been relaid, but the work of stiffening the road at this point is still in progress. Iho restoration of the road at the third and smallest slip is practically complete. It is proposed next week to put on two shifts of labourers, instead of one shift as at present, and it is thought that, tho greater nart of the work will be completed by tfie end of next week.

■ 'llic Waterloo Quay reclamation works are now far advanced towards completion, so far as existing contracts are concerned. Tho heavy lower sections of tho big retaining wall that is being constructed by Mr. C. F. Pulley arc finished, and when a short length of the light upper section has been built the wall will be completed for its thirteen hundred feet of length. A few weeks' work will put a period to this part of tho undertaking. A start has already been made witli the Waterloo Quay continuation sewer. The reclamation work that is being carried out by the Harbour Board is farthei advanced

than one would suppose from viewing the locality. Over a great part of- the reclamation area that still remains under water a considerable amount of spoil has been deposited. It is impossible as yet to say exactly when tho reclamation will be completed, but it is well on in that direction. The samo remark applies to another contract that

was entrusted to Mr. Pulley—tho reclamation of an area running south from the new wharf at Miramar. This is within measurable distance of being finished.

Mr. E._ C. Jack, Dominion secretary of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, writes to us in amplification of the statement published by us last week, on tile authority of an Auckland correspondent (says the "Otago Daily Times"), that the central executive knows nothing officially as yet regarding the agitation in Canterbury for-the formation of a farmers' party in politics, this having been carricd on by members without consulting the union. AVhilo this statement is true in so far as the organisation is' concerned, the North Canterbury Provincial Executive are, Mr. Jack writes, in close touch with the movers and nothing has so far been done that is contrary to the union's policy. The movement is understood to bo purely of nil educational nature, the only reason for its separate existence being the question of finance. Pile rules of the union preclude party politics, and unless the Political Protection League take up a partisan attitude—which is not proposed—no objection can be taken to its endorsement by the North Canterbury Executive. It is true that, the central executive has not boon asked to endorse the movement—and there has been no necessity to do so—up to the present. The appointment of 51 r. 1). Jones as organiser for the league is a siifiiciont guarantee that the movement is to be along lines in accordance with the union's~policv as expounded by the Dominion Conference. The matter is engaging the attention of the centr.al executive, and a pronouncement may be expected ns soon as tho full particulars are to band.

Another step forward in the production of coloured photographs lias been made in tho form of a process which- so enhances the product of the camera as to lift it up to tho plane of the watercolour, in that whilst it softens the sharp outlines, and lends more than a colourable imitation of Nature's tints, it suffuses each picturo with an atmosphere altogether pleasingly natural and artistic, 'ibis process has been used by Messrs. Geo. W. Martin and -E. Warner (of the Warner Studios, London)) who arc exhibiting a number of New Zealand views in tho Woodward Street Gallery. In viewing about twenty of these pictures that adorn the wall, one cannot help being struck with tho extreme beauty and delicate feeling -in a view of the AVanganui River from Pipirilsi, with its soft, hazy purples and appealing mczza tints, and another of the hill behind Taumarunui. Ail devotees of the camera and art lovers should see these pictures, as they arc certainly a new development in tho realm of art .

The Chief Justice and Mr. Justice Cooper will hear to-day in Banco, beginning at 10.30 a.m., an important Native land case, affecting tho Okahukura Bloc!;, an area of 82,700 acres in tho Hot Lakes District. The plaintiffs, Patena Kerelii, lveepa Puataata, of Tokaanu, and twenty-eight others, havo instituted proceedings, to which the Chief Judge of the Native Land Court is made a party, for tho purpose of determining whether a certain investigation of title by tho Native Appellate Court was proper and complete; whether the Chief Judge had power to order a rehearing of matters determined by tho Appellate Court, and, further, in regard to the admission of evidence.

The Government lias decided to appoint a Commission to investigate and report upon tho North of Auckland railway. The matter of route has been exercising rival districts lying to the north of the city—especially Whangarei and Daraavillc —for some time. The Commission will comprise Messrs. V. Reed, T. Ronayne, W. Evans, J. Coombs, J.' Stallworthy, and one other member to bo appointed to-day.

Tho saddlers' dispute, which was heard in tho first instance by the Conciliation Council, and was afterwards referred to the Court of Arbitration in order to have clauses relative to wages, preference, and other terms of the award adjusted, has now been completed. As a consequence this matter ■will bo withdrawn from tho Court's cases for Monday.