LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1090, 31 March 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities advise that tho s.s. Wimmera, which left Sydney for Auckland.on March 29, has on board an Australian mail, and also an English mail, via Suez. The Wellington portion is due hcM on Monday, April 3, by tho Main Trunk express.

It is understood that Messrs. .Tas. Rod and Co. do not now intend to appeal against the decision of Mr. W. G. Riddel!, S.M., who on March 14 last convicted the firm of a breach of the Shops and Offices Act, in that during tho week ending on Saturday, February 18, 1911, they employed a shop assistant for more than nine hours, excluding meal times, on more than ono day in such week. Pending the appeal the cases against E. Barber and Co., Garrett and Co., the Gear Meat Co., and the Waingawa Meat Co., in which the facts were the same, were to stand over, but these cases will now bo brought up again at the Magistrate's Court, and will come on this morning.

In connection with tho jubilee celebrations of tho Rev. Mother Mary Joseph Aubert, one of the competitions, in which tho prizo was a gold watch, was decided in a novel way yesterday. On Monday morning last tho watch was, in tho presence of a committee, wound up and set at 10.30 o'clock by the Mayor (Mr. T. M. Wilford), and then sealed up in an envelope. Yesterday morning the "opening ceremony" took place, the decision of the competition resting upon the time at which the watch had run down. The Mayor, Mrs. T. G. M'Carthy, Mrs. Rylar.d, Councillor J. E. Fitzgerald, and Mr. Jas. M'Bean were present, and when the envelope was opened tho hands of the watch indicated 2R minutes and one second past one o'clock. Miss Conrick, the holder of Book IG, Xo. 157 tickett was declared to be tho winner.

Registration of factories expires to-day, and re-registration becomes due on Saturday, April 1, at the Labour Department's office, Ghuznee Street. Under recent legislation (as already stated in The Dominion), shops are also to be registered. A return of hands employed has also to bo sent to the Department on a specified form.

The only applicants for Section 97, Block 8, at Belmont (Normandalo Settlement, in the vicinity of the Lower Hutt railway station), comprising- 70.j acres, were Messrs. W. J. Crawford and H. Pttdsey, of Deivniston, Westport. The applicants applied jointly, so no ballot was necessary.

At last evening's meeting of the Miraniar Council, the returning officer for the recent by-election wrote stating that Mr. H. N. M'Leod had been elected to fill the vacancy on the council, and pointing out that Mr. John M'Cale, having failed to secure one-eighth of the votes polled by Mr. M'Leod, forfeited his deposit.

Paradise ducks'are extremely plentiful in the Mackenzie district. The drying-tip of the small lagoons and streams has caused tho ducks to go further inland to the big lakes. The. intention of the Minister to have a ckpc season for the Paradise duck is considered a mistake, says tho "Timaru Post," and it is claimed that the Minister, through not seeing the crowded condition of -the lakes on his recent tour, is acting under a misapprehension, which a little solicited information from the settlers would havo prevented.

Word has been received that Detectivo Andrews has arrested, at Nelson, a man named William Hughes, on a charge of obtaining (ho sum of about .CoO from John Blake, of Karon, by means of false pretences. Hughes has been remanded from Kelson to Wellington.

Statutory authority is issued for the construction of a bridgo by (ho Foatherstou County Council over the Iluamahanga River, near Martinborough. The cost is apportioned as follows:—The Martinborough 'town Board to contribute .£450. and the Featherslon County Council the balance.

The Health Authorities in Wellington, when approached yesterday for 'particulars of the measures adopted to prevent the spread of the plague in Now Zealand, declined to make 'any statement, saying that there was no reason for am- titrluo nppreheiiMon, and no need for any drastic action.

The resolution recently passed by the Foxton Borough Council proposing to ™i;f„a loan of X'2Boo for a "Coronation Hall was gazetted last evening. \ special rate of :]d. in the X is to be levied for the purpose.

Amended regulations controlling schol arships for students attending the Do minion's Schools of Mines are issued ir this week's Gazette.

By a curious coincidence, the Palmerslon Municipal Theatre last evening accommodated the interests of two of the leading participants in the controversy which raged in Wellington some time ago in connection with "The Girl from Rector's.". The Rev. J. ,T. North, in one part of tho building, was delivering a lecture on "Slavery" to an interested audience, while under tlie same roof, but in another portion of tho building, Mr. Hugh Ward and his comedy company were playing the rollicking farce, "Seven Days.

There were 3370 arrivals in the Dominioi in February, and 3525 persons left the?' shores. In February last vcar tho num ber departing was 2813. Of the arrivals 1005 came from the United Kingdom and of the total of 3370, ISB7 were bookei lo Wellington.

A notice was gazetted last evening forbidding the issue of money orders, and tho forwarding of postal correspondence to Ihe Wexford Company, 9 Linden Court, Sydney. Regulations for the election of members of harbour boards amending those issued on March 2, in one or two particulars, wero published last evening. The accuracy or otherwise of a plan printed on a circular distributed by

Councillor M'Leod during the recent, election campaign for a seat on the Miramar Borough Council was tho subject of a lengthy discussion at last night's meeting of tho council. Tho plan had reference to the late King's Road controversy, and it was urged by the Mayor and at'least one councillor that it was misleading, as it did not show the true position of affairs. Councillor M'Leod argued that the plan was quite correct. All that it purported to be was a sketch plan showing 10 roads by the King's Road. A motion was put forward that the plan bo referred to a draughtsman for an opinion as to whether it was a correct plan of what it purported to represent. The motion was lost on the easting vote of the Mayor, whereupon a councillor remarked that the Mayor might have a legal right to vote as he did, but, where a matter like this was concerned, ho had no moral right to do so. The Mayor considered that he had every right. He then'moved that a correct plan be prepared and published in each of the newspapers. Exception was taken to the Mayor getting the council to do this to strengthen tho position lie had adopted. At length the Mayor withdrew the motion, remarking that, in view of the attitude adopted by some councillors, ho would publish the plan himself. The matter then closed.

Reserved judgment in the case Harcourt and Company v. Jesse James Hills, heard at Palmcrston North, will be given this morning by Mr. Justice Cooper. The caso concerns a claim on a promissory note tor .€275.

Only about six cases have so far been set down for hearing at the sittings of the Court of Appeal, which commence on Monday morning. It is expe'eted, however, that the list will bo a heavy one ■ when it finallv closes.

A permanent picture show is to bo instituted at Fuliford's Hall, Brooklyn, commencing on Monday. The hall is no* being altered to suit this form of entertainment and an electric plant is being installed,

i On the motion of Mr. J. W. Macdonald, solicitor to the Public Trust Office, tho Supreme Court has granted to the Public .trustee probate of tho wills of tho following deceased pe.sons:—William Henry hitto, late of llutherglcn, engine-driver; Thomas Laugman, late of Huirangi, farmer; Ellen Ditoly, late of Akaroa, settler; Robert Faircloth Flood, late of l'apakura, settler; Alfred Ashbolt, lato of Wellington, printer; Emily Henderson, late of Aramoho, married woman. Orders to administer were also granted in the estates of the following deceased intes-tatcs:-Harry Alexander Wicks, late of Lower Shotover, publican; ,Tohu Corlis, late of Nydia Bay, labourer; Thomas Currie.late of Westport, locomotive fireman; Henry Charles Vbgcl, late of Patca, hotelkeener; Christopher Downham, late of Lincoln, farmer; Richard Harry Harrison, late of Wellington, waiter.

In responding to the toast of "Our Guests" at the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce dinner the Hon. R. M'Konzie gave some instances of his experiences in receiving country deputations (says the Gisborne "Times"). On a recent occasion ho was called away from a "social" lato at night to meet what proved to be a deputation of one, and he a gentleman who wanted the ronto of tho railway from Motn to Opotifci altered, in order that it might pass through his section! On another occasion the Minister had been explaining to a deputation along the route of tho railway that the line was being pushed on rapidly towards their district. Ons of tho members of the deputation— a youth of eighteen summers and apparently somewhat incredulous—asked the Minister if he thought the line would reach them "during the life of their lenses." This naturally Mieited the tiuery from Mr. M'Kenzie: "What is the term of your lease?" and the lion, gentleman admits that he was quite taken back with the reply: "999 years"!

Tho sufferers by the recent Ponsonby Road fire at Auckland arc now making favourable progress towards recovery. Mrs. Porteous is not yet out of the' private hospital, and although she is making good progress she is still suffering from the effects of tho burns, some of which are proving very difficult of treatment. Mr. Porteous left the, hospital about a week ago, and is now able to walk about with the aid of sticks. It will, however, be some time before he will be able to return to work. Both Mr. and Mrs. Mnunteficld are still unable to walk, but although their injuries are more serious than was at first thought it is not expected that they will be permanent.

The amateur photographers' section of the Wellington Arts Club intend to hold an exhibition of specimens of the summer's work in the clubrooms on Juno 15. It is said that tho fine season enjoyed in Wellington has been productivo of some excellent work. Another item of news interesting to amateur photographers is that the Christchurch Camera Club has sent.a lot, of competitive work to Wellington to ,bo judged. Mr. Keyworth will act as judge.