LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1111, 26 April 1911, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

An incident that was a little startling occurred yesterday at the meoting or the Hospital Board. During a discussion one.member interjected a disparaging remark about another, who was then sitting at the table. The member to whom, the interjection applied rose from his seat and walked quietly up to the chair of tho interjector. There was a conversation inaudible to the world at large, and lasting for a few minutes, that may or may not have been of a loving nature. A final remark that came from the member who had been disparaged suggests that it was not. "You hold your tongue about me, anyhow," he said, as he turned away and returned to his ecat.

An accused person at tlio Magistrate's Court yesterday was evidently desirous of a trip to the Coronation. When asked if lie wished to be deajt with summarily or tried by a jury, his reply was, "I wish to bo tried by his Majesty."

The total registration in the Wellington district to date for military training under the new scheme, exclusive ol existing territorial corps, senior cadets, and institutions, is 1037.

When tho new Shops and Offices Act was being discussed at a meeting of tho executive of the Wellington Shopkeepers' Association yesterday, Mr. L. M'Kenzie said that one of the greatest things which shopkeepers had to fight against was that the Government had protected themselves by exempting railway book-stalls from the operation of the Act. That was detrimental to newsagents and other retailors. Mr. A. E. Mann: "It is one-eyed." Mr. H. H. Seaton: "The Government is considering the travelling public at tho espouse of tho residents and business men of the city."

The Hospital Board decided yesterday to expend £817 Bs. in procuring panel pictures to be used in adorning the interior walls of the new Children's Hospital. Speaking for the Hospital Committee, Mr. R. "C. Kirk remarked that at a recent meeting the Hospital Committee had been empowered to make inquiries as to tho cost of providing internal decorations at tho Children's Hospital. The medical superintendent (Dr. Hardwick Smith) had strongly urged the committee to procure. Doulloii ware panels of considerable size, to bo erected over the cots. The panels would illustrate nursery talcs, and simil;ir subjects. In Australia and elsewhere these tablets had been installed in children's wards, with satisfactory results. Dr. Hardwick Smith was not getting all that lie would like, but the committee had recommended thfc allocation of tho largest sum it thought advisable.

. "Several people have told us that they have not received a, census paper," said Mr. H. H. Seaton at yesterday's meeting of the Wellington Shopkeepers' Association. "If that ,is tliß ca'sfi,' I" think the partment should endeavour to get hold of them by advertisement."

Settlors at Koro Koro petitioned the, Hospital Board yesterday to take steps to suppress an alleged nuisance arising from the state in which a certain pigfarm ivas kept. Some features of .the nuisance were declared to be so ob.lloxious that they caused horses to "shy" as they we're driven past. The board decided to refer tho petition to the Department of Public Health as an urgent matter. .

At the annual meeting of St. Peter's Church last night, Archdeacon Harper referred to the Hoys' Rescue Home. He said that the idea came from Mr. Walton, and had met with tho cordial approval of all who knew the life of tho city. He did not propose then to give any details of tho woi-k, in fact they had hardly yet been thought out. But tho vestry would bo asked to appoint a man who, with the vicar, would cooperato with representatives of other city parishes in drawing up the constitution and arranging the details of tho scheme, and when this was done he knew from his experience in regard to tho Children's Homo at Pnlmerston North that tho people would readily come forward to help.

The Hospital Board yesterday received a letter from Dr. Valiutine (Inspec-tor-General of Hospitals), stating that at the request of several hospital boards tho Minister in charge, of the Department of Public Health had authorised a Hospitals' Conference, to commence in Wellington on June 14 next. Dr. Valintine invited the board to forward remits for discussion, and to appoint delegates to represent it at the conference. On the motion of Mr. Smith, it was agreed that the chairman of the board (Ilev. W. A. Evans) and the chairmen of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Committees (.Messrs. 11. C. Kirk and J. W. M'Ewan), together with Mr. G. T. London, be appointed to represent the board at the conference.

Judgment will be delivered by Mr. Justice Cooper at 11 o'clock to-morrow morning in tho case Doughty and Co. v. XasTi. A motion for judgment on the counter-claim was moved before his Honour on April 11 by Mr. C. B. Morison, counsel for defendant, Mr. Dalzicll appearing on behalf of the plaint-ill's.

At its meeting yesterday, the 'Wellington Education Board bad before it aii application from the Teachers' Institute, to the effect that if tho school holidays to be granted in connection with the Coronation celebrations exceeded two days, tho May term holidays —of ono week—should be held at tiio same time. The board decided that thb matter was of sufficient importance to engngo tho attention of ft special committee appointed to consider the whole question. The chairman (Mr. Robert Lee) and Messrs. Wni. Allen, A. W. Hogg, M.P., tl.o inspectors and the secretary were accordingly constituted' a committee tc report upon tho question of Coronation holidays.

In his capacity as member for tho Suburbs Electorate, Mr. J. 1 , . Luke, M.P., interviewed the Wellington Education Board yesterday with reference to the educational requirements of Ngaio. At present tho instruction was limited to Standard 11, while the accommodation was quito inadequate. Ho presented a petition, signed by tho parents of 132 children, f!i support of bis representations that the board should provide a proper school for the district. Tho chairman of the board (Mr. Robt. Leo), replying to Mr. Luke, said that the board was now awaiting a reply from tin- .Education Department to its application for a school. Mr. Luke's representations on the subject would strengthen the bands of the board. It was decided to make fresh application to the Department for a full school. . The monthly meeting of tho Wellington Ministers' Association was held yesterday. The Rev. T. K. Eliiott presided. The subject of the afternoon was:—"How to Reach tho Non-Church-goer," It was introduced by the Rev, .W. Shirer,

With reference to the letter of Mr. W. S. Stent (Manaia), which appeared in the correspondence columns of The Dominion yesterday, and his .remarks on tho subject of Boy Scouts and Senior Cadets, tho General OfScer Commanding the l'Vcog (Major-General A. J. Godley, C.8.) states that the article referred to by. Mr. Stent was shown to Colonel Cossgrovo (Dominion Chief Scout) beforo publication. "Colonel Cossgrove quite understands the position," states General Godlcy. "In an articlo published some litUc time ago, it was said that 'Tho decision of a Boy Scout to become a Senior Cadet is tantamount to resignation from the Scouts, and boys who wish to become Boy Scout Cadets' in preference to Senior Cadets must first become Boy Scouts.' This is misleading, as any Boy Scouts and Boy Scout Cadets between the ages of U and IS are by law included in tho Senior Cadets."

Mr. T. V. Poarce, M.P. (Patca), introduced a deputation from the I'atea Harboard Board yesterday to tho Minister for Railways (the Hon. J. A. Millar). The Harbour Board (of which Mr. Pearco is also chairman) had been in correspondence with the Department in regard to the collection of charges by Hie Department on goods passing over the wharf. The Department, said Mr. Pearce, had recently been collecting; on weights, whereas formerly charges hud been based on measurements. The board found their revenue becoming reduced, whereas had they been notified of the chancre they could have, adjusted their wharfage. Mr. M'Villy (chief clerk of the Department) said that the arrangement had always been to compute the. charges on weight; if any other method had been followed, it was without the sanction of the Department. The Minister declared that no distinction could be made in the case of Patea. The same rule as at other ports, where the railway ran, must be followed.

The Wellington Education Board has decided that owing to the overdrawn state of the relieving funds it cannot see its way to rescind the resolution in reference, to relieving supply for teachers attending University examinations. Apparently, county clerkships are intra to fill—at least, there is a dearth of candidates for positions of this sort in the smaller and moro remote counties. Yesterday, the Wellington Education Board had before it an application from the head-teacher of the Te Nui School (Wharearea County), asking to be allowed to act as tho county clerk in a temporary capacity. It was stated that the "efforts to obtain a Guitable official to carry out the duties had been unsuccessful, though several applicants had tendered their services. In moving that tho application of the To Nui teacher b? granted, Mr. W. C. Buchanan, M.P., said that tho duties were very light, and would not interfere with tho school duties. Great difficulty was experienced in getting suitable men for such nominal positions, and the proposed arrangement was tho best that could bo arrived at under the circumstances. Mr. Vilo was afraid that tho concession would create an awkward precedent, and invite adverse criticism. Their teachers should not be allowed to enter into competition with men in other spheres. However, tho board granted the application.