LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1557, 28 September 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tlio postal authorities advise that tho s.s. Victoria, which sailed from Sydney at 2 p.lll. on September 25, for Auckland, lias on board an Australian mail. Tho Wellington portion is due to arrive hero by Main Trunk on Monday next.

"Tho rush of modern daily juunialism" in Grey mouth appears to bo etill on. Tho "Argus" of that town reports that "A rather daring robbery was perpetrated in a lieefton hotel tho other evening, whereby an Assyrian named A. Anisey had his bag, containing goods to the value of ;C 0, stolen." It goes 011 to say;—"Tho mysterifying feature of Die affair is that 110 strangers were seen about tho hotel, so that there is no elno whatever as to the identity of the culprits." The unusual value of tho stolen goods, ",£O," does not appear to have "mysterificd" anyone.

"Three-fourths of the results which follow from the taking of drugs might properly bo classed as tho results of faith healing," said Mr. G. M. Thomson last evening, in tho debate 011 tho Pharmacy Bill. Tho suggestion of faith healing had come from Dr. Te Rangihiroa, who declared that tho Jlaori tohunga had, in the days before the coming of the white man, l>een partly faith healer and partly herbalist. In those'days, ho said, tho Jtooris had faith, which they had lost since their association with the pakeha. Jlr. Thomson-told a story of & most efficacious remedy, prescribed by n knowing amateur. It was a sleeping draught, ami its effect was thoroughly satisfactory, but it was composed only of ground whito sugar.

"You don't find men in Queen Street like that," said Mr. E. C. Banks, when a letter from back-blocks settlers offering to builfl a shelter-shed if tho materials wero supplied wo» read »t. the meeting of tho Auckland Education Board on Wednesday. The chairman (Jlr. G. J. Garland) agreed with the remark, and added that every assistance should be extended to settlers willing to help themselves.

A meeting of thoso interested in the formation of a Horticultural Society foithe Johnsonville district was held in tho Rechabite Hall on. Thursday evening, tho Rev. F. H. I'etrie being in tlio chair. On the motion of Mr. 0. Jerusalem, it yrai unanimously agreed to take stops to form a society, and a provisional committor, consisting of Messrs. Cook, Bason, and Petrie, was appointed to draw up rules, etc., and report to a public meeting to bo held on Friday, October 11.

"The syndicate proposed to establish iron works, and for the first two years it desired to obtain a bounty of ,£35,000 per year, for tlio third year .£22,500, for the fourth year .£27,500, and for tlio fifth year ,£32,500, a total of .8117,500." This sentence, from our report (last Wednesday) of Mr. J. B. Laurensoil's references to "the Ethelburga Syndicate in a speech at the conference of the Industrial Corporation of New Zealand, contains a slight error. As the total of the figures, JJ117.500, shows, the bounty in the first two years should liavo been stated as .£17,500 a year, or .€35,000 for the two years.

Several 'Wellington petitions wero reported on yesterday by the Public Petitions Committee of the House of Representatives. No recommendation was made in the petition of John Wm, Foster, praying for compensation for wrongful arrest in connection with the theft of a bicycle. A similar report was made on the petition of Charles Janien, praying for an allowance in lieu of increase in salary and travelling expenses. The petition of Sidney St. John Lidiard, prating for a compassionate allowance for injuries received whilst captain of the steamship Pitoitoi, was referred to the Government for favourable consideration.

In the course of his address on the Northern Territory at the Masonic Club, Sydney, on September 19, Senator 11,'Uougall said no'sooner would a visitor arrive at Port DaTwin than a representative of the Flowery Ijand would call on hini v;ith the expressive introduction: "Mo tailor!" In all probability the visitor would lie minus white clothes, and ho would require nn outfit. "Of course," ho added, "the Chincso i can't measure you, but if you leave with him an old suit he will reproduce it to a thread. One gentleman gave him a pair of trousers, which had been patched, and in duo time he was presented with a perfect replica of his property, patch and all." (Laughter.) The celebration of the Feast of tho Order of Mercy took place at St. Mary's Convent, Ponsonby, Auckland, on Tuesday. Masses were celebrated at 7.30 and 8 a.m. by Monsignor O'Reilly and the Rev. P. Ford. Tho convent choir sang the different parts of tho Mass.' The chapel was decorated artistically with flowers. Telegrams of congratulation were received from all purls of the Dominion. At 3 p.m. the reception of the ex-pupils took place, when there was a largo attendance. A musical programme was given. Afternoon tea was then dispensed, and at five o'clock the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was given by the Right Rev. Monsignor O'Reilly. Amongst the clergy present wero ■ the Rev. Fathers Tigar, O'Malley and Clarke.

At a meeting of the Wellington Catholic Education Board, held on Thursday evening, the Very liw. Deail O'Shea, S.M., presiding, Iho following resolution was passed"That this board endorses the action of tho Bishop of Auckland (the. Wight Rev. Dr. Cleary) and the Auckland Catholic Education Board in tho course they have taken in endeavouring to secure for Catholic scholars tho right to take out Government scholarships in Catholic secondary schools, as provided for in tho Education Act of 1911. It also considers their case to be strengthened by the fact that such scholarships are tenable at such denominational schools as tho Wanganui Collegiate School aud Christ's College, Christchurch."

Discussion of private mutters, taken in committee, occupied tho major portion of tin* proceedings at the monthly meeting of tho Wellington College Governors yesterday. According to tho balance-sheet, tho balance at tho bank, less unpresentod cheques, totalled <£2721.125. Id., against which wore prospective payments amounting to ,£734 18s. 5d., which reduced tho balance ta .£1986 17s. Bd. Outstanding fees totalling ,£2504 163., and rents outstanding to tho amount of JJI2O 3s. Ud., raised the credit balance, on paper, to •£■loll 12s. 3d.

At the meeting of the Teachers' Institute last evening a letter was received from tho itanth Canterbury District Instituto at Timavn, conveying a resolution of the branch that

"tho important portfolio of Education should not be held by one who is also Minister for Defence and Minister for Finance," and asking for endorsement. "My own opinion is that if wo get dabbling in matters of this kind wo will get another letter 'received,'" said the chairman (Mr. C. ISary), apropos of the "reception" by tho Education Board of I'ho institute's letter of protest aucnt certain school appointments. Tho letter was "received.'*

A good deal of excitement was caused in Upper Willis Street at a few minutes before 2 p.m. yesterday, through, alarming noises which issued from a private residence, and very quickly a crowd of over a hundred people gathered in front of the house, straining to see through tho front window, only nl>out 10ft. back from tho street front. One of tho first to havo his attention attracted to tho disturbance was Mr. E. B. Dickenson, who states that ho heard cries, groans, and shouts for help from a woman, and, looking across tlm afreet, was astounded to tee a woman standing at tho ground floor front window with her face streaming with blood, aud beckoning for assistanco from uutside. He at once rushed across

tho 6troet, but on trying tho front door he found it locked. On looking in tho window he saw that the woman had fallen prostrate oil the flour. As he could not force liis way into the house, Mr. Dickenson, who naturally regarded the affair as a,serious one, ran down Cuba Street until he found a police constable, to whom ho told the story. Constable Atkinson ul onco proceeden to tho house in quostion, but tho woman absolutely declined to inform him how sho cuiuo by the Injuries inflicted. As sho declined to give any kind of evidence which the police could use against anyone, no action could bo taken.

"Parents have no right to send their cli?ldren to a school outside the school district in which they reside," stated a judgment delivered by the Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout, and which -was read at a meeting of the Auckland Education Board on AVediiesday. If, however, tho school committee of'a district chose to permit the children to attend tho school under its control, even though the children did not reside iu tho disrict, there could bo no objection. Tho Tourist Department has been advised that Pohutu, tho great show geyser of Whakarewarewa, lias been unusually activo during tho present week. On Tuesday last it gavo somo splendid displays in tho preseiwo of a number of visitors. It was violently activo for an hour and a half in the afternoon, and for half an hour in the evening. In tho course of his lecture at Sydney recently, Mr. Rainbow referred to the sooalled vegetable caterpillar. There wus a general belief that this caterpillar swallowed the seeds of the rata tree, that they germinated inside, killed the caterpillar, and grow in the ordinary way. Somo scientists had been in doubt as to whether these "vegetable caterpillars" should bo classed in the flora or fauna of tho country, whilst many of the unsophisticated were so convinced that they were veritable roots of tho trees, that they had actually planted them, if he might uso the expression, in tho fond but vain hope of a glorious resurrection in tho form of rata trees.

Mr. Wm. Campbell entertained tho employees of his Cuba Street, Manners Street, and Newtown businesses at a complimentary dinner in Godber's rooms on

Wednesday evening last. There were about 70 people present (the staff and their families), and a thoroughly enjoyable evening was spent. In proposing "Tho Firm," Mr. K. Read (manager of tho Newtown branch) referred to the estimable qualities of tho head of the firm, and the beneficent manner in which

he treated his employees. Such relations as existed between Mr. Campbell and his staff might well be emulated in business generally in Wellington. Mr. Campbell, in reply, congratulated himself on having such a loyal and hardworking stall, ami anything he had done to make their lot easier was thoroughly deserved. Mr. W. Callow proposed "The Kmployecs," to which-Mr. Horton responded; and Mr. P. Read proposed "The Ladies," the response to which was entrusted to Mr. Durston.