LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1754, 20 May 1913, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Mabeno arrived at Auckland from Sydney at G a.m. yesterday, 'l'lio Wellington portion of her English (via Suez) and Australian mails will arrive hero by this afternoon's ilain Trunk express.

The mails which left Wellington on April 4 per s.s. Warrimoo, and on April 11 p:T s.s. Maunganui, and connected with the Naples mails per R.M.S. Orama, arrived in London on May 17, one day early.

"What is tlie. practice," asked a lawyer of ft shop-girl during yesterday's Supreme Court sitting, "when you have served a woman at your countcr and she wants something that has to bo got from another department? Do you send tho woman along, or go and get. it l'or her?" "It depends on the woman," said the girl. "Oh, I see," the lawyer went on, "some women you trot round after, and others you lot look after themselves." "Tlvat's right," replied tho girl.

Pictures of actresses are among the "home comforts" allowed in prisoners' cells at tho tree-planting camp at Hanmer. This was remarked upon by Dr. Cockayne at tho sitting of the Forestry Commission yesterday, in terms of approval, rather than otherwise; and ho asked whether tlie.ro was any reason why this indulgence was allowed at Hanmer and not at any of the other places. The witness under examination was Mr. D. Jordan, UnderSecretary for Justice, aiid his opinion of the matter was that too many comforts of this serf were allowed nt Hanmer. lie doubted whether such pictures as were most favoured had any good moral ;c(Tect. nnd he stated that it was certainly woi advisable to make prisons too comfortable. Whereupon Mr. Clarke, a mem bet of the Commission, remarked: "Certainly not. If you do . you will have half till; community in tho camp, and the other half looking after them."

After a oompleto restoration at the hands of Mr. W. F. Colley. the full length portrait of the'late Mr. Edward Jerningham Wakefield has been rchung in the City Council Chambers. Unfortunately the light is not strong enough in the chamber to disclose the wonderful change which has been wrought by tho English expert, but a closo inspection reveals many of tho artistic beauties in the painting that were merely a dark accumulation of dust and varnish before. Unfortunately, Mr. Colley found, in bringing up the original tones, that an attempt had been made by another to "restore" the painting; nnd in the process pigments had been used—a fatal error, according to the expert, for it is impossible to blend modern pigments with those used on an old painting Mr. Colley considers that tho painting is good for another hundred year.J. Tho other- paintings in the Council Chamber have also been cleaned up by the artist.

A message written on a Unio.n S.S. Company's label, and enclosed in a scaled bottle, was picked up on the sea beach near the mouth of the Wnnganui liiver yesterday, telegraphs our special correspondent. The message read:—"May 1, 1513, 4.25 a.m., off watch.—W. J. Morison, R.N., S.S. Maitai." It is probable that the message was thrown overboard in order to ascertain the trend of the current. The Maitai left Lyttelton on April SO for Wellington, arriving at tho latter place on May 1 at 11 a.m., so that she would be about midway w'hi?n tho message was thrown overboard.

Respecting a case in the Supreme Court yesterday, Mr. Wilford delivered his opening address to the Court oil behalf of tho plaintift'. and then asked that all witnesses should be ordered out of Court. His Honour the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) at once observed that such a course was not fair to the other side. "If you are going to order witnesses out," his Honour said, "you should not allow them to remain in Court until they have heard your side of the case. I am not going to order that they leave, the Court."

Three fine specimens of trout which were caught in Lake Taupo, and which weighed 10 pounds, 8 pounds, and 5 pounds respectively, were on view in Mr. nurcombe's fish shop, Cuba Street, yes-, terday. Tho heaviest fish wos about two i'eet long, the second about Ift. 10in., and ■the third about Ift. Gin.

While motor-cycling near Marton, tlio Wanganiji district representative 'of ail insurauco company was caught by a strong gust of wind when crossing a bridgo over a stream. He and his machine were blown orer tlio side of the bridge, the bicycle smashing tho hand railing bv the force of tlio collision. When the rider picked himself up, says our special correspondent, lie found ho had fallen about 18 feet, a lid ; within two feet of tlio stream, while just above him hung his machine, which was caught in some way ami'suspended in the air. It was badly damaged, but the cyclist fortunately was little tho worse for his experience.

■ ""What is your name," asked . Mr. T. Jf. Wilford of a girl witness in tho Supremo Court .yesterday. "I know anything about it," was the decisive repl.y. It transpired, later that tlio girl had misunderstood the question.

An idea for providing Wellington Town Ilall with a clock was originated at the Orphans' Club "on Saturday evening by Mr. K. A. Bait, vice-president, who. in the course of his welcoming remarks to the Mayor and City Councillors, meiutioned the lack of a clock at tlio Hall. His notion is that funds might bo raised for tho purpose mentioned by combining the forces of the various musical Ijodies of Wellington, and holding concerts in aid of the scheme. It might be mentioned that provision is made in the tower of the Town Hall for a clock. The l four openings for tho clock-faces are filled in with boards.

At least one local body whose interests lis to tho eastward of the new Hntt Pipe Bridge, is becoming restive at tho long delay that is taking pl.lciTover tho completion of tho eastern approaches to the new structure. Tho Eastbourne Borough Council, for example, has long since paid its quota to the cost of the bridge, but owing to the fact that nothing has been done, so far as is officially known, towards tho making of the roadway approaches on tho eastern side, tho bridge is of no uso to the borough. The bridge work, both the main bridge and that over .tho Waiwstu Stream, have been completed, but there still remains to be constructed by local bodies the road through (or round) the Itutt Park, and another length of road through a private estate, owned by a syndicate, which undertook to build the road through its property on the bridges named being erected. It is probable that the whole matter may be revived at nn early date.

The conference of representatives of local todies to. bo held in connection with the large increase in this levies imposed this year by- the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board will most probably ba held in Wellington on Tuesday or Wednesday next. Most of the bodies concsrirc-d have already appointed their representatives, and Mr. Bennett (borough clerk of Miraumr), who has tho matter in hand, is only awaiting a favourable reply from olio of (lie country bodies before definitely fixing the conference for ojio of the days above mentioned.

The Drivers' Federation has convened a conference of representatives of the various transport workers' unions—tho drivers, tramway employees, railway employees, and waterside workers—for Juno 2S at Wellington. Tho conference is to discuss tho formation of an industrial department of transport workers under the now scheme of tho United Federation of Labour.—Christchureli Tress.

At a recent meeting of the Women s Christian Temporaneo Union, tho full text of tho resolution which was carried unanimously was as follows:—"That this meeting protests against the attempt of Canon Garland's Bible-in-Schools League to force the teachers to givo religious instruction without providing a conscience clause for teachers."

The annual meeting of tho Webb Street Methodist Literary and Debating Society was held on Friday evening, the Rev. W. S. Potter being in the chair. The. election of officers resulted as follows:—President, llev. W. S. Potter; vice-prosidciits, Miss J. Ralph and Messrs. G. Luke and G. A. lloare; treasurer, Mr. J. Wharton; secretary, Mr. H. Goodhall; assistant secretory, Mr. Collins; pianist, Miss Snelliug; reporters, Messrs. Edwards and Sage.

A meeting of tho committee of tho Wellington South Progressive Society was held last evening, when the constitution and rules were drawn up ready for adoption. Tho treasurer, Sir. A. Crosby, reported that G8 members had already paid their subscriptions, and that there was a prospect of a largo membership. A general meeting will lie held on Wednesday, May 28, to adopt rules and to elect permanent officers for the society.

Slowly but surely tho big area acquired by tho City Council at Lyall Bay is bping transformed from its native state—sand dunes and hollow?—into a flat stretch of promising ground for recreation purposes. The work of top-dressing the area is well in hand, and a considerable portion, is expected to be ready for turfing before long. . 1

In the vicinity of Russell -Terrace, New town, is a largs area whitih it is considered could 1m easily transformed ii-to a recreation ground. This area, which was visited by the Mayor and a number of city councillors oil Saturday dbirinp a general tour of inspection, comprises about 20 acres. It is generally recognised that wlilc-n the question of making Usw recreation grounds comes up for consi(Vration the Busfell Terraco site should receive oariy attention.

Having in view tho hokllng of future carnivals at Newtown Park, it has been suggested by the city engineer that a permanent pavilion, which could bo ueed for the accommodation of side shows at carnival time, oi' as dressing-rooms for spbrts bodies, should bo erected at the southern end of the park. This, it is consideftid, would not only be a very great convenience, but would mean an. actual saving with regard to future carnivals, as if* provision would obviato the incurring cost of temporary sheds and other accommodation.

The Wellington City Council is now, in tei;ms of a Gazette notice published lest week, I'itll owner of tho Wninui valmrihed. Heretofore only the actnnl area of the valley occupied by tho corporation waterworks was vested in tho council, but as the result of negotiations with tho Government, the corporation has beetle own|:r, of the entire watershed.