LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1858, 18 September 1913, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

For the observance of Dominion Day, the State schools of the city will be closed all day on Monday nest.

Warfare with queer weapons is occasionally alleged by parties to Police Court cases. -Yesterday Inspector Hendroy's tablo was ornamented *by the leg of an iron bedstead. This "waddy" was about 3ft. Cin. long, and it wis said to have been grasped in both hands by one man who laid it not at all gently across the head of another. The alleged assailant denied the imputation. The caso arising out of the affray is to bo concluded to-day.

. An entertaining fairy tale was revived at last night's .meeting of the Wellington North Cricket Club. It was mentioned that prior to an Australian cricket team coining over hero in the eighties Mr. George Webb, a Wellington enthusiast, had a small regiment out rolling 'the wickets every morning, and a result was that tlio turf so suitod tlio visitors tliat they hit up 470 runs. "And," remarked ono of thoso at tlio mooting, remembering tho old talo, "sent eight of the team up tho Wairarapa." This, of course, moans that tho visitors sent two men in to bat, left another on hand in case ono of tlio first pair might loso his wicket, and then went for a trip until 'their turn to field came.

Sleeping out in tho open covered only by paper was the nightly let of one who passed through tho Magistrate's Court yesterday morning. Ho had not. been, working for taino time, and spent his days about, the wharves and the forefllioi'e, and kid audits aj indicated,

A record in brevity was established last night at a meeting of the Victoria College Council, the whole of tho business being transacted in twenty minutes. If "brevity is the soul of wit," then the five members of tho council present wore unusually witty, as about the longest speech was "Ay," as the different clauses of the committee's 'eport were passed. Epidemic bulletin: —The District Health Officer, Auckland, reports:— "One suspicious case (European) lias been removed from Newton, Auckland, to Point Chevalier Hospital. One ease (.Maori) is reported at Waikino, Bay of Islands." The question of uniformity of holidays for accountants, was considered at last night's meeting of the Wellington branch of the Accountants' Society. Mr. It. Wilberfoss said itliat the council had gone into the matter, and found it impossible to arrange for a uniform set of holidays. They had no power to bind members of tho society to particular days, but they suggested that a private meeting of public accountants should be held to consider the matter. It was resolved to recommend tho incoming committee to endeavour to place holidays on a uniform basis. Better practico wickets for cricketers are to he obtained from tho City Council if tho Wellington North Club has its way. Speaking at last night's meeting of the North Club, Mr C. 6. Wilson said that tho match wickets were fairly satisfactory, but tho practice tickets were very unsatisfactory, and he held that good practice wickets \ ero of tho utmost importance to the game. Bad practico wickets resulted in young players not gaining confidence, and there followed an absence of that free- takc-a-risk piny which characterised tho Australians. If a young man learnt on. a truo wicket ho soi-n becamo confident and went ahead. David Grinton, who is said to have loon stabbed hi the faco with a fork in a Courtenay Place boardinghouse nearly two weeks ago, is still in tho Wellington Hospital. Next Wednesday one Robert Murray will appear in the Magistrate's Court to answer a charge of having assaulted Grinton. Big cricket will be plentiful in Wellington during the coming cricket season. Tho Australians will play Wellington here, and probably play New Zealand in this city. The Auckland representatives will visit Wellington, and a match will be played against Canterbury on ono of tho local grounds. The case in which Samuel Charles Minifio is charged with having attempted to murder his wife (Julia Minifio) will probably bo heard in the Magistrate's Cour,t next Wednesday. The date of tho alleged ofi'enco was July 28. Tho police were ready to proceed with the case yesterday morning, but Mr. T. M. Wilford (Minifio 1 s counsel) desired an adjournment, and Inspector Hon drey agreed to this, remarking that he had so often requested a remand that he could hardly object to a similar request from defendant's counsel. Tho Salvation Army continues to mako rapid progress in New Zealand. At present the Army is erecting a large "Booth Memorial" Officers' Training College in Wordsworth Street. In addition to that, a barracks or hall, to seat 200 people, lias just been completed Q.t Kilbiruio, to servo the requirements of residents on the western side of Blount Victoria. Brigadier Bray (who is tho building secretary) also reports tho erection of a new one-story brick building at Riverton, at a cost of £700. Plans are also being prepared for an extension of the Young People's Hall in Jessie Street (Wellington) by tho addition of a second story. It is also tho intention of the Army, to erect a receiving homo in Gisborne, in connection with the womcn's : social work, and whilst there on Saturday the Commissjoner and Brigadier Bray will inspect cites under offer. Following AVellington's example, the Christchurcli Tramway Board proposes to experiment with an observation car during the coming holiday season. Each trip will embrace return journeys on two lines, and tho route will bo changed each day. Tho fares will bo 2s. for adults and Is. for children. There are probably a few score of local bodies' in New Zealand which would like to bo able to dispose of stormwater'as easily as is done by the Mount Albert Borough Council—that is, dig a 4ft. hole in tho ground, and run. tho water into it v ■ Part of Mount Albert is apparently built upon ancient volcanic _ deposits, and tho sub-soil formation is so loose tjiat once tlie crust of the earth is broken through, water runs away freely through the scoria. One new "soak-hole" opened during the recent wet weather, according to the "Herald," took a steady stream of water for three days, and showed 'no sign of becoming stopped up. ''Tho is a blunder from every point of view," said the Mayor of Auckland (Mr. C. J. Parr) during the course of a lecture on i'Town Planning" on Monday night. "It shuts out tho air and the sun, so badly wanted in our streets. _ Where land is as high-priced as it is in Now York this is the sort of thing which is forced upon the owners. I am afraid our land in Auckland is getting high-priced. « We shall have to be careful to see that 'skyscrapers' are not built hore."

News from the lonely little island of Nino was brought to Auckland by the ketch Kereru, which returned to Auckland on Monday, after a round voyage occupying 41 days. No other vessel lias visited Niuo this year, so that the five days' stay of the Kereru created no little cxcitement amongst the few inhabitants. The vessel brought a full cargo of copra, a portion of which is for transhipment to the Indralema for London.

The following have been admitted to membership of the Ineovpoiated Institute of Accountants of New Zealand as associates, by virtue of their having passed tho examination conducted by the New Zealand University, 011 behalf of the Now Zealand Societv of Accountants:—Messrs. A. M. Anderson, C. 11. Clinkard, F. T. Davis, K, M. Finlayson, AA'. Waters, J. AY. Mackisack, T. H, Jones, H. Brcnton-Rule, H A. Cunninghnm, George Sidford,' H. li. Sykes, and 11. AY. Thompson. Tiie majority of tho abovo are AYellingtcnians.