LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2270, 2 October 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

1 knew she was a pretty good spender, said an ex-member of a Maori Laud Board in giving evidence m the Supreme Court yesterday, in reference to a Nativo woman, who had disposed of her land through the board. It appeared that., in a period of live mouths ill which accounts were taken, tile woman had been spending her money at the rate of £2700 per annum. The board, in granting the transfer of tho land, had made an order that the balance of the purchase money duo to tlio woman should be paid to the Public Trustee to be held iu trust for her, and her children.

The sentence of death passed upon Daniel Hammon in the Supreme Court at Auckland on September 4 lias been commuted to one of imprisonment for life. Hammon was sentenced to death for tho murder of his wife at AVliangarei on July 21.

" 'Tis an ill wind that blows no one some good." The detention of the Expeditionary Force (about 8000 men) in Wellington has not been without its compensations to the business community. Huge stocks of ' food and fodder have been needed to feed man and beast, and the Dominion "Tommy" in his leisure hours is not tho man to roam arbund without spending a few shillings—at times, nono too wisely. AtSeatoun. Miramar, and Lyall Bay, where there are camps of mounted infantry, the local storekeepers have been doing a lively trade.

"Maoris are only human, and they can bo made mad by the conduct of certain lawyers," was the remark made by a Native plaintiff , (a, woman) in the Supreme Court yesterday, during . examination by her own counsel. When the answer was put in plain English by the interpreter, it caused a great deal of laughter. ' Trees and shrubs to the number of 54,000 were planted lon city reserves during the planting season just completed. At' Central Park 35,000 were planted, at Tinakori Hills 15,000,. -at Sydney. Street 1500, and at Newtown Park 2500. The Christchurch police have received the following advice from the constable at Hanmer: —"Fred Watson, a settler at Tekaki, Murchkon, left Hanmer Springs last Wednesday week by way of Lake Ada and Cannibal Gorge, for Alanuwera Springs. He was • due .at Tekaki last Monday, but not yet turned up. He was riding one . horse and leading another. It is feared that he got off the track and met with an accident." Search paities are now out. —Press Association. During the hearing of a,Native land case,in the Supreme Court yesterday morning, a lawyqr put it to His Honour the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) that the vendor of a block of land had been at a disadvantage in connection with the sale because of the (fact that she was a Maori and had 110 one to appear for her before the Maori Land Board. "That," said His Honour, "is the patent defect of the Act, which I tried to remedy thirty years ago. The people who wanted to get the land were, however, too strong. There never will bo any satisfaction while thoy allow a Maori to act for liimself in connection with the sale of land. It-all ought to bp done by a Government officer, and by auction, and then it would bo favourable to the Maoris." His Honour added that 'the trouble which had arisen was all the fault of the Legislature. Permission has been granted by the City authorities for the erection of an "ocean wave" on the beach at Lyall Bay for the summer season, the rental to be £30. Somo Territorials who have been classed as medically unfit for the Expeditionary Force are under tho ' impression that they are exempt "from further service under, tho New Zealand Defence Act. This is not so, tho standard required for an expeditionary is far higher than that required for home defence. The New Zealand Act is ouly for home defence, therefore the fact that they have been rejected for inclusion' in the Expeditionary Force (which is purely voluntary) does not in any way- affect thoir obligation to train for liome defence. Additional seats at Oriental Bay round to Point Jerningliam a,re to bo erected at an estimated _ cost of £14. This was decided at last night's meeting ■of tho City" Council. Tho rainfall' in the Waimate district for tho fiVe months ended yesterday was 305 points, or at tho rate of a little over 8 inches a year, whereas the history of the past quarter of a century shows an annual rainfall of 23 inches. | In reply, to a question by Mr. Witty in the House of Representatives as to what had 6ecn done regarding the release of tho striko prisoners, tho Hon. A. L. Herdman (Minister of Justice) said "Tho representations made for tho release of the four remaining striko prisoners have received tho consideration of tho Government. Eadli individual case has been# again carefully looked -into, and it is regretted that 110 grounds can bo seen to alter tho decision previously arrived at in regard to those men." Tho previous decision referred to was that as theso prisoners had already been convicted of other offences they could not be released., The city baths have been thrown open freo of charge to members of tho Expeditionary Force, and tho City Council has received a' letter from the Minister of Defence (the Hon. Jas. Allen), expressing the thanks of the Defence Department for tho favour conferred on tho men. A man was arrested by Dctoctivo Andrews yesterday 011 a charge of sending a forged telegram, 110 will appear in Court this morning.

i Now that the winter months are practically gone and with them the winter's fires, householders are advised to have the quantum of soot, inevitably attendant on the latter, romove'j from -their cliimneys. The equinoctial -gales are due about these mouths, the same gales being very partial to bringing • about chimney fires. The householder so favoured by these high winds and who liaa failed to remove the soot from the chimney flue, is liable to prosecution. Although there have only been two or three chimney fires in Wellington lately—one occurred yesterday—householders will be doing the Fire Brigade and themselves a favour if they secure the services of the chimney sweep. Wages of motormen and conductors on the Wellington tramways showed an increase of £1825 for the 24 weeks ended September 15 last. The increase was due mainly to the higher rates under the new agreement. For the same reason tho wages of car cleaners showed l an increase of £211 and the wages of the power 6tation men £2SO. Complaints have been made that several undesirables in and around Petone have been begging from door to door, under the pretext that they have been thrown out of work through the war. The public is advised to refer these people to the Local Distress Committee. ;Special expenditure in connection with tho city tramways for tho period from April 1 to September 15 of tho present year comprised the following:— Alterations to cars, £2130; alterations' to centre polos, £331; purchase of motor-car, £200; and relaying Newtown feeder cables, £81. The forthcoming production of the play, "The Liars," at Gisborne has been responsible for a little jolce that has been .played off by Auckland at the expense of Wellington, says an exchange. A local bookseller anticipating a demand for copies of the book wired to Auckland for "a supply of 'The Liars.' " The reply he got was: "No liars in Auckland; try Wellington." The Finance Committee of the City Council reported last night that they had considered the question of the charge for water supplied to high levels for other than domestic purposes, and they recommended that such supplies be charged for by meter at Is. 6d. per thousand gallons.—Tho council agreed. A Christ-church resident who is impressed with the necessity for the establishment of an adequate number of trained men has begun a movement for the enrolment of those willing to undergo training, and has distributed a number of lists for signature in the city and its vicinity. The lists bear the following heading: "Wo, the undersigned, seeing that our Empire is at war, and recognising tho necessity for trained men, volunteer our services for the defence of our homes and country, and pledge ourselves to assemble for drill when called upon, to diligently and zealously continue to attend drills and parades, and subordinate ourselves to the necessary discipline until released or passed into reserve corps." Meter readers at the city lighting station are to be informed that the City Council cannot see its way to make any alteration at present in the conditions under which these men are employed. The men are not on the staff, and are at present allowed all public holidays, and in addition obtain leave on special occasions. ' Last year they received twelve days' holiday, but , they, uow apply for annual leave in addition. A petition from the Egmont Box Company was lately presented to the House asking that legislative sanction be given to an agreement between it and tie Tongariro Timber Company, in-regard to the construction of a railway, and main and branch tramways for the purpose of removing timber from "the Taurewa Block. Tins petition has been considered by the Native Affairs Committee, which has referred it to the Govern, ment for favourable consideration. - The Reserves Committee reported at last night's meeting of the City Council that- they had received an application from the Trades and Labour Council for a reduction on the rental of Newtown Park for the Labour Day celebrations. The committeo arranged to remit half the fees cliargeable for the Use of NeWtown Park equal to £10, provided half the net proceeds, equal to or exceeding the sum of £10 exclusive of the remission, was handed to the Mayor's War Distress Fund, also subject to the gatcmen being provided by tho council at the expense of the Trades and-Labour Council.—-The report was adopted. . - The fishing season opened yesterday, and, as far as could bo gathered, a fair number of sportsmen went out to try their luck. ' The. licenses of two city taxi-cab driv« ers were cancelled by the City Council last evening—one for over-charging and' the other for negligent driving and misconduct. A largely-signed petition was recently presented to fio House of Representatives praying that legislation be passed to enable the Minister of Railways to recognise officially tho duly-constituted society to which they belong, as tho only society liaving the right to represent matters applicable to the whole of tho New Zealand locomotive enginedrivers, firemen, and cleaners. The Railways Committee, in reporting on tho petition yesterday, recommended that it be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. Tho recommendation was adopted. <

■ The Tramways Union are to bo informed in reply to their letter on tho subject that, the City Council cannot see their way to reopen the question of tlie wages paid to permanent way roDaircrs and labourers at the present juncture. - The men are at present paid in accordance with the terms of the award, at a fixed rate per hour for timo actually worked, and are in receipt of - jnoro money than received by thorn under the previous system when they were paid forty-eight hours wages for 461 hours actually worked.