LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2446, 27 April 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Postal authorities advise that the s.s. Mokoia, which is due from Sydney to-day, is bringing Australian mails only. The Post Office authorities advise that stamp booklets are now available for sale to the public. The. Minister of Education (the Hon. J., Allan) spent part of yesterday afternoon inspecting proposed sites for a new technical school and a new school for tho Mount Cook district. He was accompanied by Dr. Anderson (Director of Education), Mr. J. G. W. Aitken (of the Education Board), Mr. T. R. Fleming (Chief Inspector for Wellington District), and Mr. Stewart (Secretary of the Education Board). For some time past the Department' has been considering the proposal to build a new technioal - school in Wellington, and another proposal to reorganise the Mount Cook School, at present divided into an infant school, a girls' school, and a boys' school.. Yesterday, Mr.. Allen went to view the suggested sites for a new technical school, and -a new combined school for Mount Cook. The

Minister stated that something must be done to put the Technical Scnool on a mora,' satisfactory footing. . Also, he considered the present Mount Cook Schools unsatisfactory,' both as regards buildings and playgrounds.

The Miramar Golf Clubis inew pavilion, a contract for the . erection of which lias been let to Mr.' A. J. Ibbotson at about £2600,- will have ■ a handsome exterior, will *be of • wood, two stories high, and will be ready for occupation in five months' time. On the ground floor will bo a ladies' lounge, a gentlemen's smoking room, aiid'.vtirious dressing rooms. A spacious dining jroom, having an open timber roof and large pressed brick fireplaces, a kitchen, committee rooms, and offices, will b<j located on \tho first floor, and the oaretaker will have his quarters immediately under _ the roof. A verandah and balcony will run round three sides of the pavilion and enablo the members and their friends to obtain a fine

view of Lyall Bay and the links. The pavilion • will have a concrete foundation. The architect is Mr. Gray Young. The annual report of the 'Wellington >■ Savage Club, which is to be submitted to the members on Friday evening next, congratulates the club on its successful financial operations, stating that the net profit for the season was £74 10s. Id. The expenditure for the year showed an increase of £28 18s. lOd.j accounted for by an inoreased/ deficiency in connection with the ladios' evening. As an evidence of tho club's loyally the members at the first korero after the outbreak of the war. donated £1000 to tie Prim© Minister's Patriotic Fund. Reference is mtajs to the patriotic evening which marked the farewell of _ General Godley and other Savage soldiers. Regarding the accommodation for future, koreros the committee regret that' owing to the . war building operations have been suspended, but they understand that negotiations are oh foot for the building to start very shortly. A City, chemist was charged in the' Magistrate's Court yesterday (1) "selling adulterated infants' food; .(2) selling infants' food with false thereon as to its composition." The case was adjourned to May 3:'

A serious charge was preferred against a boy of 10 years in the .Juvenile Court before Mr. G. Cruickshank, 5.M.,. yesterday. The charge was that of, setting fire to the Preshbyterian Church at Island Bay. Mr. A. H. Hindmarsh appeared for accused aiid entered a plea of not guilty. The policy evidence was to the effect that the boy had oonfessed to having set fire to some dead leaves and rubbish near the church. The bb.y had previously nied being anywhere near tho building on the day in question. It was submitted by counsel for tho defence that there was no. criminal, intent, and consequently tilers was' no charge of arson to answer. .The magistrate did not agree, however, and eventually the case was adjourned to Thursday when further evidence will be heard.'

Questions relating to costs in the Hawke's Bay election petition case were discussed before the Hawke's Bay Election Court yesterday morning. The Court consisted of Their Honours the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stotit) ami Mr; .Justice Edwards. Mr. C. P. Skerrett K.C., appeared for the petitioner (Mr' H. M. Campbell), and Sir John Findlay, K.C., and Mr. P. Levi appeared for the respondent (Dr. Eobert M'Nab) Mr. Skerrett submitted'.to the Court that the costs allowed should be as on I an ordinary action (a scale of £50]) i Sir.John Findlny suggested that the costs should be as on a scale of £1000 The case, lie said, had been fought atgreat expense, and costs as suggested by Mr. Skerrett would lie entirely inadequate. Mr. Skerrett- replied ' that the argument in Wellington had been a? much for the convenience of the Court as for the parties, and onlv portion of the time had bqen occupied bv matters concorninfi the Hawke's Bar petition. Their Honours said that the'v would look into the matter, aud civ'e Uieir dcsinloii to-day,

' "is an, instance of tko way psopla are moving, l ' inn* a business letter received ui Wellington yesterday from London, "I only heard yesterday tliat every day by the]B o'clock tram from Nottingham a new aerial engine is sent up to London, This has been' going on since last September.; , It is only one instance from a\ manufacturing company. I wonder how many dozens of others have been doing the same thing."

An elderly gentleman, in speaking at the meeting of ratepayers of Eastbourne .last night, received rather a bad hearing from a portion of those present, notably some young men. At length .the speaker was unable to proceed with the accompanying "counting out." .He waited for the noise to die down, and warmly remarked to the interrupters that such young men should not interrupt an old man like he was. "If you were doing the right thing, and which I would do if I were young enough, you would now be at the front." The retort was greeted with applause, and tho old' gentleman was allowed to proceed.

1 "Karori now boasts -one of the best school libraries in the Wellington disfrjct, and it form 6 an unending source of pleasure and profit to the children," states the School Committee in its annual report. "It may be pointed out that during the past two. years the oomiruttee nas spent the sum of £25 on the library."

In answer to a question from a ratepayer at last night'B meeting of the residents of Eastbourne, , as to what were the profits of the ferry service at the present tune, the Mavor (Mr. W. J. Organ) said the Ferry fioard had on deposit nearly £1200, which was not necessarily profit, but not required for carrying on the service.

A meetmg was intended for last evening to discuss oertain matter's atteotmg the Newtown Museum, but ai only half a dozen people put in an appearance an adjournment till after ths elections was made.

lesterday thirteen nominations were received for the election of the Hutt District High School Committee, and twelve for Eastern Hutt.

"I wist to pve you a word of warn* lug, as this will be my. last opportunity, of addressing you," said Mr. W. J w Organ, the retiring Mayor of EatU bourne, at a public meeting in the East, bourne Town Hall last night, "and it 1 l If' ' las ' 3eon ' s to at there' should be a reduction in the fares charged in tho ferry servico, as the service is now a paying concern. This! is not tho right stand to take, (Hear, hear.) If the service is carrying people at reasonable rates, any surolus or profits should be put to a sinking fund. The boats will not last for ever, and new ones will have to be purchased some day."

Mr. John Ca6tle (secretary of tho " ellulgt-on South Progressive Association) writes as»followB in reference to a report of a meeting of civic candidates on Saturday evening last:— "Your headline this morning, 'Obstruction Tactics at Newtown,' is another, injustice to Newtown, which 6hould.be at once corrected. All the meetings of election candidates held in this di&< trict have been orderly, and no candi« date has been obstructed in any way* Your report speaks of a disorderly ing whioh had to be abandoned at Gaiw rett Street, but Newtown cannot sure* ly be responsible for that." The head* ing inadvertently associated Newtown with the, scene of the disturbance, which, as our report stated and Mr. Castle points out, took place in Garret® Street, in the city.

A pleasant social evening was spenfj last evening by the members and frienda of the Saored Heart Thorndon Branca of the Hibernian Society at the open* ifig of their now rooms in the Marisfj Bros-' Schoolroom, Hawkestone Street.Among those present were: lie Rev* Dean Regnault,, Fathers Herring and Taylor (Marist missioners), Mr. P. D. Hosking, district deputy and secretary of St. Patrick's Branch, Sir. J. M'Gowan, president St. Patriok'a Branch, and Mr. M. Walsh, represent* ing St; Mary's Ladies' Branch. Mr; j, A. Humphrey, . secretary, stated that the progressiveness of the society had necessitated the occupation of thg larger rooms. Mr. R. P. Smyth (vica< president),. and Mr.' R. P. Flanagan and other members spoke in 'oongratut latory vein. Musical and vocal itomg were rendered by Misses Butler and Mulhane, Messrs. G. Leydon, A. Levin, and Master Reaves. After supper dancing was indulged in and concluded a most enjoyable evening. \

A candidate for a seat on the East, bourne Borough Council came in for aJ share' of good-natured banter at a> public meeting at Eastbourne' last night. He reiterated his belief in tha proposed water scheme. "1 am verj strong on water," he repeated for about the eighth time, at winch the audience again laughed. "I liave half a dozen, tenants, and they are drinking—— (A prolonged, "Oli I" from the rear of the hall, followed by roars of laugh, tor.) "You might let me ' finish,"• continued tb» speaker "They are drinking, as I said, 'stagnated water.''} (More laughter.)