LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 478, 10 April 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Gazetto, which in the regular course would have been published last Thursday, will not be issued uutil Tuesday next. A tramcar and a wagon tried conclusions in Willis Street on Thursday morning, rho wagon coming off with more or less serious damago to its fore-part. Tho sculling race for the championship of New Zealand between Whelch (of Akaroa) and Fogwell (of Now South Wales) will bo decided at Akaroa on Monday. Mr. A. J. Joblin, of Pohonui, announces his candidature for a scat on tho Wellington Land Board. Mr. Joblin is a settler of ten years' experience in tho backblocks, and is well equipped therefore to watch tho interests of settlers and to promote tho best interests of settlement. Tho postal authorities advise that tho Maheno, which left Sydnoy for Auckland on. Wednesday, has on board an English and Australian mail, 'which is dro hero by tho Auckland express oh Monday afternoon next (Easter Monday). At Thursday night's meeting of the Trades and Labour Council, Mr. Dowdall gave expression to some allegations concerning tlio life-saving appliances of a certain ship leaving port. After discussion, it was decided, on tho motion of Mr. D. M'Laron, M.P., that tho Wharf Labourers' and Seamen's Unions should co-operate in investigating the matter and to wait upon tho Minister for Marino. , ' Tho " marriage market" is busy, as is usually the case at this time of tho year, and just prior to Christmas (says an Auckland paper). Happy couples, it appears, favour the holiday season, doubtless because it is easier at such times for the bridegroom who is employed in business to obtain the leave of absence without which the ideal honeymoon is impossible. In connection with tho Auckland electric tramways, an improved system in regard to the permanent way is being gradually introduced. Formerly tho rails were all laid on 18in. wide longitudinal concrete sleepers, and the latter arc being replaced at several points along the various routes by transverse timber sleepers laid on a foundation of rubble. The new system prevents the shrinkage which went on in tho clay soil with tho concrete sleepers, and gives a certain amount of elasticity to the rails. Among the small prisons that are to bo abolished, tho Timaru Gaol may be one. Tho Timaru "Post" considers that there is really nothing to warrant the continuance of the institution. The new police cells are well adapted for tho incarceration of 24 or JS-hour cases, and persons sentenced to imprisonment for longer terms can easily be conveyed to Lyttelton. Tho closing of the gaol would make available for better uses a very valuable piece of land. Teas grown in different localities have different characteristics, and even the tea from any particular garden is not the same in two successive seasons. Climatic changes, differences of soil, exercise influences, and it is in tho art of tho tea bleitdor to bring together tho different teas and by combination to produco a particular flavour. Crescent Blend Tea is a choice combination of Ceylon and Indian Tecs, and tho flavour never varies.. All eMi-il-nnnors, 2s. per lb.

Tho Rev. D. C. Bates, who takes a jivo interest in tho "zoo," is not. at, all satisfied I with tho way' in which the heterogeneous 1 family at Newtown Park is being cared for, 1 and gives a list of the deaths that navo occurred of late. These includo an emu, a , kingfisher, a black swan, a young deer, and a llusiuo deer, and on Wednesday a fine stag ; was lost. Tho Rusino deer have not yet been paid for. The Auckland oyster season opens on May 1 next. Tho.supply of oysters (says tho " Star") is not likely to be so largo as it was last season, when the best of the \\aiheko beds were pretty well depleted. It takes four years for tho bivalves to come to maturity, but, of course, tho careful selection made last season should ensure a good supply of the matured oysters, especially at Waiheke. The other beds that are to bo drawn upon have not had the same chance of recuperating. Mr. L. F. Ayson, head of tho Fisheries Department, is expected in Auckland in time to make the necessary arrangements for tho coming season's picking. ' Upon receipt of a letter from Mr. S. Carroll, secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, inviting the president of the Trades Council to a dinner in connection with tho annual conferenco on Tuesday, a lengthy discussion took place at Thursday's meeting of the Trades Council. Mr. Dowdall said ho did not object to the invitation of a personal friend to such a function, but the capitalistic partywas trying to buy over or bribe Labour bv inviting one of the officers of an organised council of Labour simply to blind tho eyes of tho workers. It was another red herring to lead tho workers astray.—A voice: "They will give him red herrings at tho dinner.' (Laughter.) "I would like," continued Mr. Dowdall dramatically, "to invito tho Chamber of Commerce to a dinner also, but I would poison them!" (Great laughter.) Tho motion to accept tho invitation was carried by 20 to 10. A resident of Rotorua, who is at present on a visit to Auckland, informed a "Herald" representative that tho number of people, tourists and others, who had visited the Hot Lakes district during the present season was very large, particularly during the latter half of the season. At present every boardinghouse at Rotorua was packed to its utmost capacity, and in the hotels beds were being made up in the passages. The baths had been exceptionally busy since the new establishment opened in January last. The special baths, thoso' that catered for real invalids and those for the treatment of serious diseases, had been particularly well patronised. The fact that tho attendances at the baths were on tho increase was/a benefit to Rotorua, as half the returns therefrom now went towards 'improvements, and this was a gain, as compared with the days of tho town council. \ ' . It is expected that New Zealand will send delegates to tho world's'sixth Sunday School Convention, to be held in Washington this year. In coiuiection with tho convention, tho chairman (Mr. G. W. Bailey) writes from Philadelphia to tho " Outlook ":—" We desire to .secure a. large delegation from New Zealand to this convention, and I _ would greatly appreciate your co-operation in this effort. From the success of our previous conventions held in Jerusalem and Rome, wo are warranted in expecting that tho Washington Convention will be the greatest missionary Sunday School gathering tho w'orld has ever known. Representatives from every important, country of the globo will be present, and, of course, New Zealand will bo benefited in proportion as that country is represented. I have had tho pleasure of mooting a number of young men from New Zealand who aro students in the University of Pennsylvania, and from these I have learned more about Now Zealand than I ever gathered from books. You have an interesting country, aud aro doing a splendid work along Sunday School lines, and wo need your assistance in bringing the rest of tho world up to the high standard which you have established."

Followers of tho gentle Izaak Walton have been so disgusted with the result of tho present season's catches that anglers are now rarely,.seen whipping any of'tliojireaches of tho- Waikato between Taupiri and Rangiriri,, within which limits the total number of trout caught since November of last year has not totalled ten (says a correspondent of tho Auckland " Star").' Before the flood of some two years ago decent catches were recorded. Since then, however trout have almost disappeared. The neighbouring lakes have been stocked with both yearlings and fry; but these mo not yet mature enough to angle for; that is, presuming they have reached anything like maturity. ' What a boon it would bo if a hundred or so of the Rotorua " slabs" or "Tommies" could be liberated in the Waikato,.where food is feupcrabundant. This year duck and teal are very plentiful on tho lakes and on tho river, so that sportsmen are already looking forward to big, bags'when the season opens. Unfortunately, a few so-called "sports" are so anxious that they begin operations before May 1, so that when the legitimate shootist comes along he finds the birds both wild and shy, and fails to get a dozen, decent shots. So far illicit shooting has been of exceptionally rare occurrence,. During tho voyage of tho Maori from Lyttelton to Wellington on .Thursday night, there was a slight outbreak of fire on board. A passenger supplies tho following details:— Whilst steaming full speed, and a high speed at that, tho wind happened to lull, and what little there was right ahead. Sparks woro flying from tho funnols, and through ono of these alighting on a heap of cork life-bolts stacked near the second saloon skylight (aft) ono took firo, which instantly spread to a few others. Tho ever-vigilant "watch" immediately got tho hoso at work and it was only tho matter of a few minutes to extinguish tho littlo puff and flamo so created. Tho steamers Waikaro and Mararoa woro just passing at tho time of tho incident. Tho unfortunate thing was that one or two frightened passengers rushed along tho passago of tho upper deck crying madly "l'irol firo! ship on firo!" but there were cool-headed officers, stewards, and a few malo passengers quickly on tho scene to allay tJie unwarranted fears, and to send the ladies and others back to their cabins. Fortunately, however, tho majority of passengers for'arn on tho upper deck and all on tho decks below heard nothing, saw nothing, and would know nothing of tho incidout except what they might gather from the alarmists.