LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 627, 2 October 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities advise that the Victoria, ■ which Sydney on Thursday,'' has on board hnglish and Australian mails,- which are expected to reach hero by the main trunk, express on -Tuesday., next. *•■■' ': iv'i'» 6 "■■ b b e "Jthis. country since my boyhood, 6.iid tho Hon. J. A. Millar, at a recent function at the Auckland Sailors' Home, "and ■during this timo 1, haVe piit my hands to many things for besides going, to sea, and being a politician,, I have driven'a bullock team,. laboured in a lemonade factory, and worked in a gold mine. I've been in politics to onty years now," added Mr. Millar* "and fr^ r fiv . e ,. m "eyP|;rs I shall probably lotirft from- public life. Twenty-fivo. years is a good innings for a/public man." -. •-.-■.

The arrangement-i in connection' with the opening ot Parliament next - Thursday bavo been completed. As the Speaker has been appointed, the ceremony jviil be performed by nij: Excellency the Governor, andno.t by commissioners as was necessary on the occasion-of last session, when'thoofßco'of Speaker was yacaut. The hour for the opening ceremony (wjj'ch will be. attended with tho usual foririflhties) has been fixed at'2.3o p.m.

Brigadier.Bray, leader of the social; work of tho balvation Army in the North Island, informed a . Dominion- reporter yesterday that there was a-distinct improvement in the condition of-the labouring classes, both in tho city and country, compared to what had beenthe case m-, the recent winter months.' Ho knew .this was so from his observations mado on a_ recent, tour, through tho , country, and *"[ s i 0 > rom ,,«i° ! state of things at .the charitaole institutions ho was brought into touch with. A little while ago tho Benevolent' Trushad -to send many cases -to- the' Army shelter.' owing-- to their ' inability to" accom-' modate;them at the;Ohiro Home. This was' not the case sit present.- The Army's, shelter, which-has.been "running full", all the winter,- has eased up-considerably, and there is now more room than applicants to fill it' at present. .'To, show the work the'shelter.' did in a, typical winter month, Brigadier' Bray quoted local shelter's statistics , for - August.. During : that month ■ 135 beds '■ were pro-' nded free of - charge, 321' were supplied on prder (many/on order,from the briifadicr.himand 10«J were paid for, by the. persons themselves ■" at four--ponce a time," During ; the samo period, 101 meals were-suppUcd free, 238 were served on order,: and .1318 (ranging from Sd. : to 4d) wore paid for..-The brigadier thinks that the' putloolc-. for- the coming summer is particularly hopeful.:,,.-. , ■-■'.■;../■' .•.'• --.:■'..-. - ;, /.Three ,lofty towers of open!: woodwork, overthe adjacent buildings, have just arisen ,in, the midst of tho section-- oh- which tho Union Stcaihi.Ship Company's new, building is being erected; Passere-by have been peering through the,gaps.in tho,boarded fence and wondering what theso structures nro for.' p.is^easily.,explained.;,'.They ore/the legs, on yw?n crane, now erectcd ; on',thexround level, is shortly, to. be placed. Tho lay mind, contemplating-- the 'huge, crane /with its *70--foot 31b, may woiider how it is;to be placed i?M su , c , h ,a. n . elevated perch, but an operation likel that, is a mere every-day . matter. to - a builder, or engineer.,' The legs arc 75 feet highthe height of tho roof 'of: the building, that ■s- to .be—and tho crane wi11... bo able to "lift material from'-.thOi' road ..below, : stvingine *it pyer a.curve equal, to about.-hvo-thirds of a circlo, with a,,radius of .65 feet,, and deposit iV.'f-ripiWfi on:'tho',summit of the buildin?u\ taken , : n' :.the;. erection'l of -'this" building,' as' it will p J -*?«nißJ&Wly-ii6to«MristaDdi-,!ionn7tlni!l'American l system.,-, ~ "■■'/ ■■■ ...:■' •■; ■ -. ,'

at: !?'.J he^ Os , i ,' ion,: and * e are-not .going ! ,tp;altec it,' ; ',.said' tho.iHon,. J.. A..;MiUar when quostionedm Auckland on tho 'subject of the '.new '.regulations: the • travlllinl* allowau-es,of members,of the Civil' Service line niatter,_ho;; said, -had, been-carefully con.sidered by..Cabinet,.and all.civil, servants in all branches-had been placed on , tho.samo foot,ing..: As to. the complaint that tho * allowances' , ,wero graded-according to. length of service, .instead ■■■pi according ..to. ...responsibility, : Mr.- : M.il]ar,6aia, 'It"'comes' to'.' tho.samo thing, -berule; tho'senior men occupy tho-most Responsible Tiositions." ; Hov considered' - (says the 'Herald 1 ')-that" the'-.allowances, would be , 'ample, as it ,-ras*. not intended that members of ~-the; .service should: make a: profit out of these m all6wances. ..Members/of the local Post land.Telegraph. Department 'will hold α-meeting ,to-nigbt td, discuss tho- new- regulations. •

; n i Q * n ' W^ ,0 ? ampnij drivers ,of carts and lorries; in this city to ride when their :horses_ are,' quite ;heavily, .enough loaded .without such, an addition;;:.' Mr.. James, Doyle, .tho City Inspector,; is, determined-to - put a stop to:tliis.form of * cruelty, as far as thri bvprovision for doing so, and drivers -would bo well-advised :to * take warnSg,^^ ; -Tho ranges,and targotsallotteditotiie' various companies for the opening; of ! the riflo ; shooting, season nt , ; to-day are ™ ■ follow:-Soiiwrvill«-range, D Battery, U-, E l n f' w «*."'. H ; .n Oua r' ls ' - , - 11 ; College Rifles' • m3 i \", r ,? n Ji'lc.Club, U-18; Tost and TeS graph. Eifies, 19-23; ,;Collin S 'range-Offidrs l . match, 22-M; .No. 3,. G.A.y.,-11-12; City Sr 10-19) .Civil Service Rifles' C-S ' felandh Bif «»j 1-3? Huft Valley Hlfie-s. H-J5: flctorin. College, 20-21: ,P*rm/ :nent Forco Rifle, Club,' 13. . - "'=,' r<;rma -

Ono difficulty the Government Labour Bureau finds m placing .-applicants for work in situn- ; tions is that their statement of their capS •f£2'w?M m p t,c, ; Ono , su<:1 '' an immigrant from the Old .Country,, strayed into" the Auckland bureau the other day,-and j asked fdr- employ., mentin the country. "Can 1 you milk?" asked charge.'-"Oh, yos," the immigrnntreplied. ■ ."I'm a top-notcheii.; Thero'snot much in, that game I/havo to learn." - "Sriie?* l queried the ( officer, Eyeing him* critically' "Certain." '.'Canyou milk. H :cows- in an hour? questioned the officer. "Oh, casv"'-'thn immigrant., returned hopefully. . "Then I'm afi,-*d you arc too good for us. We can only find employment, former, milking six or seven an hour, --and- the immigrant retired, sadly, reflecting that he had drawn too long a bow.Jiew Zealand.Herald."■',-;. .'..■..,°-.-.--. .

His Governor (Lord Plunket) I hf,l P i r^ Utcd f tO . H - M -?- Challenger a handsome, shield ior proficiency .in -.gunnery. This shield, which is suitaby inscribed, is.very striking in design and workmanship. The'centre is occumed by a representation of a warship under toll, steam,.-; I'ho Challenger- is: manneri °%" Australians _ and- *.- New Zealanders;- and: his Excellency is anxious to encourage' their Runnery practice, as.this gift denotes.- -' , - ,

, Tho;' Polices-Commission :is to' sit .again onMonday in, Wellington to takothe evdenco of .Commissioner Dinnie. That"'concluded;' tho ccmmission will.have finished-the. talring of

, Several; exporimeiils , of interest to thoso 'con. , ilJltiated at the instance of tho Hon. T. Mackenzie,. Minister for Agriculture. : Ono of tho ; to secure tho, best breeding strains. With a view of assisting in the•'matter, n Cow Testinß formers at Da efield, near Mosterton. It has h?1« t C 7'V ed "m' h V7 eM of ™ ch cow filial! be tested by offlcials belonriiiß to the' Depart, ment every month. This will enable each S ber of the, rissociation to determine whether •ei j cr ! . Is .-?P' to ' tho overago of tho herds included in the scheme. For its part, the fnc. tgrydircctornte is assisting the movoment by Kiv ng-. tho use of its testiriK. room and Hnbcoclt maqhine; ogcther with tho ".'nectary steam poivor. Another experiment .which' is resarded as. of equal, if not greater, importance is. the, pasteurisation nf skini milk for chives ami: pigs. According :to Mr. Mackenzie, milk is in some cases pasteurised for dairying : purposes. In Denmark the system is found to mnlt in great nnprovement in tho quality of the butter; and it is gradually being adopted ill Now. Zealand. ■-• But• the' first pasteurisatioii it is considered, does not result in tho skim mill .being, rendered innocuous. This - experi-mt-nt is to .-ijo carried ont in connection ,vjt]i tho, aien Oro«n '■factory,••between l'nlmerstbn .Atirtli and J'oxtou, and careful records will l ) 0': kept of, the degree of diseaso exhibited by: tho animals which, arc.subjected to it. . J -The new Methodist Church .'at •Dreolivn.'ft n easing wooden, building , in tho Gothic style. rl™ tc V A en V 1!! , and with , .olass! reomf at the back, will in : opened/' to-morrow. nit JZ™i™v t f - !h e; MclJiodist'Conffrcnco \tl u W- T 'iT F ? e) «'i'l Preach' in the morning, « «i-■ ■ N '^ dl T s ™ at a children's ri" t°»in 'lie afternoon, and the Rev; J. R, Clark will bo the preacher in the evoniag,

; A representative meeting of commercial ncconntants was;;held i: at-'tho Y.M.C.A. Rooms. Inst evening to foster tho .interests, of commercial accountants the New.. Zealand•:Society of Accountants by furthering tho election of two representatives.-on the Executive.. Council of the society. Mr. Fleming presided. It was decided to nominate', as tho representatives of commercial accountancy, Messrs.l'.Heyes Mid T. Forsyth; and a sub-commit-, tee'was set up to take tho , necessary steps in the interests of their, candidature. > :'. r:; Mr. Henry Elder , desires, us .to make clear, the fact that in referring yesterday- to his election to a .seat, on the Wellington Education. Board, his 'nmarks to tho board with regard to tho votes cast for. him were -.merely, n statement of- hypothesis used as an illustration of tho policy- ho intended to adopt*6s" a member of the- board in representing the interests of tho Hutt and Mannwntu districts. His remarks, verbatim, wore: "I don't know where tho votes enmc from that placed me here, but I shall adopt tho working hypo-' Vail " "alt pfthnii camo from the Hutt Speaking to a. .'"Herald" ■ representative with! reference to the recent decision of A«r.' C. v>; --Kettle, S.M., in a share- . transacSb i ..case, Mr. t>. A. Buttle, chairman of tho Auckland ; Steele Irachange,' stated, that Mr. Kettle hid given it as his opinion that tho form 'of transfer commonly used for tho ■'. transfer'-ol mining shares was not' a. valid document. v ihis matter,":,Mr. ; Buttle went on to Bay, lias-naturally exercised the minds of members of the local Exchange and the- solicitor oi the Jischangp was , asked to give- his opinion on the' point. That opinion is to tho-effect that the >°™ as.'nt. present used by members of the htock hxcliange.is in accordance with all the requirements of the Act, and that in dealing with mining, shares the crucial point is the issue of these stamped contract notes. These are practically the basis of transactions in mining shares, and thoro is nothing' in the btamp Act which requires that tho particular numbers-of tllr> shares, bought or sold, -hall bo. sot out. on the contract note. Tho transfer form is merely the instrument'by which the broker completes his salo of purchase." ■■ A now journalistic departure is contemplated. ,by the Government. It is'proposed to issue a monthly journal, which will contain/news ofthe various Departments, as well as technical and other information which it is desirable that the Departments should give to the pub-' he. . Tho publications of the Agricultural Department are to bo reduced in number and volume, , and presumably a good .deal of .the Information wniclKhas hitherto, been given in bulletins; and the prodistous annual report will-, lie conveyed through this Dew medium. ; The; new journal will also - contain' the principal , information ■ hitherto■-'given .in the ."Mines ■Record," which: is to bo discontinued,, and'it is'possible- that it will also include the reports on labour conditions. , that nro at present given in the Labour Department's Journal.' Other, departmental;; publications ' will be. vir." tually ; incorporated in tho. new, magas-ine. . which will also contain a certain quantity, of matter that lias not-been specially published: by the Departments in the past. •■ It is expected that-' the'. Tourist , section of ■ the. Agricultural Department will, fill a fair - proportion of' the space of the now, periodical; , and-the numeroua '■ attractions.'which.. New Zealand offers to touiy ists will be brought prominently- before > the' oyes of, Government clerks at least. .The Hon. T./Mackenzie' will bethe editor-extraordinary,' or at least Minister in charge of the new rub-', lication. -•...;■■ ■■■.-■-';■ : ; - ;:'■■• •■ ' y<; : r '■•■''■■ ■■: ;'■ Tho conditions of life at sea were referred to by the Hon. J. 'At'Millar at an uhvcilingcei-e----■mony, in. the Auckland Sailors' H0m0.,.-, Mr. : .Millar faid he had been recently taken : to task for --. stating that the conditions of:.. tho ; snilor,wcro better-, how ; than .'come years ■ ago.He;would ask any of those present who had : boen-nt sea, thirty, years.'ago; whether the'contlitions , were,not • better.: now' than ; in'■• llio<*e' dnys. ; He had-been-oh.a good ( .liW' himself, but had. often" to go,. hungry;■ ,'.'- There mi>;.: have, been an odd vessel or two where tho conditions',' were.'all right,' bill' lib:.' , spoke genor-.-allv v ,.' When hOvhad' said the conditions were radically:improved at ? the present 'dny-upon, those of ■< thirty years ago; he-had;spoken-per-. fectly right, arid/he; would/repeat-it i\Rain : .without any fear'of-contradiction. The Minis-' tor's 'statement,,-according: to: the, "Hornld, , ' was endorsed '-by applause. ■'..:.; !.' : ' yc- v :' Colonel Knight, -officer. commandihg-. : thoSal- r , yation ;-Artny in the. North- Island, -who .has just -returned':' ■ (in'- , - convpan;-,.-. :.\vitlvi. Brigadier,, Bray): frbniiflj'tour-'sof jlVranEki,\leaves.again-' on Monday, for ,Masterto_n;i Pabifttna,.Wood-,, viUei'andjjAuoljland.-jreljapiM to (Wellington on October, ?3. T -W W >™ bffnf .taken, 'in, connection with tho. organisation of provincial units for Self-DenialWecV which Vthjs year* dates .from-. October, 5; ,t6:- October 15,'.''duringwhich,:tirno tho.Army.'appeals to'the : ptiblic'- to; deny' .themselves ■■'atT.leasfc : luxiiWy Jio'irever small.it'may' bo.'in order'to.' helpalong tho .good,- work of 'the. organisation* ■ last year the contributions from the.'■ North' /Island alone;: amounted. •tet';"JCfi976,-J-'. and",.; for, vthe j:\vholo , of Australasia the /magnificent 'siini of--£33,713 was raised. This year Brigadier Bray hopes 'that''-the North Island-will touch* th» JE7000; marie.. ~,:■:;! :?'"'-. * ! > ;-,--'<;'■/';'; .-'*:■■■:■ >:;;- ; .What might have' been : a 'seriou'si accident'was. narrowly/averted' on Lambton Quay-yes-' tcrday- atnoon. .A youth on. a'cycle, was small parcel, along the qpay; when ' tho parcel got caught. between his kneo and: '. theibandle'of.--the , bicycle.,'A'cor was cominij: along, about, the same - time,' : - and the boy,- , beting .unable to.turn,sran'right into;the car. The;. m6torman;;;forseeinjj 'trouble ahead,- put on .the,.brakes,'-'brought, the car >to a , stand-; still, and:..thus,/.averted : n>serious-. accident--Excepting for./a -severe 'shaking, the , lad escaped'without i injury, a. '.-..,;.1 , ■ ;. -:,-;i ' A' special: mooting of -the .of the' 1 Chamber, of Commerce - was V. held*-yesterday.,', afternoon.to ■' consider, ■ tlie ; nrr'angoments -'in connection with the /visit to Wellington of the Chambers'.'/if' Commerce 1 delegates: who' ' have , ■ been/ attcn'diiig , the Enipiro. Cpngross ■at Syd-' ncy. According to , the; latest advices, tho party was'to' arrive in Wellington , on.' Sundhy, October 17.: Nothing much-could bo doho that--day, ;but it-was arranged, that the local , chambcr. ■jhould!;tchdpr';tho , visitors ■'■' a! dinner at 8. p:m"..on Monday,, 18,..t0 which the;. wives of the: delegates--and: members, of h the local chamborvwouid - bo invited'.'.' A-committee I was set up ~to arrauge other. forms of-enter-jtainment' for , the', ono, day; tho party will be iin Welliiit'ton..,-. .■. , : l; ; - ; , '-.;''•'.. > '■' ;.:A.mild sensation was ,, caused kt'.iddington'■ 0.1: Wednesday afternoon by tho discovery that a man'.'was apparently.'attempting ito drown himself in' tho irivorV- lie whs pulled out of the water by pepplo' who had, observed him, .'■ and was-taken charge,'of''by tho policb. ' The man ■then'.tbld -a gr,u'esome- tale,- representing '■ that he had' murdered several relatives bcJore attempting his own .life. ■ Inquiries'.wc-ro hast> ily made, and it was ascertained-that thp relatjves were unhartnpd, 'and that their lives had not; , been., threatened in nuy/.ivay..' The man was (letainid ly. tho police.lor exnmiuatioa as to' his mental: state.:.. / ':\\,,'i ..': : ■ : A.:long-standing grievance': with regard to settling land owned by Maoris in the Taumarunui district', is mentioned, in a letter writtoii by ,a. member of the Taumarunui Town Board ' b a Christohurch, resident. .Tho; \vritcr. sayr. it has been found that tho; cost of obtaining lcasss from Maori owners through tho Native Land lioanl, ; is .'■ too groat, 'while tho : roading and bridging,of Maori lands in/the district is expected' to' cost about JG2,100,p00, 1 -an cxpolidi-' turo. which is at present quitb out of'thq question, although'.'it will, be necessary before the lnud con bo properly 'A simpler, mcani : of doing leasehold business with; the Maoris ii highly., desirable.;.'. :■■>• ',--i';\ .y'/ ~\\ \i. . ■■;..-. ' ~ During ■ tho month 'of'-September- the ■ total, rainfall. for/Wellington was 2.61 inchcs.distributed over U days, For. tho U hours preceding . D a.m. :pn ■ September 19 the' rainfall *■ was .51 inches,..and,tl\o ayerago rainfall for the month : (since the date on' which AVellinp- ■ : to nrecords: were r first, taken) is i.30, inches. This,shoivcrs,were , intermingled - with' , considerable sunshine, and not a dav p'nsscd'but-'there were glimpses' of the sun. 1 - The briefest period of, sunshine was five minutes, and tho maximum - ten hours.. Tho 'Highest...ternncralurereached was 65 degrees and X '» ' -west 37.degrees. Southerly .winds opodcj ' 4 month, V and, en, September-1, a Cjfi miles for ; tho2i hours. The jiiaxinium. 'wind was .a , north-wester ,on September. 18, which developed a mea nvclccity equal to 7TO miles ■ per"dicni, and. the ••-iliiimim. Was an eastcrlj . of a nif an-velocity, 18 wiles, on September '29. .Throughout the. month northerly winds prevailed en IS .'dnysT afccl southerlys' on 12days.Three, frosts were registered. -,

■ A tour of- inspection of Lambtbn Quay and Mount. Cook police barracks Was made yesterday aftern'oiiii by Mr. JI. WV Bishop, S.M., llio commissioner appointed to: inquire into the .condition of the force■ in',Now' Zealand.. 1 /

'The','land -surveyors' ; examination Was hold last Week by tho federated' Surveyors' Hoards of Australia nud ' Now,. Zenlniid. : Twunty-ono candidates wore present. ■ Mr: J, Morris, of tho Public Wol'ks])ei ral 'ti"ent, Otira, and Mr. (J. A. ; Bridges, ■ Timarii, passed everything nt tho first sittiii!?. Mi\ S. J'avliiiisoh, of Auckland,' and Mr. K, , S. Flinch, .of , Auckland, completed overythinjf at their .socoihl,.Rittiiir. '." The saino examination was .heldi siiiiiiltnhcoiisly .in tho following " places:—Brisbane,- Sydney, Mel-, bourne, ■ Hnbart, , Adelnido, and Pertli.''•'■ Tho examination , papers were, set by tlic QiieensUnd Board. Tho exnminptiou "papers , -, for the examination in March next ..will be sotby. tht'. New Zealand Board.. ~-.,'■. ■ . •;, ■ .

It isiindefftcqd that tlio report'of" the Timber Commission y:i!l : not ho mado publif until the' Houseiuccts» , ; .. : : ; . ; ; .