LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 639, 16 October 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr. Lourenson (Government Whip) has-been instrumental in- obtaining .signatures to . the following message, to be dispatched to-Mr. Lloyd-George by cable: "On behalf of the' Progressive Liberal members in the Parliament of New Zealand, wo desire to wish you God-speed in your'noblc efforts to'raiso tho condition of tho people of Britain." .Many members think, tho sending of such' a message a very.indiscreet move. Tho first miniature rifle range in the Dominion will bo opened at the Northland School by tho,Hon. Geo.- Fowldsat 3 p.m. to-day. ..'!. Our Christchurch correspondent .states-that 'no Kippe, which arrived at Lyttelton from the. Chathams last evening,- saw no • trace of the Duoo. .- --. ■ ° •'- -. •-.- ,- The twelve-trip.tramway tickets which are to take the place of tho old coupon system, and which giro twelve trips for 15.,,wi1l bo on salo on Monday next. The new tickets havo half a dozen strips of .colours printed on their numbers from one to' twelve, running along in squares..; The tickets will be punched by the conductors in tho same manner as concession tickets. ..:.-... ■ . Tho Baptist Conference yesterday passed a resolution, which was moved by Captain' Blackburno, expressing profound grief and shame for the sin attaching to tho British nation in connection with its responsibility for the continuance of.the.opium traffic. •The Baptist Young Men's Bible Class at Petono has-a very practical scheme for helping the Church. A new building is required for tho cause at Ohakuho.'nnd the Petono class members, who include a number of competent, arti-. 1 sans, propose to devote their summer holiday to tho task! of erecting it as a labour of love. They will sleep under canvas, and expect to spend a fortnight or threo weeks in this'way. Mr. W. B; Nicholson has offered to contribute the plans and specifications and arrange for tho timber to be on the ground.betimes. The announcement of the scheme at yesterday afternoon's session of ( the Baptist Union Conferenco wis followed by hearty ■ applause.. The work of tho Rev. Guy Thornton and Mrs. Thornton in the.-Ohakuue..district was tho subject'- of many appreciative references, and it was.evident that Church extension along tho Main Trunk lino is an object which the union haa very much at heart. . . :'.. ' y .' "So true is it that this is our most important work that it is simply suicidal not to put it in tho. foremost place."—Rev. J. F. Jones on Sunday schools at the Baptist Conference."' No 'fewer than 225 passengers; h-ft. for Sydncy by the Moeraki. yestorday evening, 88 saloon, and 139 steerage. Inoluded in the number were 31 Chinese- and 10 Maoris.'The stoamor '• had on.Aboard . 20 horses that wero' shipped at Lyttelton. ■ At!tha. meeting, of the New' Zealand Shopkeopers". AMooiahon on Thursday, the president (Mr. Hi H. Seaton) stated that "ho had heard that a growing business''liad been es-' tablished in connection with the Royal. Now Zealand Artillwy (permanent force) at tho Mount Cook barraoks. At this storo- he believed that members of the corps could ob-' tain goods, at wholesale cost, plus 2i per cent, for string,, paper, etc. ' Exception, . he^ was aware.'could not be taken to a bona fide cooperative business, .but in this case\he had been given to understand tho goods were delivered: by the Government horses and vans in the Government time. If this was so it was not fair to'private grocers, who had to pay high wages, rates, and taxes. It was decided to communicate with the Prime' Minister to ascertain if the report was accurate or_ not. The explanation appears to,bo that tho-Roval New Zealand Artillery had established a "dry oantesh" for'.the supply' of groceries only to its memboriwyNo special men' or vans wero employed inline delivery,- which, : it. is stated, fitted in:with tho routine.work to be done. Theisingle men in barracks were catered, for at w-holesa.lo prices,, and it was. thought .that the married men living outside should enjoy the same privileges.'. ... ■■'.'.' -...'•,: . In the Auckland' Diocesan, Synod', on Wedhesdav,' Canon Mac Murray moved: That, in tho opinion of this Synod the time has! come when the provisions of the Marriage Act,-1908, shotaldas far as possible bo made to apply to •the marriages of the Maori people; and-that the Government be respectfully,requested to take'steps''to give'effect': to'.'tßis re'eominendation." .-The mover, said, the; present state of tho law. was.very .nnsatif factory. A. largo number of Native marriages'were-only contracted by Maori oustom, and in such marriages there was: nothing- .binding'.'. --They were only/recpgniee'd by law for tho purpose of transferring ■property. The effect was very:demoralising. The Marriaso Act, 1903, eliminated the Maori from its-operation unless he voluntarily agreed to come under it." In'eon6eqnence> thero Was no registration of Native;n)arri,agcfi, and no.pro-, seculions for bigamy, '■ which was ' ranipant. The: Government, in'effect, said, "Go.'as you please"; and this militated against the Christianising of tho Maoris. Tbe motion was.seconded by Arohdeacon Walsh and carried. 'The speed with which l Auckland suburban trains rUn was: illustrated by. Mr. S. Harbutt at Wednesday night's agitation meeting at OtnhuhuV Taking- the trains running from: Auck-' land to Otahuhu, the times taken by Mr. Harbutt, ranged .from 31 minutes (registered by .the'lo a.m.' train) to CO, minutes (recorded ■'. by the 12.45 p.m. train front Otahuhu to Auckr land)! The 11.58 : train; was- tho fastest; doing tho'dislancein'32 minutes, wbilo the 12.7 p.m. held the record with, 62 minutes. Taking the traffio both ways the average time was equivalent to 13J milc6 ; per hour. "A;very dangerous speed," 'said -Mr.".Harbutt,:- .especially, with; a duplicate line." • ,' ~." ' ; ; \ , Exports from: Wellington for. the fortnight, October 1 to October 15, were as under,- tho value being given ■•:■ in • parenthees:—Butter, i?i2cwt. (X 9571); ohcoso, 1201cwt. W3317); beef, 52i60wt," (X 5140); mutton, carcasses 26,119 12,9930wt. (JC12,131); -mutton, .legs ahd pic&6 36770wt. (i40B8); lamb,'carcasses 5111, 1520awt. (X1C03); wheat, nil; oats, nil; potatoes, nil; flax, 373 tone ,(.88515); :poultry, .nil; rabbits, nil; tow, 63 tons'(.£3B2)', kauri gum, nil;grain and .ptilno,' 321 bushels W10): hops.jiil! hides, 1913 '(.£2164); skins (air kinds), 100,369 (XG030); ta'low, 33*. tons (JE9l9s)';' Umber, nil; wool, ..165,1721b.- (£5561). :.,' .:.-;:..- : Tho leaders of tho'No-License party state that thoy have been'encouraged in : their present Can'ipaign'in favour of tho: Simple majority and Dominion, option.', by .the. conversion-..0f quito a number of prominent, gentlemen, who. wero formerly opposed to that policy. Two of these, which, havo given particular pleasure to tho No-Licensa par'.y, are.Dr. of Dunedin, and tho H6n. Geo. Jones, of'Oamarn. Dr. Waddell ecconded tho motion in favour of tho bare majority' and Dominion option at Dunedin, and said that the lime had now come when ; this thing OUghV to bo quickly finished. Tho motions in favour of these proposals havo been carried uuaniniously at -tho three mass meetings hold. 60 far, ,one eaoh in Dunedin, Christclturch, and Auckland. Tho Wellington meeting is to' be 'held-' at the Town Hall on Friday. noxt. "',,:. . ... Election promises were commented on at last night's meeting of tho Swifts-Swimming Club, when . the olectioh of,' vicp-presidonts.' was ,m progress. One member remarked that it was a pity more publio moivdid hot, Come forward and support a healthy sport like swimming. Unfortunately, said the speaker,, somo men had promised things v,'hen they wore on tho-hust-ings seeking public favour, but had forgotten those promisos when the citizens did not olect them.- ■ •"■ - .-, '• A meoting of tho local council,of the Australasian Association for tho Advancement of Science is advertised to bo.held at. Canterbury College' on October 23. The business to dealt with is the proposed visit of tho British .Assooiation to Australia. '.- -.-:• During tho -past : few, weeks the 'Salvation Army throughout Australia and Now Zealand has been very busy with its annual appeal in connection with their social and missionary work. As a final effort, Staff. Captain Lonnie,' the officer in charge of tho local corps, has arranged, fot a numbor of,collcctois tb take up A collection at the various strcot corners today. ' Us! year; "if will be remembered, the Wellington City Corps put up a world's record in Army circles.for this appeal, 'raising :-.'.- :;.■:' ■■ ' -~.■,:■ •■ .. ; ! Mr. Fostor Fraser addressed a few words to the largo number'of young men present at his loctnro on America at Christchurch on Wedr nesday night. "How are you'fitting yourselves," ho asked, "to outer into competition in # the great battle of commercial and -industrial progress with the young-men'of the United States? Going up to .London in the morning by the train from the suburbs, or by the trairtcars, all the'conversation one hears among tho young men is with ■ rcforeneo ,td football nnd cricket. Lam told that the same thing "applies here, but. the talk' of tl'io yoUng men of-AmeVica In the trains nnd on tho tramcars, is, all about devices for machinery.- for labour saving, improved .electrical appliances, and chiefly about uioliey-maklnif. This may not bo considered lo bo.a very high idoali uoris it so; but it is bringing put,'the- energies of young men. Nothing would give mo-greater pleasure than to go to America and deliver lectures 'there..on, Great Britain aiid Britain across the seas,-but'it'is.no good my thlnkliig of doing this until I find; the young men in- this'country: and 'other parts of .the British Empire taklngas-much interest in the political and itldustrlalpt'cißporitj|!jf : their coufi'try as they are now doing in cricket and foot--1 balL' ;:■■ ' y■■-..':■■ - r :■■{:/-. : ■ •'•':'

The Baptist (Union: Annual Conforonco picnic will tako place at Day's. Bay to-day. The steamer Cobar.will leave the wharf at 2.15 p.m., calling at Petono at 2.30.):. ;' ;V; : ■'•[ ;'' y" Sentence will bo pronounced by his Honour Mr.''Justice. Chapman on tho following- prisoners this morning :-'-Frederick. Henry' Lambert, bigamy (Wellington); .James M'Lcan', alias : Boyle, - theft and forr.ery and uttering.

(Now Plymouth)! William Willis, breaking and entering and theft (Wellington)i Bertha Brown,, concealment of birth- (Wellington).:.- ; ,: , y

A deputation of sawiuillers is to wait.on the Minister for Customs on Saturday. next, with reference to the Timber Commission'e report. . ~ ''"".". 1 The staff of the Wellington Harbour; Board will dine at the Hotel Windsor this evening. Tho chair will be occupied by; Mr. TIM, Wllford, M.P., chairman of the board, :;•";

Tho annual snorts of the Wellington' College aro, to be-held in tho College grounds'on .; . ' l r riduv'next; from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There.; ~ . •will bo a'break for luncheon between, 12,30 ■ p.m. and 2.30 p.m.. . Proposed alterations in' the Wairarapn. railway 'time-table were discussed at a meeting'', of the Masterton Chamber' oi- Commerce yesterday (says our local correspondent). Mr. G;:, C. Sunimorcll moved s-'-'That before any time.table is passed, the' Minister bo asked to,submit tho matter to the Masterton Chamber, in ."!' order to sjo how far any alterations would affect the Wairarapa." Mr. J. D. Quiickshank ."■ seconded tho motion, which was eaT'red. .'Mr.. •.-'•',■'■' sutnmerell thon moved a further to the effect that, if the Minister, agreed to tho ,':'•'' suggestion, a conferenco of chambers of com-', .merco/in tho district, and also of representa-v fives from.lbcal bodies interested, be.held in : ■liastorton to consider the matter, and that •the'result'of their deliberations be forwarded .to the Minister.', This resolution was . also , earned unanimously., ... ~■:•' During her visit to the Commonwealth Maggie Papakura, the well-known Wbnkarc- . warewa guide, arranged for a Maori exhibition at Clontarf, Sydney, similar to that wi£oh took place at the Cluistohurclr Exhibition. The first stop towards, this exhibition was' -' taken on Friday (says the Hot takes 'Chronicle"), when two canoes—Te-a-Whiwhi and Mongakawa—were delivered at the Rotorua Railway. Station, destined for'shipment to. .-. iSydney in tho Mahcno. ' In addition to theso. ... canoesya numberof Maori carvings will be- ,-.'-" forwarded to Sydney, which will be utilised' in connection with the .exhibition. : : Arrange- -'.. ments havo been made for the. return of tho canoes and carvings to the Doroinioni henco ■'■'■' I permission having been given for their tem-.'. 'pjrary removal from New Zealand. A brother .;.'.•■ of Guide Maggie'will hove charge of the ship-', mont, and soo to the erection of the building V and tho display of,tho,exhibits. Nino 1 others, , will also proceed to Sydney on Monday,: and later bu a largo number of pcrforinors willvisit the;. Commonwealth,' and give perform-. • ances. in, connection' with ■: the. exhibition. 1 ; Guides Bella ahdMaggle will nccomoany-the •'.' " latter, and' ; the' performances will be gives ■". under their direction. ■■':.- By the Rimutaka, which is duo here on 00- : '•:.. tobor 19, there will be lauded 21' assisted pas-. -.'' songers-18 fidnlts' tiritl thrte children under >",' •twelve'.. Of these, seven adnlts and one child havo been sent out by the High Commissioner, while the remainder were nominated bj . . friends In 'New Zealand/". " -.- Word has been received'by Mr. Cecil Palmerj '.';..' secretary .of ; tho Wellington branch of tho Navy League,, that' Mr. J.- Foster I'raeer' has' ■accepted the invitation of the:branch to be present at the Trafalgar celebration supper, : ■which is to-bo hold at the Hotel-Windsor 0n.,;.'.'.:. Thursday evening. Ho haa nIBO consented to propose oho of tho principal toasts, and it haa . | beon decided'that ho bo asked to-epeak to the .-. toast' of the -"Navy, Army, and volunteers." It has also been arranged by the committee of the branch to meet Mr. Fraser on his arrival '-.:.' .here at noon on Sunday by the Moura. ■ Tho gathering ott ; Trafalgar night- will include a, • number of localgarnson officers, as well as representative citizens. '.'.• , ' '..'.'..