LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 711, 10 January 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Tho 'Wiramera, which arrived at.Aucfc, land' yesterday, brought '. only an; / Austrnliah mail, which is ; due here this after-/ noon.' The English, mail is expected .'here by the liaramu on. Wednesday:,-, ;' .; : ; '■Sergeant Rutledge and ConstableMTCelvoy: visited premises in •-Luke's.' Lane (off Manners"'Streo 0 -yesterday;' and seized, a quantity of ' liquor,.' alleged to; be there for-: the': purpose'' of; salo; proceed--ings';'will /follow. ; ':'?*'■:■".'';-'-"//',y' ; //: v ''' "'■ ■ ■ .According/ to Mr J :S...Si ', Start,/'of.Wellington :(who'was on the Waikoje. at; tho 'Hmo/of.;tKo! misnap')i,''on6' : feature' of '.the 'disaster.'l.that impressed''him : at the: time had' not been mentioned ', in 'tho'j iiewspaper /'"accbunts.: /-.'Almost '•; 'immediately after- tho vessel: struck; she' took-a (heavy list': to: starboard,'- and'. it - was /; generally expected,.that she..-would'.'cdnsize.:: In-.or-der that.the- passongersV. might tected .in some>measure /against .-such: an' emergency,' all/ihe'sparo'spars-'and loose' iittin'gs-at : hand were thrown-.overboard, ih' order .to- provide them .'.'with- /some means:of .keeping up in. : the.-/water.,till rescued by'the.boate. :■:;///, : ;/,*•/.;/;';,//!

Questioned' as .'to, whether .there was, any,probability,of -the.second-einressbetween Auolcland -and Wellington '-':■■ being ' again reinstated in'the' near .'future,;the Hon; ;J. :A; Millar said 1 ; that'the'.,only; bcoasions. on.whibh- it would;be'required for, many years tb ; obme would-be at; holiday;, time; when .the: traffio-would.'.be'.aboTe! the 'normal;-': It: was thought,'.however,,'that the, train 'would, have :Wn .patronised. bbtte'rthari it- wasj;. the, people 'for '-the imost part,did not,sebm/to 1 have any. desire to. take advantage of it, . - : -;.::"''V-'"

The fishing season in .'the Mastertbn district ;this year-seems, to be conspicuous for the! absence of any "catches of exceptionally big fish, more: than■:: anything else, (says a. \Vairarapa paper) i The finny denizens of the.rivers are said to'be fairly; plentiful, ;but not.particularly-'large.:.-;•:j

Among tlio passengers 'to. arrive,;from England. - .by ..tne.' s new,:steamer. Euahine. on ■"Saturday .morning -yas .the:, Bey. T. G. Kay, .vioiir /of, Wadestowri/ who ..'has been. absent , from' ■ Wellington : for, eight months, rwhich time has .been/spent in visiting friends and 1 travelling in Bngland.' But they were not ! all' idle! days in Erig-, land. ' : Tor- a/mohth' Mr;-Kay;':,a'cted. as ■locum", tenons. ' in /the, Salisbury .diocese,:' and on:■;another, occasion,' .for a : .similar: period,.in the Bochestef. Mocese.-He was. also the guest bfhis Lordship the Bishop of Loudon at Mham/Palace.: One thing the reverend gentleman, .was'-', stniok. with at Home was the crowded congregations, at all the churches. /'."Not only ,at:-those I.' 1 preached at," said Mr.. Kay /.with .a twinkle' in his eye, "but in every t ; church I visited.". He attributed' this largely,to the practice adopted: by; so;• many; churchmen of dealing with live, social questions from the pulpit;'/Eitual:.had nothing:to do /with/it,- and wasless a '-'matter-of con/ sideratioh thanavcr. /The Eev.-Mr: Kay. lectured on New/Zealand on. several oc-: casions, ■ and' wherever he'; went he-was pleased to notice the high favour in which the' Dominion was hold as: a,'place, for settlement, one ma.i having described it as the best white man's country.;out of England.(Why the qualificaHon .was not quite clear.)' Mr.-Kay "resumed his place in the pulpit yesterday,' .and ' was _ accorded: a' warm -welcome' back/ -by/his. parishioners.; ,',. '■;: ; : :; ?■-,-::■-:; ; ;!v::

■.: When the.Kuahine had;loft.Cape Town on December 17;th6se on-board the wreck.'of the■; Shaw, "SavilL bion . 'Company's .'■■;.-■ Maori,v'.'.■which ' .was wrecked at Duiker. ; Point a'few. months ago;' Only portion ; of: the . hull and. one iuast was then visible above .water..,; ;'■,".'

.With, reference to the request that.the harbourmaster at ■ Ficton should -'be" appointed an examiner •of candidates for certificates '.'-of'/ competency " : as': river masters,'-the Hon.:J.' A. Millar,-Minister for Marine, lias written to.Mr. J.'Duncan, M.P. for W a ' ra u> as .under;—" There ,will T bo;no ■ objection.;..to', making "this appointment; but as it is' proposed ,to' make similar', 'appointments at, other ports, and inquiries concerning 'the persons; to:,' be' appointed are 'now being madc,\it-is considered advisable to: let the appointment of -.the harbourmaster'.,ati; Picton -.stand over' so that, it may be made along 'with the others. There does not"appear to be any urgency in the matter, pending tho: coming into -operation ■of the :.; Shipping and Seamen Amendment; Bill.":: '

D Battery, under /Major -Petherlck, went into camp at the Hutt Park for its annual. course of training oh: Saturday afternoon. The, Battery will proceed to Featherston at the conclusion ,of its preparatory training at the Hutt, in order, to carry out its annual,class' 'firing with, live shell under servico: conditions. ; Competition for tho Rhodes-Artillery. Cup and the Efficiency Challenge'-Shield -.is.' very keen among tho field,artillery•; companies this'-year, and as, the conditions of. tho servico "shoot"-' have been' 'made, .ojorc difficult, the contest .should' prove/to 'bo an exciting one. ■'; ; ..'. /.'.:-';';;/-/■-

• Shampooing, ; Clipping Hairdressing, Manicuring. Faoe Massage, Treatment of Falling, Hair . and Dandruff, CombinEs made up.' Natural-.Hair-pads." ■'-. Mrs. Bolleston (over' Carroll's), 714'Willis Street. "Phono- UM.—Advt,

Mr. D. M'Laren, M.P. : for Wellington East, who is on a holiday/visit to Hastings, has consented-to deliver. a. political' speech there on January, 13 or 14. 'The subject to bo dealt with ; will be . the "Land Question ami Organisation of ■ a Political League." It is Mr.-M'Laren's intention to' visit various towns:in the. Dominion with a. view-'to,'inducing-the electors to'organise- a definite political programme outside the House. "At present," said Mr.' M'Laren, "there is no definite programme, and the people; are living in a political band-to-mouth existence.", '.-." '• .- '-..- 1 ,';" ;'

Tho maintenance grant for school buildings for the- Waiiganui education district for this year is less than that of last year, This. (comments the Feilding "Star") with the reduction of ■ the school committees' grant by 9d. per head,is the Government's idea of, providing funds for free school books. :■ •

Tho chain of habitual; holiday resorts wears away: in time, and-people begin to hunt around for new. places. The Akaroa "Mail" states ; that never before in the history of Banks Peninsula- have such large numbers of travellers been on'the Peninsula roads. .'.The traffic 1 at Little River has been a record, and', the number keeps up. The coach proprietors are to be congratulated on the excellent way in which they ■ have handled tho tourist traffic this year. , .;..,.' ',

A caso connected with the recent tampering with mails on Banks Peninsula was 'heard at the. Magistrate's; Court :at Akaroa on Thursday by Messrs.- G. Armstrong, G. W. Thomas and.C. Frederickson, justices of the peace (says a southern; paper). ' Harold Priest, aged 17 years, was charged with having stolen; a gold watch and a gold and greenstone.. pendant, tho property of :.the : New Zealand Government. 1 It- was stated in evidence that the'stoleri articles had.been- sent by a firm of jewellers in, Christchurch; to Stony Bay through the post 'The charge had been brought in consequence of, 6ome complaints made to the Chief Postmaster about missing, 'articles. : Detective Miller had traced the theft to the' accused, and had arrested hiinv, He was the son' of the contractor for: the carriage of, the mails. from Duvauchelle's -to Little Akaloa. After-: a -quantity, of, evidence had : been heard . the. accused, pleaded guilty, and .was committed-.to; the -Su-; preme Court for: sentence. \ : : ..,'• v.;':;}:':.

A scheme for founding in Christchurch a Koman Catholic High School for: boys isnt present receiving: the;, attention, of the. authorities of the : -diocese.: (says,. aChristchurch paper). At recent meeting Bishop Grimesi: intimated that the scheme would ".probably-: be ,<an; accomplished factjat an early date.;;:,:'. ;..;)• The ohairmaii ;of the 3utt. Valley Tramway: Board (Mr.., J. W. \ H'Ewan) has heard nothing' further from ■ the Prime Minister ..regarding'; the., board's request for- a; definite promise; that the'.requisite '■£80,000'•'• will- be under , : ;tho; State Guaranteed' Advances: Act of-, last; session^■ .Until.'the promise is f drthcpming^the;board;cannot take,any,steps towards. putting loan proposals, before the ratepayers. ...Mr.; M'Ewan* is_hopcful.:.of, obtaining, the: desired, information ■in;;a week' or two,, when' ;.Minist«rs.;,will- : .have ooncluded their jholidays. r-'^^-^f:^': '■■' .Despair for' the' 1 ultimate .construction, .of' the .North AucUand;:Main -Trunk, railway has. evidently hot.'! entered the mind of Mr. ClementiWragge..; After'informing; his: audience recently; that Donati's comet \vould hot. again: be -visible; (in til the';year 4SOO, or thereabouts; the lecturer, facetiously remarked that. the.railway, in question.should;bo:completed■'by,then.; '■< ■ Recently: a.boi : 'of. 100,..detonatorsfwas found; by a -,child .'somewhere ■'','■• in; r the/l locality' "of 'Easson's the Greyj ''Star.''),: and 'tho.,,ohild.innocentlyrenough 'took them .to' 'school,'; and, 1 in; total ignorance,' \ distributed', tliein through'; 'two' or three of.the standards 'before;the teacher 'ascertainedi what;had;been'hone:-.'.The master, ..being -.' inf orihed •■' of :;the : .oircurastances,' .had.i all'; the..,scholars;; arranged*; and; collected, the .whole,, of ~the,-:cpntentsj of'the box,,which he.deposited:in safety!: but 90; of the 100 1 had. been.;'distributod; before he took action.,'One•lad,.had : used;j his^as,-a-'whistlo., :■';'■'.'VivV^V;^:^;; 1 -'";''::"-'

. ,'lt is.'.repWted that thereVare; twentyseven'unregistered;, racing;; clubs : in, .the; Gisbornp district,' Ivhioh mil;.'■ be ■.affectedby':':'the' racing.'- regulations' recently .be-' fore Parliament.;- •;:'■-.■'; ; ".':;';;'r • ■■;'.(v>;.■■!;.-',;.

• ."New: Zealand', is .'a good country," said ,Mr. Peck, of New, : York, who was 'one of the-: pa'ssengers,; by ' the • ill-fated' Waikare, "and as an- instance of their, advertising I: may I ,mention' that;?.there': ;were';'nve American's, and twenty-fiyo Britishers on board who; came "to the} Dominion for thisparticular'.Spunds trip." Continuing, lie'saidthat he :wa* a frequent traveller, nnd -on;his.present been to"."Honolulu, .Canada;:: -'Ja'panj " China, Philippine Islands, ;and Australia. Auckf land Harbour;. he.isaid,; : was ■ bn'e v 'of ..the, finest-things, he had seen;: and -the', trip .up', ,otago -Harbour,: between ..'Port. .Chalmers and D.unedin.; was,also.beautiful..-.'.

: Thus the .'Auckland; "Star"-,—For .some time'-past: there' has: been-,, a: reluctance part of officers; of the''Agricultural Department;to divulge any : ;information, as the • result. of ; instructions' from■•biad:quarters,- and this reluctance has "'now" developed-into an absolute;refu'sal to.give the .slightest detail of; news'-:'to'.a newspaper, representative,, How,long' this faroical condition; is' to' he;enforced jtjg impossible to say, but those responsible for, it are assuredly going -the right way about minimising the, usefulness : of;the. Department, and;even nullifying.the work" of its : experts.'.; The .press has .'always placed its columns freely.at,the disposal of-.the Government agricultural'experts, thereby facilitating their workr of spread- : ing: knowledge broadcast:- Now-those officers -are ' gagged;.-and-. cannot even:'give an opinion when -'asked!'for-:it 1 ' oh matters of local interest, likely, to be ; instructive to: the man on: the land;: arid ; to the agri : oultural;community., generally, ■'■..; -~-;

. ..As reported some time' ago, strong objection' is. shown to the- Chinese ■? using the municipal baths. and they are hitting back in a manner rather- unexpected. A day. or so ago: a ; facetious Napier gentleman, met .a Chinaman <he knew. -Hello,' John," said he,' "'ybu goiDg to ~:Said: the ■Chinaman in reply, with.-a grin: -,',-No'fear;' pe like .to bathe .inj.ctean'; water;" .-Vr :-Talking bfjlotorua;' "Mercutio? in the Auckland/'Herald" says- that: it; is - a pity the Tourist; Department has found it-necessary, to levy, a'toll of a shilling per head -on. visitors.)to thei-reserve >at' -Whakarowarewa; containing the .geysers; Already, for.the.mariof moderate:means;especially, if ha' take .his family with 1 him,,' a visit to Rotorua- is a -big., item, and few who .go,there can afford to • do < more than thoWaimangu-Rotomahana-Wairba: round trip.,: Even the; wealthy tourist expresses amazement' at the- way. money goes in JP B '-"Wonderland.'-'::;Whaka. was" practically the only place 'where, one could : se?. some, of .the thermal wonders 'free, and,was' a. boon',.and'.a- blessing, to- the man with, wife- and -bairns,, and not'too' much, money-to; waste.'. Arid :whenf one travo s 170 odd miles,: the distance from Auckland; .to.;: Rotorua,- he expects- that: ?i'-iS oS t* ,™, oso ' sfehts .around the', town itself shall -bo available -to 'him without ,liis.-,having to:p'ut.his,hand-.in-.his pocket 1 every. time, .ho, v wants .to see :a; boiling springer geyser.:; The fabloof the' goose and;the. -golden eggs is one that.Rbtorua- people, would do iwell'. to remember when any more proposals: are made "'for increasing, the tolls to tourists... It is noteworthy, '.by.-,the way,./.that :ivhilo visitors-., are -:tp -be charged 'Is: for, admission- to the Whaka. reserve,"residents ot the -placo are :to bo supplied: with, : tickets .for -. a, .whole; year .for that' sum;K>

the first; CuristchurcliDunedin> express train from the'south iwas about^twenty ■■: minutes - late in '.reaching Hangitata, where it, crosses-the" second express,tram, from -Christchurch.:-' As soon as it had arrived, the - southernbound ,cxpiws, which had -been -waiting/ pulled out, and,on the run, to Timaru made exceptionally.'-fast time between '■stops. A couple of.passengers,who timed tUo .train with a,stop-watch ascertained tnnt the fastest-mile wascovered in one minuto fifteen seconds, or at the rate of forty-eight miles an hour; At one place, between Orari arid Winchester,' a quarter of a mile was covered:iii.eighteen seconds, which is equivalent to fifty miles : hn hour. The,passengers on the train, which was a heavy one, succeeded: in' malting Timaru only, five minutes behind schedule time.'" '.: ' ' ' ::.'.- , ■

During, his -/first year of office- as Minister for Railways, the/ Hon. J./ A. Millar has, he states, effected : economies in working: expenses':, totalling '~£(0,000. With a view "of still further cutting' down expenditure, ho intends,to convene a conference ■ of. district traffic managers as soon as' the financial year.: closes, to- consider a proposal to'reduce the goods services -to wayside stations.

"A politician's, bide requires to be as hard as that, of a rhinoceros, and his fuco of „brass," remarked the Hon., E. M'Kenzieat the banquet to liiiii at Kumara! recently. : . : :- .' *

.''.'Apropos, the, loss of ,the' Waikare a : few humorous .incidents are told.of tie: nocturnal assembly, round the huge camp fire in 'Dusky Sound. , While the 1 , circle of people were sitting at the blaze chatting about the day's occurrences,: a. wild duck, its' curiosity 'or indignation aroused by the invasion,of its privacy, .fluttered in, and; created eucb. a'commotion that three: or four meii went sprawling back over the, boxes on which they were sitting. Then a'penguin, came along ;to investigate,:walied in. among the orowd in a ridiculously grave and inquiring fashion,'- .'and..; then .withdrew.'," Another story; that; went,:, the rounds, was that one of-the stewards .put on. a lifefelt, and then: tried to get ; through, a: "porthole,:.without, success.- Tlio• steward was bantered a good deal about this, lit- . tie episode, the,' truth -'of "which he never 'troubled to : deny./ 'The ;>| bird 'life .at Stony Island:greatly interl'stedf-.thp.in, ■voluntary • visitors, who : were given: : an' opportunity' for; Nature: study that' does not come-their .way : every':'uay,. How-, ever, they were glad to say farewell to the spot' which had been a temporary home to them,' and to'.feel under tne'r feet once more the sound plants of a good.slip. , '.-■...•.;'.'.•:,"., '

In; connection:' with the Union Steamship: Company's scheme for superannuating 'officers on retirement;. there appears to be a good ~ deal'i of : dissatisfaction among those- concerned; It ;was, intended' that. contributions to ■ ,: the .'fund ahould commence .this mbnth, but'from what has transpired it does 1 not, appear; that there is- much -~ probability:-V'of .'■:-'.; tha^rfund being floated Vso ■'.'. quickly.".-. Tho chief obstacle' to -the successful ~ lannching ofthe'.scheme',' appears to ■be ''■'» : prevaflinß opinion, that few .of the young officers in the service .will 'ever reach (he retiring age. It is contended that a : life at sea, with its attendant, worries,'does not tend direction ■of longevity, and that, shipwreck l , and transfers :will:be a : , con-: stant cause/of:; depleting', the,'.. rants ofthose., entering, .under ' tie,: scheme. ■ These things being. considenid, the ytuag :• of-' ficers of. the service; do;, not ap.'.pear; to ■be unanimous ' in approving tho" scheme in general, -while certain detafU have '.'also .;, given : rise: to ..dissatisfaction,: ,A: petition, largely" ; signed,:; has ■ been \ for." .'•varded to, the head, office, ■ praying ; that ;tho scheme be. not .enforced..iat;,is*believed that the only way in which a satisfactory.understanding, .will be arrived at ; will be by holding a conferencei at Wet' l^t»n..v>.,.'^'--.r■■::.;■■'.-v-vvvv■,.':.■:'■;:•■.;/.;■• : ,,.•-'.