LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 726, 27 January 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

- Jlails'-.which-'left Wellington on Janu-' ary/4 Hauroto,. and; connected'at Papeete , with the 6.9. Mariposa, ; arrived in, San Francisco ,on January, 25.'■■'. ; ./■

•; Botiasberg, -:iiie,; memorable -event■/iu! the history.of theJdouigs-of the Seventh New:, Zealand.: .Contingent' in the- South African. War, , 'was;- fouglit"on -.February 24.;: ■• The annivereary'ippftho Jbattlo.'.will be l observed by the- , regiment at a' dinner, and as Field-Marshal Lord Kitchener will .then.be: in Wellington, lie will 'be invited/ to attend.' V ; /■ ■•;■■'.'■'•.-,i\ - ; . ".■■, : \:

■-.-. Canon , : Mac Murray caused : inucli : laugh-, ter:andvastonishment at:'..the Aiiglican General ;.;Synod yesterday, by .!ostensibly: convicting. the Primate : of shaving spoken with'slighti regard'for the. binding■ nature: of : .tho' marriage - tie. The fundamental provisions of •the..iCnurch'6'constitution were : iuider.: and' ; the - : Canon was- combating: the : Primate's view. that : those .provisions : were- invalids V ' With this object he quoted from the Primate's opening ■ speech .the words: '■ "The.; so : called: 'fundamenfal; provisions, .'being formed ■ on ' fal6e: premises a'nd misconce'p-. tions,/Vara themselves invalid, and: may be. regarded .as.null and void."-. Canon Mac Murray - .went .on to ..put ; a suppositi-, tious ; ;oase of aypung mani. who,:, after -marriage,.' discovered • that ■ ia. 'had taken that : step as the .-result",of'"false premises and ■ mieconceptions" 'regarding the.personal qualities of his.:bride. : The outburst .of ."merriment :and ' surprise' at this' sally showed that: Canon Mac Murray did not need to olaboratethe , point. The , did .not , , think it necessary, to reply.; V:--; ' ;.: ; :';. v---'':::\v"^"': : ■■ : V; ■

:'A deputation of'the!.residents,along the Mauawatu.line from -Wellington to Pae; kakafiki.will wait on'.the Minister for Eailways'; 'at noon to-diy, to. urge certain alterations in connection with the .proposed, new ■ time-table.'-■':.' ~'■ ;■::■'

: There was quite .o.menagerie 'air. about ths'Manulia oh 'her arrival from Sydney: yesterday'' ■morning. . The: explanation. oi this' novel" collection' of.wild : animals and strange birds of ■ various countries aud climes exists, in the' enterprise of Mr. J; J. :Boyd, an old resident of -Wellington, large;, property-owner,..at :.Kilbiniie, who untonds, to establish, an up-to-date ■menagerie, on a block ,of .land he has acquired.: at* Aramoho, ■ near..: Waugaiiui. JU'or . this purpose, he visited. Europe. and made.; extensive purchases, in ' several places, but ;cMefiy, : frosri.'the; wonderful menagerie, of : Qarl ■-Hagenbeck, .at'-:Hain-Durg." The' animals, secured.at Hamburg comprise ■ two lions, a. tiger,,.two hears, two. antelopos, and of the bird ..tribe two cranes, four, macaws, and- two" eagles:The : collection ■ brought to \ New" Zealand by,.Mr., Boyd. also/includes/twenty, monkeys of '.various kihus, two.'.leopards,' two foxes, a' : puma, .Madagascar, and French love-birds, ■ ; .:EoseUa;: parrots,'; laughing jackasses, and other birds. The animals fared 'remarkably: well on the voyageout One -monkey: died, .and! 'an'.., opossum jumped- overboard after' the Manuka - had. passed through 'the Sydney Heads,' but. the rest'ai-e said to be in good 'condition. The' cost \of the collection: rah' into : four figures. .'....,"■■ '".■■, ■";./■'' - : ■.'.','.:.■ ■-.■ '■-'-: :■;'

:., Considerable. interest. ■ (saya ..our ' .;QtaH correspondent) is being displayed in connection with the trip of the,party which is to ;■ leave Otaki on Friday, night' for "The Forks," en route for the Wairarapa by way of tho .Tararua Eanges. , The. settlers'at, Otaki Gorje are making , full preparations to receive the'party, as they pass that way and treat them well. ; It is expected that: the, "explorers" will return to Otaki on Monday next, m ..'',:.;• ."• "As an evidence of what tho Church in. New Zealand is," said'the Anglican Pri-'. mate .yesterday,. after -.welcoming: the forernnncrs' of the General Mission to. the Genoral Synod, "I should : like to tell our ~visitors that many of those here : will have travelled the , , better part of 1200 miles : at their own expense by the I time they. reach their homes after attending this Synod.". ■ , ;■■•■ •''.''. In compliance with tho . wishes of the Imperial autliorities, the census... of the population of New Zealand mil be taken in 'April,-1911. That date, has already been fixed for tho taking of tho census in Great Britain and in other parts of the. Empire..; Preliminary, steps for the carrying out of the work here are already being made by. tho '■ Eegistfar-Goneral's. Department. . . ; :..,."

. Whilst in Auckland H.M.S. Challenger is to go into dry dock for: an overhaul.

; It will bo remembered that at the re-, cent intorview between, a deputation of Auckland residents and the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) in connection with the case of. ex-Captain Knyvett, complaint was mado that, the 'proceedings, of the first day's sitting of the Court of Inquiry at Auckland were not embodied in the evidence which was subsequently laid before, the. Adjutant-General ..(Colonel Tuson), and that judgment was \ therefore presumed to have been given on an incomplete knowledge of the facts. This point was reserved by the Prime Minister for further investigation*',and in connection :therewith members' of the BoaTd ■of Inquiry will reassemble at headquarters this afternoon, when the matter.-will be discussed. . -: . ■-••,

At a meeting of Cabinet- last: evening, expenditure amounting , to was ■authorised for ' roads : and. bridges and .£46,000 for railways. '' '.-.-.■••.

A boy of fourteen was brought before Mr. W. G. Biddell, 5.M.,; at,a- sitting of the.Juvenile Court yesterday morning. He was charged with having stolen - a handbag containing money, of a total value of 305.,. the property : of; Annie Morley. A conviction, was entered, and the boy was ordered to come np for sentence when called upon,, and:'to receive five strokes of the /birch, the/stolen property to.be 'returned to its owner. '.. -'■

■ : A' resident; of Christchurch, who recently- forwarded twopence to. the .chairman of the Tramway -Board for his unpaid fare on the Burwood 'car from the beach to Tay Street, wrote a letter to the board, and it was read to the members at tho last meeting;. Hβ stated that he had'-felt it to be his duty to mention the matter, as fully> other persons had had no fares collected from them, and ; ho. did. not expect'- the ■. line to pay if .the' fares were, not collected; Incidentally the ■' -ivriter stated.. that he 'had received no acknowledgment of-r the twopence. - "Did he . send -the other twopence?"'aske'd,.a member. '. ,"No,", said the chairman. :'Theni : he,' ought to , - be "prosecuted,", said another member.'* - ■; ■■ A letter which; drew; forth ".the comment "Nonsense!" '•Ifrbm-' several' s ,members v of the Christchurch' Tramway Board, and from one ; a remark about "Satan roproy--ing sin": (says:-ah exchange)j ; was one from the 'Canterbury Automobile Association on the.'.subject of : the. speed-of traincars. The letter stated, : that on' the i'endalton line from. Holmwood '.Eoad. to the.terminus the speed;of the trams con r stittited'a menace to: all:traffic. ' ■ . The speedj.pf,.tramcars ; :on■ Papanui -Eoad'was also .ekcessiye.y.running:. up to* thirty or thirty-fiyesmiles an■ hour.>-As' tho.-ques-tion in the air, thp"' that the matter .should;be: mentioned. .-The'chairman said; thatUt : :'ffas: impossible .for cars 'to attain mentioned.: ..■'•Mri'-. S. A; Staples said that, tho.-;letter was merely a counterblast to ■ the ■ recent decision- of the magistrate."' It took;the cars sixteen minutes .to .cover/three miles,' and their average ; speed: was twelve , miles an hour. The. letter was received.'-: ..- ••...: ■■' .•.l''rom inquiries made by a Christchurchreporter,-., it;, appears ; that- interest:-in, philately has; almost completely evaporated in .New-Zealand, although there is jmore':: or:less ■ of-a sale-for all. stamps. One dealer said that/very: little was paid per. thousand''for ordinary: New Zealand stamps, but the:-price rose:- with:the value :bf the stamp.; For ordinary, stamp .collections there :was. not much demand, and very , few collectors cared to-pay" high prices to;-secure -rare stamps. In'.the Old;. Country, .however, • interest was still alive m the subject •••'..-' •■.;'■' - ; .-.■

■iThe mission, to. men of the Rev. H. S. ■VYoollcombe appears to have created great .interest in : Dunedini' .'The':"Star"•' states that, on 'Sunday-'evening, last, St.v'Hat\thew s Church was packed, to suffocation point almost; in\ spite ,of ; open' doors. Forms had.' to be utilised.-,; Mr. '■ 'Woollcombe''gave a'vronsing sermon, -full . oi anecdote; historical facts, and inspiring' story, on L the ;• Anglican'■ Church •. and, its history,' and the responsibilities - of ~ its members because ■ 6f : that history. ; , In ■' an'. ,address- to, men in 'the?afternoon he : said men';sh6uld be as (interested':in religion asi.in: politics.';•; Laymen.' had. more power' in getting men to. church than : the parson had.■■'. Working, men;. , made a -men's ineet:ineup;toa roll of 800 members in'Beth-, nal Green- in with his' Oxford House ■Trork.-i.Tho- Church ;of •■■■England Men's Society ■,was'.beginning to !'.•&■' a great Treemasonry. .-By.. its'- badge :a brother; could findi out. a. brother. -There were over:' 80,000 .members.'in; England,; and thousandswere joining monthly in all parts;6f the: world. ; ; y ; ; ",f- '■'.'> - : "■■•-. ■■'}. "•'.-.

■ The Government las voted' a sum-of JBSOO for: tlie provision, of one additional' class-room .in- -brick:,.at i the Brooklyn School, i .The.Education .Board will prot ably, expend • the'.money'.at as early a date: as :■ Dossible. r-■•')■,.'■.-.'.v-.■'.'.':■>.;'■.".■'■.■■:':■•-■'■.•.

:-, Application , : is. to be '■■ made' to jßie Government for a:.; grant; for - a ,; new school' on: the; Ca'rrington' Estate,' : near Carterton; as: soon 'as»a .suitable..'site-is .available.,' ';■■ It is expected: that- the 'settlers ■interested will present a site, to" the , Edu-' cation, Board. ■ ':: :::.-■',.::- S : ' >:•

;'■■&.' circular; letter" has.been addreesedby the-InspectoT-General 'of-• Scnooh? to the various , Education, Boards ■•• of '■ . the -Dqminion.y' abfifying "■•.• the -amount'. of - the grant .for maintenance , of .schools for )th» paet year,', and. imposing certain restrictions ae, to. future expenditure. In nearly every ; case the'- , -amount; of the. grant- is considerably less tlwn : years. The .'■Wellington 3oard," instead of. Reiving. i£5500, as' it did: last year;.,will .receive only JC3455. As the. board,based its estimates. upon; ;the- receipts of the" previous year,: it. .will find' itself .in a -serious financial difficulty; :; A' remarkable feature of the business is.that boards jire kept- in the dark, concerning '.Government grants until: the .year has expired. It has. transpired .in the case, of the. Wei-: lihgton: Board ''.that -the grant:' made is -totally, inadequate for maintenance, purposes', and .that 'many,, urgent: works, which- have already. been' approved, .will have'.to be abandoned.': The position';will be. reviewed- at • the' meeting' of - the board to-day, ..when , the' .circular., will come- , up -for. consideration.:;■•; The;.■ Aucklan d ,: and 1 Ndrtlr Canterbury. Boards have protested very-strongly,against the■ contents of.■ the .oircnlar.;.'; , :;- , ;...;' .•'•■:■■■.■/■'.'''.-.■ ■.■'■:■ ,■: -■■.'■;■-■'■ .'..'■

: CThe. Minister'for Education' lias' promised to find half, the money, required for acquiring ;the ;section. l of land'adjoining the .Wellington Terrace School., It seems highly .improbable;, however,' that ■'■■ the' Education Board, intho present state of its -finances,- will find the -other half. '■• •

, VBeyond all : question' tho : . city has 'a golden, asset .in Lyall! Bay.' Though the weather;was dull and windy.last evening, there, must. have. ;been . about 5000 people: at the 'Bay. The':scene, as ! they boarded the. cars-at .the' Courtenay Place junction: early in. the , evening -was the reverse of edifying, and. badly needs soinosystem:of control 'before' an. accident oc-: curs.-to force home .the need., It is ne- , cessary for -the. special cars'.'which-are: to leave:Courtenay! Place . to; back ; down Clyde" Quay; to change oxer, on .to the "up" line. The crowd, :too:. impetuous to wait for the cars to return. , from Clyde Quay to the proper starting point, rushed them as they.proceeded slowly along, and . hung 'on frying fto board whilst, the cars were in Emotion;. As - two-thirds of the crowd were women' and young girls/'it was . more-by ..gooil. luck than management;'that: there was not a' : serious accident. Prom 7 to 8.30 p.m., the cars to the Bay—most 'of them "specials" at.Ccf. return.— ran with maximum loads.:: ;If ' was ■'. a. revelation 1 to see : the vast .crowd of people: sitting on the* araphitheatroVof sand dunes at the rear'. of a tomporary 'stage which had been erected high up on , the beaoh." It was the. open-air theatre -rof.Ainerican: origin—in. being. : The ejitertairiment consisted :of band; Belee-,tions-by the Tramwaj's Band, a juvenile boxing contest, a Sandow: exhibition by. men from ': H.M.S. Challenger, and a , life-saving. exhibition' by' members of' the Swifts Swimming. Club. ; ■ .. ;; . \

. At a' mooting of the Petone Technical School Board; held on Tuesday evening, it was decided that the teaching staff appointments,. which are ■ held; from 'year to year, should bo determined, and that all the positions should: bo, advertised ns vaoant. The , present staff will, bo clieible for tho vacancies, which, however, will be .filled under now terms of engagement, in order- to bring the organisation of the staff into harmony with the changed conditions of the school. The post of director will bo advertised at iSO per annum, with additional .emoluments for class work. Class instructors, will be paid at tho rato of iS.per term, if one night's instruction, per week is given, .£l4 if two nights ore given, and ,£2O: if three nights are given. The financial positonof . tho board, as shown by tho annual statement of receipts and expenditure, disclosed a satisfactory position. There is a balanoo of £1U 15s-ld. in hand.