LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 794, 18 April 1910, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The English and Australian mails, which arrived at Auckland yesterday by the Victoria, will arrive in Wellington by this afternoon's Main Trunk express. A narrow escape from drowning is reported at Paremata on the occasion of tho launch, of the Guinivero there on Saturday. The vessel was being .towed out. in an extremely rough sea, when by some means one of the crew, D. Butler, got beneath tho bow. Ho was being badly buffeted by the waves, and was practically unoonscions when he was rescued by his comrades, Andrews and M'Kinnon, and dragged safely on board. Tho usual first-aid restoratives were applied, and in tho course of a few minutes the young man regained consciousness. It is considered, however, that tho forethought, of Andrews, and M'Kinnon saved Butler's life. Tho shooting season for imported game—hares and California)] quail— 111 tho Wellington Acclimatisation District, will commence on May 14, and will 'close on Juno 14, both days inclusive. ' On Saturday evening the police arrested a man on a charge of forgery at Cambridge. Ho will appear at the Magistrate's Court this moraine,

Questioned at Gisborno in regard to tho loan recently raised, Sir Josdph Ward said that the loan had been absolutely and satisfactorily 'floated. It was, he said, obtained at £98 10s., while that floated recently for Now South Wales brought only £96. "Our' loan is now," ho added, '"underwritten by -J per cent. That was to be expected. The public took 85 per cent, of the loan, and tho selling brokers had the balance, fhero was thus only 15 per cent, in the hands of the underwriting brokers'—a mere bagatelle. That means that ordinary bread and butter sales amounted to 15 per cent., and that can soon be got rid of. The fact of 85 per cent, haying been taken straight out at £98 10s. is exceedingly satisfactory, and no loan has been floated so well for a considerable time."

Tho published statement that Dr. Bell, Government Geol»*ist, lias reported favourably on tJic condition of the oil-fields in New' Zealand is likely to create further enterprise in the oil-boring schemos in Taranaki and Gisborne. It is understood that in the>' course of a few months a largo sum of money from Great Britain will be> available for operations in New Zealand, with a view of ascertaining beyond doubt tho possibility of Sliding' oil in payable quantities. There are 1 already inquiries from .England as' to' the prices of areas in tlio Dominionsupposed to contain oil. 1 Of tho Taranaki bores excellent reports are coming in from the Moturoa No. 3 well,, from which some thousands of gallons oV crude oil have been already taken, and stored, ill tho huge tanks. The bore is now down about 2800 feet, and there is a good supply. Tho New Zealand Standard Oil Company's bore, some six miles from New Plymouth, is now down 3000 feet, and the managerial'report states that the indications are .excellent. An "8000-gallon concrete tank is being constructed in order to cope with the expected overflow. It svas reported in New Plymouth, states our travelling corres-. pondent, that the Wellington-owned •'Bonython" Oil Company, whose bore was also down about' 3000 feet, but} which had ceased operations lately, would hold a meeting shortly to consider various matters regarding, the coutinuance of work.

The Sitratford-Ongarue railway is now completed as far as Te.Wera, about nine miles past Huiroa, but it is understood that it will not be opened. before June. The section is now being worked by the Public Works Department. It' is further understood that, before it will be able to'stand any special traffic, the old portion of the line to Toko will hare to be rolaid with heavier rails. The new post office at Wcreroa will be opened by Sir Joseph' Ward during the current week.-. Speaking to a "Poverty Bay Herald" reporter, Sir.Joseph Ward stated that it was his intention at an early date to traverse tie route of . the . GisborneAuckland railway, with the object of making himsolf fully acquainted with thenature of. the work and the country passed through. Sir Joseph intends to re-turn to-. Gisborne some time before the commencement of nest session, and will ride from Motu through to the Bay of Plenty. The excellent band of the Central Mission t played .an acceptable -programme' df music in the grounds of the Wellington Hospital yesterday afternoon. Tho music was much enjoyed by the patients and a large number of visitors. The second shipment of the new Australian. silver coinage is. carried on the 11.M.5. Omrah, which arrived at Eremantle on April 5. The specie consists of one million sixpences (£25,000) and half a, million florins (£50,000). . The consignment will be divided ; amongst three mints, as follows Perth, £4000 in florins and £2000 in sixpences ; Melbourne, £21,000 "in florins and £10,500 in sixpences; Sydney,- £25,000 in florins and £12,500 in'sixpences. Commenting on the attitude, of the New Zealand backs', who are statecl'by cable to haye the support' of; the Dominion ; Government in refusing to recognise the new Commonwealth silver coins, 'the secretary to the Treasury (Mr. G. T. Allen) saicl (reports the "Argus") that a circulation outside Australia, had never boon expected. It would not be fair to expect other "parts of the Empire to accept the coinage, out of which the. Commonwealth alcne was making .a profit. If Australian money were legally recognised in New Zealand, the banks might.'get supplies from .Australia, instead'of sending ,so far as Great Britain, and that would not fair to the Mother Country. Any inconvenience to ■travellers could be obviated b.v arranging to pay to the shipping companies trading to New Zealand gold for all Australian coinage, as had 'already been done with shipping companies.

At St. James's Presbyterian Ghurch, Adelaide Road, yesterday, the Rev. W. Shirer gave the first, of' a 'Series of addresses on "Church Service." The subject yesterday, was "Preparation by All." Tho power to worship, he said, would follow private prayer.' . Those whose duty required them to attend at the doors of the; Sanctuary, had an opportunity to welcome all wisely, and encourage strangers. Prof. Smith had advised ministers to pass to the pulpit straight from the Presence Chamber. Pentecost followed preparation. Dr. John. Hunter, in his book entitled "A. Worshipful Church," reminded' thein that there was a place for silence in church service. Psalm 65, verse 1, might read: "Unto 'l'hee silence is praise." Preparation claimed a promise and insured power in; public worship to confirm, convict, convince, and convert. The next address will be on "Church Psalmody."

"If hospitals in their expenditure would all come down to the average of what the more economically administered hospitals spend, tbere ; .would be a vast saving," remarked Dr. Valintine, Inspector-General of Hospitals' at Gisborne on Friday morning. He pointed out that the hospitals in the Dominion cost £216,000 lest year. There could be, he said, a great saving if hospitals only saw to it that they got the value , and quality of the provisions they paid for, whioh in many instances was not done. "I am, however, very much against false economy," he added.

Mr. T. Roil ay no, General Manager of New Zealand Railways, returned on Saturday evening from a visit to the Taranaki district. When in Stratford a' school committee deputation waited upon him with reference to the embargo 'which had been .placed upon school children travelling lon the mail trainby tho Railway Department. It was pointed out by Messrs. C. D. Sole (chairman of the school committee) and Tyrer (headmaster) that, by tho restriction, the children were being seriously inconvenienced from an educational point of view, especially those who wero going up for examinations. The committee asked, that secondary pupils from Waitara and Inglcwood bo allowed to travel on the trains. In reply Mr. Ronavno stated that, he would have to consider whether the children overcrowded the carriages. He. would not give any definite reply till later, and incaujvhile had asked for a full Departmental report on the subject. Messrs. William' Brown, -William Burrell, and Edmund Greenwood'have been nominated for the office of Commissioner for the Upper Hutt Town District, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Commissioner Alartin. The election will be held next Saturday. Shampooing, Clipping, Hairdreeslng, Manicuring, Face Massage, .Treatment of Falling Hair and' Dandruff, Combings madß' up. Natural Hair-pads. Mrs. Rolloston (over Carroll's), U Willis WweU 'Phoae loß9.—Axijjt,

In view of a probable shortage of work during the winter months, the ngent of the Labour Department of the Government has written to tho Primate to ask whether it would hot be possible to make a commencement with the building of the Anglican Cathedral in Dunedin at an early date. We understand (says the "Otago Daily Times") that the chief obstacle to such a course being taken is that the amount which the board desires to have in hand before the commencement has not yet been raised. Some generous subscriptions at this time might enable this work to be put in hand, and it has come to our knowledge that Mr. George Gray Russell has written to say that ho would make a second donation of £1000 if one or two otliers would give a like amount, which he thinks should be readily forthcoming.

Yesterday afternoon tliere was a large attendance at the strangers' tea which is given' every Sunday! at tho rooms of the Young Women's Christian Association, when Dr. Henry and his wife and daughter, with Mr. and Mrs. Potts, were present, and were entertained by the members'with the members of the. Committee and Advisory Board. Mr. Aitken' introduced the party, and Mr. Potts sang a solo. Dr. Henry is very mnch interested in' the work of the Y.M.C.A., and Mrs. Henry belongs to the Religious Work Committee of a Y.W.C.A. branch, which numbers over a thousand members, so they were both especially interested in the young Wellington institution.. Dr. Henry spoke of the good work being done bythe.'Young Women's Christian Associations right round the world, and said that he hoped the Wellington association would soon have a building, since there is very important work to be done in this town. Miss Henry gave, a recitation, aad afterwards, on the motion of Mr. Webster, seconded by Air. Balcombe Brown, a vote of thanks to the mission party for their visit was carried heartily.