LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 818, 16 May 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Huddart-Parker utoamer Victoria arrived at Auckland _ from Sydney at 1 p.m. yesterday with an English and American mail via Vancouver, au English mail via Brindisi, and an Australian mail. Tho 'Wellington bags will arrive by tho Main. Trunk express this afternoon.

In connection with the children's services proposed to be hold by tho clorgy of Wellington, in the Basin Reservo, on Friday morning nest, parents would like to know if the children are to assemble at the day-schools in the early morning, and from there proceed to the Reserve. One headmaster who was consulted on the point stated that so far no representations had been made to him about marshalling the children on the day in qnostion, and as there- was not sufficient time for them to bo taught any special or particular hymns suitable to the sad occasion, he did not think there would bo any call to assemble the children at the schools. It would, ho thought, bo much better if they went with their brothers or sisters, or even parent*, as no one would be working that day. Mr. A. L. Herdmah, M.P.,' has received a letter from the Minister for Public Works, replying to an inquiry concerning the suggestion that has been made that Sydney Street should be taken and added to the Parliament Houso grounds. The Hon. Mr. M'Kenzie says:—"The Government has no scheme or proposal under consideration at present in connection with these grounds, involving the closing of Sydney Street, of which I can give you details."

Cabinet, on Saturday, accepted tenders for the supply of New Zealand-made furniture for the new vice-regal residence. Tho names of the firms concerned were not disclosed. It is understood, however, that some of them are local manufacturers.

One of the most rarely seen and handsomest of tho flags which at present droop at half-mast in mid-city ont of respect to tho memory of tho late King is the flag of Paraguay, at present flying over the building of Mr. A. E.Kernot, the consul for that country in Wellington. The flag of the little Hepublic, which nestles in eternal summer between the two largest Republics in the South American continent (Brazil and Argentina), is made up of three horizontal bars of the liveliest shade of red, white and blue, in the centre of which is a laurel wreath and a star, surrounded by a narrow green circlot. The flag now flying in Customhouse Quay looks as-3f it had been through several revolutions, as it has all tho evidences at its nether end of having braved the battle and the breeze, but this is not so. It was sent from London to Mr. Kernot not long after his letters of appointment were received, but when hoisted half-mast it hung so low that it became twisted in some of the iron work supporting the parapet, and when the wind rose it tore itself free. Such, it is said, is the spirit of Paraguay—it would suffer all to be free.

Strong hopes are still entertained in this district (says our Masterton correspondent) of the prospect of establishing lino railway communication between ilasterfon and Hawko's Bay. It seems surprising (he adds) that a Government which has already spent a sum of money in n. flying survey, and which knows the immense area of fertile . country which would be opened up, does not offer facilities for the pushing forward of a scheme wljieh cannot fail to bo of immense advantage to the Dominion as a whole. Masterton has been striving for years to secure Governmental sanction k> a project of vital importance to its chief centre, and, to tho credit of its people be it said, the hope deferred has not yet made tho heart sick. A new trial of the Kutland Hotel arson charges will begin at 11 o'clock this morning in the Supreme • Court. When the accused) Joseph Paul Davis and Martin Haines, stood their trial on Wednesday and Thursday last, the jury disagreed. Before tho Wangamii caso is proceeded with this morning the Chief Justico will pass sentence on Martin Tier (found guilty on Friday of burglary) and Henry Smith (found guilty on Saturday of vagrancy).

Some little while ago, according to a private letter received hero from Rarotonga, there was a rather startling revival of an ancient native custom. Two or three Rarotonga graves wore desecrated at night. The bodies were dug up and removed to the beach and burnt. It seems, says the writer, that tho spirit of tbo departed ones had boon worrying or haunting their friends or relations, and tho above to tho nativo mind was the only way that tho spirit could bo laid.

On a somewhat interesting question our Mostorton correspondent writes as follows:—A rise in the price of totara timber has been mado in the North Island this month. Selected heart of totara, on trucks, is now supplied to merchants in Masterton, Napier, Wanganui, and intermediate townships, at 225. 4d. per 100 ft.; building heart, 20s. d<l.; nnd rough heart, Ids. id. In Wellington the prices are 21s. 3d., 19s. 3d., and 145.-'respectively. Thie iis an increase of about 2s. per 100 ft. all round. The reason that the timber is supplied at a lower rato in Wellington than in eountrv districts is reiki to be that in the city a formidable rival (jarrah) has Lo be competed against. Tho price of ordinary building mixed timber remains as before. It is reported that the Government is now negotiating for the purchase . of 100,000 acres of Native land in the neighbourhood of Ruatoki and Waimnna. Somo difficult)-, it is stated, is being experienced in tho matter, owing to factions in the tribe —one under the famous Run, while another is associated with the chief TaingaUawa in an endeavour to resuscitate the Treaty of AVaitungi. It may he found necessary to repeal the special Act allccting tho Urewsrn Country, in order to bring it under the provisions of tho Nnlivu liiind Act of lust

Business cares are said to have been responsible for what was alleged to bo a caso of attempted snicide at Maranui yesterday afternoon. It appears that a middle-aged married man wont to Maranni with the avowed intention of ending _his troubles in the sea there. He walked out into the tide fully-dressed until the water was up to his neck, but finding that the final step was past Ms strength of will ho returned shorewards. Ho was seen walking about tho beach in his soaking clothes, and was eventually given shelter in a hut, where ho went to sleep. The owner of the hut communicated with tho police, and as a result the man will bo charged at the S.M. Court to-day with having attempted to commit suicide.

Prevailing opinion in Masterton regarding the absorbing question of train services ig thus voiced by out local correspondent :—Notwithstanding that tho Minister for Railways states that the present railway time-table is proving financially successful, the inconvenience to Mastorton by tho new arrangement is very pronounced. Righty or wrongly, very pronounced. Rightly or wrongly, ised on account of the diversion of traffic from the Wairarapa to the Manawatu line. If finance is to be tho only consideration, it might be as well to 'dispense with the railway service entirely:, and revert to tho days of coaches and wagons. The weekly meeting of the Wellington Railways Mutual Improvement and Social Club waa held on Friday evening, when there were about 100 members present. Mr. E. A. Dawson (Traffic Inspector) gave a very interesting lecture on "Signals and Signalling," illustrated with model semaphores and diagrams. Mr. A. E. Pollock was in the chair. During the evening those present passed the following resolution (members standing), which the secretary (Mr. A. Cassie) was instructed to forward to the Prime Minister:—"That the members of the Wellington Railways Mutual Improvement and Social Club place on record their profound sorrow at the death of their beloved Sovereign, King Edward VII, and take this opportunity of expressing their sympathy and condolence with their beloved Qneen Mother, Alexandra, his Majesty King George V, Queen Victoria Mary, and the Royal Family in their l sad bereavement." It was also resolved to observe mourning for a period oj one month, and to abandon the social evening which had been arranged for next Friday. So pleased was Archbishop Redwood with the playing of the talented Ellwood boys, that he has loaned Harry a vainable violin for the Now Zealand tour, which naturally has delighted tho young player. George will use the Hon. Dr. Findlay's fine 'cello on tour. The instruments have been, insured for .£3OO by the manager, Mr. H. Gorlitz.