LOCAL AND GENERAL,

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 846, 18 June 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL,

When the D Battery were in camp last summer, training lor the Efficiency Challenges Shield and the Rhodes Artillery Shootiug Challenge Cup, Major Moorhouso (formerly commanding officer of tho battery) e made a sporting offer that if tho Wellington field gunners carried oft' both trophies ho would niako a donation of £20 to tho corps. The battery accepted the offer in the spirit in which it was given, won the shield and the cup, and are now richer in funds by £20. Among tho various places of interest which Mr. Blow (TJnder-Secretary for Public Works) visited in Australia were tho Blue mountains, where, at the town of Lithgow, arc located the only works at which iron is produced from ore in Australasia. Speaking to a Dominion reporter yesterday, Mr. Blow remarked that ho was particularly interested in the processes used, also in the results attained in connection with tho treatment of the ore. Seeing that New Zealand had some valuablo iron deposits, ho believed it would bo a very good thing for the Dominion if it could get them worked payably. Although Mr. Blow did not drop a hint to the effect, it is understood, that this is one of tho matters upon which ho will submit a report to the CSovernmcnt. A confidential report on tho To Aro dock was mentioned at last night's meeting of the Harbour Hoard. Copies were in the hands of members, ajid it was understood that tho subject would bo discussed in committee. No information was disclosed to the press. Mr. J. W. I'oynton is to deliver an address on tho geology of New Zealand at the Orphans Club to-night. Mirth and music will'bo provided as a contrast to thoughts, and theories as to our earth strata, moraino doposits, .and eorthfluako funits.

Tho Post and Telegraph Department has accepted tho tender of Messrs. Samuel Brown, Ltd., for tho supply of 197 tons of copper wire, the contract price being about £13,600. Tho local priest recently talked very plainly to the young marriageable men of Blenheim, and asked the question and supplied the answer to tlio oftnslced:-' "Why don't you marry tho girls? There are plenty of them only waiting to be asked. I'll tell you why. You are too downright selfish and fearful, and thriftless. You spend your money thriftlessly, and you won't put by the pennies that would grow, and enyou to pop the question." The girls, however, didn't have things all their own sweet way, as. tho priest thundered that many-of the sex simply ruined their chances of becoming happy wives and mothers by a display of extravagance and thoughtlessness. "I toll you," ho added, "that you ofton frighten the men off by tho size and wealth of your hats." AVailii will be tho locale of the next annual meeting of tho Australasian Institute of Mining Engineers. This was decided at the recent annual meeting at Mount Morgan, in Queensland, which was attended by several New Zealanders, including Mr. Blow (Under-Kcere-tary for Public Works). To a Dominion reporter yesterday, Mr. Blow remarked that between tho sittings visitors wero afforded every opportunity of inspecting the works in connection with the great Queensland mine. Needless to say, the visits were of a great educational value, especially to the j'ounger members who 'had not seen a mine of that size before. Nowadays, the output from Mount Morgan consisted chiefly of copper, but employment was found for no fewer than 2750 workers, li similar facilities" for inspection were granted at Waibi, visators to the next conference, which would probably be held in January or February, would also find a good deal to interest them. At tho big New Zealand mine they did not go in for smelting, but still there were processes there which had no counterpart at Mount Morgan. Mr. Blow added, that tho forthcoming visit to New Zealand of a large body of scientific men could not but bo to tho advantage of this Dominion.

The Harbour Board decided last night, on the recommendation of its Wharves and Accounts Committee, ._ to reply to the coroner's communication' in reference to tho recent fatal accident at tho Miramar excavation, that tho contractor is solely responsible for, tho safe carrying out of the contract, but that tho board has no objection to its engineer making suggestions as to what he believes to bo tko best and safest methods of doing the work. According to Mr. Blow (Under-Sec-retary for Public Works), who has just returned from a visit to Australia,- , there is not such an air of comfort about the settlers' homes in Queensland as obtains in New Zealand. Journeying through Queensland, one frequently finds located in the middle of hundred-acre blocks homos without fences, shelter, or gardens. The appearance of the homes is further discounted owing to the fact that in order to escape the white ants the buildings are erected on long piles. In fact, tie homes look as if they were only for uso temporarily, so un-home-like aro they. A peculiarity about many of the residences, too, is that boards are placed only on the' inside —which also assists to give them such an unusual appearance. Mr. Blow went on to tell a Dominion reporter that tho peoplo of Queensland seemed to bo very prosperous. .Not only had they had good crops this season, but prices wero also high. Still ho did not see any portion of the State which he liked better than New Zealand. In view of the severity of the weather last evening, the lecture 'arranged to be given by Mr. J. M. Spgar, Jtf.P.O.C, on the'subject'of "The Eye. and Its Defects," at the Town Hall. (Concert Chamber), was postponed. The Garrison Band will give a performance at the Newtown Park, tomorrow afternoon at 3 o'clock. Tho 28th annual show of the Wellington Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Society closed yesterday. By fanciers generally, the show was considered to have been one of the most successful yet held. In several classes, notably the old. English game exhibits and the wyandottes, the quality of the entries surpassed anything yet submitted for the criticism of the judges. Mr. Carnogio has provided a fair num ber of free libraries, oven in' Now Zealand, but it is possible that stronger arguments may be required to move his generosity ■in this direction in future. Mr. H. Baillie, city 'librarian, has received a letter from a prominent librarian in the United States in which he says: "I am not sure whether Mr. Carnegie is a friend of ours now or not. There has been so much criticism of his gifts that' he is turning aside requests for libraries.' .

Local governing bodies in Hobson and Whangarei Counties are using all efforts to induce the Government -to instituto a scheme for the utilisation of water power from the Wairua Falls, which are situated within two and a half miles of the navigable waters of the Northern Wairoa. The immenso cascade is equidistant (some 15 miles) between Dargaville and Whangarei, and is .considered to ho one of the finest power-producing forces in the Dominion. State experts report that there exists a flow of 285 cubic feet, per second, and it has been suggested by Sir. P. S. Hay,' who was appointed to inquire into the water power of the Dominion, that the construction of a power station a mile- and a half below the falls would give 1500 b.h.p. for continuous working. The harnessing of such an immenso force would enable the many milling and other machinery plante in the counties mentioned to derive an excess of- required power, and would, - moreover, render available a general and inexpensive lighting scheme for a considerable portion of North Auckland. The following wire has been received by Mr. Vernon Reed, M.P., from the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward), in response to a telegram which Mr. Reed sent to the Prime Minister concerning tho utterances mado by the Minister for Railways ■ (the Hon. J. A. Millar) effect that he (Mr. Millar) did not think tho North Auckland railway would pay a half per cent.: —"Vernon Bocd, Esq., Kawakawa. —I havo to thank you for your telegram. My colleague was expressing his personal opinion. Ton will recognise that tho Government's policy of railway construction includes tho lino to which you refer, and which the Government intends to push forward as fast as tho fair allocation of public funds for the lino in question will permit.—(Signed) J. G. Ward." There is a pleasing absenco of any conspicuous trouble in regard to unemployment this winter in Auckland, a fact which was emphatically verified this week by the officer in charge of tho Labour Bureau (Mr. J. Shanaglian). Tlio latter informed an Auckland "Herald" reporter that no serious slackness exists in the moro important trades, but a fairly largo number of casual labourers have come in from the country to look for employment during tho wet weather. The Department will, of course, bo unable to dispatch men to railway works until tho spring approaches. In the moantime, avenues of employment in and around tho city arc being availed of as far as possible. Mr. Shanaglian predicted that the wintor would be passed through without serious difficulty. Shampooing Clipping, Hainlressin*. Manicuring, Face Massage, Treatment of falling Hair, and Dandruff. Combings made up. Natural Hair-pad 9. Mrs BoUeston (over Carroll's), 11 .WiUia fitoeat. 'Phone 1599,-AdyU