LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 852, 25 June 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tho Moana was ready to leave for Sydney soon after 5 p.in. yesterday, but on account of tho accident on the Manawatu line she was delayed 2 hours waiting the arrival of Auckland mails by the Main Trunk express. Tho motor lorry with tho last of the mails reached Queen's Wharf about 10 minutes to 7 and as it dre\y up alongside tho steamer-, tho steerage passengers greeted its arrival with rousing cheers. On Wednesday Colonel Cossgrove, Dominion Chief Scout, dispatched the'following telegram to Lord Islington:— ""On behalf of 7000 Scouts and 400 officers, I welcome you to this fair land of ours, and wish you a happy and successful term as representative of our beloved Sovereign." His Excellency tho Governor forwarded the following reply"Please convoy to 7000 Scouts and 400 officers my sincere appreciation of their hearty welcome to me to New Zealand. I look forward to inspecting tho Scouts at an early date."

Some time ago, the Hon. Br. Findlay tho opinion that intending settlers would find it of immense value if they could procure a handbook giving in succinct and intelligent form the methods in connection with taking up all classes of- land under the various legislative enactments. Asked yesterday by a Dominion reporter whether it had been decided to compile such a handbook, Dr. Findlay stated that his proposal had found favour with the Government, and it would be adopted, although ' tho' work entailed was not nearly so easy as it looked. Tho work would (he added) be compiled by the Crown Law OlEco during the coming session.

At the fortnightly meeting' of the Artillery Officers' Institution last evening ■ thero was a good attendance of members. Captain A. G. Hume opened with a .description of 11.M.5. King Edward and tho German battleship Braunschweig. Captain R. O. Chesney, D.A.A.G., followed with a paper on operation orders, and Captain lUicklo, R.N.Z.A., closed the evening with an account of tho conflict between gun and armour. The sides for the war game to take place on July 8 were announced and preliminary arrangements made.

Two Thames fishermen had an unpleasant ' experience in Hauraki Bulf tho other night in the launch Advance, lying at anchor with; it is said, a riding light out. Tho owner and mate were asleep when the Northern Company's Waimarie, on her way to Paeroa, crashed into the launch, making a largo rent. The stem of the steamer' went through tho side of tho launch, and knocked the men out of their hunks. The force of tho impact impaled the hull of the launch on the steamer, the former being carried somo distance before way was stopped. Had the Advance not been an exceptionally strong-ly-built boat she would have been cut in Wo. Luckily the damage done was just clear of tho water lino. The launch was towed into Grahamstown by the Waimarie. Tho damage done is so extensive that the whole of the side will havo to be replaced.

Detectives Kemp and Haiimond yesterday arrested a young man .on a 'charge of stealing 360z. of opium, valued at £10, from Young's Chemical Works, in Little Taranaki Street.

The board of directors of the Huddart, Parker and Co/ Proprietary, Ltd., have decided to establish a branch office at Auckland. Since • tho company's steamers commenced running between Australia and New Zealand, several years ago, its business at Auckland has been ably conducted through tho agency of Messrs. L. D. Nathan, Limited, and satisfactory as this arrangement Was it is now considered that tho time has arrived when direct representation is not only desirable, but absolutely imperative, owing to 'the remarkable development of the trade in recent years. Mr. C. A\. Jones,, of Wellington, who holds the power of attorney for ; tho company in New Zealand, was in Auckland during the week negotiating for an office in a central part of tho city.

The average shipment of bananas for Wellington from Fiji at this time of the year is from 1400 to 1600 cases, but there were only about 190 cases for the local market by tho Navua, whoso fruit came to hand by tho Jlonowai yesterday morning. The reason for this marked shortage is the ravages made in tho plantations by the recent lnirricancs, which well-nigh denuded tho trees of their season's fruit. Even those bananas which did arrive were affected by the big "blow," being for the most part "pickings." _ They brought from 4s. 6d. to Bs. 6d., instead-of from 14s. to lGs., which prime bananas usually realise. Owing to the spell of stormy weather experienced locally last ivcck, tho supply of vegetables has been limited, and prices for these indispensable lines havo been firm throughout the week.

At a special meeting of tho Masterton Y.M.C.A. hold on Thursday evenings, at which Mr. P. L, Hollings presided, it was reported (says our Mastorton correspondent) that £950 had been promised towards the. fund for the extension of tho buildings. Tho 1 estimate for tho gymnasium and other buildings was £675, but, on tenders being invited, tho lowest was about twico that amount. It was now proposed to adopt a modified scheme whereby a section adjoining the present building would be purchased and a gymnasium erected thereon. It was also proposed to convert tho present social room into a billiard 'room.

The Garrison Band will give a performance at tho Newtown Park tomorrow afternoon.

Shampooing, Clipping, Hairdressine. Manicuring, Face Massage, Treatment of Falling Hair, anil Dandruff. Combings made up.. Natural Ilair-pada. Mrs, Kollcstou (over Carroll's), U Willis Street. 'Phono 15!13.~ AdvU

The innocent repose of a bicycle reclining against a tramway pole outside the Oriental Hotel yesterday afternoon was rudely disturbed, by one of Messrs. L. C. Bourke and Co.'s expresses. This vehicle kept so close to the kerb that it ran into tho cycle, smashing the front wheel, and twisting it into the most comical shape. Strange to say tho accident did not injure the inner tube, which had insinuated its unpuncturcd casing amongst the wreckage in the quaintest manner. It was the express driver's unlucky day. Soon after lie • had successfully smashod the bicycle a cask of beer was sprung, in the process of lowering it to tlio road from the oxpress, and a stream of beer covered the wood blocks in the immediate vicinity.

A Maori named Munga AVainonga, who pleaded guilty in the lower Court at Hawera to a charge of cattle-steal-ing, will come before the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) for sentence at 10.30 this morning. Tho Chief Justice will also hold a sitting in Chambers.

A communication has been received by the Prime Minister of Now South Wales from Mr. R. B. Alty, a Vancouver merchant, who, referring to tho trade development between Australia and Canada,, says: —"Tho steamer Makura opportunely arrived from Australia and relieved tho local shortage of mutton, and, butter. The butter was sold at Is. Bd. per lb. This was tho price paid for tho Canadian product. The shop pfice of lamb chops was 2s. 6d. for IMb. ■ Mutton cost retailers only 6d. per lb. by the carcass, but a combine was responsible for the high price to the public." .

The collection at tho Auckland Tabernacle Baptist Church last Sunday morning was annexed by thieves during ■the course of the evening. The money was extracted from a safe in the officers' room at the rear of the church.

The Victoria College capping carnival will be held in the Concert Chamber tho Town Hall on Thursday, .Tune 30 at 8 p.m.

Tho Wellington Savage Club's korero will bo held in tho Concert Chamber (Town HalU) this evening, when his Excellency Lord Islington will be the guest of honour. .

Tho thirteenth annual reunion of the members of the Wellington Civil Service Rifles will be held at the Hotel Windsor on Monday, July 18, at 8 p.m.

A typographical error made in the report of his, Excellency Lord Islington's speech at the dais before tho General Post Office on Wednesday calls for correction. One sentence read —"This bereavement is brought home with particular piquancy." The last word should, of oourse, have been "poignancy."