LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 856, 30 June 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It is reported that it is not intended to fill th« position of Registrar of tho Arbitration Court, rendered vacant by tho promotion of Jlr. B. Wilton to the'position of Director of Tourists, Industries, and Commerce. For tho future the duties of the .office arc to lie performed by the various Registrars of Supremo Courts. Speaking to a Dominion reporter yesterday, tlie Hon. Dr. Findlay stated that he had called for further reports in regard to ail allegation that the name of a justice of the peace, who had been arrested for drunkenness in Christchurch, was altered on an official document. Asked whether there was any ground for a further complaint that this was not the first case of (ho kind that had happened in New Zealand, Dr. Findlay said that tins was tho first lie had ever heard in that regard. To alter a Court document was, in his opinion, a very grave offence. Tho well-known racing yacht, Janet, owned by Dr. B. 11. Jiakgill, has been sold to Jlr. Oliphant, a Dunedin yachtsman. Tho yacht will bo shipped per s.s. Jloeraki, which leaves for southern ports this evening. In regard to the curious position that has coino about in connection with the I'rince of Wales's Birthday as a holiday under certain awards, Jlr. W. Grenfcll, secretary of the Wellington Employers' Association, told a Dominion reporter that prior to the late King's funeral, it was reported by cable from London that it was not intended to create the heirapparent i'riuce of Wales until next year. Tho employers had this before them when they decided to graut a holiday for tho day of the funeral. They did not intend or desire to deprive the workers of a holiday, but they regarded tho holiday on tho day. of tho funeral us a substitute for the Prince of Wales's Birthday, and they had, .of course, no idea that the news that the heir to tho Throne had been created Prince of Wales would arrive, as it did, just about the close of the day itself. Tho Labour Department has consulted the Crown Law Ofiice in tho matter, but up to yesterday afternoon no advice Inid been received from that quarter. The Government's new monthly publication, "The Journal of the Department of Agriculture,'' Is now practically ready. The first issuo will contain between £0 and SO pages, and something like 20,000 copies will be printed. The journal will be illustrated, and the first issue will contain articles by the Department's experts on dairying, the regrassing of the Mackenzie country, and other matters of interest. The Kev. C. W. J. Jlaclavcrty, who some years ago was cmate of St. Peter's, Wellington, and tho Uev. C. G. Mutter, who, as "Brother" Jfutter, was formerly at Poriruii, aro on their way from England to resume work for the Anglican Church in this diocese. Mr. John Campbell,'Government Architect, when seen by a Dominion reporter yesterday confirmed the statement in this paper as to the minor character of tho alterations which Lord Islington has asked to have made at the new Government House. His Excellency (said Jlr. Campbell) wished certain minor matters which had not yet been done to bo carried out somewhat differently from what had been intended. His wishes would bo acceded to, and this would not cause a *inglo hour's delay in the completion of the work. Jlr. Campbell mentioned some of the wallpapers in this connection. His Excellency had expressed himself as perfectly satisfied with the general arrangements of the house. Attention is being drawn in Christchurch to the fact that one of the free service. l ) performed for farmers by the Agricultural Department is the analysis of soil from farms, for tho purpose, among other things, of determining the value' of the soil, and the chemical elements it lacks, so that they may be supplied by manuring. A reporter who inquired at the Agricultural Department as to tho best method of forwarding soil samples to Wellington was informed that holes should be dug in three or four places at fair distances apart about two for-t deep and cleaned nut. after which a clean slice should be taken from each hole to the bottom ol the top soil, or to a depth of nut more than nine inches. The -oil taken from each hole should bo mixed well together, and a sample uf about ten pound's, including stones, root fibre-, or anything else it contained, should be sent carriage paid to the chief chemist lit Wellington. If ihc soil is of manifestly different qualities in different parts of a field separate samples should bo ."cut, and in every <-a« a sam'plo of one or two pounds ot subsoil should- accompany the soil. A letter of advice is always necessary.

Tho vestibule of the General Post Office lias Ijucu newly furnished with a large double-faced cloelc, hi relieve citizen- from having to rush out in tho middle of the street to gaze up at tho clock lower to see if there is time to catch the mail. The opposite clock-face advises the oliicials within the mail-room of the ollicial time, so that the boxes may he cleared, and the matter sorted in time to catch the various boats and trains by which it is timed to leave for its destination. Another improvement effected in the vestibule is the erection of an electric arc light, which gives a steady light of great brilliance, enabling notices to be read at all hours of tho night. The Moeraki, which arrived from Sydney yesterday, brought 11G0 cases of fruit. Five Chinese arrived from Sydney by the Moeraki yesterday. They are alt former residents of tho Dominion. The committee which is arranging for tho lecture to be given ill the Town Hall by Mr. Kobert; M'Nab, .with the object of raising funds to erect a national memorial to Captain Cook, held a meeting yesterday, the Mayor presiding. It was unanimously decided that Sir ltobert Stout ho asked'to lake the chair on the occasion. It was agreed to ask the schools to co-operate, so that as many of the school children as possible may attend the lecture. Tho meeting decided to ask tho CUV Council on what terms it would let tho "Town Hall for tho occasion, and a suggestion was made that the City Organist (Mr. Maughan Harnett) should be asked to play a preliminary selection. An effort is to be made to form an ex-pupils' association in connection with the Wellington Technical School, and with that object in view, a preliminary meeting is to be he!).l at the school on Monday evening next. Last April (says tho Auckland "Herald") Mr. J. it. Gunsou (president of tho Auckland Chamber of Commerce) wrote to the head utlicc- of thfc 11,I 1 , and O. Company at London in respect to the company's steamers calling at Auckland, anil giving particulars of the advantages possessed bv that port. Ho has now received a letter from tho company in reply, as follows:—"It may interest yon to know that we have arranged for the following steamers to run through from Sydney to Auckland during the next season, with a view to providing for the direct 'passenger traffic between this country and New Zealand, which we are most anxious to encourage, via the Suez Canal route, as well as giving ample opportunities for the local tourist traffic:— Mongolia, from London, October 7, 1910; Mooltan, from London, November 4, 1010; Mantua, from London, December 2, 1910; Marmora, from London, Doccintoei 20, 11)10; Mongolia, from London, January 27, 1911; Mooltan, from London, February 24, 1911. This will give a regular sailing from Auckland for six months of the year, and wo trust that tho extra facilities thus offered will not only be a great convenience to tho public of New Zealand, but-, afford us u satisfactory result as well." In the course of her annual report, Miss Badham, principal of the Church of England Grammar School for Girls, at Sydney, referred to the great influx of new scholars, and expressed the opinion that this large amount of new blood, especially in the lower forms, was mainly responsible .for the "gems" which had adorned some of the examination papers. A few of the "cyms" are reproduced:— "Hezrkiah was the wife of Sennacherib." "There are three tropics—Cancer, Capricorn, and Unicorn." "Wyclif was born in New York in 1-123." "If Isaiahs cousin, King Uzziah, had not died, he might linvii been something greater than a prophet." " 'lch Dien' means anything from 'Praise God 1 to 'Good-bye.'" "A -whitcd sepulchre is a clean tombstone." "A dilemma has very sharp horns." " 'Luceat lux Vestra' means 'faithfulness, purity, and truth.'" Lady Chelmsford, who subsequently referred lo the "gems," said she had a brother who was doing well in his own particular walk ill life, but who, when asked in his early days to translate "esprit lie corps," gave it as "presence of mind." Her Excellency encouraged the gills by saying that, although they might make mistakes at the beginning, they could do well afterwards. Rates for the year were struck at a special meelin;; of the Onslow lluiough Council yesterday afternoon, as follow:— General rate, lid. in tho pound; charitable aid, 11-lild."; special loan rate, 13-6-td.; Hutt Road loan rate, 1-lGd.; Kaiwarra loan rate (Kaiwarra ward only), Jd.; lighting rate, Kaiwarra 5-32 d., Khandallah 7-H2d., Ngaio \d. All the rates are on tho unimproved value, except tho lighting rate, and the charitable aid rate, which aro on the annual value. The members of the Wellington Bowling Club were entertained by the president (Mr. A. Hamilton) at tho pavilion last evening. About 50 participated in an enjoyable euchre tournament, the prizes—silver pencil-cases—being won by Messrs.- Churchward and Phelps. At the conclusion of tho tournament there was an ovster supper, during the course of which tho president's health was proposed in graceful terms by .Mr. W. A. I'lavell. The vice-president (Mr. A. Vvvllie) invited members to attond a similar function to be held in the pavilion on "Wednesday evening, July 13. Advice- has been received by Mr. Charles Matthews, local manager for Alcock and Co., to the effect that Mr. A. E. Williams, the distinguished English cueist, who has been playing a series of matches in Sydney, will visit Wellington in nbout a fortnight's time. He will give a series of exhibition games here. Mr. Williams, who is one of England's six best billiardplavcrs, was beaten by Lindrum, the Australian champion, a few days ago. Mr. Matthews informs us that his firm has completed the erection of a solid twostorv brick building in Chancery Lane, Christchurch. Messrs. Alcock and Co. now have a warehouse in each of the four centres,, but the whole of the manufacturing for the Dominion is done in Wellington.