LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 872, 19 July 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Our Masterton correspondent states that Mrs. Williams, of Wellington, has donated A'SU towuius extinguisnuig tue itebt on the Masterton Congregational Church. With JtoO raised locally there now remains only a debt of cin the wUoln property; /

'i.'lib Harbour Hoard's new reinforced concrete wlmrf, at Clyde Quay, which waa formally taken s over from tho contractors (Jlessrs. John M'Lean and Co.) on Juno U, has at length tound a tenant. The first vessel to be berthed at the structure is the coal-hulk Lutterworth, tih "old-age pensioner" of the sea, which in other days did good service between England and here. She has lost lwr nautical jauntiness long ago, and lias settled down heavily ,in the calm waters to do tho last service demanded of all the bravo old "lime-juicers." .If her old hematite-coated hull still retains any vestige 'of pride it would .probably swell at tho honour of being the first vessel to be berthed at the new and 'somewhat' premature wharf at Clyde Quay.

The Wellington Shearers' Union has taken' formal action in initiating the hearing of a dispute by the Conciliation Commissioner. Over Iwo thousand sheepfarmers in the district, extending from Wellington to Wairoa on the ono coast and Wanganui on the other, have been cited. The union has recommended Messrs. .Tonas G. Challis, Roderick M'Rae, and Edwin AY. Abbott, of Mosterton, shearers, for appointment as assessors. \

The officials of the St. John .Ambulance Association are at present busily engaged in i conducting examinations and in the formation of new classes. Oil AVedncsday next members of n large railway class will bo examined in first aid_ work by Dr. Giesen. A women's class _ (first aid) is to be commented on Friday next, with 'Dr. Gunn as instructor, and a home-nursing class for women is to be. formed shortly. Shampooing, Clipping, Hairdressing, Manicuring, Face. Massage, Treatment of Falling Hair, and Dandruff. Combings made up. Xatural ilair-pads. Mrs. Eolleston (oyer Carroll's), i Willis Street. 'Phona 1599.—Advt.

The Wellington Choral Society bus importedl7o vocal scores of Elgar's famous oratorio, 'The Dream ot Geroniius" (founded on iCai'dinal Newman's poem), and has already had a couple ol' preliminary rehearsals of the great work. The society has set itself a sovm task in selecting "The Dream of Gerontius" for its second concert, as besides its orchestral and vocal difficulties, there is, ,jn one part, a massive double chorus, which calls for at least 200 voices. Tho orchestral parts have also been received. Strange to relate, it is not possible to purchase all the orchestral parts right out. "Novello's," who own the' publishing rights, sell all the parts save those for the wood-winds, which ean only be hired. The reason for this ii, that the publishers wish to retain some hold on their music and to prevent piracy. Tho coming performance by the Choral Society should be of particular value, in view of the performance to be given of Ulgar's work by the Sheffield Choir next year.

The following resolution was passed at a meeting of the Wellington branch of tho New Zeah-.nd Engine Drivers', Fnemen's, and Cleaners' Association"That this branch of the E:F. and C.A. of New Zealand reaffirm our loyalty to our association. We also feel a certain amount A contempt for the executive of the A.S.R.S. iu talcing a vote of their members on Departmental representation, seeing that their conference threw it out. We, therefore, can come to only this conclusion: that it is'an effort on their part to infiueV.e the Minister for. Railways re our recognition, as the Minister was so impressed with the value of these associations in Australia that he has nothing but praise for tliem."

The half-yearly report of the Wellington Tramways CJnion states that the union has made considerable progress on a contribution of 3d. a week,, and although closing the half-year with a loss of £'46 odd, the union had a substantial credit balance after meeting unusually largv and heavy expenses and taking up ten additional shares in the Labour paper. During the period there were t'hreo appeals against decisions of the Tramways Management involving dismissal, and which resulted in the reinstatement of two out of: the three cases. In two cases in which the men were dismissed, the two men concerned were reinslatid through tile etforta of the president and secretary without appeal to the Tramways Committee.

Instructions have been issued to the Collector of Customs at Auckland to take proceedings against a Maori who was recently found with a quantity of rock oysters in his possession during the clus*,. season. Tho Native argues that he is entitled under the provisions of the Treaty /)f Waitangi to take shell-fish for his own use, but it is alleged that evidence will be given that he offered the oysters for sale.

A fully-attended meeting of the Terrace School Committee was hold last evening. The headmaster, Mr. A. Macinorran, reported that-'the children would phmt !'. number of wattle trees on the north bank of the playground .on Arbor Day. ■ tt wa.s decided that a 'concert be held in August. The proceeds are to be uevo.ted to tennis court repairs, and to repairing and enlarging the playground. The licadmastej and Mr. J. B. Speed were appointed as a committee to make preliminary arrangements.

The police cells at the Lombton Quay Station last evening were : occupied by four persons charged with drunkenness, another on a chargo .of using obscene language, and another accused o£ the theft of a hat from CurtisV boardinghouse.

Tho postal anthorities advise that the Manuka, which sailed from Sydney on tiie l(ith instant, direct for Wellington, is bringing an-Australian mail. 'She is due to arrive here to-morrow morning.

A petition from Eawke's Bay is being circulated amongst members of Parliament asking for the signatures of those prepared to urgo the Government. to arrange for a referendum' on the, question of Bible-reading in schools. A footnote to the petition states that in 1906, 139,502 children attended State and 107,759 attended Sunday schools," leaving 31,759 children "who are without apparent religious instruction;" - i

A debatu between representatives of .Victoria College and Trinity Church Mutual Improvement Society was held in the Trinity (Jnurch schoolroom, Newtown, lass night. The Ilev. J. Ward occupied tho cliair, and Mr. P. C. Freetli acted as judge. The subject of debate was: "That lor New' Zealand the Unicameral System of Legislature is Preferable to the Bicameral System." Victoria College gained a victory over their opponents by 195 points to 172. Mr. D. S. Smith, with 66' points, was placed first for Victoria College, and Mr. S. Martin, 65 points, first for Trinity Church. At the next fortnightly meeting Mr. Brown will give a Shakespearean evening,, assisted by several ladies.

The undermentioned candidates passed an examination in first aid, conducted by Dr. Bowerb ink, under the auspices of the St. John Ambulance Association:— Third year: Misses Olive Barr, I. Schultz, E. Westrupi M. Paterson, and B. Miles. Second year: lliss l'\ Morton. First year: Misses May S. Atkins, Frances E. Batte'rsby, Capper, E. Capper, M. J. Chapman, Davenport, Kelly, E. M'Lean, 6. M'Lean, B. Price, Watson, and E.-'Cooper.

A circular has been issued by the secretary of the Island Bay Ratepayers' As-\ sociation (Mr. J. W. Maxwell), stating that an association has been formed, with Mr. K. A. Maukay as president. Tho objects of the association arc "the advocacy of necessary public works, the efficient administration of municipal afand, generally, the protection of the interests of the electors, and the creation and fostering of a healthy public spirit in ail 'questions affecting the welfare of the district." Ladies are specially invited to become members. In connection with the association! a social evening is to be held to-night at the Town Hall, Island Bay.

There is a good deal of speculation as to the details of the changes which have been decided upon in connection with various important positions in the Police Department. Nothing definite has so far been made public, and when questioned last night the llou. Dr. Findlay (Minister for 'Justice) declared that 110 official announcement on the subject would be made for perhaps a week.

To a. Dominion reporter last night, the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) stated that as soon as-the name of the new commandant was available! it would lie announced to tho House.

After Taare' AVaitara's funeral at Parihaka on Wednesday last, Mr. Bates, halfbrother of the deceased, said in the course of a speech:—"There is only ono law for the pakeha and the Maori, and in this connection let mo impress on you the necessity, for. working your lands. If you do not, then those who are willing to' do so certainly will. You must know that each year there are thousands of pakchas coining to this country from England, which country is becoming congested, to make homes for themselves in these islands. The.v will insist npon the Government throwing those unoccupied lands open to them, and no Government can resist, these reasonable demands. For your self-protection see that these lands are worked, otherwise they will pass from you and your children."

Arbor Day (to-morrow) is a public school holiday, dedicated to the planting of tTces. f.ast year tree-planting operations on a fairly extensive scale were carried out all over the city, but frojn inquiries made yesterday it does not appear as if tht same enthusiasm in that respect will mark the observance of tomorrow's holiday. In the oninion of several teachers, last year's "operations were, not altogether suceesslul, so far as the growth of the trees was concerned, a very high mortality} it is Atated, having been observed in the various plantations later in the year, i'oung trees, said one oily headmaster, were planted anyhow, nml the general methods adopted in the organising of the planting parties were such as to discourage him from takin" part on any future occasion. There was very little space in tho city for a proper system of laying out plantations by Uio school children, who should be permitted to constantly tend their several plots afterward:-, .>nd m bis cucouraged to take a keener interest in the work. One or two applications have been made t.o the Superintendent of Reserves by schools, but the invitation extended by the City Council Inst week, wherewith supplies of plants and the assistance of tho city reserves staff would bo at the disposal of the schools, has not been uiet with any general response bo far.