LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 878, 26 July 1910, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities advise that tho s.s. Ulimaroa, which left Sydney on July 23, is bringing an Australian mail. She is due to arrive hero on Wednesday 'morning next.; . ■

The cargo steamer Marero, due to arrive lien: from London: to-day, brings the first consignment of machinery for the Golden Bay Cement Works, Ltd. This machinery, which 'is valued at about £6000, will be., forwarded on lo the'bay by the'Ngaru this week.

The now. cadet regulations came in for somo unfavourable comment at the meeting of tho .Pctone Borougli Council last evening. Tho council was asked to grant one of its employees periodical leave of absence to attend paraciu as. an officer of junior cadets. One councillor thought it would be a distinct hardship if their employee. should bo called away on military duty when he was perhaps required "to read meters. This View so far found favour.that it was decided finally, after a. cursory inspection of the Defence Act, to adjourn consideration of the application pending the production of further information.

, Altogether there were eighty accidents to waterside workers during the year ended March 31 last. The largest .number at. any one port was 27 at Grey? mouth. There were 16 n accidents at Wellington, and 12, each at Auckland arid Lyttelton. There were two fatal mishaps, both of which occurred at Wellington.

The South Island delegates returning from the Labour Conference in .Auckland - : wero 'entertained at' the House of- Representatives by Mr. D.. M'Laren, M.P.',. prior to' the departure .of their steamer last evening; The delegates also called on Mr. Massey, Leader of the Opposition.

Tho annual meeting of the Wellington Wharf Labourers' Union, held in the Trades Hall, Cuba Street, -last evening, was well attended. The annual report and balance-sheet, which were adopted,' show tho union's .affairs to be in a: very healthy condition, a considerable suhi being added- to the reserve fund. Messrs., T. Smith, Dowdall, Terry, and Curtis were 1 elected to represent tho union at the forthcoming Waterside Conference, to be held at Lyttelton shortly. The meeting had to be adjourned until a future date, owing to the lateness of the hour.

It is interesting to note . what becomes of the boys who join the training ship-Amokura. Up to March last, the numljor who bad secured berths tin* tho vessel was 123. Altogether 52 have joined various vessels, whilst 5G are still. on board. Tho balance of 15 is made up of 10 boys who returned homo, some after completing their course, two who were discharged on . account of sickness, ono who is working on vessels in port, one who is employed on dredges on the River Molyneux, and one who is described as having been "written off as a deserter."

. The Court of Appeal, after hearing the patent skylight ease, which was begun yesterday, will take two Crown cases, tho King v. John Morris Schapiro, and the King v. ' Charlie Grbiclu In the Supremo .Court this morning, Otto Frank Benson, who pleaded guilty at Palmerston North, to two charges-of theft, will come before tho Chief ■ Justice (Sir Robert Stout) for sentence. Mr.- Justice Chapman .will deliver judgment iu the case of Hank v. Cheltenham Dairy-Company.

Some interesting particulars of the work which it is proposed to undertake on the Hauraki Plains during tho year, which has now been entered'upon have been laid before Parliament., Early in October it is proposed to commence (ho snagging of the upper portions of tho AVaihou and Piakii Rivers. Drainago works aro also being undertaken in connection with an area of Crown land within the sphere of the operation*, of 'the AVaihou Drainage Board. Another undertaking of considerable magnitude will bo a scheme for draining the area of about ten thousand acres lying south of Kerepehi, and on the east side of tho Piako River. The- cause of tho overflow is that the AVaihou River, which carries a strong current for some foutteen or fifteen miles below To Arolin, and runs a fairly straight cuurse, .is suddenly diverted, with tho result that it submerges a considerable area cf Crown and Nativo' land. It will ; bo necessary to build continuous stopbanks on both banks of the Piako River, at least as far south as the junction of that river witli the Waihou Hirer, and it is proposed that this should be done by the dredges widening sind deepening the river.. Ilie spoil will bo used to build tho stop-banks.

Shampooing, Clipping, Hairdressing, Manicuring, i'aco Massage, Treatment of Falling Hair, and Dandruff. Combings made up. - Natural . Hair-pads. Mrs. Kolleston (over Carroll's), A Willis BtKOt. 'Phono 1603,-Advt

There was a marked decreaso in the number of sailing vessels on the register in New Zealand on March 3L last, compared with tho number on the roll twelve months previously. Only 2G2 now remain on the register,' as against 310 previously, -the difference of 56 including 31 vessels which had either been broken up or had • decayed. Sailing vessels belonging to New Zealand wrecked during tho year totalled 7, having in all a gross tonnage of 782 tons, Of steamers there are now 2 more on the register, the llgures being 320 for 1008-9, arid 327 for 1909-10. In all, 10 steamers (with a gross tonnage of 3610 tons) belonging to Now Zealand were wrecked during the year.

The first social in connection with the Wellington Scottish Pipers' and Dancers' Society wa's held in the Socialists' Hall, Manners Street, last evening.. Notwithstanding tho state of the weather, the lloor-spaco was taxed to its utmost; there being ■ between fifty and sixty couples present. These socials are to ;be held every month, and it is the object of those concerned to form a strong Scottish Society for the promotion, of individual dancing and piping. By these means, it is also hoped "to bring together-all Scottish interests in Wellington, and when the scheme has become firmly established, it is the intention to have "big" nights on such occasions as Bu'rns's birthday, and other notable Scottish festivals. A special feature will be the promotion of dancing and piping among the rising generation in Wellington. It is proposed to engage the Town Hall, .when the next social is held. N

.Among the third-class passengers on board the New Zealand Shipping Company's Rimutaka, which is'due .hero on Friday from London, are 46 assisted immigrants. The total is made up of 20 adults and 20 children.- Occupations of tho immigrants are stated variously as 10 domestics, one farmer, one housekeeper, and 10 wives who are coming to the Dominion to rejoin their husbands.

Tho fortnightly meeting of the Sydney Street and Northland Primitive Methodist Literary and Debating Society was held last evening in tho Sydney Street Church. There was a fair attendance, and the Re\'. P. J. Cossum presided. Mr. Richard Brown gave an attractive address on ''Humours and Benefits of Literary and Debating Societies," which included several recitations. Songs'were sung by Misses Baker (2), E. Florance, and Manning, and Miss G. Nicholas played a pianoforte solo. Mr. Kane was accompanist.