LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 886, 4 August 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It is just 08 years ago to-day since Wellington was proclaimed a municipality.

The only question put to Mr. F. M. B. Fisher, JI.P., at the conclusion of his address last evening was as to whether ho was willing to sign the Labour ticket as passed by the last conlerence at Auckland, lie replied emphatically i» .tho negative, stating his conviction that if :i party could not bust its representatives in the House without x a signed and scahd pledge, it ought not to trust them on any conditions.

What must be one of the fastest round-the-world voyages on record lias jusl been completed by the-Suuw-Savill cargo steamer Mamari. This vessel left England for New Zealand on April 27 last, dho reached Lyttelton on June 8, and after smart loading, sailed from Welllugton for London direct on June 23. A cable received by the local agents advised hoi , arrival at London on Monday morning

Aramoho is to remain Aramoho. Our Wanganui correspondent states that, appieiiujiding tho possibility of contusion to railway passengers, the Minister for Internal Affairs has declined to changethe namo to "Wauganui North" as had been suggested.

The tender of Messrs. Coradine and Whittaker, of Masterton, at £2855, has been accepted by the Wairarapa Hospital and Charitable Aid Board for additions to the Greytown Hospital. There were scveu tenderers iu all.

Charles James Olivccrona, late wool merchant, of Lower Hutt, filed his petition in bankruptcy yesterday. The first meeting of creditors will be held next Wednesday.

Addressing Ms constituents last evening, Mr. F. M. li. Fisher, M.P., explained at length the reasons lor his absence from Wellington at the fag-end of last session when the Financial Adviser's salary was under discussion. He went to Auckland, lie stated, in the full conviction that tho session was practically over. Informed as to the true state of all'airs, he notified by telegram his willingness -to return if necessary, but was advised by his party Whip and colleagues that tho necessity did not exist.

Replying to a question put by Mr. T. E. Taylor iu tho House of Kepresentatives the -.Prime Minister states that it is proposed in connection with the now; museum building to make suitable provision for accommodation for a national art gallery. Any monetary assistance that may be given to the art societies will be equally applied to the four centres.

Mr. B. Crompton Smith (for the Cout Memorial Committee) writes as follows to the Mayor of Wellington:—"l have just received from Mr. A. F. Harding, secretary of tho Wellington Committee lor Mr. M'Nab's lecture, a cheque for J!39 Os. Sid., being tho proceeds of tho lecture. Mr. Harding points out that the fact that ho was. nblo to remit us. so substantial a sum was—apart from the gratuitous and enthusiastic assistance, given by the committee, amongst whom vou yourself wore numbered—due to the grant of the freo uso of tho Town Hall for the lecture. Permit me, on behalf of my committee, to convey to you and your council tas warm appreciation of my committee for , the generous assistance thus accorded.us."

According to authentic reports (says our travelling correspondent) some of the Government Owhango settlers are in a bad way. Some time ago these people took up land offered by tho Government for landless settlers, and came up to the place expecting that they would be able to at once get to work on their bush sections and makb preparations, for tho erection of their new homes. Arrived at Owhango, they were informed that they could iiot take up their residence on the sections until tho bush was cleared, and that as tbo bueh did not belong to thorn, but to the Government, and the Government was not very sure when.it would clear tho bush, nothing could at present be done. Tho disconcerting vagueness with which the State has met the situation has been a severe blow to the settlers and their families, who are now camped in tents at Owhango, and endur.ng more than ordinary discomforts. The .infortunato men are waiting for tjie Government to do something for them, and meanwhile, were it not for the kindness of tho clwp.keeper at Owhango, they would do m a very bad way indeed.

The deputation from the Johnsonvillo Town Board and Makara County Council which Mr. J. P. Luke, M.P., was to have introduced to the Minister for Public Works this afternoon, on the question of controlling heavy traffic, has been indefinitely postponed, owing to the indisposition of Mr. Luke.

When Wairoa Geyser was soaped on Wednesday morning, on the occasion of the Northern Union football team's visit to Whakarewarowa, the ceremony was performed, by Sliss Hay Addison Pudney, of Paris, who is on a brief visit to her native land, says. the ■ "New Zealand Herald." It was a glorious, sunny morning, and Wairoa gave a magnificent eruption. Tho visitors expressed their pleasure, at Wairoa's performance by loud applause. Some very excellent photographs ivero secured of a rather remarkable shot from the geyser, which shows its powers as oven greater than ever in its thermal display.

Following upon the heels of Tβ Kuiti and Taumarunui, Ohakune intends to become a boTOUgh. The necessary petition has been circulated, aud more than tho required number .of signatures has been obtained in fuvonr of the movement. l>. is expected, therefore (says our travelling correspondent), that Ohakune will be declared a borough in tiino for a municipal* election next month. Taumarunui is to bo gazetted a borough some time this monih. Its population will bo 1300; and it is estimated that its annual revenue will provide- iJTOU for the first year.

The Mnsterton branch of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, at a meeting on Tuesday made arraugements for the district convention, .which is shortly to b? held there, and set up a sub-committee to arrange for a public meeting.

Tho Court of Appeal stands adjourned until 10.30 a.m. next Monday. Mr. Justice Cooper will hold a sitting of the Supremo Court in Banco' at 10.30 this morning.

Included, iii the live stock that arrived from Sydney • yesterday by the Moeraki were several (logs, a cattlo dog, a bull terrier, ami an English setter. Several pigeons and a couple of cockatoos also arrived.

At the meeting of tho Nelson Harbour Board on Monday last the chairman, Sir. J. Graham, JI.P., presented a comparative tabid showing the port charges and wharfage rates at Wellington, Lyttclton, Wanganui, and Nelson. Ho said that in regard to pilotago and port charges Nelson was cheaper than Wellington or Lyttelton, but that tho local wharfage rates were higher at Nelson than at, cither of them. Certain Hues, grain, wool, merchandise, frozen mutton, and .coal, were much higher at Nelson than at Lyttclton. At Lyttelton the wharfage on general merchandise was Is. lid. per ton, Nelson 25.; transhipment of general merchandise, at Lyttelton free, at Nelson 2s. Gd. per ton, if landed on tho wharf; grain, Gd. at Lyttelton, Is. Gd. at Nelson; frozen mutton, butter, etc., Cd. at. Lyttelton, Is. Gd. at Nelson; transhipment, Gil. at Lyttelton, half rates at Nclsou, if landed on the wharf; wood, Gd. at Lyttelton, Is. at Nelson; transhipment, Irce at Lyttelton and, free at Nelson, unly when not landed on wharf; coal, Gd. at Lyt- . telton, Is. at Nelson; transhipment, "at Lyttelton free, at Nclsou free only when not landed on wharf. It was decided to direct the Railway Department's attention to the increased rates, charged for wharfage at Nelson, especially in regard to certain lines, which the chairman had cnuiDcrntwl. Mr. Graham also pointed out that the harbour improvement rate at Wellington was paid hy the .ships using the port. ShVnipooing, Clipping, Hairdressinß, Manicuring, Pace Massage, Treatment of Palling Hair, and Dandruff. Combines mado up. Natural Hair-pads. Mrs. Rolleston (over Carroll's). 4 .Willis Street, 'Phone 1599.—Advt.