LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 928, 22 September 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

In its report on the petition of Michael Quirke, of Pahiatua, for compassionate allowance for the loss of his soa, who was shot Whilst assisting the police in the Powelka hunt at Palmerston North, the Public Petitions Committee says it is of opinion that, the petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration.' A. writ, has been taken out by Mr. E. J. Carey, president of the Wellington Trades Council and secretary of the Grocers' Union and Cooks' and Waiters' Union, against Mr. J. P. Black, proprietor of tho "Auckland Leader." Mr. Carey olaims ,£5Ol damages for alleged libel. He takes exception to statements which were published-in the "Leader" on September 2. ■'.;.... , - Advice received locally states that Alfred' Frank Higgins, who was formerlyill business in Wellington as a grocer, and who was arrested in Hobart for an alleged breach of the Bankruptcy Act, is. on board the Ulimaroa, due. here from toe south ? on Friday. Constable Sims,' of, Wellington,. is bringing him back. . Information obtainedfifrom" the Meeanee Mission, cur Monday (says the Napier "Daily Telegraph")) shows that Halley's comet is, now behind the sun and is en-tirely'-invisible. It will not-"be' seen; again by dwellers on this, earth , for about 75 years. -. " Verification, of a statement published in "Otago Daily Times," to the effect that"Colonel Godley, Colonel Heard, and Captain "Burnett-Stuart are really, on loan, to the New Zealand* Government, under the defence scheme, as Colonel -i Daviei is ■to tie Imperial Government," is being asked of the Minister of' Defence by Mr. . Jas. ' Allen,/- M.P. ' for Bruce. .. ' ; : Arriving,in port from- Nelson at 9.30 last night,', H.M.S.. Encounter proceeds' io sea for battle; pi'aotice, early this horning. . The cruiser' returns to -port' during the afternoon; prior to leaving, for Auckland; and Sydney.;, The "Brass' Bottle" Comedy- Company, arrived- in f Wellington froni Masterton yesterday,., and. will proceed to Dunedin this'evening. Owing to an alteration in the arrangements of the Williamson companies in Australia, it has been decided to : cut. Wellington and- Christchurch. out of the present tour, so that local theatregoers will' not have-the opportunity of. .witnessing.,.Anstey's"-' amusing;comedy. ,'At a meeting of ;the United VBuilding Society last evening,' when section -. fund appropriations were balloted ' fori an amount of 'was allocated to Mr.. C. ,H.-Yourigi :aud. : an ecxualsu'm to Mr. E. Tait.: N Appropriations under ; this ballot are. free;of interest. .':'..-...:- " :The corporation party, which journeyed yesterday -to the Solomon's.' Knob' ■ dam paid a brief visit, on the way out, to the ,Hutt pipe-, bridge. ; The structure itselfis now. almost' completed,, although '.-the approaches'have yet; to be fornied-and the pipes laid.in position... The bridge;is. an_ elaborate)-structure, ...supported on sive concrete piers:.and : piles'.. Tho roadis considerably,elevated in order that ,'the .water-maiia '-may..,be. accommodated on the main strings below. The; approaches at .either, end are to/be formed on,a grade bf-one in -thirty. 'The bridge :is to cost mOOO, of.which will be "paid''by'the City Council.'; ."' " The, eighth, annual dinner of:theWellington, Letter-Carriers' Staff ,is. to he held in;-the Druids' -Hail to-morrow evening.: ; Among those who ; ; have accepted invitations to ;bq present are the';Post-. maStei;-General ' (Sir Joseph Ward), the Secretary, (Mr. ;D. Eobertson), -'■ and -the 'prihcipal:'officers .of';the Department.:; ; , The> Mayor ■•"of,'Mirauiar. : "-(Mr.,''John'-' ;Brodie) has .given notice of: his 'intention to ::mover-..asyfollows at. the.;meeting; of theicoiincil next-week: erhmentvbe purged -, not .pnly'.td.'retain.'.the To Aro railway station 'as a' public necessity .of the-'firtt" importance ■':"'!to. South jV'eliingtOn,;' but ; also •' to ..make adequate provision.; for; the i prompt -handling ,of goods.'there, as. well as the future :extension, of-,, the' railway itself, -which will most -certainly be required';in 'the not .'distant. future', to meet the"' needs of. the very' considerable population -that .will ■be located to tho south' of Te Aro." . : .The; Postmaster-General, was recently asked.,by Mr. Reed; M.P., .whether he Should- reconsider .the instructions givea •to telegraph clerks 'that senders of teleigrains must affix stamps upon the samer,i.he reply,, given yesterday, is that the : regulation • has., been in : existence .'■; for twenty-six years, and that it is not,considered that it .'should be rescinded. ~

. The' Minister of .Lands, replying, to a' question,by Mr.,. Field as to whether the Government ,would acquire, the title- to .a■.large' area ■ of .sand : drift land oh the sea coast to' the west of Levin, ■. says that, inquiries will the matter, and if titles have .been issued to-Natives, the Crown- can' acquire' the .same under Part 19 .'of.;, the .Native Land Act, ■'■ 1909, if the owners.-desire: to sell. ':;■,, ,' . ..;::.:- •The l Government has., informed'-Mr. Okey, M:P., that.it has not yet considered' the .question' of inviting: .Mr.-, .G. D. Henry, oil' expert,' of..London,- to. report on the• prospeots of the oil'industry of New Zealand. -•. ''■,'*.'. .The special' general meeting : of.' delegates of the Wellington' Morris-tube Kiile Association, which was to have been.held, last night, was adjourned till. next' Wed-' nesdayi. owing ,to the, attendance of .dele-'-gates: being ; very small.;■'":■-.: ■■'■-;.";'-■. ;■,,:., ; .The 1 next meeting -of the Orphans Club, will be held on Saturday.-, evening ..in the. Marine Institute. -Bro. S.. Moran, LL.B., will be '"Most Orphan" "for the evening and a good programme will bo submitted for the entertainment of members:; During, the evening a leoturette will ;be. delivered by Dr.: Mason, M.-.D.