LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1010, 28 December 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

During Ms'short'stay, liere (says the Auckland. "Herald"}, Lord' Islington intends to go through his proper residence and investigate* its needjs in the way of furnishings, and his idea in this respect will form the basis of the scheme of furnishing to be carried out soon afterwards. It will be a matter of keen satisfaction to the people of Auckland to know that the fine vice-regal residence will at last be in fit order to house the King's representative.

Last night the barriers on the wharf were again in evidence before the Muraroa left for Lyttelton, Mr. A. V. HaleMunro, wharfinger to the Harbour Board, and a staff of assistants having utilised spare gangways and trucks for the purpose ol keening the crowd back from tho side of the steamer. Tho number of people who were, there to see the vessel depart was smaller than on previous occasions, but the general opinion expressed was in favour of tho idea. Of course, thero were the usual few who took exception to the scheme, but they were greatly in the minority. In connection with the report that has been circulated that the liiuou Company's offices were not open on Monday last for the convenience of intending passengers, the local officials state that the booking office was open for an hour and a half during tho morning, thus affording the public an opportunity to book passages before going to tho steamer in the evening. ■ Tho passengers who arrived by afternoon trains certainly did not have a chanco to book berths at the office, but had tho local ijcopja. taken the opportunity offered during the morning," the country folk could have been accommodated with better success at the company's ticket office on the wharf prior to the denarture of the steamer.

A mail was arrested yesterday on a charge of breaking into the house of Sir. H. Plimmer, No. 11 Roxburgh. Street. The alarm was raised by tho girl who had been left in charge of the house, and before' the man could get away Constable M'Kelrie,' who lives a few doors away, was summoned and took the alleged intruder into custody.

A Presbyterian Conference opens today at ■Waimarino. Most of thoso attending will live under canvas, but rooms fit the station have .been, secured for some, and' a house has been specially erected. The camp will remain open until the end of I'obniary, and the programme includes, besides the conference, a week of prayer. . '

'Anticipating a large crowd of people visiting Day's Bay on Monday the Ferry Company chartered the steamer Himitmigi to mil in conjunction with their other vessels. The day being fine and the waters of the 'harbour as smooth:as glass, some 5000 people were tempted across. The boats, as they came back, presented a pretty sight with their laughing holiday-making crowd. Although the numbers carried wero large there was no accident of any kind.

The nearest approach to a "trek" that we have : encountered was seen in Hamilton (says the "Wnikato Argus")/ when .an old trap containing α-imui, his wife, and son, a wheelbarrow, .40 fowls! arid a miscellaneous assortment of household goods, and drawn by a tired-look-ing horse, passed- through. : The settler had driven right through from the lower end of Taranaki, and was on his way to Mongonui; away in the north; •at the rate of about a milo an hour.

The "Gisborne Times" praises the zeal of Mr. J. Townley, chairman of the local Harbour Board, who has. for the past fortnight made it a regular -practice to 'go down to the river entrance everymorning at 6 o'clock in ordqr to see how, tho dredge Maui is iprogressing.. The. ■ Maui is cutting a channel in the river, 120 ft. wide and 16ft. deep, at the rate of from 15 to 20 feet a day. Sho has already excavated about 500 ft. of the channel from tho seaward end, and there remain some 650 ft. to dredge until she meets the 'channel she cut -when working outwards. . ■;. ;.- r .--,sj". A , rather peculiar compensation claim ..will probably' comq before the Auckland, ■Courtis shoftfy; :: Thß- statement W ofififuf which is being filed ,on behalf'of a lobourer, sets out that plaintiff was employed scraping tho inside of a ship's boiler' at Auckland,'and that-.steam was accidentally lot : in so ; that-the man-was scalded and injured for life. The amount claimed i 5..£51100. (

The consummation that has been' devoutly wished by the residents of.Whangarei and. the Bay of Islands for many years past, viz., the completion of tho railway from Whangarei to Kawakawa,, has at length come to pass.. The. last section of the long lingering "gap" has notyct been formally taken over by the Rail-: ,way: '. Department from the Public Works Department, but the Minister for Railways (the Hen. J. A. -Miliar)! in riply to representations from Mr. IV Mander,M.P., has. agreed to arrange for excursion trains to run right over; the lino on January 2 and 3. It is expected that tho trains will be largely patronised by Hie residents of both ends of the line..

At Day's Bay yesterday afternoon, Detective Mason arrested a man, who will appear before the magistrate this morning in connection,with the alleged theft of clothing value ,£2 10s. from.the Brifein,nia BoardinghouEe; in Courtenay Place.

Orchards in. and around Levin are reported to be so far particularly free from the pests of scale and blight (says the "Chronicle"). The Government regulations are apparently being strictly adhered to by tho majority of orchardists, as the trees- in the different gardens show signs of having received recent liberal applications of,.spray..

Quail aTe reported to be fairly plentiful in the vicinity, of Levin this year. Large numbers have been seen on Mr. J. B. M'Donald's property on the western side of .the Horowhenna Lake, towards the beach, and in the neighbourhood of Poroutawhao.—"Chronicle."

Taking advantage of ' the. beautiful weather, some 616 people .journeyed to Pieton and back on the favourite ferry steamer Maori on .Monday. The sea was calm and the trip was a most enjoyable one. The vessel left the Wellington wharf at 8 a.m., and arrived back at about 7 p.m. On January 2 the Maori is advertised to run another excursion across to the' Sounds and back. .

The Rev. W.' Shirer, of St. James's Presbyterian Church, states that "A Friend of the Children", has again collected a sum of monej: to be devoted to the relief of children in need, especially those of tender years. This is the fourth year in succession in which Mr. Shirer has received donations for. the purpose named, from the same, source. The anonymous donor, it seems, makes an annual practice of collecting money from his friends to be expended.in adding a touch of enjoyment .to the lives of poor children, Sums transmitted to him in this way Mr. Shirer distributes, at his discretion, among institutions devoted to the care of- children and among private families.. : :

For the best and most modern Hair and Complexion Treatment, Mrs. Eolieston, who has just returned from England and America, is recommended. Highest diploma for removing superfluous hair. Vibro-massage, Hairdressing, Shampooing and Clipping, i Willis Street (over Carroll's.). Tel. 1599,-Advt.