LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1012, 30 December 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The post-audit system in connection with the public accounts of the Dominion will replace the pre-audit system after March 31 next. The crematorium which has now* been open for about 12 months has worked perfectly satisfactorily in every way. Since the opening dny some 20 bodies have been cremated. ' To avoid possible disappointment, passengers carrying excursion tickets would do well to see that they board the right trains. Yesterday several people who entrained at Aramoho on tho ordiunry New Plymouth-Wellington South express were forced to abandon their carriages at wayside stations, simply because _ they were the holders of .excursion tickets, which permitted them to.travel only on excursion tTains. Old age pensions will be paid on Saturday next, December 31, instead of on tho 3rd. proximo. Pensioners are advised that the Chief Money Order. Office, Lambtno Quay, will close on Saturday next at the usual hour, viz., 1 p.m. On Christmas Day Detective Cassells arrested a man named William Gray, and lodged him in the Terraco Gaol to undergo a default term of two months' imprisonment. It appears that in September last Gray was fined .£SO in Auckland for street betting, the default being fixed as above. He failed to pay tho fine, and as ho could not bo found in the Dominion it was surmised he had gone to Sydney. At all events' nothing was seen of him until Detective Cassels located him in Wellington. Commencing from the beginning of the year, auctioneers will have to conduct their business under the provisions of the new Auctioneers Amendment Act. The amending Act provides that every salo of fruit, vegetables, or fish shall bo made to the highest bidder, and that no auctioneer shall refuse a bid from any person offering cash for the goods on the fall of the hammer. Volunteers who intend to take part In tbe military tournament at Palmerston North on December 31 and January 2 will not be allowed to travel between Thorndon and Palmerston North by the up Wellington-Auckland express trains on December 30 and 31, and January l and 2. Advice to this effect has been received at the District Defence Office from the Traffic Manager for Railways.

Tho name of Monaghan, one of the Wellington batsmen who performed good service in the match at Auckland, was inadvertently omitted in the interview with tho Wellington captain, published yesterday. His innings was, however, mentioned by the captain as a notable feature in the game. Monaghan's first innings score was 33 (not out).

, Bathers who were disappointed through the City Baths being closed up on Monday last' will not have, the same ground for complaint next Monday, orders having been issued that the baths are to be 'kept open. i

, Opportunity was taken during the Christmas holidays to open up the city's big turbine at the Mercer Street power station. Tho big machine had been running almost continuously for twelve months, the only stoppages being brief ones to enable the boiler to be cleaned. Tho engineers did not find the slightest indication of wear •on the bearings and the other internal parts appeared as good as the day they were put together.

. Advices, have been received by tho French Consul in Sydney to the effect that tho French.cruiser Montcalm, flying the flag of Admiral de la Croix de Cas-. trios, .will visit Sydney oil. or'about January 9 next, coming from Noumea. Sho will remain at Sydney, till January 21. subsequently proceeding to Melbourne and I'remantle. The Montcalm is a-big cruiser with, a displacement of 9367 tons,, built at .a cost of <£902,809. She was built at La.Seyne, and launched in 1902. Her dimensions arc:. Length, ,452 ft. 9in., beam 63ft. 9in., and draft 24ft< Ciu. . She is propelled by engines of 19,G00 horse: power,. giving a speed .of 21 knots per. tyour, her coal capacity being ICOO tons. •The armament of the cruiser .consists, of itwo'T.'G-inch' guns, eight 3.9 guns, 1C 1.8 guns, and'six. 1.4 guns. She is equipped with two (sub.) torpedo tubes. Her complement is 012 officers and men. The, Montcalm is fitted with wireless telegraphy. On her last, .trip from San Francisco - the. Aorangi got into touch'with tho French cruiser which was lying at Tahiti. " Although the Christmas passenger train traffic started late, it is understood to bo greater in volume than was the case'last year. During the past week tho relief express trains running between Wellington and Wanganiii, and between Wellington and Auckland, have been very , well patronised. A return of the Christmas tram traffic on the Miramar and Seatoun and tho TCnrori lines,,gives the following figures Miramnr and Seatoun: December 21, 2391 passengers; December 25, 977; December 21), 5512; December 27, 6193." ICarori: December 21, 3701 passengers; December 25, 1980; December 26,. 3347; and December 27, 3191. . -