LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1020, 9 January 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Wimmera, with this week's Australian and Sues mail, arrived at Auckland at noon yesterday. The mail, the English portion of which comprises 414 bags, will ariivo in Wellington by this afternoon's Main Trunk express. , The work of repairing the damage to the south mole of tho entrance at Wanganui caused by tho barquentinc Alcxa, when recently stranded at Castlecliff, is stated by our correspondent'to be well in hand, and is expected to be completed in a little over a week's time. Tho damaged portion of the staging is being 'completely dismantled, and fresh piles are being driven to carry the tramway over the gap. A movement lias been sot on foot in Wellington to entertain Sir Joseph Ward and tlio Hon. Dr. Pindlay before they leave for London. A meeting of Cabinet will be held today, when a number of important matters will probably bo dealt with. There is "a possibility that somo of (lie most important questions may be allowed ta stand over until Tuesday, when tho wholo of the members of the Ministry will bo in town.

Tho Prime Minister (Sir J. G. Ward) has received invitations from a number of different quarters asking him to deliver addresses before be leaves for London. In conversation with a representative of The Dominion last night, Sir Joseph Ward said no programme had been arranged so • far, but he would speak on public matters in several places before he left New Zealand.

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During his forthcoming visit to Christchurch the Attorney-General (Hon. Dr. Findlay) will receive a largo deputation, which intends asking that Police Inspector Gilli:s be retained in office. The deputation has boon provisionally fixed for Friday next.

■The question o£ providing additional wharf accommodation at Picton for the rapidly-growing fleet of launches is at present being inquired into by the Minister for Marine (the Hon. J. A. Millar). There are eight applicants for the position of Registrar of the New. Zealand University, vacant by tho transfer of Mr. J. W. .Toynt to London. It is understood that an appointment will be made by tlie Senate when it meets in Christchurch this month. Mr. Barclay Hector has been filling the position since- Mr. Joynt's departure.

Asked as to whether any official invitation had been received for, Members of tho New Zealand Parliament to visit the Coronation, Sir Joseph Ward stated last evening that no invitation had yet been received.

■the Hon. R. M'Kenzie, who lias been spending the ''holidays at Motueka, returned to Wellington on Saturday ni<*ht. On Friday and .Saturday the Minister was engaged inspecting the railway construction works at Flaxbourne. During Ills stay at Blenheim the Minister was waited upon by the Land and Railway League, which urged • the necessity for the early completion of the South Island Main Trunk railway line. This subject was also mentioned by a deputation from the Blenheim Borough Council, who also dealt with the proposed traffic bridge over tho Opawa River.

"Things in the south lock very prosperous," remarked Sir Joseph Ward to a representative of The Dominion lust night. Oaniani, he added,, is suffering from lack of rain, but otherwise the conditions on every hand are very prosperous, Southland' being remarkably so. The Southland farmers have had a good season, and tho crops are excellent, a position of affairs existing in the back country which is reflecting itself in the towns. Sir Joseph Ward said he went through the Otautau, Centre Bush, and Winton districts, and found the farming country in a good condition.

Tlio Lands Department has a busy threo months ahead of it in tho matter of land settlement. During tho present month some 77,373 acres aret to bo ottered for selection, and tho following areas will bo offered up to March Auckland, 32,207 acres; Hawke's Bay, 20,255 acres; Taranaki, 3530 acres; Wellington. 2500 acres; Marlborough, 21,631 acres; Nelson, 2655 acres; W r estland, 191,630 acres; Canterbury, 1,279,000 acres; Otago, 211,090 acres; and Southland, 73,035 acres.

After considerable unavoidable delay, caused by the contractors having to send to Loudon for the. aperture plates, the Postal Department announces that it is now iu a position to complete tho orders deposited with it. It is "desirable that householders who desire to get aperture plates fixed at their residences, and who liavo not yet notified tho Post Office of their requirements, should do so as soon as possible, in order that tho carpenter who is fixing the plates may complete each district without delay. " Tho lcttcrcarriers have samples of tho aperture plates which they will show to any person desiring one.

On Saturday night the wireless' appara:us on board tho R.lhS. Maitai . was

working in splendid order, the condition of affairs which prevailed on the previous evening—bad carborundum—being remedied. The Ulimaroa, which was somo 400 odd miles on her way from Wellington to Sydney, was distinctly heard try-

ing to communicate with the ls T e\v South Wales port. The Post Office plant which has recently been set up has excelled itself, for notwithstanding tho fact that tho instrument only arrived by tho Maitni on Thursdiiy, it was landed and set up in a very short spaco of time, and those . in charge were able to communicato with

11.M.5. Cambrian oil Friday night with perfect ease; In answer to a question as to how the instrument was working, tho operator on the warship replied that he could hear Wellington "very clearly, and -dot l! ahd dash ecnt Ssatfafti' distinct.

A rather startling experience befell a Stratford resident the other day (says an He was calmly carrying out somo repairs to his gig inside a building, when he was startled,by a.pea-rifle bullet coming through the wall.-and lodging in the gig about'sis inches' above his head. It appears that an employee of a neighbouring firm left the loaded pea-ritle lying about. It was picked up by a casual person who discharged tho rifio ivith the result mentioned. The gentleman who had nearly received' the bullet in his head was so irate that the careless employee who had left the rifle lying about was bidden to seek fresh fields and pastures new. , . . - '

Prehistoric bones, covering a considerable distance, have been discovered in a fairly complete state on hilltops near Pipiriki, up tho Wanganui Eiver (says the Wauganui "Herald"). The bones suggest the remains of some antedeluvian marine monsters. A tooth is being exhibited at> Haetihi.

It is stated (says a Christchurch journal) that, owing to the way in which the Harbours Act was repeatedly altered in Parliament last session, the provisions of Clause 13 clash with the schedule, with tho result that, although it was intended that tho shipping' interests • generally should bo represented ou the Lyttelton Harbour Board, voting,for-a representative will be restricted to vessels registered in the port of Lyttelton. This will give votes to proprietors of a number of small coastal launches and steamers, and to fishing smacks, but not to tho largo shipping concerns which trade between N.ew Zealand and other countries.

A mentally 1 deranged man, who was lodged in the padded cell at the local police station preparatory to being sent on to the Porirua Mental Hospital, did a good deal of damage during his short stay (says the Stratford 'Tost"). He seems to have wrenched off a piece of the wood which was bordering the padding, and with this played havoo with the cell All the padding of the door was ripped off, also a piece near the right side of the door, and all round there arc slits in tho canvas showing where attempts had been made to tear off tho. rest of tho padding. On Wednesday Constable Mackintosh escorted tho man by train to Porirua, having had a somewhat lively time of it, and ho returned the folloirin'" night with a-number of ugly scratches on his face as tho result of the man's struggles.

I expected that, was the only comment the Hon. J.. A. Millar, Minister tor JUarme, had to make when a representative of Tick Dominion drew his attention yesterday to a cable message which came to hand from London last week stating that the well-known shipping journal, "i'air Play," commenting on the New Zealand Shipping and Seamen Bill, predicted that efforts would be made to prevent the Royal assent being given to tte measure. Tho Bill in question, which is an amendment of tho original Act, and was passed last session, has been hold over for the Royal, assent. It provides amongst other things that seamen employed in ships trading from New Zealand to tire Commonwealth or to tho Cook Islands shall be paid and may recover tho current rate of wages for the time being paid in New Zealand. In tho case of ships manned wholly or in part by Asiatitfs passenger tickets" and bilk of lading or slupping'docuuients .for cargo shipped in New. Zealand are to be liable, in addition to any duty imposed under tho Stamps Duties Act, 1908, to a stamp duty equal to 25 per cent, of tho passago money or th« amount of freight. The new Marist Brothers' school in Tasmau Street is to be formally opened oil January 29.

v D Battery went into camp at tlie Hutfc i Park 011 Saturday afternoon for the ani nual sixteen days' course of training in ! field artillery work. The last four days v of the course will be occupicd ill trekking the Rims over a route from the Hutt Park I to Pahautanui and Tawa Flat, during > which tho annual shell practice under . service conditions will he carried out. On Saturday next the Wellington Engin- ■ cers will commence their annual course, and the First Wellington Hide Battalion ; will encamp at ICarori. . Both January and February are the busiest months for ; tho training season round and about tho principal centres. The Herot-aunga Mounted Riiles and the Dominion Scouts will cainp together this year; there aro also ponding tho Wellington navals' 011eampment at llahanga Bay, tho cadet, officers' training camp at Artillery Bay, while the big staff camp at Feat'herston for the adjutants and stafl'-sergeant instructors will last throughout these two . ,