LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1056, 20 February 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Chief Postmaster at Auckland telegraphed to the Post Office yesterday that the Victoria, from Sydney, with linglish and Australian mails", did not pass Cape Brett until 3.30 p.m. yesterday, and consequently would not arrive at Auckland in time to connect with last evening's Main Trunk express. Her Wellington mails will not arrive here until to-mor-row afternoon. It is stated that some interesting correspondence has taken place concerning tho appointment of an officer to fill tho position of Director of Medical Services for the defence forces of the colony and that more may ho heard ou the subject. The price at which Messrs. John Duthio and Co. are to supply the water-pipes required for the duplication of tho Wainui main is .£48,331. On Friday afternoon, some little time after her arrival in Lyttelton, a reception and entertimnent were arranged for those on board the frigato Kersaint. For two hours and a half the petty officers and men were driven round Christchurch. The reception and the entertainment of tho men had been arranged by he Mayor of Christchurch, the French consular agent, the committee of the Navy League, and a number of citizens,' and their efforts to make the visit .to the city a pleasant one .drew, from tho .visitors- a large number of graceful compliments. The aggregato amount of English possessed by tho party, was small, but the wealth of their expressions of admiration and appreciation was communicated to those ignorant of the language by the interpretation of Mr. If. C. Hornibrook, Monsieur W. S. Malaquin, and Mr. H. B. Temple. A brief excursion was made into the central business portion of the city, where the progress of tho Frenchmen was watched with cordial interest. Tho busy streets were then left behind, and a long drive.-was made through the more picturesque environs of the city. Afterwards they w;ere all entertained at "high tea," and various loyal toasts 1 were' proposed. , . ■'~', Yesterday afternoon at 1 o'clock Sergeant Rutledge and Constable M'Kelvey raided a fish restaurant in Cuba Street, and seized a quantity of liquor. Tho Town Clerk (Mr. J. R.' Palmer) has prepared a simplified application form for use in connection with the enrolment of voters on the municipal roll. It will probably bo printed and issued to applicants within a few days. Friday was a winning day for Wellington. ; Tho Wellington Garrison and Wellington Tramways Bands carried off the premier honours at tho big North Island Bands'' Association's contest at Pnlmerstqn'North; the Wellington Post' Office representatives defeated those of Auckland at cricket on the Basin Reserve, and Wellington won tho Buthie Cup for the year in tho bowls contest at Wangamii. The chairman (Mr. Robert Fletcher) has invited the members of the Harbour Board to make-, a visit of. inspection to the various suburban wharves in Wellington to-morrow in the launch Uta. The party will visit. Tetone, Rona Bay, Scatoun, and Miraniar. As the distance to bo covered is pretty considerable, it has been decided to make the trip an allday outing, and lunch will be provided for all on board tho launch. ■ • The port health authorities in Wellington do not consider it necessary to undertake any special precautions in connection with the plague in Manchuria. Tho committee which is concerned in the for building the new Roman. Catholic, convent in Wanganui nieet there this evening to consider tho. tenders., - . . Mr. Harold Gregson, who was solo organist, at the Crystal Palace, London, and. inaugurated a 6eries of recitals at the Japan-British Exhibition,'has taken up his residence in Auckland. -The official, test of. .the completed section of -the;' Karori ' extension tramline (from tho;present terminus to.tho Borough Council Chambers) was carried out on Saturday'by Mr. Vickcrmaun, ■ engineer to the Public Works Department. Messrs. W. H. Morton (city engineer) and S. Richardson, (tramways engineer) . attended the inspectjon. ; It is anticipated that'the line will-be Opened for traffic about the'middle'_of this week.', ' ~ . ■ It was : recently announced'' ■in The ,Dominios that the City Council had re-, ccivetl an offer from Chandler and Co., of Auckland, for the right to display advertisements in the city, tram-cars. Nothing has been mado public as.to the treatment of this offer but at 'the next meeting of the council Councillor. Hindmarsh is to move:. "That considering that nearly .£2ooo' d year can bo made' out of "hitting spaces on and in'tram-cars for advertising.'the right to place neat.and. suitable advertisements in the cars be sold or let, and that the net: profits accruing to the council therefrom be earmarked as an excess fund for improving the' Town Belt, or,in forming'recreation grounds.". Councillor' Hindniarsh ■'. will oho move at the same meeting: "That lire alarms, connected with the Adelaide Read fire station be forthwith installed in the private'houses of *even firemenmembers of the Island Boy Volunteer Fire Brigade." , . . ■ '.'.''■: The first instalment of a somewhat extensive scheme of alterations to' the organ in St. John's Church, was completed last' week and tho full organ, as improved, was played by Mr. Manghan Barnett forthe first time yesterday with most satis-' factory results. The alterations include pneumatic action to the pedals,-two balanced Crescendo ;pednls, a new-valve regulating the wind supply, re-regulation of all tho pipes, and a thorough cleaning of.-tho whole instrument. The alterations and the general overhaulhave-given ;tho orirann a more ' refined "and' solid body of sonnd. The... alterations, which havo taken about three'months.to 'complete i wore carried out the supervision of Mr. Tustiri,' -Messrs. Norman and Beard's New Zealand expert.