LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1073, 11 March 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

■ —: ♦ The I?,M.S. Aorangi, which broke down oil the way from New Zealand to San Francisco, reaohed San Francisco on March' 8, five days late. She was duo to leave Sail Francisco for New Zealand on March 8, and to reach Wellington on March 80. As repairs will take about eight days, the mails for New Zealand, which were to have been sent by the' Aorangi, arc being dispatched by the Mariposa, leaving San Francisco to-day. The mails will be transferred at Papeete to the Talune, which is due at Auckland on April G.

. The Fire Brigade was called out at 1.25 p.m. yesterday to extinguish a small firo in a two-story building in Herbert Street, occupied by the New Zealand Express Co., and used as a furniture store. On tho ground floor a number of cases containing furniture were stored. _By some unexplained agency the packing in these cases caught alight. Only sligfit damage was done to the cases and their contents, the outbreak being quickly suppressed. Both tho building and its contents were insured, the policies being distributed over a number of offices.

Tho Federal Theatre, in Manners Street, for a long time used as a billiard saloon, is about to undergo another transformation. A long lease of the "building has been secured by a syndicate, which intends to utilise the hall as a continuous (day and night) picture show. These have proved successful in Melbourne and Sydney and elsewhere.

"The Minister for Finance," runs a notice in tho Gazette, "directs me to acknowledge receipt of the sum of 10s., forwarded to tbo Railway Department, Wellington, by some person unknown as conscience-money to tho New Zealand Government.—J. W. I'oynton, Secretary to tho Treasury."

The memorial to the late Maori chief, Tamahau Mahupuku, designed by Mr. Nelson Illingworth, is to bo formally unveiled by tho Acting-Premier (the Hon. Jas. Carroll) on March 29. A Dig gathering of Natives from all parts ol tho North Island is anticipated.

Tho Hon. E. M'Kenzie (Minister for Public Works) was entertained at a snioko concert at Hunua on Tuesday by tbo residents of tho district. In" the course of the evening. the Minister stat-, od that the shortening oftho route from Auckland to Paeroa, by way. of either tho Pokeno cut or a route from near Hunua, should bo taken in hand as soon as the East Coast and North Auckland lines wore well advanced towards completion. Apart from the convenience tho new line would be to tho travelling public, the splendid country now awaiting development that it would pass through demanded serious consideration at tho earliest possible opportunity. A sum of 2i millions, however, would have to be spent on the East Coast line, and a largo amountwould be needed for tho North Auckland line, so that an early start on tbe Paeroa line could not be expected. It liad to be regarded as a deviation* although an important one. While he was Minister for Public Works the line would always hold a high position ' in his estimation.—Auckland "Herald."

A number of prominent citizens have been approached in conncction with tho institution in Wel'ington of musical and elocutionary contests on the lines of those held in Ballarat, Dunedin, Christchurch, and Auckland, and liavo signified their intention of interesting themselves in tho movement. A meeting will be convened in the near future. It is hoped to be able to arrange for the first series of competitions to be hold in connection with the Coronation Exhibition in July.

Oysters which arrived from south yesterday morning were condemned by the officers of tho Health Department.

Messrs. P. R. Baillie and Company havo signed a contract to supply tho City Council with 400 alternating current meters for tho electric lighting department at a price of £506 9s. 2d. Unaccepted tenders' wero those of Tufnbull and Jones (£516 17s. 6d.), Neville and Co. (£530 125.), British General Electrical Company (£554 6s. Bd.), H. S. King (£635 10s. 10d.).

A charge of sixpence will be made for admission to tho Basin Reserve this afternoon, when the final cricket matches for the championships aro to bo commenced. Four games will bo in progress simultaneously. In tie senior grade, East A will bo pitted against Central A, Wellington North will play Wellington South, and East B will open a contest with Central B. Tho fourth game will bo a junior contest between St. Mark's and Wellington South.

Tho procoeds, less expenses, of the Star Pictures last ovoning wero presented to the committee of the South Wellington School by Mr. Manthel. Mr. P. C. Watt, oil behalf of tho committee, thanked thoso present-, and also thanked Mr. Msnthol. The committoo's funds will benefit to tho extent of £10.

Writing from Batang (Tibet) to a corresponded in Dunedin, Mr. James H. Edgar, F.R.G.S., states that, with his wife and family, he had rosidOd in that city for tho last six months, and had suffered no incouvcnienco, although there were alarms of war all around, and tho night prior to his writing tho rattle of artillery in tho mountains kept them awake. This was apparently tho noiso of a night attack by Tibetans on a Cliineso_ garrison. Mr. Edgar hails from Tapanui, and is an agent of the China Inland Mission.