LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1083, 23 March 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

_ The postal authorities advise that English and American mails for New Zealand, which were to have left San Francisco by the s.s. Aornngi on March 8, left by the Mariposa oil March 10, which connects at Papeete with the Talune, which is due at Auckland on April 6. Tiio postal authorities advise that the Aorangi left San I'raucisco on March 20, with an American mail for New Zealand, due in Wellington on April 11. Referring to the old barricade and bookstall on the Queen's Wharf, the chairman of the Harbour Hoard, in his annual report, said:—"This relic of barbarism has Men al J last removed, and a new bookstall of an ornamental and serviceable character erected at the main entrance, quite away from the traffic. It has been let to the occupant of the old stall, at an increased rental of over 100 per cent. The alteration which was proposed in 1907 has just taken about four years to eventuate. The demolition of the barricade has added much to the appearance of the Main Wharf, as well as to the safety and better regulation of both pedestrian and vehicular traffic." The Hawke's Bay Rifle Association has decided to retain the "bull's-eye" over all distances for its Eastern prizo meeting. The figure target will not be used at the 500 yards and COO yards ranges, as previously announced on the programme. It is the intention of-the association'to rnako this meeting one of the largest held in the North Island. The prize money in the Hawke's Bay Champion Shield Match is to bo increased from .£ls to .£2O. A large number of outside competitors are expected to take part. • The application for letters of administration in the Tuckwell Estate will be heard in the Supreme Court at 10.30 this morning by. Mr. Justice Cooper. A short sitting in divorce will also bo held at 10.30 a.m. Speaking to a representative of the "Otago Daily Times," the secretary of the No-License party said: "Wo have received, in thi past, a great deal of advice that wo ougnt to put more weight on the moral suasion aspect of the anti-alcohol propaganda as against the legal suasion aspect. In our open-air catch-my-pai meetings wo are now trying to do this, and have made wide general appeals for the assistance of those who profess to see the cure of the drink evil in moral suasion. As the centra! thought of catch-my-pal work is individual hunting up of friends willing to take the pledge, and bringing them to the meetings, thero has been n splendid opportunity for these people to show their sincerity and activity. I am sorry to say they have shown neither, for they have been conspicuous by their absence and indifference. If these persons do not soon bestir them- | selves it will be. impossible to avoid the conclusion that they aro not sufficiently interested in drink reform to do anything but stand aside doing nothing but finding fault with thos" who, however faultily, really are trying to do something." Included among the passengers by the Manuka from Sydney yesterday were two adult Italians and a boy. Being able to pass the education test, they were permitted to land. Tho Arawn, from London, also brought six foreigners—three Kussians and three Germans. Target practice regulations for junior cadets have been completely revised, and tho new rules are now being issued to officers commanding companies. All shooting by the junior cadets is to be restricted to the .-2 cartridge rifles and the .177 B.S.A. air rifles, and Government and other challenge shields, trophies, cups, belts, etc., will be competed for with these rifles. Instead of there being teams matches for tho future, shields, etc., will be awarded on the average of the whole cadet unit. This is being done in order to bring about a better average in' the shooting than in the past." Master butchers met on Tuesday evening to consider matters affecting tho wages of employees. It appears that the Shops and Offices Act, as applied to butchers,' provides for a 52-hour week, whereas the award under which the men were paid was based on a 56-hour week. Tho wages of general hands were fixed at Is. per hour, .£2 lis. per week being paid, and meat to tho value of ss. Shopmen and other hands were paid on a higher scale. The wages aspect of the matter was not dealt with at tho'meeting. Tho outcome of the new Act may bo that shojw will close earlier on Saturdays, and possibly some other nights during the week. Mr. D. M'LaTcn, M.P., and Mr. T Smith, secretary of tho local Wharf Labourers' Union, hope to arrango for a de putation to interview tho Minister foi Marine (the Hon. J. A. Millar) relative to the appointing of inspectors to attenc regularly the inspection of ships and plant used in the working of cargoes al tho chief ports. The very latest in divorces comes frotr Minneapolis. In granting a divorce tc Mrs. Nettie Weekly, tho wife of a mem ber of the fire brigade, the judge laid il down that a man may mend his owr trousers and dam his own socks, but h( has not the right to do this on the front lawn, and call the attention of the neigh bours to the fact that his wife has over looked such tasks. Such conduct con stitutes cruelty within tho meaning ol the Act.