LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1110, 25 April 1911, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Nothing was done by Cabinet yesterday regarding Coronation festivities. So far no communication has been received from the Homo Government (as EugEestcd in a cable last week) as to a simultaneous salute of guns or rockets throughput tho Empire to mark the Coronation.

It was announced at last evening's meeting of householders that tho Clyde Quay School had won the Duthie Cup (for swimming) six years in succession. The school got within one point of winning the schools' sports championship.

In a recent conversation Mr. A. Lβ Soeuf made some interesting observations on recent experiments in tho hybridisation of animals; the interbreeding of related but distinct species. Although they threw some side-liguts on. the theory of evolution, Mr. Le Soeuf stated, nevertheless, these experiments' had led to no very valuable results from a utilitarian point of view. In South Africa great hopes were entertained for a timeof a cross between the horse and tho zebra. This particular hybrid is a very fine animal, and it has an exceedingly valuable quality in being immune from tho attack of the dreaded tsetse fly which is responsible for the death of so many horses in Africa. Nevertheless, it has proved impossible to substitute the zebra-horse for. the real horse in Africa. For one thing the hybrid is of a savage untamcable disposition. All attempts to reduce it to submission have proved unavailing. Further, like tnany other hybrid animals, tho zebra-horse is absolutely infertile. The last-named difficulty has also rendered unavailing a seiies of experiments conducted with a view to producing a breed of cattle, possessing the useful qualities of tlie domesticated varieties and capable in addition of withstanding the extreme rigours of cold climates. With this end in view Highland cattle wero crossed with the Tibetan yak. The cross produced was a splendid animal, but its infertility destroys the great commercial value it would otherwise possess.

"The supply of free books as carried out has been condemned by education boards, teachers' _ institutes, and other bodies on hygienic and other grounds. It is urged that in the interests of tho health of the children and of the pockets of the parents it would bo advantageous to spend tho money on pads, exercise books, drawing books, compasses, pencils, etc. To make our system other than free in name, all school material should be free."—Extract from the annual report of the headmaster of South Wellington School (Mr. G. Flux), at the householders' meeting last evening.

At the final sitting of the conference of the Now Zealand Labour Party at Christchurch it was decided that tho National Executive should bo located at Wellington until tho next conference. The executive will consist of a president, secretary, and lire oilier members. The Wellington Lra-.icli c.f the party was instructed to iniilvo tho appointments.

The municipal offices were closed all day. yesterday. (St. George's Day),

Cabinet yesterday authorise:! the expenditure of £32,UU0 for railway rolling stock. Thirty engines are now in course of construction, and the sum authorised yesterday includes a portion of the amount required for the building of twenty more-

"One longs for a public opinion which will he sufficiently sound to recognise that to keep children from school without sufiieient warrant is something approaching a crime, and that irregularity is the parent of many evils," observed the headmaster of South Wellington School in his annual report to his committee last evening. "A great majority of parents," be continued, "have long recognised this, hut there is still a small minority who need the spur of the law to induce them to do their duty by the children," be added.

"As a ratepayer of J'ctone," ran a letter from llr. J. I). Sicvivrifjlit, rend at last night's meeting of the Petono Borough Council, "i desire to bring under your nulic:e--it may have occur-' red to you already—the necessity of spending the ratepayers' money more economically. 1 have reason to believe that there is a good deal of council patronage, and, therefore, the ralepayers' money, hns been spent indiscriminately and without regard to the council's obtaining the best vuliio for the money 1 and other ratepayers entrust the councillors with. I would respectfully request that the council should call for tenders for its supplies in the samo way as other public bodies do." On the motion of Councillor Piper, the letter was referred to the- incoming council.

I'lio Wellington Savage Club will open its season at the llnsonic Hall on Saturday evening.

Recently the Pete-no Borough Council wrote- to the State Statistics Department asking for certain information in connection with the compilation of vital statistics. At last night's meeting thefollowing reply was read: "Deaths — Residents of l'ctone dying in tho Wellington Hospital are counted in the total of the deaths for the Petone bor-

ough. . . . Births—Children of I'ctono residents horn in Wellington may be registered according to convenience, either in Petonc or 'Wellington, and they are included in the- district in which ihey are registered. There arc no ir.rnns, as in tho ease of deaths, for further distinguishing as to districts for births."

The chairman of tho Clyde Quay School Committee (Mr. David Robertson) was placed in an awkward position when the scrutineers returned to announce the result of the election of tho new committee. There 'was a tie for the last place between .Messrs. W. G. Skinner (secretary of Mr. Robertson's committee), anil AY. J. Gaudin, whom Mr. Robertson had nominated at tlio last moment. It remained with him to give his casting vote, and he was naturally nonplussed. After a little hesitation Mr. Robertson said: "Well, Moses case lots—l suppose I can do the same!" Thereupon no drew one of two papers from a hat. held behind his back. Mr. Gaudin secured the honour.

A by-election for tho Dalby seat in the Queensland State Legislature will be held to-morrow. A Government nominee and one representing tho Labour party are offering themselves for election. The vacancy was caused by the death of Mr. J. T. Bell, the late member.

At tho Labour Party Conference, in Christchurch tho colours adopted by the Wellington branch in its municipal campaign (pale blue and'.white) were ndopted as the colours of the party. Pale blue- and white are tho campaign •colours of tho Labour party in England : and : 'Australia; ■

The Mayor (Mr. T. M. Wilford) has written to the Hon. James Carroll (Acting-Prime Minister) asking what arrangements tho Government proposes to make in connection with Coronation Day celebrations in Wellington. Mr. Wilford suggests that the Town Hall should ba thrown open free of charge and that the Municipal Orchestra should be engaged to give a suitable musical programme.

"Tho Education Hoard doesn't manago things any better than wo do," said Mr. D. Robertson in speaking with pride last night on the record and management of the Clyde Quay School.

The Minister in charge of the. Tourist Department (the Hon. T. Mackenzie) states that tho past season has easily established a record in tourist traffic. Tho newly-discovered Aranui Caves at Waitomo are enthusiastically praised by the Minister, who states that their patronage is rapidly increasing. A f.atisfactory return is expected, for tho season from the Mount Cook Hermitage, the accommodation of which has bceu insufficient to meet all demands.