LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1122, 9 May 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

e Mr. A. L. Eerdman, M.F., has accepted an invitation to deliver a political address at Levin on Hay 24. The Antarctic expedition ship Terra Nova, which is at present lying at Lyttelton, wi" sail from Li'ttelton on July 1, to carry out deep-sea sounding work in the stretch of ocean between Cape Maria Van Dienien and the Three Kings. At present the soundings marked on the Admiralty charts do not extend very far oft' shore. The Terra Nova will make a complete series of soundings between the Gape and the Three Kings, and extending to the westward of those points. If this important work can be completed, and there is sufficient time available, the Terra Nova will proceed to the southern end of New Zealand and make a similar' scries of 'deep-sea soundings to the westward of Fovcaux Straits and in the vicinity of the Solauder Islands. Discussing the census returns the Christchurch "Press" expresses the opinion that the census returns as a whole will not give New Zealanders any cause for pride, when they see the progress that is being made in other parts of the Empire. It says:-"Not only is the birthrate restricted, but there is the most unreasoning and stupid fear of immigration among a suction of the community. Anything more despicable, and, wo will add, more inhumane than the fuss that 'las been made about the introduction of the Sedgwick boys, it is difficult to conceive. What is wanted in the future is a systematic opening up of land for settlement, ancT the equally systematic introduction .ct the right class of settlers, carefully selected. The Auckland people, who are painfully parochial .in most things, ara quite right in urging that the large area of waste Native land in the North Island should Iw brought into profitable cultivation. The Government, with all its professions, is really acting as a bar to land settlement instead of promoting it." One of the first matters which will engage the attention of the new Onslow Borough Council will, it is stated, bo consideration of the draft agreement with the Gas Company as to lighting. The council will set up its various committees on Thursday next. The newly-elected Eastbourne Borough Council made a tour of inspection of the borough on Saturday atternoon. The councillors were struck by the necessity for certain street improvements and street lighting works which will be formally authorised at the first meeting of the council. The new scheme of workers' return tickets was inaugurated yesterday by the Tramway Department. There were a considerable number of complications incidental to the first day's operations, and one result will be that for the future people who desire the concession must ask the conductor for a "worker's re. turn." Barmaids of the Christchurch districl are not applying in any great numberfor registration at the office of the Labour Department, and so far not morf than half of those employed in the district have made application for registration. Mourning stationery, which has been in use in all the Government Departments since the death of King Edward .VII, has, from the beginning of tho present week, given way to the usual white paper. The mourning was in three stages: First a deof black band round, the edge of the paper, then a lighter band, and finally a blacli triangle in one corner only. Yesterday Detective Kemp arrested t woman, who will appear at the Magis trate's Court to-day, on a charge of imposing on a resident at Carterton or April 26 and obtaining the sum of £] thereby. At the Mount Cook Police Court yesterday Chas. William Hill was fined 55., or 21 hours' imprisonment, for drunkenness. Roderick Mathicson, Richard Shields, and John Byrne were-similarly charged, and fined. A female offender foi drunkenness was fined 10s., Or 18 hours' imprisonment, and anotLer female 205,, ot three days. Five first offenders were fined 10s. Mr. Horace Baker, J.P., was on tho bench. A start has been made to equip the Auckland tramcars with tho new aii brakes which were ordered some months ago. Forty of the equipments have arrived, and the first car fitted is now in commission. Two others are being fitted up. A lengthy discussion took place at the meeting of tht> parishioners oi St. Mark'; Church, Apawa (Christchurch) last week, on tho question cf the right of tho vicai to use lighted candles on the altar at celebrations ot Holy Communion. One ol the parishioners presented to the church two altar candlesticks, which were dulj installed on the altar, a faculty for tha'l purpose having been obtained from the Bishop. Some, of the older parishioners then took fright at what they considered to bo the introduction of ritualistic practices into tho services, with tho result that there was a heated discussion on the question, lasting till well into the night, but no decision was arrived at.

Patrons of the midnight tram from Th.orn.don to Newtown have not been as numerous as usual of late. Last week's total was only SB. A Post and Telegraph Office will be opened at llataitai to-day. What threatens to develop into a serious case occurred near Locliiel on Saturday, says the luvercargill correspondent of" the Dunedin "Star," when Hanger Friend, of ths Southland Acclimatisation Society, tried to seize the l»g of a "shcotist" in the possession of ducks shot out of season. It is alleged that the ranger called upon the resident, charging hiin with having shot them out of season. The request was declined, and the ranger endeavoured to sciz? the bag, but the owner, it is said, used the barrel of the gun with effect. A tussle ensued, and the ranger received assistance upon calling for same. The ranger, who seized the six ducks and gun, was cut about tho hands; and complained of a blow on the body.