LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1133, 22 May 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Maheno, with American and English mails, via Vancouver, an English mail, via Brindisi, and an Australian mail, arrived at Auckland from Sydney at 8.30 a.m. yesterday. The Mineric with a small American mail, arrived at Auckland from San b'rancisco at 2 a.m. yesterday. Tho Wellington and .southern portions of -theso mails will arrive here by this afternoon's Main Trunk express.

Somo small local a ■thorities, in occasional dealings with tho City Council, apparently expect tho latter to display a most exalted generosity. Cases in point have figured in the attermath of the recent half-holiday poll. Two at least of tho councils in suburban areas that unite with Wellington to form a combined district for half-holiday polling purposes have lately approached the City Council with a polite suggestion that it should refund their payments to returning officers and poll clerks who wore employed in recording half-holiday votes. It is on record that the city authorities, having pointed out that the cost of obtaining an expression of local opinion must in the nature of things bo paid with local money, carried tho war into tho enemy's country by proposing to forward to each inquiring suburban area a littlo bill covering its share in th" cost: of printing ballot papers and in the cost of general advertising. Possibly these claims may not bo pressed, but it is at any rate probable that the enterprising suburbanites are now sorry they spoke.

Officials at the Money Order Office, Lambton Qua}-, looked with suspicion upon the signature upon a certain receipt form, which was handed to them Ja:-t Thursday by a young man who wished to draw money from the Post (Jliice Saving:) JJauk. The applicant then took a I'i'usli form and wrote the name again, and (so it is nlleged) yet aiwin, but still the oflicials had their doubts, and ultimately the youug man went away without the money. A day or two later another man cams with the sains bankbook, and this time there whs no difficulty as to the bona fides of the depositor. Ho appeared surprised when the officials told him about the other caller, and ho afterwards repeated their story to (lie police. The result was that Detectives iitwis and Andrews arrested on Saturday a young man on a charge of forgery. Ho will bo placed before the magistrate today.

Captain L. S. Hasle, representing tho firm of Charles -siclson and Co., of Laryick, Norway, ons of the largest whaling concerns in that country, has been making exhaustive inquiries as to (he possibilities of an extension of the firm's business to the waters of the Dominion. On behalf of his firm ho has written to the Marino Department applying for permission to use the outlying islands— Stewart Island, the Auckland and Chatham groups, and a spot in the Bay of Islands—for whaling depot purposes. The Department states that there is nothing to prevent Captain Haslo from using tho harbour in tho places mentioned and carrying out whaling operations there, providing no nuisance is committed. - It is probable, that some of the company's West African fleet will be detailed ta commence, operations in this part of tlio world.

The proposal of the City Council to extend tho tramway through that portion of Molcsworth Street, known until lately as Charlotte Street, lias not yot been formally authorised by tho Government', but the corporation's draft proposals have been for some time in tho hands nf the Public Works Department and it is understood that the authorisation will issue shortly.

Frederick Mair, grocer, of Miramar, was on Saturday adjudged a bankrupt. Tho first meeting of creditors will be held on Tuesday, May SO.

To-day is a Supreme Court holiday, and jurors will therefore not be required to attend until 11 a.m. to-morrow, as no cases will be heard until that time. Tho holiday marks the anniversary of the proclamation of the sovereignty of Queen Victoria over New Zealand. " Yesterday was the actual anniversary, but the Supreme Court rules provide that where a holiday falls on a Sunday it shall be observed on tho following Monday.

A first conference between the ActingPrime Minister (the Hon. Jas. Carroll) and tho Mayor (Mr. T. M. Wilford) in regard to tho approaching Coronation celebrations was held on Saturday. Questioned last evening, Mr. Wilford stated that he had nothing to report upon the matter save a meeting would bo held on Thursday evening next. As to the nature of "the meeting," Mr. Wilford declined to s.-.y anything.

In speaking of tho mission in Melanesia, at the New Zealand Church Missionary Association's meeting at Aucklnud last Thursday, Archdeacon Calder remarked that three peoplo from his own parish had gone to participate in the work tjiere. At this, Bishop Crossloy, who was presiding, heartily applauded. "Tho applause is in tho wrong place, my Lord," said the Archdeacon drily, "two of them came back. They were not good enough." Everyone laughed, including tho Bislion. Tho Archdeacon then hastened to explain tho "not good enough." They were "good," ho said, hut not fitted to stand tho work.

llr M ','. I f- *lv F°! mes ' secretary of tho Wellington 1.M.C.V., has received word .hat up to Thursday night the Y.M.C.A. building campaign at Wanganui had resulted as follows:—Site fund, .£1800 ; threo years' guarantee, fund, ,£7jo; building fund subscriptions, ,£2700: total .£5250.

It is stated on most reliable authority (reports the Iluntly correspondent of the Auckland "Herald") that Wellington merchants arc about to make a big bid for tho trade of the Waika.to, and that overtures hnvo been made to at least one of the owners of steamers that do the carrying trade on the river. Instead of erectiiir a wharf and Hie necessary storago accommodatioa.at the Waikato Heads, lho proposal is fa station a largo hulk'there, and thence distributes supplies to the various places between the Heads and Cambridge, (on tho Waikato) and Pirongia (on the Vi'aipa), water earriago being employed to convey mercfcamliss and other commodities for Wellington. Local merchant? have long complained of tin- high freights ruling, and the scheme has in it the element;, of success.

A scheme, which aims at benefiting people of limited moans in time of sickness is being worked on behalf of (lie Central Mission Hen's Brotherhood by Mr. .T. Dowdall, a prominent member of fho l-.cal Socialist party. Mr. Dmvdnll lately joined the Brotherhood, and immediately set Iris hand to a work of practical utility. Ho is collecting subscriptions with a view- to obtaining three sets of the appliances commonly required in a sick-room. A rot of these articles costs several pounds, and proenrin;,' them at short notice is often a matter of dillicultv to poor people. The sots of sick-room appliances for which Mr. Dowdall is collecting funds will become tho property cf tho Mission Brotherhood, and will " be loaned to members and adherents as occasion demand?. Almost enough money to cover the cost of one set of appliances has already l>e?n collected' by Mr. Dimvilall, mid at tho close of the'mission service last, evening he appealed (o carpenters who might be present to provide cares in which to store tho sick-room outfits. The Rev. K. 0. 131amires is of opinion that Mr. Dowdall's effort constitutes ii work of real utility, and that it will ba greatly appreciated by many timnlo n-uosi; circumstances are straitened.

Detectives Lewis and Cameron yesterday arrested a man named Leonard Martin on a charge of breaking aud entering and theft, at Auckland. He will be brought bnforo the magistrate to-day.

Uμ to the present, between 50 and CO barmaids in tlie Christoliurch district have applied for registration under Hie amendment to the Licensing Act, passed last session. The local officers of (ho Labour Department arc engaged in verifying the statements made by the. applicants as to their period of service during the year preceding the passing of the Act. It is expected that at least 20 more applications for registralion will be made in the Chrisichurch district. The time for applications expires on June I.— "Press."