LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1141, 31 May 1911, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tho postal authorities advise that s.s. Aorangi, which left Sydney at 5 p.m. on Jlay 2(, has on board an Australian mail. She is due in Wellington on Wednesday afternoon, May 31.

On King's Birthday (June 3) the .telegraph Offices will observe holiday hours as mentioned in the Postal Guide, with the exception that those usually open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and 7 p.m. to midnight will close at 8 p.m. In addition to this, all other telegraph and telephone offices are to open 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Some of tho Ministerialist newspapers, alarmed at the ignominious rejection of Sir J. G. Ward's proposal respecting an Imperial Council of State, are endeavouring to defend and comfort him. One upcountry paper seeks to do it by pointing out that Galileo was received with incredulous jeers when he said the world was not flat; that Columbus was looked upon a« a most awful liar when he declared that he had discovered America; and that the Dutch navigators who described the first kangaroos were met , with derision. Upon this the "Wairarapa Age" comments very pointedly:—"But what has all this to do with the subject? Surely Sir Joseph does not pose as a Galileo or a Columbus! He could better bo described as the benevolent grandson who sought by devious processes to instruct his grandma in the delicate art of extracting the life-giving properties from ihe fruit of the domesticated hen."

I don t want to convey the idea that I am a visionary," said Sir. A. W. Hogg, M.P., during a discussion at the Education Board yesterday, "but I think the day is coming when the kinematograph will form part of tho school, equipment, and instructive films on geographical, historical, and scientific, subjects thrown on the screen as part of the educational syllabus.

When H.JI.S. Cambrian arrived in theso waters she possessed three "mascottes"— a penguin, a game-cock, and a cassowary —but througli force of circumstances over which tho crew had no control those have been reduced to one—a lone cassowary. Tho penguin, which was a favourite fore and aft, took it into its head to return to its native clement. It dived overboard one day, and was nover seen again. The game-cock died of grief caused by the disappearance of its most upright companion, and the cassowary is left as the sole lnck-bringer to' a somewhat disconsolate crew.

Tho Education Department has declined to accede to the request of the Wellington Education Board ttia't "pt.udejiW attending tho Normal School lie?permitted to earn money at relieving work during, the recess.

Quite a.number, of householders' meetings, convened by statute for April Si last, lapsed for want of' the necessary quorum, the small attendances being in most cases ascribed to the inclement weather which prevailed at that time. This matter came up at the meeting of the Wellington Education Board yesterday, in connection with an application from the Oliau peopio asking that the date of the school election l>e the Monday nearest the full moon. Tho obstacle in the way of granting this request was that the date was fixed by statute. The necessity of making arrangements for fresh elections in these districts where the statutory meetings lind lapsed, had involved the board in considerable expense, and it was generally agreed that somo latitude might be afforded in the matter. Representations to that effect are to be submitted to the Department.

A worthy successor to Mr. T. A. Coghlan's well-known "Seven Colonies of Australia" is the "Official Year Book of the Commonwealth of Australia," the fourth issuo of which is now to hand from tho Commonwealth Statistician, Mr. G. H. Knibbs. The volume is. of handy size, and in its 1258 pages a vast amount of statistical, descriptive, and historical matter concerning tho public affairs, population, and resources of Australia is set out. The hook is a model , of its kind and a mine of information for anyone wishing to understand Australian politics.

At a meeting of the Wellington Ministers' Association, held ,on Monday, a letter from the secretary of tho New Zealand Alliance was read asking for tho co-operation of tho association in connection with the Dominion Convention, to Iw held in Wellington from June 11 to June 15. It was stated that several ministerial delegates would.be in the city on Juno 11, and a suggestion was made that their services should bo secured where possible, and on that Sunday special reference bo made to tho objects of the convention. It was ultimately agreed to commend this suggestion to the favourable consideration of all members of the association.

A meeting of creditors in tho bankrupt estato of Frederick Moir, grocer, of llirauiar, was held at tho Official Assignee's office yesterday, Mr. S. Tansley presidin* After hearing the bankrupt's" statement, which disclosed unsecured liabilities of Ml (is. 7d., tho creditors agreed that misfortune was the contributing-cause of the insolvency, and recommended that the bankrupt be granted his discharge as soon as possible. The stock-in-trade of the business was set down at JUS, and the book debts at £26 2s. Cash in the bank totalled £3 Bs. Tho bankrupt had bought the business for £UO, as a going concern, and for 12 months had been vainly trying to show a profit on his venture. "The reason I am in this position," he stated, "is that the business is not here to be done. .There is too much competition from town for a small man." The disposal of the stock was left in tho hands of the Assignee, and tho bankrupt, who was represented by Mr. Meredith, was granted £6 out of the estate for his assistance.

Tho South Wellington Senior Cadet Company met in St. James's Presbyterian Schoolroom last evening. There were about 70 present, and ouo of tho staff officers addressed tho assemblage. Considerable enthusiasm is being shown by the lads, who have already done very creditable work. Drill will bo continued every Tuesday evening. Applications for membership are coming in rapidly. There is every prospect of completing a full corps establishment at an early date.

On the initiativo of Mr. Robert Leo (the chairman), the AVcllingtou Education Board has decided, to introduce "art pictures," in colours or monochrome, engravings or photographs into its schools, to encourage an appreciation of fino arts. Since there arc pictures and "pictures," Mr. Lee is desirous of fostering an allittido of mind which prefers pictures to "pictures." The Art fur Schools Association (II r. Lee explained) and tho Allotype Co., of London, supply suitable pictures, of wbich they have a great variety. The former company will scud ,CIOO worth on approval, if the Ijoiird will undertake to expend .050 j and probably any pictures by the Autotype Company could bo obtained through the Art lor Schools Association. Mr. J. S. Tennant, ono of the board's inspectors, who is going to England shortly on a visit, is to make arrangements for tho supply of euitable pictures,

A fitting of the North Island Railway Appeal Board was held in Wellington yesterday, Dr. A. M'Arthur, f>.M., presiding. The findings of the board on the cases dealt with will be forwarded to the Minister.

Yesterday Detective Andrews arrested a man named Herbert William Bull, who was wauled on warrant at Ohakune, on a charge of obtaining £6 from Harry Stone in September last by means of false pretences. Detective Cameron also arrested a man in the city yesterday on a charge of theft.

A meeting of the Secular Education Defence League was held last evening (Mr. .T. GainincH presiding), to consider the. recent action of the Timaru league. There was a small attendance of members, only nino being present. After discussion, (lie following resolution was adopted:—"This league endorses the proposed plan of action,of the Timaru League, suggests that a copy of the memorandum be sent to the Minister for Education, and expresses its willingness to co-operate with the Timaru League, should it so desire."