LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1148, 8 June 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The postal authorities advise that English and American mails, via Vancouver, are due Sydney Juno 12, Auckland Juno 18, and Wellington on Monday, Juno 19.

A communion service for the clergy who were present at the consecration and installation of the Anglican Bishop of Wellington on Tuesday was held at St. Paul's Pro-Cathedral yesterday morning, at 8.30 o'clock. Tho clergy wero afterwards the guests of Bishop Sprott at breakfast at tho Hotel Cecil. It was previously arranged that a meeting should be lieid afterwards, at which an address would be delivered by tho Bishop, but thi- idea was dropped. A meeting of the Bishops was subsequently held, the proceedings at which were private.

At a meeting of the council of tho Wellington Chamber of Commerce held yesterday a letter was read from Mr. ,T. Macintosh, Consular Agent for France, stating that the Office National du Commerce Exterieur, 3 Kuo Feydeau, Paris, had prepared a classified list of French manufacturers and exporters, and would bo pleased to supply any information in connection therewith.

The council of the Wellington Philosophical Society has arranged for strong representations to be made to tho Government to try to have the whole of Kapiti Island reserved for fauna and flora.

The Wadestown resident is becoming more satisfied each day at the progress shown in the construction of the tramway io liis suburb. The hill he has to traverse is onlv taken lightly by the young and linn lis the strong demand for the restin"-seats which stud the road demonstrates." At all limes one sees the matron with her children clamouring for Iheso havens of rest, and perhaps (lie voter thotnht most of this when declaring for .1 little heavier tos but a means of easier access to his liomo.

It is notoriously a fact' that when a Maori is called as a witness in a jutlit'ial procmlintf, ttiys the Auckland "Star," ho desires to give his evidence in his native tongue, through an interpreter, no matter how well ho can speak or understand Knglii-h. On account of the difficulty experienced in getting a .Maori witness at t'lie .Auckland .Supremo (Joint last weelc to reply promptly and relevantly to (inestions put to him, Mr. Justice i'.'dw.vi'ds was provoked to comment; on members of {lie Native race wanting to speak through an interpreter. The witness in question admitted that he was living and working amongst Kuropcans, and could speak English fairly, but t'here were some "hard" words that l)nlTled him. His Honour mentioned (hat he once had the experience of a licensed Native interpreter desiring to givo his evidence in .Maori through another interpreter. "When these pcoplo who can talk English and livo amongst Kuropcans want to give their evidence in Maori," he added, "they are looking for time to think beforo answering a question."

The Australasian Wireless Company advises that a station has been opened at Sydney under special licenso from tho Postmaster-General of the Commonwealth until Uio Government high-power station is completed. Tho charges are as follow: —For coast station, Gd. per word, with a minimum of ss. per message, plus tho ship charges of id. per word, with a minimum of 3s. 4d. per message. Total charges, lOd. per word, with a minimum of Bs. Id. These charges aro in addition to tile ordinary telegraph or cable rates from or to Sydney. For the present the hours of attendance are 2 to G p.m. and ' to 11 p.m.

At the monthly meeting of tlie Clyde Quay School Committee, held on Tuesday night, leave of absence was granted to the headmaster, Mr. W. T. Grundy, ill order that he might take up the duties of inspector during the absence in England of Mr. J. Teunant. Mr. J. E. Thwaitcs, M.A.i first assistant, will bo in charge during Mr. Grundy's absence, and arrangements were made whereby the work of the school will bo carried on efficiently. It was reported that the prevailing epidemic of measles had seriously alt'cctcd the school attendance, and it was decided to notify the Education Board so that the annual capitation would not bo reduced therein - .

Ten Chinese—al'. "former residents of New Zealand—arrived from Sydney by tho Ulimaroa yesterday.

TJio meeting of tho Tramway Appeal Board was further adjourned yesterday owing to Mr. E. J. Fitzgibbon, counsel for the appellant ill the caso partially heard, being engaged in tho Supremo Court. 'The adjournment was until Julie 11 at 11 a.m.

The City Council has accepted tho offer of 11. A. Smith to supply cable and copper wire during the current year, in quantity according to schedule, at a price of .C 515 Is. 3d. Unaccepted tenders were those of Turnbull and Jones (.£566 !)s. 4d.), P. E. BaiJlic and Co. (,£62.9 13s. -id.), and T. Ballinger and Co. («E629 3s. 2d.).

A man named Alexander Fraser fell into the harbour oft' the Queen's Wharf about G p.m. yesterday. A rope was lowered, and he was "landed" by tile joint effort of bystanders.

.At a meeting of the "Wellington Philosophical Society at the Dominion Museum last night, Mr. Ciatenby submitted a further short note on migas distinctus as to the relative number of male and female spiders. Several other contributions are noticed elsewhere.

The Harbour Board's new Morris-tube ritle range in "I" shed was formally opened last evening by Mr. It. Fletcher (chairman of tho board), who said a few words in kindly encouragement of riflcsliooting as a recreation with a serious object. Ho tired a shot which missed the target altogether. Full of tact, tho marker signalled a bull's-eye, and was at once promised promotion. The engineer of the board (Sir. James Marchbanks) was also present. The spirit of emulation was responsible for him trying a shot, but the target once more escaped unwounded. Tho club already has a memltership of fifty, winch they hope to double this week.

In a paragraph published in yesterday's Dominion concerning an accident which occurred oh the previous day ill Messrs. Phelps, Wilson and Co.'s warehouse, it wa= stated that a lad fell down a liltshaft, the door of which was open at the time of the accident. -Messrs. Phelps, Wilson and Co. writo stating that the door was closed, the boy opening it himself.

On tho run across from Sydney to Wellington this trip, a combined concert aud dance was held on the promenada deck of tho Ulimaroa on Monday ovniing, the proceeds of which were handed over to tho Shipwrecked Mariners' Fund. Mr. Price, a member of the .West Australian. Parliament, was in the chair.

A Press Association telegram from Dunedin states that the approximate returns of cadets and territorials in Otngo, up to June 2 last, give a total of 0982 cadets and territorials—Dunedin 3174, Invcrcargill 3630, Oamaru 1644, Milton 1534.

Tlio labour Department reports that matters regarding the employment of workers are very satisfactory for this timo of the year. Bricklayers, carpenters, plasterers, plumbers, and others have found plenty of work offering locally, the demand for plasterers and bricklayers exceeding the supply. Skilled tradesmen in the building line show small disposition to leave for work offering elsewhere. In regard to carpenters and joiners (hero does not appear to be much work offering for the future. Except in country districts, there is small demand for unskilled labourers. Gangs of men, however, are being sent out by the Department to co-operative works in the North Island and the Nelson district. Better times seem to have arrived for clerks, and few applying' to the Department slill remain 011 the books. Tho spccial work created in the Census Department and by tho Exhibition may r.avo accounted for this.'

Owing to heavy rain, the wireless operator (Mr. Kelly) 011 board the Ulimaroa was unable to do much work, with his instrument this trip. He was in communication with Sydney at a distance of 750 miles, and with Wellington at 200 miles.

Visitors and residents of Wellington will find tho Juno number of "Bradshaw" a very useful little pocket guide, as it contains all tho time-tnbles, and full information in reference to tho best places to go for an enjoyable day's outing. This handy little book is procurable from newsagents for one penny.*