LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1222, 2 September 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Sixteen members of the present House of Representatives have attended ..niore than a scoro ol' sessions. Sir William Steward heads the list with a rccord of forty sessions, and next in length of Parliamentary service is the Hon. T. V. Duncan, who has attended 30 sessions. Tho other members who have attained their Parliamentary!' majority are:—Sir Arthur Guinness, M; Jlr. Tame Parata, 3°- Mr W. C. Buchanan, 29; Sir James Carroll. 29; Mr. i''. Lawrv, 20; Sir Joseph Ward, 29; Jlr. .lames Allen, 27; the Hon. T. Mackenzie, 25; Mr. A. W. Ilogg, 25; Mr. J- Graham, 21; the Hon. It. M'lvenzie' 21; 'Sir. AV. 1\ Massev, 21; tho Hon. J. a" Millar, 21; and Mr. W. Eraser, 21. There were 30,800 volumes in the Genoral Assembly Library when the present Chief Librarian, Mr. C. Wilson, took office iu 1901. The number of hooks to-day is about. 70.51)0, but tho library is still worked by a stall' of tlio same number, and the annual grant: for the purchase of books and periodicals has not been increased. A journalist up iu llio northern part of the AVanganni district, whose wife is a. Quakeress, strongly objects—in fact, refuses (states the Eeilding Star)—to send his boy to » school where military training is taught, tie pleaded to the Wangali ui Education Hoard's truant inspector that the boy was being capably (aught at' home. The" board's oliicer reported that tlio boy was certainly proficient in "Shakespeare and composition," but he was deficient in other subjects. After considering the position, tho board instructed the truant officer to lake action against tho i'at'lier. There w only one case of bankruptcy in Wellington during tho month of August. Since tho beginning of the year there have been twelve bankruptcies in Wellington. Two lads were arrested yesterday on a charge of stealing 175 bicycle tubes'valued at .IM2 10-., tho property of the llunlop Kubbcr Company, and a man named Edward ltosenberg, a bicycle-maker, oil a chargc of receiving the same knowing ihom to have been stolen. Tho arrests 1 were effected Juy Detects? Mason.

Twenty sections nut of llio twenty-three I'lli-own open lit. .Island Bay for selection for tho erection of workers' homes, have been disposed ol', The majority of the houses to 1)0. erected will consist of five rooms, this description of residence apparently finding greatest favour with the workers. Another block of land ior a similar purpose has been secured at Taitniiti is being cl] f' "J 1 sections. It. is expected llio land will be available in about two weeks. To encourage a love of horticulture in tho scholars, the committee of the Clyde Quay School has decided to liold a llower show at tho breaking-up of the school for tho sumnier holidays in December. The children have been informed that prizes will bo given for tho best displays of {lowers planted aiui tended by themselves, and also for the best show of vegetables, in the growing of which tho children have been concerned. Tho idea is being enthusiastically taken up. The annual social of tho Wellington Letter Carriers' Social Club is to take place in (ho Druids' Hall tin's evening. Among the guests will be tho Prime Minister, (he ITon. .Tames Carroll, the Hon. T. Mackenzie, and the heads of Departments. West Coasters now on tho Coast and many scattered about tho Dominion, said Mr. J. J. M'Gratli, at the annual meeting of tho West Coasters' Association last evening, had a fine reputation for honesty. If it were only Known, tho number of men of tho old digger school who had paid up debts (incurred sometimes by striking a "dummy" claim), many years afterwards, simply for conscience sake, it would surprise some people. This was the outstanding trait of the West Coaster; and tho young fellows growing up in different surroundings should endeavour to keep up this reputation "of honesty, playing the game, and standing ■up for pals." . According to a statement by Mr. Martin Kennedy at tho West Coasters' Association last evening, the sum of 45120(1 was collected on the West Coast towards the Homo Rule funds during tho recent visit of the Trish envoys. In reference to the lecture delivered by Mr. A. S. Malcolm, M.P., this week on "Imperial Federation," it should be mentioned that it was organised by the indefatigable Navy League which never seems to bo "weary of well doing" in its special field. As will be remembered his Excellency made pleasant and oomplimontary reference to the work which the League is doing and it may be added that Lord Islington had also a. kindly word for the Coy Scouts who (under Commander M'Leod) formed a guard of honour for the occasion. Tho following resolution was (says the Auckland "Star") passed at a meeting of the Pukekoho branch of the Reform League, held on AYednesday"That this meeting of Opposition supporters of Pukekoho and surrounding districts, while deeply regretting that the alterations of boundaries has deprived tho Pukekoho district of the honour of having the Leader of the Reform Party as member, pledges itself (o do all in its power to secure the return of -Mr. Mas.sey's selection fo rllic Raglan electorate." Tho Government, according to a statement made ill Parliament last evening by tlie Hon. D. Huddo, no longer has any first-class land available for settlement within twenty miles of a railway or harbour. Regarding biucjackots and Auckland skating rinks Mr. Cecil Palmer (secretary of the Wellington branch of the Navy League) this week received tho iollowing reply from Mr. W. J. Napier, the president of the Auckland branch of the League (that was). Jlo says: "I am in receipt of your letter in reference to the bluejackets being refused admission to a skating rink. The matter is receiving attention and a proper remedy will be found. I will let you know what wo intend to do in the matter later on."