LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1235, 18 September 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Huddart-Parker steamer Wimmera, with English (via Suez) and Australian mails, arrived at Auckland from Sydney at 3 p.m. yesterday. Owing to the San Francisco mail, which arrived here on Thursday last, having left London just before the English mail, the Wimmera is bringing only 25 bags. The Wellington portion of tho mail will arrivo by the Main Trunk express this afternoon.

Special meetings were conducted in the Salvation Army Barracks, Vivian Street, yesterday afternoon by Colonel Burkensliaw, Commandor of the North Island Srovince. The Colonel will deliver an adress to-night on "General Booth and His Work." Mr. C. H. Poole, M.P., will preside.

One of the Rev. Mr. Fee's hearers at Woodville last week inquired anxiously if he was a "Wowser"? Mr. Fee said yes, he was, and would explain tho origin of the word. It originated when somebody had tried to say "rouser," but being three sheets in the wind, like his friend, had been unablo to get his tongue round the "r" in rouser, and so had made "wowser" of it. The word ought properly to bo rouser, and they would find that he and those associated with him against tho drink traffic were rousers, ami next November they would rouso the traffic out of existence.

The annual examinations held under the auspices of the University of New Zealand will commence on Tuesday, December 5, and will tako place at any contro where ton candidates enter, or where, if not so many, the fees amount to twenty guineas. Forms of application may be obtained from Mr. 13. Hector, tho registrar, in Wellington. Candidates' notices must be lodged by Monday, October 16, accompanied by the ordinary fees, or up to October 30 if supplemented by a fine of £2 25., or until November 13, with a fine of M 4s. extra to the fee.

Three small boys were charged at tho Juvenile Court at Clvristchurch on Saturday with having destroyed railway consignment notes and committed a nuisance by smashing eggs. The evidence showed that after breaidng the eggs the boys had smeared tho contents over tho surrounding walls. Tho culprits were severely cautioned and discharged.

Tho objection made by the Auckland Education Board to tho proposal of the Department of Education that on Dominion Day children should be assembled to salute tho flag was brought under the notice of tho Acting-Minister for Education (tho Hon. T. Mackenzie) by an Auckland pressman. Mr. Mackenzie said that tho circular, letter of the Department merely suggested a means by which the school children of the Dominion should bo reminded of the significance of the anniversary % The Department did not desiro to dictate to the various boards. It was for them to decide the matter for their districts according to their own discretion and good taste.

Tho Temuka "Leader" regards the Prime Minister's latest Budget with marked disfavour"Until we have borrowed tho last farthing, and the English money-lender savs we can no more, any change in the Government is utterly impossible," comments . the "Leader. 1 ' "Wo have- long held that opinion, and have frequently given expression to it, but we are more convinced than, ever that wo have been right all along by the perusal of the last Financial Statement. In a previous issue wo referred to tho legend of the man, the cat, and tho rabbits, and came to the conclusion that Sir J. G. Ward had no more rabbits on which to feed the cat, therefore tho cat would seize him by the throat. We have to tender Sir J. G. Ward an abject apology. He has' rabbits enough to feed all tho wild cats in the country. There is not a fad or fancy, a suggestion or a craze which has been given utterance to by any little coterie or section of tho community that Sir J. G. Ward has not provided for."

Tho agricultural school at Grey town was attended by twenty-one teachers of the Wellington district during tho term vacation last week. Tho course of instruction included lectures and laboratory practices dealing with plant life, soil, manures, grass and weeds common to the farm and garden.

Election year brings many changcs (states a southern exchange). The South Canterbury Education Board recently received advico that the full grants asked for for the erection of a residence at Lyalldale (.£125), and for tlie providing of a shed for agricultural classes at Temuka (.£7O) had been granted. "And," remarked the secretary, "wo only, asked for the Tomuka grant after last meeting."

A peculiar position has arisen in connection with tho Gisborne Harbour Beard's recent decision to call tenders for the extension of the breakwater in accordance with Mr. R. W. Holmes's plans. Tho meeting called to consider the matter was termed a "special committee meeting of the whole board," but this fact did not dawn upon members until the meeting had practically concluded. Dr. Collins' was unavoidably absent, and, acting under his instructions, a firm ,of solicitors has now called upon tho board to set its procedure right, it being contended that the meeting had no power to consider Mr. Holmes's plans for an outside harbour, and to order an extension of tho breakwater. The board is requested to set tho matter right within 48 hours, otherwise Dr. Collins deems it his duty to take appropriate steps to restrain the committee from proceixling with its alleged illegal action.

A man named Frederick List was arrested by Detective Mason on Saturday on a cliargo of stealing an overcoat.

Tho banks throughout tho Dominion of New Zealand will be closed on Monday next, Dominion Day.

Concerning the De Laitto gas which Johnsonvillo is going ihfor,_ and in connection with which R. Y. Walls and Co., 8 lioulcott Street, aro the firm responsible for the New Zealand installation, tho minimum price was incorrectly given in an announcement which appeared on Saturday. Tho gas can bo produced at as low rate as fld. (ninepenee) per 1000 cubic feet.