LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1332, 9 January 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities advise that the s.s. Maitai, which left Sydney at 0 p.m. on January G, has on board aii Australian mail. She is due to arrive to-morrow.

In a reference to the question of the berthage accommodation, published in yesterday's issue, an expression of opinion which should havo been printed as a separate paragraph was unfortunately tacked on by mistake to the remarks of Mr. Fletcher, chairman of the Harbour Board. It was made to appear that Mr. Fletcher had described Clyde Quay Wharf as a "white elephant," whereas his views on the position ended with tho preceding sentence. He made no reference to the Clydo Quay Wharf at all.

The Telegraph Office states that deferral ordinary cable messages may now be accepted for United States of America, via Eastern only.

Tho Minister for Railways is having a report made as to the straightening of the section of lino between Para and Tua Marina, on tho Picton-Bleaheim railway.

A sum of .£IOOO appears on the Estimates for the purpose of erecting an old men's home in Marlborough, tho institution to be under the joint control of the Wairau and l'icton Hospital Boards. The Wairau Board is desirous that the money should be lifted, and has asked for the co-operation of tho Picton Board in a scheme whereby it is proposed to ask the Government to allow tho money voted to be spent in the purchase of tho Blenheim Hospital buildings, which, it is contended, are admirably adapted for an old men's home, lhe purchase money would go towards tho erection of a new hospital. In order that the question may bo fully discussed, the Wairau Board has asked that a conference of representatives of both bodies be held in the near future. The Picton Hospital Board, after strong protests from Messrs. M'Cormick and Biddell, who considered that Picton was the brst site for the home, appointed four representatives to meet tho Wairau Board and report at next meeting

Tho postal authorities advise that tho s.s. Moeraki, which left Sydney at noon Qn January G, has on board an Australian mail. She is due to arrive hero tomorrow.

"Taihoa," as defined recently by Sir James Carroll, is evidently not the same "taihoa which Mr. Thomas S. Grace, son of one of the first missionaries who converted tho Bay of Plenty and Taupo Maoris in the far-off days preceding Constitutional Government in New Zealand, interprets in the "Marlborough Express." Ho writes:—"ln a recent issue of the 'Marlborough Express' you quoted Sir James Carroll's interpretation of tho now familiar Maori adverb, 'taihoa.' Such a fanciful meaning as the honourable gentleman gives can but hoodwink the pakoha uninitiated in the Maori vernacular. 'Taihoa' does not mean 'careful consideration, prudent and wiso advancement, careful deliberation, putting on the brake, chewing things over,' although it may bo used for these reasons. Englishised, this word just corresponds to our own adverb 'by-and-by'—postponing indefinitely for any reason or no reason at all what: may be said or done at once. It has.always meant this, and can never mean nuythiug else, whether applied to the occasional or habitual procrastinations of a pakeha, Maori chief, or honourable Parliamentarian grievously pestered by urgent petitions of insatiate constituents."

Tho pumping station for the. Wadestowu water supply scheme is in working order now, and already some eight feet of water has bnen elevated into the reservoir in tho Town Belt. The mains are now being charged, and the City Council authorities are ready to receivo applications from house-owners for the supply of water.

Tho following bands will compete at the band contest to be held under tho auspices of tho South Island Committed, commencing at Christclnirch on January 22:—A. grade: Wanganui Garrison, Wellington Garrison, Wellington Tramways, Petone Municipal, Nelson Garrison, Woolston, Timarii Garrison, Mornington, Kaikorai, 10th Regiment, Oamaru. B grade: Tarauaki Garrison, Inangahua, Grey Battalion, Stanmore, 10th Kegiment, Linwood, Lyttelton Marine, Timaru Marine, Hibernians, Invercargill. No fewer than 237 soloists linvc also entered.

To-morrow afternoon the Minister for Labour (Hon. J. A. Millar) will lay tho foundation-stone of , the first batch of workers' dwellings to be erected in Wellington under the Workers' Homes Act. The site is at the corner of Denvent and Deo Streets, Island Bay.

At their quarterly meeting held last evening the Wesley Church officials decided to invite the Methodist Conference (which h meeting in Auckland next inouth) to hold the. 1913 conference in Wellington.

Professor .Delbruck, in the course of an interview in Berlin a few days ago (says a cable message in an Australian paper), said: "There is such a thins as an Fnglish peril, Wo do not want to see the whole world Kuglish. There is no danger in France, and we want to see her grow and flourish, and German civilisation grow and flourish. But Finland grudges that croiyth." Heir Uelbrurk was anxious (o give credit to Knglanil whenever, possible. He agreed that it had done ono art in allowing (iermauy to have Heligoland. The professor further staled that ((rrmany and the oilier l'mvors had by no incans'givcn up all their rights in Kgypt, ami oxprcMed himself as riTlnin Hint: tlio Kgvp. tinns would lake sidvontase of the fart should tborc ever bo a war between Gcruuuiy and iinj;UincL

A boy of fifteen years was before the Juvenile Court yesterday on a charge of the theft pf £i. Ho was sent to tho Wereroa. Farm, and his father was ordered (o pay 4s. a. week towards his support.

Certain metallic elements liavo their sicknesses, but perhaps the tin plague is (he most remarkable. If tin catchescoUl («ays tbe London "Lancet") it: will decay, it will lose its lustre, and finally crumble to a grey powder. The change is not a chemical one, for the grey powder is still tin, and it can bo brought back by careful warming to its original healthy condition. Apparently, when tho tin is very pure it is more susceptible to cold and consequent decay. In* fact, it may 1)9 made proof agmnst tho disease by alloying it with other metals. The disease is a source of considerable annoyance and disappointment to tho collectors of coins who possess valuable tin specimens id their cabinets. This curious failing of tin may possibly have led to tho use of the word "tin" as a term of reproach, as in such expressions as "a tinpot institution," or "a tin soldier." Even tin buttons have been known to crumble in this way, and organ-pipes made of tin have been found to decay after a severo winter.

A branch of the Union Bank of Australia, Ltd., is now open at Newton, Auckland.

At 10.45 p.m. yesterday the- Fire Brigade received a call to 236 Riddiford Street, whore an outhouse at tho rear of a butcher's shop was found to bo on fire. The brigade had no difficulty in dealing with the outbreak. '

The real business of training the newlyorganised senior cadet corps and tile territoi'ial forces will definitely commence on (January 15 (next Monday). Between that date, according to a battalion order issued by the officer commanding the Fifth Regiment (Wellington Rifles) it is proposed to carry out 12 wcek-niglit drills, four balf-day or two whole-day parades, seven days' training in camp, and tho prescribed course of musketry.

A small South African mail —about a dozen bags—was landed at Wellington from the Somerset,' which arrived in tho stream yesterday afternoon.

The annual examinations for teachers' professional certificates in Class D and" Class C, ami of candidates in tho Senior Civil Service Examination, are now being held at the various examination centres throughout tho Dominion. They will extend till January 20.

It is reported that the Arawa's immigrants have all gone to situations, and that the Labour Department is looking forward to tlie arrival of the Somerset's passcugers, who will be absorbed with easo by the employment offering. At the present time there is said to be keen demand for artisans and general labourers.