LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1338, 16 January 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Postmaster-General has been negotiating with the Union Company Jor some time past with the object of securing more eyual intervals between the dispatches of the San Francisco and Vancouver mails from New Zealand. He now announces that, beginning with the dispatch of the Manuka from Wellington on March 29 next; the time-tables of tlic two services will be so arranged as ro give an interval of a fortnight between the alternate dispatches from Wellington and Auckland.

'.According to a Nelson exchange, it is the intention of Messrs. John I'uHer end. Sons tc erect a theatre in that town. The building is to be situated nest to the Post Ulh'ce, in Trafalgar Street North.

The Ke'v. Escourt-Hughes, pastor of Uio Dawson Street Baptist Church, Ballarat City, withdrew mi New Year's Day from his' charge, which lie had held for four years. Matters have been very unpleasant at the church for a long while owiii!? to the policy- of certain members of the congregation. During the delivery of ills farewell sermon, lir. Hughe* inaUe reference to his troubles. Ht began his remarks on a text from St. Al'itihew, SG —"And a man's foes shall ce they nf his own household." Ho said the Cluuih had never much to fear from the foe on tho outside. But a different story had (o be told when we came vo ileal irth the foes that wore within the Church. Many un-Christian lives were in the membership of the Church, and many a Christian had to pray in bitterness, ' i-'ave me from my friends." The life of many a so-called worldling was better a thousand times than some of those who professed to be followers of Christ. He comd not bo proud of Baptist history in tho city. The spirit of the Church was too narrow, too bigoted, and too conservative, and until they got rid of these faults tliev would never Income .1 power for good. He had never in all his experience met so conservative a class of people as thoso in the Ballarat Church. They had locked their minds against every new idea, and whenever he brought out some new lino of thought he was promptly condemned. It belonged, in short, to the dead past. '■ - - As a hearse was proceeding along the Tawa Flat lioad 011 Sunday afternoon, it was suddenly Smothered with bees, which made a very determined attack on tl.e liorses, one of which plunged so badly that it kicked over tho traces, and was responsible for the overturning of the vehicle. The bees then withdrew, and the hearse was righted and proceeded on its way.

An accident occurred at Manurewa Earlway Station crossing, near Auckland, on Thursday morning, resulting in a cart being smashed to pieces, the two occupants haviiij marvellous escapes. Mr. Macartney, a fisherman, residing at Woymouth, and his little daughter were driving in a spring cart across the level crossing in the direction of Woyinouth. Mr. Macartney is slightly deaf, and did not hoar the approach of the Rotorua express. Tlio goods shed also hid the approaching train, and when the vehicle hud nearly crossed the rails, the rear of the cart was struck by the express. The child had a most marvellous escape, being thrown high into the air, and falling on to the back of the horse, li-Jiich broke •her.-.fall, and saved her from'injury. Mr. Macartney was thrown out to the ground, and sustained slight injuries to his head. The horse escaped uninjured, but the cart was smashed to pieces. The train was stopped, and Mr. Macartney was conveyed to Pukekohe, where, after medical attention, he was able to return to his home in the afternoon.

A loud explosion (says the "Waikato Times"), the cause of which is unknown, occurred in Hamilton East on Tuesday night last, startling a number of the residents, who went out. of doors to seek the cause. Mr. A. T. Atkin declares that the report took place a little after midnight, and to him, in bed, sounded as though a big gun had been fired immediately over his house. Arising, he made an inspection of tho building, both outside and in, but found everything in order. The explosion is so far inexplicable, and seeing that a similar loud report occurred at midnight on New Year's Eve, which was heard as far away as No. 1 bridge, it would be interesting to knoit the origin. One theory is that someone is experimenting with dynamite, but midnight seems a rather untimely hour for such an undertaking, unless carried out with some illicit object. It is thought by others that the noiso was caused by sewer gas combustion, but inquiry at the gasworks next morning tended to destroy this theory, while as tho machinery at the waterworks on the opposite bank of the river was not work-, ing, (he noise could not have conio from this source.

At the monthly meeting of the committee of Hie Wellington branch of tho Veteruns' Association held at the Garrison Hall last evening the subject cf military pension* Hvas warmly discussed, several speakers denouncing the action of tho Government in connection with the longdeferred settlement of what has now become a burning question.' It was decided to have fresh petitions prepared in tho various district branches for presentation to Parliament next session. Mr. It. Tingey, vice-president of the association, was in the chair.

Yesterday the Charlotte Street tramway' loop line was opened for regular service. The Karori and Botanical Gardens cars will in future proceed via the loop, saving the long detour and stiff climb by way of Mulgravo Street and Aitken Street, which will still be used by Wadestown cars. The stopping-place for Lambton Quay on the new route has been uiade just on the curve clear of the junction. To meet the altered conditions, (he cars will leave New town at five minutes past tlic hour and afterwartfe even- ten minutes, and the fare section will end ut. tho junction of Charlotte Street and Lambton Quay.

At a meeting of the. committee of the Jliiliiitai Ratepayers , Association last evening, several members emphasised (he necessity of the Outlying Districts Conimitleo of (lie Wellington Oily Council paying regular visits' to the suburban areas under its jurisdiction. If was decided to communicate with the City Council in further reference to the matter. It was reported that tl)? canvass for fund-: to meet Did cost of a report by mi independent engineer on the subject of a iriiflic liinnel into ifataitai was meeting with a satisfactory ro.-ponse. JJissatisfai'lion wan expressed over tin , action of the Wellington Kducalion Board in refusing to purchase- a sile for a school lo .supply the needs of tho district, and if was slated that, several of the residents proposed lo send their children lo the. city schools and to the local kindergarten s.chool in preference lo sending I hem in Ihe Kilbirnie School, which was considered to be uaiicaltliji •