LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1341, 19 January 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Postal authorities advi.se (hat (he s.s. Victoria, which left. Sydney at noon on January 17, for Auckland, has on board an Australan mail, also an English mail, via Suez. The Wellington portion is due to arrive here by the Main Trunk on Monday next, January 22. It is understood that the prison at i Otago Heads is to bo closed soon. The prisoners confined thcro will be drafted elsewhere. On Mr. H. Magill's farm at Waihou, near To Arohn, last week four foxes (a vixen and thrcv cubs) were found. This is the first discovery of foxes made in this district, and as there is a chance of their becoming a pest to the farmers, all efforts will be made to exterminate them as soon as possible.—Auckland "Herald." A large king-fish, weighing 371b., was caught off the Onelumga wharf on Tuesday by a ilr. Ormerod, who was using an ordinary sehnapper line and hook. On examination tho fish was found to have some ten inches of the snout of a swordfish sticking into its gills, presumably as tho result of an one muter. Mr. Ormerod considers that it would have been impossible to secure the fish had it not been in a feeble condition by reason of its wound. ' Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M., appears to be looked upon by a number of women in Auckland as iln arbitrator between their husbands and themselves (says the "Star"), and a good deal of that gentleman's time is occupied with such cases. Even when sitting in Court it is no uncommon thing for a woman to enter the room and say, in a clear voice: "I want to see Sir. Kettle," as if that gentleman was always own to appeal to. Such a case occurred on Wednesday morning, making a brief interlude in a dry legal case. Tho woman was young, and, as usual in these cases, had a baby in her arms. The clerk whispered to the woman, who seemed excited, and then si>oke in a low voice to Mr. Kettle, who at once replied: "'Oh, we cannot undertake to watch her husband for her." The clerk then took the lady out to instruct her what to do. Then came an irate wife, who declared her husband hud beaten Ler black and hlue, and made various other allegations. The husband immediately made counter o>sertions, each wanted the other prohibited from liquor, and each asserted it was not necessary in their particular case. Ultimately Mr. Kettle remarked: "This is going to take up too much time. Come again on Friday, and try to settle your differences in tho interim." News comes from Sau Francisco of a motor cycling accident near San Jose, California, liy which an ex-Auel;lander, Mr. George K. Hammon, lost his life. It would appear that he was either trying to race a train for a level crossing, or was unaware that the road crossed the railroad, but he was struck by a Southern Pacific, train at full speed ou the crossing after having cycled parallel with it for some distance, and was killed instantly. Three New South- Wales Parliamentarians, members of tho Totalisator Commission, now visiting Wellington, are to deliver addresses at the Opera House on Sunday evening on tho subject of "Labour in Australian Politics." The principal speaker will bo Mr. Henry Peters, M.I/lA., Addresses are also to bo delivered by the Hon. Jas. Wilson, M.L.A., and by Atr. Kobt. Hollis, M.L.A. This week's Gazette publishes two notices of intention on the part of unions to cancel their registration under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. ' The unions in question are tho Wellington section of tho Australasian Federated Seamen's Union and the Dunedin Waterside Workers' Union. A sitting of the Conciliation Council will be held on January 30, to decide a dispute between the Auckland Waterside Workers' Union and the employers. The shipowners and stevedores have filed claims for n new award, the old award having expired on December 31, 1911. The claims contain no reference to any preference clauses. The employers ask that all labour shall in the first instance 1» engaged alongside the vessel requiring such labour, and that subsequent labour shall be engaged in the union waitingroom, provided that men are there and willing to accept employment. Another alteration is in regard to the hours of overtime. Ordinary working hours are to be between 7.30 a.m. and five p.m. from Mondays to Fridays, and between 7.30 a.m. and noon on Saturdays. Otherwise, there is little difference from the terms of the old award. It is stated that the union's application for the cancellation of its registration uudcr tho Act is not in order. ' At the next meeting of the Wellington Harbour Board, to be held next Wednesday evening, the list of payers of dues on ships and payers of dues other than on ships will bo reviewed for adoption. The same evening the general consolidated by-laws, as printed, will come up for adoption. After that business is concluded, a special summoned meeting of the board will bo held. This week's Gazette announces that Lots 43, U, 45, 50, 60, and Gl in Wadestown have been acquired under tho Public Works Act for tramway purposes. The Gazette proclaims that vouchers for the payment of salaries and allowances, except, those of the Post and Telegraph Department, shall not bo included in any requisition prepared in accordance with Section 52 of the Public l{ovcnues Act until and unless they bavo first been submitted to and passed bilbo Audit Office. Nciy regulations under tho Public Service Classification and Superannuation Act, 190S, are published in this week's Gazette. Tho text of an extradition treaty made by Great Britain with Siam appears in the current Gazette. The annual distribution of Government subsidies to public libraries will take place on February 3. Applications for consideration must be received by Hie Education Department on or before January 27. The contract for cast-iron columns for the roof of tho new high-level reservoir at Bell Road. Brooklyn, has been let to Messrs. W. Cable and Co., Ltd., at .t7III Ss. The unsuccessful tenderers were Messrs. J). Pobcrlsou and Co., .1;7,'!0; and Messrs- Noilson, Murray and Frederick, JCT26 ss. A meeting of the officers of the Fifth Regiment, N./-.1. (Wellington) was held ] at the Garrison Hall last evening for the purpose of discussing various questions regarding training. It *.a.-' decided, liiioug other things, to hold parades weekly instead of fortaicuily.