LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1350, 30 January 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It_ is anticipated that a meeting of Cabinet will be hold to-day, but as only three Ministers are in town, and tho Prime Minister will not return in time to attend, it is likely that only routine business will bo transacted.

At a meeting of the Wellington Operative Bootmakers' Union, held last evening, an address was delivered by Mr. J. Doyle, a_ representative of the ironworkers at Lithgow, New South Wales, who had been on strike for somo months past. Mr. Do.vlo is touring Now Zealand with a view to obtaining financial assistance for the strikers. Two months ago the Bootmakers' Union donatod .to to the Lithgow ironworkers and a special meeting of the union is to be held on Monday evening next, when a proposal to further assist the strikers will be considered.

Tho training dates for garrison artillery divisions at the defended ports are now being arranged. That at Lyttolton will be held from February 5 to 11; Auckland, March 23-29; Dunedin at Eastor. The Wellington Artillery division camp will bo held fonio time in February, but tho cxact data has not yet been fixed.

Work on tho northern end of the Strat-ford-Mnin Trunk railway is at present proceeding from Te Koura with a limited number of men. All tho labour obtainable is being put ou, and it. is expected that 200 or 300 men will shortly be employed there. Tho present camp is about half-way between Te Koura and Taringamutu stations.

A detachment of the Royal Xew Zealand Artillery will entrain for Oringi (near Dannevirke). on Thursday, with two 15-pounder field guns and 35 horses lo prepare tho camp for the Territorial field artillery units who aro to go into trmlntf from I'obrwuj ID lill l'cbniajy 18.

So far this season limited shipments of grapes have been received in Wellington from Sydney, and a.s the season advances it is probable that the bulk of shipments will increase. It is yet too early lor tho South Australian vintage. This may bo expected in about threo weeks from now. Tho importation of grapes from that Stnte has never returned any profit to tho shippers, but »i further experiment will bo made this season in tho hope that prices mav improve. Tho bcist imported grapes we "get are from South Australia, but whou retailers here rero in a. position to soil them at Cd. per lb. it is a poor lookout for the Adelaide shipper.

Harsh words are sometimes used anent the local telephone system, but periodically also verbal bouquets wo thrown <it the sen-ice. Mr. ]■'. J. Shelloii, London representative of the New Zealand Producers' Association, after several months experience of the London telephone system, considers it a real joy to ho ablo to use decent New Zealand telephones again. The London cysteine, ho says, are atrociouslv bad, and not to be compared to Wellington for efficiency. Beforo Mr. SJielton left London arrangements had been made for reform in the system there, and the improvement was to take clfect as from tho beginning of the year.

"It is quite impossible to travel in this country at Easter time with any degree of oomfort. Tho trains are insufficient both in len"th and in number."—Thus Professor J. D. Brown at tho University Senate yesterday. There was a proposal beforo the Senate to hold a professorial conference at Easter, and he advanced the above a c an argument against. The Senate did" not discuss the Easter dates further.

A small child had a narrow escape from drowning at Rona Bay last week. A lady who was fishing near tho wharf saw what she at once decided wa£ a child's head just above the water. She gave the alarm at once, and a youth named O'Sullivan, who wais near by, at once plunged in and pulled the youngster out—just in time. The rescuer, who is the son of Major O'Sullivan, Director of Military Stores, deserves credit for his prompt act.

Tho annual meeting of the Wellington Letterpress Printers' Machinists' Union was held in the Trades Hall on Saturday, when there was a good attendance. Tho report and balance-sheet were adopted, and the officers commended for their goodmanagement, all the officers being re-elect-ed, excepting three board members, two of'whom retired in favour of two lithographic members. Messrs. A. J. Walsh and J. Irwin (litho.) wcro elected, Mr. B. Durnett representing the letterpress printers. The ballot taken on the question of alteration of tho title of tho union, etc., in order to allow lithographers to become members, was carried, nof a vota bijing recorded against the proposal. Tho board was instructed to further the schemes to bring_ together allied trades as much as possible, Mr. J. O'Connor being recommended to the federation executive for the position of conductor to take the case for a Dominion award. Mr. T. A. Flynn (litho.) was appointed as assessor. A hearty vote of (hanks was accorded the president, Mr. E. M'Leary, who responded.

A threo days' staff tour for officers will commence at P.ickakariki to-day, when problems in field, work will be studied, military situations appreciated, operation orders for attack and defence situations written, and reconnaissances practised. Tho work done will Iks largely of a technical nature, an<! tho tour will embrace the country between Wellington and Waikanae. Altogether. 47 officers will attend the tour, which will be supervised by the General Staff at headquarters. Twenty draught horses and H riding animals will be hired at Dannevirko.