LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1367, 19 February 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The steamer Victoria, from Sydney, with Australian mails on board, reached Auckland last night too late to connect with the Main Trunk express. Tho mails will reach Wellington to-morrow afternoon.

A new wing to the Home of Compassion at Island Bay is to be formally opened at 3 o'clock this afternoon by his Excellency the Governor. The 'latest addition to the well-known institution will have move than a passing interest to the Wellington public. It raises another monument to the honour of the Rev. Mother Mary Joseph Aubcrt, that indefatigiblo worker on behalf of the sick and the poor. The new wing is being called tho "Jubilee Ward," a name selected in recognition of fifty years of selfsacrificing effort in New Zealand by the Rev. Mother Aubert.

Regarding the allegation of delay in the hearing of the merchants' assistants' dispute, Mr. J. H. Salmon, associate to Mr. Justice Sim, informed a reporter on Saturday morning that the case for the opinion of the Arbitration Court in connection with the dispute was only lodged with the Clerk of Awards on Feliruary 5, 1912, and the parties will l;o heard on the subject at tho sitting of the Court to be held in Wellington next month.

The annual visit of the Mayor and city councillors to Wainui hus again been postponed. It is now proposed to make the trip on Friday next, February 23.

A special meeting of the Eastbourne Borough Council will be held at the office of the clerk (Mr. J. D. Avery) at 1 p.m. to-morrow to receive a deputation in regard to tho proposed water supply scheme.

Most of the Chinese of Wellington will observo to-day as a holiday to commemorate the establishment of a Republican Government in China. A notice placed yesterday on the shutters of a shop kept by a Chinaman reads: "This place will be closed to-morrow for holiday on account of Chinese Republic." The. Wellington Chinese—most of whom come from Hong-Kong and Canton—seem to be Republicans to a man.

In view of the fact that the Licensing Committee election is to take place on March 12, the Auckland City Prohibition League recently met to consider the advisability of contesting tho position. It was decided (says the Auckland "Herald") that the only issue worth fighting for was the question of a license to sell intoxicating liquor at the coming Exhibition. Accordingly a letter was sent to each member of tho present committee inquiring whether he would, if re-elected, vote against tho granting of a license to sell intoxicating liquors at tho Exhibition if such were applied for. Messrs. L. J. Bagnall, J. J. Holland, J. M. Mennie, and W. C. Somcrs have each' expressed their intention to refuse to grant such a license, believing the same unnecessary for such a function, and tho Prohibition Committee has decided not to oppose the candidature of theso gentlemen.

The Sydney "Sun" states that Mr. Maurice E. M'Loughlin, who was one of the competitors for tho Davis Cup at Christchurch, was robbed of nearly .£7O worth of jewellery while on his way to NewZealand in November last. The Sydney police have received information of the theft from the New Zealand police, to whom the theft was reported. There is likely to be a development in Sydney in connection with the theft; hence the word from the Dominion. Early in November, Mr. M'Loughlin, accompanied by the other members of the American lawii tennis team, left Vancouver by the Zealandia. He carried with him two presentation watches, a chain, medals presented to him from various lawn tennis clubs in the United States, and several rings. On the journey across to Honolulu and Suva the jewellery was in his possession, but when two days out (from Auckland M'Loughlin awoke one morning to find the valuables stolen. Before going to bed on the previous night he placed the articles in ono of his trunks, but the thief on board must have known the plant, and removed the jewellery while M'Loughlin ' slept. The matter was reported to the captain, and inquiries made on tho boat, but the thief could not be traced. On the arrival of the ZeaJaudia at Auckland M'Loughlin gave full particulars of the stolen properly to the police.

Colonel Baden Powell, the leader of the Boy Scout movement, has left London on a world's tour. He will visit the West Indies, America, and tho East, and, coming down through the Polynesian Islands, expects to arrive at Brisbane on May 11, when he will commence n tour of Australia and New Zealand. He will take in South Africa on his way Home. The tour is expected to occupy eight months' time. St. Hilda's Anglican Sunday School scholars held their annual picnic at Day's Bay on Saturday, in beautiful weather. Two boat loads of happy children, accompanied by their parents and friends, left this side of the harbour during the early part of the day, aud returned about 6 p.m., after having had an enjoyable outing. The official opening of the now offices for the Upper Hutt Town Board is to take place at 3 p.m. on Thursday, February 20. The Hon. B. M'Kenzie, in the absence of the member for the district, is to perform the opening ceremony. A man named Thomas Henderson, alias Busbridge, alias Fitzpatrick, was arrested yesterday by Detectives Kemp and Hammond, assisted by Constable Doyle. Ho will be charged with ten offences of alleged theft by opening postal packets. It is reported (says the Feilding "Star") that Lord Islington is to occupy "Highden," the beautiful residence of Mrs. Walter Johnston, at Awapuni, three miles from Feilding, for a term. Mrs. Johnston will shortly proceed on a trip Home.

V"ry many queer things happen, even on the public trains, of which the great world is not made aware. A Christchurch "Press" reporter was told the tale of a dara-dcvil act performed ou the south cxpre=s, perhaps a fortnight ago. Several men were in a carriage next the guard's van; and one at least of them was not absolutely sober. They discussed various topics and argued on diverse subjects. At length one of them declared that he could travel faster than the train—said he could do it on account of the "laws of gravity." Before the others were well aware of what was happening, he had climbed to the roof of Ihe carriage, and from there had commenced a race to the front of the train. He passed over Ihe roofs of seven carriages, and from above, peered down at a startled engine-driver. The train was stopped, and the. man got down, vastly at having clinched his argument. The sequel of the story is not ;o bright. At hi* nwij request, Hie hero is in rctroat at the I&Luid of Eoto-Eoa.