LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1370, 22 February 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

In our issue of yesterday we announced (he death of Mr. A. K. Barclay, formerly M.P. for Dunedin North; a'ud one conrequence was tho adjournment of Parliament for the afternoon. The Prime Minister read a telegram in the House last night contradicting tho statement that Mr. Barclay was deceased. While regretting the publication of our paragraph, we are glad to know it was incorrect; Our authority was an announcement, presumably official, from thp Public Trustee's Olfice, published in the "Mercantile Gazette."

In respect to the proposal to hold a carnival week in Wellington in October coincidental with the Wellington Racing Club's spring, meeting and tho competitions, Mr. R. F. Alien, secretary of the Wellington Industrial Association, has circularised manufacturers, asking them if. they would be prepared to arrange with shopkeepers to. display only goods of local manufacture in their windows during the week in question, and so add interest to the time for those who are likely to visit tho city. The circular states that vocal and musical competitions are likely to induce some 2000 people to visit Wellington.

A juror called at tho Christchurch Supreme Court on Mo'nday, and asked to be excused on the ground that lie was hard of- hearing. "How hard of hearing are you?" asked his Honour. "Thank you," said'the man, and left the Court. He was excused.

An unexpected bouquet from "Tho Voice of Labour," thu official organ of the Labour party:—"Tin-: Dominion is far and away the best edited, best written, brightest, and most virile ilaily paper in New Zealand. This does not mean that the "Voice" agrees with Thf, Dominion's political policy. But tho 'Voice' agrees that The Dominion is a live wire for the party it stands for, and it'would be more to die point if Hie Liberal press, instead of eternally shrieking about 'unfair tactics,' switched a little more current into its own editorial brain. The average Liberal paper is as heavy as dough and as dull as ditchwater; in fact, as d«ad and dull as Liberalism itself."

The fact that domestic, servants will, on and after March 1 next, share with other workers in the benefits of tho Workers' Compensation Act as amended last session, does not app'nr to have led employers of this class of labour to insure themselves against the new risk (o any great extent (says the Auckland

"Horald"). Owing to the incrrajed compensation clauses contained in tho amendment to the Act the underwriters have raised their' charges by 12V per cent, as from the date mentioned. This increase will apply equally to new and to current policies. Notification to this effect has bern forwarded to tho various employers of workers by the insurance companies.

Discussing tho increase in the cost of living with an Auckland "Jlerald" reporter, the 'propriclfir of one of the largest boardinglumses in Auckland declared that the increase, as far as he was rnnrmifd, is gptli!i!» io be very serious. Meat, bread, milk, butter, preserves, and, in fact, every household commodity has gnnS up enormously in price. lie added that, apparently, there is no prospect of the prices becoming lower, and that, as a natural sequence, it was extremely likely that boardinshmiw-keepers would shortly have to raise their rates.

The Acting-Mayor (Mr. John Smith) .invites citizens to observe a. half-holiday ■"o-morrow on the occasion of the Auck-land-Wellington cricket match.

Considerable damage was clone to some of the native bush at Day's Bay yesterday by an outbreak of a fire in some dry scrub, where the employees of the "state were burning off some of the timb«r Sonic acres were destroyed, and also a wharo in tho neighbourhood of the outbreak.

Kt the Christchurcb Supreme Court on Tuesday, Ethel Dudley applied for a divorce .from Charles H. Dudley, on the ground of desertion. The petitioner stated that, tho parties were married in AVcllington on May 11, 1903. Her husband was then a clerk in the.Bank of New South Wales in St. Hathan's, in Otngo. Hβ was not receiving the J!200 a year required by the bank's regulations. On the day after the marriage petitioner returned* to Christchurch, and her husband to Otago. On the following December petitioner joined her husband in Dunedin, and they vfeitt into lodgings. They stayed in Dunedin till June, and then the bank, finding out tlie marriage, and respond ent's breach of tho regulations, dismissed him from its service. Tha parties then went to live at Sunmer. On September 23, for certain reasons, petitioner left respondent. She went to live nt her father's house, and had since supported herself. She had had no support whatever from her husband. Charles Sadler Gill ga.v« evidence as to seeing Dudley on one occasion in a state of frenzy covering his wife with a loaded revolver. wife was in a state of terror. Wituess secured the weapon after a struggle with respondent. A decree nisi, with leave to make absolute in three -months, was granted. A very successful house picnic of the employees of Messrs. Alcock and Co., Ltd., was held at Belmont on Saturday. The arrangements were in the hands of fl verv strong committee, and proved very complete. The result of the events are as follow:—Alcock 100 yds. handicap: W. Hoare, 1; A. I'ellows, 2. Egg-and-spoon race: Mrs. Money. Putting the shot: D. M'Millan, 1; S. Gribble, 2. Ladies' 50yds. race: Mrs. M'Millan, ]; Miss Morrison, 2. Nail-driving competition: Mrs. Phillips, 1; Mrs. Cade, 2. Hopping race: N. Fools. Cigarette and tie race: Miss E Smith. .UOvds. handicap: E. Greenwood, 1; H.. Caldwell, 2. Throad-the-needle race: Mrs. Wishart, 1; Mrs. Mason. 2. Three-legged race: Messrs. Barnes and Phillips. Boot and slocking race: Miss Hoaro. lj Miss Mead, 2. Consolation race: Fairweathcr, 1; Cade, 2; Morton, .1. Truth handicap: 11. Wilkins. Guessing competition: J. Elford. •U the rale of £3 per week, which the Public Tru-tee is now paying, Mrs. Uepple- ami family for whom public subscriptions were collected some little limn ago will be provided for for about 20 years. Tho Roman Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne (Dr. Can , ), nt the blessing of St. Stanislaus' Church, Melbourne, strongly denounced the practice of mixed balhiii" at picsent being indulged in on the beaches adjacent to Melbourne. He said lie regarded the system of mixed bathing'as an abomination. (Applause.) He 'regarded it: ns. showing a contempt for women, and for the veil of modesty which A-a< the great protection of tho gentler sex. Ho considered if hud a brutalizing effect on men, and when they read in the papers of van. crowds found bathing along Ihe South Melbourne bench, not only until 9, 10, and 12 p.m., but until S a.m.,"it. would be realised that it would eventually lead to the destruction of modesty, the lowering of the tone of morality, find would result probably in the downfall of the girls who otherwise would have been innocent. The remarks of Dr. t'nrr were received with loud applause.

On February 28, Messrs. -Tames Mnelntosh niul Co. will hold a slock sale at Waipoua saleyards. Particulars will be found on another page of tin's issue. "Hnvu von 'Love, Letter.; of Wi.so M'.nr'" Pin , asked tiinittly. "N'o, r.ii=>," rcspondi'd tin' clerk in tfic l/oiilc department". "Ami whv nuty" •'lionise wise lut'ii uuvor nnWifili luoir love loiters."