LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1388, 14 March 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tho postal authorities advise that the s.s. Moldavia, which loft Sydney at -I p.m. on -March 11, for Auckland, has on board an Australian mail. The We'-linpton portion is duo to arrive here by Jlaiu Trunk on Saturday next. From Dr. Henry Coward, conductor of the Sheffield Choir, who visited Wellington last winter, comes the following letter of appreciation to the Acting-Mayor (Mr. John Smith):—"This letter of thanks is long overdue, but the delay has not dulled tho keen edge, of my heartfelt gratitude for all the kindness, warmth, and courtesy shown to the Sheffield Choir on our visit to Wellington. AVords fail me to express all tho appreciation I feel for all your goodness. 1 can only say that in lectures, speeches, ami writings, we arts spreading the fame of your beautiful country and praising your warmhearted hospitable people to tho utmost. May I ask for tho honour of your acceptance of tho enclosed photo as a. memento of my freely acknowledged obligation and gratitude for all the favours received at your hands? 'With renewed thanks and warmest regards, believe me, yours sincerely.—(Sgd.) Henry Coward." Mr.. Smith regards the letter as a tribute to Wellington and tho photograph as a municipal souvenir. It will be hung among others in the Mayor's room. . A meeting of the Executive Council, held yesterday, was attended by his Excellency the Governor, Sir Jas. Carroll, the Hon. E. M'Kenzie, and the Hon. D. Duddo. Only routine Departmental matters were dealt with. . Friday next is the last dny upon which appeals against the provisional classification scheme of the Civil Service, as drawn up by the Classification Board, will bo received. Many public servants aro dissatisfied with the provisional scheme, and large numbers of appeals are being sent in. The Civil Service Association is communicating with tho Prime Minister emphasising tho defects of the scheme, and suggesting that appeals, instead of being sent to the board which drew up the scheme to which so much exception is taken, should bo heard by a separate Appeal Board, specially constituted for the purpose. It is pointed out that separate Appeal Boards have been established in connection with the Railway Department and Post and Telegraph Department, which have already been classified. A petition in bankruptcy has been filed by Peter Thompson, of 'the- firm of P. Thompson and Son, boot and shoo manufacturers. A meeting of creditors in the estate will be held on March 20. Some time ago a dispute arose between tho Karori Borough Council and the Makara County Couucil in regard t.» the upkeep of certain borough roads whnh are used frequently by county ratepayers. Tho borough claimed that tho Makara County should bear part cost of maintaining these roads. Counsel for the parties were heard upon the disjjntc by Mr. W. S. Shortt (Assistant Lnder-Secretary for Public Works), in the capacity of commissioner. The sitting was eventually adjourned in order that the parties might come, if possible, to an amicable agreement. Their solicitors have now drawn up a basis of settlement, under which the Makara County Council will pay annually to the Karori Borough Council the sum r i .£25 as a contribution towards tho upkeep of the South Karori Road, Makara Road, and Parkvale Eoad. Tha annual conference of the New Zealand Ironmasters' Association will be held in Christchurch on March 26. A loan of .£1,000,000 by the Commonwealth Government to the State of Queensland has been negotiated. The loan is for twelve months at !){ per cent, interest. Of the total amount, .£750,000 is to be paid in London, and J;250,000 in' Melbourne. The Commonwealth is advancing the money out of the. trust funds, the note money being fully invesled. Tho Commonwealth has now lent .€5,130.000 to the States as follow:—Now South Wales, ,£2,000.000; Victoria, .£980,000; Queensland, ill.OOO.OOO; Western Australia, Tasmania, J?500,00O. "A decaying city" was the description recently applied to Ballurftt by the Victorian 'Minister of Education last week (says the Melbourne "Age"). Mr. Bilhon subsequently received from the city clerk of Ballarat a long letter written to convince the Minister that he was wrong. Mr. Williams admitted that Ballarat was experiencing a temporary mining depression and had lost its foundry and ik harvester work-f, but -aid that other industries were being built up, and Jlallnrnt remained "the mo<t hi.-turic, tin; inoM beautiful, and the most popiilnvis inland centre in the Commonwealth." No othr-r State had an inland city comparable with Hiilliirnt, anil it was prosperous i|t'>pik> "nillilrss' Government intcrforpnoo with it> industries." Mr. Wilson, iu vqily. In explain that he was in rntlmr a jocular frame if mind when he made the remark to n deputation, and that no. Hiii.iF ,V!,? (v'li'r ffoßi hi* iniii'l ili-iii to d" (iiiv injury to tho "famoui city of. Bal. lawU

A cable menage from Vancouver to tho Melbourne ■'Age." of March (i, states that nfliciiil piTim."imi has been given for ;i 11>111- of Australia and Ni'vv Zealand by a representative. wirn< of li Canadian hoys. They will leave in July and be'absent about five months. A innii who was "wanted" in Wellington on live eharios of theft has been arrested in Wansianiii, and brought back to the city. Me ivill be charged at the Magistrate's Court: til's morning. "The Commonwealth being situated so near the Chinese Kcpublic," remarkcj .Mr. James Chtiev, in the course of n speech at a μ^lherin.','of (.'hini'Sß and their European friends >n Sydney, "tins tremendous po«ibililies of trade'in the future can easily be foreseen by the iiearrsMghted person. A. wise Coiniiioiiweallli Government; wil , no doubt, consider expense as a secondly iiiatlvT to tho capture- of that trade, but how vorv much, easier will such lio made by the' education, in your universities of" some of our brightest Chinese intellects, who, upon return to their native lnn.l, after their course of study is completed, will spenlc lirst-hand ot the grandeur and greatness of Australia. Such a policy of education has for a long time been availed of by every European Mate, and tlie United States of America, but with great limitations, at the instance of the Manchii reign. I trust most earnestly that Australia will not miss her chance." The Wellington coal workers spent the day picnicking at Day's Bay yesterday. Tlieir wives ani children were present in largo numbers, thus adding to the gaiety of the outing. The children were treated and aimi-nl as is customary at such gatherings. They returned to town by the seven o'clock' boat, having passed a very pleasant day.