LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1396, 23 March 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

•» On leaving (life wharf last evening tho Union Steam Shi]) Company's steamer Warrimoo looked more like a ferry bout that was venturing on a trip of a few hours than :i steamer setting out on a four days' ocean uiyago lo Sydney. .Her passengers thickly Lined the main deck, Ihe restricted promenade or boat deck, and even clung: to (lie rigging in order lo see and wave a glad hand to the hundreds of friends on the wharf. Anion}; the passengers were many New Zealanders bound to London, who aro to connect with tho Otranio or Ma!o,ia at Sydney. Among those proceeding risrht through were tho members of tho Tllhel Irving Company, who had a host of friends to wish them adieu. They will connect at Sydney with the Otranto, by which vessel strangely enough the 11. 1!. Irving Company will prcieed to London from Australia. The tender of Messrs. Wright, Dixon, and Witt, of Wellington, lias been accepted for the supply of waterproof coats and capes for the police force. Their price is. £2 Is. lid. lor ji cant and caps for a foot policeman, and £2 ss. fld. in the ease- of a mounted man.

A donation of .£i 2s. has been made to the Wellington Fire Brigade's recreation fond by Messrs. W. V. Shortt. Ltd., in recognition of its smart work in attending tho call to the fir« at Khortt's Piclure Theatre on Thursday evening.

Willi regard to the appeal rase of the Merchants'_ Service Guild v. Inspector Lo Oron it is understood (lint the Arbitration Court offered to hear the appeal either on Thursday afternoon or Friday afternoon, but counsel were not ready to S« on with (ho case. It will have to stiinil over, therefore, until the next fitting of the Court.

The newly-formed Institute of Local Government Kngineers concluded its deliberations yesterday, when tlu by-laws wore fully considered and adopted. At the conclusion of the conference the council held a meeting to nrrango routine matters of business. Last evening the institule entertained the executive of the Institute of Marino Engineers in the Hotel Windsor, Mr. Jickell, president of the new institute, occupying the chair. After the usual loyal toast, the chairman proposed "The Institute of Marine Ihigineers," which- was responded to by Mr. ■!. Cable (president) and Mr. "Wallace (secretary). "The Institute of Local Government Engineers" was proposed by Mr. Cable, and responded to by Messrs. Jiekeli and HouMthwnite.- "The Ladies" were honoured by Mr. lioach (of Petone), and Mr. Thompson (of Westport), toasted the

"Press." Mr. Wallace (secretary of the Marine Engineers' Instituto) is to act as local secretary for the newly-formed body.

A report of the speeches at the luncheon tendered by the "Libera!" party to Sir Joseph Ward will be found on page 9 of this issue.

By the Shaw, Pavill TLM.S. Atlienic, duo at Wellington from London tin's evening. 177 assisted passengers are coming to Xew Zealand. Kelalions in the Dominion have nominated 01 adults and 55 children. The High Commissioner approved of 5S passe-ngers, and 30 married women art* coming to rejoin their husbands. There aro G5 domestics on board the Athenic.

An afternoon "gift tea" was held in the Y.M.C.A. Rooms yesterday by Mesdames Fossette, Lowe, and W. H. Bennett, with a view to collecting goods for a "plain stall" at the sale of work which is to bo held on July 3 -and i in tho Y.M.C.A. Dooms,, in aid of tho ladies' auxiliary. There was a fair attendance at yesterday's function, and the guests brought along a collection of useful articles for disposal at the sale of work. Items in a musical progiamnio were contributed by Mrs. and Miss Lewis, Miss Hilda Bennett, Mrs. Waterhouse, and Miss Lily Thompson. The cnucessful competitor in e. musical competition was Miss Macaulay.