LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1413, 13 April 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities adviso that the p.s. Victoria, which loft Sydney at 7 p.m. on -April 10 for Auckland, has on board on .Australian mail. Tho AVellington portion is <lno to arrive here by Alain Trunk train on .Monday next".

The .Minister for Labour (tho lion. 0. Lanren-onj received yeslerdav afternoon «_ deputation from tho Shearers' Union Conference asking that provision bo made —by legislation, if necessary—so that all workers in ,tlie pastoral industry imiv bo embraced by the Shearers' Union. 'Air. Laurenson said lie would bn very glad lo look into (ho matter. 'Hip deputation consisted ol Ale-<rs. A. J. I\iji<j (president), jr. AT. Jlall. J. Cooper, W. Johnston, and L. .T. Alee.

"These people should not be rung up any more than anybody else," said Dr. Al Arthur, S.AI., in the Alagistrate's Court yesterday, when a Crown proseeun'l u ', ls 0,1 » nnd lie was informed that whoever represented the Crown was not present, but that tho C'rown Law Oliice had been communicated with by leleplione. Shortly afterwards a JJefenco Act ease was called, and it was stated that Colonel Robin had not yet arrived. Colonel liobin ought to lw hero as well as anybody else," was liis Worship's comment.

J he voting at elections," said Air. W. 11. Hamilton at the Labour Party Conference yesterday, "is very often merely an attempt to 'piel: the winner.'" ''You

cynic," interjected another delegate. Air. Hampton stuck to his point. They should get tho name "Unity" into prominence, ho said, and get the man in the street to believe that the Labour man liad a chance- That was tho way to get votes.

In yesterday's Dominion it'was noted that the Hospital Board intends to erect in the general hospital grounds a new building for the treatment of out-patients. The present wooden building where the out-patients are attended to is situated near the old main entrance to the hospital grounds, remote from the hospital proper, and a good deal of in convenience has been caused thereby. There are nianv wlio require the use of the X-rays ap'paratus, which is located ill the western ■vying of the general hospital building. Consequently a good deal of inconvenience is caused both to the patient and staff. The proposed out-patients' building will bo located between tho western wing of the main hospital and the Carrara Company's works. There is a section of land there about lOUi't. squaro, part of which is occupied by three wooden cottages (up till the present used by somo of the stall'). These are jo be demolished, and a brick building will bo erected the ground lloor of which will be on a level with the hospital. Jt is proposed that the spaco below, caused by .the slopo strcetwards of tho land, will be used as a bulk store. Some surprise was occasioned last evening when tho Union Company's intercolonial steamer Alaunganui (which left Wellington for Sydney at G. 15) was seen returning to port. Speculation ran high as to what was the cause of this untoward happening. When she berthed at the Queen's Wharf at 7.55, a lady, who appeared to be much distressed, was seen to land, and then tho gangway was hauled up and the Alaunganui again commenced her journey to Sydney ten minutes after arrival. It appears'that, early in tho afternoon, the lady in question hail gone on board the Afaungannii, supposing that she was on board the Alaori bound for Lyttelton. It was not until the former vessel was well out in Cook Strait that tho distressed lady discovered her mistake—or rather it was discovered for her. The Alaori w'as a few minutes later than usual leaving the wharf, but tho lady had managed to get on board. Says our Wanganui correspondent: The property of tho Wanganui "Chronicle," on the Taupo Quay, has been sold to Messrs. Archibald Clark nnd Sons, who intend building a warehouse thereon. Tho "Chroniclo" will build new four-storied premises in Campbell Place. At the Labour Party Conference yesterday, Air. E. J. Carey emphasised the fact that Messrs. W. A. Veitch, J. liobertson, and A. 11. Hindmarsh were now members, of the United Labour party, and Would work in its interests. With tho Hon. Of. Paul in tho Legislative Council, said Air. Carey, they now had Unity representation in both Houses of Parliament.

It was mentioned, at the Labour Party Conference .yesterday, that Mr. A. W. Hogg, ex-M.l'., hail somo time previously signed a pledge as member of the Masterton branch of the New Zealand Labour party.

The demands of the Taranaki carpenters for a new award are to bo 'heard at New Plymouth on Holiday next, before Mr. Harle Giles (Conciliation Commissioner). Messrs. Ivor Hazell (secretary of the Dominion executive of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners) and Ci. Blathenyick (organising secretary for tlio Wellington district) will leave Wellington for New Plymouth today, to appear as assessors on behalf of the men. Associated with them will be Mr. C. D. Arnold (New Plymouth secretary)! Mr. W. A. W. Grenfell will appear on behalf of the employers.

Although a month's time has elapsed since the new Children's Hospital was

formally declared open by bis Excellency the Governor, the building is still uninhabited. An inquiry was made yesterday as to when.it was likely that the place \vould bo ready for the purpose intended, when it was ascertained tliat the

delay is being caused by the late arrival of the Doulton "Nursery Bhyme" panels, with which the wards aro being decorated. All the furnishings aro ready, but it has been deemed inadvisable to arrange them until after all the workmen aro clear of the building, as after the panels are in

position the wards are to be given another coat of paint.

A nomau called at the Fremantle office of tlio Adelaide Steam Ship Company, states a message published in Sydney, and found out for the first timo that 'her husband was aboard the missing steamer Koombann. She admitted that she had parted from him on bad terms, but she did not know where he had gone. On the previous Thursday n/ight she had a dream, in which she pictured her husband clinging to the rigging of the boat. She swam out to his assistance, but being unsuccessful in her mission swam back again. It is a peculiar coincidence that the Koombana left Port Hedland on the "Wednesday, and according to the experiences of other craft, must have met the centre of the cyclonic disturbance on the Thursday night. A remarkable instance of credulity on the part of a country employer lias been brought to light in a letter received by a local union secretary. In November last tlio employer in question received a letter from a man whom ho proposed to employ, asking him to forward the amount of a fare. Tho employer forwarded .£3. A week later tho prospective employee telegraphed asking for an additional sum of I' 2, and stilting that ho intended to set out at once for the sc«nc of his intended labours. Tho second advance was duly forwarded, but from that day to this nothing has been heard by the too trusting employer of tho man whom ho hoped to employ. For tho benefit of country employers it may be mentioned that a number of union secretaries aro prepared to guaranteo tho bona fides of workers with whom employers have to communicate from a distance.

Thero was a sharp collision between a tramcnr and a lorry owned by Messrs. Munt and Cottrclt on Lambton Quay shortly before S n.m. yesterday. The car was descending Charlotte Street at a good rate of speed, and before it could bo pulled up it crashed into a lorry travelling along in front. The car was pretty badly smashed, but the lorry came out of the encounter scathless. At Monday's meeting of the Petone Borough Council, Councillor Wakeham will move: "That the honorarium of the Mayor bo .£1(11) per annum, with n raitway pass to 'Wollington"; and Councillor Broekelbank will move: "That the Petono Borough Council advance to the Itutt Park Committee half the sum necessary for forming ten hockey grounds. The cost to he repaid by tho ITult Park Committee out of tho'first rent for such grounds." Fifty Thousand Mail Orders were received last year by Smith and Caughey, Ltd., Auckland, from all parts of the .Dominion, customers everywhere being delighted with (he excellent value and service. Smith oiul Caughey. Ltd., pay freight or postage on nit orders for drapery, clothing, or boots to any address in the Dominion. On cash furniture orders exceeding .1.7 (seven pounds) in value, freight is paid by steamer to Wellington, or to any railway station north of Taihapc, readied direct from Auckland. A post card, addressed lo Sniilli and f'anghey, Ltd., requesting samples or catalogues will rcccivc immediate attention.-Advt