LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1415, 16 April 1912, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The mails which left Wellington on March 8, per the s.s. Maunganui, and connected at Sydney with the Hrindisi mails per the s.s. Marmora, arrived in London on April 12.

If in New Zealand somo portion of that stream of money which floats into pure gambling were diverted to somo such investment as the City of Paris premium bonds, it would, according to Sir John Findlay, be i'ar Iwtter for the country. This opinion ho expressed yesterday during the argument of a caso before tho Full Court. Sir John remarked that £•2,000,000 was invested on the totalisator, and probably twico this amount, he said, went through tho hands of the bookmakers. In answer to counsel's remark that speculators on the totalisator lost 10 Ser cent, of their money, u member of the each said it was not lost if it went to general revenue. "Only a small portion of it goes to tho Government," replied Sir John l'indlay, ''the greater part is taken by tho racing clubs. Wo get ,£50.000 a year from the totalisalor, and nothing from tho bookmaker except his incomo tax." "Yon don't get income tax from the bookmaker," said Mr. Justice Edward?. "Basod on his pievious year's estimate, 1 suppose," interposed Mr. Justice Cooper. "I have- seen tho books of one large firm of bookmakers, and would readily exchange my income for theirs," added Sir John Findlay, and followed with his remark anent tho diverting of the money devoted purely to gambling.

Regarding tho movements of the worships on the Australasian Squadron, the Wellington Branch of tho Navy League has received the following information:— H.M.S. Drako is to remain in Sydney; 11.M.5. Encounter, at present in Wellington, will visit Napier, Gisborne, and Waiwera before arriving in Auckland on April 27; H.M.S. Challenger, at present in Hobart, is to return to Sydney by April 13; H.M.S. Cambrian's future nioroments will be in China waters; 11.M.5. Prometheus is undergoing repairs at HongKong, and will remain there until Juno 1; H.M.S. Pioneer is at present in Lyttelton, and is to bo at Auckland by tho end of April; H.M.S. Psycho is in Sydney; and H.M.S. Pegasus is to bo temporarily in China waters. Those desirous of making application for enrolment in the naval scrvico should noto that all applications are to bo addressed to: "The Commander, H.M. DriUship Pioneer."

The quarterly meeting of the Railways Superannuation Fund Board was held yesterday morning. Mr. Puttick, tho new-ly-olectca representative of tho second division (who replaces Mr. W. A. Vcitch, M.P.), look his scat for the first time. Retiring allowances amounting to an annual charge of ,£2247 7s. 7d. wero granted. Allowances totalling .£lßl a year wcro granted to five widows and seven children. Refunds of contributions amounting to £2371 i (is. 7d. were granted to contributors who had retired from tho service before coming on tho fund. It was reported that there is an amount of .£230,000 standing to tho credit of the fund.

The prospects for the forthcoming shooting season, which opens on May 1 in tho Auckland province, aro of tho brightest (writes our correspondent), mid abundance of game is reported from all parts of tho country. In fact, pheasants and quail are proving somewhat of a nuisance in various districts. Owing to the wholesale slaughter indulged in in previous seasons by so-called sportsmen, the Acclimatisation Society lias secured tho gazetting of a regulation, which limits tho number of-native birds to twenty-five per gun per day.

In the opinion of those- best qualified to judge, tho new Dominion Museum when erected will have the finest collection of Maori specimens in tho world. It will of course, include tho magnificent collection niado by the late Sir Walter Bullcr and presented to New Zealand last year by Ins son, Mr. Leo Buller, on condition that, a suitable building was provided to house it. Writing from England to Mr. A. Hamilton, Director of tho Museum, Mr. Bullcr says ho has visited Maori collections at tho Museum and elsewhere, and ho thinks that the one which will be exhibited in tho projected museum hero (comprising tho gift above mentioned) will compare very favourably with any known collection of tho kind. He adds that lie is sending out further contributions, and expresses a hopo that it will not bo long before the building is ready. The conference- of tho Young Maori party sitting at Auckland has passed tho following resolution, with cheers;—" That this conference expresses its pleasure that there have been ho cases of Maoris objecting to discharge their duties as citizens under tho Defence- Act."

Tho control of Lako Takapuna( near Auckland), from which the boroughs on the north shore of the Waitenuta- Harbour obtain their water supply, has become a. burning question. The Mayor of Dovonport (Mr. W. Handle}-) when in Wellington recently interviewed tho Lands Department officials on the subject. As an outcome of his representations a conferenco will be held at nn early dato between tho four local bodies concerned, viz., Devonport Borough Council, Wai-(enra-ta Comity Council,. Northcote Borough Council, and Birkenhead Borough Council. Tlie Auckland Commissioner of Crown Lands will call the meeting. The Devonport Council, in view of its preponderating interests, is asking for two votes.