LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1430, 3 May 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities adviss that "the Jlaheno, which sailed from Sydney for Auckland at noon on May 1, has on board an English and Australian mail. The Wellington portion is due to arrive here per Main Trunk express on Monday next.

The secretary of the Post Office Department has received information from the Union Steam Ship Company intimating that, owing to mail matter having been senfi to Vancouver, instead of to San Francisco, the Manuka, with tho English and American mails, cannot be dispatched from San Francisco before Thursday evening.

The lUf.S. Manuka sailed from San Francsico for 'Wellington yesterday with English and American mails.

Miramar and Seatoun have not in tlio past been in a happy position with regard to telephone communication with the city, but now there arc prospects of a better service. Tho Post and Telegraph Department has asked the council if space can be provided in the tram waiting-shed for a Jd.-in-the-slot telephone, and the couucil has decided to oner the Department every facility for tho erection of such telephones at Seatoun, Karaka Bay, and Jliramar.

At a-meeting of the committee of the Early Settlers' and Historical Association held last night a number of interesting letters were received from several early pioneers, and, as a result, the following were electcd honorary members: Jlr. Grimstone, of Waitara, whose parents arrived with Captnin Hobson, Dr. Boor, of Nelson, a well-known pioneer surgeon, Miss A. N. Heaphv, a daughter of Major Heaph.v, and Mr, Hunt, a sou of one of the oldest living pioners. It was decided to curry out a vigorous canvass for members, and, as soon as the iiiemborship is assured, to arrange for a social re-union. The Mayor (Mr. D. M'Laren) took occasion last evening to apologise for a mistake that he had made at tho installation ceremony on Wednesday evening, in omitting to "acknowledge the services of the council officers and staff. He considered that very able services were rendered to the council by the present officers and the various staffs. Councillor J. Trevor stated, at the meeting of the City Council last evening that at Hit- pii'Vious Hireling In- had imuivertoully spnlcen nnc way and vu'ed another upuii .the motion dealing with l!ie ieasiug ol a lighting area to A. S. l'aterson and Co. A petition is iD circulation pmyiuz that t-Uo Government shall not abolish tlie Is Axo railway lino iuwl dlatiou.

When B.M.S. Runhiue, which arrived yesterday from London, was approaching lleachy Head, en route- to Plymouth, her passengers were afforded a somewhat unusual sight. A largo P. and O. mail steamer was observed in a sinking condition, and Hying signals of distress. Upon getting closer to the .-inking vessel, it proved to-be the E.M.S. Oceana, outward bound for Bombay. .She had been in collision with the German sailing .ship I'isagua Tiie Oceana's passengers wore thou being transhipped to one of the Newhaven and Dieppe cross-Channel steamers, and two other vessels were also standing by. After standing by for nearly an hour, the lluahine continued 011 her voyage to Plymouth.

Unusual promptness lias been shown by the artists who intend to show their pictures at the animal exhibition of the Auckland Society of Arts. Wednesday ami yesterday (telegraphs our special correspondent) were fixed i'o1 1 the receipt of pictures, and whereas as a rule most of the exhibits are sent in at the eleventh, or at least the tenth, hour, tho secretary was 011 this occasion surprised to find himself overwhelmed with attentions on the first day. Between 250 and 300 canvases came to hand, and it. is expc-cted that altogether about 500 pictures will be submitted to the Hanging Committee, which had last year to deal with a littlo over 400. Possibly 80 t or 90 pictures will fail to pass tho qualifying scrutiny, so that the display of pictures will prouabi.v be a very fine one, in quantity at all events.

The Anglican Boys' Rescue Home, which is being opened io-inorrow at the Lower Hutt by the Bishop of Wellington, will mefet a long-felt want (writes a correspondent) in providing a means of rescuing boys from evil surroundings. Anyone knowing AVellington intimately knows the necessity of such a homo. 'The idea emanated from Mr. W. H. Walton, and through his endeavours a committee was formed to further the scheme. They have leased a property at Lower Hutt, and appointed a manager. Applications for admittance have already been received. It is hoped tho churcn people of Wellington will heartily support the endeavour.

A plea for quiet Sundays was made by Archbishop Wright, of Sydney, last week. He said: "Why is it that I deprecate motoring Sundays, tennis Sundays, and dinner party Sundays? It is no unthinking, unsympathetic Puritanism that does not want people to enjoy themselves. I grudge you no harmless enjoyment, taken in the right way, remembering that you have souls, and so have others. But fdo not want you to cheat yourselves. The quiet Sunday is the one great antidote to the v.orld's chatter that so often makes us deaf- to the truth."

'lijie construction of the foundation walls of part of the new Parliamentary Building" is being pushed on with the intention of finishing this preliminary work before the meeting of Parliament at the end of June. It is expected that work will be suspended during the session. Meanwhile the- working drawings for the building are being completed as rapidly as possible by 0 staff of several draughtsmen ill the Public Works Department. The design is that by Mr. John Campbell, Government Architect, which was awarded tho first prize in the competition, modified by tho introduction of some features of his fourth-prize design, and it is stated that apart from this there have beei 110 alterations in the plans, and that all tho features are decided upon. .

At the sitting of tho South Island Bailway Appeal Board in Christchurch on Wednesday, Mr. W. it. Haselden, S.M., chairman, said his attention had been drawn to a statement appearing in the ".Railway Review," to iho effect that he and his colleaguos did not sufficiently consult together beforo arriving at their decision. He had spoken to his colleagues, Messrs. Gray, Gaines, and Jones, on this matter, and they were all unanimous in saying that there was no foundation for the statement. Every decision arrived at was the subject of earnest, consultation, and where in a few cases they had been compelled to differ, they did so with regret and with mutual respect and confidence in one asiothcr. Messrs. Gray and Gaines, who were sitting with Mr. Haselden 011 tho board, signified their agreement with the above remarks.

In order to allow the largest type of locomotivo to run through from the Main Trunk line to Palmerston North, the old verandah portion of the- Palmerston North railway station is being reduced llin. in width. Tho Feilding station will be treated in the same way, end the big "Xi" ciass of mountain-climbers which at present do tho 90-mile run between Taumarunui and Taihape will then be able to come right through to Palmerston North.

A list of successful tenders for tho supply of screened coal, amounting to 200,000 tons, js gazetted.

It is notified in tho fiazfctto that the Hawera United Friendly Societies'. dispensary is registered as a friendly society under 'the Friendly Societies Act, 1909.