LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1433, 7 May 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tha postal authorities advise that the Zealnndia, which mailed from Suva at ;) p.m. on May i for Auckland, has on board English and American mails. The Wellington portion is duo to reach here per Main Trunk express on Wednesday next. The postal authorities advise that the Warriiuoo, which sailed from Sydney at noon on May -t has on board an Australian mail. She is to reach Wellington on Wednesday next. For failing So answer when theiv names were, called for the Grand Jury yesterday, Walter Goring Johnston and Win. Crieiitou were lined .I's each. An extra camp of instruction foi those of (lie Wellington infantry -egimi'iit wiio were unable to attend the Fifth's cr.mp at Trentlm.ii last Easier, will commence on May 18 next. The training year eeds on May .'il, mid this will be the iy opportunity afforded of making goodli.e ccmpnlsory camp training previously ii.ii-sed by Territorials through various causes when the first camp was held. Af'er the end of this month the posting of the various, drafts from the Senior Odets who have reached the Territorial ago will bo proceeded with, and as tho rider hds pass out into the Territorial regiments the younger ones from tho ranks of the Junior Cadets will fill their places. Mr. D. H. Guthrie, M.P., and Mr. F. Pirani, chairman of tho Wanganui Education Board, waited on the Minister for Education (Hon. J. A. Hanan) yesterday and laid before him a number of requests. They discussed the need for a new urban school at Palinerston North, tho provision of a railway pass for an instructor in drawing, the terms for the conveyance of children to school by coach, and tho long-standing dispute between the Wanganui Technical- College and the District High School. The possible extension of the provisions of the Tnranaki Scholarship Act was also discussed. Tho deputation did not press for immediate answers, and the Minister promised to go carefully into all tho questions raised nud send a reply in due course. An inquest concerning the death of Robert Stewart Mncdonald, a night>watchman in the Government Printing Office, who died in a tramcar at 8 o'clock on Saturday evening, was held yesterday. Tho inquiry was conducted by Mr. W. G. Riddell, acting-coroner. The evidence of Dr. Fyffo was that death was due to heart failure, and tho coroner found accordingly

| Nominations close on Friday next in connection with tho election of a member to Sll the vacancy on tho City Council. The supplementary roll is now being printed, and will be available shortly. No candidates other than Messrs. E. Tregear, W. J. Thompson, and A. 11. Fullford have as yet announced themselves. If tho proposed "local industries" week is to rim contemporaneously with the New Zealand Competitions Society's carnival, the dato will have to bo altered, as the society (to avoid clashing with the Oscar Asehe Company) has advanced its opening date to November 13. In the meantime Mr. 11. F. Allen, at tho request of tho society, had advised manu; factnrers that "local industries week" would commence on October 10. To show their sympathy with the objects of tho society, the Wellington Industrial Association has voted tho sum of <£5 ss, for prizes for the best essays from school children on a local industry. Tho matter had been referred to the Wellington Headmasters' Association, which body had suggested that the essays should be written in school, and supervised by the teachers. The Industrial Association liavo suggested that the essays be written in the Town Hall, and that the supervision bo left to the Competitions Society. Though nothing definito has been arranged, it is assumed that the date of "industries week" will bo put forward nearly a month. The Christchurch "own industries week," just over, was quite a 6uc-cess.

There is one picture in Wellington, not included in Mr. John Baillie's collection, that is worthy of the attention of tho Purchasing Committeo of tho New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts. This is one of Lexdon Pocock's water-colours, entitled "The Shepherd's Queen," which is being exhibited by Mr. Fletcher Johnston in Turnbull's Gallery, in Panama Street. Pocock is a water-eolourist of great skill and imagination, whose work is uniformly good, and is of a character likely to increase in value as time advances. "The Shepherd's Queen" is a pleasant picture that would grace any gallery. The subject, a pretty group of three, taking their dolce far niente, under tho branches of a spreading tree, breathes of spring. The figures are admirably drawn, and the closest analysis of tiie painting discloses finished work of excellent texture and quality, which attributes should bo most valuable to students. The Johnston collection is we'll worth inspection by lovers of choice water-col-ours.

Tho new Roman Catholic Convent on St. John's Hill, Wanganui, will bo opened by luis Grace Archbishop Redwood on Sunday, May 12. The ceremony, which will be very impressive, will take place in tlTe afternoon, and will he attended by the leading clergy and laity from all over the diocese. Among the clergy who liavo already notified that they well be present are Dean Smith, who is in charge of tho Hawke's Bay Seminary, and Father G. Moloney, formerly assistant priest at Wanganui.

Speaking to n Wanganui "Herald" reporter on Friday, Mr. AV. A. Yoitch, M.P., expressed himself as very sanguine regarding tho progress and ultimate complete success of tho United Labour party. So far as it has yet gone, the party's progress has exceeded liis most sanguine expectations. He himself has addressed a largo number of meetings in various centres, and the receptions ho has been accorded, and the interest aroused, .justify liim, ha says, in feeling assured that the new party has a very bright futuro before it. The most notable recruit to the party is the Hon. George Fowlds. "When Mr. Fowlds severed himself from the Ward Ministry in September last," said Mr. Veitch, "he made tho following statement:—'Whenever a truly democratic party arises in this country—a party pledged to definite principles, principles which it believes in, and which it is prepared to fight for—lit shall have my whole-hearted support'" ''Well," continued Mr. Veitch, "the United Labour party has come, and Mr. Fowlds supports it. Tho inference is plain. He considers it tho democratic party, the party lie has been waiting for. Not only has lie declared himself a member of it, but lie will at once enter upon a vigorous campaign in support of it, and intends to travel the whole Dominion at his own expense to address meetings in tho interests of the United Labour party."

With reference to a statement made br the Wellington papers that owing to mail matter having been sent to Vancouver instead of to San Francisco, tho Manuka, with and American mails, could not leave San Francisco before Thursday, tlie Union Company (says n Press Association iuessago from Dunedin) states that the vessel picked up mails, which will bo landed in New Zealand on tho due date.

It. w.%3 found that tho dates fixed for tomo of tho sittings of tho Opunako Bfiilway Commission claslicd with a local racing fixture, and the first sitting has therefore been postponed to Tuesday, May 14, when the Commission will open at llawera. Evidence will he taken on subsequent days at a number i" centres in the Hawera-Onimake-New Plymouth district. An authoritative statement from Geneva (states a cable message to tho Sydney "Sun") says that the Swiss National Bank, anticipating the possibility of an outbreak of war in Europe, has just finished printing .£1,200,000 worth of 20-franc war notes. The action taken is in accordance with tho Swiss Federal law, which permits such an emergency circulation in extraordinary circumstances, and was also the result of a report from one of the bank's directors who recently made a careful investigation of the relations existing among tho great Powers. The notes aro not to be issued unless war is declaredSince the order went Homo for the new armament for tho New Zealand field batteries a new panoramic siqlit has beea adopted by the War Office, and the dispatch »f 'Air guns ha? been delayed in iirdi'i- Unit the new -•iglils may he added In I heir equipment. ,\(i need In worry about Mini letter nr parcel you have no one to lake I'er you. ,1 ust riiiß up 2352. and the Express Messenger Service immediately semi n smart boy to <k> all your nrmuda at cheap latos