LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1443, 18 May 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The mails whioh left Wellington on April 28 per tho Pi.M.S. Aorangi, arrived at San Francisco, en route to London, on May 16.

Wellington was treated to a, torrential downpour between tho hours of 7.30 and B.SO last evening. Bo heavy wag tho rainfall that most of the mid-city streets bore a close resemblance to those of Venice, tho state of which the eccentric duke in Gilbert and Sullivan's "Gondoliers" attributed to an unusually wet season. In some instances the drains were unable to carry away the flood, and the water banked up into miniature lakes, which severely tested the foot-gear of those who ventured out. Tho heavy rain of last night will not improve tho football grounds for this afternoon's games.

Tho Fire Brigade Committee of the City Council has concluded an inquiry iTn camera) into tho circumstances attending the firo in Manners Street on April 14, at which Third Officer M'Leau lost his life. It is stated that tho committee has given instructions to tho officers concerned which, will prevent the occurrence of any accident of a similar nature in future.

A conference to reviso the conditions of labour in the clothing manufacture through the Dominion will be held in Wellington on Wednesday, May 20. Delegates will be present from the four cities, representing the New Zealand Clothing Manufacturers' Industrial Association of Employers and tho New Zealand Federated Tailoresses' and Other Clothing Trade Employees' Industrial Association of Workers. Mr. P. Haliy, Conciliation Commissioner for the Wellington district, has consented to preside. The present agreement expires on tho day before that fixed for the conference, but will continue in force until a new one is made. The present agreement and the previous one were arranged at similar conferences, recourse being only had to the Arbitration Court to ratiiy them, and it is expected that tho same procedure will bo followed this time, as the two organisations are said to bo still on friendly terms. Sinco tho last conference the Auckland manufacturers have joined the federation, and become parties to the existing agreement. The new one will accordingly apply to the wholo Dominion. Before the joint conference the delegates on each sido will hold separate meetings. The conference will be held in the Chamber or Commerce.

The Federation of labour will hold a Dominion conference at Wellington, commencing on Thursday next, May 23. About fifty delegates will attend, and tho federation president (Mr. P. C. Webb) will act as chairman. The principal business of th.e conference will bo to consider a number of industrial questions. The executive is to meet on Monday next ts draw up an agenda paper from the various remits which have been sent in.

Another fine picture whifch has been on exhibition by Mr. Fletcher Johnston, at Messrs. W. H. Tnrnbull and Co.'s Gallery, has been purchased privately by a Wellington gentleman, Tho subject is "Sir Foger de Coverle?/' by G. (t. Kelburne, 8.1., and is considered one of his finest 'examples.

At a meeting held at the Webb Street Primitive Methodist Schoolroom on Wednesday evening it was decided to form a Literary and Social Club. Officers were elected' ami a syllabus was drawn no. It was decided that an openiii» "social" h<? held on Tuesday, May niui that meetings be held every alternate Tuesday from that date onwards.

Probablv business men and residents aro not yet fully aware that il is now only necessary to'ring up 'l'hone 2382 to get u messenger to deliver a letter, message, or Mnall parrel immediately and safely to any part of tho town, for sixpence, thi'iMu tho Mecefltifffr Service reoonLtj wijJaSWwd in WpUUurfon."

"I inn ii murine denlor," wild a man In tin- .Magistrate's Court yesterday, Hubs?fluently !iu oxjilaineii tiint ho po!d empty \x it'ies.

Till) first supplier of narcissi from Uio IT iitt wero offered for pule al tli!) Allen .mi! JlliiiV ,Slreels Markets yoslerdav, am! al though tho (lowers ivere naturally on 111.- ki;i,'ill side, good i/ricei irnru realised, White sorts sold lit 1(1. per do/.en bioonis, mill V<-1 low Kol'ts brought tilii. per dozen. Violets were fairly plentiful, prices ranging from Is. to 2s. per doncn bunches.

Messrs. Johnston jiiid Co., who have been appointed iociil agents for ilio lioynl Packet Strain Navigation (joinsinny (ilie J)ulcli lino of steamers which iriitles Ins tween Sydney and Balnvm), forward a very handsomely-bound jlliistriLt.<l brochure entitled "Java, tlio Tourists' Paradise." To judge by soma of tlie views taken in vnrious parts of Javn, the great Dntch-owned islnnd of Uio Kast Indies is ritli in scenic wonders, ranging from (lie placid Old World charm of the ancient Buddhist temjdes, to gorgeously beautiful mountain ami forest .scenery. With the development of the trans-Siberian railway, the routo llomo via the Hast Indie* ami Japan is said to bo tlio most pict.iircs<iue anil interesting of all tlio wave between ■Sydney and Jiuropc.

A private letter from Mr. Hngli Ward endorses; tho rumour that Melba is to head another Grand Opera Company for Australia. Tho letter runs:—"Wlnio in Melbuurno we (tho members of the iirm) arranged that Mollja should cotno out as head of our new Grand Opera Company which wo willy organise and produce- in two years' time."

Councillor A. H. Hindmarsli has intimated tliat ho will move at tho next meeting of the City Council: "That the resolution carried in the council on May 1G (that tho request of tho Nelson Beautifying Society for (he services of the superintendent of reserves bo not acceded to) bo rescinded." '

"Wo aro living in an ago of pictorial illustration," said Mr. iTobert Leo at tho Training College last night. He recalled, in contrast, his own boyhood, when ho had to read out of a book called "Tho Irish Header." It was badly printed, wild had not a single picturo in it. How much more beautiful ivero all tho books now, on account of their beautiful illustrations. Wo also had nowadays tho moving picture, arid ho would not bo (o see in a fen' years films made expressly for uso in schools. Some subjects, such as Alpine scenery, domestic life in different countrios, mid various manufacturing processes, were very suitable l'or this kind of demonstration.

Tho Hon. T. Buxton, speaking on Thursday night to (i Christchureh "Press" reporter, said ho had visited tho infautry camps at Orari, and had . been vastly surprised at the progress in drill and individual carriage made b.y tho week's training. With General Godlay he had gone down the lilies, and had heard tho General speak to men chosen at random, asking thorn whether or not they wore contented. Fully ninety tser cent, of those spoken to had said that they were satisfied, and wcro sure it would do thnm good, and would lie willing to eome again.

Complaints have been made by sevoral masters o£ vessels arriving at Auckland lately (eays the Auckland "Herald") that their requests to be reported at Auckland when signalled at Capo Maria Van Diemen and Capo Brett have not been complied with. Both Capo Maria Van Dicliion and Cape Brett are connected by telegraph with Auckland, and it is deemed a very important matter that when a vessel signals cither of these places such information should be at once sent to Auckland. Tho ketch ICereru, which arrived from Nine, arrived off Cape Brett at noon on Friday last, and signalled to be reported to Auckland, but tho first intimation of tho vessel's approach was received when she was signalled from Tiri Tiri lighthouse.

Olio of tho ooncrete apartments which are to bo formed at tho base of the new retaining wall at Mason's Steps (Lainbton Quay) is to ba utilised as a lavatory for women.