LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1445, 21 May 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Was it a high value which was set upon the fiddle-strings by Mr. ,1. Godber, when he appeared as a witness before tho Conciliation Council yesterday, during the hearing'of tho musicians' dispute? Mr. Godber expressed tiic opinion that Is. 9d. per hour was an ample remuneration lor a pianist employed in a cafe, but that violinists ought to get 2s. per hour, on account of tho expense which they incurred in providing "fiddle-strings, etc." The "Temuka Leader," which has boon conducted for many years bv Mr. J. M. Twomcy, luis been sold to Mr. It. ft. Marton, who until recently was organiser for the Opposition parly in New Zraiand. Mr. Martin takes possession on June I.—Press Association,

Mr. Laing-Meason, of Wellington, has been instructed to prepare plans and specifications of a memorial to be erected in honour of Captain Cook on Motuara Island, in Queen Charlotte Sound, where tho great explorer first hoisted the Union Jack and took possession of New Zealand in Britain's name. The memorial will take the form of a hollow pyramid in fcrro-concrote, 70ft. in height "The erection will measure 20ft. square at the base and 12ft. at the tap, and will be so constructed as to allow access to tho lop, from whence a very fine view of Queen Charlotte Sound will bo obtained. The memorial at' Ship Cove will be smaller, and will bear tablets, on whr>h will be inscribed the dates of Captain Cook's visits. Another .£IOOO is required to carry out these works, but tho appeal to tho public has not been encouraging. Tho Government has promised -a £ for £ subsidy, up to .£4OO, but tliat amount has not yet been reached.

In his lecture on "Old New Zealand," last evening, Mr. A. Hamilton said he was not at alt sure that people wore right in representing the ancient Maoris as constantly at war. Had they been so, they could not have perfected their notable agricultural operations. If one load some histories of Kngiand, one would get tho impression that our own ancestors were fighting most of the time. Yet it was known thai that was not tho cose. Ho with tho Maoris. They were fond of fighting, but large numbers of them must have boon employed mainly in pcncefnl occupations. So, too, it was questionable whether the' Maoris ought to have been described as savages. 'They were not unfeeling and brutal. They had polito manners in their own way, and thought the pakeha very ili-bchaved. They took a great deal'of pains with their own system of education, though they n:adc no pretence of equal opportunities for all. JCducntiou wiu- only for the upper classes. Mr. Hamilton's lecture was heard \>y e.n attentive audience in the Terrace Congregational Schoolroom, under the auspices of tho Terrace Congregational Church League, the Rev. J. Heed Gins-son presiding. Many fine lantern slides illustrating Maori life and art were shown. Mr. l-'uthergill operated tho lantern.

Pursuant to requisition, a special meeting of the Lower Hutt Borough Council will be hold on Friday next, to consider what action, if any, should bo taken to protest against the granting of a license permitting of the establishment of a factory for the carrying on of a business of an offensive nature in premises near the new pipe bridge.

Mr. J. Lomas, Secretary for Labour, returned last Saturday night from his tour of inspection of tho living quarters of flaxmill hands in tho Manawatu. Mr. J. lfobertson, M.P., and the secretary of the Manawatu Fkixinlll Employees' "Union assisted the investigator by placing their local knowledge at his disposal, and guiding him to different localities. Mr, T.nmas will report to the Minister for Labour.

The annual meeting, of the Wellington branch of the Xew Zealand Institute of Journalists was held .it the olKec of tho "Evening Post" yesterday afternoon, Mr. K. ix-hwabe presiding. The annual report (already published) was adupted. The balance-sheet, which was also jaopted, showed that the assets exceeded tho liabilities by Wi. Mr. Schwabs was, reelected chairman, and Mr. \V. A. Walsh secretary. DiflicuHy was experienced in appointing a treasurer and a cummittoo of nine members, and in consequence tho meeting was adjourned for a wit'k. It is permissible for anyouo who wishes to use a synonym fur (he well-known name of Mr. Augustus Hamilton, Director of the Dominion Museum, to mil him Tupae Whakarongo Wanangii. Thereby hangs a tale—indeed, two talcs. A certain young chieftain among the primitive. '.Maoris was deemed by tho college professors u[ the day 100 stupid to be educated, and they therefore sent him home with a brain *a.s unfurnished as before. His attendant, one Tnpai, had sat outside the door of the seminary and heard the words of wisdom uilered within. He understood and remcmliei'ed, and his aptitude, being discovered by the savants, they decided to educate him instead of his master. That is tale the first. The second is of recent days. A committee, of East Coa.st Maoris did much good work in collecting the history and legends of their people. To meet, their desire for i.o-opera-iioii with the Government, Mr, Hamilton was sent to confer with them. 'Jhey discovered in conversation with him sunc. thing of his knowledge of Maori art and history, and they gladly made him one of the committee. 11 ut it was necessary, they held, for him to hivo a Maori mime. They sat up all night debating (he point, and in tho morning they told Mr. Ilnmilton. who had slept through this crisis of his fate, that his new uamo was Tnpno Whakarongo Wauanga—tho man who obtained n knowledge of some of ihe heaveniv scire!.-, without being ouite entitled to it. Both stories were told by Mi. Hamilton in hi? lecture ,%t the 'Utrace Congregational stiioolroom ta&t night.