LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1453, 30 May 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The mails which left Auckland on May 10, per R.M.S. Makura, arrived in Vancouver, en route to London, on May 2fl. Fresh tenders aro before Cabinet for (he erection of a building in Sydney Street to accommodate the Native Lands Department and Stamps Department. A contract for the work was let sonic limo aya, but it has been given up by the contractor who obtained it.

A conference will be held in London on Juno +to discuss radio-telegraphy. Representatives of all tho civilised countries will be present, and probably a scheme will ba devised for tno efficient supervision of wireless telegraphy throughout the world. Tho Commonwealth has secured for its representative Mr, Charles Bright, F.R.S.E., an eminent Loudon specialist on wireless. Mr. Bright is said to bo the only expert in the United Kingdom who is not connected with or.o of the different systems of radio-telegraphy. Ito is the son of tho lato Sir Charles Tilslon Bright, who laid tho first Atlantic cable, and is a cousin of Mr. Charles Bright, acting secretary to the central postal administration. Tho concert arranged by Madame Mueller, and held at the Missions to Seamen Institute on, May 15, on behalf of tho Titanic Relief Fund, realised .£2O. This sum lias been handed to the agents of the company for transmission to England, and is to be applied to the relief of the widows and children of the members of the crew. Tho fortnightly meeting of the Sydney Street and Northland Primitive Methodist Mutual Improvement Society was held in tho Sydney Street Schoolroom on Tuesday night, when tho Rev. P. J. Cdssum delivered a very interesting lecturette on "Thomas Cariyle." The lecturer also read several selections from this famous author's various works. The next, meeting of tho society will be a "hobby" evening. Referring to attempts to make "seasonal forecasts for the whole continent, the Commonwealth Meteorologist (Mr. Hunt) says that correct forecasting is impossible owing to tho fact that there are four distinct climates in Australia, Tims Port Darwin receives practically all its rain in January, whilst in Adelaide tho fail IS nearly all m mid-winter. That belli" tho case, ho maintains that no arrange' ment of tho sun, moon, and planets can possibly nffect the rainfall over tho whole of Australia. "Several cycles," Mr. Hunt went on to say, "have been suggested by meteorologists, and there is some evidence m favour of the thirty-five-year cycle. But wo cannot tost it in Australia until wo have records extending over two such cycles (70 years). In Victoria only nno record—that nt Melbourne—approaches this age, and loss than a dozen are fifty years old. It may bo noticed that one of the worst droughts experienced in Australia was that of 1888, The next great drought was in 1902. The difference between the two years is M years, which docs not fit into any of the three cycles. Moreover, 1887 and 1889 were very'good seasons, and there was no indication that She year between would have, a rainfall almost the lowest on record."

There was deafening applause on Friday last at tho hide sales conducted by Messrs. Wiuchcombo, Carson, and Company at Circular Quay, Sydney, when a single hide realised JES. It was, of course, an especially prime hide, weighing 891b., and tho ltd. per lb. that it fetched was announced as an Australian record. The hide came from North Queensland, being consigned by tho meat works at Townsvillo, and it was the exceptional substance it contained that caused so much competition among tho buyers. Tho big prieo showed that the hide and leather markets arc just now particularly buoyant. Whether the applauso that rang throughout tho auction room. at tho market barometer being topped in this way will bo re-echoed by thoso who buy the leather when made up into boots and shoes is quite- another matter, tho public just now being moro or less apprehensive about tho all-round rise in tho cost of living and materials. ' In connection with tho presentation to Sir Joseph and' Lady Warn''in the 1 Town Hall this evening, a limited number of tickets may be obtained from Messrs. G. and C. AMous, tobacconists, and Tcni- , linson, confectioner, Lambton Quay, E. Arnold, Willis Street, Georgo Winder, Cuba Street, tho "Now Zealand Times" office, and .Mrs. Dickson, Edinburgh House, Itiddiford Street, Seats cannot he reserved after 7 30 p.m. There was a crowded attendance at tho Missions to Seamen Institute last evening, whoa a concert was given by the Brooklyn Glee Party. Tho party was under the direction of Mr. M'Lcllan, and a very fine programme os glees, solos, etc., was given. Tho entertainment concluded with a humorous dialogue, which was loudly applauded. At the close a hearty voto of thanks and threo cheers weregivea for Mr. M'Lellau and tho Glee Tarty. The Harbour Board decided last night to take no action in regard to the request from the Eastbourne Borough Council that the heard should co-operate with the Auckland Harbour Board in endeavouring to obtain legislation enabling Harbour Boards to establish, acquire, and maintain haTbour ferry services. "I should not object to tho board having the power," said tho chairman in submitting the motion, "but I should most strenuously object (o the Wellington Board taking control of ferries in this harbour." He pointed out that tho request did not come from the Auckland Board; if such a request had been made from Auckland the Wellington Board would have probably agreed to render assistance. Tho only members who voted against the motion that no action bo taken were the two representing the Hurt district, Messrs. iU'Ewcn and Freoth,

Extensions to tho Glasgow Wharf aro contemplated by the Wellington Harbour Board, and last night tho board decided to authorise the engineer to prepare plans for the addition to this wharf of 110 feet, 'file chairman explained that the extension would give facilities to smaller vessels. At present they could usually berth only at the end of tho wharf, and it cost them more and cost the board more to handle the goods owing to lack of accommodation in sheds and wharf space. The Wellington Harbour Board last night decided to make a grant of £15 to the Waterside Workers' Union towards the band fund. Discussion on tho proposal was taken in committee. The ordinary meeting of the City Council will bo held to-morrow evening. Several notices of motion are down for consideration, among them the following, to be moved by Councillor L. Hl'Kcnzio: — "That the. City Council ask tho VrtiuerGenerai to have the city revalued, as it has not been dono for six years." Boy scouts are enthusiastic loyalists. Shrill cheers were raised in the Town Hal! last evening, when a picture of the Prince of Wales was thrown on the screen, and the boys received with loud applause an injunction from General Baden-Powell to adopt the motto, "I'm your man, if you want me," in reference to their future King. "Your men distinguished themselves over others, perhaps, in one particular line, and that was their bravery," said General Baden-Powell, in speaking last evening of the siege of Moiokiug. "There was no doubt about tho Now Zealanders being brave men." Lieutenant-Colonel C. D. Mackintosh (Retired List) was entertained at the Hotel Windsor last evening by a large gathering of ex-members of tho old Wellington Highland Hides Company, of which corps he was commanding officer prior to attaining his majority on the slalf of the Wellinslon Ride Battalion. The function was a very enjoyable one, toast, speeches and musical items being the order of the proceedings. During the, evening, Lieuten.ant-C'oionel Mackintosh was urcientod with n handsome silverbacked mirror (for Miss Macintosh) as a memento of Die occasion.