LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1485, 6 July 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tho postal authorities advise that tho U.S. Victoria, which sailed from Sydney at noon on' July 3 for Auckland, has on board nn Australian mail. Tho Wellington portion is duo to arrive by Main Trunk on Monday next, July 8.

The Education Commission commences its sittings, in Wellington on Monday next, in tho Education Building, Mercer Street.

In concluding his annual report, presented to Parliament last evening Ma-jor-Goneral Godley says:—"As regards tho futuro, I am confident that tho normal annual expenditure on a Territorial force of 30,000 men, 35,000 Senior Cadets, and a second line of 25,000 Rifle Club men need not exceed tho amount originally stated in Parliament and by Lord Kitchener."

The question of aviation has been undor the consideration of tho General Staff, and preliminary arrangements havo been made for tho training of certain officers and non-commissioned officers in this important subject: but till next year, when the training is moro advanced and our expenditure has becomo normal, I do not propose to make any definite recommendations or incur any expenditure in connection with tho purchase of aeroplanes. Wo must leoTn to walk before we attempt to fly."—From Major-General Godley's defence report presented to Parliament last evening. ' I An explanation was sought by Mr. Robertson (Otaki) in the.House of Representatives yesterday afternoon of tho withdrawal of tho 25 per cent rebate allowed to workmen travelling by rail to the place of their employment. The Minister for Railways (tho Hon. A. SI, Myers) explained that tlie allowance had not been discontinued. The present administration was most anxious that tho accounts of tho various Departments should bo kept in a business-like manner, and with that object it was determined that each Denartment should bo charged for services rendered to it. In tho case in question tho Railway Department was charging, tho Labour Department with the rebate, and tho amount was as usual being paid by tho latter Department to the men. A subscription towards tho London Fresh Air Fund has been received from Miss Emerson, Nelson. lii tho course of his annual report Major-General Godley refers to the use of wireless telegraphy for defence purposes as follows:—"Experiments with wireless telegraphy aro being carried out; a transmitting and receiving station is being set up at Dorset Point, and a receiving station at Fort Ballance. Wo aro now awaiting the arrival of an induc-tion-coil. If signalling between the above stations is found possible wo should bo able to establish communication with wireless stations on land and sea at considorablo distances, unless the stations are syntonised in a special manner. Permanent stations could bo set up to meet all military requirements at small expense, and I propose shortly to mado definite recommendations with regard to them." Complaints that physical suffering is caused to men engaged in tho furniture trade as a result of tho practice of cliluting methylated spirits with 'pyridine wero brought under tho notice of tho Minister for Labour in Parliament yesterday, by Mr. W. A. Veitch, M.P. Tho Hon. G. Lauronson stated, in reply, that formerly the practice had been to dilute methylated spirits with wood-napthia (11 gallons of naptha to 100 gallons of spirit). This admixture was found to be deleterious and dilution with pyridino was adopted instead. Complaints had lately been received that pyridino had been found to bo injurious, but only in tho case of men working at Wanganui and at Auckland. No complaints had come from any other places. Finally the Minister stated that further reports were 'now being waited for from Auckland.

Tho following Is tho list of tenders for electrical installation (comprising lighting, telephones, and bells) for tho Cook Hospital. Gisbome:—lt. W. Barber. Wellington (accepted) ,£BBO. Other tenders:— R. Y. Walls, Wellington, £m; Turnbull and Jones, Wellington; .£917 lis. lid.) Eloctrio Light Co., Wellington, .£970: H. Tollcy, Wellington, .£992; Holford and Co., Gisborne, .£995: J. C. Raino, Auckland, .£1073; J. J. Niven, Gisborne. .£1133; J. S. Allan, Gisborne, .£1205; Hall and Son, .£1434 10s.; C. W. Martin, Wellington, .£1660 lis. Gd. • The architects for tho building will bo Messrs. Atkins and Bacon.

, Two very useful volumes, "The Rulings of tho Speakers of tho House of Representatives, and "Notes," on procedure have been enlarged and revised to tho end of the session of 1911 by Mr. H. Otterson, Clerk of tho House. Yesterday, on the motion of tho Prime Minister, Mr, Massey seconding, the House accorded Mr. Ottcrson a hearty voto of thanks for carrying out this work.

A single man named James Moore, cmployod by Bollinger Bros., was taken to the Hospital at 5.30 p.m. yesterday. suffering from a fracture of tho skull. It appears that lie fell down a pit 30ft. deep. Ho was still unconscious lafco last night. Tho expediting of tho tram which loaves Lower Htitt at 0.5 p.m. for To Aro is suggested by Dr. Newman in a question to the Minister for Railways. Dr. Newman states that tho train makes good speed to Ngahauraiiga, but thereafter is unnecessarily 6low. A large number of people travel by it who desire to reach their homes more quickly in. tho evenings. In rcsponso to a request, the local cotumitteo at present acting on behalf of tho National Gallery have consented to loaoi certain of v tho newly-acquired pictures for exhibition at.an art show to bo held in Mastcrton shortly. Tho borrowers are to pay all charges, insuro tho pictures against firo and burglary, and otherwise take tho vory greatest care of the art treasures. At present the collection is stored at tho New Zealand Academy nf limo Arts Gal-, lery, where it is not at all improbable tlioy will remain for at least another two rears. It will bo at least another jear before tho building is erected, if it is gone on with immediately, which does not seem probable, and it would take at least another year for t'ho brick or concrete building to dry sufficiently to allow of tho pictures being hung therein. A meetinp of tho creditors ro Arthur Norman Williams, plumber, Tory Street, was held yesterday, Mr. A. Simpson (Official Assignee) presiding. Mr. llindnmrsh, who appeared for Mr. Williams, stated that ho attributed tho bankruptcy to bad times. Tho list of unsecured creditors is as follows (the principal onlv being given): Bnllingor Bros.. £73 Us." lid. j A. and T. Hurt, £i\ 25.; T. Bnllingor, .£33 ss. 2d.;.G. Snaddon, .£29 Cs. 7d. j making a total in all of .£195 ss. 2d. The stock-in-trade was estimated at X 10; book debts, .£6O (estimated to produco JMO); cash in hand, £3. Total assets, .€53. After somo discussion tho meeting was adjourned until July 10, for tho purpose of obtaining a further statement from bankrupt.

We acknowledge receipt of the current issue of "The Navy League Annual." Tlio work, which is edited by Alan H. Burgoyne, M.P., contain] several interesting articles on naval subjects ond is, as usual, full of up-to-date, information ns to the navies of the world. Copies of the annual are obtainable at Messrs. YVhitcombo ami Tombs. Owing to pressure an our spneo (ho report of Friday's sitting of the Anglican Synod ond other articles novo been held over, and will appear in Monday's issue. One trial will provo ilio advantage of "Ouip CotW morn thaw a whole page of .talk. Plooso do!—Advtr