LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1497, 20 July 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

An anonymous Auckland admirer of tho inme Minister has just forwarded to him au interesting and artistic symbol ot the commencement of his political career, in the shape of a miniature golden pitchfork, to one pron? of which is attached a tiny representation of the telegram, asking him to enter public' life, that was handed to him on the prong of a pitchfork on to tho haystack on winch ho happened to be at work at tho time. With this interesting souvenir • r -,, JlasS «y's recent victory is sent tho wish: May the sun ever shine upon rou while you make hay for Now Zealand.""

"I think tho tinio has certainly arrived when there should be a movement towards phonetic spoiling," eaid the Inspector-Gen-eral of Schools (Mr. G. Hogbeu) giving evidence before the Education Commission yesterday. "But it would be impossible to carry out such a big movement at once, riie beginning might he mode •at once in tho case of those words in which a choice of spelling is allowed, by adopting the more phonetic style." Ho exemplified the spelling of "rhyme" as a foolish example of a mistake arising from false analogy. No harm could be done by spelling the word in the correct way, "me." Ho would also suggest that such spellings as ''labor," ''center," and theater" should not be called errors by teachers.

An error appeared in a paragraph published yesterday in reference to a social: at which Mr. J. H. Escott, member for Pahiatua, is to be entertained by his supporters on Monday evening. The scene of tho function, is to be Woodville, aud not Pahiatua, as was stated in the paragriph referred to.

Two prize rams, arrived by the Warnmoo from Sydney yesterdaj , , and both are in excellent condition after their protracted voyage. One of them is consigned to Mr. Watt, of the New Zealand Loan Co., Wellington, and the othor to Messrs. Dalgety and Co., of Lyttolton. " .

■Next Wednesday (July 24} a meeting will bo held in tho largo Town Hall in connection rath-the Melanesian Mission. Unusual interest attaohes to the meeting, as tko speakers arc new to Wellington. They are to bo Dr. Wood (the new Bishop of Melanesia), Dr. Crossley (Bishop of Auckland), and two of the Mclanesian messionaries. Tho Primate (Bishop Ncvill, of Dunedin) and the Bishop of Wellington will also bo present. There will bo no charge for admission.

So , far no satisfactory arrangement has been come to in regard to disposing of the whale which was cast ashore a few daye ego on tho Lyall Bay beach. Two men who made application to the Town Clerk for permission to take possession of the carcass of Hie whale were infornied that it was a matter for the Marine Departraont to deal with , . The Minister for Marine (tho Hon. F. M. B. Fishor) has been approached and asked to give a decision, as to what should be done with the: whale. In' response to "inquirios ni'dde'lasf evening, it was stated that tho Minister had not yet dealt with tho matter.

The Inspector-General does not believe that it is possible to teach children to wrife in properly formed characters until their hands have grown to almost adult form and strength. "A pen is a most barbarous instrument to put into tho hands of a young child, to my way of thinking," he said in evidence at the Education Commission yesterday. "A pencil to use on soft paper, or cholk for writing on a wall is very muoh to be preferred. Even tho wool men and their brokers have nowadays to make provision against strikes. In the new regulations governing wool sales adopted by the New Zealand Woolbrookers' Association yesterday in annual conference, the following clause appears-.—(1) "A 'partial strike' shell be said to occur only when the whole of ono class of workers decline to work, and thereby interfere with the completion of deliveries (2, A dispute between ono firm of brokers and their employees is not to bo considered as a partial strike." , ■

The United Building Society held a salo of .£IOOO amongst its shareholders at the Chamber of Commerce last evening. Tho highest bid was made by Mr. W. T. Brunton, who elected to take JE7OO at £26 per hundred. The remaining .£3OO was secured by Mr. A. Dryden at .£l2 per hundred.

As the illustrated lecture on the Mawson Antarctic expedition is to take place in thy Town Hall Concert Chamber on Tuesday pvoning; next, the adjourned special meeting of the City Council to considor the report of the Trnmways Board has bean postponed until Thursday next.

Announcements of to-morrow's church services will be found on page 2 of this issue, including particulars o£ services at St. Paul's Pro-Gathedral, St. Peter's, and St.'Mark's, Anglican Churches. At St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, the Eev. J. Gibson Smith's evening subject will bo "The Test of Manhood," and tho preacher at both services at St. John's Ohuroh (Presbyterian) will be the Eev. J. J. North. At Wesley Church, Taranaki Street, tho preachers will bo tho Rev. E. Inglis (morning) and the Ecrv. J. G. Chapman (evening). The Hon. C. M. Luke, M.L.C., will address the men's meeting of the Brotherhood in the New Tdieatro tomorrow afternoon. Mr. G. Ernest Jackeon, of tho Grubb-Jaelcson Mission party, will conduct the Service of tho Central Mission in tho Now Theatre tomorrow owning. Mr, .T. C. Newton will sing. On Tuesday next (July 23), at 7.30 p.m., thn monthly service for woman will bo held at St. Mark's Church, Sussex Square. _^