LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1500, 24 July 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Somo Ihree weeks ago a bitter attack 011 tho financial methods, or tho borrownig methods, of the late New Zealand Government was made hv the Svdney Bulletin" in its "Wild Cat' Column. 5 ' The article stated inter alia that the last four Sin '} loan lvas at <1 per cent. Iho liicketty Islands," it stated, "had given their word to lepay ,£2,7(3,000 during this year," and "the bill was renewed at 4 per cent." "Tho Bulletin" stated, further, that tho amount tho aforesaid islands would havo to pay to "Cohen" in the next two years was ,£12,000,000, and it suggested that the Dominion should set aside <£750,000 per year for sinking fund in order to repay tho whole of its debt in 42 years. Yesterday the Minister for Financo pointed out certain obvious errors in the statements made, which, ho claimed, discredited tho criticism in question. In the first place, tho loan was for .£1,500,000, and not £4,000,000. Further, tho loan was not issued at 4 per cent., but at 3i per cent. He'pointed out, also, that nearly all the loans floated in London during the last seven years had been at a discount, and that the' amount which the Dominion would havo to repay in two years would not amount to ,£12,000,000. It was also erroneous to state thnt tlio debt could be paid off in 42 years by an annual setting aside of .£750,000. These errors, Mr. Allen claimed, were of such importance as to discredit utterly tho "Bulletin's" criticism.

A report was current yesterday that tho local .ferry steamer Duelicss, which left early on Monday morning with the barouentine Helen Denny in tow, for Havcloek, had not crrivod. This report, however, has been contradicted bv the Harbour Ferrv Company, which yesterday received a telegram from Havelock . stating that the Duchess had arrived with the Helen Denny, and soon after arrival had left again for Wellington. As the Duchess had not arrived till a Sate hour last night the company presume that she is sheltering from the heavy southerly gale. A tax 011 amusements is one of the questions which the Municipal Conference will be asked to consider next week. The Grey Ljun (Auckland) delegate will move that a tax of, say, 10 per cent, or such other amount as tho Government may deem sufshould be charged on all ticket admission to places of amusement. This would "form part of a fund for the maintenance of hospitals and relief of distress, and the other part of suoh fund to be taken from consolidated revenue in such manner, and in such proportion as the Government may determine." Tho date for the nomination of candidates for vacancies on the council of the Now Zealand Society of Accountants closed on Saturday last. The following are those nominated:—Auckland—Messrs. G. W. Hutchison and Stanley G. Chambers; Wellington—Messrs. J. S. Barton, T. Forsyth, H. A. Gold, and R. Wilberfoss; South Canterbury—Messrs. W. T. D. Revell and Gavin Moffat; Otago—Mr. Jas. Brown (re-elected unopposed). Ttye annual meeting of the society is to be held on August 30 at Auckland, when representatives from all parts of tho Dominion will b* present. At yesterday's meeting of tho Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, Mr. ft. C.. Ivirk reported that Arbor Day had been celebrated at the Otaki Sanatorium on Saturday week last, when a good many trees were planted in tho presence of the Mayor of Wellington and Mrs. M'Laren, who heartily assisted. "One of the nurses planted a hardy tree strongly and deeply 111 a corner, and called it Mossey!" (Laughter.) The Education Commission has been granted extension of timo from July 25 to July 31. At present the members of tho commission aro considering their report.

Whaling: operations have been commenced by tho Xew Zealand Whaling Company from its headquarters at Russell. The whalers Whangaroi and Hawk went out for the first time on July 10, nnd tho Whangaroa left on the following day. On July 1G the Whangarei had secured three humpbacks and the Hawk two. The bad weather off the coast for the last few days,;however, lias considerably interfered with tho work. Tho boiling-down vessel, Prince Cieorgo (sailer), arrived at Russell on July 13, and has been subjected to a great deal of interested inspection. The present operations aro being earned out for the purpose of testing tho various grounds, in order that tho most suitable headquarters for the fleet may be secured. .

Some time ago the Wellington City Council was interviewed by a deputation of hill-direllere on tho subject of a lift to Wellington Terrace. Tho council's representative at the Municipal Conference .next week will hiove that "councils bo given power to oonstruct as public works, lifts and tunnels for tlio carriage of fcot passengers where there aro sfceen declivities in streets, to raise special loans for such works on special rating areas, and to rate such areas not only in respect' of the charges for tho loan, but in respect of loss on working, and authorised to charge suitable fares and tolls for the uso of 6uch tunnels and lifts." Still another building is soon to be added to the big hospital group at Newtown. Tho chairman of the Hospital and Gharitablo Aid Board (Mr. Jas. Trevor) announced at yesterday's meeting of the board that it was expected that the plans for tho pathological block would be ready during the next two weeks. They had already passed the Government, and the architects expected to have them out and to call for tenders ill a very short time. The now building, which will bo situated between tho Carrara Company's factory and tho general hospital, is for Hie reoention and treatment of day patients, and will provide room for a. bacteriological laboratory. Now that "Camp Coffee" is getting known in New Zealand, it bids fair to become as great a favourite in this market as at Home, where it has practically "swept the board." Its delicious fragrance pleases the'most fastidious, and tho ease with which it is prepared is a boon to the early riser ami tho busy housewife.-.Advt, Have jou tried "Bovnl" at 11 j"

The following motion is to be submitted (o the' Municipal Conference by the delegate from l'almerstoiv North next week: "That where ratepayers fail to carry a loan for a supply of water to giro a fire service, or which, in the opinion of the local authority, is considered accessary lor tho health ci' tho inhabitants, tho local authority on receiving tile consent of the Minister, may bo authorised to raise the liaccssary loan without tho consent of the ratepayers." A letter from a citizen complaining about being kept wailing to fco a patient at the hospital was read at tho meeting oi tile Hospital and Charitable Aid iioani yesterday. The complainant stated that he had teen informed on arrival that no could not seo.tho patient because there were two other visitors with her, and that after waiting in the portico lor upwards of an hour lor tho peow-.sary ticket of admission, lie was inlbrmed by tlio patient ill question that he was tho first visitor which she had received that day. Tho writer asked that the system of admitting callers be improved, in order to avert such useless waiting. On the motion of Mr. K. C. Kirk, tho matter was referred to tho Hospital Committee. A meeting of members of the recentlyformed Wellington Celtic Club was held at the Burlington Kooms last evening, Mr. E. J. pitzgibbon presiding. Tho proceedings wero not opon to ttie press. It was subsequently reported that alter an enthusiastic meeting the following were elected honorary officers of tho club:—President, Dr. O.ihili; vice-presidents, Messrs. C. I'. Skerrclt, K.C., G. Winder, jJ. Jl'Lar'en (.Mayor of Wellington); secretary, Mr. M. U'Jvane; treasurer, Mr. John O'Leary; trustees, Dr. Jlartin, Mr. 'P. M'l'aiMand, J.P.; executive committee, Messrs. 'I'. B. Dwau, J.P., P. G. Gritl'on, Richard Dwyer, J. Kmaii-Smith, M. Walsh, 11. riclclitr, H. A. K. Swiney, E. J. l'ltzgiblxin, J. .). M'Grath, 11. M'Keowu, J. lirceu, und P. Gnlvin. A meeting of the executive committee is to bs hold shortly to arrange for a lecture on Celtic .affairs, or, alternatively, a '."Ocial gathering to prove an opportunity for members to fraternise. The kccretar.v (Mr. M. O'Kane) reported that without any canvass he had received over oO applications for membership. Mr. Martin Kennedy has consented 'to becoaio a life member of. tho club. jis a result of the action taken by the New Zealand liillo Club's executive, General Godley has agreed to call a conference of rifle club representatives from all parts of New Zealand to discuss rifle club matters. Ho has asked the executive to nominate 1G representatives of clubs, 0110 from each urea group, and this has been done. The conlerenco will lie held in Wellington, on August 5. The ; travelling expenses of delegates will be paid. - '

Jewels from the Forbidden City of Lhasa, the ancient capital of Tibet, form part of a collection of precious stopes now in London, which is one of the finest ever brought out of tho East. They have been collected by M. Jacques Cartlcr, and include enormous earrings of carved turquoises set in pure gold, the workmanship of which is equal to that of tho best period of Italian art. Much ol' this jewellerjMvas taken from idols in Lhasa. M. Cartier spent seven months in Arabia and India, and his other finds include a little bunch of pearls worth «JGCO,OOO, an historic flat oval emerald, bearing the inscription in Persian, "Ho who possesses this charm shall enjoy tho special protection of God," which has a great topical interest, for it formed part of the loot carried to Persia from Delhi, gorgeous earrings shaped liko flowers with rubies for petals, and an emerald weighing 129 carats, worth .£BOO, onco the property of King Akbar. \