LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1501, 25 July 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The ballot for the election of officers for the Wellington Waterside Workers' Union commenced yesterday, and will bo continued to-day. Special interest attaches to the vote, in view of the fact that there are two factions in tho union and two "tickets" of candidates, tho one eet in favour of tho Federation of Labour, and tho othbr opposed to it. The inquest which was to have been held at the Hospital yesterday morning on tram-conductor F. Hancock, who died from tliß result of injuries received whilst adjusting a destination board on the sido of a car in Featherston Street recently, has been postponed until 10 a.m. on Friday at the Magistrate's Court, A deputation, 1 which is to be introduced by Dr. A, K. Newman, M.P., is to interview tho Hon. H. D. Bell, tho Hon. A. L. Herdman, and the Hon, F. M. B. Fisher to-morrow, in reference to tho Te Aro railway station and other local railway matters. A Chamber of Commerce deputation is to bring the same question under tho notice of the Hon. W. H. Herries (Minister for Railways) on Monday. Tho fortnightly meeting of the Webb Street Literary and Social Club wo" hold on Tuesday night. As it was "ladies' evening" tho ladies took chaj'go of proceedings, and acquitted themselves creditably. During tho evening games were indulged in, aiid several musical ' items were rendered. At tho closo refreshments were prodded, and those present expressed , their appreciation of tho hdies' efforts in a' hoarty vote of thanks. Tho Wellington Kennel Club has been granted the uso of one ,of tho board's sheds for the annual dog show on August 21 and 22. On Saturday last a meeting of tho settlers residing at or near Pelorus Sound was held under tho auspices of tho Sounds branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union to discuss ways and means of improving tho present 6team«r service there. In England last year, the Society for the Provoiition of Cruelty to Animals was eucoassful in prosecutions against horseowners for dookiug. _ Tho Victorian Society for tho protection of Animals has taken this question up, and has issued tho following circular, written by Dr. J. P. Ryan:—' Docking is a fashion which establishes a false standard of taste and blinds ordinary people to defects and ugliness which otherwise would be only too apparent. A gallantly oarried tail adds some beauty to any kind of horse. A short tail is tho animal's last recommendation. Tho .tail was bestowed on the horse by Nature as his principal weajwn of defence against the. attacks of flies. Deprived of his tail, his most potent weapon is taken from him. That docking strengthens tho back, as is sometimes alleged, is a gross fallacy. The docking of horses is cruel in> itself, and much more so in its consequence, and should bo discouraged in overy possible way. Under the law, it is absolutely illegal." The president of the Wellington Zoological Society, the Rev. J.'Craves, will move as follows at t'ho next meeting of the society:—"That, seeing that his Most Gracious Majesty tho King is, as his illustrious father was, a distinguished and very practical patron of the London Zoo, to which 'he has from time to time contributed exhibits of inestimable value, his Excellency the Governor of New Zealand fco respectfully asked to intimate to his Majesty that the Wellington City Corporation, whose Town Hall is founded upon a stone laid by his Majesty's own hand, is for the education and enjoyment of his Majesty's loyal subjects residiug in this remote part of his Majesty's Dominions establishing a Zoo of select animals; and that our society would esteem, it a high honour if his Majesty would, through, our society, in the Wellington Zoo one or two animals worthily roprescptativo of the collections of interesting animals that his Majesty has obtained or can. obtain from other parts of tho world-wide British Empire."