LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1504, 29 July 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Cabinet sat for four hours on Saturday afternoon. Ministers were engaged mainly is discussing details of policy in preparation for the resumption of the session which is to take place on Wednesday.

Tho Union Company's Mnheno was not expected to arrive at Auckland from Sydney until 1 o'clock this morning. Tho English end Australian mnils which tho vessel is bringing will not therefore reach AVollington. until to-morrow afternoon.

After nearly threo weeks of merciless rain of a peculiarly soaking character, tho sun peeped out at irregular intervals on Saturday morning, tinting the hills and harbour with a golden glory which seemed to be almost unnaturally bright in contrast to the drab conditions winch have prevailed. It was all too bright to last, however, and tho rifts of blue above seen closed, and tho dun pall resumed operations during tho afternoon, much to tho disgust of rain-weary week-enders. Yesterday tho prospects were distinctly promising. It was ti quiet grey day, with comparatively little rain and hardly anv wind. It looks like a break in the flood, but it does not do to be too hopeful, though July has already established in Wellington something liko a record rainfall.

A rumour was circulated in town yesterday that a vessel had been wrecked on the coast at Terawhiti during Saturday night and Sunday morning. On inquiry at the Terawhiti telephono bureau last evening it was found that there was no truth in the statement. Those in charge of the station said that they had traversed tho beach between Terawhiti and Otorohanga for a distance of four miles, and had seen no signs of any wreckage. It is reported that on several occasions recently ladies have been molested in the streets of Auckland late, at nights. A few nights ago a lady was followed by a man for somo distaneo in the vicinity of Symonds Street. She received such a fright that eventually she ran for her home, where she arrived ia safety. A fcecmid and worse instance occurred, in which a man not only accosted a lady in the late hours of the night, but mado an attempt to trip her up. The victim of this latter experienco received so severe a shock that sho was compelled to keep to her bed for some time.

The body of Lionel Dorney, fireman of the s.s. Taviuni, drowned in tho Buller River about three weeks ago, was found near tho Cattlo Wharf, Westport, yesterday afternoon.—Press Association.

A shipment.of no fewer than 72 motorcars is being brought to Auckland from Canada by tho s.s. Whakatane, duo to arrive at that port shortly. Tho extent to which the Canadian cars have found a market in New Zealand is somewhat remarkable. In 1009 only nineteen care wc.ro imported from the sister Dominion, in 19)0 tho number had increased (o 0.3, and last year- the total wont up to 3116. Tho last two boats to arrive, the Karamoa and tlio Waimatc, brought consignments of 53 aud 55 cars respectively.

While cj-eling in Charlolto Street on Saturday evening, Joseph Dixon had a fall from his machine Ho mis picked ii]) in an unconscious condition and conveyed to tlio hospital whore, at a lata hour last night, he had not recovered his souses. Dixon is a single man, 32 years of age, and a brass-moulder by occupation. ITo rc-siilos at Oriental Terrace.

In connection with the coining (raining season it lias bmi arranged by Iho Fifth Kogiwont that a class of instruction for Ih<T (.raining of military cam]) cooks will be hold at Troutham from October 1 to 31 next. On completion of the course the men will be oppoiniod sergeant-cooks to ilio regiment, and will be responsible for tho cooking in camp?, etc., n-ssis.tod by I'ompanv cooks, who will be detailed for Hie pir/pa-so, .Hie rnlxi nf nay nnil nllow. aucos will bn comm.umc.utou Jateu

The annual social of the Te "Rum Cruising Club wns held at the City Hotel on J'Yxkiy evening. .Mr. V. Kiearon (president) was in (lie chair, and n v ry pleasant evening wsus spent. The winners ot tiio season trophies were as follow:—.\lnritai 1, Windward 2, Ainai 3. Tlw Muritai and Windward also won special prizes, presented by Mr. Speed and Mr. Howard.

Prom our advertising columns it will be noticed Hint the text books for (he second annual festival of the Now Zealand Competitions, which is to be held in the Town Hall, commencing on November 13, are now ready, and may be obtained i'rom -music shops in the city, or direct from the secretary, Mr. James Dykes, price 3d. Mr. Dykes reports that there have been a very large- number of requests for text books, thereby indicating to a large extent that there 'will 1)0 a good batch of competitors this year. As a matter of fact, inquiries have been received for text books from as far away as Melbourne and Perth. Entries close on September 30.

A small lake near Northwich, in Cheshire, Ilnginnd, recently 1,-egan to sink out of sight, and by nightlall had dropped about twenty feet. It was calculated that approximately 20,000,000 gallons of. water had disappeared, and there was much local speculation, and some anxiety as to what the phenomenon portended. The geologists, however, soon set all fear at rest by (lie following explanation: Tho area is honeycombed with salt deposits. There aro ancient salt workings beneath the lake. Its sudden subsidence was due to tho water's breaking through the bottom and finding its way into somo subterranean Salt-bearing strata. Here it will become impregnated with salt, and eventually be pumped to the surface again with its load of salt for commercial use.

In a recent volume on cholera, by Professor L. Itogers, one of the leading authorities on this terrible disease, somo stiiikiiig statistics are given ivom- the' Calcutta Hospital. In ISO 7 the regular method of treatment there was by, means of saline injections (ordinary salt _in water) into the veins. The mortality then was 51.9 per ceut. In 1900-10 a new treatment was used. Instead of the sonalled physiological salt solution 1907, a hypertonic salt solution was injected into the veins. AVith this, either in the form of pill or solution, permanganates were given. The latter seem to oxidise and destroy the cholera poison. Under this treatment the mortality was reduced to 23 \ per cent. In India alone fchds improvement in therapeutics makes possible the saving of thousands of lives every year.

Amended tenders will be called 1 for shortly for motor-lorries, to be used in connection with the development of tho I.nke Coleridge water-power scheme. Tenders were called by the Public' Works Department at the beginning of tho present month, but objection, was taken by tho agents interested to tho nature of specifications issued. The amended specifications will enable tenderers to state tho power, speed, etc., of tho lorries - which they offer to supply.

The veTy boisterous weather is delaying to somo extent the completion of the Wellington wireless station. There has been some comment upon the fact that the sta/tion has recently been referred to as the Etnko station. This, however, is a mistake. The Postmaster-General informed a reporter on Saturday that the name of the station is to be "Radio, Wellington.'' The confusion in regard to name has arisen from the fact that the station is situated on Mount Etnlco—the summit of the Tinakori Hills. Etako is the survey name of the trig station on the hill. It was the name of the Maori chief who owned the property, and a great, part of old Wellington. Although the station has frequently been called Etako, this was merely for .the purpose of distinguishing it, while building, from the station on the G.P.O. Building.

Saj-s the Southland "Times":—"lt wnJ noticeablo at the meeting of the Winton Jockey Club that the rancour and strife that had been evident during the last campaign had completely fizzled out, and former opponents, who during that exciting period could hardly speak civilly to each other, but would/glower at each other as if they were the deadliest of enemies, fraternised as if they were long lost brothers. The hatchet had Ireyono. doubt been completely buried, and, judging by appearances, there aro few in Winton at the present time who would care to resurrect it again."

The decision of the Captain Cook Memorial Committee (states a Blenheim exehango) to proceed at once with the erection of a monument at Ship Cove, subject to the approval by the Public Works Department of the plans, brings the completion of this commendable movement within olose sight. The project in its entirety has not, however, reached the stago at which it can be satisfactorily accomplished without further public support. The committee is, in fact, holding over the construction of tho larger monument on Mohiara Island in the hope that the commencement of the column on tho mainland will givo substantiality to its proceedings, end thereby attract" the additional assistance that would enable it to erect on the island tho most imposing of Hie 'alternative designs submitted by its civil engineers. Only obout .£75 or ,£IOO is required for this purpose, and tho people of Marlborough may bo very well urged, as' a matter of credit to themselves, to provide tho residue.

At h meeting of the Proportional Representation Society, held on Friday evening last tho Hon. T. W. Hislop in tho chair, Mr. J. P. O'Regan moved and it was carried: "That tho Primo Minister be requosted to receive at an early date a deputation consisting of members of the society and those favourable to tho movement to urge that a Bill bo introduced adopting the proportional system of election of members of Parliament; that the deputation also Urge tho introduction of an amendment of the law permitting municipalities and other local bodies to adopt tho proportional system for the election of councillors." On tho motion of Dr. Izard a sub-committee consisting of Messrs. Hislop, O'Regan, Atkinson, and Alack (the secretary) was appointed to mako arrangements for the interview.

Tho Conciliation. Council has reported to the Clerk of Awards (Mr. H. Stccker) that no agreement can bo arrived at in tho three following disputes: Merchants' assistants, general labourers, timber yard and sawmill workers. Tho Clerk" of Awards to-day referred tho disputes to the Arbitration Court.

The second ballot for the secretaryship of the "Wellington Waterside Workers' Union is to take place on Wednesday and Thursday next. Three members of tho Disputes Committee will also bo ballotted for at the same time.

Beautiful spring weather has prevailed at West port for soma time, and gorso bushes set on fire have been the subject of several calls on the fire, brigade at lata hours at night.—Press Association.

Tito enforced visit to Auckland last weak, owing to sh.orfo.se of coal, of the tramp steamer Elvp.oton, turned out to bit rather fortunate for tlio port, mum over 411000 is being cpent by the. vessel':! agents during her stay there. After receiving 250 tons of coal (says the "Herald"), tlio Elvas.ton was lo have resumed nor voyage last Saturday, July 20, but she was' detained pending tic receipt of a cablegram from her owners, which was duly received the following morning, and was to the effect that the steamer' was to be docked at Auckland. She was .ic-xrdingly lloeted into Calliope Dock 'or cleaning and painting, whilo slie also undergoes minor repairs to her machinery and internal fittings. Tlio cost of coal at 255. pear ton, dock, and 'brrboiu" duties, plctfees, and wages for labour, brings the amount spent ou Uiis vessel at Auckland to well .£IOOO. The Elvti.it™ will not go to Sydney as originally intended, but what slro has finished taking in the balance of lira' coal will proceed to I'aaqUiL'me (Noumea).

Owing to an unfortunate mistake in. tlio printing department in connection with the advertisement regarding the services at St. John's Church yesterday, Drf Gibb was announced to preach on "Prayers for the Dead," whereas as a matter of fnct he. is at present preaching a courso of sermons ou tlio Commandments.