LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1506, 31 July 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tho postal authorities advise that tho s.s. Ulimarou, which sailed from Sydney at 1 p.m.. on July 27, has on board an .Australian mail, falie is due to arrive here ty-day.

'Hie postal authorities advise that the s.s. Zealandia, which left Suva on July 27, at 1 p.m., has on board mails from the United Kingdom, also American mails via Vancouver. She is due to arrive here to-day.

The contract with the Union Steam Ship Company for tho Vancouver mail service has been signed by the PostmasterGeneral (the Hon. R. H. Rhodes). Up to tho present there has been complaint about Australian shipments shutting out New Zealand cargo, but tho new Government has added a clause'stipulating that New Zealand shippers are to get preference.

Tho Minister for Defence (tho Hon. James Allen) has. arranged with General Godley that the contingent of New Zealand cadets which is to visit Canada shall parade at Parliament Buildings at 2 p.m. to-day. It was impossible to s«t down tho parade for a later day, as tho cadets leave to-morrow, en roulo for Canada. The contingent consists of twenty cadets and one adult officer, Captain Fullorton, of Dunedin.

The Mayor and City Councillors of Wellington havo invited tho delegates to the Municipal Conference to n luncheon in the Concert Chamber to-morrow.

Iu anticipation of the Methodist Union next year the 'ministers of the Wellington. Suburban Methodist Churches entertained at tea, in Godber's rooms, Courtenay Place, last week, tho ministers of tho Primitive Methodist Churches' of Wellington and their wives. Some thirtythree persons attended, and the function was characterised by the utmost heartiness. Tlie Rev. J. J. Lewis (senior Methodist minister), of Petone, in a choice aud reminiscent address, welcomed the guests of tho evening. The Revs. W. S. Potter and Dumbell responded. Musical and other items were rendered, social intercourse was indulged in, aud a very pleasant evening was spent.

A Main Trunk delegate stated at tho Municipal Conference yesterday that in some instances townships were owned by Natives who received the rents for tho land. "The sections aro leased for 21 yoars," lio said, "and the Native owners not only receive all the rents, but they pay not one farthing to tho upkeep of the town."

During tho sitting of the Farmers' Union Conference, tho Taranaki Union will move:—"That tho executive protest against the farcical manner in winch the evidence of tho 'Cost of Living' Commission has been taken, both in not giving reasonable facility for country evidence, and in sitting only in the large centres." The motion also a.sks that a copy of the resolution be sent to the M.P.'s for Taranaki, and that they be asked to bring the protest before the house.

A meeting of the Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society was held in Sir liobert Stoufs .room, Supreme Court Chambers, on Monday. Sir H. Stout presided. There were present:—Mrs. H. R. Richmond, Dr. M'Arthur, S.M., Messrs. H. H. Ostler, T. Lambert, J. P. O'Regan, E. Arnold, B. Cuinings, secretary. Apologies were received from Mr. T. M. Wilford and Brigadier Bray. Matters were discussed resrardiiif! the bettor assistance of women, Mrs. Richmond giving an experience of years of work amongst them. Dr. M'Arthur road a waiter showing how tho work of the society could bo facilitated, he having gone into tho Matter exhaustively. His suggestions will bo put into practice for the benefit of prisoners. Ho expressed himself strongly en the possibility of not allowing prisoners to inorea=o because population increases, and making it imperative on all members of society to help to reclaim the fallen. Sir R. Scout and some members disonssed the paper at length, and agreed as to its importance. Finally, a committee consisting of Dr. M'Arthur, S.M., Mr. L. Arnold, and Mr. B. Cumings (secretary) were appointed to review all cases.

"That llic Welliiigtoii Education Board lias no knowledge of its members having been canvassed for appointments of tericlicrs," was the text of a notice of motion which was i>ot down on Hie order paper for yesterday's meeting of the AYellingion liducation Board. At the request of tho mover, Mr. A. 11. Vile, who was absent, the motion was withdrawn. A Policeman'? lot is net 3 happv en« vh»n "Otmp Ofiee'' i' off, It is 50 u arming cu cold nights i—Advfc.

Licensing billiard rooms was touched 011 at the municipal committeee yesterday. Ou the motion of Mr. li. T. Michael (Auckland), it was resolved: "That the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act dealing with tho licensing of billiard rooms bo amended to give municipalities extended power so that not only the character of the applicant nnd the suitability of the building shall be taken into account, but also tho question as to "whether the locality is suitable otherwise, when deciding upon any application for a billiard room license." Mr. Michael added that, at times people wished to open billiard rooms in surroundings which were quite unsuitable, and at present tho municipalities could not (leal with such cases.

Displays on hoardings were discussed at the Municipal Conlerence yesterday. The outcoiuo of the discussion was tlio following resolution: "That, as the existing legislation relating to hoardings and the public display within view of passengers on highways of advertisements is unsatisfactory, and fails to deal effectively with existing hoardings, fresh legislation be cnacted giving tho council full pi/wer to license and otherwise control al! hoardings existing or future, and generally to control under license or otherwise tho exhibition of advertisements on hoardings, walls, places, and buildings visible from streets."

A dispute has arisen between tho New Zealand Bookbinders' aud Paper Killers' Society and tho employers of tho Wellington industrial district, and as the parties have failed to corno to any agreement, tho matter will bo referred to a council of conciliation. The demands of the society are for a week of 'IS hours, tho regulation thereof to be mutually agreed upon. The minimum wage for competent journeymen, who are required to work tho full IS hours, shall lie 10s. per week. If a journeyman bo employed for less than a w;cek, continuous employment, ho shall bo paid not less than time and a third per hour. The usual provisions are made for overtime, holidays, underrate workers, apprentices, and preference to unionists. Messrs. Win. Naugliton, William Burns, and C. Johnston have been nominated as the union's representatives before the Conciliation Commission. For consideration of the dispute, the following dates have been fixed by Mr. P. Hally, Conciliation Commissioner:—Wellington, August 12; Napier, August 1G; and Paliuerston North, August 19.

In Grey Street, Palnierston North, there is a block of land which for some years lias been regarded by Palmerstonians as "locked up" property. This was tho land referred to by Mr. J. A. Nash (Mayor of Palnierston North) when he told tho Municipal Conference yesterday that in Palnierston North thero was a large area of Native land which we have been for years trying to induce the Public Trustees to cut up. It has been cut up now, and the sections are selling rapidly."

During a- brief discussion' on teachers' appointments, tho Wellington Education Board yesterday reiterated its adherence to tho principle that 110 teacher could bo considered eligible for promotion who had served for less than two years in his, or her,- present appointment—save In exceptional cases.

A deputation from tho Municipal Conference is to wait upon the Prime Minister and Minister for Internal Affairs to-morrow. 1

"I think 'that every cow which supplies a borough with milk should bo thoroughly tested," said Mr. Mackay, Mayor of Wanganui, at the Municipal Conference yesterday. On Mr. Mack ay's motion tho conference affirmed "tho desirability of a more stringent and systematic inspection of dairy herds by Government inspectors."

Councillor Barber lins given notice that ho will move at tho next meeting of tho City Council: "That before proceeding to consider tho reports of the Tramways Board and motions referring thereto tho board bo instructed to furnish a further report showing what economies can bo effected in tho tramway system and report to tho council." i '

Mr. .Lovien, is not . going to sit still under what was, to him, tho adverse and unexpected report of the Totalisator Commission (says the "Sydney Telegraph" of July 22). The majority of tho Commission evidently thought that tho totalisator should not be introduced as an extra facility for betting, though it was preferable to the system of betting with bookmakers. "I am going to accept that view," said Mr. Lovien, "anil when I reintroduce my Bill in a day or two, it will contain a clauso to abolish the bookmaker. I will also meet Mr. M'Court's objection with a provision that proprietary clubs must devote tho receipts from the totalisator to the increaso of prizes and the upkeep of their courses. With tlioso additions the measure will practically have received the unanimous support of the Commission."

The fund inaugurated in Auckland for tho .purpose of providing a for tho uso of the Bishop of Melanesia in his mission work has risen to well over ,£2OO.

The following is a copy of a letter sent to tho Minister for Justice by the Employers' Association;—"l havo tho honour, by direction -of my Advisory Board, to inform you that tho attention of this Federation has been called to the fact that the pillaging of cargo and goods both overseas and in tho railways of tho Dominion is assuming very Jarge dimensions, and is imposing great loss upon traders. It is suggested that moro strenuous efforts should be made by Government officials to sheet home charges upon offenders, and that when convictions aro obtained the Crown's officials should urge that heavy and increasing penalties should bo imposed. Your valuable assistance in this direction is respectfully requested. William Pryor, Secretary."

To-morrow, August 1, a new system of paying the school teachers in tho Wellington Education District will como into operation, relieving painstaking board members of the laborious business of signing every month over 400 cheques. Fifteen credit i branches at the Bank of New Zealand have been arranged for at the various centres in the district, and teachers will now bB ablo to draw their salaries direct from the bauk, under authority —signed cheques—from the headmaster of the school. The Education Board, of course, will pay to the bank a lump sum to cover tho drafts at tho various centres.

Gradually, but very surely, all passenger steamers of auy tonuago are being fitted with wireless telegraphy. To-day no fewer tlinu eight steamers will bo within call. of tho local. wireless station. They are the Taluue, Makura .Zealandia, Rotorua, Hauroto, Maitai, Wimmera, and Zealandic.

A lecture on eugenics is to bo given by tho Chief Justice, Sir Eobert Stout, in the Sydney Street Schoolroom 'on .August 5. Tho lecture, which is being given under the auspices of Wellington branch of the Eugenics Education Society, will deal with the Mendelian law, and . tha wonderful light it has thrown on the ]iroblems of heredity, the serious position created by the declino in the birthrate, and the need for tho application of eugenic principles.

At a meeting of the Wellington Jewish Club's debating class last evening an interesting paper on "New Zealand Politics" was read by Mr. F. Goldberg. At tho conclusion of tho reading of tho paper an animated discussion took placo.

Detective Hammond arrested a woman last night on a charge of stealing articles of clothing, valued at 255. Sho will come before the Magistrate's Court in tho morning.