LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1521, 17 August 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities advise that the s.s. Wimraera, which sailed from Sydney at 3 p.m. on August 14 for. Auckland, has ou hoard an Australian mail, also a small English mail via Suez. The Wellington portion is due to arrive hero by Main Trunk on Monday next, August 19. Captain Hasle, manager of the, New Zealand Whaling Company, which has hoen operating in the far north from a base at Russell, has written to a friend in Wellington stating that tho total catch up to three days ago had been 27 hump-back whales. This has been extremely disappointing, as the season is now virtually at an end, and the company had hoped to catch about 500 whales during the season. Still, Captain llaslo does not despair, ns ho mentions in' the letter that ho is contemplating starting n shore, station for the more convenient handling of the catch next season. A Government servant employed at tho Pa.vliamentiir.v Buildings was arretted by Detective Abbott yesterday on a charge, of having stolen several volumes of New Zealand Statutes from the lobby sit Parliament House. For a considerable timo past books have been missed from tho shelves at various intervals, and following upou a complaint from the Parliament House officials investigations were instituted by tho police, authorities. Tho accused will bo formally charged at tho Magistrate's Court this morning. A few davs ago Mr. ,T. liowo and 138 others—residents of Onehunga—petitioned tho House of Kepresentatives, alleging that the Onehunga "Zoo" constituted a nuisance and asking the Government to bring down legislation providing for tho licensing of zoological gardens with a view to their regulation. A counterblast has now arrived in the shape of n petition from John Baird and 3578 others, residents of Onehunga, Epsom, and Auckland, praying tho Government not to give the Onehunga Council power to license tho Onehunga "Zoo." If thoy get "tho power" tho petition succinctly remarks, "it menus closing the 'Zoo'." Both petitions were presented by Mr. Lang.

On Thursday night tho Post, Office at Gore, and with it (ho telenliono exchange, was destroyed by fire. ]]i the House of Representatives yesterday, Mr. G. J. Anderson, member for tho district, gave notice to nsk tho Postmnster-Genonu whether ho would instal an automatic tciephono system to replace the ono destroyed. Replying to a resolution from tho Dominion Farmers' Conference, urging an economic and just expenditure of public funds, and that tho vicious system of expending huge sums of public money in the erection of costly public buildings in tho largo towns )x> discontinued, and that more- attention bo given to tho requirements of the back-blocks in the wav of roads and bridges, the Minister " for Finance has informed tho secretary of tho union that "at the present time the matter is under tho careful consideration of tho Government." Arising out of a meeting yesterday between Hie Mayor of Wellington (Mr. I). -\ l Laren), and the Mayor of Eastbourne (Mr. H. W. Short!) in connection with the proposal to acquire the Day's Bay bush from the Wellington Ferry Company, Mr. M'Laren has decided to' convene a conference of the Mayors of the surrounding boroughs, to take plnco in his room at the Town Hnll on Wednesday next, at 11 a.m., to further consider tho matter. It is hoped that tho Minister in Charge of the Scenic Reserves, who is to bo invited to attend, will bo able to ho present. Tho Victoria Bowling Club entertained, visitors from tho Wellington Bowling Club on Thursday evening at games of "500" and euchre. Tho contest resulted in a draw. A pleasant evening was spent, and at the close Mr. Norwood (president of the Victoria Club) felicitously proposed tho health of tho visitors, which was responded to bv Mr. Price, on behalf of the Wellington' Club. At the Island Bay Hall last night tho operetta "Tho Flower Queen" was performed in the presenco of a large audience. The following is the cast of characters:—Crocus, Miss C; Diblcy; Dahlia, Miss' Doris Pikett; Heliotrope, Miss Gladys Webb; Japonica, Miss Mono. Porter; Sunflower, Miss Parker; Violet, Miss Rita Penty; Lily, Miss Keitka. Pikett; Tulip, Miss Wilkenin?; Hollyhock, Miss Griffiths; Dandelion, Miss Cassio Pound; Touch-Me-Not, Miss Alma Oliver; Queen (Rose), Miss Dorothy Wilkening; Recluse, Mr. Tansley. Sir. Fisher was pianist. The musical items and tho dancing were highly appreciated, and a very enjoyable evening was spent. The entertainment was in aid of St. Hilda's Church debt fund, A well-attended meeting of the committee of tho Wellington Rifle Association, which has in hnnd tho arrangements for the picture entertainment to be held in tho Town Hall on Wednesday, August 28, was held last evening, President H. Mai"shall (Karori Club) presiding. A report was presented showing that amongst others, the following had intimated their intention of being present:—His Excellency the Governor and party, tho Hon. the Minister for Defence and Mrs. Allen, General and Mr,. Godley, Colonel and Mrs, Collins, Colonel Campbell, Lieut.Coloncls Courtney and Turner, the Hoivs. F. M. B. Fisher and A. L. Herdman, and Mr. A. H. Hindmarsh. M.P. His Excellency will bo received by a guard of honour to be furnished by tho Fifth Regiment. A detachment of tho Highlanders in full uniform will also be on duty in the Town Hall. It was mentioned. that it was quite possible that tho Highland Pipe Baud would also parade. The oiler of Lieutenant D. A. Kenny, to play two military marches on tho Town Hall organ, as part of tho programme, was received with much appreciation, as also was tho offer of Captain Simeon to furnish a display of physical drill bv a specially trained squad of tho Boys' Institute Cadets. A meeting of representatives of the Tramways Union, tho Lieilertafel, City Band. Salvation Army, tho "Evcnhur Post, Wellington Dramatic Society, and Scottish Society was held in tho Slayer's room, on Thursday, tho Mayor p (Mx. _D. M'Laren) presiding, in connection with tho "disposal of tho fund raised on behalf of Mrs. Hancock and Mrs, M'Kay, widows of the tram conductors who were killed in tie city tram servico recently. Other contributors were accounted for, and it was also announced that further contributions'we're" in view ' which should bring the total of the fund to about ,£3OO. It was decided, on tho motion of Lieutenant Herd, that tho money should bo placed in' trust with the Mayor and tho Town Clerk to •administer on behalf of. the subscribers. It was also decided to send n special letter of thanks to tho Tramways Union for tho manner in which it had interested itself on belialf of the widows.