LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1522, 19 August 1912, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The. Wimmora, with a small English (via Sura) mail and an Australian mail arrived at Auckland from Sydney at G p clock last evening. The Wellington bass will arrive by the Main Trunk exi press this nftornoDJi. I A Wellington resident, formerly well .known in musical nud social circles is at present appearing in a vaudeville entertainment at Tahiti. His Majesty's Theatre, a new house of entertainment erected bv Mr. K. S. Parker, High Street, Blenheim, was formally opened last week. Tho theatre is designed by Mr. Henry E. White, of Wellington, on the lotest lines of what are known in America as "intimate" theatres; that is to fay, an effort is brought to bring the, audience as close as possible to the stage without marring tho general effect of the stage picture. Tho new theatre at Blenheim is squaro (G2ft. by 62ft), seats 1150 people, and is elaborately decorated in fibrous plaster work of chaste design, picked out in white and moss green. There aro four private boxes, and tho whole of the circle and orchestral stalls seats are of tho substantial tip-up variety, upholstered in green Utrecht velvet. There are six commodious dressing rooms, the stage is capacious, and has been furnished with a set of stock scenery by Mr. Beck. Mr. John l'uller, of Wellington, who visited tho _ theatre last week, has given Mr. White instructions to erect one on similar lines for his firm in Nelson. The theatre was erected by day labour.

Should a tourist who brings a kinematograph outfit as anothor would a snapshot camera bo charged duty on unexposed film, when tho pictures taken in New Zealand are to be exhibited abroad ? That is the question the Customs officials were faced with last week. There may be an argument in tho question on. political lines, but (hero was none with the Customs officials, who said: "Pay!" But tho American gentloman thought' the domand somoivhat of an imposition and said"No." This country, ho thought, was too progressive, po he decided not to tako any pictures in New Zealand, and dispatched Ins unused film under Ixmd to Auckland, ready to take it back after ho has visited the places of interest in his itinerary, home elasticity seems to bo called for in our Customs tariff.

A meeting of land agents was held on 1 rida.v at tho offices of Messrs. Harcourt and U. Mr. ,T. 1). Harcourt was voted to the chair. The Land Agents' Hill, which m to come before the Lands Committee oi (ho Hou.se on Tuesday, was fully discussed, and Messrs. J. H. Harcourt and A. Leigh Hunt appointed as delegates to givo evideuco before the committee. Delegates are coming from various parts of Now Zealand ami aro lo meet at Mr. Harcourfs offices at o'.M this evening. Tho penny.in.the.slot stamp machine, situated m tho main entrnnco of the Gen. era! Post Office, was evidently out of order Into on Inday night. Two persons who wore anxious to scmvro stomps put pennies in, but no slumps were forthcoming. The two pennios did not como back. There was no notice on the machino to indicate that it was out of order.

The Wellington Dramatic Society are very busy with that very clever four-act comedy Jedbury Junior," wliioh they intend producing in the Opera House oil August 30, in aid of tho widows of late train conductors M'Kay and Hancock. Judging by rehearsals and tho bale of tickets everything points to this performance being a great success. Tho box nlan was opened at the Dresden on Weitm-i. clay morning when a large number of seals wore reserved.

'lho periodical examinations held bilbo examiners of tlio Inspection of .Machinery Department took place n-rontlv at Auckland, Jjlonheini, t'lirisirhiireli, Dimeclin, (iroymouth, Hamilton, Invorenrgili, JCohukoliu, .N'apior, Nelson, Polmcrsloii Xorth, Tiinavu, Wnngatuii, Wellington, Westport, ami Whirianga. CniKliilatcs sat for the following classes of certificates.— i'irst-clnss marine engineer, second-class marino engineer, third-class marine engineer, river engineer, marine enginedriver and engineers of auxiliary-powered vessels other than steam (both for seagoing and river trade), extra first-class engineer, first-class stationery enginedriver, second-class stationary enginedriver, locomotive and (Taction enginedriver, winding-engine-driver (for mining eorlilientos), and. electric tram driver. Of tlio 2H3 candidates '_'22 were successful.

■Ratepayers of I'efono arc reminded (hat the statutory public meeting in connection with the proposals to raise loans of .£40,000 (sewage), .£(100 (town clock), and .A'tiflOO (waterworks), will.be held in St. Angusline's Hall, IMonc, 'to-night. The Mavor (Mr. .1. W. M'Kwan) will preside and explain lllii propoin.l? in deln.il. U is -utouded to t-ike the poll en September 2,

Tho Auckland Hospital Board is pushin;,' ahead the proposal to erect a cottage hospital at Devonport (writes our correspondent), and has decided to ask tho Government to give it a site at Stark's Point. It was stated by the chairman (Sir. H. Sshollidd) that Warkworth residents had also imido out u good ease for a cottage hospital, but that the board would probably wait to test the success of such an institution at Devonport, before, establishing ono at Warkworth. The soloists engaged for the Hoval Wellington Choral Society's performance of Gounod's "Kedemption" ,at the Town Hall on Friday are: Madame Wietoorf, of Auckland (soprano), Miss Doris Ball, of Wellington (contralto), Mr. C. 11. Stephens, of Wellington (tenor),. Mr. Conrteney V. Mohr, of Melbourne (bass), who is to sing the. part of the Narrator, and Mr. Jas. A. Doherty (bass), whu will take llio part, of Jesus.

Mr. Y\. N. Hodges, member of the Federal Parliament for Frcmantlc, who has boon touring the world, said the mo=t wonderful sight ho saw during Hie wholo of Ins trip was the fruit and ilower show at Chelsea, England. "It would," ho said, "bo impossible to describe it in a casual way. Try and imagine a show ol fruit of all kinds shown growing on the trees and ripe at the same time—oven to tropical cr sub-tropical fruit liko bananas and pineapples. There were vines laden with most luscious grapes the world could produce, strawberries in beds with berries', nearly as large as tho palm of my hand, and weighing over two ounces each. These have all been grown and forced under special conditions, "but it is a practical illustration of what can bo done by the adjustment of temperatures and the use of manures. Even in tho provinces it has been a wonderful year for ro.-es. but I venture to say that t do not think there has ever been a rose show in tho world like the one at Chelsea. There was the perfection of every variety imaginable, and it was easily possible to spend a day in the rose section alone." While ,in England Mr. Hedges attended (he launching of the cruiser Melbourne (at Liverpool), destined for tho Commonwealth squadron. '

The semi-final debate of the Wellington Debating Societies' Union for the Parliamentary Shield will take place at tho Y.M.C.A. this evening, when the representatives of tho "Wellington Catholic Club, which is to take the affirmative, and of tho Vivian Street Baptist Society (tho negative), will debate tho question: "That Capital Punishment should be Abolished." Mr. P. C. Freotk will act as judge.

Members of both Houses of Parliament arc to attend a meeting of the Xew Zealand branch of the Empire Parliamentary Association this morning. The meeting has been called in order that tho Provisional Committee set up at a meeting held a week or two/ngo may deliver its report.

A man named Samuel .T. Barrett, of 223 Thorndon Quay, was shot in the leg yesterday through tho accidental discharge of a revolver. Barrett was carrying the revolver over tho Wadcslown hills at the time. Ho is now in tho public hospital.

Tho annual meeting of tho Wellington Anglican .Boys' Hdhio Society will bo held in the Sydney Street Schoolroom this evening at 8 o'clock.. The hoiw, which was formally opened on Hay •!, is under the care of Mr. J. S. Fawcolt. Four boys are at present in the home, two more n'ro accepted for admittance, mil-several further applications arc- under consideration. Tho sum of .£l7O has l*'on received in donations since tho inception of the society. The wholo of this amount ins been expended in tho furnishing and the maintenance of tho homo sipc? it was opened.' Tho current year's liabilities <irc:—Kent of house and ground, £41; first instalment of purchase money, «C 100; salary of master and matron, Xl2O. Tho maintenance- of the home has been set down at ,£l5O. The board aims at securing an assured income of JCtOO a year. To this end an appeal for assistance) is being made.

A general meeting of members of the Wellington Branch of the New Zealand Journalists' Association was held on Saturday evening. A resolution that tho branch should register as a union under the Arbitration Act was unanimously carried. Officers of the new union wcre'electcd and the rules drawn up by the Dominion conference were adopted. Delegates to the conference presented their report and after discussion a nearly vote of thanks was accorded to all the'members of the conference for tho good work they had accomplished.

Number 11 Hanson Street, off Adelaide Road, was tho .scene of an outbreak of fire at 7.15 p.m. yesterday, necessitating tho attendance.of (ho brigade. Tho lire was in a two-storied wood and iron building of seven rooms, owned by Mr. A. H. Hutt, of. Karori, and occupied by Mr. Win. Arrowsmith. Three rooms were sublet to Mr. Thos. Crates. Tho hall, stairs, and upstairs rooms were severely damaged. The fire started in a cupboard under tho stairs, but the cause is unknown. The insurance on the building could not bo ascertained last night. Mr. Arrowsmith had an insurance of iIISO in the South British Office on the contents, and Mr. Crates had a policy of .£IOO in the United Office.

At 10 o'clock on Saturday night a man fell oft' the Queen's Wharf at No. 3 berth into tho harbour. A smart rescue was effected by the Harbour Board officials and some of the bystanders by one of their number climbing down tho woodwork of the wharf and passing a line round the man.

Reciprocity between Aushalia and New Zealand is strongly favoured by Mr. W. N. Hedges; member for Fromantlo in the Federal Parliament, who was a through passenger - from America by the Manuka. "1 think those countries are made to help each other," said Mr. Hedges. "Wo have frequently wonderfully bountiful seasons, when wo could supply Now Zealand with lots of tilings it dees not or cannot produce- so well, such as grapes and subtropical fruits, and lots of manufactured goods. On the other hand we hare our drought times at infrequent intervals, when we would bo glad to bo ablo to get Now Zealand foddor in free. Personally,

I believe in a freo interchange between, the two countries. Tho freight.is suflicient protection cither way to prevent much harm being done, whereas when there a,ro shortages of one thing or another it would bo a convenience to bo aide to rely on another Stale, under (ho same Hag. I have about 120 draught horses in the West, and I never feed them on any other than New Zealand while ouis, for the simplo reason that I can get the best work out of them on such hard feed."