LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1532, 30 August 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities advise that the .s. Victoria, which sailed from Sydney t nooii 011 Hie 28th inst. for Auckland, as on board an Australian mail. The Wellington portion is due to arrive here y Main Trunk on Monday next, Septerncr 2. The best bass voices and the finest choir inging in the world, said the Hon. Mauiee Baring at the Neiv Zealand Club yos;rday, are found in liussia. A cable message from Sydnoy yesterday tated that theatre-managers were comilaining against the city by-law which ompelled them to keep oil-lamps in caridol's au<l near exits, and slated that reently one of the lamps burst, and nearly aused.a panic. It should be expfaiued hat these lamps aro placed in theatres— 11 Wellington as well as Sydney—so that 11 the event of an accident to the ligliti? system, such as a short circuit or a cutff during a fire, there shall be some light n tho theatre (o guide the audience to ho exits. Experience lias proved that /hen people can seethe danger—lire, acident, or whatever it may be causing tho ishirbance, there is little chance of rouble, but shut off the lights altogether, ml they became panic-stricken at once, iul act-as they would never act if there . ere light. Tho lamps in the Wellington heatres consist of a vessel containing live oil (a non-volatile oil), on the surface I if which floats a small piece of wicklight. Superintendent Tait, of the ihinicipal Eire Brigade, would not go so nr as to say that it was impossible for. hem to. explode, but as far as they had leen able to ascertain, there was no dan;er of explosion in the type of lamp used 11 the Wellington theatres. He is of ipiniou that other than olive oil must lave been used in the lamp which is re>orted to have exploded in a Sydney heatre. From to-day monthly school tramway ickets will only be issued to scholars preenting certificates at the Thorndou office, •ertifying that they are under 17 years of go, and attending a primary or secondary cliool daily between the hours of 8 a.m. md 6 p.m. The sale of the school tickets it the Newtown depot will be discontinued ortlnvilh. "Greatly awed by the legal voice and rearing of the Hon. Mr. Bell in introducing the measure to reform the legislative Council," writes "Onlooker," 'members of that august Chamber seemxl to cower with fear for their lives. But gathering courage from much talking on the second reading of the measure, lliev are now showing -signs of preparing for" a stand-up light with the mighty iggrossor—which puts one' in mind of the following story:—A mouse crept into a cellar where was a cask of port leaking at tho tap. Tho little animal had a taste, drew back in haste, then tried another sip. Later, having imbibed a considerable quantity, the wee tiling sat up boldlv, twirled its whiskers, and said: 'Now, where is llmt d deat that has been chasing me all night?'" Mr.-William Turnbull, architect, has accepted the tender of Mr. J. Ransom for the erection of additions—a new bottling store and engine-house—for Messrs. J. Staples and (Co., brewers, on their Molesworth Street property. The contract price (for tho two buildings) is about .£SOOO. ' A special meeting of the lower Hutt Borough Council will bo held on Monday, next to consider the representations which were submitted by the carpenters' deputation at tho last meeting of the council regarding plumbers' charges. i In June last Mr. E. Holliday's stationers shop on Lambton Quay was entered and a number of small stolen, Detectives Eawlo and Cameron have nowtraced the articles, and in consequence 1 a boy is to be charged at the Magistrate's Court this morning with the theft. The same lad will also be called upon, to answer to charges of having stolen a bicycle and a gun.

In no country in the world, said the Hon. Maurice Baring at the New Zealand Cub yesterday, is there so little political liberty, and so much personal lil»rty, as in Russia. There, if a .man chousss to bo wicked, it is his own affair—nobody talks about it. "I wisli they wero like that in England," said Mr. tiaring, whimsically. Mr. 11. M'Kcowen, chairman of the management committee of the Wellington Eootball Association, ; nteryiowed the Kcecrves Committee of the City Council yeslertlny afternoon with reference to the association's application for a rebate on tho corporation's charges in respect of the use of the ])uppa Street ground. The coinniitteo recommended a rebate of .I's ss. at the last meeting of the council, but tho item was referred back. Tho committee, after hearing Mr. M'Kcowcn, promised to consider his representations, and 6co what could ho done. A meeting of parishioners of St. Michael's (Anglican). Kelburne, was held in the Clnirchroom, Upland Hoad, on Wednesday evening, to inaugurate the church building scheme. The Bishop of Wellington (Dr. Sprott) presided. Alter tho business tho choir sang several part-songs, and supper was kindly provided by the Ladies' Guild and friends. Solos were contributed by Mesdames Harper, Coleridge, Miss H. Barnett (piano), Ecv. A. W. H. Compton, and Mv. D. Bray. The piano for the occasion was kindly lent by the Wellington Piano Co., Ltd. Tho Court of Appeal will sit at 10.30 a.m. to-day when it in possible some judgments will be delivered. A a inquest is to be held at 9 o'clock this morning concerning the death of Mrs. Margaret M'Mahon, aged 71 years, who recently came, to Wellington from Heel'ton, where her f husband resides, and who died at the Princess Hotel, i>.folesworth Street, at 9 o'clock on Wednesday night. She had been suffering from heart trouble for some time;