LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1553, 24 September 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Owing to a slip on the Main' Trunk lino at a spot thirteen miles south of Waioru station, the express from Auckland was two hours late in reaching Wellington yesterday. The Auckland-bound express was not delayed. A Waikato'newspaper proprietor stated in tho Arbitration Court yesterday that lie had not had an apprentice on h'is premises for about 13 years. "Why?" ho was asked. you can't get them," lie answered. "Ton can't even get a boy to sweep out the office." The annual Dominion conference of the Navy League will begin in the Town Hall at 11 a.m. to-day. His Excellency the Governor, as patron, will deliver the opening address. Ten branches will be represented.

The sight of twenty members of Parliament competing for honours with tho rifle at the Trentham range is one that should have an inspiring effect on the defence scheme. If the KiiTori ftillc Club has its way, this unwonted sight will be witnessed on Oc.'ober 5. At its annual meeting last night the club decided at the suggestion oMts president (Mr. H. Marshall) to invite two teams, each of ten members, to engage in a contest with tho rifle on the day named. The invitation is to extend only to members of tho Hou=o of Representatives. If it is accepted the club will provide rifles, ammunition, and expert advice for such of the competing Parliamentarian's as may stand in need of it.

A partv, including Mr. V. Hill, solicitor, C. G". Allcorn. F. L. Eastgate (Christchurch), and It. Cron (Greymouth) have returned to Uangitaiki after having undergone a somewhat severe experience. It is understood that the party had inspected several areas of land with a view lo purchasing, and on returning up the Itnngilaiki liivoi —a particularly difficult route ,to strangers—they .wandered from the usual track. Owing to dearth of food and the boisterous weather their horses became weak and were unable to proceed on tho journey, and to make matters worse, tho parties were not nrovided with provisions and were without tood for tiro days. According to one of them they encountered almost continuous rain and sleet ami their discomfort was added to by the fact that their tents and blankets had been sent forward elsewhere. On arrival at tho Uangitaiki Hotel they were treated in a very hospitable manner by .Mr.' and Mrs. Robertson who did everything possible' to ensure the comfort of the travellers.

A deputation, consisting of Messrs. W. G. Mitchell and K. H. Dodd, interviewed the Prime Minister yesterday on behalf of holders of Maori lenses in the Morikau No. 2 and YA'hararangi Blocks. The deputation was introduced by Mr. E. Newman, M.P. its members asked that tho tenants mentioned should be allowed to acquire the freehold of their leases. It was submitted that the Morikau settlers had an even better claim than the Ohula settlers who had put forward a similar request, since a reserve for the permanent benefit',- of the Natives existed on the Morikau No. 2 Block. The Prime Minister promised to make special inquiries of tho Native Department regarding the position. The House, he said, would have to deal with tho matter before anything could l)e clone and he was personally willing to assist. He thought it very unfair that the settlers should have lo mako roads at. their own expense for the ultimate benefit of tho Maoris.

An old Maori named Hohepa Tauhou, who died at Tui pa, near Te Aroha, on Thursday last, was only a few years short of the century, and formed one of the last. links with the riotous days of Wiremu Tamchana, who, in the early part of the nineteenth century, carried tire and sword into many a village in the Waikato and Thames. Tauhou was a famous fighter, and was among those who manned Hie pa at Knngiriri, where tho Kingite Maoris made their last stand, for the sovereignty of the Lower Waikato. Over 120 of the European forces and 50 Natives of the besieged forces fell on that day of slaughter, when the whites endeavoured to dislodge the Maoris from their stronghold. Twice did the besieged sally out and hurl back their assailants, who were greatly in tho majority. Tauhou, who. was then in his prime, was in the thick of tho fighting, and when the battle was over ho wa.s among' tho wounded.

Respecting the Merchants' Assistants' dispute a week of 48 hours, with a limit of nine hours a day, has been agreed upon, but no agreement has been come to regarding hours of overtime to be worked without payment.

The Wellington Harbour Board's wharfinger (Mr. Munro) has issued a circular to the board's employees warning them against the offence of pilfering fruit. The circular stales that clerks and sloromen arc to see that all fruit is handled carefully from the ship's slings and stacked without any rough handling, such as dropping one ease on the top of another. An adequate number of men must at all times be put: on to facilitate-delivery. If tho men. cannot be obtained the matter must bo reported to the wharfinger. The storemen are 'to see that no bags are allowed to be taken into the sheds by the fruit merchants or their assistants, and no one is to be allowed to receive fruit from them. No boys from any firm are to bo allowed in the sheds except for the purpose of conveying certificates or other papers to those concerned,-and on completion of their business arc at once to leave the sheds. Pilfering or eating fruit will Ire dealt with in the same way as pilfering cargo. Fruit merchants will supply empty cases for the purpose of packing any'surplus fruit which cannot be repacked into the eases which, are under examination. The charge for such repacking will be 3d. per case of three cubic feet, and an additional penny for every foot over, three feet.