LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1562, 4 October 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Shouts of laughter rose in tho House of Representatives last night when Mr. J. Payno (Grey Lynn) said that he was in favour of an income tax of "moro than twenty shillings in tho pound" on incomes over ,£2.5,000 a year. Mr. Payne explained that his projected tax would make income* of moro than 125,000 a year impossible. The Energy, steam trawler, left for Cook Strait yesterday morning, and will return at an early hour this morning. Her finny spoil will be deposited at the new Municipal Fish Market, in Jervois Quay, which is to bo opened for the first time at 6 a.m. to-day. Captain Eckford, owner of tho Energy, states that the trawling has only been fairly successful of late, but a special effort would bo made to get a good supply for tho opening of the new Fish. Market. There is a strong rumour going the rounds to the effect that Anthony Hordern and Sons, Ltd., of Brickfield Hill, Sydney, intend to commence business in Wellington shortly. It is said that sites havo already been placed under offer.to the firm. During; a discussion in the House of Representatives last evening, the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher remarked incidentally that Mr. Isitt, member for, Christchurch North, hated the politics and personality . of the men on the Treasury benches..Mr. I Isitt made the Minister's remark the sub- ■ ject of a personal explanation. "He did hate the polities of the members of {he Ministry, he said, but as to personality it was a marvel to him that such good fellows should be so much better than their creod. The statement wns received by Ministers and by the House in chilly silence.

Fifty-throe students of tho science of military cookery—and who shall say that military cookery is not a science or that tho falo of a battle is not influenced in some degree by the quality of the army's dinner?—are at present in training at Trcntham under Sergeant-Major Dallingford, who ha"s passed through a cookery 'course at Aldershot, and knows something of tho creature wants of companies and regiments. Major H. H. Browne, Assistant Quartermaster-General at Headquarters, is supervising the cookery school, the members of which have come from various centres in Now Zealand to study standard methods. Tho course is carefully graduated, and includes instruction in slaughtering. The army cook, as a finished graduate of the school, is a.versatile individual, with a serious responsibility resting upon his shoulders—for an army, according to the Duko of Wellington's famous dictum, "moves solely upon its stomach."

An interesting demonstration on tho use of the equatorial telescope at tho now observatory on Botanical Hill (near {ho Kelburno Kiosk), was given by the Rev. Dr. Kennedy, rector of St. Patrick's College, before the members of the astronomical section of Hie Philosophical Society last evening, in the observatory, which is now, for all practical purposes, ready for use. The building is a small one, consisting of an ante-room, the revolving observatory dome, and a baa cellar, which is required for mechanicnl purposes.- The telescope itself, on a massive-looking standard, is a fair-sized instrument, delicately adjusted, and so arranged as to Iμ directed at will upon any spot in tho heavens which may bo the particular subject of observation. Dr. Kennedy's remarks wero principally concerned with a description of tho adjustment, for, tho benefit of members of the astronomical section in future observations. Hβ pointed out that the screw adjustment might easily bo injured by improper handling of tho telescope. Mr. C. P. Powlos, who presided, announced that it was proposed to provide separate keys for the use of members, and thoso would be issued at a small feo by way of subscription to tho observatory Tunds. A clock-work attachment to control the movoracnfcs of tho telesoope is to be provided at a Inter date. Some Clydesdale blood stock arrived from London by tho Arawa at Wellington yesterday. The shipment consistod of six horses—five stallions and a yearling. Tfiey were consigned to Messrs. Donald M'Donnld, of Invercargill, and J. B. Reid, of Elderslie, Southland, respectively.

The question of the class'of patients to be admitted to tho Buchanan Homo at GroytoH-n was discussed at some length at the meeting of tho Wairarapa Hospital and Charitable Aid Board this week. It appeared (says our Masterton. correspondent) that most of fho pntionts' so for admitted were suffering from tho incurable complaint of old ago. Some members expressed the opinion that this was hardly the class of patient for which the home was intended. Tho matter was eventually left in the hands of a subcommittee. The Petone Defence Rifle Club will open its season's shooting to-morrow at tho Waiwetu Range, when a match will be fifed between teams chosen by fclio President and Deputy-President on tho range. The distances will be 300, 500, and COO yards, seven shots at each. Town members are requested to leave by train from Lamblon Station at 1.10. Quite a number of trophies have already lieen given, and others are promised, and the club anticipates a very pleasant season's shooting. LIGHT CARS ARE.ECONOMICAL CABS. IMMEDIATE DELIVERY FROM STOCK. Now that motoring is no longer tho exclusive pastime of tho very rich, and now that the motor-car is coming to be regarded more as a. business necessity than a spare-time luxury, tho massive, heavy, high-priced cars of bygone years aro giving way before moderate-priced and economical light cars. The light car is light on tyres and light on petrol, und isin accomplish moro with a comparatively small nominal horse-power than a heavv car with, an engine of high power. M'e .tra catering very fully this season for tho light car demand, and we at present carry full stocks of the best French and British light cars. Of particularly attractive- design is the dainty two-.iea'er. tor-pedo-bodied, four-cylinder 8-12 h.p. Clement Bayard, built by the most celebrated of French iirms. This cur will scut threo at a pinch and is a grand little hillclimbcr. Its French price is .USG, ro which we add only the cost of importation. Then there is that exceptionally pretty car, the famous 1312-13 four-seater, four-cylinder, 11-15 h.p. torpedo-bodioi! Humbcr,' which sells in England «t jE&ia. A two-seater niodel sells in F.nglind at .£270, each inclusive of hood, shield and lamps. Wo add only the -'iiiportinir charge?. Then, for those who desire thencars "built to order" with 2, 3, i, or 5-scatcr bodies, we stock the Clemen iBayard 10-15 h.p., four-cylinder chassis. Th"o French price without tyres is 52.10 francs, eiiual to ,C2lO, to which we add importing charge.*. A. better and stronger chassis was never constructed. We stock all necessary body parts. We have also in stork (lie 1912-1:) light model Stude-balccr-Flnndcrs delivery car, 20 h.p., which .-ells complete at £'$:>. Catalogues and all information from Adams. Ltd.. Garage. Tnn.ni Street, Christchurch, Palnierfion North, and wause.n'ii, *Im> Tourist Motor Comiany, Hasti&ee,-^

A somewhat peculiar coincidence was noliced in tho Legislative Council Inst night by (ho Hon. J. E. Jcnlcinson, who drew attention to tho fact that October II wns tho anniversary, of a long-distant historical event—the transfer of tho capital site of New Zealand from Auckland to Wellington, and that the Louder of tho Council that day was t.ho Hon. H. l>. Bell, the son of Sir J\ J). Bell, who had held a similar position in the Government of the country *° tm,t nol( ' '•>' ' tllo present Minister for Internal Affairs, and header of tho Council. In acknowledging the reference, amidst t.hc applause of the Council, tho lion. 11. D. Bell, to tho evident satisfaction of at least one- Auckland resident, remarked that his father had opposed the transfer of tho capit.il. The next daylight parade ot tho Fifth Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel C. 11. Turner commanding) will be held to-morrow, the regiment assembling at 2 a.m., and finishing at 8 p.m. It is oxpectwl that the parade will take place on the snmo ground as last Saturday, namely, Miramor Flat. The Senior Cadets are also to parade to-morrow afternoon. The Public Works Department has accepted tho tender of Mr. Henry Webb for tho erection of a police station at Gisborne. .The contract price is ,£2306. The amended regulations for the manufacture- of methylated spirits appear in this week's Gazette. Conscience is said to make cowards of us all, but there are a few whom it mokes honest men. Ono has Bent is. in stamps to the New Zealand Government, tho "value of stationery used for my private use and belonging to tho Civil Service." Notice of cancellation of registration under tho Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act is given in tho Gazelle by the Port Chalmers Marine Labourers' Union. Conditions of employment and hours t»f work form the subject of an agreement that has been arrived at between tho Wellington Farmers' Meat Co., Ltd., of Mas(cilon, and tho Wellington .Freezing Works' Employees' Union. The agreement, which relates to work at Mastorton, has been filed with the Clerk of Awards (Mr. E. Stocker), and remains in forco until February 22, 1915. Mr. Wm. Veitch, of Wellington, has secured a fourteen years' lease (with tho right of renewal) of a very handsome block of buildings in Cathedral Square, Christchurch (next to the Chamber of Commerce), now in course of erection. Tho building will consist of a three-story structure in brick and concrete, one-half of which will be subdivided into suites of offices, nnd the other will consist of an up-to-date picture theatro to seat about 801)0 people. Mr. Charles is the owner of the property, and the plans of tho now building have been prepared by Messrs. Collins and Harman, of Christchurch.

Just before noon on Tuesday an accident occurred at the Shelly Beach baths, Auckland, which would most certainly have ended in the death of a girl 12 years of age had it not been for tho prompt and plucky action of Mr. Goodwin, foreman of the construction works which are proceeding at tho baths. Tho girl was playing with other children alxmt tho construction works, and ran along a narrow gangway, heedless of tho fact that it was marked "No admittance," and not observing a gap underfoot in the structure, eho fell through into tho water. The incident was observed by a number of women and children who were on the b?ach, and their cries attracted Mr. Goodwin's attention. Ho at once ran to where the accident had happened, and plunged, fully clothed, into the water. The girl, who had been carried somo 50 yards away by the tids, had already Sunk twice, and was going under the water a third time, when reached by her rescuer. Mr. Goodwin, succeeded in swimming back to tho beach with tho girl, who was soon brought round, littlo tho wora? for her adventure. Karori's claim to a post office was mentioned in the House of Representatives yesterday by Mr. W. H. D. Bell, M.P., wlib gave notice to ask tho Minister for Public Works whether he would put a vote on tho Estimates to cover tho cost of a post office building at Karori on a site purchased some years ago. Automatic telephones were tho subject of a brief discussion in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, when Mr. T. H. Davey M.P., asked tho Post-master-General whether he had seen the published report of an interview with an American visitor, who had criticised tho system of automatic telephones, and expressed doubts as to its value. Tho Hon. It. H. -Rhodes said that he hod road the account of the interview. He gathered that it was only in view of the advancement of wireless telephony that exception was taken to automatic telephones. So far as he could learn, wireless was not coming into such general use as wns indicated in the interview, and it would at least be many years'before it displaced automatic telephones. Sir Joseph Ward said that there was no doubt as to the value of automatic telephony, but lie believed that wireless telephony would come into operation very speedily. Mr. Rhodes interjected that there was no privacy about it. Sir Joseph Ward raid that an expert whom he met in New York had stated that before long he wouM be able to telephone by wireless from that city to any house or number in Wellington. Ho agreed with the PostmnstcrGeneral, however, that it might be as well to be content with automatic tclophones in the meantime. At a special meeting of tho Onslow Borough Council, held last evening, at which the Mayor (Mr. F. Holdsworth) presided, it was decided,to grant Messrs. Levin and Co.'s application for- a railway siding across Station Road to their new premises at Kaiwarra, subject to tho consent of tho Governor-in-Council being obtained, Thoro were about 400 passengers /or New Zealand on board tho Arawa, whfth arrived from, London yesterday. Tho "assist?ds" numbered 127—91) adults and 31 children. The High Commissioner approved of 53 adults and four children, while tho remainder were nominated by relatives in New Zealand. There were nine farmers, 42 farm labourers, !) wives who have come out to rejoin their husbands, and 14 "domestics."