LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1574, 18 October 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities advise that the s.s. Maheno, which left Sydney ou October IG, for Auckland, has ou board an Australian mail, and ali=o an English mail, via Suez. The Wellington portion is due to arrive here oil Holiday next, October 21. Authority has Treen given the following military officers to convene general or district courts-martial for the trial of persons subject to military law as arc for the time being under or within the territorial limits of their respective com-mands:—Lieutenant-Colonel (temporary Colonel) Arthur Bauchop, C.M.G., New Zealand Staff Corps, Officer Commanding the Otngo Military District; LieutenantColonel (temporary Colonel) Robert Logan, A.D.C., New Zealand Staff Corps, Officer' Commanding the Auckland Military District.

Tho official figures in connection with the recent waterside workers' ballot on the question of downing tools next Saturday were as follow Total votes, 10G2; for the "holiday," 505; against the "holiday," 514. Majority against, 39. The result was published in yesterday's Dominion*.

.The tea kiosk, which is to be erected at Newtown I'ark, was under discussion at the City Couucil meeting last night. The Mayor proposed that it should be erecton! by day labour under the supervision of the City Engineer's department. This was objected to by Councillor Fletcher, who contended that tenders should be called, and then they would know exactly what the building was going to cost. He moved as an amendment that the work be let by contract, for which tenders should be immediately called, The amendment was seconded by Councillor Fitzgerald, and after brief discussion carried by 10 votes to 3..

The total capital cost of installing the slot telephones now in use in the four citics was <£1312. A return presented to the House of Representatives yesterday shows the following receipts for one quarter from themChristcluvrch, .£55 18s. 7d.; Wellington, <£fil 18s. Sd.J Auckland, ,£G2 lCs. 3d.; Dunedin, ,£3l 17s. 2d. Total, <£212 10s. sd;

A notification in last, niglifs Gazette states that 8.01 perchcs of land in the borough of -Lower Hutt have been taken over by the Stnfe for the purposes of constructing a bridge over the Hutt River, and for approaches to the bridge.

An unknown. Ancklander has sent tho Commissioner of Taxes, Wellington, JJS, conscience money.

According to the Act empowering the City Council to carry on reclamation work at Kilbirnie, the undertaking was to lmve been-completed in seven years. The council last evening decided to make application to the Government for the insertion .of a clause 111 a Bill extending the above period to twelve years, as the seven years have almost expired.

The corporation employees have been granted a holiday on Saturday, November 30, for their annual picnic.

A small extension of tram track at Kent Terracc was authorised by the 'Wellington City Council last evening to provide for tho accommodation of cars required for emergency and other purposes,

A magnificent trophy is to Ire awarded to.the winner of the Champion Plate to be competed for at tho Wellington Racing Club's Spring meetiug on Monday week (Labour Day). It takes the form of a handsome square base or pedestal, and a very large and tastefully-designed cup, wrought in silver and super gilt. The cup is of classic design, and has a plain surface, ornamented only with broad gilt bands, on which is inscribed the words: "Wellington Racing Club Champion Plate, 1012," in old English lettering. Tho cup is surmounted by a miniature horse, exquisitely wrought in silver. The trophy was designed and manufactured by Stewart, Dawson and Co., Ltd.

There seem to be at present in circulation a fairish number of counterfeit sovereigns, which seem to be very good imitations of tho real thing. The only very noticeable difference between tire two is that the counterfeit coin is much lighter than the genuine one. The imitation coin is made of white metal, and gilded over.

At the Mount Cook Police Court, before Mr. George Frost, J.P., yesterday, John Douglas and one first offender were convicted and discharged for drunkenness. For a similar offence Ada Edwards was fined 10s., with tho alternative of seven days' imprisonment, and Elizabeth Musgrove 10s., or forty-eight hours' imprisonment.

A man named George Maxwell arrived in custody from Taihapo yesterday, and will be charged at the Magistrate's Court this morning with having, on September 9 last at Wellington, forged the name of P. Lington to a cheque valued at ,£3 95., and uttered the same to F. Pierard.

Mr. Oscar Asche was tho guest of honour at the New Zealand Club's luncheon, held in the Y.M.C.A. rooms yesterday. -The actor was given a warm welcome, and in reluming thanks l'or the honour accorded him told a number of amusing stories. Olio >vas of Ihe experience of Henry Kittson ( n well-known English comedian, at the dentist's. Ho approach' cd tho tooth-drawer with a story of a troubled tooth—a great big back doubletooth, well-decayed, which needed extraction. "How much wil) it cost to have it out?" asked the actor. "Ten-and-six for gas," said the dentist. "But what for the ordinary extraction—just lo get the forceps well in and tug it out? The dentist said it would ho Jin)f-a-erowi), and, in saying so, remarked what n wellplucked moil the actor was. "Oh," said the comedian, "it's not mine—it's one of the wife's that has to come out." Another Asclic story related to the old-tirao permanently hard-tip tragedian in a bar. Another customer had presented a sovereign, which tho barmaid could not change.

"Can you change a sovereign ?" she asked tho actor. "I regret to say that I cannot," said he with tho coat of rabbitskin trimmings grandiloquently, "but I thank you for tho compliment.'

Two notices of motion on last night's order paper were not discussed by the City Council on account of the time limit having been reached. Councillor Frost objected to any extension of time, and (objection was "also raised by Councillors Shirtclifl's and Godber. The last-named had given notice of motion to rescind a motion carried at the previous meeting to call a conference of representatives oi tiie Government and local bodies to consider "a scheme for a more economical, speedier, and modern service in connection with the transit of passengers and traffic by means of electric traction, and the utilisation of the municipal tramways, whereby the Harbour Board wharves and railway stations should be linked up hy direct tramway communication with all the suburban districts." It was not proper that such a rescinding motion should be discussed by a "thin" oouncil, said Councillor Godber, and that was why he was against any extension of time.

The negotiations between the Wellington Steain ferry Company and the Eastbourne Borough Council for the purchase of the harbour steamers Duchess and Cobar, are still proceeding. The seal of tlio Council has already been attached to the deed of agreement to purchase, but the Ferry Company has raised the point about the security for the loan (a special rate) and ask that a sinking fund be included in the loan arrangements. This is said to be contrary to the council's policy. It is understood that the agreement as it stands provides that the Ferry Company, as owner of the sports grounds, shall not charge visitors to Day's Bay more than threepence per head.