LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1615, 5 December 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Government have agreed to pay tho salary of a caretaker for the Arts Club's building, in'which the pictures which aro to form the nucleus of a National Gallery are now hung. This will permit of the gallery being open on six afternoons a week to the public. Probably the day on which it will not be open will be Monday. A nightwatchman is also being provided by tho Government.

The committee and office-bearers of the Unattached Officers' Association met on Monday ovening for the purpose of drawing up a syllabus of lectures or papers, and discussing several matters of importance to the association. It was decided that the first general , meeting for the purposo of reading papers will be held after the New Year. The exact date will bo notified by letter to the officers concerned. Territorial officers on the unattached list (b) are those serving with the Senior Cadets.

The eighth annual picnic of the Wellington Technical School day students took place on Monday last in what ultimately proved to be glorious weatter. The Mayor (Mr. D. M'Laren) accompanied the party to the Bay, where -. excellent, if somewhat lengthy, programme of sports was carried out. The director (Mr. W. S. La Trobe), and 'the various members of the staff -present, all assisted in making the gathering a most enjoyable one for the numerous present and past students who attended. . The pn? donated by various merchants, instructors, and friends, were distributed on Wednesday evening in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall, at the annual prize distribution of the college.

On the Victoria's last trip from Sydney a child passenger had a dummy white cat, holding in its paws a black mouse. The ship's cat in its wanderings around came suddenly on this white stranger, and, with hair on end, stealthily approached. Within two feet they got "set," and angrily eyed each other;.they stared and stared, till finally, overcome by the white cat's stony glare, "Blacldo" sprang at its adversary with savage intent. After a fierce combat, the white dummy completed a series of somersaults by standing on its head, still holding the mouse, anil glaring vacantly ahead. "Blackic" had sprung back to dodge an anticipated assault, but his antagonist's tactics were so alarming that he became quite unnerved, and fled for his life. The passengers, all agreed that the incident was too funny for words.—Auckland "Star."

It is stated that i>. syndicate composed entirely oE local master bakers has been formed for the purpose of erecting a largo feotory with a complete fend up-to-date waohlbe*y ylAut onyuble of taniing out 13,000 io&m & di*

Exports from Wellington and Clristchurch (writes our Auckland correspondent) indicate that the leading firms in those cities are making active preparations for next year'B Exhibition in Auckland, and that about 30 firms in the latler town intend having exhibits. The proposed bund contest during the Exhibition appears to have a very good chance of materialising. Tlio secretary (Mr. W. Holmes) has received from tho North Island Band Associations approval of the proposal, ami tho South Island Association has now been communicated with, suggesting that next year's contest under the auspices of that body should be Ivsld over with, a view to enabling tho South Island Bands to compete in Auckland at a Dominion contest.

While travelling by bicycle from Wairoa to Napier a day or two ago (says an exchange) a Napier resident ran across an old roadman at Waihua named J. ll'Cabe. This pioneer of the roncls- makes .a point of inviting fill and sundry who pass his door to "come- in and sup," and not ono penny will ho take as remuneration. It is a nobby of the old man to keep a tally of all live stock that pass along the Wairoa Bond. During last summer no less than 106,000 sheep and 5000 head of cattle passed in the direction of Napier. The prevalcnco of sharks in Auckland Harbour during the last few summers has been particularly noticeable (writes our correspondent). This season they seem to be appearing earlier than usual. Already several lmvc been noticed by yachtsmen, and on Tuesday no fewer than nvo ivero to bo seen between the new Queen Street berths and tho old ferry jetty. Tiro sharks had been, attracted by some dead niullot. One is reported to have been at least 12ft. in length, the others) varying' from six to nino feet.

A deputation from the Island Bay Municipal Electors' Association will wait upon tho Reserves Committee of the Wellington City Council at i p.m. to-day, to lay before them a scheme of improvements at the Island Bay beach and parade, and also tree-planting proposals.

The plans and specifications upon which tenders will be called for the erection of thru new Parliament Buildings are not yet complete, and probably nothing will ba done about calling for tenders for at. least a week.