LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1627, 19 December 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tlio poslftl iiutliDi'illofi lulvieo that the n.fl. Munuii.t, which willed from Sydnoy nt noon on JJcvDinLriir 10 for Aucfiluntl, liiin on Ixiarcl u v«ry einnll English rnnil, via Suez, aluo -an Auetrnlinii iniiil. Tliu VVullingloii portion ie duo to arrive here by Mum Trunk on Haturdny next.

On eliiistuiiis Kv«. 18M, tho fihip lilcnlieiiii ri'iicliotl tlio Wellington Hkkls with 300 Bcotlleh tnilgrnnto. Out of those 300 (Klnlon a W)rresi)On<lont) there ar« still cljlhli living. Mrs. A. Martin, mil, of Ujiper llutt, vim Iho youngest on board, belli;! only twenty months old at the tinio of Arrival. Tho lulu Mr. George Brown, of JJiiller Sliw.4, and his ninter, Mrs. Wils<oll, who died nt Feildiri},' thrco vcclcß n|{o, were two of those passengers by tho Jllenhoim.

Tho postal authorities notify that thcro will bo no delivery in city or 6uburbs by k'l.tor-earrisrs this ufternoon on the occusion of Hie Governor's arrival.

In connection with tho annual naval fltnl military tournament of tho Defonco Dt'imrtmciit, which is boinif held in Christchurch this year, information from headquarters etiitcSjthat aecommodalion for competitors returning from tho toiirnnmont will l>o reserved on the Navun, leavirijf Lyttelton on Beecmljcr 2U. The embarkation, of competitors will ba carried out by the Defence Department. •

■ Prosperous tiniM ahead for Now Zealand were- predicted by most of the speakers at the 1-lo.rliour Board gathering Inst night. Wool, frozen meat, and dairy nrwluco would for some years stand on a highor level than they hnd done in the past was tlio opinion expressed by Jlv. J, G. Jlarkntes, who instanced the great demand for our products in .markets abroad. Ho added that tho time would shortly oomo when this Dominion would havo to fnce the quostion of increased support for the Navy, and would have to make .a much greater sacrifice than in the past in order to keep open tho routes of commerce.

The conference between the Ship Owners' Federation and the Marine Engineers' Institute was continued yesterday. The conference has been sitting since Monday last, and is in connection .with demands made by the employees for higher wages and bettor conditions of work. The conference will resume sitting this morning. ;

The Wellington branch of the Yorkshire Society of New Zealand held a "Christmas Musical Entertainment" last evening. The Eev. J. P, Sykes presided over an attendance of about 150. During tho course of the evening a programme of musical ,'.nd elocutionary items was rendered. . ■

A swarm of bees held possession of Cathedral Square, Cliristchurch, between 11.30 a.m. and noon on Monday. The insects were in great force, and exceptionally busy and active. They took up a position in front of the tramway shelter, where they darted about, sometimes flying into the faces of waiting passengers, who vigorously switched them away. Several cars ran through the middle of tho swarm. After spending some time in the Square, the bees gradually .dispersed, flying eastward. ■

The careless use of firearms resulted in three, boys named Kobertsou. , (2) and Wright being peppered with shot at tho Upper Junction on Friday (says the "Otago Daily Times"). The ' lads ■ were walking along the main road on. their way to school when they heard the report' of a gun at close quarters, and were immediately struck by the shot. The two Robertsons '-receivecr pellets in: various parts of their bodies, and Wright- Ifad his leg badly knocked about by the 'ehot. One of the lads was struck on thu tempi* by a pellet, and the .profuse-' bleeding caused him to roinark that ho was "dons for." It was misty,at the time, and the. boys could not see who. fired the shot. It is stated that the thoughtless discharge of firearms in the district has been a source of trouble lately.

Much interest "is being taken in tho astronomical lecture by Miss Mary Proctor, in the Town, Hall Concert Chamber, thia evening. Miss Proctor comes to New Zealand' with an established reputation as a lecturer of note, and is duly accredited by the Astronomer Eoyal, Mr. F, W. Dyson. Many will remember the charming lectures given by the late Mr. E. A. Proctor, and the title of to-night's lecture, "Other : Worlds. Thau Ours," will recall those early days when he lectured here. Sir Robert Stout will preside, and it. is expected some important announcements T.'ill be made on the proposed observatory. '. ,