LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1642, 8 January 1913, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities advise that the ' as. Maunganuv: which sailed. at 8 p.m. on January 4 from Sydney,,has on. board aii Australian mail. Sho. is.due to arrivo : here on Wednesday next, January B.'. . Cabinet will' moot .to-day,', at 10 a.m.,. 'At least two important Labour, measures will bo introduced by tho" Government. when Parliament next acse'mbles. '■■. One will, consolidate the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act and tho other tho:-,Shops and Offices Act. Bach Bill will also embody tho policy proposals of tho Government.' ' The' Prime Minister' yesterday' reoeived advice by cable from tho Admiralty that tho cruiser battleship New Zealand would leave England for New' Zealand, probably on February 29. f> A cablegram from' London on December 28 stated that the Now Zealand would call at St. Vincont, Ascension, St.' Helena, Simon's Bay, Hobart, and Lyttelton. , She will spend two or threo months in New Zealand'ports, and naval parties' from the ship' will .visit the chief inland towns.: The. warship may call at the West Indies on. tho return journey, and possibly Canada. ;Tho New Zealand is commanded by Captain Lionel Halsey, who had; charge of tho naval Run at tho.sieg* of Ladysmith. Tho executive officer of tho battleship is Commander the • famoui cricketer. • .; '~ : ~,-■; T t This story of "the • biter.', bitten" is taken fron?-an; exchange:—Ah Kim dropped a five-pound: noteof his own manufacture in the street-at Shanghai, and lay in' wait till Ah Wong picked' it up. Ah Kim then, forced-Ah Wong to give him :a onc-porind note as his share of the booty. Ah Kim offered the'.note in payment, for .some 'tobacco,:: only to find that it was tho: handiwork of a-rival forger, and in the end ho obtained twelve months' free lodging in gaol.'.-, .' .:., Writing to" his' parents, who reside 'at la Hapura, Mr. M. S. ! Edwards,' formerly on the "Gisborrio Times" and now on the "Transvaal Leader," .'does' not' give a very bright: picture of - conditions- in South Africa from the point of view of tho man who has to'work for his daily bread. Deferring in particular to journalism, he says that although he is earning tt very handsome'salary, tho gilt is fairly taken off the gjngcrbread by tho excessive cost of living. As exampleslof ,how prices go in Johannesburg feday, Mr. Edwards avers that; anything like -good board costs 50s..per week. For a ,bath ls.'Gd. is tho usual figure. In the ; matter of laundry, work, twopence is asked for. washing and ironing a handkerchief, and in.respect .'of other-garments the price is corresponding-. ly high... ■ : :';.:■■•■.■ •;:'..;■;,. - A New Zealand' actor-pony, Sandow, is creating a good '■■ deal of interest in: London just now., ; Sandow .'.was trained by Mr. Ernest O'Neill, a New Zealand buckjumper rider,' under whose direction he perforins a series of amusing, and clever tricks.- He- demonstrates ;his" powers.as a mathematician, rapidly answering! pvob-. lemsin the simple rules, of arithmetic. When his trainer: assumes 'the character of a 'won't-got-homc-till-morning '[■] reprobate, Sandow shows-how, he would get his' dissipated' friend home. . 'He meets somo children' coming home from school, who want a ride. Allthe boys are bucked off, but when a little girl mounts, Sandow'_ walks demurely round'the singe. It is said he can perform for twenty-nvo minutes without repeating a single trick, and that he has appeared before Queen Alexandra.' '.' During the Christmas holidays Mr. W. Waters, of Mangaweka, was tiding >on his motor-bicycle with: a■ friend in the side-car between Palmerstpn uiid Foxfon, when they ran into a 6warra ,'■ of >. bees. They stopped the, machine, : arid through the noise of tho engine tho, swarm settled on the machine and riders. Mr. Waters 'started the machino going- again,- and tho bees had a rido for about tliree-nnat-ters of a' mile before' departing; They; did not sting the riders, who wore very pleased to see tho last of them, \.\ To give an idea of the large amount of canning that is done at Frimley, it is interesting to note that on'! Christmas Day one machino shelled. ; no; .less than seven tons of peas. Men, women, and children ore engaged in large* numbers; at the present time in picking peas. .:'.'<.■

MOTOR CARS, MOTOR CYCLES FOR THE NEW YEAR TRADE. . Wo arc offering for immediate delivery tho famous Clement Bayard cars, noted tor their simplicity, graceful appearance, and absolute reliability. These "French Talbots" are guaranteed to run 100,000 milos with a minimum of attention. The 8-12 h.p. 8-seater Clement-Bayard, with full running equipment, sells at .£295' the 10.15 h.p. Clement-Bayard, fully equipped, eells at .£399 14s. 6d., and tho 10-15 4-5' 6eater Clement-Bayard, fully equipped, sells at >£426 is. Qi these prices being inclusive of everything usually sold as "extras." Those splendid light cars of tho Studobnker manufacture, whion have earned such a wonderful New' Zealand reputation for giving satisfaction and "making good," are offered as follows:—20 h.p. 2-seatcr Studc-bakor-Flawlers, finished in Frcnoh grey and complete, with hood, wind-shield, fivo lamps, clock, and speedometer, ,£275; 20 h.p. 4-scater Stiidcbaker-Flanders (same 1 finish and equipment), JC295; 30 1i.p. 1 5-senter Studcbakcr E.M.F. (samo equipment), JD375. ■■ In motor-cycles wo have tho world's best, tho "Triumph," fixed onginb £10, free engine .£BO, 3-speed vCB7 10s„ and that popular machine, th« "8.5.A.," fixed engine .£7O, free cnirlno 2-specd ■' Wc wclcomo lettors requiring particulars of our wido range of motor cars and motor cycles, and anyone interested is cordially invited (o write ns at the head office. High Street, Christchurcli. Branches at Wnnganui and Palmorston North, where cars and motor cycles oan be inspected. Also at agents— Tourist Motor Co,. Hastings. Sutherland sad Rankino. Wellington,—Advt.

Tho East Coast Railway League (Tiniroto) has communicated with tho Hon. \\., Frasor, Minister for Public Works, inviting him to visit the district and inspect tho railway route. The southern bowlers who will."arrive here by tho ferry 6tenmcr on Sunday next will be" welcomed by the various Wellington olubs. A mooting will bo_ arranged between local rinks and the visitors on Monday-afternoon, at 2 p.m., but it is uncertain yet whether two games or only ono game will he played. Messrs. Thomas Cook and Sona have been notified ,thnt they have been appointed "foreign passenger agents" for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, to be held in San Francisco'in 1915. . ■• The Mirnmar Borough Council mil hold its first ordinary meeting this year 'to-mor-row evening. Tho Petouo Borough Council will meet on Friday evening to deal with finances and borough works, and on Monday evening to' transact general business. The Wellington Harbour Board has given ci lead to kindred local' bodies in Now Zealand by issuing a small and compact year book, which contains an astonishing amount of information relative to tho local port. Full and precise information is given as to the port, tho establishment and equipment ot' tho board, the past and present constitution of tho board, executive officers, contemplated works, and eo forth. The first number of the year book, just published, has been . brought right jrp to date. .Besides interesting statistics and a list of charges, it contains a chart of Port Nicholson and a berthage plan of the harbour, and i? illustrated by portraits of tho present chairman of tho board (Mr. R. Fletcher), its members, and principal officers, and numerous pictures of the wharves, sheds, etc. As a whole, a wealth of information is presented in an easily accessible - form, which, in the absence of his handy little volume, could only bo possessed by ono having an export Knowledge of the port and-its working. Copies of the year book are b'ing forwarded to England, Europe, and America, so that shipowners abroad may bo fully iuformedas to the. class of accommodation that awaits' their vessels in city and chief port of this ■Dominion. ;. . , During 1912,-13,000 immigrants arrived in Victoria', and by tho:time thoso now on the water havo reaohed.tho State the Immigration Department will havo augmented the State's population by 14,110 persons (savs the Sydney "Telegraph", of December 31).' In 1911, 0770 persons came to Victoria from tho United Kingdom. 60 that the'present year's'figures constitute a big record. The total amount of capital which has been set'down; as having hoeu brought to Victoria by assisted farm settler's is .£82,582, which will bo increased to .£103,553 when settlers now on tho voyage arrive.' Mr, Hagelthome, the Minister controlling' immigration, expressed his plcasuro'at victoria's success during: the year just closed. ~ ', :, ' \ ,: ..[ • Mr. J. Russell French, who was oil© or tho speakers'at the Lord Mayor's voledic-, tory banquet at Sydney on December 30, raised a laugh when at the opening of his address ho suggested that as a slight variation to the usual procedure ho.might bo permitted to sing "The Banker's Dream,' with burglar accompaniment.■', Finance, 'however, observed Mr. Russell Froiich, be-' coming, serious, was a-serious subject to deal with,'and the feature of the past year's finance had been perhaps the.tightness of tho money market'. A number of peoplo seemed to think that'a tight money market was altogether. an unreasonable thing, and, after the' Christmas festivities ' ho could quite sympathise, with.thoso who held that view.' It was a most unreasonable thing that there should-over bo sUclia thing as tight money, but ho would deoliuc to discuss that subject, and, prof erred to congratulate tho Lord', Mayor on his efforts to keep.the city! clean. "Persoii•ttlly," tho genial banker continued, "tho new regulations havo caused mo some discomfort, because I have had to put all my tram tickets ond my cigar ends »i my pockot, hut,l subscribe to tho;spirit of cleanliness and .order which has been; established, "and I have played my humble part in conformity- to the new rcgula:tions."-'.-'' . ■■.' '' "' "Carpenters are in ? great. demand by ■ emplbyers?'; not" "6'nly ,; , ih' r Wanganui, .but all up the Main Trunk line and oth'jr parts of my district,'and I could place a'largo iiumbor'of competent men in employment at once," remarked-tho local Labour Department inspector to a \\anganiii Herald" representative,'on-, Monday " ■"-■ Cases' will'bo- brought shortly by. the Police.Department to finally determine whether ■ power 'is given, by the. lcgis.ntion passed ilast session, ' to exclude unregistered barmaids from cmployinent. m. private bars and portions of hotels Other than public bars., Tho CrOwniLaw Officers, havo already reported stating that .the legislation of last session meets this requirement.,.. ';,'.'■. -. -•.■..-', At the present time New Zealand is practically the only market open to the Cook Islands, and Auckland in teturn supplies the group with most of its toquiremonts in the way of meat, butter, and merchandise. A- strango thing, howovcr, struck Judge MncCormack during his eleven .months' sojourn in . the group, soys tho Auckland -'Star." In'nll tho islands • there is l a big. and' growing demand for vehicles. Yet New Zealand 'manufacturers have no say in; the' Cook Island market. Hundreds of American gigs.-and wagons are imported, and they ' nro landed, at'Rarotonga for 1 something like :£U cheaper than tho New, Zealand- - made article,.despite';the fact',that.tho American manufacturer: has -to pay-' a duty of 331-3 per cent,, while tho Dominion vehicle can'be imported froo of duty. Seeing that labour;in America is as dear as it is in Now:: Zealand,' tho position is a somewhat peculiar, one.. . : . : At a meeting of the Hataitai "Ratepayers' Association held on-Monday evening, it was.resolved tojoin tho Greater Wellington- Municipal, League, now beiiig organised. Mr. Jas. Fleming,was appointed local representative on tho'parent, body.' Tho request from the Roscnoath Association to assist on a.deputation to wait on tho City Council in respect to the construction of a tramway route to that suburb, via Waipopa Road, was favourably received by the meeting. It was pointed 'out that the construction of the tramway would mean tho development of a largo area of vacant land now ljing idle between the two suburbs, Mr.'A.-Lrigk Hunt was appointed spokesman on tho deputation on behalf of Hataitai. Dissatisfaction was expressed that tho Education Board had rot exercised jiiore energy in tho direction of purchasing a. school' sito. at Hataitai; '■■•.-.' Tho Government will open ! for settle-; mout verv shortlv the Sherondon block in HawkeV'Bar. 'Tho block consists of the Sherenden Estate' and eomo smaller, estates adjoinine which have been acquired..and consolidated into ono block for reading and other purposes. The whole of the land will be inado available, lor sottlemont almost at once,' ~;,.,. 'At a recent meeting of the Standing Committee of the Anglican Diocese of Auckland tho Bishop roportoc the receipt of a draft for <£22 10s. from tho S.P.G., accumulated interest on tho Hudson fund, to bo held at tho disposal uf the Bishop of Auckland for work in tho Diocose.\Tho Bishop also reported that Mr. Thorp, of Pncron, had left n legacy of £1500' to the St. John's College Trust, but the Bishop had understood-from Mr.'Thorp, that tho gift would be for tho ' Candidates Ordination Fund. Ho asked tho advice of tho Standing Committee in tho matter, and tho following resolution was passed: "That tho Bishop be asked to 'notify tho Trustees of St. John's College of the Thorp legacy of ,£ISOO, and tho testimony of tho vicar of the parish arid tho widow of tho testator as to tho intention of Mr. Thorp, and also that tho Bishop bo asked to bring: this matter before General.Synod and ask them to recommend tho Trustees to earmark tho proceods for Auckland candidates for Holy Orders." - ; .Tho neocssary formalities in connection with tho inclusion of Arohhiil in Greater Auckland are-now Hearing conclusion. At a meeting of the Arohhiil Road Board on Monday night u communication was received from tho Minister for Internal Affairs, who wrote, acknowledging tho receipt of the council's petition for the inclusion of tho Archhill Road District in tho city of Auckland. Tho, Minister stated that tho notice required under Section 118 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1908,' calling for objections, would shortly be published. There was no discussion on the-mailer, and tho letter was received. Tho petition from tho Parnell Borough, to be included in Auckland city, was forwarded to his -Excellency the bovornor about n fortnight ago, but so far no answer has .•won received. I

The first meeting of tho City Counoll this year will bo held next Thursday fortnight, January 23. • ■ The following dog story is 6<?nt to va by Ml'. ,W. Skinner, of-tho Lower Hutt:—A' Btriango thing has happened wherein u pretty little dog played a prominent part, Mr. artd Mrs, Geo (neo Hiss Skinner), of tho Hutt, were recently married, and left Wellington Inst Thursday by tho bs. Vtw torn for Gisborno, via Nh.pier. On ar-< riving at tho latter plnoo they wont f?r a walk, taking a littlo dog with Uicm, which they found «t Day' 6 Bay on Boxing .Day; while: out TJcmcking.with,Mr. ,wi • SMnner, of the llutt, and his family.'\ As Mr. and Mrs. Geo wwo passing a oort&in houso tho dog tried to jump over a gate. They watchca.it, Mr. Goo remarking "it ■: thinks tlmt it is homo." They walked on a. bit, the dog following, but a minute ' later tho dog was missing. They lookect for it for somo'time, onU whem.eomo ktlh'fis caino along they asked them if they; had seen tins dog: "Tee," said <mo, "ft • is mine. 1 lost it tho day before Boxing Day at Day's Bay." Suiie)y,-:ilr. Editorj V that dog had to go home; ' ". Tho Conciliation Council (Jlr. P. Hnlly, presiding) will sit-this morning to. oon* • sider tho dispute between tho Wellington Hotel and llestaurant Workers' Union, and tho, employers. About /eixty. oltV and suburban licensees have been- cited. Messrs. T. Long, 11. O'Mallej-, ,0. Mbmshall (with Mr. E. J. Caroy, agent) will represent the union l as assessors, and Messrs. J. Bevcridgo, C. AldHdgo, nndl , F. Oakes (with Mr. A,' W. Greufell, agent) the employers. ■ . , ' "