LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1656, 24 January 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal.authorities advise that tho s.s. Maheno, which ■ sailed from Sydney at noon on January 22, for Auckland; has on board an Australian mail, and also an English mail, via Suez. The Wellington portion is due to arrive here by Main Trunk on Monday afternoon next.

Pour hundred bales of Chinese pigtails were .recently sold by a Liverpool firm These pigtails were made, into tops in Bradford, and were used for hair belting dolls hair, eto. Hair belting can bb used for driving machinery where leather would soon, rot and become useless. .

On Monday last at Auckland Mr. Richard Keene, of Wellington, paid over tho inial deposit m connection with the purchase of tho Paranga Estate in the north of Auckland. This is one of the'largest estates- in the far north, the block consisting of 90,000 acres stretching from sea to sea in the vioinity, of Doubtless Bay. The estate consists of undulating country a third of which is said to be highly suitable for dairy-farming and fruit-growing and,a large portion of the balance consists of gum-lands. The estate was formerly the property of familv, the' late Mr. Yates having been one of tho earliest settlers in the extreme north. Speaking to a Dominion , reporter Mr. Keene expressed himself as'delighted with his-purchase, and stated that it was his intention to develop the property in tho near future, by', cutting a good portion of it up into fruit and dairy farms. Scenically tho 'estate has many attractions. Good finds of ambergris have been made on the beaohes, and there the toheroa", a rare and exceedingly tasty shell fish, is found in abundance. There are evidences that at one time tho land wai well populated with Natives, as the ri mains of numcrouß pas and camping grounds testify. Mr.' O. Beoro, solicitor, accompanied Mr. Keene to Auckland in connection with the transaction.

The supply of special milk for infants to certain selected dairy "shops was considered by tho City Council last night. The Public Health Committee was cmpowered to enter into negotiations for such a supply, and to report as early as possible full details of tho proposed scheme.

Tho steamers Mnpourika and Eegulus still grace the ranks of tho "unemployed" in the stream at Wellington. Tho position between their i-ospcctivo owners and the firemen still remains as it was when the latter were paid off tho vessels in question. Tho Westport Coal Company state that they are not experiencing any inconvenience regarding tho laying- up of the Regulus, and tho Union Company's position is much the same. , ■;

The City Council Inst night agreed to tho request of tho Royal Xife-Saviiig cicty that school children who gain tho proficiency certificate, bronze medallion, or higher awards of the socioty bo allowed to enter tho baths for the remainder of the season free of charge, dating from the time of their gaining the award. Tho council also granted to the socioty authority to placo illustrated charts explaining the methods of rescuing a drowning porson, the release from tho grasp of a drowning porson, and tho methods of resuscitation in nil waiting-sheds close to. tho benches, swimming baths, and bnth-ing-th«d» in the different bays of Wellington, and on nil corporation property close to bcaobeo, ,

The secretary of the Foilding A. and P. Association (Mr. .E. H. Fisher) has been in communication with tho Wellington Moat Export Company, which is to kill and freeze the export classes of sheep and lambs exhibited at tho forthcoming show. Mr, Fisher Ims been advised that, over, should the slaughtermen bo still on strike, tho company will be. able to undertake i tho work , ". Tho Athletic Football Sports Club was granted permission by the City Council last night to hold an evening sports meeting at the Basin Heserve ou Wednesday next, January 29, subject to tho public being, admitted free, and also subject to the, sports commencing after 6.30 p.m. A deputation from the Roseneath Katcpnyers' Association waited upon the city Council last night to renew their request that a tram lino should Iks constructed from Boyd's Comer on the- Kilbirnio line up Hutaitai Itoad, and by way of Wnipajm and Grafton ltoads to the Uoseneatn Fire Brigade Station." The request was supported ly the Hataitai ratepayers also. It was represented that tram facilities wero 6oroly needed, and that tho tram line, if constructed, would pay very well. The Mayor promised that the council would give consideration to the request of tho deputation, and it was referred to the Tramways /Committee for report. ■ Implying to a voto.of thanks tendered him at tho annual gathering of winegrowers and merchants held in Sydney recently, Mr. V. E, Gosohc, chairman, referred to tho necessity of obtaining for New South Wales preferential trado conditions with New Zealand. At present, he said, Australian wines had to pay 3s. a gallo.n more than South African wines, and ho even had reason, to believe/that somo South African vintages were being sold as Australian, because the Australian wines had the better reputation. Something should, he urged, be done by the Government without delay, or the Australian wines would in the long run be driven out of the New Zealand market. .The Tramways Board, of Management, acting under instructions from the Tramways Committee of the City Council to endeavour to improve the present system of tramway.destination and route, sig. als, propose to'introduce for day use a system of coloured discs' on the cars, similar,to the colour signals used nt night, and a car will shortly be fitted up with this system.- - ! .

Routine matters connected with the approaching municipal campaign were dealt with by tho Trades Council last oveniug. Committees are being appointed to divide the city into districts with a view to enrolling as many electors as possible. Steps are also being taken to get up a petition for a poll on the question of a universal Saturday half-holiday. The'last half-holi-day poll in Wellington took placo about two years when tho Saturday ]iror posal \iias defeated. ■• ~..'• ." . '

. According to Professor Kirk, who has just returned from the Science Congress in Melbourne, preparations fori the greatest event in the scientific world of the Southern Hemisphere—the visit of the British' Association for the Advancement of Science to Australia in 1914—Are' being pushed on rapidly, and are now far advanced. While in Australia, Professors Laby and Kirk laid before- the Australasian Council, in accordance with the wishes of the Now Zealand Government, the proposal for tho extension of the Visit Of the association to the Dominion. A full report on tho subject wjll bo submitted to tho Hon. H. D. Bell, Minister for Internal Affairs.

A deputation from the Kelburne Bowling' Club waited on the City Counoil ;last night and made a request to be allowed to'use Section 48 of .the Town Belt~(near Victoria College) for the purpose of playilig bowls. The deputationists stated that they would-pay rent: for the scotion and itnprove it. They proposed to spend about .CIOOO on tho ground. Tho Reserves Comniitteo will consider tho matter. '

■ .Somo, of tho members of a party consisting of Mr. W.-.GA Grave ('(Oamnru), Mr. A. Talbot (Greymouth), Mr. D. Macpherson (district surveyor, Otautau), and Mr. Lipp, guide attached to the ..Hermitage staff, returned, to. Duncdin on Saturday ifro'ih'f an...interesting IrjijUjOvor the,' new. route between W'akatijiu'and Milford, discovered by Messrs. Grav«; Talbot, and Lyttlo (of Gore) somo threo years ago. This route is the only direct quo between Wakatipu and Milford,, and'its utilisa-. tion would greatly shorten/the time occupied in travelling between these two points. Tho "-Otogo Daily Times" .understands that the representative of tho Survey Department and the guide were both impressed with its possibilities' and satisfied that it could, bo made practicable. The .party experienced bad weather while at Milford, with more than a plenitude of rain, but this did not deter its members fronV making the first .ascent of Mount, Pembroke.■■'"•■'. ':''•.'

Considerable excitement was caused ; in the vicinity-of tho breakwater, New Plymouth; on Tuesday, by the sudden appearance of a large Shark. The shark was cruising about in comparatively ; shallow water near to where a number of "children were bathing in the-' eurf. The attention of ; ltr. L. Gray,' who lives at Moturoa, and' who as a fisherman is conversant with tho habits of sharks, was attracted. Ho went out. into the surf, and as the fish cairio hi his direction steadily retreated towards the beacU, carrying, ready for Use in,case ho was attacked, a largo "dog" hook. The shark followed him irijto very shallow water, and then turned as if to swim out to sea again. Mr. Gray was quite'.'close to it at the time, and as it was in the act of turning he quickly drove his hook deep into its flesh near the tail, and succeeded in stranding it. Othor men.had to go to his assistance) however, before the shark could be hauled up on to-the beach, its weight being too much for one man to drag along, onco it was on the sand. When measured the shark proved to be between-nine and ten feet long.— Taranaki "Herald," ■' ' '

It is the intention of tho Auckland Women's Political Reform League to rent a large room which can be Used us a meeting-place and afternoon tea room for members. For tho benefit of country members, a cloakroom will ■ bo also provided.,.A general meeting of.the-league is to bo held early in. February, at whioh between GOO and 700 wonion are expootod to bo present.■ ; . ";' '.•"''

Grasshoppers on the railway have been causing a great dcal'of delay to the train Bervioe on the North Queensland line. The ordinary 200-ton load has, under ordinary circumstances, to be divided into two divisions to negotiate the range, but when the grasshoppers arc mot with, even theselighter loads have again l to bo divided. The trains are in most cases brought tea standstill by the masses of tho grasshoppers on tho line, the wheels eventually whirling round without taking any grip. ' •' ■•-.■■-

'TRIUMPH" ESTABLISHES CHRIST-CHUROH-KAIKOURA RECORD. '

The motor cycling record from Christ) church toKnikoura and back, which was established on Thursday by Mr. ■G. B. Brown on a latest model "Triumph.," and whioh constitutes ono of the finest crosscountry performances ever put up by a motor oyolist in Now Zealand, has a 6omewhat curious history. Some throo months ago Mr. Brown challenged alUnd sundry to • a straight-out hill-climbing contest, on 1 Sumner Hill or Packakariki Hill—tho "Triumph" against any other mnohino. TUero we're- no acceptances, but one firm said in effeot: "Wo know tho Triumph can lick our machine on tho hills proposed, but como out on a : long, 'run aoross really bad country—Christ-: .church to Kaikourn and back, for instance—and we'll show you a point or two." Well, of course, wo didn't refuso that proposition. But we thought it fair to'givo them all a chance, and challenged any motor cyclist in New Zealand, not riding a "Triumph," to meet G. B. Brown and his '"Triumph" on that very course. There- were ten thousand excuses, but wo couldn't get ono uiatoh, So, baulked in our good intentions, wo decided to establish a record over tho course, and lot the other follows bare a pock at it at their leisure. You nil know wlint happened. Mr. Brown covored tho 260 miles of rough country, half of it on an unknown road, in under 12 hours. Tho rivers and river-beds wero difficult to negotiate, but the' "Triumph" stood the racket in the regular Triumph" way, and there was not a break-down, not even a puncture, to mar tho record. Not knowing tho road, Mr. Brown made a few deviations and detours he would . not otherwise have to make. So if anyone lowors the present record of 11 hours SGJ minutes, he mill be prepared to go out ngnin, and knock a littlo more off the time. New stock of Triumphs' just arrived. Fised engine, £'Q; free engine, £80; three speed, £&1 10s. Adams, Ltd., Christchurch. Branches at Palmerston Nprth and Wattctatuii i agents, Sutherland and PnnWne, Wcllinstonj Tourist Motor Co- Hostlngii