LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1668, 7 February 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

■The mails which left Auckland on January 17,. per R.M.S. Makurn, arrived in Vancouver,, en route to London, on February 4, due date. .

The sun of yesterday afternoon 6hone through a murk' of smoko from a bush or grass flro which rolled up'from'behind,' the ranges to. tho west of the city and spread iu a dull pall ncross the western and. southern sky. Intjuiry elicited the information that a big area of scrub, which gave capital shelter to a numerous army of rabbits- out Opau way—between Mnknra'an'd Terawhiti—had been deliberately, fired under tho best of conditions, and a good burn had been effected.

. Tram conductors are to bo empowered to,refuse to take any perambulator on the cars which, in their opinion, would prevent access to tho brake gear, as it is considered absolutely necessary that free access to this part of the equipment shall be available at all times.

.Southern papers, havo . recently given publicity to the grievance of Sergt.Major Williams, of Ashburton., The story told is briefly that Mr.- Williams resigned from the, defence forces on account of an announcement that no further appointments would bo made to the staff corps except through the Australian Military College. He . was granted two months' leave of absence on. retiring. Subsequently it was announced that seven commissions' would bo offered for, competition; amongst warrant and noil-commis-sioned officers of the staff. Mr. Williams camo to Wellington to sit for the examination, Vhioli was'held in pursuance of this announcement, but after sitting for; three, days was informed.. that life would have to withdraw as his leave had expired before the examination started. The caso- was mentioned yesterday to the Acting-Minister for Defenco (the Hon. It. If. Kliodes), who stated i that the matter had not come before him officially, and that no complaint'had been lodged. The Defenco Department took.the view, however, that Mr. Williams had forfeited his right to sit for examination by resigning and retiring 1 from the service. This view of the matter would be taken, the Minister TemnTked, where any man retired from a business, and the eame must apply to the Service. ■■■-•' •.' • •

, The City Council authorities liavo threatened to withdraw . a certain , cabman's license because of misbehaviour on his part, and to deal witli another for overcharging his "fare." Tho chief inspector has been instructed to bring down a report embodying a suggestion with regard to tho simplifying of' the present scnlo of cab fares.

Some time ago the West's Pictures proprietory offered a prize of. .-650 for tho best slory picture "arranged" for the kinematograph by an Australian. This was won by Mr. Wi S. Percy's dramatic picture, "All for Gold," which is said to be a most exciting story inpictoruilform, ■Having the film in stock, liny wards' Picf lure Enterprises intend to screen., tho picture at Shortts'- Theatre at 3.30 p.m. today, and have issued an invitation to the members of the New Comic Opera Company (of which Mr. Percy is n principal), and (hey have promised to attend,

His Honour Mr. Justice Chapman-will fix the order of civil caws nt n Chamber silling of Hit Supreme Court at 10 a.m. to-day.

Among the passengers from Australia by tho Wnrriuioo on Weduesday was Mr. 11. 13. White, the local architect and builder, who has just completed the erection here of the new His Majesty's Theatre. Ho stotes that the building trade is still "on (he boom" in Sydney, and that' thero appears to \x plenty of work for all classes of skilled tradesmen concerned with tho building trade. Whilst many largo and handsome structures had been recently erected, and others were in conrso of'erection, Mr. Whito noticed that advantage was not being taken of the latest forms -of steel construction, but/ that architects were still sticking to stone, bricks, Und mortar. Yet with tho rapid riso of values in the city, it was inevitaule that the steel-frame building will have to bo adopted, and it was tho best form for a. city that was growing so rapidly, as it lent itself to alteration so readily, without affecting tho stability, of the structure. Ho had been asked to preparo plans for two theatres, one in Sydney and one in Melbourne. Mr. White does not think New Zealand has Aiijjthing to learn from Australia in tho matter of theatre building, It is his intention to establish o branch .office in Sydney at on early date, 'Tho city solicitor has been instructed to draft a Bill in connection with street widening, in order that tho existing law may be nmended, so that it shall he perfectly clear that in any case where tho corporation purchases or agrees to take any interest in land it shall be entitled to apply to tho Governor, and obtain from him a proclamation vesting that,interest in the corporation. • _ •'•■'.'

A young man was admitted to the Waikato Hospital on Wednesday morning from Tc Aroha, having swallowed his false teeth in his sleep. ■■ Efforts to recover them failing,' thoy had to bo forced •into. the.stomach to prevent choling. ' ' It was rcportcii. at the City Council last night that.Mr. George Sicfert, of Palmorston. North, had presented a,kangaroo and an emu to the Zoo. Councillor J. Euller said that he would like to enter a kindly protest against tho danger of building* up too Jarge a Zoo. "We are only a small city," ho said, "and we don't want to., be burdened with too large a Zoo. . .-,'. Every new animal eats something'."'.'The counoil passed ft resolution thank Mr. Siefertfor.his'donation. ■'- .

A telephone is to boerectod at Newtown Park.'.;' „.'.' , ".:"■';:,-'.-; ''. During the. City Council's next: financial year a tramway waiting-shed is to be erected'at Dee Street,' Island Bay.,

The secretary of the', S.taff^Committee of the Wellington Telegraph Office wrote yesterday,' by direction, of his committee, to the Secretary of the) Post , and Telegraph Department l ; (Mr., W. R. Morris) stating that, it,'was in no way responsible tor the letters concerning the Department which had appeared'in the daily papers of tho city. . Tho committee, its secretary wrote," deplored the fact. that any 'member of. the Department should re-' 6ort to such unconstitutional, methods of airing his grievances. The committee, while) recognising that some discontent existed in the Wellington Telegraph Of-, fice, considered that there were legitimate channels through which any complaints should be ventilated. The Staff Committee it may be mentioned, is- fully representative of tho operators employed in the Wellington Telegraph Office.

The Wellington City. Council •; pissed this resolution last night:."That tho application ot'.the Thornaon Amateur Swimming Club, that the council allow, mixed bathing at tho Thorndon Baths, on Tuesdays <iud Thursdays of each week from 2 p.m. until sundown,' be granted." '

The motor by-laws which bperato in Wellington are to be amended in the direction of prohibiting tho' use ..of silencer cutouts. :

The Hon. Mr. Hcrries, Native.Minister,, has arranged for a conference (if Native Land Court Judges and Presidents of Native' Land Boards, to'tak«: place in Wellington■■' about tho middle of, March for the general discussion, of administrative methods. It is expected that'.he will at tho same time, explain to officers who have the', administration of tho Land Act the innovations desired, by the Reform Government. "•', , Speaking at tho Kiama Show recently, says the Sydney "Daily Telegraph" Mr. ■Puller, •M.H.R,,.rcforred-to'tho New Zealand Governmeht'fl system of subsidising tho shipping companies in connection with the Dominion's exporting to the United States and Canada, and expressed the opinion that steps should bo taken immediately to. place, the 'Commonwealth: on the sa'mo footing as New Zealand, thereby opening up new. channels for placing ,in tmlk Australia's wonderful products. , -Reference was made .to a grand jury's recommendation by Mrj Justice Chapman yesterday after passing sentence on _' a' prisotier .for assault causing actual bodily harm. His 1 Honour said that the Grand Jury'had called his attention to the conduct of Mr. J. Jones in connection with the case. It was undoubtedly due) to the action of Mr. Jones' ihat the, arrest and conviction had been brought; about'* ami ! his Honour wished to publicly thank hiin for the part which he took.". ) : ; ; ', ! < 'Tho Whangarei district has lost dne.of its best scenic assets by a.fire, sweeping over Hikurangi Mountain, near Hikurangi township, and completely, destroying tho magnificent native bush that previously'Ctwned.,the summit. It : also spread to the plains Hlow and''in one ihstanca'a settler, lost a large quantity of grass.—Auckland-"Herald." ■• A Harbour Board employee, named Wilfred' Willis, 'was' arrestcu yesterday by Detectives Rawle, and Cameron 1 on a charge of theft of a bundle oLwire, tools, etc., tho property of the board. Accused .will appear, before the Magistrate this morning. It is likely that under the direction,of tho new Bishop (Dr. Wood) some changes, will be made in the itinerary of the Melnuesian mission steamer Southern Cross. After each trip to the Islands the Southern. Cross usually goes to moorings off Campbell's Point, Auckland, and lays up for somo' mouths. The Southern Cross is to come up to the Auckland wharf on February 21, and will be docked for cleaning and overhaul before leaving for the Islands. 'It is understood.that when the trip, to be commented some weeks hence, is completed, the Southern Cross will not return to Auckland, but will proceed to Brisbane. The next trip to tho Islands will probably be made from there, and then the vessel will come back "to Auckland. It is probable that a similar-pro-gramme will be adhered to if the .arrange-, ment is found to work satisfactorily this time. ...''■ '•'..'.■•" ''.'. The Rev. W. S. Rollings, who has been pastor of tho Goodwood Baptist Church; Adelaide, for eight years, has accepted a call to the Ponsonby ; Baptist Church (Auckland), in succession to.]the Rev. Alfred North, who retired ft-ojii the pastornte;'recently. The secretary of the church (Mr. John Graham) received a cablegram tin Wednesday from Mr.. Rollings, intimating his acceptance: of the call, and stating that he hoped to reach Auckland about the middle of: next month.- Mr. Rollings has taken _a leading part in Baptist Church organisation in Australia, being nn ex-president of the South Australian Baptist Union. ■ . '."