LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1686, 28 February 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Hon. A. L. Herdman paid a visit of, inspection yesterday to Point 'Jl'alswell prison, where the prisoners lmvc been <;»- gaged for some nwnths in digging pita (destined ultimately Co receive trees) on the-'wind-swept slopes on the' Wellington side or the peninsula. ■■'■The work was started by direction of the Ministei lor, Justice at Ihe end of last session of. Parliament, nwl/now hundreds of pits have been prepared, for the reception of ..tides. The actual planting will commence''-in May;' Considerable progress'' has made, and the Minister, on his visit yesterday, 'declared himself very well pleased with this work .that liad been done. Suitable trees with'-winch to plant the slopes are being selected by experts, and it is expected that ultimately the now barren peninsula.will be transformed. "One matter which I have been looking after, and which should, I think, receivo attention, might bo w ; orth mentioning," said his Worship the Mayor to a Dominion representative yesterday. "That 'is the granting of a bonus by the Government to tire brigades. I approached Hir Joseph Ward and the Hon. Mr. Mackenzie about' the matter, but nothing camo of it, mid this morning I had an interview with the Hon. Mr. Mnssey, when 1 pointed out that the brigade was doing very good work indeed, and had rendered very valuable service to'the State in connection with the Inst lire at the General JL'Ost Uilice. 1 Without committing himself 'to any grant, Mr. Massey was most sympathetic, and promised to givo tlio matter full consideration. There is precedent for this kind of thing, and I think it is deserved. My object is to be, able tq give a monetary grant to the lire police, which body does a lot of valuable work without money and price, even to buying their own outfit. I would like to bo able to contribute something towards their funds, and the Government who gets the services of the brigade for nothing might see their way clear to assist me."; i .'meuflina regulations under the Fisheries Act, published in the 'current. Gazelle, provide that; blue cod 11111 st not be taken of a length less than ten and a half inches in the nalmral stale, or nine inches when 'properly "headed." Fiiies ranging from .£1 to ,£2O are prescribed for breach of the regulation. At its special meeting yesterday the City Council adopted a recommendation of the custodian of the Thermion Baths, to Ihe ( fleet I hat. Wednc-dav and Saturday afternoons.should' bo the days lor mixed bathing at Tliomdon Baths.

, Die Wellington Professional Orchestra, whose performances in.tlie Town Hall Inst year gave such genuine delight to music lovers, have made; an Arrangement with Messrs. John Fuller ami Hons to give a series of eight Sunday evening oincerls during Hie coming season. The first concert will be given on Sunduy week (March II), and the second on Easter Humbly evening (March 23). In addition to the splendid repertoire of music nccmired l>y the urehestra Inst year, a lot of new music has been imported, and the public may relv on capital programmes being presented throughout the series. As hitherto, Mr. Herbert liloy will wield the baton. "An island is a picco of laud surrounded by water." That is what tho school geography says, and suys it very well, but .when it conies to the definition of a peniii'sthinus, tlie definition is not io intelligible to the juvenile mind. Practical, illustration is always best, and a yieiy of the real thing is best of all. That is the theory held by Mr. W, 'J'. Grundy, Of tho Clyde Quay School, and wu's the explanation of this presence ,ou Mouilt Victoria of Standard IX. yesterday afternoon. J'rein tlie top of tho mountain tli'o primary elements of geography are pftnoramieally revealed. There are mountain ranges and valleys all round, a peninsula '? t[ le Miraniar district, an isthmus in the stretch'of sand between Lyoll and Kvnhs Bays, islands in Somes and Ward Islands, capes and bays innumerable, and in the , far distance the Hutt River. Such practical lessons iilust be of the highest value to the unfolding mind. It has beeii suggested to the Mayor (Mr. JJ. M'Laren) that there is somo : slight confusion in the public mind iu regard.to ,'P 0 Citizens' Carnival Essay .Competition on "The Natural Beauties of Wellington City and Harbour." Some peoplo have questioned him as to whether two essays are needed, or only one oil account of the two chief points to bo embodied being set out as "(a) What to see and how to see it," and (b) "Suggestions for Improvements—(l) Beautifying; (2) Means of Access." It is perhaps a little confusing, but it is definitely stated there is only one essay to cover all the points mentioned. Copies of all essays entered are to ho written on ono side of tho paper only, and forwarded to the Mayor on or before March. 10. At yesterday afternoon's meeting of the City Council the Mayor (Mr. D. M'Laren) moved: ."That the matter of the. communication: from the Wellington Leaseholders' Association should 1m referred to the Finance Committee for report." The motion was carried.' . , In future any person depositing explosives in: rubbish receptacles will be prosecuted by the City Corporation. The Superintendent of the Fire Brigade has'been instructed by the City Council to report as to the advisability' of tlie erection of a fire brigade statiou at the top of Constable Street hill, to serve Newtown, Kilbirnie, arid Island Bay districts, and' also to bring down an' approximate cost of tho scheme, . ■ : 'J'he boy scout movement came under, the . notice ,of the Auckland Executive at its meeting on Wednesday, When the district • secretary of tho Dominion Scouts v asked if .the executive Would consider the question of.holding a monster display: of scout-craft', sports, etc. during the time the exhibition was open. Tlie'executivo gladly agreed tbat'sucli, a display should lie bold,. arid: it ,is itnderstoo.d .that,large' contingents'of -scouts will .'make;'tho journey io Auckland 'from ' all parts of. the Dominion.' Mr., W. , R. Holmes (secretary;, of ,the- exhibition) Said that this would undoubtedly prove a big attraction.-'The boy scout movement was doing ypry. good-.work,' and since its in:, 'ception' juvenile crime! had'decreased vefy considerably. ■ The' annual 'New Zealand military tournament will be held in Auckland during exhibition time,' 1 arid; it tfaa decided to' hold a "volunteer 1 ' day during the stay in Auckland of thfe various volunteers. This, also; should prove-a ,h)g attraction.' ■. ; .•/ ■ 1 : George Butler Lusk -was arrested jesterday afternoon on a charge of having failed; to account for sums of money totalling '.£l2 Cs..to Frederick' James- l)awson; : 'mnilrißOivbf'New'.l'Zealand "Truthl"' was-brought' before" a 1 Justice ,pf V 'the 1 I,'eace, and was remanded till Wednesday, licit,', Bail iv'as allowed, ' V ■ Mr. W. Gasquoiiie, general manager of (hp State Coal Departmenti leaves to-mor-row: for the West Coast, to make his annual inspection of the Stato coal luiiies., ■Tlie latest reports from the new mine at Point Elizabeth indicate that it will reach" output stage at about the end of next month or early m. April. ■ ;V,v ■ Arrangements have.,bden completed,for the Rev. -Martin Anstey (general 'Secretary of the Loiidou. City Mission and brother of the Hon. Mr'. ' Anstey/ M.L.C.) to;deliver a lecture in Wellington on March 5, entitled "The Romance of n London Slum." Writing from the south, Mr. Anstey states thatvliis. object in delivering the 'lecture in'eafcli of the' four, centres is to-raise the sum of ,£IOO requited for ,the support of one of the society's 400 .missionaries for oiie year, to be' called, tlie ' Dojninion's missionary," jind each'centro is beingask' fid to contribute' JU2SI Such a contribution would be"u spiritual Dreadnought offered by New Zealand to' the Mother Country.-" The licv.i Macdonald Aspland'has tlie ar-' rangemcuts in hand. - The Rev.'and Mrs. Anstey leave for London'by the Reniuira on March (!. " ■' ... . ,-, The . Mayor. (Mr. D. M'Laren) states that already he lias received offers to billet 25 of the 40 inemliers of tlio Auckland-, Public ' Schools' Band, which purposes to visit ■ .Wellington during Hie Easter carnival, He asks all citizens who are; prepared .to assist in this, matter .to coinmunicato as early as possible with Mr. Jl'Pean, who lias all the arrangements in connection'with tho "carniVnl'in hand. ~ . / . For the convenience of old ago niuf widow pensioners, the office of tho' Pensions Department, on Lainbton Quay,'will not close until 1 p.ni. to-morrow, - The usual closing hour is-'noon. The Wellington Branch of tho Dunlop Rubier Go. of -Australasia,. Ltd., has received a cablegram from Mclbounio; to say that Bolger lowered 'the Svdnev ito (Melbourne' motor-cyclo record (572 niiles) i- -) 2-1 hours, 41. minutes, thereby winning the Dunlop trophy of : a J!2fl 'gold watch offered for the first rider who broke 24 hours over this distance. This cut a big! slice off Gunn's late record of 05 honr.s 55 minutes, and in his splendid Wdc Bolger completed the distance on Dunlop tires' without' any troubles' with c them whatever, :' v ,

Owing'.to pressure on our space the rpport of yesterday's meeting of the' U'li'd Board has been held over: It will appear in to-morrow 5. jssue. • .. Kirkcfildio. and Stains, Ltd., are showing' wonderful value in • New Zealand' Rugs, best- Mennd wool; all good' combimitions of, colourings, .arid'reversible'' 265. Od.—Advt.