LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1687, 1 March 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities advise that the Wimmera, which sailed from Sydney for Auckland on the 26th instant, has on board an Australian mail, also a mail from United Kingdom via The Wellington portion is duo to arrive by the Main Trunk Express on Monday next.

The Government will probably invito tenders for the erection of the new Parliamentary Buildings at a very early date. The foundations' have now bepn practically completed by the Public Works Department and the work of iinishing-ofY the grounds in their new formation is well advanced. It is unlikely, however, that a start will bo made upon the erection of the building for about six months from the present date. Reasonable time will liavo to Iw given to intending tenderers to go over tiw plans and make out thentenders, and if a contract has been let three months hence,'good progress will have been made. After these preliminaries have been settled tho successful contractor will have extensive preparations to make. Material for steel reinforced work which will be required at the commencement of the building _ operations, will have to bo obtained from England. The estimate that a ftnrt cannot well be made upon the building for six months is based upon tho facts of the case.

, Tho big Town Hall presented a lively scene yesterday afternoon when between £00 and COO Stato school ohildren assembled thcro to rehearse the massed exeicises they are to do on Newtown Pirk during tne Citizens' Carnival at Easter. So large was tho attendance that the instructor for the afternoon (Mr. Ccwles, of the Normal School) had to order somo of the school detachments to the side to watch the operations of tlio others, and incidentally mentioned that tho next rehearsal would either have to bo held on tho Basin Reserve or at Newtown Park. Tho practice introduced by tho Reform Government of paying proceeds from land sales into th'o Land Settlement Account instead of into tho Consolidated Fund is having a really good effect, according to a statement made yesterday by the Hon, W. F. Massey (Prime Minister). "Tha Land for Settlement. Account," lie remarked, "will bo very considerably strengthened by tlio payments that aro being made, although most of tho settlers aro taking advantage of tho deferred payment system instead of endeavouring to find the whole of tlio cash. That means that tho payments may extend over ten years." Tlio Prime Minister added that lie had not had the detailed figures taken out, but he could give an assuvanco that the fund had been cons'dernbly strengthened by tho receipts from land sales and rents.

A novel sight in Wellington streoti yesterday afternoon attracted the attention of many passers-by. Toby, the educated baboon, now appearing at tho Theatre Royal, wnn vigorously collectrns jroin nil mid sundry on behalf of tho jioness .at tho Zoo. Tho baboon was dressed in tho hoight of fashion and appeared to appreciate his novel ompJoynioiil'._ Ho is understood' to have signified his entire approval of tho scheme by which the lioness is to bo retained.

Mr. 11. W. Jtolnies, Engineer-in-Chief to the Public Works Department, returned to Wellington on Thursday from Otira, wliero lie has been engaged upon a detail survey of the work done to dnto upon tho tunnel. Tho Minister for Public Works (tlie Hon. W. Frnsor) stated eomo time ago that when tenders wero called for tho completion of the tunnel, a eontract would bo let on the basis of carrying on the work from a given stage. Any work dono by the Public Works Department in advance of this point the successful contractor would bo required to pay for (

The Wellington branch of tho Ship Owners' Federation will meet next week. Mr. W. Deck, the retiring chairman, is eligible for re-election. 'l'ho Ecv. W. Baumber, in tho course of his sermon at Nelson oil Sunday morning, said no country possessed sucn good and just land la-vs as wore to bo found in tho Bible. Tho land was thfl Lords, but it was distributed to the tribes of Israol to bo cultivated. If any pi lie met with misfortune, provision was """'e so that nono of tho people werp landless. Tlio basis was that tho land was the Lord's, and tho people had to cultivate it for tho benefit of those dependont tipoli them.

Complete sketch plans have been prepared for tho Wellington Automatic Bole* ories, Ltd., which company is about to erect a largo factory on tho site now occu. pied by Mr. W. A; ICellow fl bakery and tho section adjoining. Copies or tne plans were dispr.tc.hed to London via San Francisco yesterday to Messrs.\bsikci' and Sons., Ltd., of Willesden Junction, England, which firm is supplying tlio company with one of the most up-to-date p'ants in the world. Tho plans aro lotwarded in order that no mistakes may DO made in tho interior arrangements fhat will interfere with the machinery. ers aro to be called this month for cho erection of tho necessary buildings.

A meeting of householders was held at Botorun on. Thursday to consider a report of tho School Committee the position of the movement for' the establishment of a district hipli school. The committee reported that in August last Mr. Garland (chairman of the Auckland Education Board) had given a verbal promise that when twenty pupils were obtained tho establishment of the school would be recommended to the Minister, and he personally saw no reason why tho scliool should not be started in February. Last month Air. Garland visited Eotorua and stated that the board was opposed to the District High School, one reason advanced being that qualified teachers could not 1» secured at the salaries tho board was able to offer. He personally stated tha.t Eotorua was not a desirable place as a, tourist resort for a district high school, and said if li© had 100 children ho would not send one of them thore. Speakers took exception to this slur on Eotorua, and the meeting passed a resolution that the Minister be approached directly on tho subject—Press Association.

Surely there can be nothing equal to an earthquake as a means of concentrating the human mind on the pressing subject of the moment? At auyratc, on Saturday, states a Westport .paper, a wellknown resident of Millerton showed ho had thought for ono thing only at. tho time, and thai was seismology. He was enjoying a bountiful meal at a Westport hostelry, and had just lifted a dish of vegetables when the crash came. Ho rushed into tho street, and bystanders wero surprised to" observe an otherwiss apparently sane gentleman gazing at the post office tower with a dish of steaming cabbage clasped lovingly. When danger is past humorous incidents recall themselves; indeed, a touch of earthquako makes tlie whole world grin.

Tho tender of Messrs. Griffin and Co., of Nelson, haa been accepted by the Defence Department for the supply of biscuits for tho Territorial camps of tho Dominion. The quantity required will bo about fifty tons.

At a meeting of tip historical subcommittee of the Early Settlers' and Historical Association ot M'ellington, held on Thursday evening, it was resolved that, with a view to placing facts on permanent record for future generations, tlio following subjects should bo written up by various members of tho associationTlio early history of tlio New Zealand Land Company; the early church history cf. Wellington; military, municipal, and education history of Wellington; the history of AVollington shipping, music, and sport; also tho early settlements round Wellington, such as Miramar, Hutt, and Manawe.tu. _ These records are to be published in serial form in tlio Journal of tho Association, the first number of which appeared at Christmas. It was also resolved that several cf the oldest pioneers should bo interviewed, ai}d ,t;heir..interesting reminiscences taken. down" in 'shorthand, as bar this means many'glimpses of the spirit or tho early days and'the social conditions then prevailing would be obtained.

A Chinese at Whar.garei, charged wirh employing in his laundry a Maori girl after hours without a permit, advanced the dofenco that tho girl was his fiancee, and went to tho laundry only in tlie course of courtship and not to work, while her mother went with her as c'napsrone. The defenco was not successful.

A meeting of tho Territorial chaplains in tho Auckland Military District was held on Thursday morning in the Diocesan Office, Archdeacon. Cafder presiding. Tho meeting was representative of the various churches .which have chaplains attached to tha Territorial forces. The Rev. Ivo Bertram was appointed secretary to the chaplains, ill succession to the Rev. Mr. Walker, who is at present in the Old Country. Various matters Appertaining to tho forthcoming brigaao camp wore discussed, and a sub-commit-too was appointed to draw up a form of service suitable for universal use on church parade. Tho committee will present its report and recommendations at a future meeting of tho chaplains to bo held on March It-

Wo have received from the Wellington office of tho British Empire Trading Co., Ltd,, a copy of the tourist edition of tho "Havana Post," This is a production which testifies to the importance of the island of Cuba as a tourist resort. It contains some eighty pages of matter profusely illustrated with coloured prints. The island, and its scenery, castles, towns, buildings, harbours, and other features are pictured and described with a wealth of detail. Interesting sections deal with the Cuban industries, sugar production, tobacco-growing, fruit culture, catllefarmillg, and numerous others. Particular attention is paid to tho manufacture of cigara, which come from Cuba in ninny, world-famous brands. Apart from tho coloured illustrations, which are thickly scattered through the ordinary pages, tho tourist edition of the "Havana Post" contains a number of largo "folders." ClllO of them pictures tho Chaparra Sugar Mill, which stands on the sugar estate in the world. Last season it produced 86,000 tons of sugar. Other folders have for subjects the raising of the United States battleship Maine, which was sunk in Havana harbour. It is impossible in a brief paragraph to do moro than hint at the contents of this very fine production. It is a comprehensive review and description of the island of Cuba in almost every conceivable aspect.

Particulars of Sunday'B Church services will be found on Page 1 of this issue.

Kirkcaldie and Stains,. Ltd., arr- showing exceptional value in pretty afternoon onc-pioco frocks, of soft wool crepe and pretty shades, very suitable for indoor wear. 355. 6d.—Advt.