LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1689, 4 March 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

« The postal authorities ndviso tliat the Moeraki, which sailed, from Sydney on March 1, has on hoard an Australian mail. She is duo here to-moriow. Tho mails which left Wellington on January 21 by the s.s. Warrimoo, and, connected with tho Brindisi mails per' R.M.S. Maloja, arrived in London on March 1.

Tho members of tho Trado of Empire Commission will arrivo in Wellington on Wednesday morning, and they will meet for business the same afternoon. Tho commission will sit in a room in Parliament Buildings. It is expected that the sittings in Wellington will bo rather longer than in any of tile other towns of the Dominion.

A perennial plea of Mr. W. H. P. Barber's is for the establishment of e, telephone exchange at Wellington. South or a reduction of tho present charges. He recently wrote to the Postmaster-General on tho subject, to which ho has received tho following reply: "Tho present position is that it has beei decided to install automatic telepliDnes in Wellington, but it has not yet been definitely decided whether a satellite exchange is to bo opened in Wellington South. The rate for automatic telephone connections have not yet been fixed, but there is no doubt that they will bo tho same for subscribers in Wellington South 09 for subscribers in tho city. Tenders for tho ' equipment close on May 1 next, and it is ■ cxjiected that tho new system will be biought into operation in about a year fiom tho tijno of tho acceptance of the tenders. In tho mcantimo I regret that a reduction 'in tho present regulation charges cannot bo mano for tho benefit of persons in Wellington South. If this were done similar reductions would have to be mado clscvhero, and such reductions are not warranted." The annual meeting of the Wellington branch of the Shipowners' Federation will bo held on Thursday, March G. Tho dates for tho Chapman-Alexander mission in New Zealand are as follow: — Cliristchurc'i, March 4 to March 24; Wellington, March 2G to April 15; Auckland, April 17 to May 8. The following letter, wluch sufficiently explains it&slf, .has been addressed to tho Prime Minister of tho Australian Commonwealth by Mr. C. W. Palmer, lion, secretary of tho Wellington branch of tho Navy League. The letter reads:—"Sir.—ln this morning's cable messages I notice a remark by tho Rt. Hon. Mr. Fisher, in which, ho expresses the hopo that New Zealand boys may entor tho Australian Naval Collego. I may say that recently tho parents of several highly suitable lads liavo written me for information in that direction, i.0., as to the mode of entry and conditions of enrolment as naval cadets.—l am, etc., Cecil W. Palmer."

' Four jolly eailormen zig-zagged along Manners Street East yesterdav afternoon in a carelessly lmppy mood. On the edgo of the pavement opposite a second-hand shop stood a big wire cage, containing an arrogant oockatoo, in the habit of exchanging ribald remarks with'passers-by. One of the sailors seized the cage on one tack, and still trolling a lively stavo continued to boat to windward with all sail set. Tho next act in the comedy was a small man in his shirt-sleeves rushing along tho street, but thinking prudence the better part of valour, he gave tho'men of tho sea a wide berth, and dashed into tho polico station to report the removal of tlio cockatoo. Law, in tho person of a tall constable, stalked across the street, and laid a heavy hand on tho "jolly" with the cage, and • conducted him into t'lio station. Tho finalo will bo enacted beforo tho Magistrate this morning.

There .ire some big bookings for tho Concert Chamber during tho. coming winter. Mr. Edward Branscoinbe, of "Dandy"' fame, has booked t'lio little hall from June 9 until July 10, and from July 21' to July 25. On tho next evening (July 20) the English Pierrots commence a 6eos>n which extends to September 2G. Kirkcaldio and Stains are making a special display. "Sunresista" Casement Cloth, 54 inches wide, will stand tho sun's rays, and is fast oolour in washingill White, Ecru,_ Tussore, and all the leading shades. Prices, Is. Gd., Is. lid. yard. —Advt.

THE "TRIUMPH" STILL ON TOP. The Christchurch-Kaikoura-and-bnck record still stands to the credit of Mr G. 13. Brown and his full roadster "Triumph," and tho now record made last has been buried almost as soon as it was born under the crushing weight of two hours and twenty-ouo miiiules. The principal features of Mr. G. b! Brown's great ride on Saturday have been Riven full publicity. On Sth February ho rode alone. • Some capital ivns mado out of the fact that,- on a previous occasion he was accompanied by another rider; and, though the precedent tluis set Ims been followed in the subsequent attempts upon the record by ciders cf machines other than the "Triumph,"- Mr. Brown decided to demonstrate his faith in "Triumph" reliability by riding nlone. He rodo tho smuo full roadster threespeed "Triumph" as he rodo when he established the record on January 17. Tho only difference in tlw conditions was that he knew the road. It must be remembered that this Chrislchurch-KnikoUra rfdo was suggested by "Triumph" competitors presumably as a course on which their machines had a batter clianco against tho "Triumph" than any other. The oourso evidently does suit their machine—when thoir machine is groins well—but it quite as evidently suits tho "Triumph" just as well, and a grout deal hotter. So tho result of this little spm-ting controversy lias been to establish the "Triumph" as the best "cross-country" motor-cycle, as well as the best speed machine, the best machine for reliability, and the best for hill-climbing. Tho latest "Triumphs" arc now to hand; prices: fixed engine, •C7O; free engine. ,£80; three-speed, £Si ifls. Adams, Limited., Christchurch,' Branches. AVanpanui, I'almerston North. Agents, Sutherland and Rankine, Wellington, and Tourist Motor Co., Hastings,— Advt.

The Eduoation Board is inviting competitiy® designs for a Normal School and Training College to bo Greeted on a site (already fcolojtcd) in Uplpnd Iload. Tho competition is open (o architects residing in hew Zealand, and premiums of J275, .£SO, and i£25 I nro being: offered to tho three best dosigns selected by tho judges.

'I hereby forward tho sum of Xll 10s. Cd., Ijciiig 10 per cent, of my second week's rcceinta, which we ore donating to the carnival fund for beautifying the reserves. This amount, together with our former cheques for .£l2 17s. S)d„ makes a total of £21 Bs. 3d. Again wishing tho carnival every success.—Faithfully yours, 11. Seaton." This is easy money, as far as the Citizens' Carnival Committee is concerncd, ond it is hinted by tliosa concerned that our reserves and" Town Belt tfoiild blossom as a garden it many of the citizen shjpkeepors would follow Mr. Beaton's excellent example. The State school children who were.participating in tho massed exercises to bo performed at Newtown. Park during tho Citizens' Carnival at Easter are to rehearso on tho Basin lteservo on Friday afternoon' next, as tho Town Hall lias Ikon found to bo altogether too small for the purpose. A start was made yesterday with the wood-blocking of tho streets surrounding the now General Post Office—Panama, Feathcrstoji, and Brandon Streets. This work is being done by tlio City Council under the supervision of the city engineer. Tho Government is contributing to the cost of the work Excavation forHho concrete foundation in Feathtrston Streetwas comman;ed yesterday morning.

, A. series of mission services win bo held in the city next week in connection with tho Anglican Church, from March 10 to March M (inclusivo). Addresses will bo given to men in tho Concert Chamber of tho Town Hall from 1.20 to 1.80 p.m. by tho Rev. H. "Watson, vicar of Maßterton. There will bo two services each day for women in, Baker Bros.' llall, Lambl'on Quay (opposite Kclburne tram). Tho first will be from 12.20 to 12.50 p.m., and the second from 1.20 to 1.50 p.m. The addresses to women on Monday and Tuesday (Maroh 10 and 11) will bo given by the Bishop of Wellington (Dr. Sprott).

Our Ilokitika correspondent states that one of tlio members of the Westland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board has given notice to move at tlio board's meeting on Thursday, that tlio attention of the Minister for the Hospital and Charitable Aid Department bo called to the lack of finv protection to.Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards throughout the Dominion in connection with the treatment of workmen. meeting with accidents and receiving workers' compensation in our hospitals, and that the Minister bo asked to have some amendment made in the words of tlio Compensation Act, whereby a hospital account can lwcome a charge on tlio compensation paid _to workers receiving treatment in a hospital.

Tile South Australian Commissioner of Crown Lands states that the Government will do its nest to introduce an adequate number of conablo domestic servants info South Australia. Already 300 pirls havo been brought out, and 290 are booked to leave England during the current year.

' Tho Mayor of Wellington (Sir. D. M'Laren) has : been advised by telegraph that the Ponsonby Bovs' Drum and Fifo Band, which is to perform in Wellington during the Citizens' Easter Carnival, will arrive on Easter Saturday afternoon, and will leave on tho return 'journey at neon on the following Wednesday. Mr. M'Laren will be pleased to receive offers from..any citizens willing to accommodate one or moro of these lads during their stay in Wellington. His Excellency tho Governor has received advice from the Secretary of State for tho Colonies that the Astronomical Society of Mexico has agreed to offer a meda'l and diploma to any astronomer who discovers a comet. , The medal will bear the name of tlio "Carolina Horschel Medal."