LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1718, 8 April 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

1 The mails wliieli left Wellington on February 28 by thei s.s. Warrimoo, ami connected with the» Brindisi mail per 5,3. Otway, arrived in London on the Gth iiist.... , The postal authorities advise that the s.s. Zealandia, which tailed from Suva for ; Auckland on April 5, has on board mails from America and United' Kingdom. The' Wellington portion is due per Alain Trunk express to-morrow. An interesting spectacle was witnessed by dwellers on the hillside at Island Boy towards dusk on Saturday evening. From across tho Strait could be seen what appeared to be small clouds rapidly approaching tho land, but as ,tlie masses came into closer view each was seen to be composed of thousands of small birds, which were either on. a journey of migration or seeking shelter from the gathering storm. Onco tho land boundary had been passed, tho coveys headed direct for the well-wooded grounds ot' one of tho residences, and into tho shelter of tho trees' there tho first baml of birds sought , harbourage. Their chunnerings and twittcrim»s were a telling guide to the succeeding battalions as to tho sanctuary for the night, and in the remaining space of twilight the chirpings of the travellers were deafening in their volume. The birds wero about the size of tho houso sparrow, and were doubtless tho species commonly called the "white-eye," tho units of which had doubtless determined ' with tho first snap of impending winter t«> bring their seasonal sojourn in tho Dominion to a close.

Keen competition is expected in tb o election of members to represent the General Civil Service on the Public Service Appeal Board. Nine candidates are out tor the two places tliat have to bo filled and campaigning is already in progress. Most of the candidates, have already sent out circulars and one at least has adorned the circular with bis portrait. Considering that they aro seeking appointment to pnrely honorary positions, the various candidates will bo put to a good deal of expense. They have to get into touch with a constituency of about five thousand officers and the first, item of expense that candidates individually have to bear is the cost of printing fivo thousand circulars. Addressing the circulars will also be expensive. If candidates want copies of the roll of officers they will have to pay for them as the authorities are simply placing'one copy of the roll at tho chief post office in each centre. .Tho circulars, however, will be transmitted freo by tho Post Office in continuanco of an arrangement which has obtained for about fifteen years past in connection with tho election of members of the Post and Telegraph Department Appeal Board. Says our Utaki oorrospondent:—"Tho trawler Waitara, went ashore liero on Tuesday last week, remains in the samo position. So far only a feeble attempt has been made to get her off."

'J he two elderly gentlemen wero standing a': n comer near the Parliamentary Buildings, and as 0110 of them was slightly hard of hearing their conversation was very audible to tlio other waiters at tho tram stop. "And who," asked one of them "was tho messenger X see by the papfers (jot knocked down by a bicycle in Moloswortly Street tho other day?" "Oh," replied his companion, "that was old who works upstairs somewhere yonder" jerkins a thumb in the direction,"of "tlio biggest wooden building in the world"— a building which apparently greatly concerned their everyday lives. "Old —— was out that evening, and a reporter saw it."A momentary pause, and then tho first speaker, having missed (lie last pari of the statement, asked: "but how did it got in the papers?" "A reporter, I tell 'ee," mora loudly, and a litllo, irritably repeated his friend. "Those reporters seem only too glad to get anything to put in the papers nowadays." "Indeed tfiev do," chimed in tho other ancient ,of'tho Service, and both being satisfied on this lion-political point, they then hobbled towards their tram. Severe electrical -visitation seems to havo fallen on Shannon. Our loeal correspondent .slates:—"A thunderstorm visited this district on Saturday nHit The lightning Hashes were extremely vivid, and considerable damage was dono to telegraph and telephone lines. About 9.30 p.m. the telegraph wires in the post ollico fused. .There was a loud report and the wooden partition between I he oxchango and tho ollico bccanie ignited, and tho whole wall blazed up. Sir. -Martin the postmaster, quickly extinguished the llames, otherwise tho consequences mWit havo been very serious. The wooden partition is badly charred in places. Only three subscribers cxinltl us? their wire's yesterday morning, and telephonic communication between Shannon and Foxton was broken oil'. . Owing to a number of mombers being nut. of town, tho meeting of tho Now Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, called for last evening, was attended by less Hum a iiuorunr and was postponed until Holiday tivcuiiH' nest a l ' 8 o'clock!

In reply to a deputation of master printers, chiefly from tho suburbs of Melbourne, who complninod to him that ;i combine was harassing anil restricting trade, Mr., Tmlor, Minister for Customs, said tho Government had 110 power to deal with combinations in restriction of trade unless they wero inter-State.. Itmight be able to act wlioro n Melbourne firm sought supplies from a Sydney member of tho association and was refused, but it could not ileal with a ease'where supplies were sought within tho same Slato. Ho had heard that tho under-, takers had formed a combine—(laughter) —and that tho conditions of membership wero to bo a hearso and two horses and =C 1 subscription. (More laughter.) At tho,annual meeting of the Wellington Savage Club, held in tho Grand Hotel last evening, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year-.—Presi-dent, Dr. Newman, M.l\; vice-presidents, Messrs. M. Marktj, A. \V. Newton, Levi, and the Hon. A. L; Herdmau. M.P.; musical director, Mr. I). A. Kenny; lion treasurer, Mr. C. H. Mitford; uuditor; Mr. A. 8. Biss; secretary, Mr. James Dykes; council., Messrs. I l '. P. Ivelly, F. Twi.ss, (j. P. Parsons,.D. Isaacs .A. G, Gumnungs, W. It. Meredith, G. V. Wilson, and K. Wilkinson. The first korero of llie season will be lield in tho Town liall Concert Chamber 011 Saturday, April ' Tho decision of tho City Council to make a grant for extra bathing aqcommodntioii for men and a diving-board at Island Bay was news that met with general satisfaction from tho dwjellors itfc that seaside suburb. Island Bay beach is naturally a capital swimming area, for its rocky and island outposts withstand the buffets of the heavy rollers and breakers, and a smooth surface of water generally prevails nearer. the shore. The pro- I vision to bo made by tho council should ensure the deserved increase in popularity with bathers that tho attractions of'this resort merit. A fact that has been much lost sight of is the reputation. Island Bay has for its freedom from incursions by those terrors to the sea-bother—the shark and the octopus. Fishermen, of over 30 years' residence in 1 the Bay say that the presence there of a shark or an octopus is a rare occurrence, which to them is a mystery, as these disquieting denizens of tho deep are usually to be found in the quiet waters. Tho Y.M.C.A. tea to strangers and visitors oil Sunday was one of the largest and most enthusiastic, in the'history of such gatherings. Visitors to, Wellington aro most appreciative of . tho welcome accorded to them by the association. On Sunday visitors were present from. EngImd, Scotia.ul, Ireland, Wales, various parts of America, South Africa, and from all parts of New Zealand. After tea Mr. Demnison, of New York, end Mr. Ralph C. Norton (who wai formerly an Association secretary in America) gave brief addresses The shopkeepers who are opposing the Saturday half-holiday movementhave tome to no definite decision as to what tlirir action .will- be regarding the petition lately presented to the City Council praying that a poll be taken to fix the day for observance of tho holiday. It is understood, however, that they are still in communication with their solicitor, and that probably they will move in the Supreme Coirt to liavo tho petition set aside. If tho question is actually submitted to a poll, the shopkeepers will institute a vigorous campaign against it. The Citizens' Carnival art uvioh will be drawn in the Town Hall this afternoon at 5.15. The public are iirrited to be> present at the drawing. ' At yesterday's meeting of the Council of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. A. Leigh-Hunt renewed his request for tho freo use of the chamber for meetings of tho Greater Wellington Municipal Elec.tors' Association, basing his claim on the fact that tho Citizens' League had been given the use of the hall free. The president (Mr. A. E. llabin) demurred, doubting if the council had a right to give tho use of the chamber "g?atis to any such body. Mr. Hunt mentioned that the Citizens' Leaguo was formed from the Chamber of Commerce. This Mr. E. G. Pilcher denied, saying that because a number of its members belonged to tho chamber it did not mean that the one body roso out of the other. In the end Mr. Mabin promised to submit the matter to tho incoming coupcil.

A new aspect of tho Labour problem was touched on by Mr. Bon Hing", a witness before tho Koyal Commission 011 Food Supply, Now South Wales. He said it was difficult to pet Chinese labour because so few of his countrymen were coming into tho State.' For this reason, too, wages had gone up, and a Chinese gardener now wanted <2 ss. a week, and he hod to bo well fed, too. If ho could not Ret Chinese labour, the witness said, he would give up gardening, because Euro-' peans could not work liko Chinese. Tho difficulty might be got over if water was laid on all over the garden; but Europeans would not carry water. In addition, while Chinese, who generally worked nn tho shares principle, were at 'it from sunriso till sunset, Europeans worked only "some hours." Ho was depressed, also, by the award rates for shop assistants, which were £2 12s. Gd. a week. Ho paid it to Chineso and Europeans alike. Atj tho annual picnic of the People's Liberal party at Gceloiii; (Vic.) recently Senator jM'Coll said that victory -was within tho grasp of Liberals if they would only take tho trouble to vote. Tho Labour party, prior to,tho last election, had said that if it was returned to power better wages, shorter hour?, mono work, and cheaper money would be available. The fact was that money was dearer, living more expensive, rents higher, and work scarcer than they had been. That party had, dono nothing for the people it was suppo'sed to represent. Ho had been in scores of places ill Victoria, and so far as he could gather the people had had enough of Labour Socialism, and would be glad to bring about a changc of Government at the next election. (Cheers.) The only policy tho Labour Government had carried out was that initiated'by the Liberal Government (Cheers.) Speaking at tho reception tendered in Sydney to tha Empire Trade Commissioners, Sir Eider Haggard sounded an cm. phatic note of warning in regard to Australia's vast empty spaces. "Vast as may no your cities," ho said, "splendid as may ho your commercial resources, it is to the '"id you must look for your wealth and strength. If you do not nurture and people your land, then tho country must decay as the Phoenicians, wln> depended upon trade alone, decayed. People your land; bring pcoplo to your land, anil so grow great and worthy of tho destiny which tins vast country offers, and be a prop of the Empire, of which you aro ouo ot the brightest stars."

THE "TRIUMPH" STILL ON TOP. The .Christchurch-Kaikoura-nnd-back record still stands to the crodjt of Mr G. B. Brown and his full roadster "Triumpli," and tho new record mndo last Thursday has been buried almost as soon as it was born under the crushing weight of two hours and twentv-ono minutes Tho principal features of Mr. Q. g' Brown's great ride on Saturday' hnvo been given full publicity. On Bth February ho rodo alone. Some capital was mado out of the fact that on a previous occasion ho accompanied by another rider, and, though the precedent, thus set has keen followed in the subsequent attempts upon the record by riders of machines other than tho "Triunmhj" j[r Brown decided to demonslrato "his faith in "Triumph" reliability by riding alone He rode the same full roadster threespeed "Triumph" as he rodo when he established the record on January 1". Tho only- difference in the conditions was (hat he. 'knew the road. It must be remembered that this ('hristchui-ch-Kaikoura- ride was suggested by "Triumph" competitors presumably as a couvst on which their machines had a better elianco against tho "Triumph" than any other. Thu coin-so evidently does suit their machine—when their machine is going well—but it quite m evidently suits the "Triumph" just as well, and a great deal better. So tho result of this little sporting controversy has been to establish tho "Triumph" as the best "cross-country" motor-cycle, as well as tho best sliced machine, tho best machine for reliability, and the best for hill-climbing. Tho latest "Triumphs" are now to hand; prices: fixed engine, .£7O; free engine. >£S(]; three-speed,' .£B7 lfls. Adams. Limited., Chrislehureh. Branches, Wanganni, Tiilmerston North. Agents, Sutherland and Kankine, Welling, ton, and Tourist Motor Co., Hastings.— Advt.