LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1732, 24 April 1913, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Yesterday being St. Goorgo's Day, tho Government offices wore closed. The many peoplo in Wellington who witnessed the brilliant electric illumination of H.M.S. New Zealand during recent evenings will be interested to learn that no fower than 3GOO IG-candle-power bulbs were used in the outlining of the vessel apart from those used in tho oomp osition of the crown. Tho warship was 'illuminated in tho manner adopted by the fleet at the time of tho important naval reviews at Spithcad and tlie sight was certainly the finest of its kind ever seen in Wellington Harbour. Tho magisterial inquiry into 'the circumstances surrounding the wreck of the Manaroa is to take place at the Magistrate's Court at 10 a.m. to-morrow. So far tho assessors have not been announced. Speaking in Customhouse Square vosterday Mr. M. J. Eeardon said that an association had recently been formed for the purpose of tampering with tho city leases. His hearers would note, ho continued, thai: very little had been said on this subject by candidates other than those on tho Labour ticket. He advised citizens to vote solidly for this ticket because the Labour men were pledged solidly not,to tamper in any way with tho city leaseholds. "If these wealthy merchants wlw liavo entered into obligations with tho city are not prepared to stand by them," said Mr. Eeardon, "tlioy should stand aside and let the leases bo jut up to auction again." "Aro you in favour of obtaining n better situ for tho Technical College?" was ft question asked at the meeting held at Brooklyn last, night by a number of City Council candidates. Councillor G. Frost stated iu reply that a bettor site was now in view, but that lie could not discloso its whereabouts at present. Itugbv as played in New Zealand is generally supposed to be a little more picturesque and a littlo less warliko than American football, and if tho views of a California]! referee who is visiting Wellington are correct this supposition is not fallacious. The visitor is Mr. G) F. Cameron, who is trying to induce tho'New Zealand Rugby Union to send a team to California. "Thcro are good referees in California," ho said, "but they have 110 one behind them like your referees have. Anyone can go aud referee hero, and, providing he is competent, control tho game. But when there are fifteen men on each sido intimidating a man and throwing his mind off the game, it is a different matter." At the final meeting of the Hospital Board on Tuesday, Mr. A. H. Hindniarsh, M.l'., stated, incidentally, that the chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board received a salary of .E-tOl) per annum. This was doubtless an inadvertence. The annual salary paid to tho chairman of tho Harbour Board is c £2o(t. The opening torero of the Wellington iSavngo Club will bo held on Saturday evening next. The infrequent showers that'have fallen during several weeks past around Auckland have been but poor refreshment for tho pastures in tho suburban districts of tho city (states the "Herald"). In many eases, fodder that had been assigned for winter consumption is being used now, and warm rain in liberal measure would bo widely welcome. The weather seems to be settled 011 a dry level, and t'he outlook as it appears to owners of small holdings, is most depressing. Speaking at Brooklyn last evening Mr. H. Buddlo referred to tho big increase in tho hospital levy which tho city would bo called upon lo pay this year. Mr. Buddlo said that he regarded it as most improper that tho Hospital Board should have tho right practically to tax the people of Wellington in this way without their being given n chance of saving "Yea" or "Nay." no considered that thero should be concerted action between tho board and the City Council to arraign these matters and (hat legislation slumld be Introduced to briug IJjjs about,

Two experts Rivijipr evidence in London at the Royal Commission on the Resources of ilio JSmpire, said that meat from Australasia was still clashed as foreign, and thus subjected to all tho prejudices which such a title naturally involved. They were of opinion that a national label should be used to distinguish the meat which was rnifecd within the Umpire.

Much interest has heen evinced Ijy Melbourne fishing enthusiasts in the statement by Mr. Dannevig, tho Federal Fisheries Director, that tho new species of fish taken in the trawl of the Endeavour in Hie Australian Bight ooniaineil between 2,000,000 and 3,000,000 normal eggs about 1-20 til of an inch in size. Olio mathematical fisherman has calculated that this scale would give 400 eggs to the squaro inch, and 8000 eggs to tho cube, and that to arrive at Mr. Dnnnevig's estimate it would bo necessary to multiply tho latter number by 300. He is very anxious to know how Mr. Dannevig arrived at his conclusion.. Tho Fisheries Director, in explanation, points out that a hen will lay perhaps ft few dozen eggs in a season, but she will, not produoo them all at once, for the simple reason that she could not contain thorn. "In tho ease of a fish," ho adds, "wo liavo a species like the European ling, which may product) 30,000,000 eggs in a siuglo season of a couple of months. These eggs are all contained in tho ovary, but not all at tho same stage of development. They mature gradually, and as they mature they arc laid. In that way it is quito possiblo for a fish to produce a larger number of eggs than it could eonlain if they wero all laid at tho ouo time."

Another indication of the declining use of timber in public, works in which concrelo is usable, is tho Wanganui Borough Council's reply to tho Government's query as 1 to tho support likely to be afforded its sclicmo for supplying hardwood timber to local bodies. Our local correspondent'states that tho council has replied that, while in sympathy with the proposal, it is not probable that it will require any appreciable quantity of hardwood in tho future.

Mrs. Donaldson, a candidate, in tlio Labour interest, for election to tlio Wellington Hospital and CharitabTo Aid Board, in addressing tho opeii-nir meeting in Customhouse Square yesterday, made a serious allegation in reference to the local administration of charitable aid. Sho stated that a woman who was ill, and had fivo children, was told upon applying at the board office for relief that she ought to bo ashamed of herself and that a young' woman liko her ought to go out and work. So ill was tho woman, Sirs. Donaldson stated, that she was admitted to the hospital two or three days afterwards. Mrs. Donaldson further stated that although applications for relief were supposed lo bo received between 2 and 8 p.m., sho went up one day and found that the office was not opened until throe-qn alters of an hour after tho appointed time. Sho was quito sure, sho added, that if sho had gone up at five minutes past three sho would have found the office closed.

Complaints have been, made by importer.-; in the country towns, and especially in Palmerston and Feildiug, about tho lato delivery of inward goods through tho port of Wellington. Somo specific eases were mentioned at the last meeting of tho Harbour Board by Mr. J. G. Cobbe, of IMding, and tho chairman of tho board promised to havo inquiries made. He reported to tho board tlio result of tlioso inquiries last night, and tire effect of his report was that in tho cases under review the board had not only been free from blame, but had given very prompt delivery of tho goods after N'ceiving tlio necessary document?. There ha<l certainly been delay, but not through any fault of the board. Mr. Cobbo mentioned still another shipment of his own, ex Tainui, which luui arrived in Wellington on March 18, and which had not readied him yet, although ho had remitted at once the duty and 'documents necessary. Mr. Fletcher informed him that the cases were in ono of tho sheds now, aiul had been for somo time, but the board had not received tho documents. Mr. Cobbe confesed that ho did not understand how the delay had occurred, but he was glad to liear that tho board was not to blame, and ho promised, at tho suggestion of tlio chairman, to reniovo the misapprehension that existed ill tho country as to who civusod tho delays at ■Wellington. '

Despite the many counter attractions a large audience listened with interest to a icciuro on "Music ar.d Morals" by Mr. 11. S. Clanghton, A.T.C.L., at tho 01.C.A. Debating Club on Tuesday evening. Mr. Clanghton dealt with his subject' under three h'cads:—Tho moral effect (1) on tho composer, (2) on tho listeners, (3) on tho performers, maintaining that it was a fallacy to believe that music had an immoral effect. His statements wero substantiated by quotations from the biographies of several eminent musicians. At the conclusion of tho lecturo questions wero invited and these provided a hearty discussion. The next item on tho club's programme is "Impromptu Speeches."

Addressing the city electors in. Customhouse Square yesterday tho Mayor (Mr. D. M'Laren) said that ho had advocated tho classification of the corporation stnff becauso, under tho present sytem. influence affected the 1 salaries of individuals and gave ono man an advantage over another. Under a classification system everyone would receive fair and just remuneration for his services.

Mr. J. D. Avery, secretary of S.P.C.A., states that our report of Monday's meeting of tho. society would convoy tho. impression that the committee, in appointing counsel for one of tho Court cases, had considered tho merits of tho various solicitors mentioned. This, he says, was not the case. Tho. question of merit did not enter into tho discussion, tho committee merely desiring to have tho case handled by tho solicitor most familiar with tho facts. The annual meeting of tho Victoria Collego Students' Association was held last evening, Mr. J. C. M'Dowall presiding. Tho election of officers for the ensuing season resulted as follows:—Patron, Professor Picken; president, Jfr. ]?. L. G. West; vice-presidents, Miss M. L. Nicholls and Mr. P. G. Hall-Jones: hon. secretary, Mr. G. G. G. Watson; assistant secretary, Mr. G. Struck; hon. treasurers, Miss Cook and Mr. K. M. Bruce; committee, Misses Gavin, K. Houghton, and Cathie, und Messrs. K. H. Quifliam, P. B. Broad, and A. E. Caddick; lion, auditor, Mr. P. Vcrschafl'clt; delegates, Messrs. C. M'Dowall and G. Struck. On Tuesday oveninj* (tho night previous to tho arrival of tho Maunganui from Sydney) a concert was promoted anil organised by Captain Glover, of tho Salvatior. Army. A. collectiou was taken up, and tho amount collocted—J3l 3s.—was handed over to tho Shipwrecked Sailors' Relief Society. The second term of the Wellington Technical School commences to-day. So far the increase in tho attendance has been quite up to the average, and tho lack of accommodation is still keenly felt. Five new class rooms have been provided, four of thorn in tlio Y.M.C.A. building. It has been decided that tho Commonwealth Government's contribution to tho Peace Memorial Building, which is to bo erected at Tho Hague, shall be an escritoire, made entirely of Australian wood and manufactured by Australian artisans. Tlio designs are being prepared, and when finished they will be submitted lo tho Federal Art Advisory Committee for adjudication.