LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1740, 3 May 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Tlie postal authorities advise that tho Mahono, which sailed from Sydney for Auckland on Wednesday, has on board an Australian mail; also an English mail via Suez. Tho Wellington portion is due por Main Trunk express on Monday next.

Wo desire to ninko it perfectly clear that wo disclaim all responsibility for tho statements contained in an advertisement published in our issue of yesterday oyer tho name of Mr. Joshua Jones. Tho title to tlio freehold of the Mokau-Mohakarino Block which was secured from the Nativo owners through tho Maori Land Board, under authority of an Order-in-Council, passed to tho present owners who aro subdividing tho block and offering tho 'tec-' tion for salo on May 7. Tho terms of sale aro attractive and intending buyers can obtain tho fullest information concerning the property from Mr. J. M. Johnston, Palmcrston North, or from any of tho numerous agents.

Ono of tlio first duties of tho new City Council will bo to rnako a selection from among a very largo number of applications for tlio position of city organist lately, vacatcd by Air. Maughan Barnett. Appiicatioi/s closed on Thursday, and when asked yesterday for the number which had been received, the Town Clerk (Mr. J. R. Palmer) said ho had no idea, but opened a sufo which disclosed two great piles' of letters, and packages from all parts of tho Empi.ro. "They arc not all single application," explained Mr. Palmer. "Some of them have sent their applications in one envelope, their credentials and records in another, and their photographs in a third. They will bo gone carefully into at tho first meeting of tho Finaiico Committee." Another matter that will reo'uiro attention is tho particular manner In which tho money raised by tho Citizens' Carnival is to be 6pwit. Speaking to a reporter yesterday, tho Hon. R. H. Rhodes (Acting-Minister for Defence) made n briof reply to recent criticisms of what has been described as tho lion. Jas. Allen's offer to tho Imperial authorities to provide a New Zealand expeditionary force for service abroad wherever its services might bo required. Obviously, said.the Minister, this was an attempt to discredit Mr. Allen politically. Botli Mr. Allen and himself had denied tho suggestion that Mr. Allen hod committed Now Zealand to tho creation and maintenance of a standing army of 8000' men for servico in any part of tho Empiro. Mr. Allen, in reply to a cable message from Mr. Massey, had made it wrfectly plain that it was to bo a purely voluntary force and the English newspaper reports bore out this statement. It was simply a ; suggestion to set up tho machinery for an expeditionary forco. Critics of tho proposal had confused permanent organisation with a permanent force. In support of his statement the Minister quoted tho following extract from n letter which Mr. Allen had 6ent to 3fi\ Massoy and himself.—"Of courso you know that the expeditionary forco can only bo secured through tho volunteering of our men tq go, I hope there will bo no mistnko about that. Tho organisation, as I explained to you, is simply tho deciding upon tho number of tho men, tho naturo of tho forco—that is to fay, whether infantry, mounted rifles, artillery, or so 011, their arms and equipment. and overytliing ready for them to go when lliey volunteer." That, said Mr. Rhodes, did not mean that New Zealand was going to keep a permanent force fully equipped, it would not mean tho employment and maintenance of a further staff of permanent officers. Not 0110 man would bo added. to tho staff in coii'sennence of tho ndoptioii of the proposal. "Of course," ho added, "the fact is ignored that tho late Mr. Seddon, in his l!ill of 1!)00, made provision for an Imperial Reserve."

Many of the Territorials who wero In camp at Oringi are dissatisfied that they word not given an opportunity to see H.M. Now Zealand. Mr. C. W. Palmer, local secretary of tlio Nnvy League, lias received tho following letter from a Territorial, who has always evinced a lively interest in naval matters:—'"Tho Hawke's Bay Territorials wero not given a chanco of seeing the New Zealand nt Napier, 'i'liero was no training in camp after 1 p.m. on Friday, and very little other work to bo done, but wo did not get bnclc to Hastings until ".55 p.m. on Saturday. I had written to Mr. Campbell, It.P., on tho matter, and our captain did what; ho could. but, apparently, tho Defence Department or tho Hailway Department, or his Excellency, the Governor could not nrrango it!"

.The members of tho Forestry Commission reached Wellington on Thursday evening and will leave next woelc to visit nml inspect the forest reserve.? on the North Island Main Trunk line. An extension of time has been granted, tho period within which the commission was originally instructed to report, having expired on Thursday.

llio first mooting nf tho now Harbour Board will be held 011 Wednesday afternoon next at fl o'clock. Tho business will consist of the appointment of chairman and the various sub-committees. It is anticipated that there will bo no opposition to the reappointment as chairman of Mr. Robert l'lctcher.

Anniversary services well be held at The Terraro Congregational Clniich to-mor-row, and the tea and public meetings on Tuesday next.

The sccvetarv, Wellington Hospital and ChuriUbJc Aut Board acknowledges a present: uf six co;es of fruit from (ho parishioners of -St. Thomas's Church, Uelucka, for the Children's Hospital,

Tho .T. C. Williamson management announces tho result of "Tho Bluo Bird essay comiwlition as follows:—Miss hato Hooper, Carlton Terrace, Wanganui, wins the .M lis. prizo; Miss Amy Denton, Thompson Street, Wellington, wins tho ill! 2s. prizo; Miss Eileen Clarkson, box I'J.'i, Hastings, wins tho XI Is. prize. Tho successful competitors can obtain the prizes by applying to Mr. Bert. Royle, Morrah's Buildings, Willis Street, Wellington.

J. ho wiro standards for uso on Mount Egmont as a guido to climbers leaving tho crater havo now como to hand, and us tlio season is over so far as climbing is conctirncd, it is not proposed to have them fixed until tho beginning of next season;

111 view of tho fact that Otngo is tho stronghold of tho Navy League in New /calami, tho decision not to take 11.M.5. Aew Zealand into tho harbour is keenly in w " tin S to Mr. C. W. Palmer, he Bunedm yecrctnry {Mr. Charles Darl>"g) says'"Captain H'alsey sent 1110 tlio answer I. expected. His miro folly to wasto money sending a deputation to nun. Olago is simply not in it, and can t Jiopo W i>o 011 theso occasions. Captain Halsoy has Iwen most courteous ill answering my requests, and tho only reliable information tho publio got came from him through me. lam only sorry for tlio kiddies. They do bo want to go 011 board, and it will bo madnoss to attempt it snvo under ideal conditions. What can tho Tutaiickai do with <1000 to 5000 primary youngsters in two days, ten miles Irom Port Chnlniers and 17 or 18 miles from Dunedin." There aro 2000 juvenile and 400 adult members of tlio league iu Otago.

Tlio annual sessional meeting of tho Irish party was hold on March 10 in tho House of Commons. Mr. Clancy proposed, and it was unanimously passed: "That Mr. John E. Redmond be re-elected chairman." Mr. Farrell proposed, Mr. Molloy seconded, and it was passed unanimously: "That Captain Donelan and Messrs. P. O'Brien, E. H. Burke, and' J. P. Bolond bo re-elected Whips. Mr. O'Malloy proposed, Mr. F. E Meehau seconded, and it was passed unanimously: "That Messrs. W. Abraham, J. J. Mooiicy, and P. A. Meehau bo re-elected lion, treasurers." Mr. Flavin proposed, Mr. Doris seconded, and it was passed unanimously: "That Messrs. W.' H. K. Redmond, E. Hazlcton, and T. Scanlan bo reelected hon. secretaries."

At tho last meeting of tho Catholic School Federation in Wellington a subcommittee reported that an objectionable moving-picture had been brought under its notice. Stops wero immediately taken to visit tlio theatre in question, and it was found that whilst no serious objection could bo raised to tlio Clin as a whole, yet there wero portions of it which bordered on tho suggestive side. The manager was interviewed, and on the matter being explained to him he immediately withdrew tho show placard fiwji tho door and promised that tho picturo vcould not be shown again in New Zealand. Tho incidcni shows that though there is in New Zealand no official to supervise pictures, there is a quiet and apparent effective censorship being (exercised by some of the school authorities.

Tho annual meeting of tho University Reform Association, which should havo been held last night, was postponed owing to the stormy weather.

All through his career Lord Roberts has been a temperance advocate. Last month tho retired Field-Marshal wrote the following letter:—"l am glad to hear you are arranging for a temperance meeting, and I hope it will bo well attended and prove a great success. It is very important in this ago of high pressure to get the British nation to recognise the necessity for the exorcise of tho virtuo of true temperance, not in the restricted sense of tho word only, but as of universal application. No man can do his duty in this life or mako tho best ura> of his powers unless ho is temperate in all things, and I think it is a mistako to allow tho word to imply only temporanco in the use of alcohol."

A donation of five guineas has been handed to the City Fire Brigado by Messrs.'Aitk'eh, Wilson and" Co. as a subscription to tho men's recreation fund, m token of tho firm's appreciation of tho brigado's services on a recent occasion.

A few minutes before 9 o'clock last evening the Firo Brigade received a call to a houso in Rarawa Road, Kelburne, a dwelling of fivo rooms, occupied by Mr. Geo. Warren, and owned by a Mr. Iteaton (for whom Messrs. Bctliuno and Co. aro the agents). The fire, which practically destroyed tho building and contents, is supposed to have originated from a candlo which had been placed on a wicker chair during packing operations, the presumption being that somo packing straw caught alight while the occupants of tho houso woro out of tho foom. The insurance! ou the contents is <£210, but tho amount on tho building is not known. The present system of medical inspection of school children was criticised by Mr. G. J. Garland, chairman of the Auckland Board of Education, at tho raectinjr of the board on Wednesday. Mr. Garland stated that it wojld bo utterly impossible for tho ono medical man appointed by tho Department for this district to, cover tho ground iu a lifetime. To solvo the dituculty, tho Minister 6hoiild tako steps to arrange with local medica 1 practitioners to assist in tho carrying out of tho work. It, was decided that the Department should : bo approached in oonneotion with tlio matter.

Nominations for an engineer member on tlio Hogistaition Board clos™ with the Chief Health Officer on Apnl SO. end the na ues mibmitted arc being placed before his Excellency tlio Governor, with a view to tlio appointment of 0110 ot tno nominees. Tho icsiiit is likely bo announced within a. few <!<>vs. Uio reffuhitions governing Hie constitution of the board provide for nominations by all cities boroughs having a population ot over 5000, nnd the drainage boards of Christclinrch and JJunedm. the Mastei ljumbers' Fedoratio-i, and tlio Employees Federation are each to return ono member, find elections of these representatives are now in progress. It is expected that tlio result of tlio elections will 1» announced about tho middle of this month. Sooing a motir-car standing unattended outsklo tho Star Hotel at Auckland, lraward Bailey is alleged to havo eono up to it and released tlio brakos. llio coneequonoo was that tho car, beinp 011 incline, started to run <loiVn tho lull. After travelling for about 10.0 yards >' collided with a'lwst, much to th 6 detriment of Iho car. Bailey was charged. at tho Police Court on Wednesday with drunkenness ,and with doing damage estimated at XIA to tho car. Aftor hearing llio evidence,-Mr. X - '. C. Cutten, S.M., eaii dint ho would havo no hesitation m convicting tho licenced, but as the damage iVas over tho ease wis adjourned m order to bo dealt with as an indictablo offence. Tho Iliiddart-Piukor Company have been advised bv tin) Commissioners of the Victorian and Now South WalcS Railways, that on and after May . 1 the issuo of return, tickets will bp abolished as between tho following States :-Aew South Wales and Victoria; New South Wales and Queensland; New South Wales and South Australia; Queensland, and Sdutli Australia. Tho only exception ia between Victoria and South Austailia. for which joufftev return tickets will Still bo issued. Fresh regulations are also being brought into forco in regard to tho bi ©airing ot jo'urnc-y. Hitherto roturii tickels havo been available for tho return portion of journey by tlio various' lilies of steamers, but tins concession will bo also abolished; except between tho ports of Melbourne and Auolaulo.

! CAR ECONOMY AND THE BAYARD. A keen demand has nrison in Into years for ft light, moderately-priced, economical small car. Such a car fills tho requirements of tli? coiumcrcinl traveller, or of tho motorist who, owning n big pleu. suro car, requires a small, reliable, eliejip. running car us n town runabout. Tho S-12 li.p. Clement bayard is tho car that fills tho bill. Its prico is .£235, iliclusivo of hooil, wind shield, and fivo lamps. It seats tli roe persons, Its weight is llcivt., and its nominal h.p. 12, practically a hundredweight to tho horse-poivcr. its petrol consumption is olio gallon (o 40 miles; lubricating oil, ono gallon (o 500 miles. Tyres to last 10,000, cost. .£l7 2 S , for lour covers. Speed, 10 miles per hour on the Hat. Hill-climbing ability: car can climb tho Paekakariki itill on tho sccond near at 15 miles an hour. It is built by A. Clement, Paris, the celebrated 'French automobile engineer, and its running' expenses, including nllownneo for deprecinti<;n, do not.exceed .£5- per annum. It can lie had finished in oil her green, dark blue, or French grey, and we can (jive delivery in fivo minutes. Adams Limited, Agent's for Clement lia.vntd cars, Garage, Titam Street, Christehureh. Depots at Wnjiffamii and I'almerston North. Agents, Tour-, i*t Motor Co., HastißGß,—Advt,

Tlio Uruti correspondent of tho "Taro, naki Daily News" gives an interesting example of tho dangers of lii'o in tho back-blocks. Mr. A. W. Bono had an exceedingly narrow escapo from a dangerous accident 011 April 23. Ho was proceeding along after dark on a valuable horso along tho track just before tho Grand Circle, on tho Uruti Road. Suddenly ho felt his horse goiiig over, and ho jumped, landing safely on tho track. By dint of much scrambling and a peat expenditure of matches, ho located; his horso caught in. some scrub on a narrow, papa shelf away down tlio cliff. It was impossible to get tho horso out from cither abovo or below. Every day someone scrambled Vlown, and fed tho horse, tho settlers meanwhile working hard excavating to mal;o a track up. After about live days this "was accomplished; tho horso being rcscued quite unhurt. This is tho track which tho settlers have, been working so hard to got deviated and tunnelled through. It is really only ft shelf cut in tho cliff, alul is so shockingly neglected that in places it would bft liard for even two ducks to pass one another in. safety.

Tho annual meeting' of _ tho Brooklyn Municipal Electors' Association was to havo been held last evening, but tho severity of tho weather had apparently chilled the enthusiasm of its members, for onlyeleven put in an appearance. .As tho quorum for a general meeting of the association is sixteen, tho proceedings had to bo postponed till next Monday week. Tho first meeting; of the nowly-electod Hospital and Charitablo Aid Board is to be held' on Monday at 2.30 p.m. Tho business will include tlio appointment of a chairman, a treasurer, tho various 00mir.ittoes, and tho fixing of tho date and liiiio of tho monthly meeting.

Particulars of to-morrow's church services will bo found 011 pngo 2.