LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1750, 15 May 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

There aro rumours current of a possibility of {rouble at the lirst meeting of (lie now Cita» Council to-night. It is said that certain members disapprove of the constitution of the standing committees, anil that certain other members have fault ci find with the manner in which, the chairmen of the several committees were elected. The Hon. F. M. li. Visher, Minister in charge of the • Government I'rinling Department, announces that in future tho (loverunient Printing Ollico will bo subject to inspection by an inspector of the l.ubour Department, under 1 lit! factories Act. Hitherto the Government I'rinling (Jliico has been exempt from inspection, but henceforth it will be treated, in this respect, as a private concern. Hatl weather lately has hindered preliminary work in connection with tho erection of a lighthouse on Karon liock. So fur nothing has been accomplished apart from I ho collection and preparation of material on the adjoining mainland, but if a spell of moderate weather is experienced, work upon the rock itself should commence at an early date. It is understood (says our AVanganui correspondent) that Messrs. W. and G. Turiibtill mid Co. have sold out the AVaugamii branch of their business to Mr. Macintosh, of Wellington, and Hint Mr. J. Harrison, manager of the produce department for Messrs. Ualgely and Co. iu Wangnnui, lias been appointed manager. Seventy-six domestic servants from london arrived in Wellington yesterday by the Ii.M.S. Athenie. Tho girls were met by Miss M'Lcan, of the Immigration Department, who supplied them with all tho information they raiuirod. There were i!G girls for Wellington, l.'l for Auckland, 11 for C'hrislchiireh, and the remainder, in small parties, for Gisborne, Napier, New Plymouth, I'iclon, Port Chalmers, Tinnru and the Blulf. Positions are already awaiting a number of the girls. Tho plans of the new St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral at Dunedin have arrived from Kngland, and building operations will bo commenced in a' few months. It is to l>3 built oil the sits of the present, cathedral. ' A deputation from the Wellington Rugby Union will 'wait on the City Council to-night, to ask that the rates on Athletic Park be remitted. Mr. Owen Hawes, of Waverley, has sent a donation of J-'2O towards the building fluid 1 of the new orphanage at Wanganui (says our local correspondent). Several donations have been made recently to the same fund, but the committee, who have tho rebuilding schcnie in hand, nro still some hundreds short of what will be needed. Jt is estimated that it will cost .£SOO per annum to run the new institution after it is built. During the voyage of the IJ.Jf.S. Athenie from London to Wellington two deaths occurred. The' first w<is that of Miss E. R. Lazello. aged 21, wl:o died of pneumonia on April 2!l, and was buried at sea. Hiss Lazelle was travelling with her mother. When the vessel was at Hobart, Charles. Browu, aged it years, booked from Glasgow, died of Bright's disease. The body was interred at Hobart. The deceased's wife was .also a passenger by the vessel. Passengers by the Japanese mail steamer Yaivnta Jlaru, from Melbourne lo Sydney, witnessed a fine sight on tho run along the coast. When tho vessel was between Gabo Island and Green Cnpe, on Thursday afternoon of last week three big waterspouts were . sighted. Tho columns of water rose fully 80ft. high, and the ocean for some distance round them was considerably disturbed. They were heading northward, and when last seen opeucd ill cloud formation at the top, spreading like immense umbrellas. Three moro waterspouts were observed when approaching Sydney Heads. A very pleasant littlo social gathering was held at tho Chinese Mission Hall in Frederick Street last evening, when members and friends of tho Chinese Mission treated the Chineso residents of Wellington lo an enjoyable'concert, with refreshments at the close of the entertainment. The Chinese Consul, Mr, Kwei Chili, pre--sided over tho gathering, and in opening the proceedings thanked the mission helpers and their friends for their kindly interest and assistance to tho Chinese residents of (lie uity. About 530 immigrants arriml from London by tho R.M.S. Athenie yesterday. Of the tola!, 21(1 were assisted by the Government, and 117 of that number were nominated by friends. The male portion of tho immigrants consist of miners, printers, carpenters, motor mechanics, general labourers, and one millin' expert. In addition to the Government immigrants there were 15ft of tho others far Wellington and the remainder are booked for different New Zealand ports. Tho remaining measles patients and contacts from the steamer lonic, who had to undergo a period of detention on the quarantine station at Somes Island, were released yesterday morning. In nil about S8 passengers were sent to tho island, and'the last of the total, who were released ylsterday, ojnsisted of three women, fivo children, and one man. Slci-ing is to be gone in for to a large extent at Fairlio during tho winter months, according to Mr. S. G. Collett, ■of the Duuediu branch of the Tourist Department. Tho Sydney "Daily Telegraph" states that in West Australia the Scaddnn (Labour) Government lias in 18 months piled up a deficit of Jt':i96,'l!ls, in i'aco of the fact that the Liberal Government left it a credit balanco of .CIH,OOO. One afternoon last, week Mr. Henry Willis, Speaker of the -\cw South Wales Legislative Assembly, was lo have addressed the students of tho 'training College (Wlackfriars) Christian Union on llic subject of Scripture teaching iu State schools. That he did not do so'was because instructions had been given that tile press was not to'be admitted to Hie meeting. Mr. Willis duly arrived nt tlio august seat of learning, but, beyond a brief '.exchange ot' courtesies with tho principal, nothing happened. Ko address was delivered, and Mr. Willis made it very clear that tho action of the authorities in excluding the press from the meeting was not endorsed by him. Indeed, lie was much surprised to find members of the fourth estate cooling their heels outside, and as ho left the place after shaking hands with tho principal, he remarked, "As the press will not bo admitted, there will be no address" Mr. 11. K. Burns (lion, secretary of the Auckland Hoadmaslers' Association) ' has written to the Prime Minister, on behalf of that body, expressing its appreciation of the opportunity of visiting 11.M.5. j\ow Zealand, which was afforded by the Government to school children. The association, Jlr. .Hums stales, is of opinion that the lesson learned as u result of the visit has been so impressed upon the minds of the children that the laudable object, which the Government had in view will be aOhiovod in a. very full measure. Mr. Burns also expresses the association's appreciation of the invaluable services ill conneotion with the organisation of the school ehildrcns' visit, rendered by Mr. .T. Ilislop, Umlcr-Sccretnry for Internal Affairs.