LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1759, 26 May 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The s.s. Wimmera arrived in Auckland from Sydney at 7.20 last evening, in timo to connect with the Main Trunk express for Wellington. Tiio mails brought by the AVimni'M'a are ail English via Sue/, and Australian. The southern portion is duo hero by tho express this afternoon. "I l ave been a sideman for many years, anil it almost makes 1110 sick, when taking rouiul tho offertory, to seo people who willingly give 10s. for a seat at the otiera, feel in their pockets for their smallest coin when the bug is put before (hem." So said one of the sneakers at tJio annual meeting of parishioners of Christ Church, Wanganui, oij. Friday last. The various tcmperanco organisations of Wellington are arranging for a big demonstration to bo held ill tho Town Ilall by way of protest against the three-fifths majority. Tho speakers will include Sir. 11. I), Bedford, solicitor, of Duncdin. Mr. E. Newman, M.P. for Kangitikei, has received tho following letter from the Prime Minister:—'"l am in receipt of your letter of May 9, in which you urgo 'that Wellington be made a port of call for tho vessels engaged in tlio Vancouver mail service, with a view- to promoting the export of frozen meat from the southern portion of tho North Island. In reply, I have to state that I have taken a ca'refucl noto of your representation in regard to this matter, and I shall be glad to confer with tho Postmaster-General, and let you know later wliother it is possible to make any alteration in tho direction indicated." Mr. E. Newman, M.P. for the Rangitikei district, lias (says our special correspomlent) received n 'telegram from Die Hon. 11. D. Bell stating that tho warship Now Zealand will not be open to visitors on her second trip to Wellington.

Whilo tho Monowai was londing at Duncdin the other day, one of tho lumpers engaged in this occupation discovered that a ship's cat was the possessor of a litter of kittens. Among the kittens which the cat was suckling was n halfgrown rat, anil its foster mother seemed lo devote considerably more attention to the usurper than to its own offspring. Whenever tho l-at crept, away from.a locality in which, perhaps, it scented danger at some future date, the cat would take it np gently by tho back of tlio neck and replace it among tho kittens. Tho incident (states tho "Otago Daily Times") excited no little attention amongst tho men working on the wharf, and the cat was subjected to a largo amount of curious scutiny.

Senior-Sergeant Eutledge mid Constable M'Kelvie raided yesterday tlio premises at No. 11 Tui Street, where sly grog-busi-ness was suspccted to be flourishing, and in consequence of their visit certain individuals will be asked to explain themselves at tho Magistrate's Court this morning.

Captain Plunkett, Lloyd's Surveyor, and Captain liainey, Marino Superintendent for tho Tyser Line, left Wellington by motor-car oa Saturday afternoon for ■ the scene of the stranded Tyser liner liidralxu-nli. In addition to tho other gear already on tho spot, Lloyd's agents have been successful in procuring two 5-lneli cables of wire ropo, each 500 fauioms in l,"„"tii. Tlvey havo been brought out from Home on board tho Shaw-Snvill steamer Karamoa. and wore consigned to a Now Zealand firm oa the West Coast. Messrs. J. P. Luko and Son, Wellington, havo secured tho contract of casting and niakjn<r (he two 5-ton mushroom anchors for use in trying to refloat the Indrabarah. By tho Aorangi, which, arrived from Sail Francisco on Saturday, an experimental shipment of fresh asparagus came to hand, consigned to Messrs, Laery and Co., and George Thomas aid Co. It was kept in cold chambers during, tho voyage, and arrived as firm and fresh as the day on which it was shipped.

Whilst: in Wellington Mr. H. Okey, M P interviewed tho Prinio Minister and tho Minister for Native Affairs, tho Hon. Mr. Herries, on tho subject of the west Coast leases, 1 and found both Ministers quite ' sympathetic. They assured 'Mr. Okey that the matter is being attended to and that during the coming . session legislation will bo introduced which will bo found satisfactory to 1882 leaseholders. Mr. Okey also inquired about the llokau Eiver and w.\s informed that Mr. G. T. Murrav. District Engineer, has been instructed to report on tho subject of the reservation of bush on tho river banks.— '"l'uruuaki Herald."

(Steps an? now being taken to form brandies of the Lord's Dav Alliance throughout the Dominion.. The constitution of a branch in Auckland was effected on Thursday by a meeting held in the Diocesan Oflice, .representative of tin? various churches, at wliich the Eev. A. Miller presided. A letter was .received from Dr.

Cleary, Roman Catholic liishop of Auckland," expressing his sympathy with tlio movement and readiness to co-operate with it in certain directions. The Anglican liishop of Auckland was appointed president of tlio branch, the Moderator of the Presbytery, and. tlio chairman of the District Committee of the Metho<list Churcli wore appointed vice-presidents, and tlio licv. A. Miller, of Edeiulate, was elected secretary and treasurer.

Captain Johnstone, of Waverley, lias suggested that every child in State schools throughout both islands be asked'to givo some small contribution towards the purchase of silver fern leaves of approved typo to be worn as a badge of distinction by officers and crew of tlio battleship New Zealand. "The fern leaf," ho fays, "wbuld bo suitable in every way, particularly for the reason that it has long been regarded as the national emblem of this country, and if worn on tlio shoulder or right arm of the uniform, would lielp to create the proper feeling of pride in every man on tlio ship. Ho would look upon it as a. token from tlio proud 'owners' of the battleship, and would treasure it as a memento of what constitutes an important even in the history of tlio Empire."

Pongaroa, an isolated townsliip which has recently come into some prominence, was last week visited on the sanio day by an cx-Minister for Public Works and tlio present Minister. Tlio day in question was Thursday last. Iu tlio early part of the dav the Hon. E. M'Kenzie was ill Pongaroa on privato bm?in!c<ss. lie has taken a contract from the Government to build a bridge near the mouth' of the Akilio River, at a cost of something liko ,£SOOO. Later in tlio day, the present Minister for Public Works, tlio Hon. W. Frasor, arrived at Pongaroa, but by that timo Sir. M'lCcnzio had departed.

Tho annual report of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society states that the receipts from fishing licenses continue to decrease, being .£703 8«. 6d„ against ,£839 Ms. Gd. iu l'Jll-12, a decrease of Gs. Game licenses dropped from .£339 Ss. last year to .£197 12s. Gd., a loss of .£l4l 15s. Gd. Doer licenses rose slightly frotn ,£193 lis. Inst year to 43210 12s. Gd., a gain of A'l7 Is. Gd. Pales of fry and birds reached the substantial sum of .£338 ss. No deer were sold. Tho prospects from a revenue point of new with reference t« the dfcr-stalking and game-shooting season of 1913 are not bright.

After a succession of stormy week-ends, the lino v.Tiither experienced on Saturday and yesterday came ns a plcu.-,ant relief. As a direct result of (ho clear sunshino and brisk air many thousands of peoplo were tempted to spend the greater part of the day at the seaside resorts and golf links. During Hie afternoon the Clyde Quay and Oriental Bay l'arade was thickly peopled by those wishing to take the fullest advantage of the fine, sunshiny afternoon.

Battleship souvenirs are the order of tho day, and that of the Otago branch of tho Navy league is not the least appropriate among the many (states the "Otago Daily Times"). It takes tho form of a four-page card (Giin. by 'Jin.). Tlio iirst page has at its head Captain Halsoy's words: "Every button on duty," an intimation of the reason for the card and a sketch, in colour, of H.M.S. New Zealand, draped 011 dither sido with tlio while cnsiA and the Union Jack. Tho second and third pages set forth a few facts about, tlio great fillip, eome plain figures to learn, a brief appeal to the boys and girls, and, 011 tho last page, three other things to remember, a coloured flag of Old England, and two lines from tho Recessional. Over 2500, or ono for each school member uf the league, have been printed.

Herr Carl Sauer, who adjudicated at the recent competitions in Christc'iurch, is to give his ideas and offer suggestions on the conduct of competitions generally before tho committee of tho New Zealand Competitions Society 011 "Wednesday next at tho Town Hall.

The Charitable Aid Committee of the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board acknowledges with thanks the receipt, from tho Wellington Two Garment Society, of a quantity of useful clothing, for tho purposes of the Ohiro Homo and outdoor relief.

A fire at Bulls completely destroyed tho baking business of Mr. L. G. Goebil, telegraphs our epccial correspondent. Tho amount of tho insurance is not ' available but Mr. Goebil will be a heavy loser. Housslioldcrs in those school districts (within the territory of the "Wellington Education Board) who failed to tflect

new committees at tho statutory annual nicotings in April last, are reminded that tlioir respective election meetings will bo held to-night.

Tho nows published on Monday to the effect that tho Prison Department had decided to close tho camp at Ilnnmer Springs will bo received with satisfaction at Hauiiier, says a correspondent of the "Lyttelton Times." Although tho camp I lias always been excellently conducted and the oflicers have boen highly respected, yet tho general public who Visit this health resort, and even the residents, prefer to see frco labour on tho plantations. It is understood that the present nursery 6tafi' will be'eonsiderably increased shortly. ,Tho Presbyterian Orphanage and Social Service Association is holding its lourth annual meeting this evening in St. John's Hall, Dixon Street. • Brief addresses dealing with the work will bo given, and musical items, including two or tlireo by the children of the orphanage, will bo rendered. The members of the Ladies' Auxiliary Committee aro providing refreshments. Tho outstanding feature ol' the year's operations, according to tho animal report, was the erection of tlio fiiio orphanage building at Berhaniporo.