LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1767, 4 June 1913, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Littlo information was available yesterday regarding the stranded liner Indrabanih, which is lying 011 tlio Kungitikei beach. Mr. H. L. Nathan, of Messrs. .Bannatyne and Co., local agents for the vessel, received a telegram yesterday to the effect that tho weather was too Lad yesterday to allow salvage operations to proceed. A fairly sharp shock of earthquake was fell, in Wellington at 12.40 a.m. yesterday. A conference of New Zealand Shearers' Union representatives will open ill Wellington at 2 p.m. to-dav, for the purposo of framing a new agreement. The Shearers' Award will expire on September 24 next, just at the commencement of the shearing season, and it is hoped that an agreement for a further term will ariso out of the conference. Those attending the conference will be: Messrs. J. Cooper (Christclnirch), A. J. King (Timaru), J. Townsend (Blenheim), R. M'Kae (Masterton), W. Boon (Christclnirch), C. R. Johnston (Asliburton), and M. Laracy, secretary of tho New Zealand Shearers' Union. The large sawmills in the Taumarunui district are all very busy, according to Mr. l'\ T. Mcoro, of Jolinsonville, who has been visiting his firm's .timber interests in the locality. Messrs. Ellis and Burliand's Manuimii and Mangapeehi plants are workin/f full time, and this firm is erectiug another largo mill at Ongaruo to work bush in the direction of 'I'flupo. When this mill starts operations the firm's daily output will be 100,009 ft. The Taringalniitu Company's three totara mills are, snys Mr. Moore, cutting their full capacity, and so are the three mills worked by tho Piikuweka Sawmills, Ltd. TJio latter firm is culling tenders for tramways prior (0 erecting a fourth mill to work W-h held by Messrs. Moore Bros., in the l'uiwiipunga Valley. There are now over fifty mills operating in the King Country, turning out fully 500,000 fcet of timber daily. A survey party is now engaged ill preparing for subdivision an area of something over 31)00 acres of Crown land in the (Jpauri Valley, Marlborough, Sounds district, tho forest of which has been absorbed by the milling industry. It is country of the dairying class, and it is anticipated that it will provide sections tor eight or ten settlers. The sections will probably be disposed of next season. Beyond this area there is still u considerable extent of forest country in this 10. cality that will be brought into the domain of settlement as it is worked out by tho sawmills, and the prospects are that in the near future the Opouri Valley will bo an extensive scene of farming prosperity. A youth of 14 years was before the Juvenile Court yesterday on a charge of his having broken into the residence of Dr. Frengley, with intent 'to steal. • Tho boy admitted the charge, and it was arranged that his father should send liini to. the country. Another lad, a year younger, was discharged with a caution respecting a charge of his having broken and entered tho residence of .Mr. Charles Hall, and stolen articles valued at ss. The holiday rush of traffic was responsible for an hour's delay in the arrival of the Main Trunk express from Wellington yesterday morning, telegraphed our Auckland corespondent last night. When tho train left Wellington as usual at 12.15 p.m., there was nothing to indicato that, many moro people were travelling than ordinarily, but 80 many .passengers laden with luggage joined tho train at Pnlnicrston, Marton, and Ohakuno that it was found necessary to put on additional carriages all along the line. As tho oxpress neared Auckland moro people intent 011 spending tho holiday thero boarded tho already full cars, and crowded them to overflowing. The minutes lost at tho various stations mado up tho hour 011 tho run. It is announced, says a Press Association telegram, that tlio proprietors of tho "Auckland Weekly News" liavo purchased the "Weekly Graphic," _ which in. iuturo will bo incorporated with lhe "Weekly News," tho latter being enlarged, but retaining its old name. A definite recommendation has been mado by tlio Dunedin tramways manager and tho City Electrical Engineer on tho typo of motnr-bu.ses to be used in connection with iho tramway 6erviai in that city. They recommend the purchase of petrol electric buses, which aro now firmly established in London and other largo cities. The running cost is estimated at about Is. per mile. Tho buses will cost between ,£825 and .£9ll each, but this amount does not includo tho cost of tho body. It is proposed to get fivo buses.

Tho Kawhia paper has been informed that a resident of Wailiarakeko has boon successful in producing an engine which promises to ho of considerable importance m the lucchanical world. During the month he received information tliat his invention, which has been successfully patented, has met so. much'favour, that an offer of X'sooo has |bcen offered for his rights, but was rofused. Subject to the engine standing cliiiiutio tests, it is understood that the l'ortunato inventor is to receivo ,£20,000 for his interests. Tho new theatre which is being erected next to the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel, in Mannors Street, has been named the Britannia Theatre. His Worship tho Mayor, Mr. J. P. Luke, is arranging an "at home," to bo given in the Concert Chamber of tho Town Hall, on Monday, June 9, in lionour of Miss Mary Proctor, lecturer 011 astronomy. Brief addresses will bo delivered by tho Mayor, Sir liobcrt Stout, Mr. C. I!. Adams (Governjnent Astronomer), Dr. C. M. Hector, and Professor Laby, of Victoria College. Special reference will Iw made to the "Cawthron Solar Observatory." Tho annual meeting of tho Hutt Licensing Committco will be held at Lower Tlutt to-day, commencing at noou. Messrs. lloggnrd, Prouse. and Gummor, of Wellington and Auckland, liavo completed plana for a now theatre to bo erected in Queen Street, Auckland, for tho Dominion Picture Company. Tho theatre, which will bo adnptablo to cither pictures or vuudovillo, will liavo a frontago of Gflfl. to Qneen Street, and tho building will extend in two sections right back to Lome Street, eovoring tho sito now occupied by Goodson's fancy goods shop. The front section of tho building provides for two shops, one on either sido f a wide entrance, with cafo accommodation overhead. Tho theatre itself will bo ll.lft. in depth by GOft. in width, with a huge dress circle, tho whole to prorido fouling accommodation for about 1450 people.

An. ancient map of Australia lias Ixion discovered in Venice by Mr. F. W. Monpett, of Watson's Hay, who recently lon ml there a globo of tho world of ItuiO, with practically two-thirds of tho Australian coast mapped, proving that tlio information of the Venetians concerning Australia was much more complete than published records showed. The globe, ho says, is sft. or more in diameter, and stands in the Doges' Palace, Venice, .lag- }>/:<! holes in its surfaco bear witness to tlio ravages of time, but its outline of Australia is clear. It shows (lie coast: from Spencer Gulf, westerly, right round to Capo York Peninsula, which is shown joined on to another land. MOTOR-VAN AND MOTOR-CARS FOR SALK. Twelvo-twi'nty h.p. Argyt van, suilablo for carrying company or carrier. A elmnce for a suburban expressman obtaining a powerful motor-van at a low prico. A good hill-climber and fast on tlio liat. Economical ( ( > run. Price .C.'iflO, reduced tn .£250 during our stock-taking sale. Any trial given. Kiglil h.p. light delivery motor. Tim chea|> means of delivering light jjoods. lfuunitig expenses under 1(1. per mile. Suitable for any delivery business. Can lie Imudlod by a you!lt. Price .lM'tii. Kighv-ton h.p. Ilumber two-seater, hood, shield, lamps. Suitable for traveller. Price reduced to .Cli r >. Ton ji.p. lieo, two-seater, hood, shield, strong runabout. I'vice .t7. r >. reduced to .Mv Twelve-twenly h.p. Ilumber. four-cylinder, cape, hood, wind-shield, live-soator body, back portion - detaclub'ni to mako twoseater car. Price .til!.!, .lust unpacked, S-ll! h.p, Clement-Haynvd, traveller's car. l'elrol consumption 111 miles per gallon. Total running expenses for a year under .01. including tyres, octroi, and depreciation. Prico For further particulars, apply Adams, Ltd., Tnam Street, Christchnrch. Branches! Pal. merston North. Wanganui.—Advt.

As regards tho cost of living, taking tho average results for 30 townsJn the Com- , moinvealth, it appears (says the Labour I Bulletin issued by the Commonwealth Statistician) that tho index number decreased from 1027 in Die Inst quarter of 1912 to 998 in the first quarter of the current year. In view, however, of the fact that cost of living is still considerably higher (except in Queensland) than ill tho corresponding quarter of last year, it appears, so far as can bo judged from present indications, that the decline is due almost entirely to n seasonal fall in price of _ meat and certain agricultural and dairy produce, such as potatoes, onions, Hour, butter, etc. Other dairy produco (eggs and milk) and house rents rose. As regards the six capital towns only, tho amount necessary on tho average to purchase what would have cost XI ill 1911 was .01 2j. in (lie first quarter of the current year, compared with .£l' 2s. 7d. in the quarter immediately preceding, and .£1 os. 9d. in the first quarter of 1912. Tho percentage of unemployment increased since the last quarter of 1912 from ,5.5 to G.'l, the increase occurring in all the States, except Western Australia and Tasmania. Tho industries most affected wero the building, mining, timber, and.clothing trades.

One Runanga youth who, having onco been an anti-militarist, attended the'recent military camp, and became a. convert to tho Defence system, is experiencing n pretty unenvinblo time at the hands of somo of tho people in tho State Collieries district (says a Ureymouth correspondent l Wherever ho goes vile epithets are 'hurled at him, the women and children being particularly prominent. It is said that some women even go tho length of spitting fct him. Tho feud with ilio support-' era of tho scheme is an old one nt Itunanga, where social gatherings have come to sudden conclusions through the rdfusai of Territorials, who are looked upon with' Hio fiamo reprehension as a "scab." to leayo when requested to do so. This condition of affairs is becoming r/i pronounced that the people who general I < remain silent are getting disgusted, and will yet act in a manner which will not only cause a revulsion of feeling against the malignant anti-militarists, but will also Ix 3 a trifle disconcerting to thoso prosecuting the present cruel campaign. . In the course of a speech nt Launceston the other day Mr. King O'Malley, tho Commonwealth Minister for Homo Affairs, referred to Ilia intention of the Federal flovernment to establish a steamship service of three vessels between Bnrnie, Launceston, and the mainland. lie is reported to have described the Loongana, now engaged in the service, as a "tub," and to have said that the Federal Government boats would run across Bass Strait at 30 knots an hour, enabling passengers ti leave Launceston in the morning, and land in Melbourne at G p.m. tho same day; and, further, that passenger Imts were running across tho English Channel, between Calais and Dover, at 34 knots an hour. These proposals to run vessels at such a high rate of speed aro ridiculed by those connected with tho shipping trade.