LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1769, 6 June 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tho .Hon. F. 11. B. Fisher was interviewed yesterday by a deputation of ironmasters, which asked, it is understood, that additional tariff protection should bo given to their industry. The proceedings were private.

Officers attending the Salvation Army Congress yesterday morning were present at tire Basin Reserve-, when a series' of photographs were taken to commemorate tho Wellington gathering. During the day congress gatherings were held in tho Baptist Church. Vivian Street, wli'eii the Commissioner spoke at length on the aims and aspirations of the Salvation Army. The Commissioner delivered an address*in tho morning and afternoon, and, in addition, papers were read on different subjects by representatives of various divisions of the Army. In the evening bandsmen and staff officers met in the Citadel, Vivian Street. Tho congress will continue in private today. The local police authorities have an accumulation of unclaimed lost or stolen property in their possession, comprising bicycles, watches, purses, articles of jewellery, and cloiilnng, etc. A notice in last night's Gazette states that unless tho articles are claimed before Juno 21 they will bo sold by public auction. In the course of an interview last evening, tho Hon. Jms. Allen mado a brief reicrence to tho expeditionary force proposal, which has given rise to a ;joo'l deal of newspaper commcnt during-his abscnce from tho Dominion. Tho Minister 6tated that before ho went away from Now Zealand, lie addressed a memorandum to Cabinet outlining the yrop:>sal. In that memorandum he made it clear that what ho desired was to create the machinery oiid organisation which 'would be required by an expeditionary force of from eight to ten thousand men. He alsoi made it clear that such a force could bo composed only of volunteers, and Hint 110 p.-wer existed to send men out of the country unless they volunteered to go. Tnis was nil that ho had ever suggested to the War Office, or anybody else. "1 did tr-ll the War Oflice," added the Minister, "that I had not a shadow of doubt that tho nten, if required, would be ready and willing to go, as they did in tho Mouth Aflicau war." A sitting of tho Railway Appeal Board will bo held in tho Magistrate's Court this morning. Dr. A. Jl'Artluir will preside, and associated with him will be Messrs. C. P. Itvaii and D. Dwyer. Mr. M. D?nliehy will represent tho appellants.

No moro interesting pictures wero thrown upon tho screen as illustrations to Mr. Oos. M'Cabe's lecture on Wednesday evening than those whioh reproduced 6omo of tlio artistic efforts of prehistoric man. One specimen, a crude sketch of a hunter attacking a buffalo, Mr. M'Cabe described as being of undoubted authenticity, and dating back some fifty thousand years. The picture was scratched with flint upon a reindeerbone, and had several remarkablo features. The hair of the buffalo was indicated by rows of short parallel' lines scratched just inside tho outlino of tho animal. Exactly similar lines appeared on the body of the prehistoric huntsman. Tho laiter figure was decorated alscvwith a tail of generous length. Mr. M'Cabe said that lie did not believe for a moment that a man in the ago to which the picture belonged carried, a tail, and he explained the presence of the caudal appendage in the picture on the assumption that there wero humorists even in tho prehistoric caverns.

Mr. Lii/dy, architect, of Melbourne, who is representing the Hon. Pitt, in connection with tbe erection of trie «r«nu Opera House, has been, advised Pitt lias been instructed by a Sydney syndicate to preparo plans for a largo theatre to bo erected opposite His Majesty's, Melbourne. It is understood that J. C. Williamson, Ltd., lias undertaken a long lease of the new theatre. Building operations will commence next month.

At a meeting of representatives o. Friendly Societies held last night a deputation was set up to wait upon tho Minister (Hon. F. M. B. Fisher) to ask him to make known the proposals contained in. tlie Bill covering a subvention scheme, which Bill the nfeeting understood, would bo submitted to Parliament during tho coming session. Tho Prirno Minister informed a reporter last evening that tho first public presentation of any policy proposals arising out of tho Hon. Jas. Allen's mission to London would certainly be made in Parliament. County councils in Otogo and Southland do not appear to favour the contributing of proportionate sums towards setting up an Otago court at the forthcoming Auckland Exhibition. Last Inday, at the meeting of the Clutha County Council, Councillor Quin endeavoured to get his council to rescind a resolution declining to contribute £53 lis. 2d. (which was the sum asked for by tho Mayor of Dunedin as a proportionate basis towards tho above-mentioned purpose), and pointed out'that Auckland, by its largo purchase of oats and potatoes every spring, was tho southern farmer's best customer. The otlier councillors, with 0119 exception, howevor, feared that the contribution might not bo used to tho best advantage in, advertising Clutha's products, and consequently tlie council again declined to contribute anything towards an Otago court. Tlw throngs of —oountry visitors who made their way to Duuedin for show wesk appear (according to tho "Otago Daily Times") to bff taxing the hotel and board-ing-house accommodation of the city and suburbs very severely. Any who hail tailed to arrange beforehand experienced' tho greatest difficulty yesterday in obtainiug beds, and it seems certain that a considerable number were compelled to pass the night in the streets. Ouo man from tho country calkd at tho "Daily Times" offico at a late hour to state that since G p.m. he had made 42 unsuccessful calls at hotels and houses in a fruitless quest foil night's ledging. He had been unablo to obtaiu even a "shake-down" of any kind, ami confidently claimed that those in like condition with himself numbered hundrefls.

There was a short discussion at the meeting of tho Clutha County Council the other day about tho small bird nuisano>. Councillor Quin, according to notice of motion, moved: "That the supplying" of poisoned grain, and purchase of small birds' efjgo bo discontinued after this seaton." The mover contended that little benefit was gained by tho fr«o distribution of poison by the count} - , in. comparison with tho heavy expenditure, whioli was about .£BO a year. Several other councillors did not agreo with him in this, and eventually the motion was carried, thero being- only tivo dissentients, and for tills, the last season, tho council will (five phosphorised oats a trial in poisoning tho pest. Mr. George Mackenzie, of Lake Vieit, Quwmslowu, surveyor, whose <leath the Otago papers record, was born near Edin burgh iu 1839. At "the age of 18 he left his native place and arrived at Dunedinin the ship George Cumming) from London. Ho was engaged with Mr. JarvEy in surveying the first road from Port Chalmers to Dunedin, Pine Hill to Mount Cargill, and Mataura to Invercargill. In 1859 he accompanied Mr, Mortford- in the first vehicle which passed through from Dunedin to lnvcrcavgill, the conveyance being a wagon drawn by two bullocks. 110 visited Scotland in 18G8, and in tho following year he joined tho Wellington provincial survey staff, with which he remained connected for three years. In 1889 ho was appointed Crown Lands Ranger for the Lakes district, serving in that capacity for 20 years. Ho retired in 1909, and with Mrs. Mackenzie visited England, Canada, and India. After his return to New Zealand ho worked a little at his profession, but devoted a great deal of his time to aiding his wife in her work of assisting Pandita llamabai and her mission.

At the meeting of the Miramar Borough Council last night a petition from a number of residents was presented, urging the widening of tho roadway on tho north side of tho Ssatoun tunnel. After some little' discussion tho matter was referred to the' engineer, Mr. Mestaj;er, for report to tho next UK-sting. A Gazette notice published last niglit fixes the dates for the forthcoming Public Service examinations as follow:—Public Service entrance examination, liorctoforo known as the Junior Civil Service examination, on or about November 18, 1913, and following days; Public Service senior examination (the Civil Service senior), on or about January 5, 1.914, and following days. A London cablegram states that the French Government, recognising tho necessity for having a port of call and a coaling station in Tahiti when the Panama Canal is opened, intends to erect several lighthouses in the region of Papeete. Upon-being seen on tho subject on Wednesday by cm Auckland "Star" representative the French Consul at, Aucklnnd (M. de Rigoreau) said that it was true the Government had been talking of doing some work, at Tahiti, and tluit some time ago a commission of inquiry was sent to tho "stands to prepare a report. "I believe," ho added, "that they intend to do somo public work there to improvethe harbour and establish a coal depot, but 1 liavo no definite information on the subject, r think, also, that it is intended to extend the lighthouses, but not so nuteli on account of the Panama Canal as for tho better safeguarding of navigation round about tho islnnds themselves."

A rehearsal of tho choruses to be sung by the school children at the coming Navy League entertainment will bo held in tne Town Hall this afternoon. Sir. Christian Hellcmann will preside at the orpin, Miss Medley at the pianoforte, and Mi'. Robert Parroch will conduct. At this entertainment the flag sent from the .school children of Wellington (England) will he presented to the loonl children by Captain Halsey, of H.M.S. New Zealand.