LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1773, 11 June 1913, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Police Commissioner Cullcn informed a Dominion reporter yesterday that tho system of free coaching provided for tho polico is working very well. £<o one, ho said, was allowed to go up for examination for tho rank of sergeant until lie had jjeen seven years in tho service, and it was also a condition that a candidate must be less than 50 years of ace. There wero about 80 or 100 members of the force, fulfilling theso conditions, who wero availing themselves of tho free tuition offered, and others were working with coaches they themselves had arranged for. Mr. Robert Darroch, headmaster of tho Koseneath .School, js tho Departmental coach appointed, "t'xaniinations in the force are no new thins," said Commissioner Cullcn. "There have been examinations held periodically in the force for the last 20 years, but the examinations in arithmetic, English, and geography are new. Tho tests in these subjects', however, are not difficult. 'J'he various teachers to whom they wero submitted said that the examination for constables qualifying for Uie rank of sergeant was only an c.asv Fifth Standard test, and that for sergeants qualifying for the rank of sub-inspector (he examination was only an easy Sixth Standard test. We are not asking very much of the men, for all the law nortions of tho tests wero even more difficult formerly than they are now."

It was at yesterday's meeting of tho Hutt County Council. Tho first business, which was in committee, had been' dealt with, and the clerk proceeded to read the minutes of the previous' meeting of tho council. At 0110 end of the room, the chairman had turned his chair away from the table and .sat facing a gas-iieater, in earnest conversation with the inspector of works. At the other end of tho room four councillors were also in .earnest conversation, sitting round another gas-heater. Tho table was deserted save for one councillor and (he clerk. Tho last-mentioned continued to rend the minutes. Tho councillor at the table evidently could not control ms feelings, and (rising) said: "I rise to a point of order. Is there a quorum of councillors at the table?" Amid some laughter the councillors and chairman turned away from tho warmth of the heaters, and cue was heard to that lie was "listening." The clerk continued to read the minutes.

H.M.S. New Zealand will arrive from Picton this morning. Sho will remain in port for three days, but will not bo thrown open for public inspection. New (lags—handsome silk ones—will shortly fly from the halliards of H.M.S. New Zealand. These are the outcomo ot the effort mads by tho Timaru branch of the Navy League, as'ysted to some extent ,by donations from other parts of Now Zealand. The ceremony was to have been performed at Timaru on the occasion of the battle cruiser's visit there, but bad weather compelled the big ship to modify her programme at that port, and the presentation did not take place. The Hags, however, lutvo been sent on to Mr. Cecil l«l----mcr (secretarv of the Wellington branch of the and it is understood that General Godby formally make the presentation to Captain ilajecy at a function organised by J]} 0 .,. 2si ? vy Leiigue, to be held at tho Wellington Town Hall on iViday afternoon. The Salvation Army Congress ciune to a conclusion yesterday, and Commissioner Kichards had a few words to say lust evening to a Dominion reporter in reference to tho results that were hoped for. Tho citizens, lie said, had shown great interest in all tho public meetings, and on some occasions many had to be turned away from the Citadel, for wont of accommodation. Tho officers attending had shown intense enthusiasm, and in this respect he had seen no greater evidence of keenness in any part of the world where he had been connected with the Salvation Army. Tho officers who had to deal with the social work of tho Army in New Zealand' had received great help from tho meetings held during the past week, and a great deal of good was expected. Iho first cougrcss had been a success in every way. - A large firm in Philadelphia is reported to have offered to givo every man in its employment 7£d. every time he takes a bath. Two-thirds of the 700 workers at the plant in question already lmvo accepted the offer. The baths are limited to one a day for each employee, to bo taken when going off duty at night. Tho company furnishes nickel-plated equipment, towels, soap, shower barns, etc. W T hen the bath is over/the employe gets a cheque from the attendant, and at the end of the week ho cashes them ill at 7jd. apiece. It is calculated that it all the men adopt the plan the totft\ cost to the concern in bonuses will be about <£6550 a year.

"My standing instruction to tho Lands Department is that in any suitable block to be offered for selection small sections are to be surveyed and workers given a chance to take them up. If they do not take them up, then we amalgamate them. The foregoing was tho reply given by the Prime 'Minister yesterday to an inquiry as to whether the Government was doing anything to advance their scliemo for the settling of working men 111 small holdings in the country. 1 Tho Mayor of tho city, Mr. J. P. Luke, will preside at the public welcome to tho Hon. Jas. Allen, which is to bo held in tho.Town Hall 011 Friday evening. Tho speakers will comprise the Prime Minister (Hon. W. F. Massey), tho Hons. W. H. Hurries, A,' L. Henlman, I'. M. B. Fisher, and Jas. Allen. A strong musical programme lias been arranged, and this will 1 include selections on the organ by Mr. Christian Ilellemann, conductor .of the Royal Choral Society. The gathering will bo' of a non-party character; a very big meeting is anticipated. In connection with the Salvation Army Congress a great children's demonstration was held last night in tho Army Citadel, Vivian Street. There was a big gathering present, and long before tho hour for starting arrived many were being turned away. Tho entertainment was provided by the young people connected with the Army, and in the Army homes. Particularly good exhibitions of physical drill were given by a coifipany from tho 121tham Boys' Home. The Wellington Boys' Baud anil girls from tho Girls' Home also contributed-to an excellent programme. A third attempt will be .undo next session to get tho Wanganui Harbour Urnpowering Bill passed, and already (says our Wanganui correspondent) the anuunl skirmish is beginning between town and country. The Wanganui County Council has already town up a plan of campaign against the Bill, and tho Rangitikei County Council is following suit. Iho latter body's principal objection is that persons otiier than ratepayers are to bo allowed to vote on tho raising of loans, and it will work to have this privilege confined to ratepayers only. Files to hand by tho last English mail irivo accounts of the fifty-seventh aniuinl meeting of the Missions to Seaman held, in London in May last. Tho chair was: occupied by Lord Inverclyde, who was supported by Sir .Thomas Fowell Buxton, Bart., Admiral the Hon. Sir K B. In'eemantle, Captain Wrako, cf H.M.S. Monarch, together with distinguished churchmen. Tho report submitted by Mr. Stuart ltnox, M.A., secretary, stated that the society carried on its operations 111 sixtv-four ports in tho British Isles, and in thirty-six ports abroad. Sixty-thrco chaplains and ninety-seven lay readers were regularly engaged in the society s work, with no fow'er than scvonty-one mission vessels and boats for roadstead work. The sum of ,£7'UG!) had been contributed for tile maintenance of the work throughout tho world. With the advanco of tho present defence scheme, the small-arm ammunition supply of the Dominion becomes a vital mailer, for if the supply is not equal to the demand an important part of tho Territorials' education must be curtailed. During a recent visit to Auckland, "Hull's-Eye," shooting writer in tho Christchurch "Press, went over the Colonial Ammunition Company's works at Mount Eden. His impressions, which appear in another column* go to show that tho rumour that tile company were not able to supply sufficient ammunition to efficiently train both Territorials and Cadets was 'without foundation. The manager's remarks as to (lie probable discontinuance of the manufacture of shot-gun cartridges will como as a surprise to many sportsmen, who will be sorry to see this industry fail.

A union has b;on formed in connection with tho mon engaged at tho various Wellington Firo Brigade stations, and is to bo known as the Wellington Firo 13rigado Employees' Union. It was formally registered yesterday. Mr. K. J. Carey, tho secretary of tho new union, has stated that ho wishes to refute any suggestion that tho union has been formed with any idea of hitting the public. He says tlis men have a number of long-standing grievances, and they are taking constitutional steps to remedy things. There is no discontent whatever in any of the stations with the brigade officers, nor is there any objection to the discipline or rules fixed bj; tho officers. Tho grievances lmvo to do with tho working conditions tor which tho City Council (and not the officers) is primarily responsible. Mr. Carey states that the attempt to remedy thcsi; grievances will Ik! a perfectly fair and. legal one, and he gives tho undertaking, 011 bchall' of tho men, that whatever the terms of the agreement arrived at in settlement of tho complaints, and whether the agreement cornea out of conference with the council or by order of tho Arbitration Court, in tho last resource, that agreement will in its every term l>e faithfully observed by tho union. A detailed statement of the men's coin, plaints will shortly bo submitted to the council.

Tho Arbitration Court in with tho rentals of city leases whioh aro falling in was held yesterday in tho Town llall. Tho land concerned is that upou which tho buildings of Messrs. Johnston and Co. and Levin and Co. aro crectcd. Mr. C. lVSkerrctt, K.C., represented these firms. Consideration of tho cases was not completed yesterday, nnd they will bo further considered 011 Tuesday next.

Tho southerly galo which burst on th« city yesterday afternoon was (ho causo of a mishap to thfi solitary occupant of a, half-decked yacht which had been spending the afternoon on tho waters of I'ort Nicholson. When the yacht left the Boat Harbour, (ho weather was fine, and tho water smooth. Within half an hour, however, down camo, the "southerly" in full force. Before ho knew what had actually happened, tho occupant of the yacht had been struck by tho wind, and his gear carried away. Tho craft was 111 a. perilous position when the Harbour Board's launch came on tho sccno and towed it to tlio Boat Harbour. llerr Carl Sauer, the lievlv-ajipointed conductor of tho Wellington Musical Union, is not allowing tlie grass to grow under his feet. Last evening he succeeded in forming an orchestra ill connection with the union. Thirty-two instrumentalists were enrolled, and after &11 illuminating talk bv 1-1 err Sauef all present were convinced that they would learn a good deal under his baton. Hen* Saner holds clearly defined views as to the position of professionals and amateurs in permanent orchestras. Ho believes that a man whoso main sourco of income is derived from leaching music or playing should bo paid for liis services in an orchestra, but that those:who are engaged in any other form of business, and take up au instrument as a hobby, should ploy for tho love of music, and the opportunity given for perfecting themselves in orchestral work.