LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1774, 12 June 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Flags wero flying at half-mast on all the public buildings yesterday as a mark of respect to the memory of the late Sir Arthur Guinness. ' At tho gathering held at the Hallway' Offices yesterday afternoon, when a presentation was made to Mr. A. L. Beattiu. Chief Mechanical Engineer, j who is retiring on superannuation, an interesting comparative statement was read, showint; tho increases in various Kailway Departments since 1877, when Mr. Beattie joined tho service. The number of lowmotives increased from that time to tbe present year, from 120 to 517; train mileage 903,945 miles to 9,016,224 miles; number of cars 3G5 to 1295; seating accommodation, 9952 to 51,585; wagons, 2451 to.. 19,130; carrying capacity, 14,724 tons t» 158,509 tons; number of employees in tho locomotive branch, 745 to 4GOO. Dr. Newman, M.P., will address tho electors of Wellington East, in the Century- Hall on Monday evening, Juno 16, at 8 o'clock. The main building in connection with tho new wireless station now in course of construction by tho Government at the Chatham Islands has been completed. It is 1 said to bo a substantially-built wooden building of attractive design, roofed with asbestos tiles. It is by far the most pretentious building at the Chathams, and letters received from the officer in cliargo of the work state that people have ridden as & as sixteen miles solely to inspect tho structure. The masts-aro now being erected, and by tho next boat leaving for tho group the more dolicate instruments will be dispatched to Waitangi, which means that communication with the group by wireless will probably bo established within a few weeks.

A deputation from tho Wanganui Harbour Board will interview the Hon. W. H. Herries to-morrow afternoon.

A communication sent to tho Minister for Marine bv the Public Works Department states that the assistant engineer in tho Karamea district has reported under date Juno 5, that a freshet has cut a high-water channel across the spit at the harbour mouth. It is anticipated that another heavy flood will open a permanent channel, which otherwise would have had to bo made by artificial means. To-night tho City Council will have to decide whether Councillor Fletcher is t» be allowed to sit as a member of tno Finance Committee, as he claims ho has a right to do. He bases his claim on a resolution of the council constituting oil chairmen of standing committees members of the Finance Committee, and he is chairman of the Markets Committee. On Tuesday lie attended the meeting of the Finance Committee, but this he would have had a right to do as a councillor. He took part in the discussions also, however, which a councillor who was not a member of the committee would have no right to do_, and the chairman did not then rule him out of order. There was Do division taken at the sitting, 60 that tho test of whether his vote should or should not be recorded was not applied. The question of Mr. Fletcher's membership of the committee was definitely raised by Councillor Fitzgerald at the end of the meeting, that councillor moving that Councillor Fletcher be added to tho committee. Tho Mayor then ruled that Councillor Fletcher was not entitled to eit as a member of the committee, and he gave as his reason that the Markets Committee was "not: a "standing," but a "special" committee. Filial settlement of tho disputed point will rest with the council. It may be mentioned that in the municipal year book, while certain committees are designated "special," the Markets Committee is not.

So far the police have been unable to find anybody who can identify tlio body of tho person who was picked up in the harbour gn Tuesday last. Tho inquest, However, is fixed for 9 o'clock on Friday morning, at tho Magistrate's Court. Tho following dispositions and nrono?ed movements of his Majesty's ships of tho Australian squadron have been supplied by the naval authorities to Mr. C. W. Palmer, secretary of the Navy League in Wellington'.—Cambrian and Psyche, refitting at Sydney; Pyramus, left Wellington for Noumea (under sealed orders), June 10; Torch, duo at Suva on June 27; Fantome, on survey duty between Thursday Island and Port Darwin; Sealark, at Sydney, leaving shortly for tho Solomon Islands to rcsumo survey duty.

Arrangements are now being made by a special committee set up for tho purpose for the Methodist mission to bo conducted in Wellington by tho Rev. Vallanco Cook and his wife, two well-known evangelists. Tho mission will bo conducted in the Taranaki Street Methodist Church from July 12 to 2G. The Navy League entertainment (postponed from April) is (0 bo held at tho Town Hull on Friday afternoon, Juno 13, at 3 p.m. in conjunction with tho ccremony of an exchange of flags between tho schools of Wellington, Shropshire, and tho combined schools of this city. Tho local Headmasters' Association is co-oper-ating with the League, and a block of seats in tho front of tho hall, downstairs, is being reserved for adult members of tho League. According to a Press A.ssociition telegram from Cliristchurch the Elwcod trio, who passed through Wellington on their way irom Europe on Tuesday, intend to tour New Zealand as a concert party to raise funds to enable them to complete their musical studies in Berlin. It was recently staled in a southern paper that ono of Harry Elwood's hands had become paralysed. All that really happened was that tho lad had a slight touch of rheumatism i.i ono of his hands when at Berlin. An interview with Mr. Harry Elwood appeared in yesterday's Dominion. The Navy Leaguo entertainment (postponed from April) is to be held at tho Town Hall on Friday afternoon, Juno 13, at 3 p.m., in conjunction with tho ceremony of an. exchange of flags between tho schools of Wellington, Shropshire, and tho combined schools of this city. Tho local Headmasters' Association is cooperating with the league, and a block of seats in the front of the hall (downstairs) is being reserved for adult members. Tho Union Jack, subscribed to somo time ago, will bo presented to Captain Halsey for tho H.M.S. New Zealand at tho same timo, General Godley will make the presentations.

A meeting of the Wellington Orphans' Club took jplaco last night, Colonel Collins presiding. It was announced that the next orpnanosium would bo held on Juno li, and that the vice-patron, General Godley, C.8., would preside. It was resolved to invite Captain Halsey and his officers to bo present, It was announced that a capital programme would bo submitted for tlto entertainment of members next Saturday evening, which included invitations to the "Crimson Ramblers" and tho "Dandies" companies. A limited number of visitors' tickets will, it is stated, bo available for tho occasion, and each member is to bo asked to attend at tivo minutes to eight to join in the welcome to be accorded tho vice-patron, who is shortly leaving for England. A motion was also adopted that all members inust wear their badges. A resolution was carried expressing deep sympathy and condolence with Lady Guinness in her bereavement. The_ lato Hon. Sir Arthur Guinness was a vice-presidcnt of tho club, and a frequent visitor during past sessions to tho orplmnosium.

A somewhat curious position arose at tho meeting of tho Wairarapa Hospital and Charitable Aid Board 011 Wednesday. Tho first question ,on tho order paper was the appointment of chairman for tho year, the sitting chairman (Mr. Eton) having recently submitted himself, through effluxion of time! for re-election, and been returned unopposed. It was pointed out by Mr. Fisher that under the Act a chairman was elected for a period of two years. As Mr. Eton was last year elected chairman, it was not competent for them to elect a fresh chairman this year. Other members thought differently, and a resolution was proposed that Mr. D. J. Cameron bo elected chairman for tho ensuing year. After some discussion, it was decided that Mr. Eton to clected chairman for tho meeting, and that tho opinion of .tho board's solicitor bo taken on tho subject of appointing a permanent chairman. Mr. J. D. Wilson, tho representative of tho Pahiatua and Ekctahuna boroughs, took his seat at tho tablo of tho Wairarapa Hospital and Charitable Aid Board on, Wednesday for tho first timo. Ho was welcomed by tho acting-chairman. Tho Mastorton County Council decided to take action against owners' of property who allow trees to overhang tho public thoroughfares.