LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1791, 2 July 1913, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities advise that the b.s. Makura, which sailed from Sydney for Auckland on June 30, has on board an Australian mail; also a small English mail, .yio, Suezju '-Then Wellington portion is-duo per Main Trunk express on Saturday next. The s.s. Maunganui, which sailed from Sydney for Wellington direct on June 28, is bringing an Australian mail. Sho is due to-day.. The postal authorities advise that the s.s. Zealandia, which sailed from Sydney on June 27 for Auckland, lias on ooard mails from America and the United Kingdom, via Vanoouver. The Wellington portion is due to-day. ■ Tho work of duplicating the Brooklyn tramline is to be put in hand this month. The rails for the work axe on board the steamer Star of India, now in Auckland, and will be unloaded next week. A start will be made at once with the track formation. Amongst the first business placed before tho Unity Labour Congress yesterday wns a proposal that press reporters should not bo allowed to be present.' The proposal met with general favour, but one' speaker was strong, in opposition to the motion, and urged that reporters should be allowed to be present so that the public "oould get the true aspect of Labour's proposals placed before them." Tho matter was not discussed ot any length, delegates being mostly of one mind—to keep the reporters out, and it was decided to supply to the press an official report of tho proceedings. According to Mr. W. H. D. Bell, M.P., who inadte tho statement at the Khandallah meeting last evening, tho Government will at an early date experiment with a potrol-electric passenger car oh theManawatu Line. His audience seemed to bo greatly surprised that the experiment was not to bo made on the Hutt line. The Fob, W. F. Massey, in his capacity as Minister for Labour, was interviewed privately yesterday by a deputation from the New Zealand Federated EngineDrivers', River Engineers', and Firemen's Association, _ consisting of Messrs. J. Read (Wellington), secretary, 'J. Dempster (Canterbury), and T. Cain (Auckland). The Minister was asked to introduce legislation under which all enginedrivers oould be brought under one award instead of being under different awards as at present. Mr. Massey promised to consider the incorporation of the desired amendment in the projected consolidation and amendment of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and further suggested that the engine-drivers might give evidence beforo the. Labour Bills Committee. Mr. J. G. Coates, member for Kaipara, introduced the deputation. "I believe that horso was flogged for a quarter of an hour," said Inspector Seed, when alluding to a case of alleged cruelty at tbe meeting of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals yesterday. "Good gracious," remarked the chairman (Mr. R. H. Webb). "And yet," continued the inspector, "our only witness is unwilling to give evidence in court. However, I have not done with tho case." Tho matter was left in the hands of tho inspector! Better postal facilities for Lyall Bay w.oro asked for by a deputation which waited on the Postmastor-General (the Hon. R. H. Rhodes) yesterday. The mombers of the deputation were Messrs. J. R. Stansell and Clater, and thoy were introduced by Mr. W. H. D'. Bell, M.P. They urged that tho suburb was growing rapidly, and that people resident thero could reasonably expect better postal facilities. They asked for a post office, a money order office, and a savings bank, which could all be housed in a building which, they suggested, might bo erected on the sito now occupied by tho cablo hut. They nsked for a slot telephono also, and urged that the suburb should bo served with a more frequent and speedy delivery of telegrams. The Minister said ho would have a report prepared by tho Department, from which he would be able to judge as to whether he would be justified ill authorising the erection of a post offico. He would inquire also as to the possibility of erecting a slot telephone, Tho president of the Methodist Conference (the Rov. S. Lawr.v) returned "to Wellington yesterday from Foxton, where he opened a new church on Sunday last, Since his appointment us president in February Mr. Lawry hasopened four new Methodist, churches 'in New Zealand. The question of giving Sir Joseph Ward a fitting reception when ho returns to New Zealand about July L' 3 or 30 u;as considered al a meeting held last night. It was resolved that a reception of a non-political nature be tendered lo Sir Joseph Ward, and a sub-committee was set up to make tho necessary arrangejnontp. The nest meeting will w hold on I Tuesday next, 1

Mr. W. D. S. Macdonald will give notice to-day to ask tho Minister for Public Works whether lie will give .Parliament an opportunity this session of authorising the construction of , tho East Coast railway from Opotiki westward. Just as the performance at Wirths' circus was begun at Murrurundi on Saturday week, 1 the greater part of the 3s. stating accommodation collapsed. About 100 people were seated in this section, and a good many received minor bruises, but no one was seriously hurt. Order was restored in about half an hour, when the performance was rocommcncod. • A mistake appeared in a news article published yesterday under tho heading of "Girl Immigrants." Tho details set forth are not, as stated, those of an agreement concluded between tho Minister for Internal Affairs and the controlling authorities of tho Girls' Friendjy Society and tho Young Women's Christian Association, but simply the Minister's tentative proposals on the subject. The proposed agreement has been forwarded to tho two societies, but the latter have not- yet signified their acceptance of the terms proposed. At tho opening session of the Wellington Diocesan Synod yesterday afternoon it was decided to forward a motion of greeting to his Excellency tho Governor and tho Countess of Liverpool. Tho synod also expressed its loyalty to the English Crown. Considerablo laughter was caused by the suggestion of a- lay member that the Bishop, in forwarding the resolution to his Excellency, should substitute the phrase "loyalty to the Crown of Great Britain and Ireland."