LOCAL AND GENERAL,

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1793, 4 July 1913, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL,

The postal authorities advise that the 8-s. Victoria,, which sailed from Sydney for Auckland 1 on July 2, has on boai-d an Australian moil. The Wellington portion is due per Main Trunk express on Monday next. "What lias mado Scotland great?" asked Mr. G. M. Thomson in the House of Representatives lust night. -."Oatmeal," said Mr. Forbes, and Mr. M'Callum said "whisky." "Yes, oatmeal," said _ Mr. Thomson, "and never mind tho whisky." Ho went on to remark that Scotch students in tho past had frequently gone to collego with nothing but a bog of oatmeal, and with 110 money at all. A similar spirit of thrifty enterprise was greatly needed in this country. An example of highly successful investment ,was given by Archdeacon Fancourt at yesterday's session of the. Anglican Synod. In the early days of the city a property was bought for .£3OO, tho nionoy being part of the original endowment of tho Church in Wellington. Some tirno ago, when that property was sold, it returned .£14,000. Arbor Day (July 16) promises to be an unusually active day. Many of tho suburban associations which have sprusg up lately and nearly all the schools ire evincing a desire to make the coming Arbor Day worthy of its name. Proof of this was given at the meeting of the Reserves Committee of the City Couiicil yesterday, when there was considered a sheaf of applications from municipal associations, beautifying societies, and State schools for trees and flowering plants to be planted on Arbor Day. Some went as far as to state their predeliction for rbodendrons, azaleas, and hydrangeas, and such showy plants, but the committeo did not feel disposed to spend money in such luxuries, preferring to supply shrubs and trees that would make a picturesque show all the yeiir round. The matter of dealing with the applications was left in the hands of the chairman of i tho committee (Mr. Geo. Frost), und the superintendent of the reserves (Mr. Glen). Complaints have recently been made alxmt the excessive noise made by the heavy motor-lorry which collects the mails from the letter-boxes in certain parts of the city, late at night. Inquiry was made yesterday at the post office as to the reason for using so heavy a vehicle to carry a letter-bag or so for short distances. It was stated that tho lorry was only being used in an emergency. Some of the motor-cycles had been out of commission, and as others were, to come to hand at an early date it was deemed advisable to uso the niotor-lorry rather than hire another vehicle in tho meantime. • As, far as can be ascertained locally, there is nothing new to report concerning tho stranded steamer Indi-abarali. The Union Company's salvage tug Tarawhiti left, for tho scene yesterday. She took away a quantity of extra salvage gear. Tho exhibitors at tho Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Show were entertained by the association yesterday at a dinner, held in Godber's Rooms. Mr. G. Finn, president of the association, occupied the chair. Tho exhibitors included visitors from all parts of New Zealand, and the gathering was thoroughly representative. A pleasant evening was spent, impromptu items adding to the enjoyment. Tho toasts honoured were: "The Wellington Poultry Association," proposed by the president, and responded to by Mr. Gallichan; "The Judges," and "The Exhibitors," ■ At next Monday's meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Coleman Phillips, of the Wairarapa, will address the members of the council on the subject of the proposed East Coast Tailways. Mr. Phillips is an advocate of opening up the whole of the East Coast lands by rail oa far south as Martinborough, and bringing the railway into Wellington by way of Wainui-o-mata and tlie Hutt ■ Valley, and so avoiding altogether the costly Rimutaka incline. The long stretch of beach at Lyall Bay is not easily kept under surveillance by one man. As the public are in the habit of bathing at almost any point, and there is a risk of people getting into trouble in the surf without anyone observing their distress, tho Reserves Committee of the City Council agreed yesterday to vrovide the custodian of the beach with a telescope. A deputation from tho. Wellington Football Association waited on the Reserves Committee of the City Council yesterday to solicit tho Tight to charge entranco money on July 12, August 2, and two later dates, when Brown Shield matches are to bo played in Wellington. Mr. B. L. Salmon was spokesman on behalf of the association, and put forward arguments os to why this concession should be granted, one being the expense to .which the h-avclling team was under when it wished to try for the coveted Brown Shield now held by Wellington. After consideration tho committee decided to allow the association the Tight to charge on July 12 and August 2 (both Saturdays), but to hold the other dates over until it is noted what other applications come in for tho ground.

Sentence will be passed at the Supremo Court on Saturday on George Maxwell, alias H. Watson, against whom aro eight counts of forgery and fivo chargcs of falso pretences. Mr. J. Kershaw, the spokesman for tlio representatives of the sovcral friendly societies in Wellington that rocontlv waited on the Minister in charge of the Friendly Societies Department, requesting information as to tho intention of the Government in the matter of subvention, to friendly societies, lias been informed by the Minister that tho Government has decided, during tho coming session, to set up a committee to consider tlio annual report: of the head of friendly societies when it is made available. The committee will have power to take evi-dt-nco and examine the actuary who is responsible for tho compilation of the figures contnined in tho report. An important meeting of shareholders of tho Bank of New Zealand will be held at 11 o'clock this morning, when, amongst other matters, a scries of motions by Mr. C. P. Skerrett, will be coii'-idi r: il. One of these is in regard to taking I lie necessary steps to secure that the ,tl,1)00,000 debentures guaranteed by the New Zealand Government should be paid off at maturity, in July 1914, and another deals with the yupstion of increasing the authorised capital of tho bank by an amount, not less than ,£2,000,000. A motion that will have also to be considered is as follows:—"That in view of the fact that tho Government gunranteo will no longer be required, and that the Government will.have no further liability with regard to the bank, tho shareholders resolve that it is desirable that legislation should I*3 promoted to increaso tho representation of shareholders on the directorate of the bank to four; and to reduce tho' number of directors to be appointed by the Governor-in-Counoil to two; thp .powers of the chief auditor, under Section 17 of tho Bank of Now Zealand 1 and Banking Act Amendment Act, 1898, and tho powers of the Governor-in-Council under Section li of'the said Act, to veto any resolution passed by shareholders to be maintained." The question of tho equipment of the smaller class of coastal steamers with wireless telegraph apparatus, which was discussed at the meeting of tho New Zealand Shipowners' Federation in Auckland last week, has not yet been decided. When questioned on the subject yesterday, the Minister for Marine (the Hon. .F. M. B. Fisher), stated that ho was awaiting tho receipt of the opinions of all shipowners in regard to the draft regulations recently issued beforo any definite decision was arrived at in the matter. Tho Minister stated that the regulations issued were merely of a tentative character, and that all representations from those interested would receive consideration beforo any decision was arrived at. Tho Minister for Finance acknowledges the receipt of jEI, forwarded as conscience money to the Collector of Customs, Wellington, by some person unknown, "for a small amount of tobacco brought ashore." There is said to be a general feeling .of discontent among the Wellington architects concerning the selection of the best three designs submitted to tlio Education Board regarding the proposed Training College at ICelburne.. Interviewed yesterday, a leading architect said ho considered several of tho designs submitted to bo better than tho three selected. lio instanced that ono architect had placed a gate between two playgrounds that in .reality were not on the same lcel—in fact, there was about a nine-foot bank between them. Ho also criticised the winning design. Apparently, when dealing with boys and girls, it is usual to separate their class-rooms. In Enghnd they are put on different floors, but in Germany the building is divided sectionally, the boys being on ono side of tho building and the' girls on the other. 11l . such a caso it is best to put libraries and such like common-rooms on the ground lloor, near tho main hall, so that cither tho boys or the girls have ready access to them without having to pass through' that portion of the building set apart for the opposite sex. In one of the selected designs the boys, to get to the library, have to jiass through the girls' part of tie building.