LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1794, 5 July 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The whereabouts of the lad who was missed from his homo in Kelburnc over a ! fortnig'ht ago still remains unknown, the police having been unable to locate hijn. The boy, who is only 12} years of age, is of slight build, lias large dark blue eyes, and ivTi,eu hp left homo was wearing a Norfolk coat and knickers, with a school badge on his cap. Should anyone in the country or elsewhere run across tho boy, or any traces of him, his anxious parents would bo grateful if they would commnnioato witli the local police.

Wellington housewives will not bo pleased to hear that thero is to be a rise in the prico of meat, but, unfortunately, such _is inevitable. At a meeting of the AVcllinglon Butchers' Association, it was decided that the prioe of certain lines of beef and mutton should be increasod by a halfpenny a pound as from Monday next. The rise is duo entirely to the increase in the price of bullocks and sheep. It is 1 said that stock is fetching a higher figuro at present than lias been the case for many years.

In order to save timo on tho return of the IJlimaroa to Wellington on Wednesday weok, tho whole of her crew, who did not 6how good "marks," -were vaccinated by tho Port Health Officer (Dr. Pollen) yesterday, prior to that vossel's departure for Sydney. Tho crow, from tho captain down, cheerfully submitted to the operation. If the passengers are vaccinated before leaving Sydney and the crews of departing vessels aro treated in Wellington, a great deal of valuable time will bo saved on the arrival of intercolonial steamers in Wellington.

Mr, Wilford intimated in tho House yesterday that ho would ask tho Governrnent whether any concessions or rights had been granted to anyone in- regard to tho talcing of seals, and if so whether suc'h concessions or rights havo been, granted without competition.

Mr. W. J. Organ (Mayor of Eastbourne) hopes to fix the datu of tho loan poll concerning the proposal to purchaso the harbour steamers Duchess and Cobar for the borough for Wednesday, July 30.

On Arbor Day (Wednesday next) tho "official" tree-planting party, headed by his Worship the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke), will extend their energies in planting trees on section 48 of tho rity reserves at Itolburne. It will bo remembered that last yew Mr. M'Laren assisted in planting some trees on tho • same section, buit neither the chairman of the Reserves Committee (Councillor Frost) nor the superintendent of tho Teserves (Mr. Glen) were able to say if the trees had stiuck, for tho vory simple reason that no inspection of last year's planting on section 48 has been made since. This method of planting, without subsequent altondance, could not (according to Messrs. F. Cooper and H. C. Gibbons, at a recent deputation to the Reserves Committee) possibly produce anything ltko tha best results, and it is understood that arrangements aro being made for tho supervision during tho year of any planting officially done on Arbor Day. Mr. T. W. Rhodes is to ask the Government whether it is a fact that the remuneration of second-year cadots in tho Public Service is no greater than that of first-year cadets. It was recently suggested by tho Lyttelton Harbour Board that a wireless station should be established at that port. The Postmaster-General has now furnished an official reply, stating that there does not seem to bo any reason for establishing a wireless station Lyttelton, and that there aro strong technical objections to establishing such a station. A station at Lyttelton. tho Minister says, would be a source of disturbance to wireless work at Wellington.

Mr. Atmore, in a question addressed to tho Government, suggests that an automatic tide-gaugo should bo installed at tho French Pass. Mr. Atmore considers that such an appliance would bo of great use to master mariners.

"IF IT WERE MADE IN ENGLAND " Sixtv-fivo years ago two blacksmiths started business in a 6ma.1l einithy in Indiana. Their oapital amounted to Their business policy was to give tho best of quality in their work at tho lowest possible prico ■ consistent with quality. To-day the business started by those two blacksmiths is known as tho Studebakor Corporation of America. It has a capital of eight millions sterling;, and tho va.luo of its annual factory output of automobiles is thirteen millions sterling, in addition- to a big business in horse-drawn vehicles. Tho business policy of the Sttidebakors is the secret of their success, and tho new Model 35 h.p. Studebaker oar which is creating such interest among: motorists in New Zealand is a striking example of tliat policy of "best value for tho lowest price." Those who havo seen tho new 35 h.p. Studebaker say:—"lf this car were mode in England its retail prico in Now Zealand would not be under ,£750." A powerful light ear, embodying tho best and latest English practicc in every detail of its construction, with electric Bolf-starter and electric lamps, and a hundred other little luxuries and refinements, for .£3HS, including all "extras," is something to startle New Zealand motorists. Tlvat the wonderful value of tho Studebakor is appreciated is proved by the fact that wo have cold over twenty during the past week. The 25 h.p. Studebaker is another car of wonderful value. If it eamo from England wo could not sell it under >£500, but its prico is JJ295, all completo. Wo havo also for sale an Auto-carrier delivery van at .£lls, a Cadillac delivery van for ".£125, a Talbot delivery van for .£250, and a Studebaker delivery van for .£295. Adams, Ltd., N.Z. Agents for Studebaker c-ars, Timm Street, Ohrislchuroh. Depots at Palmerston Nnrt.li and Wnnganui. Ag?.ncie«: Tourist Motor Co., TTnstings; J. Bond-firove, fJlniznen .Street, Wellington ; It, Ford Hutchinson, Eketahuna.—

Tho Prime Minister stated in answer to a question in the Houso yesterday that tho report of the Forestry Commission would bo tabled on Tuesday next. 11l reforenco to tho "tuck boxes" for tho Melancsiaii Mission, Mrs. C'uldor (wifo of Archdeacon Caldcr, of Auckland, tho Bishop of Melanesia's Commissary) writes us follows: "May I through your columns thank those kindly folk of Wellington for their magnificent help in tho above? Never wore such things sent, nor so abundantly, and never weru tlio thanks of such of tlio recipients as I have heard from »> profuse. As I always say, Wellington's zeal would mako any project a success. I cannot say enough tor tho ability, as well as tho industry and goodness, of my helper, Xliss Mestayer, of your uity, whoso wise pilotage of Wellington's liberality Iws resulted in this success." A Labour rally is to bo held in tlio Opera Houso <111 Sunday evening at 8 o'clock The Hon. J. Kigg, M.L.C., will preside. Tho speakers will include Messrs. A. Ulass, E. Tregear, J. T. Paul, J. A. M'Cullough, D. S. Sullivan, A. lfosser, 0. M'Brino, P. Foster, It. Semple.. W. T. Mills, W. T. Young, P. H. Hickey, and J. Dowgray. Tho Waterside Band will be in attendance. Charles Allan will como up for sentenco at tho Supremo Court at 10 a.m. to-day on three charges of forgery and uttering, and also on a charge of falso pretojices. Several Quaker visitors from England are at present in, Wellington, Ono of these, Mr. W. H. F. Alexander, will give a special address at tho Friends' Meeting, at tho Esperanto Hall, Lanibtion Quay, to-morrow evening. Tho aims and ideals of tho society will 1m set forth by Mr. Alexander. In Now Zealand there is suro to bo a forward movement amongst tho Quakers, who have recently erected a new meeting-houso in Auckland, and Will bo holding special meetings at Palmerstou North at tho end of next woek. Mr. James Dykc9 states that ho has just received a letter from a gentleman in Brisbane making inquiries regarding tho choral contests held under tho auspices of the Neiv Zealand Competition Society. Tho writer, who is closely associated with musical matters in Brisbane, states that lie has every liopo of bringing to Wellington to compete at tho 1914 festival tho famous BlacKstono-lpswich Cambrian Choir, which has competed with success at all tho leading Commonwealth competitions, being champions at Ballarat, Sydney, and many of the euialk-r festivals. Mr. A. Moritzson, of Duuedin, has boen making representations to the Minister for Customs upon tho point of tho duties charged upon material for butter-boxes imported irom Sweden. This trade was built up because of tlio rising price of white pine. At present the prioa of white pine butter-boxes to the butter factories is Is. Bd. each, whereas tho Swedish boxes may be imported at Is. Hd. to Is. 2d. each. The duty that has been charged is 20 per cont., mid 10 per cent extra. It is denied that that rato should be altered to 4s. per 100 ft. super. Tlio representations mado-are being considered. The Public Accounts for tho year 19121913 wero presented by tho 'Hon. Jns. Allen, Minister for Finance. The balance at the end of tho year was shown as .£573,957, to which was added -£52,782 imprest in the hands of officers of tho Government. Under the Public Debt Extinction Act of 1910 the Controller and Auditor-General (Mr. 11. J. Collins) certified that .£151,572 would require to bo invested annually to extinguish tho debt in. 75 years. '