LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1797, 9 July 1913, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ihe postal authorities advise that the s.s. Manuka, which sailed from Sydney oil J iily 5, has on board au .Australian mail, blio is due to arrive in Wellington to-day.

Speaking iu the House of Representatives last evening, Mr. H. Atuiore, member for Nelson, said that Mr. A. Rosser, ot Auckland, was not the secretary of the Police Association, but that he was acting for tho real executive of the association, whoso members did not wish to make themselves prominent, lest they should bo. victimised. Tho Hon. A. L. Herdman said that he had spoken of Mr. Rosser as organiser to the association, and not as its secretary. _ Mr. Atmoro declared tliat the association was an accomplished fact. He referred to Superintendent Mitchell, of Auckland, and remarked, 'Tronii nformation that X have received from an autlientTc source, I believe that Mr. Mitchell is a marked man."

Owing to the classification list not being available, the first conference of tho Civil ,Service Association has been postponed until August 6. Recently tho secretary (Mr. J. 1). Avery) wrote to .the Public service Commissioner asking that leave be granted to the delegates appointed. to attend the conference. A reply lias' been received to tlie effect that no general authority will be given in the matter of granting leave, but an endeavour will be made to arrange leave for delegates. The Commissioner add*d that ho could not state when the Public Service classification list would be ready, but it could not be before tho end of tho month.

Miss M. E. Richmond, who was nominated as a candidate for the Wellington Education Board, has withdrawn her nomination in favour of Mr. Robert Lee, who is thus re-elected.

A deputation representing: tho Engine Drivers' Federation and the Timber Workers' Federation waited upon tho Hon. F. M. B. Fisher yesterday in his capacity as Minister in charge of the Inspection of Machinery Department. Their chief grievance was that engine drivers were frequently required to leave their engine to do other work, especially at sawmills. The Minister promised the deputation that a new regulation would be iramed providing that an engine driver must not perform duties outsido of tho immediate attention to his engine and boiler. Tho deputation brought forward several other matters of relatively minor importance. Thoy asked that certificated men should.be placed in charge of winding engines at places other than mines where men were raised or lowered, that owners bo prosecuted for employing uncertificated drivers, and that drivers of 15-horse-poiver suction gas engines bo required to hold a certificate. The Minister promised to look into these matters. Seldom, indeed, doe 3 the Court of Appeal sit later than 4.30 p.m. on any day. This week precedent has been overlooked, and on both Monday and Tuesday tho sitting extended beyond the hour named. Tho Court dealt with four cases during tho two days. Wednesday, July 80, has been fixed as tho dato 011 which the poll is to bo taken at Eastbourne concerning a proposal to rniso the sutu of ,£15,000 for the acquisition by tho Eastbourne Borough of the harbour steamers Duchess and Cobar from tho Harbour Ferries, Ltd. According to the terms of the agreement, the Ferry Company has otfered the two steamer's mentioned to the borough for (alternatively) jC1.'1,250 in debentures, or «.C]2,587 cash. As there will bo sundry expenses to be met in connection with tho poll and the taking over of tho boats, it has been deemed advisable by tho council to mako the amount of the proposed loan a little in excess of the sum required for the purchase of the boats. The foundation-stone has been laid at Greenwich, Connecticut, U.S.A., of a home for cats. Tho building cost ,£3OOO, has eight rooms, and lil cat ni.us. Hot and cold water are laid oil, electric light, and gas eookors have been provided, while there are a couple of batlis for cats and a kittens' nursery.

Inferring to a statement made Inst week by southern merchant to the effect Hint: wliito pine hutter-lwxes cost the southern daily companies Is. Bd. each, the management of the I'alinerston North Cooperage and Box Factory announce that they aro prepared to supply butter-boxes, in shook,' at is. f.o.b. steamer at Wellington. The freight charges, according (o the company in question, would nut amount to more than 2d. per box from Wellington, and consequently they urge the. merchant who made the statement hardly plaoed the mntter fullj btforo tho SXiuister for Customs.

Tho question of Sunday play was discussed at the aiuiual meeting of tho Thcmdon Bowling Club. A motion was proposed' by Mr. E. W. Soaton that tho upper green bo open for play during every Sunday of tho season. The mover said that ho had introduced tho matter somo fifteen years ago, but that ho had then mot with very little support. He suggested that those who wished to play on Sunday should pay an extra guinea, and that the green should bo reserved for those who paid that guinea. This would considerably increase the revenue of the club. Memb&rs of other clubs would not bo allowed on the grexi. It was stated that several members would leave the club if Sunday play were allowed, and that the opinions of those people who did not favour Sunday play wore entitled to respect. The proposal was defeated by a very largo majority. The Wellington Musical Union lias written to the City Council expressing tho hope that the Municipal Orchestra, which has not been heard of since the departuro from Wellington of Mr. J. Maughan Barlicit, will bo revived. Tho Mayor slated yesterday that nothing would be decided in that connection until the arrival from London of tho new City Organist (Mr. Bernard Page). Tho annual report of tho Wellington Fox Terrier Club states that'the club's liabilities, including sweepstake moneys in hand and two amounts ol' .£l4 2s. (id. and .417 55., respectively, owing to two jewellew, and being balanco on additional shields and trophies purchased last year, total £G7 19s. Oil., against which they possess in cash, invested and owing by sundry "slow payers" <£51 lis. Bd., which means that at tho end of the year tne total liabilities were .£l6 7s. 10U. Considering the very heavy expenditure tho club lias had to meet during the past three years, having purchased over iIIOU worth of trophies, had tho standard certificate printed, etc., the financial position of the club must bo regarded as very satisfactory indeed. Tho iox terrier fancy in New Zealand, tho report says, has been making steady headway. Auckland is doing well, and Napier also has made great strides, owing chiefly to tho efforts of such enthusiastic fanciers as Messrs. Chas. Thomas, J. A. Itaynes, and E. J. Smith, and others. On the other hand, the South Island is going back every year. They do not seem able to raise any enthusiasm or interest among novices, and Tumours are being circulated to the effect that the South Island F.T. Club is about to be" wound up. As to Wellington, the committee has been enthusiastic and hardworking, but a wave of inertness has been passing over Wellington members, and tho city, the report says, could well do with a few fanciers like Auckland and Napier possess.

During his stay in Wellington as n delegate to the Unity Labour Congress, Mr. Thomas Wilson,. secretary of the Auckland Hairdressers' Union, has busied hmi'self with the formation of a union in Wellington. A meeting of local hairdressers was held on Sunday last, and as the result the Wellington Hairdressers Union, with a membership of twenty-live, was registered yesterday afternoon. There is now a union in each of the four centres, and it is tho intention to movo for a Dominion award at tho expiration of the Christchurch award, which runs out only a fortnight after tho awards under which the Auckland and Dimedin U 111011s work.