LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1817, 1 August 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

riio postal authorities advise that tlio 5.9. Niagara, which sailed from Sydney for Auckland on .July 28, lias on board an Australian mail. The Wellington portion is due on Saturday next.

A presented to l-lio llousq of Representatives yesterday, on tho motion of Air. St.atham (Dunediu Central), shows that no fewer than 41 accidents were caused in the Dominion by pea rifles during tlio past two years. Other firearms were responsible for 78 accidents during tho fame period. Tlio transfer of Mr. B. C. Aston from tlio Chemistry Division* of the Agricultural Department to tho Department of Internal Affairs, was tlio subject of tlio : following resolution passed yesterday by 'Im ■'Mjricultural Societies' Conference:— that tho conference desires to express tlio opinion that the agricultural and pastora;l industries havo suffered by tho removal of Mr. Aston, from tho Department Aoncultiiro, inasmuch ns he is prevented from getting into touch with farmers, and. .that his services would bo of greater value if he were transferred again to tho Department of Agriculture." Last night a public meeting- was held under the auspices of the No-L/icense League aud_ tlio "Women's Christian Temperance Union, in memory of tho late Mr. I Ta y lor ' furtner tho interests of tho democratic vote campaign. Tho following resolution was passed-"That in tho opinion of this meeting, the Temperonce party should concentrate its strength tlio removal of the iniquitous throefifths handicap, and, failing redress from the present Parliament, should insist ■upon making it tho dominant political issue at tho general election." Recollections of the unbounded enthuaosm displayed by the lato Mr. E. M. Smith, M.P., _in advocating the virtues of raranuki ironsand ore revived by a petition from his widow which was presented to tile House of Representatives yesterday by Mr. H. J. H. Okey. Mrs. Smith points out that lier late husband devoted! forty years of his life in endeavouring to establish tho ironsand industry. late, however, willed that liis efforts did not fructify during his lifetime. Mr. bmith treated tho matter purely ns a national concern, but had he viewed the question from a commercial standpoint end studied his personal interests he would have been able to make ample provision for his family's old nge. Tlio result," says the petition, "is that, now, in i °t lite. I find myself entireJy without moans, the outcome of my husband sacrificing and sinking his oil 'in the interests of his country." Mts. Smith askgthat a grant of ,£3OO bo mado to her in view of the facts set out, The tender of Messrs. Sanders Bros, has been accepted by the Minister for Murine for the erection of a largo two-storied store for tho Marino Department on tlio n atcrloo Quay reclamation. The build*ing, which is to be a steel frame and corrugated iron structure (on a pilo foundation), will havo a frontage of 75 feet to tlue: breastwork by a depth of 35 feet. Tho contract price is «£22 CO.

Tlio date for tho commemorative service in connection with tho Marsden Centenary celebrations lias been fixed for Wednesday, August 20. Tlio service will bo held in the Town Hall, A few months ago a firm in Wellington forwarded some pamphlets on NewZealand to a resident of Gmunden, Austria, in response to a request for the same. Tho following reply is romarkable for its quaint English:—"Enclosed I send you tho demanded international postal coupons, with best thanks for the seiuled information pamplets of Tasmania and New Zealand, in which last land aro living now chamois originating of our Salzkammerguts Mountains, a gift of our Emperor to Australia. I hopo they aro well and multiply them very much. _ They will onco bo a vory estimated nice ganio in New Zealand and Australia—not injurious like the rabbits. If I could hear onco something about the lifo and incrcaso of thes9 kind animals, which aro augmenting the animal world of your continent, it would interest mo much, and I would publish it in our newspapers. If you could send me also nice pamplets about the Continent of Australia and other parts of the Antipod countries and islanlls and steamer-con-nections, and railways, in a parcel, I would be thankful to you and with pleasure repair your expenses by sending international postal coupons. If you liavo interest for it I can also send you pictures of our country and mountains, which are descending the new inhabitants of Australia and New Zealand."

Tlio following tenders have been accepted by tlio Wellington Education Board:— repairs, painting, etc., to school and residence, Messrs. C. Skipago and Son; Maranui School, asphalting, Messrs. Sergeant and Blton; Fcatherston South, fencing residence site, Mr. J. M. Emery; Kilbirnie School, asphalting, Messrs. Thacker ond M'Donald, fencing, Mr. E. Townshond; Island Bay School, asphalting, Messrs. Serjeant and Elton; Mount Cook Boys' • School, asphalting, Messrs. Sergeant and Elton; lionini, painting, repairs, etc., Tesddence and school, Mr. C. E. Clifton; Porirua, fencing, Messrs. Thompson and Sens; lease of Section SG, Block VI, Waiopehu, Mr, A. J. Stratton.

A deputation from the Clydesdale Horso Society proposes waiting on the Minister for Agriculture (Hon. W. F. Mnssey) to bring before him tho question of oversea freights on stock from England to New Zealand and from New Zealand to South America.

An unoccupied three-roomed wooden house in Argvle Street (No. 13) was partly destroyed by firo at an early hour yesterday afternoon. Neighbours noticed smoke belching from the eaves, and at once gave the alarm, but by tho time tho brigade arrived tho fire had got into tho shingles beneath the corrugated iron reof, and tho sheets of iron had to be stripped before the smouldering shingles could be soused. Tho cottage, -which is owned by the Tfcbbell Estate (for which Benjamin Smith and Co. are agents), was insured for J!75 in tho Norwich Union office. It is stated that tho house was inspected by two women about twenty minutes before the outbreak of firo ocourred.

Considerable progress has been mad® recently with the Wadcstown and Northland drainage scheme, the outfall sewer from Northland to tho sea having been practically completed during the last few days. Nearly four miles of the outfall drain has been dealt with, and some 19,000 feet—two-thirds—of reticulation in ths west side of Northland an<l, 28,000 feet of reticulation in Wadestown has boon completed.