LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1818, 2 August 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tlie postal authorities advise that the s.s. Victoria, which sailed from Sydney on July .'lO for Auckland, lias on board Australian and English mails via Suez. The Wellington portion is due on Monday next. \ "The shipping companies seem to have us in the hollow of their hands, and charge wlrat tliey like," remarked Mr. Kwan Campbell, president of tlio Agricultural Societies' Conference, yesterday. Mr. p. S. I'ope, Secretary for Agriculture, said that tho Government bad done all that could bs done. The High Commissioner bad mado representations to them in I/on<lon, but tlicy had refused to do anything, and had given unsatisfactory reasons. Sweet-scented spring flowers, in boxes, crates, and buuche#, lend a pleasant scent to tho markets during these sharp-set winter mornings. The growers of narcissi in tho Ilutt Valley have realised that these beautiful blooms produce coin of the reulm as golden as their own nodding beads, and they contrivo to send into tho city markets tho produce of the bulb. Man, assisted by science, is finding out that practically anything can be produced at any tirno of the year, and that tliero is more profit in producing that which is out of season rather than that which adheres slavishly to Nature's decrees. Tomatoes are now produced in New Zealand throughout tho year. During tho present week they wore sold at auction (wholesale) for Is. and Is. 3d. per pound. Very rarely does a bi{* gathering pass off without someone providing an element of unooiiscious humour. Nevertheless, the Agricultural Societies' Conference, which ooncluded here yesterday, eat for three dnys with only three lapses from tho path otf seriousness, and one diversion was deliberate. The deliberate one was Mr. ,T. G. Wilson's allusion to flying machines, which, he said, wore only in the air. That discovery, of course, is not new. One . remark which was not intended to cause a suiile was a reference to the High Commissioner as "Sir Thomas Mackenzie." On another occasion amusement was caused by a delegate who, mistaking tho question before the meeting, Tose and made a very precise and emphatic address on a subject which' was iiot under disoussion. Superannuated railway men are petitioning Parliament, asking to be put on tho same footing as present members of the service in regard to travelling concessions. Three petitions bearing on this subject were presented in tho House of Representatives yesterday. The Prime Minister and tho Minister for Public Works wero waited upon on Thursday by a strong contingent of Auckland members of Parliament, with a request that a substantial sum bo placed upon the Estimates for the prosecution, of the North Auckland Main Trunk railway. At present a big tunnel near Maungaturoto is in progress, and it is estimated that this will take about two years to complete. It was asked that another tunnel should be put in hand, and a promise was given that this would bo doue. In tho course of his reply, the Hon. Mr. Fraser declared strongly against tho policy of constructing stretches of lines between tunnels until tho tunnels themselves wero completed. To do so, he said, was simply to have a lot of deadmoney—a policy which lie described as wasteful. Both the Prime Minister and Mr. Fraser state that it was impossible to state at present how much money would bo placed on the Estimates for this line, as the total sum available for public works in tho Dominion had not yet been determined.

Two petitions, each bearing; 1000 signatures, were presented to the House of Represent atives yesterday by Auckland members, Msssrs. J. G. Dickson and J. H. Bradnoy, praying that hotel bars should be closed on the statutory closing day for shops and offices. Jinny will regret to learn of tho death nf llrs. Martha Crewes, wife of Mr. John Crewes, J.l\, of Owen Street, Wellington South, which occurred yesterday. The deceased ludy was 02 years of age. Tho Wellington Harbour Board has notified tho Wellington Patent Slip Company that (under the provisions of the Act under which, the latter company exists) it requires the company to erect a, second small slip in Wellington Harbour. So for, tho only reply, received by the board is the formal intimation that tho matter will bo considered at tho next meeting of the board of directors. The executive of tho Baptist Union of New Zealand has accepted tho oiler of the Wanganui churches to hold the annual conference this year in that town. The Blcriot aeroplane presented to tho Now Zealand Government by tho British peoplo should shortly bo on the way out to this country, according to Sir Joseph Ward. In an interview in Auckland yesterday, according to our special correspondent, ho described tho machine as a beautiful one, valued at about .£1750. One contributor in the Old Country, he said, gave 000 guineas _ towards its cost, Lord Desborough (Chairman of tho Aerial Fleet Committee) 50 guineas, and the "Standard" newspapers 100 guineas. Tho aeroplane, he said, had a magnificent engine, eminently adapted for aerial purposes. The Anglioau Bishop of Wellington (Dr. Sprott) will be the preacher at St. Paul's Pro-Cathedral to-morrow night. Pensions for all people of pension ago, whatever their means; are being talked about in Parliament now every time pennio.il legislation is before tho House of Representatives. Yesterday Mr. H. J. H. Okey, membar for Tarannki, gavo notice to move for n return giving an estimate of what would bo tho cost of providing every man and woman in the Dominion with a pension of .£26 a year on attaining the ago of Go years. Before concluding, yesterday, the Agricultural Societies' Conference passed a very hearty vote of thanks to the various heads of the Department of Agriculture for their assistance. In Acknowledging the compliment, Mr. F. S. Pope, Secretary for Agriculture, observed that in future farmers should endeavour to get some of the Railway Department officers to attend the conferences. "I a.m sure it would do them a power of good to hear the arguments," he added.