LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1826, 12 August 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Postal authorities advise that the s.s. Manuka, which - sailed from Sydney on August 9, for Wellington, lias on 'board Australian mails only. Slio is due at Wellington to-morrow. The s.s. Moana, which sailed later on August 9, is carrying an Australian mail, and is duo nt Wellington on Thursday.

• The Old Boys of the Otago High School are anxious to do something to commemorate tho jubilee of tho foundation of their school, which was celebiatcd at a dinner in Wellington last evening. ■ lu, addition to the jubilee prize fund, which has already been established, there is a proposal to secure for the school the fino ground behind the school building, now known as tho Asylum Ground. The municipality of Dunedin is to be urged to grant 'to the school somo security of tenure over this fino field, which forms a part of tho town belt. It is' thought that by giving this pieco of land to the school, the city would only be repaying to the school a debt which it has incurred through the efforts of Old Boys to spread its fame to tlio uttermost corners of the earth,

A Wellington resident who has just returned from a trip to.Australia testifies to the remarkable manner in wliicli certain avenues of trade are being affected by tho .smallpox savre in Sydney. The bar trade in most of the oity hotels Ims decreased alarmingly, . and the hotels themselves appear to bh Jinlf empty. The city barbers complained of a big fallingoff in trade, and the afternoon tea places, usually crowded, wore a deserted air, even at the fashionable hour of 4 p.m. Tho theatres woro feeling the s'mallpox slump badly, and none of them were doing well. Some "downright" remarks from London "Standard""A good deal of indignation exists among members of Parliament on both sides of the House at tho clumsy manner in which imitations were issued in connection with the approaching Parliamentary visit to New Zealand. Members woro invited to submit tlicdr names for the consideration of the promoters of tho visit in the-same way as clerks would to invited to a Civil Service examination. The result has been that 'no members of any standing whatever in the House would now be included in the party.'" One of the problems which face those in charge of amateur athletics in New Bealnfed, said. Mr. A. A. Miirryattv presi-" dent of tho New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, at last night's dinner of Otngo High School 01<l Boys, ,was tlio disappearance from tho sport of promising boys as soon as they leave school. Tho association was considering a scheme for keeping university and secondary schoolboys "in the game." alio balance-sheet for the year ended March 31 will be presented at Thunsdav's meeting of the Miramar Borough Council. Tho special ordnr making rates to covot tho .£IIOOO and .£3OOO loans will also' como up for confirmation at tliat meeting. , A suggestion mad© by Mr. J. O'Shea at last - night's dinner of Otago High. School Old Boys, that the function should bo made an annual one in Wellington, was received with enthusiasm. It is hoped that a dinner will bo held every year on August 3, tho dato of tlio opening of tho school in 18G3. • When the jury list was being called over in the Supreme Court yesterday, William Thomas Morton failed to answer to his name. His Honour Mr. Justice Chapman imposed a fino of 40s. The Commercial Bnnk of. Australasia, Ltd., has purchased from Sir. R. Hannah for its Wellington ofiices property in Lumbton Quay lately vacated by tlio Post Oitico Savings Bnnk. Before tho staff moves in a number of alterations are to lie mado to the building. Mr. G. 11. Austin, engineer of the Victorian Public Works Department, has designed an aeroplano which, he maintains, marks a step forward in the evolution of perfect flying machines, ill'. Austin states that his airship may go out in all weathers, and will net. capsize, mainly on account of 11 pendulum balance attachment, which, 110 fays, will always remain at right angles with the earth, no matter at what angle the planes may bo blown, while tho attachment to the pendulum will automatically' bring the planes back into a horizontal position. In other machines this has to bo done by the aviator, and is a matter of frequent embarrassment to him. The Sydney "Telegraph" elates that efforts are being made to secure an order from the defence authorities for a full-sized airship of the Austin model. The question of whether it shall be lifebelts or bulkheads on tho Sydney ferry boats for the safeguaiding of life in the ovent of accident has not yet been definitely decidcd. The .regulation says a lifebelt for every passenger that can be car-' ried. In obedience of that, the ferry companies have sent an order for these. At the same time all new boats (according to tho "Telegraph"), are to bo constructed with sufficient bulkheads to make tho vessel practically unsinkable. This is as an alternative precautionary measure, the companies believing that it will be accepted in lieu of tho lifebelts. As soon as one of these vessels has Keen built the navigation officers will bo asked to say which they tlvink should 'be adopted. . This is the lapt week of Ivirkcaldie and Stains's, Ltd., Winter Snlo, and Fresh Bargains abound in all departments, the following being a few of many' Trimmed Burberry Hat=. this week's price ss. (id.; Fine Guipure Lace Coat Collars, smartest designs, 3«. 11(1. to Bs. lid., this week's price 2s. 3d. to ss. Gd.; Coats and Skirts, in Tweeds, Cloths, and Serges, all sizes, usual prices "ills. Gd. to 1205.. this week's i)i'ice=, H=. lid.. 15s. Cd. to 20s. Gd.; Laird Schober's Ladies' Black Glace Ivid American Comfort Boots, usually 30s„ this week's m'ice lis. 9d.; Bovs' and Youths' RngbvSnits. in Tweeds, Serges, etc., usually 30s. to GO?., this week's price 10s. Gd. to 19s. Gd. Tho Pale terminates at 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 16.—Advt.