LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1832, 19 August 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Rov. Clyde L. Carr, preaching at the Island Bay Methodist Church on Sunday morning and at Berhampore in the evening, spoke very strongly against the statement made by Mr. A. R. Atkinson and endorsed by Mr. Caughley. at the National Schools Defcuco Lpague's deputation. Mr. Carr referred to the statement that "tho forces working for the Bible-in-Schools movement wero a mixture of religious bigotry and political cant," as "unfounded, uncalled for, and unChristianlike." Ho urged upon those present tho urgent necessity of considering the introduction of the Bible into State schools, and to do all in their power to assist the movement.

A very pretty sight whon in bloom is tho Himalayan rhododendron, which was transplanted from tho Levin Garden to tho Botanical Gardens some years ago, but tho plant does not look well at present. The Superintendent of Reserves (Mr. Glen) told a reporter yesterday that the rhododendron is really too tender for its present position, and ho wishes that ho had some better place to put it. It is, however, a difficult matter to hit upon a suitable place. Tho plant must bo under observation, lest it be interfered _ with, and. in these circumstances, it is not easy to shelter it at tho on© t;me from tho cold southerly and the biting wind which conies, from tho north.

Burglary seems to have happened ot the residence of Mr. J. Sanders, at Roseneath, on Sunday ovening, and, apparently, about £20 in cash and some jewellery was taken. Evidence that their houso had been ransacked was found w'hen Mr. and Mrs. Sanders returned from church. The matter has been reported to tho police.

An unexpected visitor arrived in Paten, on Friday afternon in the shapo of the fishing launch Monarch, ,of> Wanganui, which sailed over the bar shortly after two o'clock. The launch left Wanganui on Thursday morning with its crew of two on a fishing expedition. About 4 p.m., when off Waitotara on its return to port, the engines were disabled and tho little craft was left at tho mercy of the wind and waves. Tho boat carried a couple of sails, but these wero of little use against the southerly that was blowing. After being buffeted about all night, it was decided to make for Patea and sail was set for that port, the vessel -negotiating the bar safely as stated above. Had not tho weather moderated it is more than probable that the trip' would have spelled trouble for the crew, as tho boat is not intended as a sailing craft.

At the Molesworlh Street Methodist Church oil Sunday evening tho Rev. G. S. Cook spoke 011 tlio Biblc-in-Schools question. After remarking on the wide growth ot the movement no went on- to speak of the facts the other side would not face—the failure of the secular system after trial under tho most favourable conditions, and tho success of the Australian system. Remarking on the dissatisfaction with things as they now are, the speaker said this could bo gauged by the fact that tho largest halls in tho country could bs idled with peoplo in sympathy with tho Uiblc-in-Sehools platform, while tho only speaker on the other side Who could gather a large uudienco was Bishop Cleary, and his objective was not u secular system, but a denominational system. Their opponents wero manifestly afraid to go to a referendum and wero trying to uso tho politicians to eavo them from tho people, in fact, to muzzle the people. This wns shown, in the speaker's opinion, by the fact that they had climbed down and adopted tho Nelson system. Detailing tho forces working for the platform ho ur>rcd that careful and independent inquiry had been made by tho Methodist Church and other churches beforo they adopted tho scheme. Similar caro hod not been adopted by tho W.C.T.U. or any of their opponents. Speaking from personal experience he dealt with tho success of the Australian system and also eravo his experiences in aU&mptlDf; ll > tw tlio Nelsfltt syiUiu iu Eawko's Bay and Auckland,

The Counties' Association Conference will be opened in tho Sydney Street Schoolroom at 10 o'clock this morning, ami it is expected to last al>out three days. M.r. A. D. J nil, president of tho association, will be in the chair.

Councillor Fletcher has given notice of his intention to move at tho next meeting of tho Gitj- Council: "That the time is opportune when tho City Council should seriously consider tho advisability and the desirabiilty of undertaking its own fire insurance. That financial arrangements ,l)o made to Bet aside tho sum of .£3OOO to for mtlie nucleus of the said fire insuramiQ fund, and that the Tiro Insurance Committee be requested to report 011 tho whole question at the next meeting of tho council."

. Amalgamation of Miramar with'; tilio city will be a matter Tinder consideration at tho City Council meeting next Thursday. Despite tho allegations by the Miramax Borough Council of apathy on tho part of the Oitv Council towards the proposal, the Mayor of Wellington (Mr. J. P. Luke) has been looking into the merits of tho scheme for some timo past, llis Worship has prepared a rough draft of a report on the question to.lay before the Finance Committee . to-day. This report will contain some interesting figures, which will enablo tho committee to understand tho various aspcots of tho question from the standpoint of Miramar and from, that of tho city. Tho recommendation of tlie committee will bo another matter.

At a meeting of the United Labour party hold in tho Trades Hall last night there was (the secretary reports) a good attendance. Addresses were delivered by ■the following speakers:—Mr. A. 'Wife on "The Land Question"; Mr, A. H. Hindmarsh. on The Political Side of the U.L.P."; and Mr. W. H. Hampton, on "Industrial Side." Mr. L. M. A. Kearden, national secretary, reported oil the party's progress.