LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1833, 21 August 1913, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Some quaint "points" were made in an essay competition at Greymoutu in con nection with the visit of tho battleship New Zealand, says an exchange. "The New Zealand was built on tho Clyde by a largo number of New Zealanders ivlio wero then at Home. She was presented by the people of England to the Imperial Government of New Zealand/' "H.M.S. New Zealand was launched on.the Clyde in the presence of Sir Joseph Ward, and the honourable lady cut the cord, and she hoped to God it would never be used." "The Now Zoaland is 80 yards long, 400 yards wide, and has armour plate 12 feet thick. She cost <£20,000. She has four propellers and an udder." "On iho masts aTe rope-ladders, which the sailors climb to balance the ship. She had a Pelorns Jack on board fitted with wireless telegraphy. She came into view in her shining coat of armour." "The New Zealand could lav six miles oft the coast, and fire one of her twelve-inch guns and Kumara would be nothing."

Unduly strict enforcements of the Defence Act, according to Mr. T. Buxton, •M.P., are strongly resented by country residents. He gave notice, in tho House of Repres3nlatives yesterday, to ask the Minister for Defence whether instructions have been issued to prosecute any person liablo for service under tho Defence Act who may be absent from one parade" without leave. In explanation, Mr Buxton stated that young men residing in tho country may fully intend being present at a parade, and may be prevented from doing so at the last moment and not have timo to apply to tho officer in charge for leave of absence.

Tho first of tho converted "palace" cars of the City Tramways' rolling stock is now in the running. It has a smart appearanco in tho street, and gives every facility for the conductor to get through his work. Moreover, i't has steps which can bo mounted with ease, and is a great improvement on the old high-step car. The new combination cars aro expected out shortly. They "have two box compartments, ono at each end, and an open space for smokers and fresh-air travellers in between, witli exit, and entrance at tho centre. Tlie.v aro adapted to run coupled, and are iilted with air-brakes as well as tho magnetic track brake. These, it is thought, will mdet all requirements of the public better than any other type of car.

The Minister for Education (the Hon. James Allen) has at present under consideration tho question of so amending tho Teachers' Superann,nation Act as to enable teachers to have their superannuation allowance computed on the three best years of their service, instead of on the last three years.

Airs. A. R. Atkinson writes to the Editor as follows:—"Will you .be good enough to correct without delay an error in .vour report of yesterday's deputation to the Prime Miu-ister? lam made to say: 'Before tho reported statomeiut cf Mr. Justico Denniston, it had not been thought to bp a snflicient defenco to a charge that the accused man should swear that he thought his victim was over the ago of consent, but now that this was established there was the greater reason for raisin; tho age.' What I said was that until wo saw the newspaper reports of Mr. Justice Benniston's remarks we had not ..known that this was a sufficient defence, and that wo agreed with his Honour that, the- law should l)c altered that it might no longer be so considered."

It is understood that tho Theatre Royal, which has for many years been the houso of vaudeville entertainment, will cease to-bo so after next month. The vnudeville entertainments are to bo transferred to His Majesty's Theatre., Conrtenny Place.

Yesterday morning Iho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) r.ppoiiral before tho Locnl Hilts Committeo it ml (jnvo evidence in connection with the Arehitccls' Bill.

A Chinese, who arrived at Wellington from Sydney by tho Ulimaroa ycMerdny, was found 10 Ik* suffering from consumption, und was denied permission to land. .It appear? thai tho imsenger was a forjuer resident of .Welliastoiii

"The Powellised sleepers which tho Department of Public Works obtained have not proved a success, and it is not disposed to recommend the Powellising of any more timber for bridge purposes '.r for sleepers until its leliability has been placed beyond doubt," said the Minister lor Public Works ill the Houso yesterday. The Powollising process is not applied to timber intended to be used for building purposes in order to arrest decay, but to protect the timber from the ravages of the wood borer; the .T'senic used in the process is supposed to effect this purpose, but there has not been sufficient time yet to determine whether or not it is effective. Powellised timber was used in the framework of the new Government House, which has been erected for four years, and it is as sound as timber could be in every souse and particular.

A man. was arrested yesterday by Detective Andrews on a olnvrge of being concerned in au assault upon' a Chinese named Young Wing On.

The Wellington United Friendly Societies have bought from the owners-, Messrs. Dwan Bros., «i valuable block of land and buildings in Courtenay Place, close to the tram, terminus and Congregational Church, upon which they intend to erect a new dispensary. Tho trustees considered a largo number of sites that were under offer to them, and eventually decided upon Courtenay Place, owing to its central position. Tho business will bo carried on in the present rented shop in IngestfO Street until the new premises are ready.

A deputation will wait on the City Council to-night regarding tho question of the remission of rates on sports' grounds. The speakers arranged aro Messrs. C. P. Skerrett, K.C., W. Perry, and J. J. Roberts, and a largo number of members of the various sports organisations is expiected to bo present. In our advertising columns a notice to Rugby players will be found.

Two citv leases were submitted to sauction at tho Concert Chamber yesterday, and sold to the present lessees at tho upset rental. The sections were No. 78 Lambton Reclamation (Johnston and Co.), and No. 1 Thorndon Reclamation (Levin and Co.).

A Feilding Chinaman has a gramaphone.in his possession with a number of songs in the Chinese language, and his deliglit in the possession of this source of amusement is slated to bo unbounded. The rather unusual spectacle of one man horsewhipping another was witnessed in Main Street last I'riday, says the Mataura "Ensign," very few people ucing about at the time. Tha man at tl.o wrong end of the lash was lying ir; the water-table while his opponent applied the lash with vigour. A separation was soon effected, the chastised -individual beating a hasty retreat without saying a word.

"Quite a lot of thoso who came out to New. Zeulund in the ship Queen of Beauty took lip land at Whangarei," romarked one of those who recently celebrated tho iubilee of the vessel's amv«l at Auckland. "I do not want to insult any of thoso who wore there in tho early days," ho said, smilingly, "but at ono time we did not have more than 17s. on the whole settlement. If a man wanted a Iwg of potatoes in thoso days ho used to hand over a tou of wood, or something liko that."

.About IGOD cases of fruit arrived in Wellington from Sydney by'tbo Iluddartl'atrker steamer Ulimnroa yesterday. The shipment consisted of mandarins, lemons, oranges, otc.

At tlio weekly meeting of the Y.M.C.A. Literary and Debating 01ul> held on Tuesday evening, Mr. R. Brown presided over a satisfactory attendance. The evening was devoted to studying and reading "The Merchant of Venice." Tho chairman explained tho story before tlio reading of tlio play was commenced Next week the study of tho play will bo continued.

Mr, Rhodes, M.P. when moving that tho two parts of the committee 6, report on till? question"; nP s"''-, sidy on rates and grants in aid 6hould be taken in inverao ordar, was ufkixi by tho president of the Counties' Association if ho thongflit the first.part would bo passed without disouSsion. "I don't expect anything to pass without discussion here, replied Mr. Rhodes, a remark wliich was perfectly justified by what,had already occurred.

On tho motion that the former system of representatives to Hospital and C'liaritable Aid Boards be reverted to, a delegate at yesterday's conference of the Counties' Association stated that in his district thore were over 300 polling stations, tihat at tile last ejection under 300 votes vera recorded, and that cash vote cost over .£3.

A delegate at yesterday's Comities' Association wllio complained that, ho lmd acted for many years as tho representative of a Hospital and Charitable Aid Bofird, and could not got aniyone -to opposo Mm, was told by the president (Mr. JmJl) thjt ho fjhoula put up the deposit for an opponent.

Mr. W. D. S. Mac Donald, M.l\, told tho Countios' Asseoiation Conference yesterday that looking at some of the remits ho thought he had got amongst a lot of Socialists,, instead of farmers who understood their responsibilities.

Eofeuring to the ehaaigo which had taken placo in tho seating accommodation at tho Counties' Association conference, tho president (Jlr. A. 1 ; ). Jull) remarked that there were too hianv "back-blocks" at the opening sitting. 011 Tuesday, so they had brought them into tho "more settled districts." The iesult of t3ie rearrangement was that everybody could hear everybody else, though the congestion ill front of tho platform was moro marked than oii tho opening day.

"It is no uso asking: for a fresh law when you won't pmceea under the present law," said the president of tho Counties' Association Conference yesterday to a delegate who' urged that landowners should be oompolled to clear g'oiiso within a reasonable nine.

"A remit like this will not assist tho Minister," remarked tho president of tho Counties' Association Conference yesterday, when it was moved, "That the Act be amended to extend tho powers of county councils regarding the control of traffic op raid 9."

The steamer Himitangi, which is to leave Wellington to-day for tho Chatham Islands, via Lyttelton, will take the dynamo for operating the'new wireless plant at tho islands. It is expected that the station will bo in full working order in about threo wo?!cs. '

The Government does not intend to introduce a proposal into the Counties Amendment Act to permit of counties accepting money 011 deposit at call in tho same way as somo municipal corporations now receive money.