LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1836, 23 August 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities advise that tho e.s. Mahono, which sailed from Sydney oil August 20 for Auckland, has on board. English mails, via Suez, and also Australian mails. . Tho Wellington portion is duo on. Monday.

The Rotoma brought to Now Zealand a big supply of salvage gear, wihich was intended for nso in tho refloating of the 6tranded Tyser linei IndrabaraJi. The gear arrived too late, however, us tto vessel had already been floated off.'. As there is always tho possibility that tlio gear may be needed again, Captain Plunkett, Lloyd's surveyor who cabled for (Iho gear, is -pairing: on effort to keep it in th'? Dominion.

Politicians use figures in all sorts of ways, but tho Prime Minister, while the Estimates were bbing debated in the Houso of Representatives last evening, mado use of figures in a way that was as novel as it .was effective. Mr. G. W. Russell happened to mention that tho number of Crown tenants was increased last year by 10GG. Mr. Mossey, when Ho rose to speak, dwelt on tlio number 10GG with evident pleasure. Looking at his political opponents across the House, ho said: "10GG is '0_, historical year; it is tlio year of William tho Conqueror!" Even tho Prime Minister's opponents joined in >th© applause, and laughter that followed. "That is better than Shakespeare," ono member remarked, and Mr. Payne, at the back of the House, ejaculated: "You'll get the Battle of the Boyno next year."

Applications for tho position of manager of tlio Eastbourno Municipal Ferry Service closed last evening. Altogether 50 applications were received for tho position; and these will lie considered at a special meeting of tho Eerry Board on Monday next.

Sometimes a man lias reason for thank-fulnic-ss at being taken into custody. At Timairu an intoxicated individual got off tho express from tho north, and shortly afterwards had a little motor-car trip with a constable. At tho station lie was found to have .£lO2 iu cash in his possession. i

Tho Minister for Tourist and Health Resorts has received notification to tho effect that the Emperor 'of ; Austria has given instructions for three chamois (ono buck and three doe) to bo captured in Austria at tho beginning of the coming winter for presentation to the New Zealand Government, in ordor to strengthen, tho herd on tho Southern Alps, near Mount Coolr.

A Native womiui was taken, to thb settlement a couple of days ago suffering, from tie prevailing epidemic (says the Monrinsville "Star). She said that elio was all right, and to show lier resentment at being thus treated, she declared that she would do the same as; the pakeha woman in London—oat nothing.

The Wanganui branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants Ims passed a resolution endorsing the action of the society's delegates in withdrawing from tho recent Unity Conference, ana has added an expression of confidence in the executive.

Replying to a deputation, yesterday, tho Hon. W. Fraser (Minister for Public Works) stated that ho was appointing an inspecting engineer for the North Island and anotjer for the South Island. Their duty would bd to go round tho country and inspect tho expenditure of Government grants. There had been a good many oomplaints in regard to'tho expenditure of Government money, and tho inspectors would report to him, and he would then be in o much better position to ascertain whether tho money was being properly expended.

■ During tho whole course of the Reform's voyage from Englamd to New Zealand, she was continuously in commimication with tro or more wireless stations. Tho longest range achieved was 2180 miles, when the operator "picked up" Capo Tom Altogether, 24 stations w«ro spoken. The vessel was in touch with Wellington at a rang<e of 1150 miles— foar hours after leaving Hobart.

Land deals between tho Government and tho Wellington Oi'ty Council requiro time to settlo. There must, however, bo a limit to the length of nil negotiations, and this explains a resolution passed by the Oi'ty Council on Thursday: "That tho officers of tho council be authorised' to bring about a settlement' with tho Government of certain outstanding land questions." The land in question includes three sections in different parts of tho city—one piece of land where tho Manners Street Police Station stands, anothor the eito of tho Mount Cock Pound, and tho third a parcel in tho vicinity of tho Wellington South Post Offico that was ail'eoted by street widening.

Tho Labour Bilts Committee of tho House of Representatives will take evidence on tho Shops and Offices Bill up to and including September 5.

Tho Hon. W. Frasor, Minister for Pub< lie Works, informed a Wairoa (Hawko's Hay) deputation yesterday that a sum would bo placcd upon tho Estimates this year for carrying out a portion of tho metalling of tho unmctallod portion, of tho Napier-Wairoa ltoad. It was Htated that the total cost would probably ho about ,£20,000, but Mr. Frasor said that of course tho Government could not btf expected to voto such a largo sum.

Tho announcement of tho Now South Wales Minister for Works, Mr. Griffith, that ho intended to ask Parliament to create a State monopoly of petrol, has not caused any excitement in tho motor-car or petrol trades in Sydney. "If a Minister had slid anything liko that a few years ago," said olio merchant last wock, "it would havo had us all in a fever; but eo niuoh is threatened t'lioso days and so little dono that wo don't worry till the troublo is upon lis." Many garage-owners would, it is stated, welcome a State monopoly, if it wero carried out on retail linos. Tho garages mako twopence a gallon profit on tiio petrol they sell retail, ami that is hardly onough to covcr loss from wastage. Olio iirm 6pends .£2500 a year iii'buying petrol, and tho profit last year was £20—. less than 1 per cont. Ulioy would bo glad, tho manager told an interviewer, to hand the business over to tho i thou watch tho Government fight tho powerful companies which have the trade to-day. ' 1

It is believed, according to Dr. A. K. Nowman, that a valuable export trade from Now Zealand in deer-skins is a practical possibility. Dr. Ncwniaii is suggesting that tho Prime Minister should direct Kho Department of Agriculture, Industries, and Oommeroo to try to find fiomo market for tho salo of doer-skins.

Tho colifercnco of tho Now Zealand Civil Servants' Association to consider tho classification sohwive lins been do< finitely fixed. for September 15.

A meeting of creditors in. tho bankrupt estate of Robert Uojiry Logan, labourer, Silvorstacain, will bo held on August 29. Tho schedJulo was filed on August 18.

An 11-roomed house at Porirua has been: totally destroyed by firo. The residence bel on (fed to Mr. P. Hatton Miller. Tho occupants had a narrow cscape, and saved but little.

A oopccrt In aid of tho Earorl School funds was hold in tho _ Parochial Hall, Karori, on Thursday night. Tho programme was; Overture and Characteristic Pieoe, orchestra (Mrs. and Messrs. Cimino); recitations, Miss, Hazel Jeffcry, Mr. Picot, and Mr. Percy Clark; songs, Messrs. W. H. Dunn, Oakov, Henderson, Jones, Luff, Mrs. Astill, and Miss Florence; duct, Messrs. Dunn and Jones i clarinet solo, Mr. F. A. Cimino; school songs, junior scholars, and .Miss Margery Hodgo and scholars; sleight-of-hand; Sir. Linrdet; sifter drill, junior girls, and physical drill, senior boys.