LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1837, 25 August 1913, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

English (via Suez), American, and Australian mails arrived at Auckland by tho Maheno at 7.45 a.m. yosterday from Sydney. The southern portion of this mail will reach Wellington by this afternoon's express: Tho postal authorities _ advise that R.M.S. Tahiti, which sailed from San Francisco on August 20 for Wellington, has oil board mails from tho United Kingdom' and America, via San Francisco, and also from Rarotonga and Tahiti. ' She is due in Wellington on September 11. A special meeting of the Eastbourne Borough Council will bo held this evening to appoint a manager of tho now municipal ferry service. Tho special Board of Trustees set up to administer the ostato of the late Mr. T. G. McCarthy will meet in Wellington oil Saturday next, and receive a report upon tho position of tho trust. Members of the board are: Tho Governor, tho Prim© Minister, the Mayor of Wellington, and tho Eoman Catholic Archbishop. Tho Nelson "Colonist" says it would appear that thero is very little chance now of a reappearance of "Pelorus Jack." Our contemporary has just heard of another instance showing how far Jack's fame has spread. Mr. Alex. Stuart was resideut at the French Pass at tho timo of tho stay of the Terra Nova survey party, aaid one of the members of the party was responsible for the dispatch from England to Mr. Stuart of a post-card, tho address being no more than "Mr. A. Stuart, care Pelorus Jack." Tho card came straight to Mr. Stuart, without any delay, though as may be seen no country was mentioned in the address. Presently Otago will be the only big port in the Dominion unequipped with wireless. Just the other day (says the "Daily Times'') tho Suffolk failed to find the ontranoe in a fog, and was. only picked up by the pilot boat after a wireless message from tho steamer to, Wellington notifying her position, had been transmitted by telegram there.

An overhead wire belonging to the tramway system on Lambton Quay, opposite Waring Taylor Street, was carried away on Friday evening. Tho work of replacing it occupied about un hour, and during that time the cars from Thorndon were sent along the Jervois Quay lino.

Last Sunday, said l Archdeacon Harper (in his sermon at St. Paul's Cliurdh yesterday), they wore thinking of tlio importance of history. During the week they had !had brought to their minds the work done by Samuel Marsden in the early history of their country, and that day. they were commemorating St. Bartholomew. Such events should make them think of what it was that those people stood for and believed. Tho Church did not stand simply for what was old, nor did the Church look simply towards what was new. Men like Marsden had tho same faith as wo held, recited tho samo creed, and had known tho samo Christ, Whilst St. Bartholomew.and the Apostles also iheld tho Bamo faith and know the same Christ. They must remember, therefore, that the Church throughout all the ages had witnessed to a living Christ.

Tho jubilee of St. John's Presbyterian Church is to bo oelebrated next November. It is expected that a 6eries of commemorativo meetings will bo held in the Town Hall.

Tho first meeting of the Civil Service Appeal Board will be held shortly—probably within the next fortnight. It is expected that as a. result of the publication of tho clasrifioation list last week tihere will be a great deal of business to bo transacted by the board.

At noon to-day a largo deputation representing all the sports bodies and those business people interested will wait ou the Primo. Minister (tho Hon; W. F. Massey) and. give their views in 'support of tho Daylight Saving Bill, Mr. T. K. Sidey, M.P., will introduce the deputar tion.

Anxious to maintain the employment of unskilled labour through tho winter months, tho City Council has over-spont its allocation on work at tho Lyall Bay and Kilbirnio Recreation Grounds, ana lias maintained tho rest of the works up to tho full amount of the estimates.

"Tree-planting on a definite and permanent plan is proceeding at a very satisfactory rate in different parts of the city," said tho Mayor (Mr. J. I'. Luke) to a reporter on Saturday. Tho Mayor added that tho work commenced on Arbor Day was being well carried on. A promising experiment was taking place on the plateau at Kelburne, round Upland Road, where tho work was being done by tho council under tho direction of the Town Belt Forester, tho residents footing the bill for beautification. Whero residents of any locality were prepared (to follow suit, tree-plant-ing on similar lines would no doubt be carried out.

Tho Christchurch 1 Labour Bureau has had a very busy month in connection with the placing of men in employment. During the four weeks ended on Wednesday last, 147 men were sent to employment of various kinds. Of ' this large number, 88 were scait to Government, 59 were placed with priyato employers, chiefly as farm- hands, gardeners, engine-drivers, and carpenters. A fair proportion' were married men, and the total number of dependents on those placed in employment was 134. A ballot taken by tho Dunedin Waterside Workers' Union on Thursday on tho question whether they should or should not join tho United Federation of Labour resulted in 93 votes being recorded in favour of joining and 90 against. It is stated, however, that more than one-third of tho members of the union-failed to record their votes. The president of tho union (Mr. J. Farrell), when seen by a "Daily Times" reporter, stated that thero'was a probability of another ballot being taken on the question at an early date, as a great many members of tho union wero not satisfied with the results of Thursday's ballot.

"Tho Scindian," tho magazine of tho Boys' High School, Napier, contains CO pages of readable matter, well-prepared and edited, dealing with all branches of school lifo, and contains an -dmirabio full-page photograph of the High Schooi officers and non-coms, at tho Palmorston Camp, with smaller ones of the cricket elevens; tho sevon-a-sido football team, ajid various local and other views.

Fish is scarce ajid dear in Dunedin. Groper fetched 13s. each tho other day, and that is regarded as a record,,high price. So much for tho consumer' 3 point of view. The "Star" says the producer may bo expected to view tho matter differently, at least down at Moeraki, whore tho other day a. wellknown fisherman landed a haul of about 180 groper, for which ho is reported to V have nettod £90.

An oxciting inoident occurred on the steamer Clan Macintosh before she left Port Pirio (South Australia). On this afternoon of August 3 an officer (Mr. D. S. Pottwick) had occasion to'iepiimand a member of tho lascar crew. The man resented tlio officer's interference, and becamo abusive. On the following day the second officer foiled ono of the lasoars as ho was in tho act of striking the third mate with a shovel. Tho officer chased several of tho coloured crew into tlio forecastle, but were obliged to retire, becauso tboy were not in possession of firearms. On the next day Mr. Pottwick was savagely attacked while on deck. Ho had soveral members of tlio crow against him, and ono of them struck him a sovero blow on the face with an iron bar. Tho officer was rendered unconscious, and his jaw broken. Ho was takon to tho hospital. The matter was not reported to tho police, as the captain of tho vessel was anxious .to leavo port.

Public Works surveyor are still engaged on tho proposed routo of the Balclutha-Tuapeka Mouth railway, and according to tho "Daily Times," tiny havo now mado a final survey from Dalclutha to 13egg's, which is half ilia distance and passes tho most difficult land to bo encountered on tho route.

Advice has been received by wireless that tho Makura, from Vancouver, is expectod to arrive in Auckland early, on Tuosday morning.

It is hoped thero will bo a good attendance of members at tho annual meeting of tho Wellington branch of the Overaoas Club oil Wednesday evening. Somo important matters aro to bo discussed concerning the future activities of tho local branch, and it is anticipated somo definite resolutions will bo adopted in view of the meeting of tho New Zealand Council to bo held iu tho Town Ilall on Friday. Notices of tho meeting of tho Council havo been received by tho delegates from tho Do' minion secretary.

A statement of tho Crown lands in tho Auckland land district which aro now being oponed for settlement or which aro under survoy has been compiled by tho Lands Department; and is supplied by tho Prime Minister. The ordinary lands that aro now being scheduled total 3547 acres, whilst education reserves that aro being scheduled amount to a further 1884 acres. Further areas that aro about to lie opened amount to 25,487 acres, whilst a further 102,792 acres are under 6urvey and will bo opened later on. The total area that is now being dealt with in tho district is 133,710 acres.

.tho nocidlents of fortunlo that, fall to tho lot of seafarers not many aro stranger tlin.ii tho ono that befell Captain Holm, of tho fourmasted barquentme Titania oil Friday last. It was neither more nor less than having his ship towed into porb by a steamer commanded by his son. Tho Titania _ sailed from Newcastle ott August 4 with a load'of coal for Wellington, and a fairly good passage was made across tho Tasnrnn Sea. She waa reported off Farewell Spit last Thursday week, but on entering Cofok Strait was becalmed, after which, a southeasterly gale, lasting for three days, was experienced. Whilst bound from Wanganui to Lyttelton early on Friday morning the coastal steamer Jolm, in charge of Captain S. Holm, son of the master of the sailer, picked up tho Titania off tho Brothers, and took her in tow. Tho two vessels arrived in tho stream early on Friday afternoon.

It is notified in District Oilers that in connection with 'claims for sick pay Bent in by members of tho Territorial i'orcc, a certificate from tho employer, Btating the actual number of days that tho'man was absent from work, must accompany all claims.

The question of adding Turkish baths to tho now municipal tepid baths wan thrashed out at a mooting of tho Dunodin City Council ou Wednesday night, tho proposal to erect Turkish baths being eventually carried.

A compotitivo examination for candidates for first appointments as seoond lieutenants in tho Territorial Forces and! Senior .Cadets will bo held on Tuesday, September 2, commencing at 10 a.m., bs follows:—Wellington Garrison Hall: Palmerston North (Manawatu) Mounted Rifles' Ordorly Room; Napier Drill Hall; Masterton Drill Hall: Wanganui Drill Hall; Hawera Drill Hall. Written papers mil bo sot on September 2 olid 8, nncl'aui oral examination will ho conducted on September 4 audi on tho following day if necessary.

A district order just Issued notifies that in all places where there is no coriipany of tho Now' Zealand Railway Battalions, members of tho railway sopvico, liable for military training, have been instructed to report' themselves to tho nearest area group officer for training. Each member of the Railway Battalion will bo provided) wi'tli a card, which will bo filled, in by tho officer or instructor in charge of tho parade, at each parade' attended. Tho card wall, bo taken by the member if ho is transferred to another centre. Members have also boon instructed that it is their diuty to ascertain for themselves the time and place for drill, and that all members absenting themselves from parade without leave should be at once reported to the Jieaircst company commander of the Railway Battalion. Following are tho addrosses of the officers of tho North Island Battalion of the' Railway Corps in tho Wellington military districtCapt. Jas. M'Donald, Chief Accountant's Office Railways, Wellington; Capt. Chas. Horsnell, Railways, Palmerston North; Capt.. J. K. Lowe, 'Railways, Ohakune; Lieut. Jas. Hill, Railways, Napier; Qr.-Mr._L. B. Stansell, Traffio Department, Railways, Wellington; 2nd Lieut R. H. C. Mapdon, Head Office, Railways, Wellington; 2nd Lieut. V. R. Bond, Head Office, Railways, Wellington; 2nd Lieut. S. Wright, Railways, Waipukurau; 2nd Lieut. J.- A. M'Quoon Head Office, Railways, 'Wellington.

Hawora is following Wangamii's ex.ample as regards disestablishing the higli school. At last week's meeting' of tho Education Board, states tho Wanganui "Herald," tho Hawora District High School Committee, and tho Technical School Committee wrote asking that the high school bo disestablished and a secondary school or a high school proper, that would cater for all requirements of tho districts, literary, commercial, and agricultural, bo established. Tlio application wits forwarded on to tho Minister for Education' for his approval.

■ -Tlio aims and objeots of the United Federation tf Labour was. the subject of an address by tlio president of that body at a meeting of tho Painters' and Decorators' Union oil Friday night. A similar address is to be delivered at tlio next meeting of tho union by tho Hon. J. T. Paul with reference to the United Labour party, and after discussing tho pros and oons of tlio two, the union will do asked to decido which to support.