LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1839, 27 August 1913, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tho postal authorities adviso that the s.s. Makura, which sailed from Suva on August 22 for Auckland, iias on board mails from America and tho United Kingdom, via Vancouver. Tho Wellington portion is duo to-day.

The postal authorities adviso that tho s.s. Moeraki, which sailed from Sydney on August 23, for Wellington, iias on board mails from Australia only. She is duo to-day.

"Tho wholo country knows wo aro starving, not paying our butchers' bills or our bakers' bills, and/if tho Minister docs not know this it is time we put it to him in plain words." —So remarked a school teacher (smilingly) at last night's meeting of tho Wellington branch of tho Education Institute.

It is estimated that tlio cost at tho present time of providing _ every man and woman in tho Dominion with a pension of £26 a year on attaining tho ago of 05 years would be £1,271,400 por annum. This is the amount that would* be payable to 45,900 people of tho ago of 05 years and over. Tho foregoing facts wero set forth in a return furnished to tho; Houso of Representatives yesterday on tho motion of Mr. 11. J. H. Okey: "The value of tho sovereign lias decreased to 16s. Id. in tho last few years," remarked a school teacher at a meeting of tho Wellington branch of the Educational Institute last night. "Where a man makes money or lias money, his relations keep in touch with liim," said Mr. A. li. Hindmarsh in tho House of Representatives last night. Members met the naive statement of fact with a roar of laughter. Official smallpox bulletin: —Tho District Health Oifioer, Auckland, states that one suspicious case was reported in Auckland city and removed to tho observation ward. Two fresh cases aro reported from Kaikohe. Respecting the proposed now basis of school teachers' salaries, it was observed by' a member of the executive of tho Wellington branch of tho Educational Institute at last night's special meeting that "the pencil has already been put on paper for tho drawing up of tho new basis." "More," added tho speaker, "I cannot at present say." Tho secondary school cadets who have been selected to represent the Dominion in the annual shooting match for Lord Roberts's trophy, which is open to all parts of tho Empire; assembled in Wellington yesterday. They went into camp at Trentham range, where- tho match will be fired to-morrow. The conditions of the match aro of a service nature, and some team practice is necessary. The team (whoso names, have already been published) comprises eight boys, with two reserves. Tho conference of delegates representing tho Working Men's Clubs of .the Dominion will commence at 10 a.m. to-day at tho Town Hall. Tho clubs will bo represented. In tho evening the visiting delegates will bo entertained at a smoke concert by tho Wellington Club. A special loan to cover tho cost of new railway stations or extensivo alterations such as aro required at Wellington, Auckland, Timaru, and other centres is suggested by a question which Mr. J. Craigib, M.P., has addressed to tho Government in tho House of Representatives. Mr. Craigie urges that a proposal to raise a loan of this kind should be submitted to Parliament this session. Tho enterprise of the City Tramways Department evidenced itself in an unusual fashion yesterday. In various parts of tho city the Department displayed largo placards, stating that tho wreck of the Devon could bo clearly seen froij Breaker Bay, which could be easily reached by tho Seatoun tram. Tho first annual meeting of tho Board of Trustees appointed under tho will of tho lato Mr. T. G. Macarthy, who died just over a year ago, will" bo held on Saturday morning, when'tho- Public Trustee will put the financial position before them. A Lodge of Good Templars was opened at Pahiatua- on Saturday, evening last-,' Bra. D. C. Cameron, of Dunedin, organiser for the Order, presiding, and seventeen candidates were initiated by going through the ceremony of tin? organisation. A3 apologies were received from several who wero unable to bo present that' evening, it was resolved to . adjourn till September 2 ; , when another 10 or 12 candidates will join, and tho election aiul installation of officers will bo conducted. Two weeks' encampment for Wellington school teachers, in order that they shall bo taught how to instruct children in physical drill, is proposed by tho Director of Physical Instruction (Mr. Royd Garlick). Tho proposal reached tho Education Board yesterday through tho State Department of Education, and tho board decided to fall in with 4ho idea, but to refer tho mattor of 'the most' suitable fortnight to tho teachers. • Special kincmatographs will probably be installed before louk in ono or more Wellington schools. Mr. R. Leo mentioned at yesterday's meeting of ( tho Education Board that ho hoped to see these machines presently playing a useful part in tho schools soon. A Parisian firm is seuding out 'a type of machine designed with the direct object of their being useful in schools. When firo swept through tho wooden block opposite tho polico station on Lambton Quay oil tho night of July 8. last there did not seem to bo much prospect that tho building would ever again be of any use. Tho builders,, however, aro now engaged in repairing it. Tho top story, which was completely gutted, lias been removed, and a cor- ■ rugated iron roof is being built over the ground floor. Tho draper's shop which occupies one portion of tho huildinc is already open for business, while the restaurant next door will shortly reopen.

Messrs. Baldwin and Hayward, patent attorneys, report that tho following applinations compiled from tho "Patent Office Journal," have been mado recently for letters patent of Now Zealand:—W. P. Bradsliaw, Christchurch, motor vehicle driving; 11, M. Poihipi and M. Melcai, Auckland, candlo extinguisher; A. Wastal, ' Auckland, broom-holder; T Tait, Napier, brush handle; T. Hyde, Napier, fly paper stand, olc.; A. G. Colin, South Norsowood, horse, etc., cover strapping; F. Sopor, Garston, chaffcutter; L. W. Monce, Waihi, spark catcher; R. H, Taylor and W. M. Fraer, Dunedin, automatic point shifter; E. M, Wilson, Auckland, hat-pin"; AV. H. Bowman, Wellington, cornet shank combination; M. C. Grant, Wellington, sheets holding oil clothes line; F. Russel, Adelaide, hat-rest; T. Napier, Auckland, concrete fence post mould; J. 0. Young, Westport, bottle, etc., holding case.

Taking tho state of things on the whole, matters in connection witli tho working of tho Wellington Education district are very satisfactory, according to tho chairman of tho board (Mr. R. Leo). Ho said yesterday that, speaking generally., the service was content. Tho scinols jvcre in good order, and tho finances of tho district wero sound. There was money in t'ho bank for a rainy day, and littlo need for fear of a 6hortage. A new training college was being built at Kelburno, and a fine big school was to be built at Island Bay.

In addition to tho oxtra provision for mental hospital patients, which wa3 mentioned yesterday, tho Minister for Public Health (tho lion. R. H, Rhodes) states that tho now building which bag been completed at Waitati, near Seacliff, will accommodate fifty patients. A petition signed by ono Herbert' Clapliam, of Auckland, and 7110 others was presented to tho Houso of Representatives yesterday by Mr. W. D. S. Mac Donald. Tho petitioner Claphani describes himself as a medical botanist "not being a duly qualified practitioner within tho meaning of tho Medical Practitioners Act," but ho claims "to be qualified to place the euro, of consumption before tho world at largo for the benefit of suffering humanity." In his petition ho makes a proposal that tho Government grant him a sum of money to enable him to prepare "tho necessary working basis for tho treatment of consumption, etc.," or alternatively that the Government tako over the caro of consumptives under his guidance, and pay him a bonus if his euro should bo successful. Ho asks also that ho be relieved from liability to prosecution for demonstrating his euro for consumption. Tho other 7110 games are attached to an addendum in support of tho prayer of Herbert Clapham.

Discussing a contentious clause in the Public Trust Ofi'ico Bill last evening, Mr. R. M'Callum, member for Wairau, stated a supposititious case. '"Suppose," ho said, "that I am entitled to a legacy of £50, and tho Public Trustee pays it in mistake to my friend, tho member for Avon." "You'll never get it back," said Mr. Russell, amidst loud and hearty laughter. "What is my legal remedy?" continued Mr. M'Galium. "None, you are done!" said Mr. llussell, and tho laughter was renewed.

Boot-repairing and musio-teaching.aro the unusual combination, of avocations from which a Wollingtonian secures a livelihood. The citizen in question appeared in the Magistrate's Court yesterday, pressing a suit for payment of .certain money for giving a child lessons in.Mnusic. It then transpired that ho is, also, a cobbler. A question of which Mr. J. Robertson gavo notico in the House of Representatives yesterday would seem to indicate that girls will not bo vallowed to sit for Civil Service examinations for the next two years. The Hon. J. Allen, Minister for Education, informed a reporter last night that tho facts were not exactly as represented. Tho Public Service Commissioners, ho said, had found that they did not need girls for tho : Service for tie current year, a.ud. they had notified, ho understood, that girls would not bo examined for tlio Civil Service examinati&ns this year. So far as ho know there was no proposal to disqualify girls for two years. But tlio I'iducatiou Department would conduct tho examillations a® usual, and there would bo. nothing: to prevent a girl sitting for tlio examination. Tho only difference would bo that no girl could, if successful m passing it. have her nomo put on tjlio Civil Service list, from which vacancies in tho' Servico aro filled.