LOCAL AND GENERAL,

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1848, 6 September 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL,

The postal authorities advise that tllio s.s. Maheno, which sailed from Sydney on September 3 for Auckland', lias oil beard Australian mails, and also EngMi mails via. Suez. The Wellington portion is d'uo 011 Monday next per the Slain Trunk express. The members of the ■ Reform party will meet in caucus to-day to discuss two or three important items of policy. Epidemic: The following bulletin was issued by the Deputy-Chief Health Officer at 5 p.m. yesterday:—No cases are reported from Auckland city or suburbs. One case is reported at Mercer from a- previously-infected house. Five cases are reported from Ahipara, 13 miles from liaitaia. "I don't know whether you've over sat in that jury box," said Mr. T. M. Wilfordin the House of Representatives last night to tho Minister for Justice, referring to the narrow little jury box in the Supreme Court at Wellington. "No ; " said the Minister, "I've never sat in it, but I've often looked at it." Mr. Wilford enlarged upon the extreme discomfort jurors had to suffer by reason of the cramped position in which tliey had .to sit. Sir. Herdman said t'liat instructions had been given to have the jury box made rather more comfortable. A meeting) of metal workers' assistants and foundry labourers was held in the Trades Hall last night. There was an attendance of 33, and it was decided to form a union to be called the Wellington Metal Workers' Assistants' Unioiij which is to bo registered under the Conciliation and Arbitration Act. A committeo was set up to draft rules to govern the union, and these rules will be submitted to a meeting to be held next week, at which also tho officials will bfe elected. During the year ended July 31 last three convictions were recorded against licensed liquor sellers for selling inferior or adulterated liquor. Two convictions occurred at Rotorua and ono at Wellington. ; . • The substitution of electricity for gas as a railway carriage illuininant is suggested in a question addressed by Mr. Sidey to tho Minister for Railways in tile House of. Representatives Mr. Sidey directed attention to .the fact that the fire which followed upon the recent terrible railway accident in England was attributed .in tho first instance to tho escape of illuminating gas from tile tajiks beneath the carriages Tho adjourned ordinary meeting of tho Wellington City Council will beheld at 3.30 p.m. on Monday. Answering a question in the House of Representatives yesterday, tho Hon. W. Eraser said that tenders- for tlie new, Parliament, Buildings ..would bo dealt 1 with He admitted that it was impossible to provide suitable accommodation for members in the present building. , It might be possiblo, ho added, to. get the use of some portion of the new building before tho whole of it was completed, and the Government would riot lose sight of any possibility of this kind. The subject of a motor tax was raised in tlio House of Representatives yesterday by Mr. G. W. Russell wheiij the Estimates were being discussed.' Mr. Russell asked whether itlie Prime Minister intended to' go on with lii-s motortax idea for the benefit of back-blocks roads. Tho Prime Minister was absent, but the Hon'. W. Fxaser said ' that motor-car owners had asked that a tax should' bo levied, but they wanted it spent on such roads as tliey used, and not upon back-blocks roads. . Various and sundry are the reasons given to the. Land Board by people who want to transfer sections of land, says our Auckland correspondent. Ono man 'said his wife suffered severely from tho mosquitos; another said the man who wanted to get his section was ready to chop dawn the bush, while he did not take to such work. It was decided to give the woodchopper tho section ho desired. Several men wanted to got out pi sections on account of rheumatism. Another man gave as his reason that ho had to have an operation in the hospital, and as lie might die ho wished to get clear of everything.

Although much has been said and written regarding tho condition of H.SI.S. Torch during tho past year, tho Sydney ".Telegraph" states that it has now been made clear that tho vessel is at' present seaworthy, and that no doubts are entertained on this subject by those in authority. This was made perfectly plain by his Excellency Admiral Sir G. F. King-Hall, the Com-mander-in-Chief, in a farewell speech delivered on board last week. Tho Com-mander-in-Chief visited the Torch to say farewell to the officers and men, as ho will havo left tho station before they return from their present cruiso to Fiji. In the few words ho addressed to the ship's company, he alluded to the untrue statements publicly made about her unseaworthiness, which statements, ho said, wero ridiculed on board the ship herself. There was 110 necessity for tho Commander-in-Chief to reassure tho men on that point, as biio would not have been ordered on service unless in every respect ready for sea.

The Boys' Institute is to havo the uso of Anderson Park on Saturday afternoon, September -27, for tho purpose of holding annual sports.

TWO TALBOT OPPORTUNITIES. T.IIO outstanding features of the best typo of British-built motor-car are solidity and enormous strength _o£ construction, all power fai in cxcess of nominal rating, and »the extremo durability that ■ is associated with most absolute honesty in the selection of materials. All these characteristics aro possessed in a peculiar decree by the wollknown Talbot car, and the long and brilliant record of competitive successes standing to tho credit of tho Talbot in New Zealand'is directly ascribablo to tlio flawless integrity with which these standard British automobiles are constructed. We have everv confidence therefore in recommending fo tho attention of those desiring a strong durable car of nmplo power at a moderate price tlio two Talbots which are at present in our parage at Christchureh for disposal. Tho bigger of tlio two is of the celebrated 15-28 h.p. touring type, with a five-six soater body, and complote with lamps, screen, spa.ro wheel and in fact oil extras. The car has recently been re-enamelled in Frendi grey, picked out with blaok, and is in thoroughly good order. It wowkl admirably suit a country hotel proprietor wanting a means of conveying guests from tho railway station. This particular ear lias a very fine .record of competitive buccessesl The price is .£.150, a slightly smaller Talbot, a five-sealer touring car of 12-2") h.p.. with the same comnlete equipment, and also in really good condition, is offered at .MM. These prices are low, «s we need all our Cliristchurch garage spacc for new stock, and must clear nil second-hand ears. Send for photographs and details to Adams, Ltd.. agents for Talbot ears, garage Tnnm Street. Christnear High Sstreet, establishment. —Adrt