LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1849, 8 September 1913, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

On account of tha heavy gale and sea on Saturday no salvaging work oould be dono on the wTeckecl steamer Devon, and as there was still a considerable range at the Heads yesterday no attempt was made to accomplish any work. Tho. sea was moderating all day yesterday, and if there is any chance of ono of tho salvage craft getting alongsido this morning a further attempt will be made to secure more of the cargo from tho fore hold. A Pctono lady states that 6he visited the "Zoo" at Newtown Park last week in company with sbmo friends. . Under the shade of a friendly tree the party left their lunches, intending, after viewing the sights, to liavo a little picnic. On returning, they found baskets and hampers opened, the contents removed, and the party had to be.content. with an "imaginary banquet," thankful that their coats and wraps had been spared. This is not the first occasion of potty theft at the Zoo, and the complainant's suggestion is-that a warning notice should bo erected. Exactly how this notice should be worded is not stated by the complainant. The new Presbyterian Church at Seatoun was opened yosterday. The Rev. W. Shirer preached the morning dedication service. His subject was, "Christ by the Seaside." The Rev. A. C. 'W. Standago, assisted by tho homo missionary, Mr. Bain, took the evening service, at which the hymns wore sung by St. James's Church choir. Two fires were caused in Wellington ] yesterday through children setting fire to curtains. Ono fire occurred just after i o'clock in the afternoon at No. 6 Hawkor Street, tho residence of Mr. Christopher Oolumbus M'Auley. A child playing with matches BOt some curtains alight, bat tho blazo was not allowed to spread. There was no insurance on the contents of the dwelling. The building is owned by Mr. Burn, of Lyall Bay. Tho other alarm was received at 8 o clock. It was a call to 55 Derwent Street, Island Bay, a seven-roomed houso, occupied by Mr. Archibald Morrison, and owned by Messrs. Odlin and Co. In this instance tho firo was started through a child with a candle igniting a par of curtains. Little damage was done. The King's Theatro olosed its doorß on Saturday evening for a week. _ During that tinio the management intend completely to renovate the whole building. ■ Tho work will include the substitution of oomfortable unholstered tipup seats for tho present wooden ones, and tho carrying out of a complete scheme of elaborate decoration, which will transform tho appearance of the auditorium entirely, and make it ono of tho most comfortable picture-houses in tho city. Tho theatro will ba reoponed on Monday next. Mr. Hubert Nathan has given notico of his intention to move at tho nest meeting of tho Welb'ngton Harbour Board 1 :—"That the light on tho Falcon Shoal bo immediately altered ■ from a stationary light to an occulting light, as apparently it iB necessary for the Falcon Shoal light to romahi until tho dredging of this shoal is completed." No liopo of a further reduction in tho freight rate on road metal is. held out by tho Minister for Railways. In his reply to tho resolution of the Farmers' Union Dominion Conference urging that road metal should bo carried on tho railways at tho actual cost of haulage, Mr. Herries states:—"I have tho honour to inform you that road metal, shingle, gravel, otc., for road making consigned,to aud for the exclusivo uso of local bodies in lots of not less than ton tons, is carricd at three-eighths ' tho; classified rato for class 'Q,' tho latter being tho lowest ordinary tonnage rate in tho railway tariff. This class of traffic is already carried at loss than tho actual cost of haulage, and is, moreover, conveyed at a considerable loss to tho Department." Privileges in connection with tho Otalti Racing Club woro disposed of on Thursday. Tho gates realised £139, tho purchaser being Mr. Wyett. ' The outside booths woro knocked down to Mrs. Higgins at .£'3o 10s. The inside booth was sccnreifb.y Mr. J. Truman, Railway Hotel, for £83 10s., while Mr. Hodgir.an secured tho outside stand at £5 55., and Mr. R. Goorgo tho horse paddock for 30s. ,

i Reference was mado at tho Bitting of ( tlio Waipawa Licensing Committee on . Thursday to tlio retirement of Mr. S. i Tansley, clerk of the court. Tlio chair- ( man Mr. M. M'Kay, expressed l regret at tlio loss of Mr. Tansley' b sorvices, and said tho committee had written to the Minister asking him; to grant Mr. Tansley an extension of time. Serious discontent is said to exist among, the employees of tlio Auckland Electric Tramways Company, caused by the 1 enforcement of certain alterations in the bookings of motormen and conductors. Tho "Herald" understands that a petition is boing circulated among the men. demanding a special meeting to consiuor what action shall bo taken in tho matter. Under the new regimo it is said that tho men will have a reduction in their earnings, besides which, if they are required for special duty, they will have a lot of wasto time between trips. Exception is also being taken to tho methods of allocating Sunday duty. It is stated that tho men are determined to take a very firm stand against tho proposed alterations. Whilst tho Union Company's Pukaki was • backing out from tho Railway Wharf .on Saturday morning sho accidentally collided with tho Canterbury Steamsllip Company's steamer I'ctono, which was berthed at the samo wharf. It was blowing fairly hard at tho time and tho Pukaki, boing a light ship, was carried against tho Petone before the collision could bo prevented. Tho Pukaki did not suffer any damage, and left for Westport later on in' tho day. Tho Petono was not so fortunate, however. Her hawse pjpo was damaged considerably, and this will necessitate a new ono being fitted. It is expected that theso repairs will tako three or four days to complete. ' Aid for the sailors shipwrecked in tho Devon was solicited at Newtown Park yesterday afternoon. Tho Waterside Workers'. Band played a programme of music, and during tlio entertainment a collection was taken up. As far as could -bo ascertained, the call was liberally responded to. The Auckland City Organist *(Mr. Maughan Harnett) consulted with tho City Council 011 Thursday on tho matter of liow to make tho most of the organ recitals that were held periodically in the Town Hall, Mr. Barnett explained that 110 had waited until ho know something of local conditions before recommending a night for the reiitals, but Saturday was apparently the most suitr able. In all, 17 recitals had been given, the receipts totalling £256 45., of which £230 15s. had been taken at tho 14 Saturday recitals and £2o 9s. at three recitals 011 other nights.' The averago attendance on tho latter occasions waß half that oa the Saturday night. Auckland dairy farmers aro' looking forward with confidence to tho outcome of tho butter season just opened. The season has commenced fully throe weeks 1 earlier than. last year, and all available indications point in the direction of a marked increase in both quantity and value of tho butter that will be manufactured in tho next few months. Reports received by the "Herald" from tho butter-producing districts of the Auckland Province are promising. Several of tlio Waikato factories have commenced operations, and the supplies so far have, been very satisfactory. Farmel's aro satisfied that there _ is every prospect of a big season being experienced. Man} of them, after tho hard winter following on the drought of last summer, have come to recogniso the advantages of growing winter orops for tho benefit of their stock, and, it is stated, intend to make bettor provision for tho proper feeding of their cows in futuro months of the cold weatlior. Herd-testing has been taken up enthusiastically in tho Waikato. An inquiry is to be made into tho oiganisation' of tlio Auckland • Town Clerk's office. At tho meeting of the City Council on Thursday evening tho Financo Committee was' empowered to conduct tho inquiry, with a view to tho reorganisation of tho department, Mr. F. T. Mooro intends to move at tlio next mooting of the Wellington Charitable Aid Board: "That tho superintendent of the Oliiro Homo (Mr. Truebridgo) bo asked to suggest a comprehensive scheme for tho economical administration of all institutions under tho board's control, with details of alterations necessary in the management and staffing of each department to secure economical efficiency." Tho proces of "trying-out" the carcass of tho whalo which was recently washed ashore at Sumner, lias not, it appears, been as profitable a business as tho owners oxpected. Altogether, says tlio "Press," about 160 gallons of oil have been extracted at tho soapworks near the Heathcote bridge, but so far little has been sold, : the buyers being unwilling to pay moro than Is. a gallon for the oil, while the sellers are demanding about 6s. A now movement designed to bring together the Methodist choirs of Christchurch and suburbs, to hold ono or moro big festivals during tho year, lias been inaugurated, and the first' production, "The Messiah," will be given in December next. Already twenty-three choirs have joined, and others in . tho country districts aro also expected to come in.. It is intended to confine the | efforts of tlio new union; entirely to . Church music, and there will conse- . quently bo 110 clashing with the work . of other musical societies. 1 TWO TALBOT OPPORTUNITIES. 1 Tho outstanding features of the best i type of British-built motor-car are eolidr ity and enormous strength of construOT J tion, an engine power for in excess of nominal rating, and tlio extreme dura- ' bility that is associated with most absolute honesty in tho selection of materials. All theso characteristics nro pos--1 sessed in a peculiar decree by thowell- ' known T.ulbot car, and the long and bril--1 liant record of competitive successes • standing to the credit of tho Talbot in New Zealand is -direotly asoribaWe to Che flawless integrity with which theso standard British automobiles are constructed. ' Wo have every confidence therefore in re- ■ oommending to tho attention of those do--1 siring a strong durable car of ample power at a moderate price the two Talbots • which are at pre<*nt in our parage at ChristchuTdh for disposal. Tlio of 1 tho two is of the celebrated 15-28 h.p. touring type, with a five-six soater body, | and complete • with lamps, screen, spare , wheel and in fact all extras. The car litis recently been re-enamelled in French 1 grey, picked out 'with black, and is in thoroughly good OTder. It would' admirably suit a country hotel proprietor mant--1 in? a means of conveying guests from the 1 railway station. This particular car lias ■ a very fine record of competitive successes. Tlio price is .£350, a dliuhtly sinal- ' lor Talbot, a five-seater touring oar of 12-25 h.p., with the «amo comnleto equipment, and also in really good condition, ' is offered <vt .£250. TVse prices aTo low, 1 ns wo need all our Christchnrch pa-rape space for new stock, and must clear all seoond-hand cars. Send for photo.rraphs i and details to Adams, Ltd., averts for TnTbot cars, paramo Tuam Street. Clirist--1 clnvch, near High Sstroet, establishment. —Advt. '