LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1860, 20 September 1913, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The mails whioh left Auckland on August 30, per R.M.S. Marama, arrived at Vancouver, en route to London, on September 18.

Sports ground expenditure is a topio of,interest just now and yesterday the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) was questioned as to tlio expenditure at Lyall Bay during the present year. Ho mentioned that tho amount allocated jfor tlio Lyall Bay Reserve was £1050 but tlie council had already Bpent £1737'0r £687 over and above what had been estimatedThis had been done in order that a large number of labourers might not be thrown out of work in the winter at a timo when the labour market was overstocked. At Kilbimie, too, tho work had been kept going and out of a sum of £1260 allotted for the recreation ground there, £1168 had already boon spent although the year was not half gone. Practically tho wholo of tho expenditure was in labour, no material having been bought. When these grounds become available ill a few months' timo, Mr. Luke points out that they, will go a long way towards meeting tho demands of the outdoor sports bodies. \ The postal authorities advise that the e.B. Moatia, which sailed from San Franoisco on September 17 for Wellington, has on board English and American mails via San Francisco, also mails from Tahiti and Rarotonga, She is due on October 9. Tho Director, of tho Wellington Technical College has received tho results as follows of tho National Competition of tho Sohools of Art for 1913, held by the Board of Education, London:— Book prizes.—Ethol P. Gyles, design for damask teacloth; W. Nelson Isaao, drawings of heads from life. Commended.—Evelyn Dawson, study of a tree; Mary Green, drawing of a head from life; W. Nelson Isaao, studies of animals and birds from naturo, and also timo sketches of figures from tho nude.

The Auckland Exhibition buildings are so far advanced that it is certain they will be completed and roadv for all exhibitors to start structural work on October G, and for the receipt of. goods for exhibition on November 8. Tho opening date is December I.—Press Association.

The s.s. Mahono, whiob Balled from Sydney on September 17 for Auokland, lias oA board Australian and English mails via Suez. The Wellington portion is duo on Monday next.

"What do you reckon is a chain in distance?" asked a lawyer of a woman who was giving evidence in tho Magistrate's Court yesterday. The witnoss did not give any clear idea. "How many yards are there in a chain P" persisted the lawyer. "I don't know,", was tho reply. "I used to know once, but I have forgotten. _ I only know that a road is a chain wido, eo a chain is the width of a road.!'.

Epidemic: The District Health Officer, Auckland; reportsOno European case in Auckland city was removed to tho Point Chevalier Isolation Hospital. Two Maori cases are reported from Kaikoho.

The case of Mr. Joshua Jones, of Mokau fame, was mentioned in Parliament; last evening, when the mombor for Wairau (Mr. M'Callum) asked for information regarding an item: /'Payment to Joshua Jonos iu conncotion with Mokau land claims (£2O v per month), £80." The Prime Minister recalled tho fact that the Mokau Inquiry Committee, which sat last year, recommended a payment to Mr. Jones of £3000. The Government, Sir. Slassoy continued, folt rather doubtful about it, and when Sir. Jones came along, and claimed that he should bo paid £3000, two courses were proposed by tho Government. A payment <>f £1500 was suggested, or, as an alternative, Mr. Jones was offered £20 a month. Ho accepted the latter offer, on condition that certain debts should bo paid. This was agreed to, and a lump sum of £300 was paid to Mr. Jonos, in addition to £20 a month. Sir. Slassoy added that he was inclined to think' that this arrangemont should bo continued if it were satisfactory to Sir. Jones. If, on tho other hand, Sir. Jones were not satisfied, tho only thing to do would bo to take a vote of tho House on tho question. Tho elovonth anniversary meeting of tho Wellington Y.SI.C.A. will bo held on Tuesday, Soptombor 23, at 8 p.m. His Excolfonoy tho Governor and tho Countess of Liverpool will bo present. Omiorshlp of tho chairs in tlio Lower Hutt Drill Hall will bo the subject of, continued investigation iu the Wellington Magistrate's Court next Wednesday. The case was commenced on Thursday, and was to have been continued yesterday, .but a postponement till Wednesday wns made. Slossrs. A. Gampboll, P. 0. Watt, and W. L. Thompson have been appointed to represent tho employers as assessors in tho carpenters' and joiners' dispute to bo heard before tlio Council of Conciliation on. September 29. About twenty immigrants by tho Ruapohu applied to tho Labour Department for work, and all were placed immediately. Slost of the applicants had a knowledge of fann work and tho Department was very'glad to hear of. them. '

■ Tho mooting of union secretaries, oon> voned by tho District Council of thd United Labour party, concluded its do* liberations vcstorday aftor o four days'sitting. Tho business boforo tho meet-' inq; was consideration of tho now Arbitration Bill, and a sub-committee has been sot up to draft tho evidenco, which it is intended to place boforo tho Labour Bills Committeo. A general meeting o£ representatives of ail unions in Wellington is being called for next Thursday when tli© draft report will bo pre-' sented and finally discussed. Delegates will then bo selected to place the ovidonco before the Labour Bills Commit* teo. A ballot is being taken among menu bers of tho General Labourers' Union, for the purpose of settling tho question of affiliation with labour organisation. Two questions are being asked on tho ballot paper i (1) Aro you in favour of remaining a member of tho United Labour party P (2) Aro you in favour of joining tho United Federation of Labour and tho Social Democratic party P Tho ballot, which is being taken by post, will bo opon until tho end of the' present month.