LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1864, 25 September 1913, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The local Anti-Reform journal yesterday descended to even a lower level of vulgar abuse than usually characterises its references to t'hose it diliors from, by way of retaliation' to our exposure of its stupid eil'orts as tho official mouthpiece of tho brewing industry. In its dwn choice style it accuses ua of "cadging" for hotel advertisements, and professing friendship for t'hc liquor trade while stabbing it by misrepresentation when tho opportunity occurs. It is,. perhaps, of little consequence what our morning contemporary may Bay concerning us, seeing that despite tho persistent abuse and misrepresentation to which it lias descended for years past in its anxiety to hinder tho successful development of this, paper, The Dominion has steadily progressed, and to-day in the matter ot circulation and business support stands higher than it has done at any time sinco its foundation. But such an accusation as it now makes perhaps calls for contradiction even when it comes from such a source. Tire Dominion is not hostilo to tho liquor trade, aud never has been; but it is not tied to tho liquor trade, and when an attempt is made to trick the public it does not matter whethor it is the liquor trade or the prohibitionists who may be making the attempt, wo shall endeavour to expose it. As tho official organ of the mewery interest it is' not unnatural that our contemporary should resent the idea that any hotel-keeper should dare to prefer our columns to its own. Hotelkeopers, however, it is to be supposed, are not all so foolish as to squander their money in subsidising official organs which discount such value as they might possess by their own virulenco and extreme views. Soma of them at least prefer to invest where thoy got tho biggest circulation and tho best return from their advertising.

Tiie Into Sir William Russell was one of the earliest parishioners of St, Matthew's Anglican' Ohurch ( Auckland, which has been celebrating its diamond jubilee this week'. A special invitation, lind been sent to Sir William to take part in tho celebrations, and during the meeting oil Monday night a telegram was read from him expressing ■re"ret that owing to illness ho was unable to bo present.

Reference is made in the Railways Statement to the selection of Mr. E. H. Hiley, out of 104 applicants, to fill the post of General Manager or Railways, and the Minister of Railways remarks that the thanks of the Dominion are due to tlio retiring General Manager (Mr. T. Ronayne) for his long and faithful services.

The Wellington Harbour Board l last evening considered a letter from tho Now Zealand and African Shipping Company, local agents for the wrecked steamer Devon, claiming £110 demurrage for the board's failure to unload the steamer Awaroa. and schooner Echo, which brought cargo from tho stranded vessel. The board decided that it could not acknowledge liability.

His Honour Mr. Justice Sim yesterday declined to accept certain affidavits in a Supreme Court action with regard to a trade-mark dispute, remarking: "They swear to thoso affidavits becauso the words were put in their mouths." Mr. Cotter, K.C. (Auckland) agreed, adding: "Wo all believe that evidence by affidavit is not the best way of elucidating the truth." Interesting remarks are anticipated at Friday's 'meeting of tho Wellington branch of tile New Zealand Educational Institute. At this meeting Mr. W. T. Grundy will move: "That this institute protests most emphatically against anattempt boing mado to insist that women teachers- shall wear a special dress when giving physical instruction." Better access is boing provided to Anderson Park from adjacent thoroughfares. On tho Glonborvie Road side,' a three-flight zig-zag of jarrah-blocked steps has been mado in tho hank near the dressing shed, and on tho Tinalcori Road sido similar steps have been erected near tho junction -vith Glenbervio Road. _ In each caso the steps aro flanked with a substantial pulvnnised pipo railing. A similar railing iB being erected on tho edge of tho bank along tho Tinakori Road frontage. When tho remainder of tho big gully on tho south sido is filled in Anderson Park will be tho most picturosquo recreation ground in Wellington.

According to the Minister of Public Works the matter of bringing down legislation this session either to constituto a Parliamentary Conimitteo of Public Works on similar lines to the Act now in force in New South Wales, or to appoint a permanent Board or Public Works to ndviso tho Minister in allocating Parliamentary grants for public works, is still under the consideration of tlio Government.

It is proposed, at an early date, to establish booking offices for railway sleeping-car berths in convenient situation in tho four principal coutroa.

"Things are quito dead here (says a private letter from Sydney). The theatrical shows are all feeling the pinch (with the exception of John M'Cormacki and the shops are doing nothing at all. Tho smallpox accounts for the lot of it. Sydney is quarantined. If country people come within a radius of fifteen miles of tho G.P.O. they cannot return homo Without being successfully vaccinated, which effectually keeps ail country folk out of Sydney. Country storekeepers are advertising: 'Theße goods are not from Sydney I' "

Tho wrecked steamer Devon has been abandoned to tho underwriters. Offers are invited for salving the material, gear, etc., remaining 011 board the steamer at a percentage of tho realised value of such salvago based on Lloyd's "No cure, no pay" agreement. The cargo on board is also offered under tho same terms. Tho tenders close at noon 011 Tuesday, September 30 with Messrs. Dalgotv and Co., local representatives for Lloyd's.

Tho Minister of Customs (tho Hon. F. M. B. Fisher) stated in reply to a question in tho House of Representatives yesterday that it was not intended to introduce legislation this session requiring that boots and shoes offered for sale in New Zealand should be stamped with a declaration as to the materials of which these articles are mado.

The fishing season in tho Wellington Acclimatisation Society's district will, as advertised elsewhere, open on October 1. and, given suitable weather, the prospects are excellent, according to reports from tho various branches: Licenses can be obtained at all the principal post offices within tho Wellington district, and at W. H. Tisdall's, Ltd. The list of streams closed to all lines and baits, except artificial fl.y or artificial minnow, is printed on the back of all licenses, witli tho regulations controlling tho sport.

■ One of the worst sections of midcity streets and probably one which breeds plenty of dust is Lower Cuba Street. Referring to this thoroughfare the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) who, being a motorist, is conscious of the inequalities of the surface, Btated that it was little use spending further money in macadamising the road as, in a few months, it would all have to bo torn up again _ As a matter of fact the City Council had called for tenders for a supply of wood-blocks for the paving of Lower Cuba Street, and he hoped that tho work would bo started in January. It would bo.finished before tho close of tho financial year With that section of road top-dressed with jarrah there would be a continuous wood-blocked highway from Lower Customhouse Quay ua Jervois Quay and Cuba Street to tho top of Newtown.

Epidemic: The District Health Officer, Auckland, reports:—No fresh cases in Auckland or suburbs. One Maori case is reported at Kaikohe.

Motor-trains will soon bo in use on tlio Now Zealand railways. Ia his annual statement to Parliament, the Minister of Railways remarks that the investigations mado into the results of tho motor-car experiments carried out over extended periods by other railway systems has shown tho wisdom of proceeding cautiously in regard to ordering motor-cars for use on tho New Zealand railways. Material alterations and improvements in this class of vehicle nro daily taking plaeo, but as a consequence of_ tho satisfactory result of extended trials made on tho South African lines two cars have been ordered for trial purposes on our railways. They will 09 placed in commission as early as possiblo after arrival in the Dominion, and if the results come up to anticipation the uso of the cars will be extended as' circumstances permit.

The Minister of Railways makes the following reference to tho visit of tho gift Dreadnought in his'annual statement presented to Parliament yesterday:—"The visit of tho battleship New Zealand, though not falling altogether into last year's operations, caused great activity on tho railways, and I think that tho way in which the vast crowds travelling by rail were handled without a hitch reflects the greatest credit on tho railway staff, both officers and men, and tho thanks of the Dominion are duo to them. I have personally to thank all the staff for thoir efforts on this occasion and also for their efforts on tho occasion of the floods in the South Island."

Mr. E. Killick, secretary of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, has issued a memorandum to members statr ing that the Fine Arts Committee of the Auckland Exhibition has asked the oouncils of each of the Art Societies in the four centres to select the best work of their respective artists (say, ton or twelve from each society) for hanging in a small annexe to the Art Gallery at the Exhibition. All works 60 sent must be suitably framed, and no picture will be received in a white frame or mount. No copies will bo received for exhibition and no • work will bo received for sale unless they are the bona-fide property or production of the artist. The local council have decided to make thoir selection when selecting works for their own exhibition, which is to bo opened on Saturday week.

Those street letter-boxes in the city hitherto cleared at 9.30 a.m. for connection with tho Main Trunk express will in future be cleared at 10.30 a.m.

The annual conference of tho New Zealand Employers' Federation will take placo in Wellington towards the end of October—assembling probably on the last Wednesday of the month.

Master sawmillcrs from all parts of. New Zealand to tho number of about thirty will, meet in conference at tho Chamber of Commerce at 9.30 a.m. today to discuss various matters concoming their interests. Mr. R, W. Gilbert is acting as secretary.

• Religious instruction in the Stato schools will probably be discussed at some length at the next meeting of the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute on Friday. Tho, following motion is to be moved by Mr. D. M. Poison: "That, in tho event of tho introduction of the 'Nelson System,' or any other similar system of religious instruction into the State schools, this institute is very strongly of opinion that State school teachers should lie debarred from taking any part whatever in such religious instruction."