LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1866, 27 September 1913, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

file postal authorities adl.-isa that the s.s. Maluira, which sailed from Sydney for Auckland on September 22, has on board an Australian' mail; ajso a 3mall English mail via Suez. The Wellington portion is duo to arrive per Main Trunk express to-day. Something in the way of a record' was created at tho local fruit exchange yesterday morning, when the first" of this season's Tomatoes wore offered for sale and realised 3s. lid. per pound. This is stated to be tho highest price ever realised locally for tomatoes. Usually tho proposer of a motion is anxious that it should be carried, but at last night's nicotine of tho Education Institute, Mr. Poison, in moving that school teachers should be debarred from taking any part whatever ill religious instruction, remarked: "I liopo this will bo freely discussed, though 1 don't care which way it Roes.". Tho Public Petitions Committee of tho House of Representatives yesterday re-' ported upon tho petition of 3200 Auckland peoplo that Mr. Thos. Gresham, Coroner, should be allowed to conduct inquests as iu the past, that "this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration." Sinco 1895, according to a return presented to the House of Representatives yesterday, the sum of £12,587 has been paid by tho Crown ill law costs in connection with the compulsory taking of estates under the Land for Settlements Act. Tho total includes disbursements to tho amount of £1268. Under tho will of tho Into Mr. J. C. Williamson, tho Actors' Association of Australia will receive tho whole of tho deccased's theatrical library, prints, pictures, etc., included in which are some rare and valuable works. Tho association also receives -a share of tho proceeds of the sale of the entrepreneur's racing stable, which will amount to about £380. The Actors' Day matinee held in Sydney on Friday wcok last realised a profit of £280. Tho sittings of tho Court of Appeal will commence at 'Wellington on M onday next. Tho list is not yet available, being open for the addition, of cases until 11 a.m. on the first day of the session. • There are about 250 Old Boys of the Otago High School resident in Wellington, and it is proposed l to form a, permanent association. A meeting to discuss the proposal will bo held on Monday.

Tho report of the Petitions Committeo of tiio House of Representatives upon tho petition of Sirs. Mary Meacham, of Wellington, for compassionate allowance for services rendered to tiio Government by her.lato husband, was yesterday referred to the Government for consideration. On Thursday tho Star of the Sea Boys' Preparatory Collego at Seatoun was visited by his • Grace Archbishop Redwood, who administered tho sacrament of Confirmation to somo nineteen students.- A benediction seryicc was held in the afternoon, and in the evening tho Rov. Dr. Kennedy (rector of St. Patrick's College) delivered an interesting lecture on insect life, which was capitally illustrated with limelight views. Tho boys were given a holiday and a picnic yesterday in celebration of tho event. A petition from the Rev. Andrew Cameron and another, of Wellington, praying that the law relating to local optibn and national prohibition bo altered was referred to the Government for consideration by the Petitions Committee of the House of Representatives yesterday. The petitioners ask that tho majority required be reduced from 60 to 55 por cent., and that in tho event of National Prohibition being carried it should come-into operation not more than two years after tiio poll is declared,, also that private bars bo abolished, and the principlo established of ono license ono bar. At a meeting of the Suburban Railway League held at Ngaio last evening the following resolution was "That this meeting of the Ngaio branch of tiio Maiiawatu Suburban Railway League enters its emphatic protest to tho continued neglcct of the Railway Department to the reasonable requirements of this suburban district." Mr. G. W. Dar.vall was elected president and -Mr. L. Prince secretary and treasurer. Tho Wellington Harbour Board advises tho following as the result of the tenders received for tho contract- for tho Pipitea Wharf Store No. 1: —Accepted—Messrs. J. H. Meyer and Company, £11,727 14s. Bd. Declined—Mr. ,T. L. McMillan, £12,346; Messrs. Sanders Bros.,- £12,797; Mr. W. H. Bennett, £12,896 los.; Mr. A. E. Hurrell, £13,577 18s.; Messrs. Howie and Matthews, £13,583; Messrs. Hunt and McDonald, £15,390 lis. 4d.; Messrs. Campbell and Burko, £16,931 65.; Engineer's estimate, £13,271 2s. Tho llouso of Representatives has been petitioned by Mrs. E. H. Brown, of Napier, praying for a compassionate allowanco on aecoulit of the services rendered to this country by hor late husband, Mr. P. C. Brown, formerly member for Tuapoka, in tho Honso of Representatives. The ITouso yesterday approved a recommendation by the Petitions Committoo that, ill view of the valuable services rendered by the late Mr. Brown, tho petition should be referred to tho Government for favourable consideration.

Tho committee of tho Royal Choral Society lias decided to rehearse for its next season's concorts Saint-Saelis'a opera, "Samson and Delilah," and Vincent Wallace's tuneful "Mnritana." Land held at Trentliam by tlio AVellington Bacing Club amounts to 225 acres. Only about 90 acres are. used for tli© purposes of racing, whilo tlio remainder is available for salo when a suitable price offers. In his address to' members, at tlio annual meeting of tlio Racing Club last night, tlio president (Jlr. J. B. Harconrt) remarked that it was -very pleasing to note tlie largo amount of building which at present is going on in the vicinity of the course, mostly by way of accommodation for racing people and horses. "Every building erected," said Mr. Harcoiirt, "adds materially to tiic value of the land tho club holdfc."