LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1878, 11 October 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

'Ejection day" fairly oharaoterifios events at tho Magistrate's Court yesterday. Early in the proceedings a man who burst into tho building exclaiming 1 Here I am—what's left of mo" had to bo removed. Prompt translation was tho lot of a Croman who could not smother a hearty laugh; and a spasm of oratory was the cause of a third personage being towed out by the court orderly. A battalion parado was hold last night at tho Drill Hall, Buckle Street, all tho companies <?f tho Fifth (Wellington) Regiment being represented, with the exception of P (Potone) and G (Jolnisonville). Owing to tho weather there was 110 march out as had been intended, but the 400 men on parado wore inspected by the colonel, who thou presented long-service medals to Chap-lain-Major W. Shirer (12 years), and Captain R. L. Evatt, of E Company (16 years). The band and drums v/cro in attendance. Postal ballot, to oloso on November 4. is being taken among members of the Wellington Tailors' Union to ascortain tho feeling; that exists with regard to affiliation, with the labour organisations in existence. Four questions are being put to members: (1) Are you in favour of joining tho United Federation of Labour and the Social Democratio party (2) Are Vou in favour of joining tho United Federation of Labour only? (3) Are you in favour of joining the Social Democratio party onlyP (4) Are you in favour of remaining affiliated with the United Labour party P The Jubilee of Wostland, which is to be celebrated in January next, promises to bo a striking oommemoration of a decidedly interesting event in Now Zea. land history. Preparations are already in hand, and _we. nave just received a "forerunner" in the shape of a neatly printed and well illustrated pamphlet entitled "The Jubilee of Wostland, New Zealand." It contains a short description of tho district and its many attractions, together with a map illustrat-, ing a tour through Westland. Tho illustrations form a most interesting collection, and give a good idea of tho industrial life and scenic attractions of the West Coast. There are also many exoeTTent views of various centres of population. Tho pictures of things aa they wero in the early days proviao an opportunity of making comparisons with things as they are to-day, and publio monuments recall some of the leading events in tho history of the district. The painphlofe will be approoiatod by West Coastors wherever they may bo as an aocoptablo souvenir of the coming jubilee. A motion of which notico wob given in tiho House of Representatives yesterday on behalf of Mr. T. M. WilFord is as follows:—"That a Royal Commission bo appointed to report upon: (1) University education in New Zealand | (2)the salaries of teaoherß in primary schools in New Zealand; ond (8) the grading of toaohers' salaries in tho ' nigh schools of Now Zealand." After a wait of something like six months the certificates issued by tho : New Zealand Swimming Association (with headquarters in Christohurch) for school children who have demonstrated to a responsible person their ability to swim oertain distances, have been received by Mr. T. Shields. Mr. Shields states that he cannot understand why headquarters has been so dilatory in this matter, and ho regrets it as much as the children who have been waiting for tho certificates for so long. Ho hopes that an arrangement will be arrived at during tho owning, season-that will enable local centres to issue these certificates. Headmasters or responsible ■ assistants may obtain the certificates for their respeotivo schools by calling ! at Mr. Shiolds's shop in Willis Street. ■' [Bottlers in the Tatar! Plain, a fertile district near Dunedia, are petitioning 1 Parliamont to have a Royal Commission appointed to take, evidence and report upon 'tho present condition of tho plain. The facts set out in tho petition have been well enough known in tho district for many years. Tho Taiorl River meanders vory slowly in a tortuous course, with very litflo fall, through tho Taiori Plain. Unfortunately, its outfall 'is . being further blocked by silt from tho_ rapid flowing Waiporl ltiver. into which gold tailings are freely discharged > and - the plain is becoming moro and more subject to floods. There is a drainago Board in,' the district, but tho proposition with ivhich it is faced is quite beyond its resources. Tho petitioners urge that if radical measures are not taken speedily, the large and fertile area will suffer most seriously, and they suggest as a preliminary movo on the part of tho Government tho sotting up of a Royal Commission. It has been officially notified by tho Post and Telegraph Department that tho .practice of complying with tbe roquest of subscribers to the,telephone exchange that bureau messages bo not aooeptcd from their telephones iB to bo abolished from the end of the present month. It is stated that Buch requests have so greatly increased of lato that the Department is no longer able to give effect to subscribers' wishes. Tho practice has had no foundation except in tho Department's desire to obligo subscribers to tho best of its power. _ It has also been found that tho responsibility of a subscriber to provent tho misuse of hiß telephone, and to make good the losses from suoh misuse, has not 5 been lossenod sinoe the privilego has existed. At the annual mooting of Hayward'a Enterprises, Ltd., held at Christchurch, tho balanoe-sheot was submitted, dis-. olosing a very satisfactory state of affairs, and after allowing for a dividend of 12 per cent., rooommended by tho directors, tho sum of £11,018 was carried. , forward to tho credit of next year's profit and loss account. Tho chairman (Mr. P. A. Herman) stated that negotiations had recently been comploted whereby the company has become affiliated with tho Australasian Supplies Co., Ltd., tho result of which would enable tho company to effect a largo saving in tho purchase of filmß, besides obtaining the productions of tho finest makors in. tho world. |