LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1883, 17 October 1913, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tho postal authorities advise that tho s.s. Maheno, which sailed from Sydney for Auckland on Octohor 15, has on hoard Australian and English mails. The Wellington portion is duo per Main Trunk express at 4.12 p.m. on Monday next.

Captain Watson will move at next Wednesday's meeting of tho Harbour Board: "(a) That a deputy-hnrbourmas-ter bo appointed, and that tho senior pilot in tho service of the board bo appointed to that position; (b) that the man-of-war buoy' bo lifted and removed as it is a menaco to vessels working tho harbour at night, and fills no useful purpose."

It is understood that Messrs. John Fuller and Sons' lease of tho Tlieatro Royal block in Jtfhnston Streot (a city freehold) has been sold to tho Government. It is stated that tho sito may bo occupied by a new police station, reserving tho space occupied by tho present Lambton Quay Station for the future extension of tho Law Courts, by giving tho Supreme Court a frontage to tho main thoroughfare.

An olderly man, 88 years of ago, and a highlyresteemed resident of Waverley has,.says an exchango, just suffered a terrible affliction. On Saturday morning, it appears, ho could not understand why it remained dark so long, and fumbling round be secured n match, with tho object of ascertaining tho tirno. Wlien lio struck tho match, liowevor, ho realised the cause of tho intense blackness, for his eyesight had departed from Kim while he slept. Ho is now quite blind.

Tho Feilding and District Acclimatisation Society recently intimated its intention to pay 2s. for each' shag's head Forwarded to tho secretary. As the Wellington Society is offering a reward for each pair of shag's feet, the local society, ill order to guard against* unscrupulous persons receiving a double reward by forwarding tho head to Feilding and the feet to Wellington, has decided to alter its previous intention of paying for shags' heads, and iyill now accept shags' feot, for which 2s. per pair will be paid.

Contracts have been signed by Messrs. J. Duthio and Co., Ltd.. for the supply of cast-Iron pipos ana fittings, and tho supply of tram rails to tho City Council. In tho first-named case tho contract price was £780 Is. sd„ tho unsuccessful tenderers being Messrs. Briscoo and Co., Ltd., £796 14s. 7d., and Messrs. A. and T. Burt £886 Is. For tho tram rails, tho contract price was £2221 Os. ldi, tho unsuccessful tenderers being Messrs.. Briscoe and Co., Ltd., £2267 4s. 9d., and Messrs. ltichardson, M'Cabo and Co/ £2276 2s. 10i

Tho abolition of the entrance feo of £1 demanded of candidates sitting for teachers' examinations is suggested hi a question addressed to tho Minister of Education by. Mr. J. H. Escott. _ Ho points out that 110 entranco feo is demanded of candidates for admission to the Civil Service, and submits that, m viow of tho number of uncertificated teachors in tho Dominion, it is desirable that every encouragement should bo given to them to sit for and gain certificates. The ontranco feo, Mr. Escott states, is a serious tax upon tho resources of teachers during the early years of their career, when their salaries aro small and their expenses for books and other necessaries aro heavy.

Agricultural and pastorAl Btatisticß aro tho subject of a notice in this week's Gazette:—ln pursuance and exercise of tho powers and authorities conferred upon him by tho Census and Statistics Act, 1910, tho Minister of Agriculture lias prescribed that tho collection of tho returns in connection with tlio account referred to in Scction 28 of tho said Act sliall be carried out by post or by sub-enumerators, _ and shall commenco on October 20, and continue from day to day until Octobor 31, unless sooner completed.

.This week'B Gazette contains tho lioenso authorising the Maryborough Town Board to erect electric lines within tho town district of Maryborough.

Tho total cost of furnishing and fitting up the offices occupied- by the Public Service Commissioner as shown by a return presented to Parliament yesterday was £794.

Speaking in the Houso of Representatives yesterday, Mr. G. V. Pearco suggested that a small license fee might be imposed on solicitors ordor to establish a guarantee fund in connection with trust accounts. A proposal advanced by Mr. E. H. Clark that the trust funds of solicitors should bo subjected to a Government audit, Mr. Pearce characterised as impracticable.

The position of the fisheries in the Rotorua district was discussed by Mr.. James Hislop, Under-Secrotary for Internal Affairs, with the executive of the Rotorua Rod and Gun Club a few days ago. Mr. Hislop stated that during tho past few montlis some 12,000 diseased fish had been taken out of tho streams which empty into Lake Rotorua,, which, ho considered, was evidenco of tho Department's earnestness regarding tho netting of trout. Mr. Hislop intimated that improved arrangements were being made for the offering of both smoked and fresh trout to tho public. A staff of about four men and a launch would bo -employed for this purpose. The executive mado suggestions regarding tho netting of tho fish, and Mr. Hislop promised that these would be carefully considered before a decision was -arrived at. Mr. Hislop further intimated that it is intended to erpct barriers in the streams which empty their waters into Lako Rotorua, with tho object of grading tho fish prior to tho spawning season, and so allow only really clean fish to spawn. This statement was also welcomed by tho executive.