LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1892, 29 October 1913, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

'Tho president of tho Wellington Zoological Society (the liev. J. Crowes) makes an urgent and persuasive appeal in another part of this issue for suflicient funds to purchase a brown bear to bo a mate for the one already in tho Zoo, also a pair of Impeyan pheasants and some beavers. The idea is to raiso at least £50—if £100 is subscribed all tho better—and tho time-limit is a fortnight. A rare opportunity is, afforded by tho expected arrival of a vessel at Auckland with these animals onboard. Tho .Wellington Zoo has become a centre oi attraction to thousands of people, old and young, and tho appeal should moot with a prompt and liberal response. Tho untiring enthusiasm' which Mr. Crowes has shown in all matters connected with tho Zoo deserves the gratitude of all who are interested in animal . life, and it is to bo hoped that tho public will show its appreciation of his good work by providing tho sum asked for in record time. Tho details of tho proposal 'arc fully explained in Sir: Crewe's article which appears on I'age 11 of this issue. Salvage operations on tho. wrecked liner Devon have been somewhat hampered owing to tho continuous run of bad weather, but Lloyd's agents report that a load of cargo has been ,sorted out in readiness for transit to Wellington. At present, however, it is impossible for s.s. .Admiral to range aloiig--1 sido tho wrecked steamer to tranship. At to-morrow evening's meeting of tho City Council Councillor L. M'Kenzie's motion calling for a survey of the Town. Belt, and a plan showing what areas are available for playing grounds, planting, etc., will eomo up for consideration. For tho Genes season tho stage at the Opera House lias been covered by a dancing stage, which covers the whole of tho spaco visible to the audience. This is rendered necessary everywhere owing to tho manner in which every theatre stajio is cut about to provide for file various emergencies incidental to big productions. Tho augur holes and rough joins, nailheads, etc., aro as a rule covered by a stage cloth in tlio case of dramatic and operatice performances, but the dancers must liuvo a plain smooth wooden surface, and.so the whole of tho stage had to be covered with a neatly dovetailed false flooring of pino, which has a certain -spring that assists the dancers materially. Invercargill was, last week, troubled by a visitation which, in view of tho I'sual dampness of tho climate, was rather exceptional. The troublo arose over recurrent dust storms of considerable density, which swept in through the wide, main thoroughfares, the dust finding its way into tho business places and causing no end of amioyanco and a good deal of damage. Mr. H. Lowe (Mayor of fhames) telegraphed yesterday to Mr. T. W. Rhodes, tho member for Thames, as follows:—"At a special meeting of tho council to-day it was resolved to telegraph tho. Minister appioving of the Land Bill now before tlie- Legislative Council. Tho Chambers of Commerce have .also wired their approval. The committee have promised to act in tlio matter." ' The' Wellington Education Board decided yesterday that it could not sanction the oxemption of two children attending tho Lower Hutt School from attendance for a certain time every alternate Friday, for the purposo of receiving musis lessons. Tho board sympathised with parents who wished to givotheir children a musical education, but could not connivo at what was really a breach of the law.