LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1893, 30 October 1913, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

When tlio Beer Duty Bill was being dolmted in the House of Representatives last evening Mr. A. T. Ngata provoked a laugh by remarking: "As I seo the Minister of Marine Sitting tight iii his chair I" Ho is quito sober," a Government mombof gravely stated. Mr. Ngata -raised a teco ! iitl laugh by polite-, ly requesting permission to withdraw his remark, Another gem during the , debato came from Mr, J. V.- Brown, who said that if it had not been for a remark by one, n ember ho would have 'sat down and stood it all." Mr. Webb, member for Grey, ventured an opinion that the best beer was bad. "Now Zealand has the best water in the world to make it with," said Mr. Brown. " That may be," replied Mr. Webb, " but I am sorry that so much water in No v Zealand is spoiled." Detectives Mason and Abbott arrested a man yesterday on a charge of stealing from the Hotel Bristil 0110' silver watch, one gold chain, one gold sovereign case, and two sovereigns, of a total value of £7. Tlio Prime Minister is to be asked by Mr. E. Newman whether his attention has been drawn to an article in the "Peilding' Star." containing the following passage; "After the Boer war enormous payments were made by tho Defence Department, on behalf of tho British Government. One of the conditions of theso payments Was that our Auditor-General should certify to their correctness before disbursottieait was made. In, regard to two amounts — £80,000 and £6GOO T Mr. J. K. Warburton refused to certify 'that tho money was.properly paid, so tho authority of the Homo was obtained to dispense with pre-audit and to substituto audit after payment- by the authorities at Homo. The £35,000 was then paid out here, but when the Audit at Homo' received the particulars, tho £35,000 was disallowed, and the Dominion had to foot the bill itself." Mr. Newman asks that inquiry should be mado into tho accuracy or otherwise of tho above statements. A supplementary list of terms examinations results in connpotioit with Victoria College has now been supplied. The list, is as follows:—First year terms —G. Lawn (Econ. 11, Education III); K. M'Konzie (Men. Sc. IT, Education III). Second year terms —R. A. Howie (Eng. 111, Jur. 111., Const. Hist. 111, pass for LL.B.): T. Kane (Lat. 11, Ecoil. 111, Education III). Third year terms —E. T. Cox (Eeou. 11, Hist. 11, Education III): D. L. Hucston (Lat. 11, Er. R., Education II). " It is not a fact," the Hon. \Y. H. Horries (Minister of Railways) stated yosterday in answer to ~Mr. Payne, "that any alteration has been 1 made in, the system of working in the railway workshops, or that the Department lias adopted what is known as a system of 'speeding up.' AH that tlie Department expects from its men is a fair day's work for a fair day's pay, and the investigations that I have mado into the matter on. various occasions have not supported tho statement that 'sweating is indulged in. Leading hands are employed in all tho workshops, and thoy aro paid at tho rates prescribed' in the to the Government Railways Classification' Act. They are not, either directly or indirectly,' paid any rates beyond those stipulated m the Govornmont Railways Act." A black fdly owned by Mr, G. May-* wald, of tho Laura district, South Australia, gave birth lately to an abnormal foal. Tho animal, which is fully developed in every other respect,- has eight, hoofs, two 011 each leg, growing out from tho fetlock joint. Another remarkable thing is tiuit they are split the same as those of an ox. Tho foal is not standing 011 the hoofs, but on what may be termed the stumps. Tho owner of the foal thinks that as "it gains strength it will be able to walk 011 its hoofs. A boy disappeared from a farm rtt Waitohi, near Temuka, 011 October 21. He visited a neighbouring farm, secured a pea-rille, a double-barrelled breechloader, ami a good supply of ammunition, and forthwith he journeyed to the river-bod, wlmre he spent several days in tho long gorso and broom in a 'gullv 111 tho Rancitira Valley. Diligent search was made bv Constable Macintosh, of Temuka. The juvenile wayfarer was discovered through the report of his pea-rille, and was arrested and taken to Temuka to be brought before tho Juvenile Court there.

Tho Minister of Defence was asked by Mr. Witty in tho Iltmso of Representatives yesterday whether _ the members of flic' Wellington. Garrison Officors' Club had received an ultimatum that t'hey must either obey orders or resign their commissions. It was freely stated in Wellington, ho said, that such an alternative had been givo)!. Mr. Allen replied that no such ultimatum had bocn given. Sir. Witty said that such an ultimatum should bo given. Tho officers should be compelled to go back to their club arid to admit those whom they had excluded. Why, 'ho asked, should they bo break tho law when lads guilty of breach of tho Conscription Act were penalised? "The Conscription Act?" queried a member. "In some ways it is," replied Mr. Witty. A schcme to -secure an area of about 30 acres as a park for tho Mount Albert Borough is being considered by tho Mayor (Mr, M. J. Coylo) and the council. Proposals will shortly bo submitted to the ratepayers. Tho land which tho council now proposes to convert into a park is private property, and with a view to obtaining assistance towards effecting its purchase, tho scheme was laid before tlie Prime Minister by Mr. Coylo during his visit to Wellington. Mr. Massey promised to givo the request very careful consideration, aiul to submit to the Cabinet Mr. Coyle's proposal that tho Government should subsidise the schome.