LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1899, 6 November 1913, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ten Chinese arrived from Sydney by the Maunganui yesterday, and trailshipped for various ports in the North aiid South Islands.

When cutting a track into tho bush in tho vicinity of Motuhora Mountain, a few miles from tiro Motu {Poverty Bay), last week a party of settlers are stated by un cxehango to liavo caught sight of a huia bird, but as tho country was so rough liad lift opportunity of securing it. It was evidently a female bird as tho bill was long and curved. It is thought there miglit probably bo othor of the birds in the

According to a statement made by tho Minister of Defence {the Hon. J. Allen) yesterday in the Houso of Representatives it is the intention of tho Government to fill tho positions of Imperial oflicers oil ■ tho termination of their agreement with the Defence Department by appointing officers of the wow Zealand Staff Corps as far as possible. Tho claims of Colonel Robin and Major M'Donald, who will return to Now Zealand in December, will;, said the Minister, bo given duo , consideration in this connection.

The question of payment for overtime for officers of tlio_ Lands and Income Tax Department' is now having tlio consideration of tlio Publio Service Commissioner.

The Minister of Railways (the Hon. W. H. Herries) stated in tlio Houso of Representatives ' yesterday, in reply to a question by Mr. ]J. Newman, that tlie application, which had been before him for a considerable time for leave to extend the Foxton-Pukenui tramway to Marton, was now before Cabinet. '

In reply to a question in the Houso of Representatives yesterday, the Prime Minister (the Bon. W. F. Massey) said that the matter of providing a minimum wage for married officers of Government Departments, otiier than' tlio Post and Telegraph and Railway services, in which a minimum wage is already fixed, was now under consideration.

Speaking to a New Zealand interviewer in Australia, Sir Hennilcer Heaton said ho was especially interested in Now Zealand, be'eauso it had so whole-heartedly backed' him up in his penny-post advocacy. Ho said ho had heard with deep regret that Sir Joseph Ward had interested himself again in Now Zealand politics. "I was lioping ho would come Home and enter tho larger life of Imperial politics. , I can assuro you that there was a seat in the House of Commons available for Sir Joseph, and it was certainly understood that ho would accept the- offer. And if ho had come to the Commons ho would havo held office under tlio Government, and it would have been an easy transition to a seat in tho Cabinet; more than probable that Sir Joseph would at an early date have become Postmaster-General of tho British Empire. You can tell Sir Joseph from me," added Sir Hennikor, ''that I am grieved t-hat ho lwis disappointed us at Home."

Answering a Question by Mr. Clark in the Houso of Representatives yesterday, tho Prime Minister promised to seriously consider a suggestion that the Government should grant a £ for■ £ subsidy towards funds raised by public subscription to assist those who have by reason of a serious illness or accident been incapacitated from en mine a living for themelves and their families, such funds to be placed in the hands of the Public Trustee for administration and distribution, and on lines approved of by him.

The civil case, in which M. Donnith and Co., land and commission agents. Wellington, proceeded against Richard Quinn. hotelkeener, Lower Hutt, for the Slim of £100, alleged to be duo for commission on tho sale of tho Family Hotel at Lower Hutt, was continued before Mr. J. S. Evans, S.M., in tho Magistrate's Court yesterday. The case was re-adjourned after the hearing.of further evidence till 10,30 a.m. to-day.

Tenders for tho new Parliamentary Buildings aro in hand, and will probably bo considered by the Tenders Board to-morrow.

Mr. W, A. Batiks, of "The Peaks," North Canterbury, has decided not to be .a candid site for tho Hurunui seat at tho next general eloction, in the Reform interest. Mr. Banks states that his health would hardly stand tho sTVain of an election contest.

A strange fisli was- washed nshoro near tho rocks near Opotiki, and secured by a Maori. Tho length was found to be 9ft. 4in., and tho depth 7in. at the deepest part, tapering away towards tho tail. Tho fish seemed extremely fragile, audi did not exceed J.Jin, in thickness, tho greater portion of tho body being only about an inch thick. In shape it could bo likened to a large red eel flattened out, A red fin ran along tho full length of tho backbone on tho top, and .in colour, tho fish was silver. It was scaleless, tho lower part of tho body being delicately roughoned in appearance similar to tho under part of a "fish-egg.' Two attenuated bono feelers, projecting from 'tho lower part of tho head, gavo tho fish a striking appearance. . These were fully three feet long, red in colour, and thinner than an ordinary lead pencil. They terminated in ft patch of membrane not nnliko a round red loaf. Tho fish was toothless, tho mouth being permanently opeh like the mouth of a pieble-bottlo, and nutriment was obviously absorbed by suction.

A private letter received from a passengel" by tlio' Now Zealand Shipping Company's steamer Benittcra, which arrived at Hobarfc on Monday from London, on, her way to Wellington, states that tlio vessel encountered very rough weather \vlien crossing tlio Southern Ocean while Homeward hound in Aitgust. Tlio writer stated that it was snowing and raining nearly all tlio way. The heavy sens came over tlio boat deck, which is the highest deck of nil. Captain Greenstreet said ho had never experienced 'sueli weather sinco ho bad boon at sea. There were a number of accidents. One man was knocked over by a sea and had his arm broken in two places. Another man was washed 011 'to 0110 of the winches and broko an arm and leg. A third sustained injuries to his head and several broken ribs.