LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1922, 3 December 1913, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tlie local secretary for Triiuty College of Music (Mr. Leon Cohen) has received the results of the highest theory examinations .held last July, for teachers' diplomas as i'olloir;—Associate in Music (A. Mus. T.(;;.L.)--r-Riulimeiits, art of leaching, musical history, harmony, and counterpoint: Rose KUon lßirvev. As* sociate fart of teaching): Fay 'Kiilantiuo Bavward and Pearl Keaii. Rudiments : Isidor Mount and Jessie Pierard. During the hearing of a case in tho Magistrate's Court yesterday a rather novel suggestion was made by Mr. P. J, O'Hegan. Counsel referred to the fact that a number of strikers and others who have recently boon committed for triid to the Supreme Court are Scandinavians. In view of this, lie held that the police should take- steps lo see that fellow-countrymen of tlie accused should be represented on the juries. The Magistrate said that the matter bad nothing to do with him. - "Neither has it with us, sir," added Inspector llcndroy, with a, smile.

Tenders have been accepted for ixiensive alterations and additions to tho premises; in Laiubton Quay recently purchased by the Commercial Bank of Australia, Ltd. The plans liavc been prepared by Mr. F. do J. Clerr, 1Mt.1.8.A., architect, and the contractors are Messrs. Meyer and Co., who expect to have the building ready for occupation by the bard; about liie middle of February. Ample provision has been made for future expansion of tho bank's business, find portion of the premises will bo available as mercantile offices, tending completion of tho contract, the bank will continue to occupy the present; temporary premises, opposite the'tost Office. Tho quarterly meeting of the HiiiA Licensing Committee, will bo. held at Lower llutt at noon to-day. From the wrecked steamer Tyrone a fiuniilil.y of salvaged material is being landed at the dock head, Port Chalmers. Whip fittiiißS figure lamely in tho heap. These include the two bow anchors, also a spare one of similar size. Lengths of the ship's cable are also coming to hand. Four spare propeller blades nro noiicaWe amongst iho salraßoii material, and two of these, uro of broiw. their value as "scrap" boinjr about .COO each. Moth' tho ship':; dynamos hnvo been salvaged. Altogether nbmifc 7(!() tons of cargo havo been salvaged, and it is estimated that about 130(1'ions are still in tho holds. What remains is, tho "Star" states, principally submerged, and much of it will not 'ln> recover' able, such as bacts of salt. The sea is iUudualiy breaking up Ihe hull of the stranded steamer, the latest evidence in thai direction licin™ a hirjie hole in the vessel's ((ii.irlcr, where the waves have stove the elates i'V

J lie tender of Messrs. Sanders Bros., of V ullhiKtoii, Sins been r.ecepteil lor the erection of a bulk store for the Pubic Vxirks Department, on the Waterloo Qiiu.v reclamation. The contract pricu is just miller £(K)uu.

JViiinerous small lhitla of ambpiwii have been made en tlif West Const, some six miles from the Horouch of Dargaville, ami visitors to tiu> ocean beach now keenly scrutinise all flotsam Roma' (says the "Herald's" correspondent). Jll past yours there went j;ooil finds of Ihn valuable substance in that loerditv, and siiiiiu thirty .vein's ago stranded whales wore not uncommon objects of the son frontage. The Maoris utilise long slender spears when travelling the beach on horseback, and cleverly "spit" every article which bears any resemblance to ambergris.

People in this part of the world little imagine the revolution that has been brought about in travelling between the Kast and Europe by the coming into existence of the (rails-Siberian railroad, said an experienced tourist yesterday. Formerly, the trip from Japan or Cliiuu to England meant a six weeks' steamer journey at the very least, and for years after through railway communication was established, tho steamers held their own, owing to a prejudice against ilw long and somewhat tedious railway journey. _ But improvements have" been made in the rolling-stock, and there has boon a gradual elimination of the inconveniences suffered by passengers in Hie earlier years. Now the position is en-, tirely changed. The trip can be made from North China to London in. fourtoon days, and live out of every six people.—particularly business people—to whom time is a serious consideration, proceed to Europe by way of the Siberian railway. Surprise, will be felt when it is stated that anyone desirous of proceeding by the Siberian route in February, March, April, or even later would find a difficulty in obtaining accommodation even this far ahead. Indeed, there is always a doubt whether accommodation may bo secured six months ahead for the first hall of tho year.

. The progress of the Union Company's Atua, which left hero on Monday for Sydney, by way of the Islands, will bo watched with more than usual interest; in_ Australia, At one time, (says tho "Star") it sec-mod doubtful whether she would get away it all; now she has left two days early) manned by a "scratch'' crew, and it is hoped that she will reach her destination on December 22, instead of the 24th, so that the public of Sydney may be able to get full supplies of fresh island fruit for Christmas. In Tonga and Samoa the arrival of the Atua will also be eagerly awaited, as slic lias aboard largo quantities of stores for hungry natives, who arc suffering owing to the bad season.

Messrs. Trevor Bros., Ltd., of Wellington, are. the successful tenderers for the new district hospital to be erected at Now Plymouth for t.iio Taranald DisIriofc Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, the plans for which have been prepared by Messrs. Atkins and Bacon, of Wellington and IVangaiuu. The contract price is .-£28,634. Other tenders received were; —Sanders Bros., Wellington, £20,318: Walpole, Darlinfi"lon, and Patorson, Wanganui, £29,4-18; Russell and Bignc-13, Wanganui, £20,535; Boon Bros., New Plymouth. £-31,8(10) Tavlar and Hodge, Msstertan, £32:200;' A. U. Bur'rell, Hatters, £3-1,567. ■

The hoary policy of red tapeism would appear to ho dying a very hard death owing to its still being nurtured in some/ Government Departments (says an Inverearg'ill correspondent of the ''Lytloiton Times"). Tin* absurd limits to which it is allowed to extend were recently illustrated in Inv-ereargill. An oi'icor in control of a large Government iostiitition wished to get into telephonic communication, with a western district township. The telephone, Imreiiu ini'urmed him that- owing to a debit ef threepence appearing; against- his number it would be impossible to put him on to the country. The matter on which lie wished to speak was an extremely urgent one, Inst his entreaties were of no avail. The bureau was adamant, and until 'that threepence, which hadr been owing less, than a week, was paid no connection could be wade. The oflicer promised t-o rim down v.-itii the coin as soon as he was finished speaking, but that -would not do, Eventually he not tlilough on the understanding that the. ehargo for that communication should be charged against his own private teh> phone. As the result of a special invitation extended by the Young Men's Christian Association to the head masters of the State schools in Dunediai arid suburbs, nearly ISOO boys over teh. years of age will lie given swimming instruction during tile next fortnight. The percentage of boys of the State schools who aw nimble to swim is stated by the "Ohgu Daily Times" to be exceedingly high, and it is hoped that the corps of instructors who have this matter in hand will considerably reduce the number of non-swimmers. Instead of farmers, as usual in November, calling out for rain' (says tho Oatnaru correspondent of the "Otago Daily Times"), they are now beginning to cry out for sunshine and warmth. ■ There is a great growth of both cereals and grass, and it rain continues much longer there is a fear that the grain crops will be borne, down by the Height of moisture. Field work has been rendered impossible, farmers being imablo to got in root crops for winter feed. Tim rough weather has been pretty trying on newly-shorn sheep, of which there are now a largo number, but they are reported to have stood it wed, no losses being mentioned. Messrs. Baldwin and Raj-ward, patent attorneys. J/amblim Quay, report that thev have tiled tho following applications for patent of IS'cw Zealand re,..pi,tty:—W. Biw am! A. Gait, Wyndham,' milking machinery; J- Joyce, b'rniiki-on Junction, stopper for pneumatic fires: W. M. Wright, Owaka, animal trap; 3. S. 11. Duff, .Kai Ora, bird searcr: G. D. ChaHis, Maslrrton, cigarette cartoon : H. W. CoekeriU, Welling-ton,'means-for staining timber; B, 11. Bow, Christclmroli. coin-freed apparatus for rendering liquids.