LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1925, 6 December 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The attendance at tho Auckland Exhibition yesterday was 13,167, 10,630 paying for admission. Some 0000 season tickets have been sold.—Press Association. f It is now stated i.o he a faet—and not ft joke, as wo had taped it to he (says the "Ago")—that- a member of a Masterton .cricket club lias notified liis captain that he will :iofc play in a team with a returned It is; probable that a meeting of the club iviii bo held to consider the position.

The number of entrants for the Public Service senior examination to W held m January next is 1000, as allies: 574 of last year, an inoreasc of over SO l>er cent. Tho number sitting at Wellington is 471. A probable reason for the large increase iu numbers tins year js that by Section 203 of the regulations issued by the Public Service Commissioner a double increment is granted with certain reservations .to officers passing this examination. Tiie Letter-carriers' -Social Club is to hold its eleventh annual dinner in tin? New Century Hall to-night The following have signified their intention of being presentlions. It. 11, llhod 1 31. 1!. Fisher, A. L. llordroan, Dr. A. K. Newman. 31.P., Mr. H. Atmore, 3t.P„ Sir Joseph Ward, Messrs. W. B. j .Morris ami F. V. Waters. An apology | for absence on account, of the pressure of Parliamentary business was ro< i from tho Prime- Minister (Hon. A\. I'. Slassey). The Commissioners hav. regretted their inability to be pi owing to pressure of business. Tho arrangements for the observance j of December 14 as Mile-iii-Suue- j Schools' League Sunday aye reported ?<-• bo proving encouraging. The executive are receiving reports from the lilulf to the far north, and from remote country places, assuring general observance of League Sunday. In several instances churches are combining in united services oil bc-bulf of tho league that Sunday afternoon. Fifty eruptions of the geyser Pohntu, at Whakarowarewa, were observed during; November. Pohutu is now the most spectacular feature of the Uotonia wonderland, and on many occasions during tho month it cavc excellent displays.

A special scries of postage stamps lias been issued to commemorate thii Auckland Industrial Inhibition. The series consists of ordinary stamps of the deuouiiimtious of -Jd., Id., :id., and fid., over-printed "Auckland .Exhibition, 1913." The stamps, tlio "Star" states, can be purchased tinly at tlio Inhibition, :ind not more than oa. worth wilt he sold to niiy oiic person at. one time. The Commonwealth of Australia lias agreed to rcnoßiiiso these overprinted stamps as valid for postage for three months from December '• The stamps will not bo valid for postage to other places beyond New Zealand. 31r. H. C. Webb is at present visiting England and the Continent (says a. Groynioulh correspondent) in connection with tlio proposed establishment <if wood pulp and paper-maidng mills ill New Zealand. Writing to a friend in liokitika, ho states thatho expects ta return early next year with tlio results of bulk tests now bciun; made of different species of our timbers.' An appeal <m behalf of the Christmas festivities for the many seamen

wiui will 'w in port nt that time is made I\Y Mr. W. K. Corks, of the Missions to Seamen. Sir. Cooks writes:"In common with all the stations of the Missions to Seamen tliiwighont the. world, wo in Wellington are desirous of dohw our port in making it possible for a 'Merry Christinas and a Happy New Your' to He enjoyed by our visit- | iii'C seamen. When it is remembered I that thousands of these men rarely j ever enjoy a Christmas at home, it I surely behoves lis to provide some of | the .season's festivities for men to whom we are all so nnieli indebted. T| ln Rool j I folks of Wellington have always "extended libera! hospitality i« tliis 0011- i I nection, ami I trust for a contiimancfl of their kindness t.liw year. We have our plans arranged for a work's entertainment, estcndiiiK from Christinas in !Hc New Year. Donations for this purpose may be sent either to .Mr. (!, P. l'owles, of Lambton Quay, or to myself as tlu« Missioner to Seaim-h at Wliitmot'e Street, and will be, duly acknowledged." Commissioner Uiehards, of the Salvation Army, accompanied bv tiin Chief Secretary and ,Staff, will conduct Iho' annual united tiold day in Ilu> Ashlmrf-I-Domain 011 New Year's Day.

On one day during tbo week a buyer at tlio city mantels purchased soyon siviq.ll ancks oi peas for &. (for tlio lot), arttl on Wednesday wicks of green pens (of a. size between the migar-ljag and t-iio i ull-sijsocl sack) wore being sold for Is. per suck. Strangely enough tiiov wen;t up to Jjs. the next day. For Weeks past there has been an extraordinary plenitude of cabbages-, which Were "sold at anything between Is. and 4s. per sack. At the annual meeting of the Petouo Ambulance Van Control held last oven"ig, t'lin Mayor (.Mr. J. W. M'liwatl) preiSided over a fair 'J he balance-sheet, v.-1 licit was wlopted, showcd a credit of £39 7-s. 10(1. on the year's, working. 'fin election of a secretary was field over utitil next meeting. "This fcltoiriug eommitteo was set up:—The Mayor (chairman), Mcsdaines Corner, \oats, and liminc-lt, and Messrs. iSroart, Andrews, Kyle, Clark, and Gotigli. At about 7 o'clock yesterday evening the lire brigade were called out to suppress an outbreak at No. «10 Murphy Street, in a two-storied dwelling of six rooms owned by -Mr. JMackifi, of Pahautftisui and occupied by Mr. Ernest Baird, Tlio dining room and contents siilferci-i severely, while the remaining rooms in the hottso were rather badly damaged I:>Y smoke awl water. The cause of the outbreak is ascribed -to a lighted match being- dropped in a cupboard. The contents arc covered in. the Ne« J Zealand Oliice for £70, but the insnraiiecS oil the building were not ascertainable last night. Two men will afipoar on summons at tho Magistrate's Court on Misnday morning to answer charges of alleged breaches of the Gaming Act.