LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1928, 10 December 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The annual session of the Presbyterian General Assembly will begin in Christelm rch. to-day. The- Wellington Presbytery delegates are the Jlevs. Dr. Gibb, A. C. Itaiiderson (Moderator), J. Patersou, W. J. Comrie, A. Thomson, J. Gumming, and J. M'Cnw, and Messrs. J. G. W". Aitkoit, W. Allan, J. M'Korrow, anil T. C. Brush.

The Minister of Railways stated in tho House of Representatives yesterday that the nc-iv railway regulations to be issued next Saturday, would give to superannuated railway servants that privilege' for which they have been asking Parliament this year—tho right t-j concessions enjoyed by members' of the service to travel at reduced rates on tho railways. The now regulations will allow such superannuated servants to travel on concession once in every month.

A debit balance having resulted from tlio rcociit competitions held in the Town Hull, the "New Zealand Competitions Society is endeavouring to get assistance from some of its creditors. Yesterday a deputation from the society waited oil tlio Finance Committee. of the City Council in connection with the matter. Mr. W. A. Flavoll, who sutcd as spokesman, said that as u result of the strike aijd other adverse conditions, tho society, at tho end of tlio competitions, had been laced with a debit balance of £i'&2. After allowing for tho. surplus from the previous year there remained » net debit of £420. Tho society had an idea, that if it approached some of its biggest creditors they might help it through and tho deputation had come to the council's Finance Committee to sob if anything could be done in connection with the matter of the rent, which was £'248 for tho fourteen nights. The Mayor (Mr, J. P. Luke) was sympathetic in his reply. He could say that, not only tho Finance Committee, hut tho whole of the council, regretted the position in

which the society had been placed on account of the strike. .Personally he did not think tho interests of tho city would suffer if a reduction were allowed, and he thought the committee would make a favourable recommendation. The deputation thanked the Mayor for his venlv.

An extraordinary general meeting of tho Wellington Fresh. Food and Ice Company, Limited, has been called for December "22, for tho purpose of considering tho following resolution,, via.: "That it has been proved to tho satisfaction of flip company that the company cannot, by reason of its liabilities, continue its business and that it is advisible to wind up the same, and accordingly that tho company, bo wound up voluntarily under the provisions of tho Companies Act, 1908." Should the resolution bo passed a further resolution will bo proposed at tho same meeting for the appointment of a liquidator or liquidators for tho purpose of the winding up. and fixing their remuneration.

A feature of the dovotion of the Forty Hours' Adoration, which concluded at St. Mary of the Angels, Boulcott Street, yesterday morning, was the beautiful decoration of the altar, tho effect adding considerably to the impressivoness of tho various ceremonies. Special appropriate sermons were preached at tlio various services on Sunday and Monday, slid yesterday the devotion concluded with solemn High Mass. The celebrant was tho Rev. Dr. Ocaney, S.M., and his assistants were tho Rev. Father Hartley, 8.M., as deacon, and the Rev. Father J. Tvmons, S.M., as sub-deacon. Prolongation of the strike will be responsible for tlio postponement of the Wosthuid old miners' jubilee till Faster. Aster a month's trial the time-table for tlio Rotorita express was altered on Monday, and the old arrangement again adopted. 'Tin- outward tram imw leaves Auckland at 10 a.m., and. reaches Rotorna aI. ft.HQ i\m.. while 11m inward train leaves itotoiiia at 51.1)0 a.m. and arrives at Auckland at . r > p.m. The Thames express will leave Thames at il.-ll) a.m., and will arivo at Auckland at o.'li p.m.

All butchers' shops in Wellington and I'eUtue, which come under the butchers' award of the Court of Arbitration, aro to be closed from Christinas Eye (Wednesday'; until tho following Monday morning. This was decided upon of. a meeting of Iho master butchers held this » nek.

]lours of clooinu chemists' shops Imvo been the- subject of a requisition, signed l.'.v a majority of the chemists of Wellington, and lodged with tiio Town Clerk. When t!ic matter Ims bnr«n finally approved ami' gazetted, chemists' shops in tlio Woiiin<;toii district will close at 8 p.m. on every working day, except Saturdays, when the hours will ho 9.30 p.m. Provision is mado for exemption from the 8 o'clock closing on six nights immediately preceding Christinas.

In addition to the ordinary committee reports to he considered at to-morrow

jnght's meeting of (he Citv Council, tiioi'o are live notifies of motion on llio order paper. Councillor Fuller hiss three resolutions re tramway matters, while Councillor Hislop wants a coininittco net u.|) to inquire into city lcaso'JioJds, and Councillor 1.-tn-kio is asking for a return of attendances at sionimittw meetings.

The rooms secured by the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce in Winder's JJuildings will*bu officially opened this afternoon.

Eighteen years have passed since tho formation of tho Yorkshire Society of New Zealand. The report of the society, to lie presented' at the annual meeting of members to-night, draws attention to this fast, but states that there is much room for improvement in the attendances at mwtimrs. During the year several Yorkshire "budgets" were given, aiid they met with full appreciation. The annual dinner, hold on (September 22, proved one of tiio most successful vvcr held by the society. The report expresses regret at tho deaths of Messrs. Henry Mitchell and W. Xic'liolsoii, both typical Yorkshireman, The halancoslieet reveals a credit of £123 3s. M.

In preparation for tho erection, of the now Maori Mission Church at Uliinemutu, a- start has been made with the removes! of the old Church of St. Faith, in which tho Maoris of tho village have worshipped for upwards of 30 years. It is to bo placed, tho "Herald" states, about 40ft. to tho eastward, and will bo used for the purposes of a Sunday School. Tho work of removal is being carried out by a number of Maori carpenters.

A copy of tho resolution passed by tho Auckland Citizens' Defence Committee, urging that the number of police in Auckland should he increased to 150 without delay, was placed before Commissioner Cnllon last week. Tho Commissioner said ho was alive to tho fact that the force was not as strong as it might he, hut it rested with Parliament to find the financial moans for raising the local establishment. Each member of the force cost the Stato nearly £200 n year.

If any reassuring evidence, were needed of tho comploto subsidence of the epidemic which caused special concern among the Native population during recent months, says tho Auckland "Star," it was provided yesterday morning, when tho house Manager reported that the tents and marquees at the Isolation Hospital, Point Chevalier, had been taken, down. Tho report further stated that stretchers and blankets had been brought in from tho Isolation Hospital.

Tho ceremonial swords carried in the procession of Freemasons, at Auckland, on Saturday, by tho District Grand Sword-bearer and tho District Grand Tyler, arc of historical interest. Tho sword carried by tlio former officer was tho dress sword which was worn by XV. Pro. the Right Hon, Sir George Grey when Governor of Now _ Zealand. Tho sword carried bv tho District Grand Tyler was that of tho Into W. 8., Colonel Thome. George- (father of Bro. the Hon. Seymour Tiiorno George), formerly of the 4th Light Dragoon Guards (now 4th Hussars)', who was present with his company at tho charge of -Bakelava.

A magnificent oil painting by Mrs. Stratford after Blair Leigh ton's piclure, "In Time of' Peril," is on view at 31'Grogor Wright's Gallery on Lambton Quay. Tho subject has been handled with undoubted skill,' and tho picture, which attracted (juito a largo number to tho gallery yesterday, was much admired. The break m i'iie Wainui water main is fast being repaired, and tho work should be completed this afternoon. Tho damage was not serious. As the 21-inch main Is quite intact, the city supply 3ias not been cut off. A meeting of citixens is to bo hold in tho Town Hall this evening for tho purpose of considering what steps should be taken to recognise the services of the late Mr. H. N. Fletcher, who was ever ready to place his services as a, singer at the disposal of evcrv good movement when an appeal was'made. The Mavor (Mr. J. P. Luke) decided yesterday to call the meeting after hearing a deputation of citizens, who sought his co-operation in ■ the matter.

3Tr. 11. E. Hodgkhisoa, who has just completed a contract by shooting 000 deer out of the Hunter and Dingle Valleys for' the Otngo Acclimatisation Society, reports that the deer in the Hunter are this year in line condition, the result of an open winter and early spring. Good, weil-grown heads, states the '"Star," will be the result, and stalkers will have good chances of securing stags of special merit nest season.

A clause- in the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Dili, colloquially termed the Washing-up Hill, now before Parliament, relates to the disposal of.tho site of the Wellington Terrace Gaol. The clause sets forth that as tho site is no longer required for prison purposes, it shall bo available for disposal us ordinary Crown land. The area is slightly more than six acres. The effect of tlio clause is merely to give the Government power to sell tho land when opportunity, offers. Tho site has been condemned as unsuitable for a. prison, but the prison is still there, and will have to bo used until a new one is erected. The Minister of Justice (Hie Hon. A. L. Herdman) stated yester.dav, in reply to nu inquiry, that (ho Government had no present, intention of seliing tho site, but it was rccofi- , nised that tho site was 'unsuitable, audi therefore thov tool; power to sell, Boeing that thev would probably wish to sell it at some time in tire future.