LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1936, 19 December 1913, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The State schools in the Wellington .Education. District closed yesterday for the mid-summer vacation. They will reonen on February 2:

The oiliccs of tho Wellington Eduea : tion Board will be closed for holiday from the morning of December 22 until January 12.

The Public Scrvice Commissioners, m reply to the representations of the New Zealand Public Scrvice Association, have stated that there is no objection to an officer'accumulating his annual leave for two years. As tho regulations now stand*, the right is discretionary, ami tho association is pressing for a regulation defining the right of officers. Tho Commissioners propose to go into the whole matter at an early, date with tho •executive. In response to representations, the Commissioner has informed Mr. j. W. Maedomtld, president of tho association, that scheduled holidays occurring in the course of an officer's annual leave period ho allowed eitlier as an addition to such leave or at some other time. This will he communicated to the Departments in time for tiso coming Christinas holidays.

There is an epidemic of starlet fever in iuvercai'gill at present. It is somo years since the disease was as prevalent as it is now, and fortunately it has como when tli® schools arc closed lor tho holidays.

Yesterday was the first day of the holiday excursions on tbo railways. The most remarkable fact about the passenger traffic figures was that despite the undoubted attractions of Auckland as a holiday centre this year, yesterday saw far more peoplo arrive in Wellington by tho railways than leave the city for other parts. Tho actual figures were: Arrivals, 1000; departures, 370. The handling of tho increased traffic by tho station stall's would bo much facilitated if tho public would take advantage of tho concessions in regard to tho checking and storage of luggage conferred by the purchase of post-dated tickets. These tickets, if purchased m larger numbers, would entirely do away with mueli of ibo congestion that results at the present tn-ne, through passengers and carriers and everyone else coining down at tho last moment.

Tliero were <1681 artisans and labourers employed bv tho Public Works Department during October. Of this number 2141 wero engaged on railway construction works,, and 1957 on rends.

The Karon School boys have distinguished themselves in sport during the past year by winning three championships—(l) tlm Junior Championship ia cricket; (Si the Six-a-side Championship in Association (winning a modal each); and (3) tlw Championship of the schools' hookey teams\ in which iney scored 00 points to nil, perhaps a record in school games. ■'riii; new Australian'penny stamp (red) was on sale in Sydney last week. 'J lie design is a vorv improvement on the lonely and h;iL';::u'd kangaroo. Hie stamp hears tiie Kind's head and crown in llie centre, wit lia kanearoo on tlm left, 'and an emu on the right oi the picture. ' It is a shade larger than the existing' peny issue. For the present, the authorities aro onJ* selling the stumps.in parcels of half a dozen, pending tho receipt uHargor supplifls.

'■(It is'"'noti!icd* isi' tho 'current Cazetto .that-'alter.' January 1, 1914, it wiil bo necessary'for the country of origin of gqeds ■to . bo, shown, on' all prime and warehousing entries presented at Customhouses throughout Now Zealand.

VJ'An object-lesson for Christmastide ■has been afforded 'by the pupils of tlio -NViiimil School. The various classes were invited ■ to-help those newly and deserving institutions where children are cured for. .■ A ready responso was made, the gift amounting to over <100 toys,, honks, dolls, etc., and in so/no eases tho donation was in coin of the realm.

At a meeting of representatives of the city and .suburban choirs held in T'aranaki Street Schoolroom, it. was miani> niously resolved to form a Methodist Choir Union. "The Creation" was selected for rehearsal after the holidays. Officers were'clectcd as follow:—President, Rev. J. 0. Chapman; vice-presi-dents, Hon. C. M. Lulie, Messrs. livnneberg and R. A. Wright; conductor, Mr. 11. Tomplo Wliite; committee, Mrs. I'eiyman, .Messrs. Wilton and Strong; .hon.::sccretary and treasurer, Mr. C. 0. Hottomlov.v

:7 Regulations governing the introduction into Great Britain of horses, asses, and mules, ,aro'published in tlio current Gazette, ■■

■ .'.'ilio 1 Matron of ' tlio Hospital deslross to. aeknowledgo tlio following gifts:— I'lo\yers: Mrs. Tonks, Messrs. It. T. Turalnili, and Bailie, Clothes: Mrs. M'Ciillum. Toys: Mr. l'ringlo (lorgo ease), Mrs, Fraser, .Runts' • Hard-tip Dnneo Oommitteo (per Mr. A. L. Maysinor). Scrap Book .and Chocolates: Mona Sharp (Potone). Grair.ap'honfl Ikcords (2 dozen): Mr. A. J. Williams (Napier). Illustrated Papers: Mrs. C. Smith. Miss Skerrett, Messrs. Bailie, and R. T. Turnbull. .Scented Soap, .Books, Cards, and Doll: Pupils of Norma! School (per Misa Sinclair).

As last night's meeting of the Minimar Borough Council was the last this sido of Christmas, season's greetings were a feature of tho closing stages of the gathering. Among those to whom hearty good wishes were extended Was the Town Clerk (Mr. W. H. Bennett), who has been in the service of the body ever since it was a borough council.

Public libraries aro invited, by a notice, in tho Gazette, to Apply tor their share of tho annual subsidy of £4000 voted by Parliament for distribution amongst thesa institutions.

According to Mr. M. La racy, secretary of tho Shearers' Union, this season has been the worst that shearers liavo experienced for many yoars. Wet weather has interfered with tho work, and iii some cases it has taken nine weeks to shear a number of sheep, which, under ordinary circumstance, would have taken about three weeks to do. Ail over both Islands tho conditions have been bad, but the position in the South seems to bo even worse than it is in the North. Wages have been very low, a«d if the Striko Committee aro expecting to reap a harvest from strike levies made on shearers they will bo doomed to disappointment. Sonto of tho wages earned have averaged only a few shillings a week, ' ■■■

Tho appointment of Mr. S. Olomfield as Registrar of Marriages and Births and Deaths for tho Nelson district is gazetted.«

The secretary, to tho Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board desires to acknowledge with thanks the following donations to tho Chi'istmas fund at the Wellington Hospital:—Mrs, W. Nathan, N.Z, Fruit Brokers' Association, £2 2s. each ; Messrs.' Ballinger Bros., 10s. Gd.; Messrs. John Chambers and Son, Victoria Laundry, 10s. each j Friend, 35.; Cricketers' Anns Hotel, 2s. Korsloy, and l'rinco of Wales' Hotel.

. It was stated ;tbi>.t, ,thpj, State schools of Wellington, i nvJiisll dispersed for the summer holidays yesterday, would reassemble on February 2. This was tho original intention of the Education Board, which has sinco altered tile assembly date to Tuesday, February 3, as few, if any, boats aro loading tho different ports for Wellington oil Sunday, mid having .to bo in Wellington the first thing on Monday, would spoil tho weekend for both teachers and children who intend to spend tho holidays away from Wellington.

A separate AYangauui Supremo Court district is constituted by a notico ill the current Gazette, tho area which it contains being taken out of tho Wellington district.

A fire at Tonka Grove, off Cuba Street, resulted in tho Central Fire Brigade being called out at about a. quarter_ past 9 o'clock last night. The outbreak was in a three-roomed dwelling occupied by Mrs. Alexandra Campbell, am! owned by Mrs, Neil, of 5 Barker Street. It was caused through curtains, while being hung, coming into contact with a candle. Sirs. Campbell endeavoured to beat out tbs iiamcs, but was unsuccessful. By tho time that the brlgado was summoned the fire had taken a good hold, and it damaged tho building and contents rather badly before being suppressed. The contents were insured in the I'hocnix oflicc for £100, but what msmanco (if any) covered the building could not be ascertained last »ight.

The loss on tho Commonwealth Telephone Department last year was £173,812, and, according to" the Federal Postmaster-Genera), the less on exchanges serving nopulations of over 100,000, was £129,859, equal to two guineas per subscriber. On exchanges serving between 10,000 and 100,000 people, the loss was £3515, or Bs. per subscriber. Exchanges with more than 50 exclusive services, serving populations of tinder 10,000 showed a loss of £12,720, averaging las. per siil)« scrfber, and for exchanges with less than 50 exclusive services, serving a population of loss than 10,000. the loss was £27,718, averaging £2 16s. per subscriber. The Minister said his first intention was to see what economies could bo effected. . With tho increase in the number of subscribers, tho establishment of automatic telephones, and better working methods, he believed tho Department would very nearly mako the telephone system pay.

Vital statistics published b.v, the Government Statistician 'in the current Gazette show tiiat during the month of November births in Auckland and; its adjacent boroughs numbered 18(i. and deaths 76. In Wellington and its liorolighs, births .numbered 144 and deaths 54. In Ciiristchurcli and its boroughs, births totalled 150 iind deaths 43, wliiio in Dunedin and its boroughs tliero were 137 birth? and 50 deaths. The lowest death-rate- was that of Ciiristchurcli, O.fd per- thousand of population, and tho next lowest that of Wellington, 0.73. Tho dcath-rato in Dmiedfn was 0.7-S, and that of Auckland (tho highest) 0.87. As compared with the corresponding month of last yens', the Christehurch dcath-rato has dropped from 1.03 to 0.G2. That oi' Wellington has dropped from 0.85 to 0.75; 'Jl:p total births ill the four chief cities mid their suburban, boroughs amounted to 617, against 035 in October —a decrease, of IS. The deaths in November were 223—a decrease of 32 aa compared with last-month. Of tho total deaths males contributed 123, females 100. Fortyseven of tlio deaths wore of children under fivo years of age, being 25.06 per cent, of tlio whole number; 44 of these were tinder ono year of ago.

A comprehensive list of tlio minerals ni' New Zealand and tlio loealticH in which they occur has been issued in handy pamphlet form by tlife Department of Mines. Tho list line been coiupilcd by Messrs. T'. G. Morgan and d. A, Rartrum, and lias been brought out at Hie present time in connection with tile Miner) Department exhibit at the Auckland Kxliibition.

A\ hat i: : . believed to be the first motorcycle ascMit. of the Conical Hill jag-ssag frack at Ilanmer took place on .Sunday.' the rider being Mr. W. M'fifpsnr, of Wellington, who negotiated the ascent suocosßfull» ;