LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1937, 20 December 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

■The postal authorities advise that the s.s. Makura, which sailed from Sydney on December 18 for Auckland, is bringing Australian mails only. The Wellington portion is due per Main Trunk express on Tuesday next at- 4.12 p.m. Twelve applications havo been received by the Public Service Commissioner for the position of Director of the Dominion Museum, rendered vacant by tho death of Mr. A. Hamilton. It is not likely that a final choice will bo made before the end of the year.

An intending passenger who did not i make the trip from Vancouver by the Niagara was the Olympic champion swimmer, Dnko Kahonnmoku. Arrangements were being made by tho Australian Swimming Association for a visit this season, but shortly before the departure of tho Niagara tho champion ! advised that he could not make the trip. Subsequent, developments {the Auckland "Star" stales) revealed tiio fact that Kahanamoku was to appear as a material witness in a divorco case, Mr. j W, AV. Hill, the well-known athletic secretary of New South Wales, and a j passenger by the Niagara, expects that I the champion will com® to tho Antipodes for the next swimming season. Tiie lawer Hutt telephone exchange will in fnturo bo open from S a.m. to 8 p.m., instead of from 0 a.m. to 8 p.in, a^JiiUierto. Yesterday Detective Bailey arrested a man, who will appear at the Magistrate's Court this morning, on a ehargo of being about to leave New Zealand without- making provision for the maintenance of his wife. Tho warrant for the man's arrest was issued at K&iiimgata. A somewhat remarkable shooting performance is, says our special correspondent, credited to a Mntaroa senior cadet,' who had never previously used a rifle. During tho musketry course, he scored the Visible in the slow firing, and one leas than the possible in tho rapid firing. In a subsequent match, under service- conditions, ho hit tho target six times in ten shots.

There is evidently a growing market, in New 'Zealand for tins American automobile. The cargo steamers which como down from Xew York almost invariably have a number of motors aboard for the Dominion, often as many as .ten being .landed at each of tho four principal ports. Latterly some have come by wav of Vancouver, and the Niagara, which arrived on Wednesday, according to thg, Aiicklai)d "Star,", brought a re: cord foi' oiie port, '40 being included ill tile freight, list i'or Auckland. A shelter l , to cost approximately £4100, is to bo provided by tho Auckland Harbour Board for the convenience of .those waiting on tho ferry steamers at the new berths. 'Twelve years ago Mr. F. A.. Hornibrook, of Christcirarch, established a record by lifting two CSlb. dumb-bells seven times from the shoulder to arms' length about the head. On Wednesday, in "tho presence of Drs. Guthrie and Simpson, and representatives of athletic clubs, lie attempted to better his previous performance, and succeeded in raising tho weights ten times.

The introduction of individual drinkiiifr cups in trains and public resorts is urged by Mr. H. C. Moses, of Auckland, who lias just returned from a tour of Europe* and the United States. Mr. Moses pointed out to a "Herald" reporter that inexpensive paper cups .are supplied to passengers on American trains and in public places, and the public, health is conserved by the lessening of tho risks of infection incidental to common drinking eups. The size of the vessels which are being berthed at the (lisborno Wharf is in-; creasing almost daily, and another record was broken this wi'ek, when tho Union Company's cargo steamer Kamourn which is the longest and biggest vessel which lias 1 yet eome up lo the wharf, was safely taken alongside. The Knmona, which is lt2o.tous gross registor. and loft. lon iter than the I'ukaki, which previously lipid the distinction of being tho lamest vessel to berth , at Gisborne", was piloted in by the liar-j boiinnaster, Caisb.i'i J. Benton, iuhl i was drawing 13ft. Oin. I

Two years have -elapsed since a proper limber" fresh, was experienced in Urn Dnrgaville district, although minor ones have carried out what in other places would be considered largo parcels o! logs. At present (the ".Herald's" correspondent- states) over 20,000 kigfl in the various Wairoa tributaries are stranded, principally in tbo Awakino, ilnngaiini. and Maiigaknhm crepks. 1 iifvolume of rain which fell during tho M st and the present year was portioned into too inny .jluv.vs, and even tho downpours ol tho past few weeks caused only small il-cods. The log supply _is noiv chiefly obtained from the far m,fond forests, aiul iho loss through decay of sap is becoming somewhat grave to' the sawmilling companies, In addition to kauri, there are large deliveries of rimu and kaliilsatca lying in t|W creek basins, and the quality of tho latter classes of timber is sadly deteriorating.