LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1945, 31 December 1913, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mails which left Wellington on November 21 by the Ulimaroa, and connected at Svdney with the K.M.S. Ostcrley, arrived in London on December 21—one da 1 ;' late. ''Out of work oivine to the strike" is a popular plaa with gentry of the "kite and disorderly" class who eamo before the magistrate nowadays The excuse was used by one ot several men who wore _ convicted of idleness .yesterday. Judging by the account of him'given by the police, tho defendant must have been referring to tho "ninety" strike.

The special train which left Dunedift ; for Ghristchurch at midnight on Wed- ! nesday night arrived at Timaru over an hour behind time, says the ".Press," the cause of the delay bsiug due, it , was stated, to the fact that the' train I had to be hauled up one ot the inclines between Dunedin and Oam.nu in two sections. This was only the beginning of the troubles, however", as when about 300 yards on the Christ-church side of Toinuka the passengers received a : shaking through the brakes being jammed 011 hard, and it was • then ascertained that the train had been brought to a standstill only 10 yards from the prostrate form of a mail-'lying across the rails wrapt in peaceful slumber, with a whisky brittle projecting from one of his pockets, and a bicycle lying alongside ilto track. The man, who had a narrow cscapo from death, was aroused and lifted from the track, but he evidently considered the rails an excellent bod. as ho immediately crawl* ed back again. At length the track was cleared, and the train proceeded to makes up lost time, but liad to slow down further along the lino owing to a mob of cattle wandering _on the track. Then a further vexatious delay was caused by a passenger being carried about a- quarter of a mile pastDunsandel, where ho wished to alight, and the train had to be- pulled- up to allow him to disembark. In spite of the train's rather exciting journey, .the two engines made fast time, and altogether picked up nearly an hour between 'JMmarn anil Christchurcli. Members of the -shipwright's branel! of the. old 'Waterside Workers' Union, who were the original, people to gi> on strike, held a meeting yesterday. During, the, day representatives of the shipwrights waited on Messrs. Wood and Son. with a view to. discussing terms under which they would return to work. Messrs. Wood and Son, who woro the largest employers of shipwrights prior to the strike, never stopped travelling time to tho slip. The firm's custom was i-o supply a vehicle to convey tho employees to v tha slip so that they were there in time to commence work at 8 a.m. If a vehicle was not, procurable the men were allowed half an hour's time to got to their work. Messrs, Wood and Son were perfectly willing to grant an increase in wages tip to Bd. a day, but it was stated that they could not accede to all the demands njade by tho shipwrights prior to the strike. .At .yesterday's meeting it is understood that it was announced that tho employers would not enter into negotiations with tlie shipwrights unless they gave a guarantee that their union would bo registered under the Arbitration Act. Two eonl-ladcn steamers arrived at Wellington yesterday with cargo for the- Employers', Farmers', and Citizen's Defence Tliey were tho British steamer Maisic, 4425 tons', from i)elogoa Ray, and the Norwegian .steamer Tliodo Fagelund, 43.52 toils, from Newcastle. "Botli vessels are full ships, and they will remain in tho stream for the time being. There are too many loafers abo-ut the

city to make it safe for foolish visitors who liave money in their poetats, according to Police-Inspector Henclrey. Addressing ilio magistrate yesterday rospsctitig the arrest of three "idle and disorderly" men, Inspector Hendrey said that when eno saw such men living well, drinking freely, and' know that they were not working, the inference was that thev obtained money by robbing foolish visitors. There were many others of the same class as those in tho dock who would liave to be brought before the Court if they would not work,

An unusual incident oceurfcd during the progress of a tennis match at Feilding on Saturday. A bail was hit out <i bounds. In its flight it struck a lady's hat, and bec-amo firmly inip.ded on tho point of a hat jjin.

Tho sandstone base of the now Geii- [ end Post Oflice near tho main entrancehas been considerably marked and chipped by cyclists, having business in tile office, resting their machines against the building. To minimise this trouble as much as possible in the future, tho Postal Department has erected two cycle stands on the road on each side of the entrance. The stands consist of vortical loops of galvanised, iron, bolted to a frame, -the posts of which aro embedded in concrete. Bach stand is iiiiido to accommodate six push or motor-cycles, awl, needless to say, tho public is making full use of the muchneeded convenience. h

On Sunday morning, states the Ashburton "Guardian;" as many peoplo 1 wero proceeding along Lincoln Road to church, tlioy were startled to seo an old man who was driving a dilapidated milkcart suddenly fall out backwards. Ho retained a hold on tho reins, and tho 'jciisequeiico was that the liorso commenced to back. Residents in tho vicinity, thinking that the man had had a stroke, ran to his assistance, kit found tliat tho treubio ivn.a duo to too much liquid refreshment. A 'detective, who happened to pas 3 summoned the police, who took man and cart to the station.

Strong opposition to tho syndicalistic tactics displayed in the New Zealand strike was expressed at a meeting of the Independent Workers' Industrial Council, held on December 1-3, at .Melbourne, and the following resolution was passed: "That this Council of Victorian Unionists. representing organised werkor.s mintliliated with (be Syndicalistic and So-, eialistie Trades Hal! Council, sends its heartiest areeliiifis to the Arbitrationis! Unionists of Xew Zealand who have been lighting such a plucky tight against the syndicalistic ant! revolutionary unionists for the right to work and the right to organise, unci, further, we view; with pleasure tins determined attitude against this extreme section being taken •by several Labour jX/iiticims and union leaders in t-lio Dominion^ 1

,;,;>The' tendeifof- Mr. : Heriry-Hanson has bum arcppU'<P for the. ercction of a four-story brick building'for Messrs. J. 'H: , -Betinine.'.aiKl Co.fon the, site of their date, premises'bri'.the corner of Feathers-

ton. and Panama;' Tho' new promise's. will he. finished in'rod brick with .cement.iacings7 thei.desigst having been l»ropared£.'byg; . and

• Dunn;; the 'part day or two (states tho/'Haugitikei. Advocate") . Xgariihoo .tas'; been _■ unusually active. ' For some ■ timo.nt intervals of two or three minutes the mountain sent up if regular cloud of steam oil' Friday morning. .Captain H. V. 11a relay, who returned to Melbourne last week from the Northern Territory after three years' exploration .work, in discussing the mosquitoos of the district, told of one persistent variety which measures an inch long, with a boring plant designed to make a way through any tropical attire It lias a' habit of settling on the middle of the back just out of reach, and drilling a way to the flesh till the vietim cries out in pain, and obtains relief by rubbing against the newest tree. There are over .11)0. distinct mosquito specimens in Captain liuda s collection, and a large pcrcontagoof them arc- deadly foes of Ininsanity.'V/.'i'hdy are responsible for almost' ail of the: tropical diseases, and tliejr infection produces practically all the ill-health of the empty , north. 'Hie perils of coasting in motor launches were startlingly exemplified the other day (says the Dunedin "Star"), when tho cruise of ft Duuedin pleasure boat resulted in a disastrous conclusion. On Christ-mas. morning Messrs. Arthur fiuchan and.Leo Wynn set off from Dimodin for Catlins in a 20ft, launch driven by a, five-liorse-power Standard engine. Whoa off St. Clair, «• heavy ivinei made tilings somewhat unpleasant. A sail was set at the time, and when siff! Green Island rock an ostra heavy gvist snapped the mist. A very cseiting night- was spent off the Nugents light, which was reached about 8 o'clock in J the evening. Vain attempts were made to attract tiro attention of tho keeper, arid tho occupants spent a troublous night at anchor. Although a heavy sea was running in tho morning it wais decided to make the month of tho Catlins Bjver, wbiA was readied at 8 a.m. Choosing tho lesser of two evils, an attempt was made to cross the bar. This being found impossible, the little vessel was brought partly round, with the intention of putting out to sea, A succession of large wares submerged tho boat,' which the occupants left when about 80 yards from "tho Sand. Both were, fortunate in safely reaching the shore. A rescue party who had come down to render assistance took tho two adventurers hack to Pounawea, where they were provided with dry clothing. Tho launch sank, part of the deckhouse only being recovered.

Invereargill papers report that in their speecli-es in reply to the presentation. to the Bluff. w-atersiders, tlio president (Mr. White) and tho secretary (Mr. Cameron) cave reasons for thoir attitude in not striking in common with the Watorsiders working at northern ports. Both disclaimed loyalty to tho farmers or any particular class, and attributed their attitude solely to an attempt to keep their agreement underr the Arbitration Act. Mr. Cameron said that tlio gift of £150 was wholly unexpected and wholly .undeserved. Iheir. action in not stinking was not taken up in tlio : interest of the dairy factories or any particular class of people, but was actuated by a spirit of common-sense aiid ; fairness. They thought it only reasonable- and honourable- to take tho step they did . (Loud applause,) It! was not loyalty to tho dairy farmers at all, but loyalty to their agreement. (Applause.) Ttsey-liad entered into a binding agreement, and they couM'not honourably break it-. (Applause.)

• One ii'uiidred and'forty members of the Australasian • Student. Christian Movement .arrived at-Woodvilio yesfcfrr* day afternoon (says a Press Association telegram), It is their intention to hold a week's camp, and they are billeted in the Drill Hall, t'ha school, and the Foresters' Ball. .At.4 o'clock yesterday afternoon tlio students veto givoti a civic reception in Fountainc Square. Aftej- welcoming the students, iho Mayor told them the baths, _ boiling greet), croquet lawn, and.tennis courts were at their disposal. The Bev. M'lvensio and Mr. J. R. Young (secretary) thanked the Mayor and councillors for their hearty welcome, and also- the citizens for help in their arrangements, j