LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1949, 5 January 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

WAs-tlie Victoria "did not reach Auckland from Sydney direct until midnight last.- night,' the., Wellington portion-, of,, her' Australian mails will not arrivehere until to-morrow at- 0.50 a,m,;-: -'./ j'*? Seven persons, were arrested individually on Saturday 'by Senior Sergeant Dew and Detective-Sergeant Ca«* sells on charges of vagrancy. The offenders will appear, at tho Court this ■.morning'. . •: The Seamen's Union has given notics to ■ its members that old members of thc\ Moana's crew desiring to obtain their positions again will be signed on the vessel. The Moana leaves for Sydney at 3 p.m.' to-day. ■'. Since tho strike was "officially called off" by. the Federation ftf Labour, the membership of tho new Waterside. Workera' Union has increased by leaps aud bounds. Tho result is that there are over 3000 names on tho roll. About 1000 ex-strikers have signed on, and some 23 -joined tho union on Saturday. No account is being taken of an applicant's opinion in regard to industrial politics. ■■ Character is all that is required. ■ 'i About 100 of tho old nioneors of the West Coast left Wellington for Greymouth by tho Arahura on Saturdav to attend tho Westlaml Goldfields Jubilee' celebrations,. .which take place this week. An the steamer left tho wharf cheers were given by a largo gathering of West Coasters and their relatives who were unable, for various reasons, to proceed by the steamer. ■■; The following is the return of business transacted at the Petouo S.M, Court for tho quarter Ending December 31, 1033: Amomit'-sued for, £137 4s. lid.; amount recovered, £101 Is.; plaints entered, 30: dtstiess warrants, issued, 2; summonses served by bailiff, 54; distress warrants executed, 9; civil fees, £11 Bs.-; criminal fees, £4 Bs.: criminal fines, £15; persons summoned or arrested, males 47, females 1. ; At the conference of Woollen Mill Employees' Unions held last .week, tho following officials were elected: —President, Mr. A. Anderson (Petone); vice-president, Mr. 1). Watson (Oamaru); secretary, Mr. 13. Kennedy. As the present award expires next May, an endeavour will be madoto confer^with tho employers with a view of fixing a ; scale of wages for a, new award for throe years. It is claimed that with tho . present minimum weekly wage of £2 55., a married man can live with no degree of comfort, and tho federation hopes to come te a better arrangement with the employers.

■' The latest sky-semper—-the tallest building in the world—is tho Woohvovth Building, Now York, erected by Mr. l'\ AV. AVoohvortli, protirietor of numerous 10 cent, stores. The new building, which was designed by Mr. Cass Gilbert, readies a height of 750 ft. above tile sidewalk, and "boasts 5" stories. Tho floor area measures 27 acres, and to reach these there ore 34 electric elevators. The great light on the apex of the dome is visible CO miles away at night-time.

The Melbourne correspondent New Zealand paper says that tlm Victorian -police state that extraordinary tactics are being Used by somo eit.y shops to sell their wares. A detective has been detailed to make inquiries and prosecutions are expected. ' The method id for these people to employ touts to stand latitside their doors and dragoon innocent-looking passers-by to '"'come inside." Inexperienced youngsters who have just started their city life are usually the victims chosen. Th-e tout says lie lias something interesting to show thorn, and once inside the youths are mcasnrcd for suits of clothes before they know where they are. Then a deposit is demanded and throats are used that the police will _{w sent for if the deposits arc not paid. Tho deposits are usually 3s. or ss. It is said that complaints of these practices are made to the police nearly every day, but the police have no power to catch tho offenders. They arc in the same position as conductors of mock auctions.

'Ah Arcadian existence is led by the inhabitants cf Lord Howe Island, who are noted for tho extreme kindliness of their dispositions and for the simplicity of their lives. Ah example of tho former characteristic was given by Air. W. W, Froggait, New South 'Wales Governmeut Entomologist, at tho annual meeting of the Could League of Bird Lovers in Sydney recently. Sir. Froggait said that durinji; his recent visit to the island h<9 had boon stuck with the remarkable tameness of tho birds with which, the bush abounded. As one walked through the bush they hopped familiarly around, gaily chirping their little songs of welcome. They would actually feed out of one's hands. This was because they wore never molested, and -to tho islanders it seemed nothing out of the common that tlio bird should be as free, homely, and satisfied as themselves. The 'throwing of a stone at a bird in the island- would he regarded as an offence. Recently a collector who had obtained 1200 specimen's of birds on Norfolk Island had gone to Lord Howe Island for a similar'purpose, but the residents, who wereditcr on backed up by tho Government, lmd ; prevented tho "massacre" from taking place.

■ The shark, which attacked, a,,Xativo swimmer in the Thames Gulf,.as reported in a telegram, was (says a- Christchurch journal) probably one of the largo and often ferocious species called by the Maoris "tauiwha," because of their size and voracity, which haunt the Bay of Plenty and often rove up into tho bays and estuaries of the liauroki. Occasionally they wander further south, and though they do not often attack human beings there liaev been several tragic instances. Tho Natives and coast settlers in the far north, about Mangonui, and Whangaroa and Eangaunu Bay, have a dread of the hammer-headed shark, which is frequently seen in thoso parts, but this creature, though ferocious enough in appearance, does not appear to be a man-eater by habit. Tho "taniwha" species is found in great numbers around Mayor Island, in the Bay of Plenty, and sometimes the Natives make whaloboat excursions sharkcatching for the sake of its "mako," or great, teeth, which iiro_ valued _as earpendants after the Native fashion. This '.i'taniwha" chase.is said to be far moro ''exciting sport than the ordinary sharkcateJiiiiK around the r-oar.t. and tho fishers frequently havo to return "mako"less and with all their tackle gone. ■ i

The Dutch , Government dry dock Surabaja, of a capacity of 14,0013 tons, which left Nieuwcdiep Roadstead in tow on ..June 23 last, arrived at Surabaja (Java) on November 22. It- was towed to that port by tho two powerful tugs -Atlas and Titan, both belonging to the Nieuwediep and Ymuiden Towing Com-pany.;"-1: The dock arrived ijt Aden after aKgood voyage, but had.to wait about three weeks until the monsoon had passed. On the resumption of the voyage various mishaps occurred owing to stormy weather'"and strong, curt-rents, which considerably hindered her progress.. '. Tims the crews of i)ie tugs had .U) use all their efiergy, vigilance, and ■patience to accomplish the task ■ which had been''-'set,.-them. Tho two tugs had been Especially.;-equipped for the long ioHrney- ,:'Tbis'is stated to bo the larger,) .dock which has ever-.been towed for' 'suchi'a'-.distance.-.i.- .>,&/*.'■<■■.•'-*.■*:. U.

f>y A. lady, resident, in Wailara bad a curious and.'decidodly'-unpleasant experience recently;-. ..While'.walking in tho garden with'a frieiid/a". bee attacked her, and after stinging: her face vanished into her ear.;'-; There.. was/«t first, no trace of.tiio bee to be seen;.but the'lady as-sured-hor- friend that,;', it .-was there, a closer examination followed,'and as the bee at that moment,, backed, slightly, it «";is seen, seized, mid pulled out,

■". "Under tho new Admiralty regulations ivhich have been framed parents who withdraw their sous from the Navy before they-'havo r&ached the- rank of sublieutenant mav havo to pay a substantial sum. This will go to recoup tho public purse its cost of educating tho withdrawn boys, and represents the. difference between what the parent pays 'and what is really spent upon the boy. This;! is estimated at £75 yearly. _ A bar against colour is still maintained, but" the Admiralty arc opening another door wider: to colonial boys. ■ One-, fourth the cadets may in futsiro job, at reduced fees of £40 per year. Of this fourth 10 per cent, will be sons of naval and military officers and Admiralty Civil Servants.

Apparently-jf'aetuated by a desire to spend Christmas Day ashore, and to participate in the customary festivities associated with the holiday reason, two firomen engaged on the Australian coastal steamer Bombala adopted the tlaugorous method of deserting by jumping overboard from tho vessel on Christmas evening ns she was moving down tlio Yarra on hor way to Sydney. A. largo number of passengers were on board,'and considerable excitement was caused when tho "cry "Mail overboard!" was raised. Two men were .seen in eloso company swimming strongly for tho bank near the river mouth ami some distance astern. It was quickly dis* covered that they were members of thn crew, mid ;i boat was at oiico launched to effect, a rescue. The Customs launch, which happened to be close at hand, also joined in the -earch, but without success. As the men had but ninety yards to s'A'jm they evidently reached tho hank in safety, and made away in wet clothes. Considerable inconvenience, was caused to tho Bombala, and she was anchored off Williametown for nearly an hour while arrangements were made to replace the deserters.

"The Westland Pioneers' Memorial" (••tatos tlio "West Coast Times") "frill represent the figure of n miner in prospecting kit, typical of tlio pioneer days. It will be a lifc-sizb status in marble, raised on a granite pedestal,' and boaring .1 suitable fiiscription'. It will stand in Hokitika for all time, to tho honour of those hardy pioneers who laid the foundations of the Coast, and made it tho promising, prospering community of to-day."

There was at least ono "wclsher" on tho Methven racecourse on New Year's Day, and had ho not suddenly cleared out on a motor-cycle the chances are that he would have got himself into serious trouble, states a Chris'tclmrch paper. As it was,' he got cloar away with dividends which ho was morally, if not legally, entitled to hand over to those who had mado beta with him. Another individual left the course without meeting his engagement?., and hurriedly making his way to tho railway station, sought refuge in ;i railway carriage. Wrapping himself in an overcoat, despite the sweltering heat, he lay back in the sca't, and pulling his hat well down over his eyes, feigned to bo asleep. An irate winning investor was soon on his trail, and, entering tho carriage, wrathfully demanded £15. All adjournment was made to the platform, when a portion of the money was re* luetantly banded over to the claimant, who expressed his determination to have tho balance, no matter what it cost him to got'it, or how long he had to wait. The wouid-bo defaulter then made his way back to n seat in the railway carriage, and tho train moved off.

The Admiralty Eccm to have two permanent needs; shipwrights, for tho dockyards and'lieutenants for the Navy. As the scheme for getting a supply of lieutenants from the merchant service has not proved brilliantly successful, tho Admiralty arc understood, according to the London "Observer," to have it in mind to make another batch of commissioned officers from the Lower Deck. The idea is to select one hundred warrant officers who havo good qualifications for responsible posts/promote them to lieutenants and give' tiiem various harbour jobs now held by lieutenants. This would free a number of young officers who nro badly wnnto for the' flying corps, the seagoing fleets, and elsewhere. Certainly there is no lack of fi.no material amongst the warrant ranks, and there would be a struggle for'these commissions.

It is stated by au exchange tli.it an important move is afoot in connection with tho New Zealand Shearers' and Woalshed Employees' Association, tlie principal object , being amalgamation with tho Australian Workers' Union, a strong industrial body of country unionists, whose headquarters are in Sydney. A ballot paper has been issued to each member of the union, one of the questions {in effoet) to be answered being: Are yon in favour of amalgamation with the Australian Workers' Union ? The other two queries (also in effect) ou tho paper are:—Are you in fav : our of joining tho Social Democraticparty and tho United Federation of Labour? Are you in favour of accepting £1 per 101)' for shearing for a further term of three years at the conclusion of tho present season? The ballot papers are to be sent in to the returning officer befors March 31 of next jvar. The opinion among the officials of the union is that the pronosal to amalgamate with Australia will bo caried by a large majority, the suggestion having generally found favour anions the unionists.