LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1955, 12 January 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

l s:STlie l:, Eiig]i.sh?and ,,^Aii?, fralian;:mails via '-Auckland-:were; iioWexjiectwl:to arrive (inently : ' tiicyf couldijn'otKjAnihectrwith thoV'ordinary -train there:'at*;!) o' clock.;•'■'. There waV'a'. possibility, : ; however/ of their train':leaving Ai!cldand: !t j)et>vecn.yJ''aiid iojjojciojck.,,;.: ;■ - ;■: 'fMi§sM'if-': ;'"' to a.Press'Association' tele-' grani'ii- received..': the mines'in' the district^'wojkjngyvithout'any' treublp.-.' "■hit. J. S. Evans, hold a sitting of the Magistrate's Court to-day for tho hearing of a number of application's for land agents' licenses. •7a sitting of the Conciliation Council .will'-be held to-dnv, in the Labour Department, Te Aro'Post Office, when the jewellers'-'dispute-will bo heard. '-.'■' As, an expert-in Irish folk song, Mr, John, M'C'ormack was asked yesterday -if he had made any study of- tho Maori idea of musical expression. Ho said that lie had not,:,but'he remftiked that while in Sydney'*he''' had heard some of Mr. Alfred Hill's "Maori" music, and thought it delightful. . "That's it," ho said, running his fingers over a few bars of "Wai-ato.L'oi,"' "( think it's charming.' -And the.dirges," he added "aren't they 'fine !"?*R»-,;*o- ■■'■■'*■

■•After a fishing expedition in the thermal districts, Mr, T. M. Wilford, M.P., lias just returned to Wellington. While* away he had his attention drawn by Mr. Jas.':'Snoswell, who has charge of the Government fishing operations at Te Kauo, te the fact that many of the trout in the lakes were blind inono eye, and a number in both eyesr"" Oil one day, out of a catch of 41, thirteen were blind'in one eye, and in terribly poor condition!. Mr.Wilford thinks the question, is worthy of consideration as to whether it is worth while for the Government to give. Lake Taopo a rest from netting operations for a year, in order to sec. whether the fishing will improve or not". The question, he says, arises whether or not the rainbow trout, after it reaches the second age, becomes blind, and, therefore, poor in condition. At what age is a rainbow trout an old fish? While he did not know, others might. Tboy may have been misled by the' fact that the Government had caught bad fish, and measured tho standard of the fish by the poor-conditioned ones which were old fish. If that was so;, then netting-operations should stop at once, for if the deterioration, both in numbers and quality, was going te continue as during the last two- or three years, the place in five years would Mot be worth fishing in. .

"tf parents exercised better control over their children and saw that they were- kept home at nights and looked after generally, there would be fewer offences of this sort," remarked Mr. .Barton, S.M., at a sitting of the Juvenile Court at Gisborne, when soino boys were being tried for theft.

Does it constitute a delicate, hint? Tho Opotiki County clerk recently posted Christmas cards to ratepayers. Tho design of the cards had been drawn to represent good will and charity, and they bore the words: "It is better to give than, to receive."

Tho boys brought out three years ago from London to settle in New Zealand have not forgotten Mr, T. E. Sedgwick, who opened up the new lands for them. Among many letters' received by him at Christmas was ono from a boy now in the South Island, who, after passing tho compliments of the season, writes:— "Time flics, it is true. It seems but only yesterday we came Jiere, weak, half-starved Londoners. To-day we cm boast a good sound health, and a few pounds, to .start us, in the world. I must say I. feel grateful."

A canvass of 'Wellington for special prices for tho Mastcrton A. and P. Association's autumn show is to be made this week.. .. - . ■ <..

•The fallowing letter to the editor, signed "Critic, 1 ' appeared in Friday's Dominion:—'"Sir,—Passing by the therston Street taxi-cab stand this evening I heard language and behavjour I think most disgusting. _ For a quarter of an hour to twenty minutes this continued.. I could not see a policeman, so I came up to tyour' office to ask you to direct the attention of the proper authorities to the matter." Two taxiowners have since called at this office to say that the owners of ears on tho Featlicrston Street stand know of _ no foundation for "Critic's" complaint, but that as the matter is of great importance to them they desire him to furnish definite, information respecting the behaviour to which lie has alluded, so that they may inquire into the affair.

During last week a conference of tho district agents of the International Correspondence Schools throughout Now Zealand has been held at the head office, 'Wellington.' Tho general manager for New Zealand, Mr. J. G, Smith, presided The announcement was madothat the business secured during 1913 constituted a record-for New Zealand since'tho agency was established cloven years ago. Tho increase in the number of enrolments secured during 1913, as compared with 1012, was Ho less than 84 per cout., and the managing director in London cabled his appreciation of the work done during tho year just pawed by the New Zealand iield staff. Plans for the current year were fully discussed. Before the conference closed, Mr. J. \V. Barraelongh, of ChristcUurcli, on behalf of the field force, presented to the general manager a smoker's outfit. In tho course of liis remarks, he referred to the very cordial relations which had always existed between the head office and the fieldmen. On Friday the whole of the' visitors, together with the head office staff, held a very .enjoyable picnic at Day's Bay, where they were tho guests of the general manager. It was decided that tho next annual eoirferoHCo would be held in the first week of January of next tear at Rotorua, the idea being that at'the conclusion of tho business the district agents could then enjoy a brief holiday.

"TRIUMPHS" SCOOP THE POOL IN THKJ3E OATS' TKIALS-ATCHRIST-CHURCH. One. of the strongest points about tho ''Triumph" motor-cycle is the consistency of its performance. Other "long suits" of the "Triumph" are reliability and economy. \Vo are in the happy position ef bring able to offer abundant proof of these assertions. Last y«ar when the results of the North Canterbury Motor Cycling Club's ..annual reliability trials were 'worked out it was found that the '"Triumph" riders were first in the private owners' class, first in tho trado class, first in the petrol consumption test, stud first in the teams' competition, sweeping the board. In this yew's trmts, run on' January Ist, 2nd, and 3rd. over a 465inilo route, including the steep bill At Ofcain.'s Bay, and the Zig-zag, with the. roads 'in bad condition', there was « fMd of twenty-seven riders, and all the leading makes of meter-cycle Were represented. There were no fewer than nine of those bin twin-cylinder machines. YVe have lx?en told recently that those twirls are mighty economical on petrel, but, on tliis occasion, the "Triumph" upheld the uinonr of the single-cylinder brigade bv getting lowest petrol consumption. Ten see this time there was na. official test for petrol consumption. Tho result board runs as follows.—"Private Owners' Class— V. Couehiwaii, "Triumph," }.; H. Peorce, "Triumph," 2. Trade Class—P. HaWorih. "Triumph." 1; Ci. B. Brown, "Triumph," 2; .T. IT. Michael "Triumph." 3. Teams' .O&mpeUtion—F. Kn worth, 6. B, Brown, 'and J. H. Michael, "Triumphs," 1. Petrol Consumption—I 1 . Hawovth, "Triumph," 1. ■ It is unnecessary to point tho moral or adorn the tale. There is o big shipmerit' of the latest "Triumphs" arriving shortly, and intending purchasers will be well adviied to book their orders early. Adams, Ltd., Hieh Street, CJiristcliurch; Pepots at Polmersteil North and Wnngftnui, also Tourist Motor Co., Tfetincs; and SiitherlaJKl ond Kankiue, Mercer St., Wollington.—AdTt,.>... ; K.?:i;,.,.r; .... ,

There were swao amusing incidents at the Exhibition turnstiles on Boxing Night when the record crowd was passing in. Every official who could bo spared was busy taking money at lire gates, and even the president and secretory lent a hand. They had some funny experiences to relate to the meeting or the executive on Thursday, reports the "Now Zealand Herald. 1 ' Mr. Holmes said that three men, who bad apparently been at the races and had done well, gave him sovereigns for shillings, and did not wait for change. Mr, Elliot related how a man who wanted to get out and could not, on account of the crush, threatened, "I will get you the sack to-morrow, or my name's not Smith" "I wish you would get mo the siysk now," replied the president, weaiily. A woman who was afraid to negotiate the crowd with her infant in her arms pushed it through the- hole from which tickets were being issued into tho tinns of the astonished attendant. It was a small hole, but tho infant was ■a very small one, too.' Having got past tho turnstiles, the mother came te claim her baby. .

The proposed united conference of arbitration unions lias roused considerable interest in labour circles, says the "Sew Zealand Herald." The idea of the conference, which was initiated by the executive of the Ohinemuri Mines'and Battery Employees' Union (comprising over 1000 members) has been favourably received by oilier arbitration unions," who arc- now sending remits to the secretin'? (Mr, V. H. Potter, of Waihi) for tho consideration of the delegates who will comprise the conference. (The principal objects of the, conference will .be to receive and consider remits relative to the reconstruction or alteration of the Arbitration Court; amendments to the Arbitration Act; or any proposals that may bo of importance and benefit to the collective unions under arbitration. All remits are to be received not later than March 1, and in all likelihood the. ounferenco will be held at the beginning of April, and the unions arc to decide whether the conference shall take place in Auckland or Wellington.

After two years' residence in the Do>' minion, his Majesty's Trade Commissioner in New Zealand (Mr, Wickham) is leafing at tiio cud of the present month for England. He will spend a fewdays in Melbourne on the way, in order to confer with Mr. G. 1\ Milne, H,M. Trade Commissioner in Australia, before sailing for London by the P. and 0. s.s. Malojft. Owing to the sudden death of the late Trade Conimissioner, Mr. G. H. F. HollestOH, when on the ovo of departure for a simitar visit, this Will be the. first occasion since the appointment in 1908 of four Trade Commissioners in the Dominion by the Board of Trade, on which an officer has return* ed from New Zealand to report on trado matters. Mr. Wickhmu'hai received in* etructions that lie will romain in the United Kinghoin between three and four months, visiting during that period all the lending industrial centres, and at the respective- Chambers of Commerce, giving private interviews to all firms who desire to sOo him. Any Nqw Zealand representatives of British funis who wish their principals to. see the Tradfl Commissioner should, write to them to this effect. These arrangements for personal contact between British firms and the Trade Commissioners from the Dominions and the Britisli commercial attaches from European countries have been in force now for 60iue years, and manufacturers are to a tags and increasing extent availing themselves. of the opportunities given; Mr.. Wieklmm expects also to ho enabled to bring up to date his knowledge of the ever-chnng-im* and developing commercial .and manufacturing conditions and methods by visiting factories and works. Jho Trade Commissioner's office, .at 11 Grey Street. Wellington, will continue workiiut aS'itsiml daring' Mr. :XVicMimn *, absence,'and all classes of trade inquiries will he dealt with in tiro Usual way.

The Cook County Council has the honour of owning the first motor roadrolto to bo imported into New Zealand. The new machine lias many advantages over the old types of rollers; one of tlia most important, especially to. it' local liody, is the saving in tho running cost. The roller is driven by an oiUetigine instaid of steam, and this obviates tho necessity for having to keep a stock of >oal and a largo supply of water, which would be an inconvenience when tno roller is operating upon up-country voads. There is an auxiliary keroscneburuer, so that after being started with petrol, kerosene can bo Used .as fuel, thus reducing the cost of withWit redue«i£ tbo capicity for work.