LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1986, 17 February 1914, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

_ One result of the *ecent earthquake' is that his Worship the Mayor has been deprived of his room for a few days, and is now located in the anterfoom to the Council Chamber. The Mafojral apartment is in t'-lio hands of repairers., who have stripped off the plaster ceiling, and are replacing it with oil© of stamped steel, As'there.is aii ugly erack extending; right across tho coiling of the City Valuer's office, it is pro.bab.lo that! that room will have to undergo similar treatment.

A party of young ijien at Mand Bay on Sunday attempted to swim from the shoro across to the island'. When about 200 yards from tho shore, ono of their number, quite a youth, was seized with cfa.inp, and was seen to be in difficulties.' Two of his companions immediately went, to his assistance, and succeeded in getting him within CG yards of tlio shore, At- this stag© tho, youth apparently thought lie- could negotiate tho rest of the distance without help, and this he attempted to do, but Was again seized with .cramp, and on one of his conipanions again going to his W sistanco he- grappled with him. and both sank. The rescuer eventually freed himself, and was successful in getting his man to tho shore. Both wero considerably exhausted, and.it is stated, by an eye-witness of tli? affair that had it not been for the pluck and perseverance of tho boy*s companion, the other Would never have reached the fehore in safety.

in connection with tho gathering of Railwav Servants ott Saturday evening, it unforturiirtpl.y happened that both theMinisters invited to be present (tho Prime Minister and. Minister of Railways) were absent from .Wellington, and so could not attend. One of tho other members of the Cabinet, no doubt; would have been, pleased to represent the Government' on so interesting an occasion, but in, the absence of an invitation could hardly trespass upon the hospitality of tho promoters of tho gathering.

Tramcar No. 10 eamo to grief last evening in Lambton. Quay. Oho of the leads of the transmitters, being worn, became ignited and caused a temporary halt. Tho trouble- was soon remedied, however, though 'not until a string of cars had been held up. The car was taken to tho sited for repairs.

Battalion orders Have' been issued by Lieutenant-Colonel G. Harcourt Tumor, commanding st]i (Wellington) Regiinent, calling; for a halfway parade on Saturday nest. The Wttalicn, less F and G Companies, will parade at the top of Majoribahks Street,'at 2.30 p.m. Officms commanding companies are remindcd that tlje return called for, re trophies or the late volunteer force, are'now long eierdue.

The following prisoners will appear before His Honour tire Chief Justices for sentence,, at 30 a.m. Oliver Noel Gillespie, committed from Pnlmerfiton North <m Pecomher 20 on. seven charges of theft at jeijding. Ar» tbur Doughs, committed from Aucfc-

land on, January 28 on thirteen c.har"es of breaking and entering) and three charges of thoft from a dwelling, and committed at Wellington on February 13 on two charges of breaking anil entering with intent to commit a crime, and twenty-three charges of bilking and entering and theft. Reginald Stanlev Herhert, committed from DaniiC' virke on a charge of wilfully keeping a postal packet. Frederick Sheldrake, alias Bowler, and Thomas O'Neill, breaking and entering .and theft, Wellington.

A local resident elates that two largo sharks were seen off tho To Aro Baths yesterday afternoon between 8 and 4 o'clock. He considers that bathers on the beaches should be warned.

So welt impressed, was Mr. W. A. Holinan, Prime Minister of NW South Wales, with some of the papers road at tho Medical Conference- in Auckland that ho proposes to have them read 'in Australia, to audiences of expert men.

At the invitation of Mr. George Wirth. the Australian cricketers attended tho opening performance, at tho circus last evening, their appearance being tlio signal for' ft friendly demonstration by the public.

There was again heavy week-end traffic to tho bays across the- harbour. The Eastbourne Borough Council's, steamers carried on Saturday some 2000 excursioni&ts, besides regular traffic by the timetable boats of over 800. On Sunday 1100 people visited _ Easthcnrne and Day's Bay, necpssttatifig an extra Boat to bring them borne.

For tho sixth, year in .succession (says our Auckland correspondent) the Raglan County Council has collected all its rates; that is, the amount clue- by its European ratepayers. Tho total of all rates duo hv Europeans was £7731 10s. 93., for Tfnich rate, demand* were posted on August 1, 1913, anft Ih© tost Jot of fates pare! on February 14. As to tho rates duo on land occupied and owned by Natives, for tlie same period' tho total rates amounted to £1.186 7s. 5d., and, of this, a sum of £8?, Is. only has been paid. Even the .greater portion of this hasbepn paid by Europeans who arc negotiating for the lease or purchase of various Hativo sections. Under the Rating Amendment Act, 1913, tho local authority can, at aft interval of nine mouths after tlie rate becomes due, register a lien against the land for the amount of rates then nil* paid, and, before the land can bo dealt with by either sale or tease, the ambniil; of such Ken will have to'be Uplifted; This is all that can be done in tho matter, and it is hoped', hy the council that the registration of such. Kens -prill force the Natives to either sultiv.ato the land himself, or else pass it into tho hands of Europeans, who frill do so, In tho Raglan County alone at the present time there are some 50,0000r 60,0.00 acres of land .iu tho hands of in sections of an area of from 20 acres to 1000, lying unproductive.