LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2208, 22 July 1914, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Tile postal authorities advise that tho s.s. Manuka, 'which loft Svdney on Saturday for Wellington, is bringing Australian mails only, and is duo on Wednesday morning. _ Considerable interest is being taken in tho special hmonting of tho United I'ederation of Labour to be held on July 00. Main interest centres in repaid to what attitude tho Trades aiuV Labour Council is to fldopt in respect to_ the federation's new constitution, it being stated that there is a possibility of tho council becoming tho Wellington District Council under the United Labour Party. Three petitions, bearing 14!)5 signatures, opposing the passage of the Religious Instruction in Schools Referendum Bill were presented to the House of Representatives yesterday.

"No one—not oven tho owners of the largo estates—really stands in tho way (if subdivision, and subdivision is going on every day," said Mr. J. G. Wilson in the course of his presidential address to tho Farmers' Union Conference yesterday. "The talk of aggregation except in a very few instances— and in these cases it is becausc of tho difficulty of access—is merely political talk, much tho samo as tho demand for an increase in t'iio graduated land tax.' It is popular/in tho towns, and the towns havo now tho greater number of votes." Tho following is the return of fees received under tho Land Transfer Act hist year:—Auckland, £14,808; Tarannlii, £3658; Wellington, £111284.; Hawko's Bay, £3224;. Poverty Bav, £1859; Nelson, £1445; Marlborough, £980; Canterbury; £10,789; Otaeo, £4471; Southland, £3147: Wcstland. £434. , The Farmers' Union Conference, now sitting in Wellington, proposes discussing several aspects of military training, and lias invited Sir Alexander Godlcy to bo present when the subject is called on—probably to-day. ■ Tlio Defence Department has approved of the following marches being adopted by the regiments concerned:—Queen Alexandra's 2nd (Wellington-West Coast) Mounted Rifles, "The Colonial March"; Manawatu 6th Mounted Rifles, "Tho Harp that Onco" ; Wellington 'sth Regiment, "Marmion"; WellingtonWest Coast-7th Regiment, "Winna"; Hawke's Bay oth Regiment, the", regimental march of the South Lancashire .Ist Battalion Regiment; Taranaki Rifles 11th Regiment-, "March at Easo" ; Rualiino 17th Regiment, "Bonnie Dundee." A. lecture entitled "Tho Outlook of the Race" was delivered under the auspices of tho Wellington South Trinity Methodist Church Literary and Debating Society by Sir Robert Stout last evening. Tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) presided over a, largo attendance of members. Tho speaker dealt with tho history of tho race up to tlio present day, stating that with the advance of civilisation death rates had decreased, the genoral health of the people had' improved, serious crime had decreased, and education extended and popularised. The prospects for the future, were also interestingly dealt with. Tho executive of the United Labour Federation has. appointed-Mr,'.J. Read (secretary of tho New Zealand. Enginedrivers' Federation and of tlio Wellington Engine-driyors' Union)- as secretary to tlio federation. This is the third change in the secretaryship during the present month. Mr. P. H. Hickey, secretary of the 1913-14 federation, did not seek re-elcction at the recent congress. Messrs. M. Fagan (secretary ,of the Miners' Union, at Reef ton) and Mr. Read wore nominated for the vacancy, the former being appointed. Mr. Fagan has since resigned owing to considerations which ho had. previously, overlooked. Mr. Read has since been appointed, and has accepted the posi,tion. Some interesting observations on the trado barometer were inado.' .afc, the Farmers' Onion Conference 1 -'' yesterday by Mr. J. 6; '.'Wilson. "You ivill have noticed that when trade is good in New Zealand,' tlio price of timber goes upj and that'this article of production is the first -to feel- any stringency.. No new buildings i\ro begun, and at onco tho demand tor timber coases. • In its way it is a sure barometer of the state of trado in New Zealand. . If we take, , then, 'the iron and the shipping of Great ~ Britain US an indication of tho volume of trade it would show that the booni of the last year or : two is somewhat abated;' indeed, there is such-an • absence of. freights that many, vessels'aro''laid up for want'of. work for them: It ,is a curious fact that freights are 'ueing raised \iu Australasia, and, lowered, in the Home country.; No company, shipping or any other, will wort at a : loss for any length of time; but some.will work for smaller dividends than others,. and perhaps wo shall yet, have tho advantage of other competitors'entering into the carrying trade." ', , . . - A deputation of Waitotaya settlers which was introduced to the Hon. W. Fraser, Minister of Public Works, yesterday by Mr. G. V. i'carce,'M.P., asked that tho Government should push on with tho construction of a road to opcii up the.Waitotara district, the Rangitatau Block and the Kaimauuka Block)and proceed; thence over a distance of about fifty, miles to Pipiriki. Deputa-t-ionists stated that, the Rangitatau lands had been loaded for roading, and that tho settlers wished the loadiiigmoney to bo expended. The Minister promised that the balance of 'the load-ing-money would be spent. ' He. advised tho deputation to interview the' Lands Department, which controlled this department of expenditure. As to a vote on the Estimates, Mr. Fraser suggested that the members of 'the deputation should get their district local bodies to make representations' tin the matter, as he could not ,well deal with private individuals. Tho .petition "of-p.. Fraser and 9278 others, praying for the "release of persons imprisoned for offences committed during the strike riotSi wits presented to Parliament- yesterday by Jlr. J. M'Combs. " A start will bo made next i week to demolish the premises ' in ,' Mannere Street lately occupied as a > furniture warehouse by Jlr. H. Fielder. The site is to be occupied by an up-to-date pic•ture theatre, with shops on the street frontage. . _ The British Army Council having declared Morris aiming tubes and ammunition for the same obsolete, tho local military authorities havo now announced that no more of them will bo imported' by the Defence Pepartment. No more tubes or ,ammunition will be available for sale, the i local stocks having become exhausted. , . The following letter has been received by tlio Auckland Provincial Office of.-tlio Now Zealand Union from the Right Hon. W. F. Massoy, in reference to the Urewera Native lands:—"ln reply to your representation's, ,1 have to state that they havo becil noted and i that the matter is at present receiving the consideration of, the: Government, and .as soon as the'titles-tiro ■; complete tho Crown will'endeavour to purchase the Nativo interests." ,'-i -.

Oil August 18 an examination-for tlio promotion of officers of tho Territorial Force will bo . held a't tho Wellington Garrison Hall. The examining board will bo as follows Captain F. S.vmon, R.N.Z.A. (president), and. Captain C. G. Powies, N.Z.S.C. and Lieut. AV-B. P. Tilling, It.N.Z.A. (members). .Tho following are tho names of tho candidates:—Captain A. F, Roberts (N.#. F.A.), Captain A. E. Brown, Captain C. li. Matthews, Lieut. AV. H. Johnston, Lieut. R. W. Duniij Lieut. F. W. Vosseller (all of tho Garrison Artillery), Major J. J. Esson, Major F. lioss, Captain R. L. Evatt, Lieut. C. K. Gas- | quoino. Lieut. J. R. Cowlcs, Lieut-. 'G. C. Felton, Lisiit. B ,R. Lankshoar, Lieut. D.- A. Kenny (all of the sth ■Regiment), and Captain A. Frandi, unattachod list._ Oil tho same date similar examinations will' bo bold at Palmerston North, Napier, Hawera, Mastorton, and Gisbornc. A lecture on "Elocution" was given in tlio Concert Chamber of the Town Hall last night by Dr. J.. R. Piirdy, of Lower Ilutt. Tho lecture was one or the series of Public Library lectures being given under tlio allspices of the Wellington City Council. After an entertaining address on tho history and general principles of tho art of 'elocution, Dr. Piinly gave examples of dramatic; pathetic, and character recitations, including Scene 2, Act 3, from "Julius Caesar," excerpts from "Macbotli" and "Tlio Merry Wives of Windsor," and othor selections. At tho conelusion, Dr. Purdy was accorded a vote of thanks.

During the last 13* years the Napier Harbour Board has paid £2326 4s. 9d. in accident- insurance premiums, and lias received £2518 10s. 3d. in compensation, which means a loss of £222 6a. 2d. to the companies coneorned. Wellington is shortly to entertain one of the most distinguished gatherings of oversea visitors who have ever beet in the Dominion, in the shape of the British scientific party. No effort ia being spared to make the visit a success, and the latest fixture that is being arranged is a motor run on Saturday, September 5. This will take place under the auspices of the Wellington Automobile. Club, and all members of tlio club who wish to participate are requested to communicate with tile secretary, Mr. 11. Dillon-Kelly. A Treasury return presented to Par' liamcnt yesterday showed that tho money borrowed in Loudon during last financial year other than by public flotation 'was £1,223,000. Tho charges were J per-cent, brokerage, and 12s. 6d. per cent, stamp duty. Tlio rates of interest of the different sums ranged from 3£ to 4 per cent., and tho prices of issue from 89 to IOOJ. » •Some weeks ago tenders wero called for the erection of the proposed soap works of Lever Bros., at Potone. Tliei directors have sinco, howevor, deemed it desirable to amend the scheme of building, and in about three or four weeks' time fresh tenders will be called. "I can never understand why cheeso companies do not adopt the Canadian system and carry co-operation a step further by having the ripening chambers at some central place or places on the railway, where experts can devote ; their whole attention to maturing the cheese, and save a considerable deal in the cost per cheeso by the process," said Mr. J. G. Wilson,.* at tho Farmers' bmon Conference yesterday. "Nor can ono quite understand tho reluctance there is of the ladies of the . dairying farmers, - not devoting their attention to the better class of cheeses which aro so profitable to the maker. Good soft cheeses, such as Cainembert and Pont I Evigue,' always. fetch good prices. Anyoiio can learn.to mako these as the Department have in their employment' a teacher for the'purpose. To taste the Gruyere cheese which' is made-in Parts of France, Switzerland, and North' Italy is to make certain pf its selling possibilities hero if well made."