LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2231, 18 August 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

His Honour Mr. Justice Hoskin» in] preside afoa sitting of the Supreme Cour at half-past 9 o'clock, when the civil lis UTll do called over and the order of jun cases fixed for the coming sessions. The Telegraph Office advise that-do ferred and week-end cable messages roai now be accepted via Pacific and Anglo a senders risk for all points in Grea' Britain.- Messnges for well-known firm' may be accepted without street address Acceptance -is subjeqt to» alteration with out notice; Mr. "G. Hogben (Inspector-General oi Schools),-. who presided at last. night's lecture by Dr. Kemseh, stated that it had been found necessary to cancel the Now Zealand portion of the programme for the Scientists' Congress. Excursions arid other arrangements would' not take place, but several interesting lectures would be delivered by the. American scientists. Pessimists used to declare that nothing would ever stay the plague of deputations which descends upon Ministers of tho Orown in session and out of session, but Dho war lias accomplished the apparently impossible. For the last week or tw.o' hardly a single deputation has been seen about Parliamentary Buildings, and in the conditions that obtain the period of immunity is likely to continue for somejittle time yet. The executive of the Municipal Association, of Now Zealand-will hold a meeting in the Mayor's room'on Wednesday afternoon at 2.30 o'clock to consider the proposed amendment to the National Provident Fund-Act in view of its adoption for the purposes of a superannuation soheme for municipal employees. At the recent association conference the idea of inquiring- into the possibilities of using the. fund for this purpose were arieny considered, and it was decided that ;he executive should look more closely nto the matter.. "There is U decided change in the atmosphere at Parliament Buildings as compared with the early days of the war. The :everish excitement and preoccupation vhich obtained.until a few days ago-have x> a great extent disappeared, except periaps in the vicinity-of tho office of the Minister of Defence, which is still a lentro of strenuous activities. The Prime ilinister's attention also is naturally very mien taken up with affairs relating to he war, but other Ministers seem to be esuming their normal activities and-, overtaking arrears of Departmental work, [■he idea is gaining ground too that Pariament will regain much of its ordinary one when it resumes after tie present djournment, and that there' will be no iffioulty about going on with, business. The Hon. W. H. Herries (Minister of tailways) stated last evening that he xpected to present the Railways Sfcatelent (which this year includes the roort of the new General Manager of Kailrays) as soon as Parliament resumed afsr the present adjournment. Both Houses leet again on August 26. . Among the. thousands of spectators who isited the Basin Reserve on Friday nfferoon last was a woman who held in her rms a tiny infant. Whilst viewing theroops, she was surprised- beyond all ounds to see her own husband among to men going abroad. She called him j name without eliciting any answer, nd then in a state of distraction she urst into tears. A'police constablo's atmtion was drawn to the woman, and he, aving made inquiries, took the neces-', iry steps to detain the husband. It is 1 nderstood the police' authorities are eepmg'a sharp eye on married men who ' re endeavouring to leave the country ith-'the _ colours without making suitijle provision for their dependents. Fifty cases under the Defence Act were :t down for hearing nt the Magistrate's rrnrt in Christchurch last Friday, but io Defenco authorities withdrew all the iformations. • \ A cargo of 250,000 cases of oil arrived ' ; Auckland from New York on Satin--' ly morning by the steamer. Verdala. he steamer's freight was one that .used the local agents considerable ixiety until she put into port. Strangely lough, none of the crew of the vessel as aware that a state of war existed tween England and Germany until the lot met them in the Kangitoto Channel, id informed them of tho state of affairs Europe. - When an examination of tho ip's crew was niado, two, men who •ned to German nationality were taken to custody by the police. A Press Association telegram states that o "Waimate Advertiser, started in 1898 d run as a bi-weekly, came out yesterp as a daily with a full cable and toloiphic service per Press Association. rho condition of Mr. and Mrs. Mullins, e victims of the tragedy in Clyde Quay it wee't, is reported by the Hospital thormes to have shown no improve3nt. ... ' I'ho -West-port Harbour Board rescinded ' r > resolution (passed somo time ago) ap- ' rating an engineor.secretary as com- < led officer, and reinstated' tho secre- ' •y, and decided to invite applications i • the position of engineer at .£IOOO a ' i'r.~Press Association. ' ■ ['•

At the nest meeting of the City Council Councillor .E. Fletcher will move:' "That His Worship the Mayor be asked to take the necessary stops to establish a fund to operate in the City ano throughout the Wellington ProvincialDistrict for the purpose of raising moneys to bo used solely in alleviating distress during the present war crisis—first, to assist the dependents of the men who have volunteered for tho front and gone on active service; second, to relieve suffering and distress generally; third, ft committoo to bo set up to expend such moneys from the sai'|- fund as it mav deem necessary, and in the wanner as abovo indicated." Owing to the flaxmills closing on account of tho war, over 500 men who are idle held, a meeting on Sunday to discuss the future, says our Palmerston North correspondent. They have had an unfavourable winter. , ' The appeal made for binoculars for the Expeditionary Force has not been so liberally responded to as was hoped. Yesterday two pairs were, forwarded to the Defence Stores, but many more are needed. The pavilion and refreshment rooms at Days Bay have been leased by the City Council to_JJ.r. Phillip Webber for a. term of three years.