LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2255, 15 September 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tho postal authorities advise , that the b.s. Manuka, due this morning is bringing Australian mails only. Mr. H. G. Wickhain, H. M. Trado Commissiouor, will be the chief guest and speaker at tho New Zealand Club luncheon at 1 p.m. to-day. Tho Oceanic Steamship Company (Sprcckles Line), which trades between Sydney and Sail Francisco, is said to be scoring hoavily as a result of tho war. In Australia the company is announcing that the trans-Pacific route by its steamers is tho safest and quickest way to England, and as the steamers fly tho American (lag this cannot be gainsaid. With tlio largo number of pcoplo who find it a matter of urgency to got hack to England as quickly as possible, the Oceanic boats are being rushed, and it is said tliat nearly 100 passengers were shut out of the Ventura, which sailed from Sydney'on August 29. . In tho Magistrate's Court at Hawcra yesterday, Ah Joe, a Chinaman, was fined £5 for having in his possession opium suitablo for smoking.—(Press Association.) . Tho price of the 21b. loaf of bread was advanced from 35<1. to 4(1. yesterday, as. tho result of tho rise in tlio price of flour, now quoted at £13 per ton, f.0.b., in the south,.

A meeting of .the Astronomical Society to welcome, Professor J. W. Nicholson, of the London University, was held in the Kelburn Observatory yesterday, Mr. A. C. Gifford presiding Dr. Hector gave a summary of the present position with regard to the Oawthron. Solar Physics Observatory for the information of Professor Nicholson, who sailed for Nelson last night Ito soe the suggested site. Professor Nicholson gave practical hints to the society of useful work that might bo done hero with comparatively inexpensive apparatus. Professor Nicholson will deliver a lecture on "The Spectre of Astro Physics" at the Museum on Wednesday evening. The Chinese merchants and shopkeepers will close their establishments tomorrow morning between the hours of 10 and noon, while the body of tho lato Mr. Wong Way Ching, who was. lntirdered on Friday night last, is beinjj oncoffined, and also as a mark of sympathy with tho family of deceased. At St. Augustine's Hall, Petone, last evening a card tournament was played between the Lower Hutt Hibernian Society and the Poneke Lodge of Druids. The contest resulted in a win for the Hibernians by 19 to 15. A "leg in" was thus obtained by the latter for the Druids' shield. The Minister of Education paid a flying visit to Ashburton yesterday afternoon, and laid the foundation-stone of the rectory that is being erected at a cost of £3767 in connection with the Ashburton High School.—(Press Association.) The Christclmreh City Council last night made a grant of £500 for relief Works for the unemployed, eaye a Press Association telegram. At the- Lower Hutt Police Court yesterday, before Messrs. Chapman and James, J.P.'s, two charges were preferred against Thomas Yelden, one of. behaving in a manner calculated to provoke a breaoK of the peace, and the other of'indecenny. On the first charge, Yelden was filled 10s. and costs, and on , the: second he was convicted and , discharged. '