LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2256, 16 September 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The inquest on "Wong Way Ching, tlio Cliineso fruiterer who was murdered in his shop in Adelaide Road on Friday niglit, will bo opened at the MagisCourt at 4 o'clock on Friday afternoon. . Mr. J. W. H. Scotland, the local aviator, was in Wellington yesterday to take delivery of his new two-coater Le Rhone-Caudr.on biplane, which arrived from England by the Kaikoura. He left for the south with tho machine last evening, and expects to fly in it within tho next fortnight. Councillor Fuller will move at tomorrow night's meeting of the City Council: ''That in view of the apparent determination of tho General Manager of Now Zealand Railways to abolish tho To Aro Railway Station, the City Council take immediate steps to negotiate to secure tho same for a market site, and that an effort bo made to retain the railroad to To Aro, it being essential to the success of a metropolitan municipal market." Wanganui, according to our special correspondent, is experiencing a succession of dull mornings and bright afternoons, with fresh westerly winds and a high glass. No rain lias fallen for nearly a month. Advice was received in town yesterday that Messrs. Baigent Bros.' sawmill at Akatarawa was totally destroyed by Aro between last Friday night and Saturday morning. When the outbreak was discovered at 4 a.m. on Saturday the main building was in full blaze, and as it was impossible to check the flames, tho mill was soon iv heap of ashes. Tho damage is computed to be not far short of £1500. Tho loss suffered by the owners is said to be a severe one, as some portions of the building and additions thereto, which were only erected fifteen months ago, were not covered by insureuco. Normally, tho mill' gives employment to about twenty hands, and if the boiler can be repaired an effort will be made to ro-erect the mill.

Writing from London on August 5,. just after the declaration of war, a London correspondent says: "Briga-dier-Gonoral R. H. Davies, C.8., Hie New Zealand officer who has been in command of the 6th Infantry Brigade for the last four years, and was on the eve of relinquishing the post, has now seen Ms second great mobilisation, tho first being at the time of the Agadir incident. General Davies's Bngado is part of the first expeditionary force at Aldershot, so he will bo fortunate enough, to see active service with the brigade he has commanded so 'efficiently.'"

"The Government, has set up a committee to inquire into the question of the rising cost of foodstuffs, which. is undoubtedly !a serious one. It is, however, difficult to see in what way any good, results oan bo attained from the inquiry. In many casesit is claimed that the rises m foodstuffs, etc., are due to the war. many cases it is claimed that tho rises thus increasing the cost to the importers, and this extra cost has to bo passed on. It is well known, too, that there exists a shortage at the present time of many artioles. Then there is the unexpected cost of transhipment of goods from Gorman steamers from Australia, which additional cost it haa been ruled is payable by the importer. How then are prices to be regulated?"— From the annual report of the Wellington Industrial Association.

A very enjoyable concert was given on the Red Funnel liner Manuka on Monday evening during the run from Sydney to Wellington. Among, the list of performers were Miss Pullen-Burry, Miss Aimiri Rutherford', Miss Rose Loader, Miss Dickenson, and Mr. Walter Kirby, tho Melbourne tenor. A disquisition- on English humour was given, by Professor W. M. Davis, a member of the British Association. The proceeds are* to be handed over to the Hon. Lady Stanley for the British Red Cross Fund.

"Strong appeals have baen made to the Minister of Customs (says the annual report of the 'Wellington Industrial Association), to introduce a promised Customs Tariff Reform Bill, and a considerable amount of information regarding the handicaps under which many of our manufacturers are striving have been submitted to him. We were hopeful that _ something would have been done this, session of Parliament, but we,are informed, that it has been decided that the Bill will not be introduced this session. No Government likes _ handling a Customs Tariff Bill, but if our manufactories are to progress, assuredly something must be done in order that many of our manufacturer may consider it worth while continuing manfacturing. This is a matter which equally affects,, our workers. Perhaps, however, the'existing crisis will cause: our people to show patriotism, and remember the old adage' that 'Charity begins at home,' and that a demand will spring up for goods 'made in _ New Zealand.' It is one of two things—patriotism of our own people in supporting New Zealand industries, or — revision of Customs tariff. Which is it to be?"

At the annual meeting of the Wellington Industrial Association, held last evening, Mr. Thos. Ballinger pointed out that any limited liability company that was registered for the purpose had a, representative on the Arbitration Court. ,Ho stated that it was his belief that only three companies were so registered in Wellington, three in Dmiediu,-and only ono in Christchurch. Circumstances may arise when' it might be necessary to have strong voting power, and as it cost nothing to register (it was a more formality) all limited liability companies should consider the matter. Mr. L. T. Watkins said that: Mr. Ballinger should bo thauked for having brought the matter up, as the Arbitration Court was certainly.the inost vital institution in the country in regard to labour matters.

"Foster local industry" is'one of the guiding principles of the Wellington Industrial Association, and the feeling was expressed at the annual meeting ofithat body last evening when mention was made of the proposal of tho Railway Managor (Mr. E. H. Hiley) to import locomotives from America (vide that official's annual report). On noting tlio statement that the Government workshops and Messrs. A. and 6. Brico were not able to keep pace with the demand for locomotives-, the secretary (Mr, H. F. Allen) telegraphed to Messrs. A. and •G. Price to know their position, and received tho-reply that they were just starting on a now lot of twenty engines, and thereafter would be able to turn out one every five weeks. This was communicated to the Prime Minister, tho Minister of Railways, Sir Joseph Ward, and others, with' the suggestion, that local' industry,'should he carefully considered beforo\auy orders were dispatched to America, especially at a time like- the present. ! -'

Among the war cables "published on Soptember 4 lust was a message from New York stating that many United States papers disclosed much pro-Ger-man feeling. A resident of Wellington on seeing this 'cabled- to Nov/ York, and has now received a reply that the American Press as a wholo'is distinctly favourable to Great Britain.—Press Association.

_Mr. J. W. Pearce, of, Pahautanui, who is seeking election to the Hutt County Council, for Horokiwi Riding, is anxious that Plimmerton should have access to tho city other than by rail. Plimmerton has had a place on the map for 25 years, and yet it is as much isolated now as ever from the city, so far as road connection is concerned. Thore is, of course, a road via Pahautanui, 10 miles to Plimmerton over hills, and the road is steep in some- parts. IA bridge at Paremata, over the harbour, not a long 6pan, and a road thence parallel with the railway _ would reduce the_ distance very considerably, besides doing away with the steep gradients.