LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2259, 19 September 1914, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities advise that the s.s. Maheno, which left Sydney on Wednesday for Auckland, is bringing Australian mails, and also an English mail via Suez. The- Wellington portion of it is due per Main Trunk express on Monday afternoon. The dato of the inquest on the Chinaman, Wong Way Clung) who was 'murdered in his shop in Adelaide Road last week, has not yet been Qsed. It wil probably be held, some time next wee) The Naval and Military Tournament, held each year in New Zealand under the auspices of tho Defence Department, will take place in Duuedin on December 29 and p. ( Yesterday, Detectives Andrews and Dempsey arrested a man on a charge of deserting from the Corinthic while that vessel was at Lyttelton. It is not often that the mouthpieces of Labour ha-vo a good word to eay for any member of the present Government, but there was an exception- at meeting of the unemployed at Christchurch'(says the "Press"). Mr. E. J. Howard remarked that,.though he knew that there was a tendency to use what was said by Labour men for politic; ,, purposes, yet he believed in saying what was true. He believed that the sympathies of Mr. Fraser, Minister of Public Works, were with the working man at the present time. "That is a big statement for one. you may call a Socialist to make," ho continued, "regarding a capitalist Minister and a Conservative Minister, but I believe Mr. Fraser is ono out of a number of exceedingly honest fellows ■ who sympathise with tho workers. Once. Mr. Frasor realised the truth of the position he got Gomething going." The Chinaman Wong Joe, who was assaulted in Courtenay Place on Thursday last, pas reported from the Hospital last night to be doing fairly well. Tho Roy. W. E. Souter, the Presbyterian Missionary from China, now in Wellington, dismisses the cabled, news of an offer of troop.? to England by tho Dalai Mama of Tibet as "utter bunkum." "Why," said Mr. Souter, "ho hasn't got any troops to send. There might be a couple of Russians, who are said to have been with tho poetical and religious head of the Tibetans, who are going to tho war, but there aro no troops thero that would be of service to any western, nation. Tho Chinese Viceroy Chao-er-Fong carried Jiro and sword through that country somo years ago, and put all idea of fight out of the heads of the Tabctans." Mr. Scotland, the Now Zealand aviator, has expressed his willingness to give an exhibition of aerial scouting in his new biplane, which was recently landed at Wellington, and shipped, to Lyttelton. According to the "Press," Mr. Scotland has mado arrangements to ascend from Lancaster Park", Cliristcluirch, on September 26. tho flight i< bo made in conjunction with the Canterbury Football Association's Cup finals, which will bo played on tho same date. A man will appear in Court this morning charged with secreting tobacco at Mount Cook gaol for the prisoners. He was arrested yesterday by Detective Andrews and Constablo Adams,

The question having been raised as to whether officers of the New Zealand Staff Corps and R.N.Z.A. are eligible for the Colonial Auxiliary Forces longservice medal tho matter was referred to Headquarters, and the following ruling has been given:—"Officers of tho Now Zealand Staff Corps and the R.N.Z.A. are not eligible for the above medal unless they have had twenty years' servico in the auxiliary forces. Tlie New Zealand Staff Corps and R.N.Z.A. are not considered auxiliary forces, and tho modal is not granted for paid service." The Norwegian barque Activ, many years ago known as the English trader llothesay Bay, arrived at Lytteltou on Wednesday. Sixty-two days'had passed sinco the vessel left a port in Madagascar, and it was not until Monday last that another vessel was sighted. It happened to bo the coastal 6tewner Rakiura, in Cook Strait, but the officers on that vessol mentioned not a word of tho outbreak of hostilities in Europe-. Consequently there was no little comment on board when Captain Thargersen learned tho news nnd was informed that his vessel was entering a port where the forts were placed on a war footing. Tho crew of the Activ belong to various nationalities, but the police authorities soon established the neutrality of thoße on board. An exciting incident took place on board the German-Australian finer Australia in Colombo on Oho night of August 29, according to statements by passengers on the mail steamer Moqltan. An officer of tho Australia is said to have attempted to descend towards the holds, where there was, a large amount of explosive When a Punjabi guard requested him not to do eo, the officer insisted on going below, and pushed the guard on ono side. He was on his way down, when tho Punjabi fired and wounded him. The officer is stated to have been removed to tho hospital. During August, according to our special correspondent, the Wanganui Tramways earned 166,390 passengers, being 3000 moro than the number for the same period last year. The month's/ revenue was £1312 75., of which £267 wae earned by tho Gonville Tramway Board, which experienced the shortage in receipts usual during the winter months. The members of the Maori party who were received by the King and the Queen at Buckingham Palace on June 4, are expected-to arrive in Auckland towards tho end of this month. The party comprised Te Rata, the Maori "king," :Tupu Taingakawa Te Waharoa, Meta Kwaka, and G. G. Paul, the interpreter and secretary, and they sailed from Auckland on April 11. They proposed to bring certara grievances regarding the Treaty of Waitangi before the notice of the King, but on arrival in London they were warned that this .course was inadvisable, and their visit to the King was explained to have been strictly private and purely ceremonial. The return journey was begun in tho eteamer ot> way, but when the war broke out that vessel was delayed at Gibraltar. Returning to London, 'the "king" party took passage in the Blue Funnel liner Nestor, and ..according to advice received in Auckland they expect to reach Sydney in time to ioin the Riverina on September' 23, and arrive in Auckland on the following Sunday. The safety of the Southern Pacific does not appear to be causing such concern to passenger and cargo steamers as was the case two or threo weeks ago (reports the Auckland "Star"). Passengers who arrived by tho Navua from Suva on Thursday state that the voyage was accomplished without incident, and even without apparent precautions. Whereas the Navua had gone down to the Islands'with masked lights, ehe returned with ■ ordinary '.-lights. An Island passepger, when'asked if the war was causing much concern in tho Fijian Group, replied in the negative. "The people would not be surprised to see German warships turn up any day," he said, "but they are really, taking matters very calmly." In reply to a further question the visitor remarked that there did not worn to bo any marked scarcity of food.