LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2262, 23 September 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Governor-General of Australia has sent the following reply to a message of sympathy and condolence forwarded by tho Governor of New Zealand in con. nection with the loss of the Australian submarine: "On behalf of myself and my Government, desiro to express great appreciation of your messago of sympathy with Australia in the loss of submarine AE 1. (Signed), GovernorGeneral of Australia. The caso of a naturalised Gorman who is still compelled to report himself daily to tho polico in Ohristclmrch was mentioned by Mr. G. W. Russell in the House of Representatives yostorday. This man had lived for fourteen years in British colonies, ten of them in Christchurdi, and he had received his naturalisation papers, in 1911. He was a law-abiding citizen, paying rates to the extent of £30 a year, and ho had written to Mr. Russell saying that the obligation to report himself to tho polico "rather hurts his feelings towards tho Union.Jack." The Prime Minister said that if the honourable member would forward the name of the man in question he would have inquiries made about the f case. A correspondent writes advocating that tho men of the Expeditionary Force who have parents in Wellington should be given a few hours' leave before departure, in which to arrange their affairs, and say au revoir. The Defence authorities, under whose notice the suggestion was brought, atate that everything possible will be done to allow the men to see their relatives and friends before departure. Gifts addressed to the men, with their regiment and rank stated, may be sent to tho Drill Hall for dispatch to the boats. Private cable advices state that 800 of the employees of the General Electrio Company in London, including the two Messrs. Eying (of the directorate) joined the colours in response to Earl Kitchener's oall for volunteers. The jury in the retrial at Napier of Ashworth, charged with assault, failed to agree (states a Press Association message). An adjournment has been granted till Friday to enable the Crown Prosecutor to communicate with the Justice Department. Mr. Bert Royle, representative for J. C. Williamson, Ltd., has been advised that tho farewell tour of Mr. Julius Knight, tho well-known actor, will commence at Christoliurch on November 7, and conclude in Wellington at Christmas-time. One of the firm's opera companies (probably the Gilbert and Sullivan Company) will fill the Christinas dates at Auckland, and will commence a season here towards the end of January. Already the new Parsons turbine at the Mercer Street lighting power-house has been subjected to a "■warming-up," and everj'thing has been found to be in perfeot order. The engineer in charge (Mr. P. M'ColD'has not been able to give the new engine the load, as the 12-inoh circulating pipes that are being manufactured by Messrs. Cable and Co., are not yet completed, and for the pur-, pose of a preliminary test 6-inch pipes were fitted in substitution for tho larger ones. The armature has been dried up with a current of about 800 amperes (without voltage). With the smaller circulating pipes the engines could develop about a quarter load, but it will not be necessary to run it commercially until the big pipes are ready. The New Plymouth Borough Council's loan proposal to raise £20,000 for the extension of the municipal electric light and power scheme was carried by 256 votes to 75. Very little interest was taken in the poll.—Press Association. The.best ; yiew yet obtained of the new comet since it has-been discovered was obtained from the Wellington Observatory last evening when 46 persons took the opportunity of using the large telescope. The comet is also visible to the naked eye. At yesterday's lunchoon in connection with the New Zealand Club, the president (Mr. F. Pope) announced that it wae not for the want of trying that the committee had not been able to secure the presence at the club of any of the visiting scientists.. It was simply a .matter of not being able to fit the dates in. There was. however, still a chance of securing one of the. visitors. They had also written to General Sir Alexander Godley /inviting him to become the guest of the club before helleftt t but .he had replied ty tho effect that ha did not foel like making a epeech, and was very busy, but if he came baok, ae he hoped to do, ho would tell them all about the campaign. ' Several complaints were made at the meeting of Roseneath ratepayers last evening concerning tram-car No. 55. Various speakers held the opinion that the car in question was not suitable for the Oriental Bay Service. It wae finally, decided that a letter be forwarded to the City Council asking that the car be taken off that run, and pointing out that on account of car 55 being employed on the Bay section a- great amount of revenue was being lost because people had refused to travel by it. A deputation waited on the Karon Borough Council last night in reference to the question of the extension of the special drainage area fixed by Act of Parliament. It was stated that when the Aot was paßsed it gave the Wellington City Council power to create a special drainage area for that portion of Karqri, which could' not be drained otherwise than to the eastward. The deputation pointed out that if the area were so limited the co3t of the scheme would press heavily on. the property-owners affected —so heavily, in fact, that the proposal would probably be. rejected by a poll of ratepayers. On tho other ,hand, if the area were made to include tho whole of what is known as "Beautiful Karori," the rating Wtmld bo on a more equitable basis, and the scheme would be welcome. Tho deputation asked if the council would confor with the city authorities to" ascertain the cost of including this additional area (another 120 acres) before the proposal was put ■before ratepayers. The Mayor (Mr. )V. T. Hildreth) assured, the deputation that the council would consider the matter carefully in the interests of the borough. Later in the evening, the question was discussed in committee. Professor Ernest W. Brown, F.R.S., who lectures on the moon at Victoria College this evening at 8' o'clock, has had a very distinguished career as an astronomer. He is one of the brilliant Cambridge students of the late Sir. G. H. Darwin, and his "Researches in the Lunar Theory" have won him worldwide recognition in this difficult.branch of astronomy. For tho past 23 years Professor Brown has been resident in America, first at Haverford College and now at tho Yalo University. In 1907 ho was awarded the gold medal of tho Royal Astronomical Society, being the seventh astronomer to whom this medal has been awarded for work in connection with the Lunar Theory, his predecessors being Baron Da-moiseau, M. Jean. Plana, Professor P. A. Hansen, Professor J. C. Adams, M. Delaunay, and Dr. G. W. Hill. Despite the fact that there is a city by-law in force prohibiting peoplo from bathing horses in Oriental Bay after 8.30 a.m. on Sundays, the practice, it was stated at the meeting or the Roseneath ratepayers last evening, appears to be still in vogue during both mornings and afternoons. Several sneakers held tho opinion that the practice was dangerous to children, and further it was contended that on account of the horses being present the beach could not be used by residents and their families. After discussion it was resolved to forward letters to tho City Council and Harbour Board asking those bodies to take 6tops to prevent people bathing Iwaea in tho bajti

Tho annual mooting of the Wellington branch of the Royal Now Zealand Association of His Majesty's Veterans was hold at tho Garrison Hall on Monday evening, there being a large attendance of members, who whiled away a pleasant evening in reminiscent talks. The annual report and balance-sheet were adopted, and the following officers were elected: —Vice-president, Lieutenant T. Humphries; lion, secretary and treasurer, S. Stidolph; auditor, T. Bland, J.P.; delegates, R. Tingey and W. Cliristio; trustees, R. Tingey and the Rev. D. 0. Bates; committee! R. Alexander, W. Buck.-W. Christie, R. Tingey, J. Finn, Captain Dalrymple, and' Lieuten nnt Hulbert.' Mr. Hugh Buckler intends to pursue his policy of producing good plays on his return to Sydney. The opening production at the Little Theatre (Sydney) will ,do Mr. R. C. Carton's charming comedy, "Lord and Lady Algy" (played here many years ago by the Broughs), and, following that, Sir J. M. Barrie's "The Admirable Crichton" (played , throngh tho Dominion by tbe Cuyier Hastings Company), and later still Shakespeare's "Cymbeline." Mr. Buckler hopes tq revisit Now Zealand early next year with a new repertoire of plays and a company that will be in every way adequate. . The "Southland_ Times" reports that there is no material change in the local labour market, but that conditions have not improved. There are over seventy members of tho General Labourers' Union on the unemployed list, and others are reported to be making poor time. The sawmilling trade continues quiet, and there is very little inquiry from the country. Artisans, however, continue to be fairly well employed, and a good demand for domestio workers continues. It ought to be mentioned, however, that in many instances tradesmen are not working full time.