LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2266, 28 September 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

An English (via Suez) and Australian mail arrived at Auckland from Sydney by the Riverina at 12.20 p.m. yesterday. The southern portion of the vessel's mails will arrive in Wellington by this afternoon's Main Trunk express. The Prime Minister informed a reporter yesterday that the proclamation fixing the prices of wheat and flour would probably be issued' to-day. It will be considered by Cabinet this morning. ' included i» the passengers due at Wellington from London by R.M.S. Ruahino about Friday next are 176 "assisted" immigrants. They compriso 33 domestic servants, 11 farm labourers, and 132 separated relatives. Absurd rumours were being circulated in Wellington by irresponsible people on Friday and Saturday concerning the Now Zealand Shipping Company's mail steamer Rualiine. As a matter of fact, the liner was late in leaving London, and was not due at Hobart till Saturday last. She omitted the usual call at Capo Town, and when !• the vessel was 1000 miles out from the Tasmanian port she was "picked up" by the Hobart wireless station.. Official advice was received in Wellington yesterday to the effect that the Ruahino had arrived safely at Hobart. Sho is duo at Wellington about Friday next with a largo number of passengers and a large general cargo. Mr. Edwin H. Lemare, the eminent English organist., has been ei. gaged to givo one hundred recitals at the San Francisco Panama-Pacific Exposition. The Wgagement lias caused a gcod deal of discussion in America, wnere some papers are saying that thero has been discrimination shown to tho disadvantage of native-born organists. Ono chiirgo made against Lemare (who, it will bo remembered opened the Wellington Town Hall organ) is that he lias tho console 'stop-plan' of tho organ made to his own specifications, which makes the instrument of less general use than would bo tho case wcro the standard console adopted. Tho ' Musical Courier" said that Lemare had this done when ho was appointed to Pittsburg, and his successor had to have the console ripped out entirely and another substituted that would answer average needs.

Sousa, the American composer-con-ductor, has been very busy during the past summer. In conjunction with Joseph Herbert ho has composed a new opera entitled "The Irish Dragoon." Ho has completed his orchestral suite, "Tales of a Traveller," and has writton an entirely now one cutitlod "Impressions at the Movies," and a march ontitled "The Lambs," which is dedicated to the Lambs' Club, of New York. His engagements for the season now beginning in America include a protracted engagement at tho FanamaPacific Exposition (which opens on February 20). Tho Minister of Marino (tho Hon. F. M. B. Fisher) is to open tho new Aquarium at the Newtown Park "Zoo" at 3 p.m. to-morrow. It was through the agency of the Minister that the Wellington City Council was ablo to secure all tho fittings and tanks belonging to tho Government Aquarium in flie Auckland Exhibition, which gift tho Marino Department has mado complete by re-erecting everything at tlio "Zoo.' 1 The location of the.Municipal Aquarium is on tho. western side of tho path .leading southwards from the lions' den. At the annual general meeting of the Wellington Master Hairdressers' and Tobacconists' Association held last week, tho following officers were elected for tho ensuing year:—President, Mr. M. Walsh; vice-presidents, Messrs. Downes, Tumor, Osboru, and Howe; general committee, Messrs. Corneal, Armit,_ Anderson, Morris, Shakes, WalEer, Edginton, Banks, Knowsley, and Boffa; •hon. seoretary and treasurer, J. Berman. It was also, decided to fcrm a deputation to wait upon the Premier (Mr. Massey) to' placo before him several grievances that the trade hive to contend- with. Eeoently the Farmers' Union Ccnference made representations to the Government urging'tho introduction of a Stallions Bill, and the °ecretary for Agriculture has f<srwarded to the secretary of the union the following reply: "I have the honour, by direction of the Hon. Minister of Agriculture, tc inform you that the representations made have been noted. It is doubtful whether opportunity will be found this setsion for introducing this Bill owing to the exceptional circumstances, but it is hoped . to take as early an opportunity as possiblo of having the Bill placed ~n tho Statute Book. 7 ' . • . . The anniversary services of the Thonidon Methodist Sunday Schools were successfully held yesterday, when the celebrations -were largely attended, especially in the evening, the church being filled to overflowing. The church was tastefully decorated for the • occaaion with flowers and evergreens. In the morning tho Rev. J. G. Chapman delivered an appropriate discourse on "Tho Child's Imagination," whilst in the afternoon a youug people's address of an interesting character was given by the Rev. P. J. Cossum. Owing to the illness -pf the Rev. G. S. Cook, the evening service was also conducted by tho Rev. P. J. Cossum, who inade an earnest appeal for tho co-operation of the parents in the spiritual training of the young. A special feature of the services was the splendid singing of the scholars and choir, who acquitted themselves in an admirable manner under the able ijonductorship of Mr. T. Sims, •whilst Misses J. Nicholas and W. Stokes officiated at the organ and piano respectively. The celebrations will be continued on Wednesday evening, when the anniversary concert will be held. The weather in South Canterbury is cold and l stormy, hut there is not much rain yet. Snow is lying on the low frontal ranges.—Press Association.