LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2276, 9 October 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities notify that the transmission of mails from the_ Dominion to Australia, Austrian agencies, Germany, German agencies and • colonies, Hungary, and Luxemburg is suspended. ' The constant hum of conversation that goes on in the House of Representatives, particularly when the preliminary business of each day's sitting is being transacted, was very marked yesterday afternoon. The extreme-pati-once of Mr. Speaker showed signs of reaching the breaking-point, and he rebuked members in tho following words: "I shall havo to name _some honourable gentlemen if they continue to talk like this. If they want to talk they should go into tho lobby." ■ ■ , Representatives of country districts who are anxious to secure totalisator permits for racing clubs extinguisbodby the Racing Commission of 1910 are impatient to learn the intentions of tho Government regarding the allocation of tho extra permits to be issued under Mr. -Hunters Bill. This Bill was passed by both Houses this session, but tho Governor has not yet announced his assent to the measure. In reply to ■ a question in the House yesterday as to when the Government would declare the allocations, Mr. ■ Massey said that tho Bill was not yet law. As soon as it became law the Government would allocate the permits. Tho Royal Wellington Choral Society, has decided to perform Coleridge Taylor's cantata, "A Tale of, Old Japan," on November 20. It is understood that tho principals the committee have in mind havo never beforo appeared in any of the society's performances. The Eastbourne Borough .Council has decided to reduce the faro to troopers in uniform to half-price (namely, 6d. return) on tho harbour ferry steamers to and from Eastbourne and Day's Bay during tho stay of tho troopships in tho harbour. At tho inquest beforo Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., yesterday touching the doath of Mary Parman, a widow, sixty years of age, who was discovered dead in bed at 13 Abel Smith Street on Monday last, Dr. W/ Kington Fylfc, who made a post-mortem examination of the body, gave tho causo of death as syncope, and a verdict was returned accordingly.

The Zoo gate receipts for September amounted to £53 Is. 3d. From October 1 to 7 they amounted to £21 14s. 9d., the added interest of the aquarium probably accounting for the increase. Zoo sales for September amounted to £5 3s. 6d.

Further complaints regarding the new system of enrolling electors were voiceu iii tho House of Representatives yesterday by Mr. G. W. Russell. The Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, Minister in charge of the Electoral Department, said that after obtaining a personal statement from the chief electoral officer he was quite satisfied that when tho main rolls, which closed on Wednesday night, were made up, it would be found that they were larger than the main rolls in use at tho last elections. Tho experts of the Electoral Department were perfectly satisfied with the present system, and no registrar in the Dominion had reported adversely upon it.

As far as visitors are concerned-the trout-fishing season in New Zealand is likely to be a dull one. Usually at this time of the year each Australian and Home steamer brings its quota of "Izaak Waltons," who have either fished the lakes and streams of this country before or have heard of the marvellous baskets secured by others. Usually these include a fair sprinkling of Army officers from India, who find New Zealand not only a paradise for sport, but the best health-recruiting ground that tho Southern Hemisphere can offer. This year these men will have more important and lets healthy engagements to keep. Such places as Taupo, Tokaanu, Wairakei, Rotorua, Temuka, and Queenstown are.sure to feel the absence of oversea visitors during the next six months.

The inimitable Mr. Payne amused the House pi Representatives yesterday afternoon for a few seconds. ■ Having asked to be allowed to ask a question without notice of the Prime Minister, in the absence at the moment of the Minister of Defence, he produced from underneath his desk "an exhibit," as he called it. The exhibit was a small loaf of bread, with a piece of butter adhering to it, and Mr. Payne displayed it on a piece of foolscap paper. ■ "I have in my hand an exhibit/' he announced, amid laughter and jeers, '-'the daily broad and butter ration of the men on the troopships." Mr. Massey: "This question had better Stand over. It is quite impossible for me to answer a question on a matter of detail like this without notice." Mr. Payne went on to speak, but he had done no more than to address Mr. Speaker, when Mr. Speaker informed him that he 'would not be in order in going on with any further • statement. Mr. Payne: "I just wish to say one word." Mr. Speaker: "The honourable member

will resume bis seat;" Mr. Payne subsided,for tho moment, but later he gave notice of the question, asking the Minister to inquire into the victualling of the troops, and to soy whether the exhibit was a 'sufficient allowance of bread and butter for a soldier "for his four meals a day." ' '

Mr. F. P. Kelly, owing to his departure from Wellington, has resigned his seat on tho Eastbourne Borough Council. An election to fill the vacanoy has been fixed for Thursday, Ootober 29, nominations closing at noon on Thursday, October 22. A petition asking that casual railway employees of ten years' service and over be placed upon a better footing has been considered by the Railways Committee of the House of Representatives, and tho Committee recommended lit to the Government for favourable consideration. ' In a letter to the Prime Minister asking his approval of the Boy ScoutB 1 movement for raising £2000 now, instead of at a later date, it was stated that in some quarters people thought that owing to the. stringency of the money market tho movement was really against the interests of tho Government and of'patriotic efforts. In reply the Prime Minister writes:—"Personally, I am in favour of tho action which you aro taking in tho direction of obtaining funds for the purpose of procuring a salaried organiser for the Boy Scout movement. As you may be awaro, I am already a patron of tho organisation, 'l'ho good work which tho lads are doing in fitting themselves for citizenship is well <known, and has been t brought particularly under public notice since tho war broke out. I shall be glad to hear that you are successful in your, efforts in raising the money required to place the organisation »f. the Boy Scouts on a still better footing."

Somo concern is expressed in Christchurch (states a Press Association telegram) regarding the whereabouts of a Cnristehurch business man, well known in land agency and legal circles, who left town eight or ten days ago to inspect some land in the North Island, and who had not returned when expected. ' . :,

Strong northerly winds _ (have been much in evidence in Wellington Harbour 'recently,, and as a result some of the small vessels-anchored in. Kaiwarra Bight have caused a heavy strain on their anchors. The strain was evidently too much for tho small steam trawler Energy, and she dragged her anchor and went ashore near the Thorndon Baths yesterday morning. The little vessel has apparently made a good deal of water,, and at low tide she had a decided list. An attempt to pump tho water out during the morning failed; and it is probable that another effort will be made to-day. Arrangements have also been made to tow tho°Energy off at the first 'available opportunity.

v There ■ was some mild excitement in Queen Street, Auckland, on Wednesday. A woman, somewhat showily dressed, went into a iewcller'sshop, and asked to he shown some wedding rings. She spent some time in trying them on, explained that she didn't'intend getting married, but that she was going "out to dinner with a friend." She further stated that she was afraid her hands were not very clean, and asked that she should be excused if she turned her back on the attendant while she tried the rings. Then finally she explained that she would go and ask her "boy" who was waiting outside what he thought about it. When the attendant came to count up the rings he found one was missing. The proprietor was informed, and followed tlio woman down Queen Street into a hotel. The assistance of a policeman was sought, and Detective Gourlay was also informed of the incident. A preliminary search resulted in 'a bottle of whisky' being found in the woman's stocking, and sho was forthwith conveyed to the lock-up in order that a oloser investigation might be made. ' ' The Dunodin correspondent of a Cbristchurch paper states that the Government is taking over for closer settlement from Mr. John Munsell.ls36 acres in Tuapeka AVcst district, the leases of which expire in 1921. Delivery is to bo given in March. The country has been used almost exclusively for grazing purposes, but it can be turned to advantage for grain and root cropping, or, in other words, for "mixed farming." A number of adjoining runs are also being acquired by tho Government. At the New Zealand Club's luncheon in Christchurch to Sir Douglas Mawson yesterday afternoon, tho explorer referred to tho Government's action in throwing, open tho Auckland Islands to fur-sealers, and expressed his regret thereat. . Ho said that ho could not understand it, and considered that it was a terrible mistake. (Applause.) It was known that there wore, only a few fur seals left, and it was not worth while to throw tho islands open for tho few odd skins obtainable.—Press Association. Mr. Ernest Mowbray has been elected a member of the committee of the Royal Wellington Choral Society, vice Mr. W. J. Hueston, resigned.