LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2278, 12 October 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

' The s.s. Riverina, which left Sydney on Thursday for Auckland, carried Australian mails only, tho Wellington portion of which Jβ" due per Main Trunk express to-morrow morning. Tho resumption of the delivery to NewZealand merchants of contract flour from Australia is expected to take plnce this week. There was a differenceof a week between the lifting of the prohibition on the export of all flour from Victoria and New South 'Wales, tho latter following the former State's lead respecting contract flour a w.eck later. Aβ there is now no regular steamer service between Melbourno and the niuir, tho first lot of flour contracted for beforo tho outbreak of war is expected to orrive hero by the-' Sydney boat on Tuesday next. A military inquiry is to bo held at Christchurch to-day, in connection with the recent firo at King Edward Bar-i-acks.—Press Association. Mr. A. Macphorson, Departmental yield Instructor for the South Island, has been instructed (states a I'ro&s Association message from Christehurch) to go to San Francisco next month, to, take charge of the preparation of Uie New Zealand pavilion and ground at the Panama-Pacific Exposition, and not up tha Now Zealand exhibits in the competitive Bcotion of tho Exposition,

Detectives Lewis and Andrews arrested a man on Saturday night on a chargo of having stolen £17 from Mr. C. B. Daws, Boulcott Street. The accused will appear beforo the Magistrate's Court this morniug.

With regard to the Christchurch business man whoso absence from the city has caused some concern, it is reported • that a nicotine of his creditors will bo held to-day.—Press Association. Yesterday's church parade of the Expeditionary Force was a magnificent and soul-stirring sight. Promptly at 0.30 a.m. the troops formed up into companies on the wharves nearest their ships, and with their brass bands and pipers marched on the Town Hall, their arrival being beautifully timed. The troops looked in splendid fettle, and they marched with the steadiness and carriage of regulars. The Otago companies in particular could be singled out as a splendid body of men, and it was a. heartening sight to see them stepping. out along Wakefield Street to the skirl of the pipes. Atono corner someone in tho crowd with a lively sense of humour sflid: "Hullo, Mac!" Instantly twenty "Macs" twisted their necks to see if they were meant. The funny man knew they were from Otago. What was particularly pleasing to note was the fastidious care with" which every man had taken to look neat and clean. Every trooper was clean shaven and "ship-sliape,' , and the ruddy glow of their complexions, the brightness qf their eyes, and the elasticity of their stride spoke volumes for the health of the Force and the effectiveness of the last six weeks' training. Major A. E. M. Norton, D.5.0,, F.R.G.S., F.G.1., managing director of the Bristol and Dominions' Producers' Association, Ltd., and formerly Trade Commissioner for tho South Australian Government in the United Kingdom, has consented to address members of the Central Chamber of Commerce on Thursday evening next. The subject of Major Norton's adress will be on New Zealand's trade wjth Great Britain, and will havj especial reference to the altered aspects caused by the war. .

Complaints have been made by telephone subscribers at being cut off without being given due notice. The Departmental anewer to these is that the card accounts are sent out at the end of each quarter on which is intimated that if the account is .not paid within seven days the telephone will be disconnected. A similar notification was also' set out in advertisements inserted in all three daily papers in Wellington. A conference of local bodies convened by the Manawatu County vrill;be held at Marten on Monday (states a Press Association telegram) to discuss the Fox-ton-Sandon tramway extension to connect -with the Main Trunk line, Mr. Newman, M.P., said the passing of the Railway Bill would afford facilities for the extension of a .tramway which the local bodies throughout the district had been agitating for for many years. If the tramway was extended, Foxton, port would grow in importance as a distributing centre. ■ , Special Sunday School anniversary services were held in Wesley . Church, Taranaki Street, yesterday. The Rev. A. E. Hunt preached iii the morning, the Eov. G. Knowlcs Smith in the afternoon, and the Rev. J. G. Chapman in the evening. At all services the cemgrogatiops were, good, but at night the church was crowded, about 1500 people being present, while many could hot be admitted/ The addresses at the three services' were appropriate to the occasion, either addressed specially to the children or dealing with child life, and the training of the child. Tho celebration of the anniversary will be continued on Wednesday wi£h a "monster tea meeting," to be followed by a 1 'public meeting in the (ihurch. At this'latter :meetirig<tho'-children of tho primary department of the Sunday School will given an interesting demonstration of their work.

. Tho influence of tho war upon - the real estate market was noted by His Honour Mr. Justice Cooper, sitting in Chambers at"Auckland. In.giving instructions with regard to the administration of a deceased person's estate, His Honour stipulated that tho property should not be sold at less than tlie Government valuation. "I mako the'order to sell at not less than the Government valuation," ho said,, "because the market for reid estate is dead, and the proporty might he thrown away."

The building of a dredge for the purpose of dredging the Waihi swamp has been decided upon by Cabinet. It was expected that it would be possible to carry out the work by moans of a dredge now in use at tho Rangitaiki swamp, hut ae the latter work is likely to occupy some time longer, it hns been considered advisable to construct a dredge specially for tho Waihi swamp work. The dredge will be built in New Zealand, and will be completed in about three mouths. . . • Should the dry weather experienced recently continue during the next fortnight, it is stated that tho Auckland strawberry crops will bo a comparative failure, says the Auckland "Herald.' The dry spring, already experienced is a contributing factor, and all the crops aro very backward, few beds being at present in flower. A small quantity of berries are now in the market, bait these are of poor quality. They_ are tho product of "old bods," that is, last year's beds, which have been left in. Under ordinary circumstances the market should be in full operation in the first week in November, but, oven iirider the most favourable circumstances, it is expected that tho crop will be later this year.

Four girls who are inmates of the To Oranga Home at Bunvood enjoyed a brief spell of unauthorised liberty on Friday, says a Christchurch paper. They made their bid for freedom shortly after midday. Their flight vras soon dis--1 covered, and the police were communicated with. Absconders from Te Oranga ; usually mako for the lupins, which I flourish on the country 'between the homo and the New Brighton beach. Four police officers—Detectives Hunt, Cox, and Torranee, and Constable M'Leod—made a search, and finally discovered the quartet in a very cleverlycontrived hiding place. The girls were hiding in pairs. Two 'were captured in tho first haul. The other pair were also discovered, but one slipped away while her slower mate was added to the list of captures. The police returned tho three girls to tho home, and resumed tho search for the fourth. Eventually she was found on the Dallirigton Road by Detective Torranco, and shortly afterwards sho rejoined her former companions. A fire at Messrs. J. J. Niven and Co.'s foundry in Palmerston North on Friday afternoon destroyed the wall between the engine Toora and the foun-1 dry, and also reached the roof. It was extinguished by tho firo brigade with only a little loss.—Palmerston correspondent. . Mr. P. J. O'Rcgan delivered an address, under tho auspices of tho SocinlDemocratic Party, in Everybody 6 Theatre last night,, on the subject of Proportional Representation. He explained tho system and the advantages which its supporters claim for it, as the ideal one for securing fair representation not only for a dominant majority, but for all classes of a community. ' There was a sparse audience. Forty years ago, says the "Northern Advocate" (Whaiigarei), tho Maiigakahia Natives gave 160 acres of the Pariotano block to tho Church of Eurland as a church site, and 30i acres at Pakotai as a school site In that long period no titles were lipid for tho silts. Both these gifts wore'discussed at the meeting of the Native Land Court last week, when the donations were confirmed. This is an instance of straight dealing which reflects tho greatest credit on tho Maußakahia- Natives.

The Central Mission Silver Band played a programme of music in the Hospital grounds yesterday. As a result of the collection taken £2 14s. 2d. will go to the Hospital funds. A serious condition is developing in tho dairying districts of the Waikato, says an exchange. The absence of rain has already depreciated the pastures, and the production of milk is being reduced considerably. The quantity of produce manufactured in August was very much larger than at the opening of last ssason, but the returns for September showed a much smaller increase. A representative ;of one of the principal dairying companies stated that'unless abundant rain falls within a fortnight the position mil be most serious. ''The New Zealand farmer is too prosperous, to go in for poultry farming," «aid Major Norton, of tho Bristol Producers' Association, during a lecture pfc Ashburton. "Yet you will he surprised to learn," ho continued, "that in the United States of America' twice as much poultry produce is sold as any other farm produce." The speaker referred also to the fruit-grow-iii(|; and 'honey industries, which werei gaining a big hold in America and in South Australia. It. had been found that these two industries wero inseparable. Science had proved that • the successful fruitgrower must keep bees. Acting upon a resolution agreed to at tho last meeting of the Hutt Park Committee in respect' to the site for a High School for Petone, Hutt Valley, and Eastbourne, for which purpose the Education Board had asked for t<m acres on the nortb-west corner, the chairman (Mr. H. Baldwin) and several membnrs of the committee visited the suggested area during ,the week-end. 'It w«s eventually decided- to inform tho hoard that the committee was. unable to grant ten acres, but would be willing to meet the board's representatives on the grounds, with a View to alloting a smaller area. ■ The committee then inspected the shed that'bad been demolißhed by No. 3 Battohy, and agrod to claim £50 as damages from the Government.