LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2280, 14 October 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tho Postal authorities Advise that tilia b.s. Jierama, which left Sydney on Saturday for Wellington, and is due this morning, is bringing Australian mails only. The Postmaster-General announces, in regard to the suspension, of tho use of telegraphic oode addresses registered with the Post and Telegiaph Department, that holders of such addresses will be allowed, free of charge, upon re-establish-ment of the system, tho use of the code addresses for a period equal t<> that during which they have been deprived. "A sort'of outside strong influence within the Gabiuet."—A description applied by Mr. W. A. Veit-ch to Sir Walter Buchanan in the House of- Representatives yesterday aftornoon. The Christclnirch Stock Exchange has invited tho other New Zealand Exchanges to compote in a rifle shooting match on Labour Day, Monday, October. 26. During th'eir long stay in Adelie Laud, said Sir Douglas Mawson, in lecturing at tho Grand Opera House last night all members at tho base undertook to cook the meals on different occasions. The results were sometimes strange. One novice undertook to bake some soda bread, but forgot to put in tho baking powder. - He baked the bread for 24, hours before giving up hope that it would rise. Then he threw the-loaf outside. "We think he threw it outside." ■ said the locturer, "for next morning a'dog brought it in. It was the most petrified thing I have over seen. For two years that same loaf kept cropping up, and when I was leaving I saw it standing on a. rock, and I believe it will- be there when the nest Antarctic expedition goes down." (Laughter.) The party did not always fare 60)badlyj for during the second year seven of them ate 7000 penguin eggs. : . : An unusual class of theft charge came before Mr. Frazer, S.M., at Auckland yesterday (states a Press Association message), when John. Auld (46), a plumber with a prosperous business, wlio for twelve years has been instructor in the Technical College was charged that on September 25 he stole 225. worth of block zinc from tho college, and on October 12 committed a similar theft.-' He pleaded guilty, and was "fined £10 on "the first charge and £20 on the second. . ■ • Councillor L. M'Kenzie will move attomorrow's meeting of the City Council: "That the council consider the advisability of cleaning the public footpaths iu the business area of tie city, such work to be carried out at night. "In common with other sports," says the council of tlie New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association m its annual report, "rowing lias felt during tho past year the etfects of the late- strike, ■and this is particularly noticeable in the abandonment of several regattas (annual fixtures) in various parts ot the Dominion. Now, with our Empire engaged in. war, and a large number of members of affiliated clubs away on, active service, prospects for a good year may noFbo rosy, but at the samej tune tho council is optimistic, and thinks that the various local associations and tlieir clubs can, even in the face of difficulties, continue to advance their sport by securing young members, and tie holding of as many regattas or inter-club races' as possible. The council takes this opportunity of congratulating all oarsmen who have volunteered for active service." \ meeting held in Dunedin last night with the object of forming a branch of the Moderate League was well attended, says a Press Association teegram., Dr. W Brown presided, and the Dominion organiser. Mr. Armstrong, expjiuued tho objects J the league. A motion m favour of forming a branch of the loaguo was carried with one dissentient. Those present signed cards of membership, and Mr. W. C. MacGregor was appointed president. Tho question of having all new loco> motives required for the railways of tho Dominion manufactured within Now Zealand in preferenco to placing orders abroad was discussed at last nights meeting of tho Wellington Industrial Association. Tho president, Mr. C. H. Norwood, considered that it would bo or great advantage to tho city were the Government induced to place an ordor or two for locomotives with Wellington firms. A big percentage of' tho eugines at present iu uso were obsolete, and a largo number of new ones wore required. On tho suggestion of Mr. a. p Allen it was decided to interview several of the local engineering firms with the object of finding out if they would lav down the necessary plant if they received orders from the Government. The Johnsonvillo Town Board's first monthly meeting was. held Iμ inight. read from the Minister of, »««»>« pointing out that .as various fecal bodies interested in the H itt Road havo taken no stops to nrovido for tho maintenance of tho rood, *•» " mont intended to sidy, and would bring down the necossarv legislation lor the enforcement of payment of the capital cost as well as tho maintenance or.the road. On the motion of Commissioner Moore, tho matter was left in tho hands of tho board's representative.

Track telephones have recently been abolished on the Wellington tramways and tho wires for the service are being removed over tho greater portion of the lines. Tho Karori < Borough Council, which has for some time past been considering the question of establishing telephone communication between Ka« rori Park and the Council Chambers, has arranged to take over the track telephone over that portion of tho line, and by means of slight alterations will have the communication it has been seeking to establish. A sensation was caused in the Napier Hospital (states an exchange) by a Jlaori patient, who was in tho institution suffering from pneumonia. During the night he became delirious, and acquired a mania for smashing lamps. Hβ sprang, out of bed, divostod himself of his night attire, and rushed down the passage. On the way down he encountered a nurse, hit out and knocked her over, and then rushed outside. -A light at £ho entrance gates attracted his attention, and for' this he made a beelino. He was captured after a> strugglo, in -which tho night porter and another man received blaok eyes, and taken back to bed. Just as he was being strapped down the burly Native espied a light above him. With ono great leap he freed himself of hie captore, and smashed the lamp with one blow, leaving the room in darkness. A scuffle ensued, but he was eventually overpowered and strapped down. Then the, relapse came, and left him weak as a child. A Wanganui correspondent states that a record fruit crop is expected this year—an excellent early spring , and tho absence of late frosts being the chief factors. On the other hand, the Alexandra correspondent of the "Otago Daily Times" says:- "I am informed on all hands that the damage done by. frost to the early varieties of apricots, peaches, and even cherry plums is widespread and very serious."

The names of twenty residents were given in at the meeting convened by Mr. H. A. W. M'Kenzie at Taita on Saturday last for the purpose- of forming a Defence Rifle Club, enrolment forms to be obtained from tho Department without delay. . Evory afternoon ' lately sounde of brass bands playing marches break in upon the Houses of Parliament. Bearing in mind that where there is smoke there is fire, M.P.'s figure out that where there is martial music there are scldiers, and when the first few strains of tho march drift iki through tho windows, members leave their seats, wrench themselves away from the oratory of the moment, and flock out to see the troops. Yesterday afternoon the efflux from the.Legislative Council was so great that the Leader of the Chamber (Hon. H. D. Bell) moved the adjournment of the Council until tho band stopped playing. No one opposed him. By way of an interjection in the House of .Representatives last evening, tho Minister of Railways (Hon. W..H. Herriee) paid that at the present time twenty-six locomotives for the Dominion railways were in tho course of construction in one New Zealand manufactory. ;