LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2323, 3 December 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

There are 1005 bags of mails for New Zealand on the' Mararaa due from San Francisco via Tahiti and Raratonga today. The steamer also has 380 bage for Australia. The Japanese Government advines that there are now no language restrictions'on telegrams addressed to Japan. Counsel and a witness became rather confused as to nationalities during the hearing of a case at the' Magistrate's Court yesterday. "What nationality are you? A Swede?" queried sounsel after he had 'heard''the witness in question utter a few sentences. "I'm a' Scotchman," replied the witness. Counsel was dumbfounded, while the court tittered. Later, however, the same witness informed the- lawyer in question that he mot a countryman of his—an Irishman. , "A countryman of yours: why, I thought you were a Scotchman?" said counsel. The witness appeared] "All the same, I call him a countryman of mine, , ' lie stammeringly replied.

The Mayor (Mr. J. P.' Luke) said that as far as he could gather, what unemployment existed in Wellington as tho result of the war, had been mostly occasioned by the slump in the building trade. When war was declared pending works were to a large extent'hung up, and architects were asked to cease work onplane in the of preparation. The condition was now improving as confidence was being restored in the power of the Allies to deal effectively with the enemy, and several big contracts had been let during the past week or so. The City Council would bs calling for tenders early in the New Year for the erection of the big new, brick car-shed, to be erected on the site of the old horse car-sheds in-Ade-laide Road, and the ordina-ry city services were being fully maintained. /The Rates Office staff of the Oity Corporation is now engaged 'in the issue of. the demands for the second half of the current year. ' This is the second demand to be issued irithin two monthe. The Department of. Tourist and Health Resorts has just issued a aew i and very informative brochure dealing with Rotorua, its, wonders, ite baths, gardens, and scenio attractions, ete. The compilation is neat, and the illustrations faithfully reflect the central features of New Zealand's Spn-larid. Detailed information is giyen of the efficacy of the various treatmtnts obtainable at Rotorua. and a complete price-list of the baths and expert ' attendance is happily appended. The appearauce of Lilian Jukes in the Magistrate's Court is almost invariably accompauied by an impassioned outbreak on her part against the sentences inflicted on her.- Yesterday, sho was charged -with drunkenness, this being her fifth conviotion within the past six months. Accused asked the Magistrate to take a prohibition order out against her. This was done, and in- addition a, sentence of one month's imprisonment was imposed. Immediately she broke into protestations, followed rapidly by violent abuse. She was quickly hustled out of the Court, but this only served to increase her vocal violence. Even when she reached tho courtyard, where sho_ fought -like a tiger, her voico was plainly audible in the Court. \

Mr. H. D. Acland, Reform candidate for Avon, suggested last evening (says a Press Association telegram from OJiristohuroli) ■ that the Government, in addition to purchases - of ivlieatiin Australia and Canada, might borrow sufficient wheat from Australia, ponding the harvesting of our own crop, and return the quantity to them, wlieu tho crop was reaped. This, he eaidj would smash any possible scheme of tile millera to exploit tho public by holding for a big rise in the next few w?eks. The announcement that Miss Una Carter woxild lecture and' demoislrato on Christmas cooking ivas responsible for an unusually large attendance nt tli> Ga3 Co.'s rooms yesterday afternoon] At least anhour before the advertised time' of starting there was not oven standing room available. During tho deraonstra-tioir-recipes for making different cakes and puddings wero given, and atr.onß the- various dishce made were I puff pastry-making and dressing, Christmas cokes, mince 'pies, shortbread, cream tartlets, and pineapplo cordial, j Several reductions in the retail prices of meat have been made by the Auckland Maslnr Butchers' Association, and the revised list came into operation on Tuesday. A reduction of- $d. per lb. has been mado in tho price of several joints of beef and mutton, including sirloin of beef and legs and hindquarters of mutton. A reduction': of Id. lms boon mado in tlio price of : tri])c. The first quotation is given for spring lamb, the prices being Bd. for hindquarters aud 7d. for forequartcrs. The highest price on the list is Is. 2d. per lb. for undercut beefsteak.

"A Jewish barber in tho East End of London has placed tho following noticii in his window:—"No Germans will h4 bhaved hero at any price. Froneli-\ men, Belgians, and Russians will be' wolcome. God , savo the Kiniz."