LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2387, 17 February 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Prime Minister has received the following cable message from the High Commissioner:—"Please make known through the public Press that gifts for the relief of distress when .for special distribution by me should be marked clearly, and full instructions for distribution should be sent to mo by an early mail."

A motor-car ran amok in Willis Street at about 9.30 a.m. yesterday. In seeking to cross the road the taxi collided with tramcar 81, damaging the hanuralT, and then butted into the Young Chemical Company's express forcibly enough to snap tlie iron veran-dah-posts opposite Innes's book store, and push the , vehicle partly on' to the Eidewalk. The driver of the express was thrown from his seat, arid sustained injuries which commanded the attention of a nighbouring chemist. He was soon patched up, and rendered fit to resume charge of the express.

At to-morrow night's meeting of the City Council Councillor Barber will move that the' following resolution passon July 30, 1914, be rescinded, viz:-*— "That the Wellington City Council enter into negotiations with the Harbour Board for its consent to reclaim part of Oriental Bay, and that when such consent is obtained, if the terms, thereof and the estimated,cost are satisfactory to the council that the necessary legislation be introduced, and when passed, that the council's resolution of December 15, 1910, be then rescinded and fEe reclamation be proceeded with and completed as soon as possible, and vesteel in the city for the purposes of a park and playing-ground.

All previous fish catohes_ reported as having taken place in the vicinity of the King's Wharf were eclipsed yesterday by a retriever dog. Several visitors to the wharf, intent on killing or wounding an elephant fish that was swimming near the surface, threw stones, but without effect. The retriever espied tho object aimed at, and, with a mighty plunge off the wharf set out in pursuit. A "catch-as-catoh-can" ensued, and ended in a victory for the dog, which landed on the steps with an elephant fish that measured over four feet m length. The unusual catch was afterwards displayed suspended from the ratlines of a small coastal steamer till late in tho afternoon.

At the resumed meeting of shareholders of the Wellington Gas Company yesterdav afternoon' the result of the poll for tho election of two directors was announced. The nominated candidates were Messrs. D. Anderson, A. E. Pearco (retiring directors), Gerald Fitzgerald, and J. H. P. Strang. Tho retiring directors were re-elected. It was also announced that the motion that the number of directors bo not more than six was carried.

A man. was arrested by Acting-De-tective Tricklebank yesterday on a charge of stealing twenty-one sacks, the property of tho State Coal Dopartment. The first annual picnic of Edward Collie, Ltd.'s, staff was held on Saturday at Belmont, and a most enjoyable day was spent. The success of tho outing was largely duo to tho efforts of a very ablo committee. . At tho close of tho sport's programmo, Mr. Collio referred to tho good fooling which existed between tho firm and tho employees. Tho prizes wore presented by Mrs. Wenzel Collio. Tlio members of the Outlying Districts Committee of tho City Council, accompanied by the City Engineer (Mr. W. H. Morton) visited Brooklyn yesterday afternoon to inspect tho proposed Imo of the new road to bo nmdo between fTiat suburb and Vogoltown. What is said to bo a good route, involving no very .sU'Cp grades, has been planned, and a recommendation will probably be mado to the council by tho committee at the next meeting. Incidentally, it might be mentioned that the lino of the proposed road is adapted to the continuation of the tramway system from Brooklyn, and also traverses u promising reaidontial area of undulat--">1 land,

The question of the establishment of a school of architecture and school of journalism engaged the attention of the Auckland University College Council on Monday afternoon. 11l the case of the former school, the meeting approved of the principle involved. A committee to inquire into the matter was appointed. As regards the proposed school of journalism, the meeting rejected a motion affirming tho desirability of establishing such an institution. Notice of motion was'given in order that the council may further consider tho question.—Press Association.

Lovers of botanic beauty would ba well repaid by a visit to tho Botanical Gardens at the present time. Tho (lower Ircrls \vhich flank the main walk aro in riotous bloom, and as a fine discretion in colour contrasts has been exerciseA by the director (Mr. Glen), the effect, is" really superb. Several improvements hare been programmed by the Resuti'os Committoo, and of these, the formation of an artificial lako on the site of the old frog-pond, near the bandstand, _is welj under way. This effect is beiug achieved by clearing out the old pond, slightly deepening tho area, and erecting a concrete wall on the northern b3g. The Gardens stream will then be diverted into the basin, tho overflow will form a pretty waterfall, and the stream will be conducted thence into its old bed under the bridgo, Tho work is being carried out under the supervision of Mr. Glen. Another improvement to bo made shortly is tho closing up of the present main entrance altogether. At present the north-westerly winds have a clean sweep up Ehe main walk, and Taise the dust from the'gravelled This drawback is to be overcome by closing the entrance, planting quick-growing trees right across the entrance, and providing a more attractive enfrance some lit. tie distance up the old Karori Road at a point yet to be decided.

At to-morrow night's meeting of the City Council, Councillor Fletcher will move that the resolution passed on OctobeV 9, 1914, approving the scheme of alterations to the Basin Reserve, as set out in the report of the City Engineer, dated September 22,1914, and shown on plans signed by the City Engineer, and dated September 21, 1914, be rescinded;

The Wairarapa Patriotic Committee yesterday cabled £1000 through His Excellency the Governor for the relief of British and Belgian distress. At the monthly meeting of the Greytown District High School Committee, the headmaster's report stated that tlio school had reopened with a largely-in-creased roll number (the highest _ for several years), the numbers being' Primary, 232; secondary. 22; a total of 254. A private screening of a scientific film x was given to several medical men at the King's Theatre, yesterday morning. The subject was an operation / for tuberculosis which was performed at the State Hospital, in Sydney, lately. The picture demonstrated the havoc that the germs cause on the diseasod tissue, and the use of' surgery in combating the complaint. ■ It is intended that the film be used to aid the lectures to medical I students, and it shows what great strides the kinematograph has made in | a few years. . A meeting of tho Lyall Bay and Kilbirnie South Branch of the National Reserve was held in O'Donnell's Hall, fulbirnie, last night. The meeting was a large and enthusiastic one, and_ a great number enrolled. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to Mr. Horace Baker for the use of the hall, and the singing of the National Anthem. The inquest into the death of Mr. David Scott, who was fatally injured through falling off the Main Trunk train on Monday, will be held at 4 o'clock to-morrow afternoon. The body of the deceased was'expected to reach Wellington last night, and'is to be viewed .by the district coroner. "He who hesitates is lost," a trite saying, flashed through the minds of many on one of the boats leaving Lyttelton for the Port Levy 'regatta on Saturday, states the "Press," when watching the attempt of a young woman to,get aboard as the vessel was leaving the wharf. _In company with a young man she arrived on the wharf just as the vessel was casting off, but in response to the invitations of the onlookers the pair decided to make a leap for it. Just as the girl was about to allow herself to be lifted up her nerve desertj ed her. For one moment she remained poised with the almost inevitable chance of a drop into the water below, and then she lost her fears and made the leap, being promptly caught and pulled aboard. The spectators lustily cheered the young woman for her plucky action.

"Between the devil and the deep sea could metaphorically and almost literally have been applied to the circumstances in which the judges at the Christchurch regatta at Port Levy found themselves at one time on Saturday, reports a Christchurch paper. The finishing post was at'the bottom of a steep cliff crumbling sides, covered in places with very dry grass. To get to the spot the judges had to be conveyed there m a motor-boat. It was accordingly with feelings of dismay that, after having comfortably settled themselves when the motor-boat had disappeared from sight, thev discovered that a picnic party above them had set fire to the grass on the hill, and. the flames were burning fiercely in a downward direction, despite the efforts of the picnickers to beat them out. "Wrth their escape up above cut off, the unhappy judges were contemplating diving into the water at their feet and trusting to their swimming abilities when the picnickers gained the mastery of the flames, and the judges once agan breathed freely. At a public meeting last night it waa decided to form a branch of the Rational Reserve in Napier. The meeting was very enthusiastic.—Press Association. • .

At a sitting of the Lower Hutt Court, boforo Messrs. G. A. Chapman and J. Cudby, J.P.'s, judgment was Riven for plaintiff by default, in the f °lk>win" civil cases: —Thomas Bnrtv. Harold Shingles, £11 135., costs ■£2 Os. 3d.; Gadsbv Bros. v. J. W. Williams. £i lis. 2d., costs 10s.; Driscoll and Hayes v. "Walter Moore £1 10s. 6d., costs 10s. Telegraphing last evening our Napier correspondent reports that a motion, moved by the chairman, Mr. A. h. J nil, at to-day's Napier Harbour Board meeting, seeking to abolish the import w a a"o on flour, was defeated by six rotea to five. Those opposing the motioncontended that the reduotion thus effected wonld only benefit merchants grocers, Tnd bakers, and would not be passed on Ifn the actual consumers. Buyers of 11001b. bags might gain, but the workers would get no benefit.

The acting-chairman of the Hawke's Say Education Board, Mr. G. F. Roach, land the secretary (Slajoi. - Crashßw) ar(nve in Wellington this evening to interview the Minister of Education regarding the establishment of a manual and iteohnical school in Napier for primary 'school pupils, and. other matters. : Our Napier correspondent, telegraphing' last evening, report's that at a wellattended meeting held :in the Napier ißoro'ugh Council Chambers, a branch ,of the New Zealand National Reserve \was formed, Major Chicken being elected as president. About 150 joined at the meeting, whioh was niost enthusias■jtic. Mr. Walter Leslie, district secretary of the Wellington Branch, was ipresent and briefly aadr&ssed the gathering. . During the finale of tha "Magpies' " jfirst part at His Majesty's' Theatre a trio tic note is struck when referring to the toy soldiers being exhibited in the pseudo bazaar. .One of the vocalists refers to gallant Belgium and calls on the audience to "Pay, Pay, Pay." The (request was instantaneously responded .ito by a shower of coins, -which fell so [thickly on Monday evening that the Iperformers had to shield their faces from the merry metal hail. When the Icoins were counted it was found that ihe sum of £2 13s. 4d. had been collected. The amount collected last evening by the same means was £2 16s. sd. fl'he money is to be paid into the ( Bel- . igian Fund. It is only fair to mention Eh at the finals was written'by Mr. [Kennedy Black, who has an admirable facility in this direction.

At the annual meeting of the 'Wellington branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, tie following motion was carried unanimously: -'"That, as the farmers, millers, whole'sale merchants, and others have raised the price of commodities, and the Government has' failed to prevent the exploiting 1 of the we therefore urge upon the executive council to use fevery- endeavour to obtain an increase bf. pay to all railway employees!" ,

i The motor launch Kelvin was serious, /ly damaged by fire in Rangitoto Chan"liel, Auckland, on Saturday night. At about a quarter to eight, when the launch was off the Rangitoto Beach, re)K>rfcs the "Star," the men on dnty at Fort Takapuna noticed a fire down the channel. A searchlight wa.s turned in its direction, and it was then seen that ,b i launch was burning. _ Immediately •the officers at the fort signalled to the examination vessel Lady Robertsto proceed to the scene and render assistance. 'Arrangements were also made to send out a doctor from Fort Takapuna if the 'Lady Roberts reported any cases of injuries. Fortunately no help was required, as the two men in. the launch took to their dinghy as soon as the fire brokevout. The craft was in charge of Mr. Fitzherbert, solicitor. : The _ Lady /Roberts arrived on the scene within five minutes of the receipt of instructions, and the flames were quickly suppressed by her pumps. Neither of the men who .were in the launch was seriously injured, although one had a hand burned iver.v slightly. . The cabin top of the tfaunch was blown off owing to the explosion of the benzine. Tlift men were unable to account for the, cause of the fire. The interior of the launch, was burned completely.