LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2596, 19 October 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Energetic measures are being taken in tho AVairarapa to secure recruits, says our Masterton correspondent. _ A public, meeting is to be held, at which a Minister of the Crown is to bo invited to deliver an address. A recruiting oflico has also been established in each town, with wounded soldiers in chargc. Mr. I'obort Lcc, ox-chairman of the Wellington Education Board, and a gentleman who has always taken a deep interest in art, states that- most of the more important works of art in the It oval Academy of London and tlio British' Museum have been removed from their accustomcd places, and deposited in safety elsewhere, owing to tho risk oF destruction by fire or explosion during air-raids by the enemy's /cppslins. 'J'ho lake in St. .James's Park, near Buckingham Palace, lias also been drained, so that tho sheen from iW Hiirf-icc of tlio water shall not act as a cuido to aerial marauders.

On Friday afternoon the Trentbam Racecourso was vacated by the military authorities, and has now been handed back to the Wellington Racing Club. During the occupation by the troops, the lawns, gardens, etc., have been maintained, ami benefited by t'he recent showers, all the enclosures should be kolciug at their best next Saturday. In response to a request from the General Ofiicez' Commanding:, as large bodies of the troops will be present-on both race days, temperance drinks only will be sold on the racecourse.

The shearers in tho Masterton district recently met and passed resolutions in favour of demanding 255. per hundred for shearing, which is ss. per hundred in excess' of the award rate. It has been discovered, says our Masterton correspondent, tliat the passing of resolutions of this character is a contravention of the Arbitration Act, and it is probable that prosecutions will be entered against the conveners of tho meeting, A fine residence in South Road, Masterton, owned by Mr. D. Smith and occupied by Mr. J. Catt, was destroyed by fire yesterday morning, says our Masterton correspondent. A high wind was blowing at the time, and practically nothing could be done to save the contents. An agreement lias been arrived at before the Conciliation Ceuneil in the grocers' industrial dispute, and will bo submitted to the Court to be mado into an award. By it an increase in the minimum wage is made, from £2 10s. to £2 12s. 6d. at 21 years of age, and £2 17s. Gd. at 22 years. This brings Wellington into line with Auckland. A consignment of blade shears, to the value of about £100, which was ordered from England by the general secretary of the Shearers' Union, lias arrived in Wellington, and many of them are in a rusty condition, through tho waterproof covering having proved defective, 'i'ho secretary has decided not to issue any more of them, on account of complaints received, and this may affect the shearing seasmi somewhat. The hon. sec.etary of the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association (Mr. A. D. Bayfield) has very patriotically declined an liouorarium from the club this season, in view of the war. His desire, as stated at the annual meeting, was that the amount should bo given to a fund for providing comforts for the troops at the front. Mr. Bayfield was heartily thanked for his action. In response to a request from His Excellency the Governor, the Mayor of Lower Hutt (Mr. H. Baldwin) convened a meeting which was held last evening to consider the question of rendering assistance to the lted Cross Fund. After some discussion in which Messrs. Bunny, Reeves, and Nicholson took part, it was decided to assist the movement. The meeting agreed to circularise the district, and Mr. W. B. Nicholson was appointed treasurer. A donation of £1 Is. was forwarded by Councillor Brassel.

Whilst in London, Mr. Robert Leo, ex-chairiuan of tho Wellington Education Board, visited Madamo Tussard's waxworks. In delivering tho usual lecture on the celebrities there represented in effigy, tho lecturer apologised for not having removed the wax imago of the Kaiser into tho Chamber of Horrors 011 tho grounds that tho other occupants of the Chamber had objected to being associated with one whose frightfulness had so far cclipsed their own.

The whole length of one of the tracks on the Crawford Road extension of the tramways system has now been laid, and a start has been made with the laying of tho other track. The work is being delayed to some extent by a shortage of good navvies, caused chiefly by enlistments and the shearing season in the country, now in full swing. This delay, however, is not of such serious moment at present, as neither the feeder cablo or the. overhead wire (copper) is at.present to hand, end may not bo available for some timo to come on account of delays in shipping at Home, presumably caused by the war.

Au idea, that is being tried in America, of indicating the vacant seats in a picture theatre, will be valuable to patrous if found workable. A small green lamp is fitted to every seat in the house, these are electrically connected to automatic switches mounted under tho chairs, so that when a seat is' vacated the lamp will light. The lamps are small, and look like coloured jewels. The idea, of course, is to do away with an usher walking down in front of patrons with a lamp and pointing out the vacant seats.

The Masterton Homing Pigeon Club flew an old bird race from Lyttelton 011 Saturday, when some good performances were put up. The first bird—Drake Bros.' "Wild May"—reached home in 7hr. 22min. -ISsec.

Major A. A. Corrigan, Commander of | No. o Area Group, lias issued the following regulations governing the use of the Trent-ham Hide Range on Saturday afternoons by members of rifle clubs:— On Saturdays special carriages for the troops will be attached to train leaving Lambtou Station at 1.12 p.m. for the Defence siding at Trentham; also tho train leaving Defence siding, Trentham, for AVellington at 5.3U p.m. Troops will confine themselves to the special carriages, land any men not travelling in the troop carriages allotted will be required to pay their own fares._ In order to pass the'cainp guard, units 011 detraining at Trentham fall in and march up to the range proper. Troops will fall in at rifle range refreshment booth, to bo marched out of camp. Individual passes, in or out of camp, will not be issued. VApplications for targets, showing number required and ranges, must be* made by letter, and are to reach the Kroup officer not later than noon 011 Thursday of each week. The senior officer present will be responsible for the discipline 011 the rango and en route. He may also detail officers to assist him in maintaining proper fire discipline on the range. Chevrolet, a handsome, powerful car, equipped with every accessory of proven quality, aurt beavinsr the linll-niaric of strength, trustv.-orthino.ss. and durability "Your inspection of the latest model -self-starting, of course—is invited by the Dominions Motor Vehicles, Ltd,, 65 Coiirtenay Place, who will be pleased to demonrtrato to you the superior qualities of the Chevrolet car.—Advt.