LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2931, 17 November 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

. The postal authorities advise .that the 5.6. Kokira, from Sydney for Auckland, is carrying Australian mails only, which are due in Wellington on Monday next by the Main Trunk. The s.s. Riverina, which sailed from Wellington on Saturday, carrying Australian mails, arrived in Sydney on, Wednesday afternoon. Tho Acting-Postmaster-General announces that ho has arranged with the Postmaster-General of the United States for the dispatch of letters to New Zealand at tho rate of 2 cents (one penny) the ounce. This is the rate which has been applied to correspondence from New Zealand to the United States sinco tho introduction of the penny postage scheme of Sir Joseph Ward at the beginning of the present century. Fresh trout from Taupo are now obtainable almost daily _at the Municipal Fish Market on Jervois Quay. The Government fishery at Taupo is sending down fish at the rate ot about 2501b. in a lot —all guaranteed prime fresh, which is being sold at 6d. per lb. So far the smoked trout has. not begun to arrive, but as soon as it does, which may now be any time, there is sure to bo an active demand, as it i 6 a dainty dish for fish-lovers. Sixty New Zealand ratings of the Royal Navy, who have been on furlough in New Zealand, left [or Sydney by the Manuka last evening.

The. Napier Soldiers' Cluh yesterday mlisted its thousandth recruit. The ilub commenced its recruiting campaign a November, 1915. "Regarding any corporation man who vould have gained promotion had he iol, cone to tho war, his promotion will ;nko effect just the same as . though everything was Koing on as usual," stated tho Mayor at the City Council last evening. • The Hutt County Council is to be in-i-itcd to a conference with the Finance Committee of tho Wellington City Couri:il to discuss the drainage and water schemes for Day's Bay. "What is tho;Piopor procedure for a man who is physically unfit and who is drawn in the ballot?" asks a' correspondent. "As far as I can gather, the regulations say that .the authorities 'mav direct' hi mto appear before a medical board. But what if tUey do not so direct.him?" Every Reservist who is drawn in the ballot will be required to go before a medical hoard, and a man who knows himself to be unfit need not take any steps in tho matter at all. He .will he. told when to present himself for examination. "If you claim to ho medically unfit for service," runs the official instruction to recruits, "this is a matter .'for a medical hoard. It is not necessary for you to give notice of a claim for exemption on this ground, and you will receive duo notice of the time and place at which you are required to present yourself for medical examination. You are bound to present yourself for examination accordingly, whether you have given notice of appeal or not." Tho response" to the request for musical instruments for the 19th Reinforcements has mot with' a gratifying response, and Chaplain-Captain Bladin desires to thank those, who have so generously provided them. These and the donors are as follow:—Bristol Piano Co., one cornet; Beggs, Ltd., one violin; Copithorne, one cornet; S. A. Trade Department, one concertina; Tatterics. Ltd., 'phone records and needles;' Mr. A. Williams, one violin; Mr. A. Watson, Lower Hutt, one violin; Ohivers and Co., gramaphono'records ; Wellington Patriotic Society, oiio gramaphono; Gordon and Gotch, books and periodicals; the. Emit Brokers Association, per Mr. Herbert Thompson, two cases of lemons. ' On account of the rain yesterday tho public tennis tournament, which was to bavo bcen commenced on tho Brougham Hill Courts had to he postponed. It is intended to open the competition next Wednesday, November 22. The circular issued by the War Relief Association to dependants of soldiers has Drought a great increase of business to the office, many coming for information—not for help. It is., very pleasing to note that many replies have come thanking the association for the circular and saying that no- help is needed, at any rate at present. The following letter is one of many:—"lt was with tho very greatest pleasure that I this day received your committee's circular.' I take.it as S. proof of the careful and energetic manner in which your excellent association is fulfilling Us functions, and doubtless you will "find many cases, many deserving cases, where vour assistance will be a God-send. I am proud to say that I am the father of four sons, all of whom are serving their King and countrv (one of them has shed his blood), but T am pleased to say that I do not, and I trust will not, require anything more from your association than a ■friendly interest in the welfare of my boys." A new schedule of Telephone Bureau charges annears in. the current Gazette. The'information should he useful for all users of telephone bureaux'. In this week's Gazette apjioars the revocation of a proclamation • taking certain land at Johnsonville for the purpose of the Wellington-Eoxton railway, (made under the Public Works Act, 1908, on November 12,1915), as it is not required for the purposes for which it was taken. . The Wellington City Council decided last evening to inform tho Onslow Borough .Council that the council is not prepared at the present'timo to go into the question of an amalgamation of the borough with the City. Included in the census figures , foi Wellington City are 1410 people whe were on ship-board on census night, sc that the actual population of Wellington is 73,253. ■ The separate account in conrJectiov with the Wadestown tramway servic< is to bo abolished, and the City systen of tickets is to bo adopted on this route These decisions were arrived at by th< council last evening. The application of the Wellingtor Corporation Tramways Band for per mission to change the name of the ban< to "The Wellington Municipal Tram ways Military Band" 'was acceded to b; the City Counoil last evening. Authority has been granted by thi City Council for the construction o new entrances and exits to the Basil Reserve. The Kelburn Tramway Company ha notified the City Council of intention ti . instal a new engine at their powe house at an estimated cost of betwee: ,' £1200 and £1300. The Wellington Automobile Club i ; to be informed by the City .Coup cil (in reply to various re quests) as follows:—1. That Courtena, Place North cannot bo improved unti the street is wood-blocked ;. a contrac for the supply of blocks is let and th i work will be proceeded with shortlj • 2. That a portion of Thorndon Quaj : between the Lamhton Station aoid th •• Hutt Road, is to be repaired, but notl 1 ing outside ordinary repairs can h j carried out at the present tim< ! 3. That the question of breaches t ' -traffic, regulations at Molesworth Stree • is one for the Police Department to dei '. with, but representations will be mad to such Department on the matter.

1 AN ANNOUNCEMENT. ' We have te announce that the second J series of 1!)16 "Studebaker" cars are now \ on their way to New Zealand, per 6.5. Pakeha, from Montreal, due to arrive shortly. These cars come from the Canadian assembling and finishing branch, Walkerville, Ontario, and are remarkable for their exceptionally fine finish, necessitated by the demands of the overseas Studebaker trade. Many valuable detail improvements are incorporated in the second series models, one of the most e noteworthy of these being the provision ~ of independent, and separately adjustable h front seats of the "bucket" type, tot eether with adjustable pedals. This refinement should especially appeal to the '.' jady driver or the exceptionally tall or j 'short man, whose comfort is not ade'niiately provided for by the usual fixed dimensions in the front of the car. .Another important modification is the rele- * Ration of the petrol tank to the rear nf the car, and the provision of a very effi--8 cient vacuum feed to carburetter. There l " are many minor modifications and iin- ) provemeiits, all designed to add to the s comfort and convenience of both driver n and passengers, while in appearance the o cor is handsomer than ever. The-new B Studebakcrs will be on view at Stude- ,. baker Agencies shortly, and all inter- '" ested in the latest developments in American automobile design are invited )- to inspect them. Adams. T.td., New Zeai\ land Distributors of Studebakcr Motors, ■_ Christchurch— Advt.