LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2955, 19 December 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Telegraph Office advises that, on account of the extreme pressure of business to the South Island on Saturday, December 23, there is likely to be an abnormal delay on all telegrams presented after 10 o'clock in the morning. The public are requested to present their messages as early as possible. Telegrams put in at tho local Telegraph Office after noon on Saturday, December 23, are not likely to be delivered until the following day.

The Chief Telegraph Office will observe the following hours during the Christmas and New Year holidays:— Monday, December 25 (Christmas Day), 10 a.m. to 10.30 a.m., and 5 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.; Tuesday, December 26 (Boxing Day), 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. sind 7, p.m. to midnight; Monday, January 1, 1917 (New Year's Day), 9 a.m. to <l p.m. and 7 p.m. to midnight. The Telephone Exchange will be open continuously as usual.

A very alarming rumour has bad some currency iu Wellington during the last day or two to the effect that the Nineteenth Reinfqroements had gone into camp at their first port of call because it was considered dangerr ous for the transports to proceed on their voyage. The alleged reason was "submarines." The .Minister of pefence stated yesterday that the Nineteenth Renforcements left their : first port of call some weeks ago, and tliat they were going on as usual on thenvoyage, so far as he knew.

Tho action taken by the Board of Trade with regard to wheat is not expected to have any immediate effect upon the price of bread. Bakers state, indeed, that they are not at all" sure the consumer has much to gain from the purchase of wheat by the Government at 6s. 3d. per bushel on trucks, whioh is regarded as equivalent to 6s. 7d. or 6s. Bd. at southern ports. Representatives of the millors aro to confer with the Board of Trade at Christchurch to-morrow, and some announcement may bo made then icgarding the price of flour. Wellington bakors, in tho meantime, are disposed to wait and sea.

His Excellency the Governor has' received the following message from the Secretary of State for the Colonies:— "His Majesty the King approves of Sunday, December 31, instead of the first Sunday in the New Year, as previously arranged, being appointed; for special war services of thanksgiving, intercession, ,and commemoration. .No special form of service is prescribed." His Excellency the Governor and the Countess of Liverpool intend to be present at the service in tho Cathedral in Christehurch, where they are now in residence.

A telegram as follows, dated December 15, has been received from the O.C. troops, Samoa:—"Pte. _ 19/190 Mills is suffering from phlebitis, and 25/342 Pte. Nieldi is convalescent."

According to a cablegram received by H.M. Trado Commissioner (Mr. 11. AV. Dalton), the exportation of tho following articles is prohibited from tho United Kingdom as from Deceniber 12: —Peroxide of manganese, zirconium compounds, majority of forage and foodstuffs, thorium and wood pulp.

At the opening of the City Council last night the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) said that on receipt of tho information that Lieut.-Colonel Freybe'rg had been awarded the Victoria' Cross' ho had telegraphed congratulations to Colonel Froyborg, ou behalf of the citizens of Wellington. - (Hear, hear.) He ■ had also communicated with Colonel Frey"borg's mother, who lives in Wellington. He felt sure the council would endorse his action in taking notice officially of the winning of a very high distinction by a Wellington resident. • (Hear, hear.)

Among the passengers to arrive from Sydney by the Riverina last evening was Mr. John Rigg, ex-M.L.C, who naturally takes a keen interest in politics, no matter where ho may be. He has been absent from Now Zealand for five months, and what, with strikes and tho awTul weather which they had beeu experiencing in Melbourne, his stay was not the most pleasant imaginable. Mr. Rigg said ho had never in his life experienced such heavy and continuous rains as had occurred in Melbourne for tho past few months. It was quite a treat to get a little sunshine. Ofpolitics, Mr. Rigg states that matters in tho Federal House are in a very queer way. The Hon. Wm. Hughes still held the reins as Prime Minister, but it was only by the grace of the Cook (Opposition) party that ho had been able to hang on so long. As was known, the Labour people turned Hughes out, and with Kim went about thirteen of tho party. -These, with assistance of the Cookitcs, are able to hold out in the Lower House. But the real power was tho Senate, which was against Hughes almost to a man, and could hamper him badly at any time it chose to do so. "What I think will happen will be a double dissolution. Tho Labour; Party professes to welcome such an issue as it believes it would conic back stronger than ever. I can't say as to that. Tt is certain, however, that Hughes will havo fc> seek another constituency—his own in Sydney is an out-and-out Labour seat", and he would bo sure to get beaten."

An acknowledgment of his telegram regarding peaco proposals has been received by the Mayor (Mr. ,T. P, Lnko) from the Primo Minister (Right Hon. W. F. Massey), who states that ho has handed the message to tho British Government.

For;washing ladies' muslin and print drwses and all summer wear, "No Rubbing Laundry Help" is best. No rubbing required, anad guaranteed not (o injure tho most delicate article.' Wardell Bros, and Co.—Advt.

On the motion of Mr. A. Leigh Hunt', the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerco resolved yesterday: "That thia council tenders to all i-jembors of the Chamber tho season's greetings, and urges upon tliom ono and all the desirability of practising economy and self-denial in business and in private life, patriotically putting forth every effort to assist tho authorities in overy way to carry the nation 'successfully through the present struggle."

At the invitation of the Wanganul Chamber of Commerce, the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce resolved yesterday: "That this Chamber is of opinion that it would bo vise for the Government to take into consideration the early organisation of the Dominions' producing power of primary products to assure tho maintenance of the country's exports in tho face of waring man-power."

"Educationists in Australia asked us Catholics to imitate a system of education," said Very Rev. Father Lockington at the Town Hall last evening, and that system was the Gorman system. They chided us for being backward as compared with that system. To-day those educationists are client—silent while the bodies of mon lay broken through the nation who had banished religion from the schools. ... It would have been a great thing for tho world if Germany had had denominational education in the last seventy years— the seventy years she had used in preparing for this war, which was deluging the world with blood."

Thanks to good weather conditions, tho Tutanekai, which is repairing one of the Cook Strait cables, was able to pick up and buoy one of the broken onds on Sunday. Yesterday morning there was a fairly heavy sea in Cook Strait, and the Government steamer was auchored at Port IJnderwood awaiting her chance to resume work. It is hoped that the cable will bo repaired in ample time to cope with the heavy telegraphio business anticipated at the week-end.

Mr. Louis Blundell, of the "Evening Post" Proprietary, has informed tho secretary of the Wellington Patriotic Society that he intends offering the £100 Island trip lie won in connection with the "Our Day", effort to a returned soldier. This generous action is sure to be greatly appreciated.

: Booking at the Union Steam Ship Company's offices is proceeding at a fast rate, the counters being full practically all day. The Maori, as previously' announced, is full up, and the other vessels aro filling so quicTdy that there will be very little accommodation available for late coming would-be Christmas travellers. No further" accommodation for ladies will be available on the boats leaving here on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of this week, and very little on the; boat leaving on Saturday.

the City Council last night granted consent to tho proposal of the Roseneath School Committee to erect a memorial upon a piece of unformed road reservation at Maida Vale Road, in memory of the ex-pupils of the Rcsoneath School who have fallen in the present war, provided the oharacter of the memorial is approved by the council.

Winter sports suffered, very sadly last season because of the absence of so many of their players and patrons at tho war, and their revenues were much below pro-war standards. The Finance Committee of the City Council reported last night to the council that tho following winter sports bodies are in arrears with payments for rates, fees, etc., as under: —Rugby Union: Fees, 1915, £52 10s.; fees, 1916, £26 55.; rates, T916, £31 75.; repairs to meter's, 18s. ;■ total, £110 15s. Rugby league: Fees, 1915, £21.

An outbreak of tire in a wash-house at the rear of a shop at the corner of Regent and Fitzherbert Streets, Petone, caused the Fire Brigade to turn out on Saturday afternoon. The only damage done was tho destruction of about £5 wortli of clothing.

William Lawrence Hooper appeared in the Police Court at Dunedin yesterday _ to anßwer a charge of attempting to import into New Zealand, without the consent of the Minister of Customs, postage stamps produced in enemy territory. A minimum fine of £25, with costs, was inflicted.—Press Association.

The Palmerston North branch of the A.S.R.S. at its last meeting unanimously carried l the following motion: — "That failing tho Board of Trade effecting a reduction in tho cost of living by January 20,_ 1917, that all brandies of the society bo asked to support a further increase of wages."— Press Association. '■

Sea-lions are slippery fellows to handle. No one is so sure of that as Mr. Peterson, advance representative for Wirth Bros.' Circus, who left here for Sydney by tho Moeraki on Saturday evening. By a bit of extraordinary good luok Mr. Peterson had been able to secure for his. firm a uico young sea-lion, fresh iip from tho southern islands. With great cars he had it taken down to the Moeraki. in a crate, from which it was' to have been transferred to a tank. Whilst tho men in charge were getting the tank.ready, the animal managed to • squeeze is way out of the .crate, and scrambling • for the first "bit of blue" it, could see, slipped through the house-pipe into the harbour, since when it has not been recovered. Mr. Peterson actually secured a boat to see if he could not effect its recapture, but a sea-lion is a very super-submar-ine, and has not been seen since. "I know where he'll be," returned a wag--gish tolls clerk, "round in Number 16—when one got away ten years- ago he went round to Number 161" At this time it is more than probable that the Wirth-less lion _ was speeding for his distant homo in the Auckland Islands.

The Christmas and New Year card of the Post and Telegraph Department takes the form of a card photograph of the big military camp at Trentham. The back of the card announces that up to September 30 the Department' had sent 1340 away with the Expeditionary Forces.' Of those 20 had been killed, 21 had died of wounds and sickness, 01 had been wounded, 9 wore missing, and one was a prisoner of war. The Department's cordial greetings wero heartily reciprocated.

Mr. Philip Lytton, the Australian theatrical manager, is at present in town. His company will commence a season in Wellington on January 16 with tho Australian farce-comedy. "The Waybacks."

A lottor has been received by the City Council from a resident of Lyall Bay, Mr. J. E. Stansell, sen., making a request for permission for the people of the district to erect swings, seasaivs, and other beacli amusement paraphernalia on the beach at tho bay. The council last night adopted the following report of tho Beaches Committee:— '"lhat Mr. J. It. Stansell, sen., bo informed that his request to be supplied willi plans and specifications for tho erection of swings and seasaws, etc., at tho Lyall Bay boacli, in order that the residents can have tho work undertaken, cannot be acceded to. Advice has been received that tho corporation would be liable for accidents arising out of such erections, and as there is no money available for the rqfpiired attendance on the swings, etc., the council regret that they cannot grant permission for tho residents to undertako tho proposal."