LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 150, 21 March 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The foundation stone of the new Technical College buildings, at Mount Cook, will be laid this afternoon by His Excellency tho Governor-General, Viscount Jellicoe. The ceremony will be open to the public, and the college authorities hope that there will be a large attendance.

The ballot of the Wellington Waterside Workers’ Union as to acceptance or rejection of the terms of settlement of the recent difficulty was held on Friday and Saturday. About 2000 votes were recoiled. Mr. J. Smart was returning- officer, and Messrs. M. Broadhurst and 11. J. Seal were the official scrutineers. It is not expected that the result will be announced before to-morrow.

The danger that ground left bare by bush fires would become occupied by noxious weeds unless grass seed’ were sown quickly was mentioned- in the House of Representatives on Saturday by Mr. A. llamlilton (Wallace). Th<Minister of Lands said he appreciated the importance of tho matter. He would inquire regarding recent bush fires, and if necessary the Government certainly would arrange to have the cleared ground sown with good seed. There was a sensation at a Roman Catholic annual concert in the Empire Theatre at Dargaville on Thursday night(says the "New Zealand Herald”). All went well until the last tableau, “God Save Ireland,” when the Very Rev. Dean Van Dyk spoke on the Irish question, and bitterly attacked Mr. Lloyd George. He accused the British of "lying and treachery,” and of outrages in Ireland, his remarks provoking great resentment. Ho asked tho audience to join in singing the Irish national song along with the children, and this they did standing. The dean then went off the stage and the curtain fell, whereupon Mr. Calder called out for tho curtain to be raised while they sang the National Anthem. Still no move was made by the dean, then Mr \ E. Harding took charge of the Concert. There was tense excitement. He said the dean had not played the game Thev had come for a concert, not for an address on tho Irish question. The dean had spoken very ill-advisedly and at a most inopportune time. Mr. Harding then culled upon the audience to sing “God Save the King,” and Uns was done heartily by most people in the hall but the dean did not make his reappearance. There is great resentment over the dean’s remarks and attitude.

The apostle St. Luke was heard in unusual company in the Supreme Court, at Auckland last week. Mr. G. I. okeirett K.C. in the cement company case, had’ been ’citing tho opinions of mimercus 1-gal iiuthoiities. To the great amusement of everyone ho said he. might refer the Court, to the Gospel according to St. Luke, 15th chapter, 2?th verse. One might think that the apostle had been writing on tho Dominion Cement Company,” remarked Mr. Skerrett. "the passage is this: For which of you intending tc build a tower sitteth not down firsand counteth the cost, whether ho have sufficient to finish it lest haply, after he bath laid the foundation and is not. able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him.’’’—"New Zealand Herald.

"No firm will be able to get a monopoly of supplies of Nauru Island phosphate.” said the Prime Minister on Saturday in reply to a question put by A T. J. R. Hamilton (Awnrua) in the twiuae. The Government would control the distribution of the crude phosphate, and it would not permit any monopoly. There is considerable talk in Christchurch just now regarding an incident which occurred at a recent gathering in connection with a local tody s inspection of its works. At the luncheon the customary loyal toast, "The King,’ was proposed, and all tho company, with the exception of three members of an important local tody, rose to llonour When a verse of the National Anthem had. been sung, one of those present, before drinking the toast, and having in view the three local tody representatives who remained seated, gave the toast: "The King, God bless him, and to hell with his enemies!"—"Press.

"There is no question that Mr. A. Cat-' is the best wicket-keeper the Dominion has produced,” said Mr. W. S. Brice a. the farewell ‘‘social” tendered to Mr. I H Lynskey at Petone on Saturday gening. "Arnold Williams ’’"lliant ” continued the speaker, Nnen was almost as good, Brocksey was recog •nised as the leading wicket-keeper for years. On the rough wicket on which we play, I do not think any of them could stand up to tho bowling as Mr. Cate Ims done.” Mr. Brice affirmed that Mr. Cate was "keeping” better Jhan ever, and he expressed the hope that ho wo continue to do so for many years to come. He concluded by etatinff tt at t success of the team was undoubtedly due to tho efforts of Mr. Cate.

As a result of a conference at lower Hutt between officials of tho Hockey Association, the headmasters of Ihe two local schools and the Grounds Committee of the Borough Council, the schoolboys will not. be deprived of thecr matches each week. The conference was amicable, aijd it is understood that the Recreation Ground Will be available for use by the school teams every Friday. The final arrangements, however, have been left in the hands of Councillor W. B. Meldrum, Mir. Ginger, and the two headmasters.

1 A Press Association message from Dunedin states that a driver nam.«d Sidney Mossop. aged 67, employed by the, City Corporation, was found dead on Saturday morning on tho foreshore of the harbour. It is supposed that heart failure was the cause of death. Some time ago a petition was preiente/l to the Palmerston North Borough Council asking that body to proclaim Saturday as the weekly half-holiday, and- ->s there was no opposition the coune’l did so, and front last week the old Wednesday half-holiday was cut out. However (writes Tub Dominion cerfleepondent), some of the smaller retailers liavu been protesting strongly that tho Saturday •half-holiday would bo greatly to the detriment of'their business, and they hnvebeen hard at work getting a petition signed asking for a poll to be taken on the matter. The pelTTon Triivmg received the signatures of the required 10 per cent, of tho burgesses, the poll will have to Iw taken on April 21, at the same time ns the municipal elections. Should thev succeed in getting the present decision reveuwed the Wednesday ilmJf-lioliday could not come into operation again mi til the end of June next.