General News.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7850, 16 June 1905, Page 4

General News.

Something of a curiosity has been in evidence at tho Jlattray-sti-eot wharf (says the Dunedin Star), that curiosity being tine spectaclb of a, Liverpool vessel, the discharge ing English coal at a berth where nothing but the colonial article has reigned for many years. The. last English coal landed here was, we believe, that brought by the Kini. which arrived at Port Chalmers from Sunderland on April 14, 1898. After an interval of seven years the Bankburn has brought about 170 tons of Trentherborno (liancash re) coal to the order of Messrs J. Mill and Co., nnd wo find, on enquiry, that it Can be retailed at the same figure as the beat local coal. Altogether, the occurrence seems to furnish a. euriouq commentary on local coal operations —both State and private.

A matter of some importance discussed by the Council of the ■Wellington Chamber of Commerce \v a s a proposal that the New Zealand Chambers of CommetV should follow the lead of Melbourne, Adelaide, and Sydney in bringing about the observance of, nil odd holidays—i Saints' days and the less important holidays observed by banks and other institutions in accordance with statutes'—on Monday. It was pointed out that this was done in Melbourne, Adelaide, and Sydney, and had worked most satisfactorily. The advantage in setling aside the nearest Monday to such duys for holidays enabled all concerned to make the most at those occasions when tho law directed that certain premises* should be closed for biisiincss. Such holidays, as fori as (btonks are concerned, are specified by the Banks Holidays Act, which would require to be amended before any movo i« the direction indicated Could bo made. The secretary of the Chamber (Mr S. Currollli) was instructed to communicate with the other Chambers of Commerce throughout the ; colony on tho question as to whether the matter should be brought under the notice of Parliament during the doming session. The majority oil those) present at the meeting were in-favour of the '■' Monday holiday." Mr C. Seegner, German Consul at Auckland, writing to the BostmustcivGonoral, says that during a period of twenty-two months' travel in many countries be came in "qontact with no postal arrangements with which the New Zealand Post Office did not compare favourably.

The Stipendiary Magistrate of Napier on Monday had to adjudicate on a somewhat peculiar case, reminiscent of Australian "push" tactics. Two girls were, charged with having used, threatening behaviour towards each other. The Magistrate remarked that he had had many years' experience on tho Bench, but had never come across a more remarkable case. Two young girls had met in the street, and am invitation emanating from one to "Come round the back and have it out" met with prompt acceptance by the othec Ho was inclined to agree with tho plea of Counsel! for leniency on account of the very tender ages of tho Combatants. The police inspector, who prosecuted, concurred in the view that the girlshad been sufficiently punished. The Magistrate cautioned the girls and discharged them.