LOCAL AND GENEUAL. o Reference, was made to the High Commibuoncrship by (ho Premier in his *pecch at Dunedin last night. Referring to Air. Mnssey's recent speeches on the paint, ho said it hod been picdictcd that ho would fill that position in a few months. 1U« whs Mill in New Zealand, and (ho added) he did not intend to take the position, hut would remain in the colon}', lie stilted equally fi>mly, however, that New Zealand must hnvo a Nigh Commissioner, and it would not be long without one. It is con.«idcicd probable- Hint an amendment to tho Shipping and Seamen's Act will bo made during the coming »w» .«ion. The Act, which was p.ts«ed in 1903, provided for the ihsuo of service certificates up to 31st December, 1904. 'I he Act, however, did not receive the Royal ttmaiL until April of (his year, many of thoso qualified to receive service certificates did not put in applications in time., and an amendment will be necessary to inako provision for dealing with those applications which were sent in after the Acl came into foico. Last evening about 7,15 Sergeant Griffiths found a man near -the rear of tho Royal Oak Hotel, in Taranaki-place, bnndaged at the head, and in a tinned condition. All that ho could say for himself was that ho lived at 56 llopper-strcet. Two men who were attending him state that he was walking across tho road when he slipped and fell on tho footpath, inflicting a wound on his head which bled freely. They also state that he had his head bandaged prior to the accident. The police took him to tho ]] capital, whero he was found to be suffering from a simple fracture of the skull. Enquiries were made at the address given by (ho injured man, and it was ascertained by the police that his name is S. E. Greeiidule, a bolicilor, and a remittance man from England. Tho Hospital authoiities rqioil to-day that tl.o patient is conscious and a little ensior. Tho Grey Star of I'riday last flays the first .shipment of timber to what, it is hoped, will be a piolitable nmrket for West Const timber, wa.s made last ovennig. when tho Oreti, laden with rod pine, sailed for Wellington, or, to be more exact, Kilbirine, for it is there that the timbei consigned to Messrn. ,1, \V. Kiisson and Co. will be discharged. Tho linn, we undrrxtnnd, intend to .send regular shipments in futiuo. Holiday excursion tickets from ls| to 3rd June will be issued on the Welling-ton-Manawatu Hailnay in connection with the Prince of Wules'a Hirthday. If you have not already inspected the bai gains in diess materials, silks, laces, ribbons, pkirts, etc., offered by Kiikcaldio and tStain.M, htd., no time should be lost m doing so, for the spccml sale pomtivrly olo»e» on Satuidwy at 1 p .m.-'Advt.