Local and General.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1036, 1 June 1894, Page 6

Local and General.

» New Zealand has no place in the list of birthday honours this year. The Timaru Herald states that a domestic 3candal is reported from the Mackenzie country — a station manager there, a married man with several 'children, having eloped with the children's governess. The deserted wife had been ill and away from home for some time receiving medical attention. The report on the trial shipment of poultry and rabbits from Melbourne to England shows that, while the packing could scarcely have been better, the freight expenses were very heavy, and it is feared that no margin of profit will be left. The freight on each rabbit was 7-|d, while the shipment was disposed of "at prices ranging from 9d to Is 2d. The Evening Post says the Hon. the Minister of Lands carries out to the < fullest extent the principle of " the spoils of the victors." He has no nice scruples about family participation therein, for he has found employment in the Lands Department for some months past for his son, and now we learn that he has promoted the youth to the position of one of his Private Secretaries. We have not heard of Mr McKenzie, jun., entering the Civil Service in manner by law provided — by passing the prescribed examination — and we certainly think that while there are so many competent clerks out of emploj'ment, and so many ex-Oivil Servants who have been discharged on the plea of retrenchment eagerly wating a chance of re-employment, Liberal Ministers might abstain from providing at the the public expense for members of their own families, whose only claims or qualifications lie in the relationship.