LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 589, 18 August 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mails which left Wellington on July 0, per s.-s. Marania, and connected at Sydney with the Brindisi mails per R.M.S. Ormuz, arrived in London on the morning of August 16, one day early. ,■.'■■

■ The failure of a feeder resulted in a block on the Miraniar and Seatouu tramway sections a little after midday yesterday. The emergenoy wagon was soon on the scene, and after half an hom's delay the care were running agaiu.

Owing to pressure <of business. in the Magistrate's Court yesterday riforning, Dr. M'Artliur could not hold the necessary inquiry into the ciroumstances surrounding the death of Mrs. Margaret Penney, who was found dead in the bush at the back of Daj's Bay on Sunday. After issuing tho warrant for burial, the Coroner announced that the inquest would be held at the . Magistrate's Court at 10 a.m. to-day. ;'

At a meeting of the Methodist ministers of .Wellington'city and 'suburb's, held 'at Taranaki Street on' Monday, . the . following motion was ' unanimously adopted:—"That this mooting puts, on '"record its- strong protest against the action of the City-Council m letting.thei Town Hall for a boxiiig doutest. It considers that such an exhibition is demoralising in its'influence upon all who may take part-in it, and, ns such, it ought not to be sanctioned-by the permission given to it by the council." -. ■-■ -

.At a speoial meeting of the AVellington Presbytery held in St. John's .Church' last night, the Rev. Dr. Gibb (Moderator) presiding, the Rev. W. Shirer, as the minister now: m charge of Brooklyn, reported that a unanimous call had been sent to the Rev. B. Hutson, of Fordell, Messrs. D. R. Kennedy, J-. Burr,-and W. Hendrikson, who had been appointed by the Brooklyn congregation as commissioners, appeared in support of the call. The stipend' offered was £200. Tho call was sustained, and it was agreed to forward .it .to .tho... Wanganui Presbytery with a request for very early consideration.

It will. bo remembered '. that • the withdrawals from the Savings Bank during tho quarter ended December 31 last exceeded fclio deposits by over £50,000. According to tlie Hon. Dr. Findlay, Acting-Postmaster General, the deposits have since then • consistently exceeded the withdrawals-.' The latest return shows that during the month of July the excess of deposits over withdrawals totalled over £27,000. Commenting on tho -position ho declares that,' considering the timo of the'year and the stringency in trade; tho result must be "admitted "to be very satisfactory. . . -

It. is'understood that communications are passing between the Acting-Prime Minister and tho Federal Primo Minister with regard to the question of coinage, tho object' boing to givo effect to certain proposals which cannot yet be made public. Under the Foderal Coinage Bill, it is provided that the halfcrown and the penny shall no longer bo legal tender in the Commonwealth. Among -.ho advantages which it is stated would accrue to New Zealand if it accepted the Commonwealth coinage would be 'that tin's country would secure part of the profit which arises from tho issue of new in place of worn coins.

Mr. T. Buxton, M.P. for Geraldine, haß communiented with the Hon. J. A. Millar in regard to tho importation of blight-infected potatoes from Tasmania. It is estimated that about £160,000 worth of potatoes havo been loft in Tasmania, and, as the Commonwealth, ports havo been closed to them,'theio is a possibility of some of them coinuig into Now Zealand. Mr. lluxton has urged that steps should bo taken to prevent that occurring. His suggestion a wove telegraphed by Mr. Miliar to the Hon. T. Mackenzie, Minister fov Commerce,.who has replied stating that strict instructions have been issued that no potatoes affected with blight or other disuse almll bo lauded at nny New Zealand oort. ' " .-■■•••■ •• ■.. ■■ ,

"It is my firm opinion that new memlws of Parliament should spend the first year in travelling over the country."—The Hon. ft. M'Kcnzin, at Kaitangata.

"13rid;work has never been cheaper since I came to Wellington than it is at tho present time."—Mr. James Trevor, commenting on tho cost of the proposed Fever Hospital.

An "at home" is to bo given by tho council of tlio New Zealand Academy of Fine Ails in the Art Gallery, Whitmore Street, between the hours'of 3.30 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. to-day. ■••'■ ■ :

In Chambers yesterday his Honour Mr. Justice Cooper granted tho petition of Georßo Bradley and others that 'Edmund lteddish, oyclo agent, of Lower Hutt, should be adjudged bankrupt.

A full gang of men is at present working on tho Tiiorndon Quay tramway track altering the centre pole, construction to the span construction. It is • expected that the work will be completed right down to tho terminus within a fortnight.

At tlie Mount Cook Police Court yestorday, before Mr. Thomas Bland, J.V., Wi'liani Taylor Devlin was fined 55., or in default 24 hours' imprisonment, for drunkenness. On a similar charge, Alice Brown was convicted and discharged, and ordered to tho Salvation Army Home for throo months.

The tender of Mr, W.' L. Thompson' has boon accepted, by Messrs. Crichton and M'Kay, architects, for a three-story brick addition (100 ft. by 66ft.) to Messrs'. Dalgety and Co.'s wool store on Thorndon Quay, and the erection of an additional'story to the present store. The contract prico is about £7500. •

Whilst in Christchurch, the Hon G. Fowlds, Minister for Education, was interviewed with reference'to tlie possibility of the adoption of local taxation for education. He declared that he could only repeat what ho' bad stated a # i Addington, viz., that'he bolicvod that probably some time, not in the far distant future, a step Would have to bo made in the direction indicated. He was not indicating.that he had any proposals to make, but that in his opinion, in tlio interests of education, some local responsibility was a dosirablo thing. Hβ was perfectly certain that anyone who viewed the subject from a broad standpoint would come to tho same conclusion. ... ■ ' .. ...

A letter from tho Hon. D. Buddo was read at yesterday's, meeting , of the Hospital Trustees intimating that d request . for £2000, in anticipation of tho subsidy in respect of the infectious diseases hos'pital, could riot be entertained. Tho chairman was of opinion that .there had been some mistake What the trustees had asked was an advance of £500 to enable them to push on with excavation work, and so relieve the unemployed difficulty. How tho mistake between £500 and £2000 had been made ho could not say. However, ho had had a personal interview with the Minister, who Had advised - that another application should bo made to tho Acting-Prime Minister. It was accordingly decided to make another application, but only for £200. ' ■ ■'. '.

A few weeks,ago a highly-laudatory notice of Mr. C. N. Worsley's 'show of New Zealand paintings was cabled to the local press. Tho folkiiving is the London "Standard's" notice of the show:—"At the Modem Gallery, Bond Street, a largo room is filled with water colours of New Zealand landscapes which are impressive and certainly attractive, more by reason of their subjects than for their pictorial qualities. The artist, Mr. C. N. "Worsloy, has an' eye., for 'tho .picturesque, and, though careful, is rather amateurish, teohnioally, in his work. Ho is at his best when he has something" solid to paint,-and draws mountains and rocks with knowledge and appreciation of their forms and contours. Ho is successful, too, in atmospheric effects of mist or'cloud, but' liis trees are often weakly drawn. The exhibition is one that pay not interest artists or lovers of fino painting, but it will undoubtedly, please those peoplo who are fond of striking and impressive scenery, and may induco them to .visit one of the most, beautiful spots on' the globe. New Zealand, with its wonderful, mountain scenery, its glaciers, its beautiful , lakes, its varied coast lino, its plains, and its rivers, is one of the most attractive countries for the traveller, and Mr. Worsley, in r theso, drawings, gives some idea of New Zealand landscapes." .. ... : ■. .

, At ..tho. weekly--meeting >of the- Benevolent Trustees yesterday, a Socialist appeared in support or': his application, for? temporary, relief. .Ho was out of work, had-no money, and a wifo and fivo children. Hia case was a deserving one, and was so recognised by the trustees,-who granted full rations to the applicant. But in the interval' between his appearance in ; the board-room and hie exit again, his ruling passipn got the better of him, and, after the manner of & certain type of Socialist, ho railed-at the iniquitous "capitalistic Bystein," and indulged in wme fiery oxolianges with thochainnan (Mr. John Smith). He was particularly bitter against tho "capitalist, employers" for withholding work. "Thoro are one or two of them , in this room," ho said, looking round him. "I can show'you 'my • record for 30• years' work," he went on, " yet they won't give mo Work."; "I know something about your:record," observed Mr. Sraitn, quietly. "I never thought I'd get down to this; or'have to jisten to such remarks," retorted tho Socialist. "You must not come hero and talk like that," said the chairman, in rebuke; "I'm the boss'here, you know." And for nearly a full minute tho Socialist glared at tho chairman. "The board will grant the rations,"''concluded the chairmaji, and the man left the room, '■'■ ' . :

■The-usually quiet proceedings of tho Waterside Workers' Conference were sharply ruffled for a few minutes yesterday afternoon, when Mr, M'Cann, one of the Wellington delogates, refused with heated indiguatiqu to consent to the withdrawal of. a motion that he had seconded. *Ho wanted to make another speech about it, and was boginning: to express an unfavourable view of tho conduct of. the mover, who had asked leave to withdraw, tho motion.inifavour of an. amendment, but. was ruled out of ordbr by. the. chairman.'The amendment was carnod with only two. dissentients, and then Mr. M'Cann tried to speak. again. ■ The chairman told' him to sit down, but he 're-, mijined Dtanding-and m'ado three or four more attempts to deliver a speech, being interrupted,;, every time before lie had finished a senteii< - o 'either by the chairman or by other • Wellington representatives (Mr. D. M'Laron, M.P., and Mr. , J; Bruton.),' who appealed'for respect for. the cliair. Mr. M'Cann, ' however, .declared ,' that Mr. M'Larcn arid Mr. Jackson (Greymouth)' had been controlling the chairman/ and' then Mr.> A. L. Jones, the other Wellington'delegate, roso'to endorse-'this charge Quiet Was soon restored, and- tho chairman announced that- '!proper ' Parliamentary procedure" must bo adhered to during the remainder of tho conference. s . •■

- Tho Hon. G. Fowlds, Minister for, Education, was asked at Christchuroh whether there was aiiy prospect of the .teaching of elementary agriculture being made .a more outstanding subject, in the educational sys-tem.-.Hβ; replied that there was lio immediate prospect of a change being made in this connection. , It washis opinion bhat in soino of tho scliools quite, as much was being done as it was possible to do in primary .school work; without seriously interfering with the general education for, wliiph the primary school was mainly intended. Tho only thing that was wanted- was to get tho present system more generally extended, and that could only be done by giving the teachers an opportunity to secure tho training which was necessary for'them before they could giro instruction. Ho hoped to 6oe all tho training' colleges doing something in that direction. Tho district high'schools bad already been circularised, with a view of their adopting a definite programme providing for agricultural education., As they wore very largely situated in fanning .communities,, the ■Department. took tho view that they should have a bids towards agriculture or dairying. '.' Some of tho district high schools are doing exeolloflt work in that direction," said Mr.. Fowlds. "Tho first school to includo dairying as a special feature of school work was at Stratford, and the work has been very successful. Micro. Each school, of course, should bo encouraged to tfko up that branch of the work which Is likely. t<i bo most useful in the after years of the scholars in their district.";