LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 760, 8 March 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities advise that the Ulimoroa, which left Sydney on Saturday for Wellington!, has on board an Australian mail, which is due here tomorrow morning. The Conference of Officers Commanding Districts commenced yesterday morning at Alexandra Depot, Wellington. Colonel iiobin, C.8., Chief of General Staff, presided, and the fol.U>wing were present:— Lieutenant-Colonel Bauchop, C.M.G. (O.C. Wellington District), Licutcnant-CoLonel Wolfe (Auckland District), LieutenantColonel Hnwkins (Canterbury District), Lieutenant-Colonel Sroythe (Otago Distriot), Lieutenant-Colonel Joyce (Neison District), Lieutenant-Colonei Chaytor (Headquarters .Staff), and Captain S. Trask (Staff Officer to the Cliief of the General Staff). The conference will last for three or four days, during which matters in connection with the working of the new Defence Act will be considered. On Wednesday members of the conference will visit the Trentham rifle meeting, and lunch there at the invitation of Colonel Collins. i .. Some few days ago it was officially anDounced that the Labour Department intended to take proceedings against those who took part in the dispute- over the unloading of the s.s. "Kanaka. Inquiry made yesterday amongst those concerned showed that action has not yet been taken.

Some doubt has arisen as to exactly what articles axe to be procured at Home for the now rice-regal residence. Replying to the deputation which waited upon lum on Friday, the Hon. R. M'Kenzie. Minister for Public Works, made it quite clear that the furniture and the furnishings for three of the rooms would be im- ' whilst tenders' would be invited within the Dominion for the furniture for the remaining apartments. Some of the members of the deputation came away under the impression that it was probable the whole order for the grates and mantelpieces would be sent Home, whilst others thought that they gathered from the remarks of the 'Minister that, only those required for the three principal rooms would be imported. Upon mentioning the matter to the Minister yesterday a Dominion reporter was informed that the point still remains to bo settled.

The new General Post Office is to be adorned with marble statuary. The specifications provide that the contractor shall set aside .£2ooo' to be at the disposal of the (Jovernment Architect for tho purchase of marble statuary, the sum mentioned being exclusive of all labour and material required in the setting up in position of the statues. According to the l'lans, there are :to be four statues, which are to stand out clear from the building on pedestals over the main entrance in l''eaf"herston Street.

Iho engine on the. Auckland express train, which left' here 12.15 p.m. yesterday, broke down on reaching Paekakariki, the stoppage being caused through some of the gear becoming overheated. A connecting-rod had to be. detached, and this caused an hour's delay.. On reaching Palmerston the express was,an. hour a ? 11 a ' la " : ' a ' e- telegram received ii r , Office last evening stated that the train was one hour fifty-five minutes late in reaching Taihape.

In connection- with the Navy League Ball, to 'be held, at the Town Hall on iuesday evening next, it is intimated in another column that applications for tickets require to be made not later than 5 p.m. on Friday, the 11th instant. This is to enable tho catering and other necessary arrangements to be made in ample time. Considerable interest* is being shown in the approaching function, which is to be in the nature of a public ball to enable the citizens to meet Admiral Poore and his officers. Everything points to the gathering, being a most successful one. An entertainment of the bluejackets is being arranged by the loague for Friday evening, the 18th- instant.

A letter under the, date of February 25 has been received by one of the Auck-i-i : ln Catholic clergy from Cardi-. nai Moran. The letter is chiefly in reference to the late Bishop Lenihan, and, says: *1 most sincerely condole with you the unexpected, demise of yourexcellcntj.bwhop. We felt., some,..anxiety last year on account of the. repeated attacks illness, but were quite hopeful that the worst was'past, .and that he woiud for many years be .spared to carry, on the work of the Divine Master in New Zealand. God's ;will be done. . r that a worthy sucoessor of the . late bishop will carry, on triumphantly the many works of religion' 1 already so auspiciously begun in the diocese of Auckland." . .

The experiments in the treatment of concrete and methods of laying it under water are still proceeding in connection with the dock works at Te.Aro. Quite a number of people have communicated with the, Harbour Board authorities, offering advice or assistance to overcome the "laitance" trouble, and one of tho latest of these would-be 'benefactors has shown such confidence in his skill as to propose to back himself to the extent of ,£IO,OOO. He olaims to, have had considerable experience, in .concrete work, and to have been very. successful in solving difficulties similar to those which havo arisen at Te Aro. He visited the works yesterday, and was allowed facilities for inspection.

.It .is expected that H.M.S. Powerful, ilagship . of -the Australasian .Squadron, will leave Aucldand, for Wellington on )l fiL and will be accompanied by the Challenger and Pegasus. .A poll was taken on Saturday, last on the proposal' to adopt the rating on the unimproved value system in the Upper Hutt Town Board district. The proposal was lost by 26 votes, the voting being 95 for and 121' against. Six informal votes - were recorded. ' The poll was conducted by Mr. A. J. M'Curdy, returning officer.

A big hui has just been held at Oraka, I ffi ° u between Opoutama and Mr. G. C. Ormond's station (states the l s°l " Guar(iiai O- It was attended bv Natives from aJI parts of. the Wairoa, Napier, and Gisborne districts, some even coming from as far as Tolaga Bay. The sum of ,£304 was collected, the balance of which, after paying expenses, will be devoted to erecting.a monument to the i raomory of a prominent Native chief, who I died a few months ago. I

t The good work undertaken by the Socloty: for the Prevention of • Cruelty to Animals is well exemplified by a case which is now receiving the attention of its officials. In response to a message on Saturday, Inspector Seed visited one of the pounds, where he was shown a halfstarved mare, which had been found wandering about the streets. From all appearances tho unfortunate animal had not been in a fit state to work for some considerable time. If it had been turned adrift it was a very callous act, for the animal had lost tho whole of its incisor teeth on the top row, which would prevent it eating any but long grass. With care the animal was led into, town, where it is now receiving suitable attention. A vetetina'ry surgeon who saw it yesterday stated that it was sufforing from the after-effects of pleuro-gneumonia, due to oxjwsure whilst in a weakened condition. If it is not in a fit state to be led to tho boiling-down works at Kaiwarra to-day it will be destroyed at the stables where it is at present located. Referring to the case, Inspector Seed informed » Dominion reporter that it was one of the most shocking that had come under his notice. Last year (he added) over 30 cases of the land passed through his hands. He had not been able to ascertain the name of the owner of the animal.

A man named James Joseph Madigan, a messenger residing at 197 Grant Koad, Thorndon, was admitted to the Hospital yesterday aftornoon suffering from a fractured leg. l'"rom the information supplied by tho Hospital authorities it appears that Grant foil in getting off a tram,car. He is a married, man, and 5G years of ago. Mr. John Brodio, who is a candidate for the Mayoralty of Miramar, has served continuously on the Miramar BoroiHi Council ever , since its formation, and is now the only member of the first council still in office. .His election aildress appears in another column. A man was arrested yesterday by Detec live Cameron on a charge of wife d-wr 'ion at Westport last year. The case will be heard at the Magistrate's Court this morning. Jhnmpooing, Clipping, Hairdressiug. Manicuring, I'ace Massage, Treatment 51 Falling Hair and Dandruff, Comain-s made up. Natural Hair-pads. Mrs. Kolleston ■ (over Carroll's), U Willis Street, 'Phone 1593,-Advt •

A recent visitor,to Auckland related as evidence of the unusual heat which had been experienced there that mosquitoes had invaded houses and hotels, and stronglyscented oils were in heavy demand to keep off the pest. An unusually long period of innggy weather has been experienced all over the North : Island since Christmas, weather in which the mosquito appears to flourish, for not onfy nas it invaded Auckland, but people have been bitten in their homes in the centre of Wellington within the last few days. One young lady has been so pestered wtili the hum of mosquitoes at night that.she has made ourtains "to keep the little vipers at bay." Mosquitoes nave.'been so bad at Gisborne this summer that most people have had to rig mosquito curtains to ensure getting a nighfs rest, and there has been more tronble with them at Napier this season than for many years past.

'l'ho rate at which the Government votes are being spent in some parts of the Hutt County is the cause of some ■dissatisfaction. Much fuller details in regard to the projected works are now being sought by the Public Works Department—hence further delays. In some quarters the position is believed to indicate that the Government is continuing; to keep down the expenditure until after the close of'the financial year. This and other matters will form the subject of a deputation from the Hutt County Council to the, Hon. E. MTCenzie (Minister for Public Works) this afternoon. Ont of the 6even M.A. degrees obtained by students of Canterbury College at the University: examination, no fewer than five went to members of .Presbyterian Bible classes. Knox Church Bible Class was represented by Mr. C. Stubbs, St. Andrew's by Mr. M'Leod and Miss Wilson, St. Paul's by Mr. Guder, and St. Peter's by Mr. Amees. The Eight Eev. Isaac Jolly, . M.A, Moderator of - the Presbyterian General Assembly, and lately minister in charge of the church at Palmerston North,, was. on Friday evening inducted, into the charge of St. Stephen's Church, Auckland. There was a very large attendance of church members and of the public. The Eev. J. M. Simpson, 8.A., of Knox Church, Parnell, conducted public worship and. preached' the sermon, following which the Eev, W. Trotter, who had acted as interim moderator in the oharge during' the vacahoy.'put the prescribed questions to the minister and congregation, whioh, being satisfactorily answered, he proceeded bv prayer to induct Mr. Jolly as minister to the charge. After the right hand of fellowship had been extended by members of the ministry and elders of fhe congregation, Mr. Trotter gave an able address on the nature, function, , and method .of .. the Christian ministry,- directing, his. remarks especially to the newlv-ihducted minister.',' The Eev. E. L. : Walker then delivered a suitable and telling address" to the congregation, reminding them of their duty in. regard to their minister. .