LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 776, 28 March 1910, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Maheno, with an English, American (via Vancouver), and Australian mail on board, arrived at Auckland from Sydney at 10 a.m. yesterday. The Wellington portion of her mail is due here by tho Main Trunk express this afternoon. The Warrimoo, which left Sydney for Wellington direct at 11 a.m. on Saturday, and is due hero on Wednesday morning, brings an Australian mail only.

While fishing in the Western Bay, Lake Taupo, Messrs. Darcy, Bloomfield, and Anderson recently landed 280 splendid rainbow trout, weighiug 21701b, This splendid catch probably constitutes a New, Zealand record for six days' fly fishing. The largest fish weighed 161b.

',- A passage at arms occurred between ono or two Natives on Saturday afternoon in the main street of Levin. Things at one stage began to look a little threatening, as it seemed, as if tomahawks might be introduced into the "discussion" at any moment. However (says our Levin correspondent), after Borne gentle persuasion. from the police, one of the parties left the others m possession of the field. By this time quite a crowd had collected.

When about 1000 passengers disembarked from the harbour steamer. Duchess last ■ evening there was only one tram 'awaiting their convenience. Another arrived a few minutes later, but if there had been half-a-dozen they would have been filled, and yesterday's ■receipts would have been materially increased. Tho second car was labelled "via Courtenay Place,''.but after a number of people had- taken their seats they were informed that the car would proceed to Newtown via Cuba' Street, and many had to scramble out, and find room in- the crowded car ahead. Seeing that the tramway year ends on Thursday next, it is difficult to imagine why such slackness should be, apart from the question of inconveniencing a section of the public. There are frequently six ■or eight cars in waiting to serve an audience of 500 or 600 at the Town Hall, yet 1200 or 1400 arrived yesterday within,a.few minutes, and therewere, two cars' only to meet them.

■■■ A party, of motor cyclists from Christchurch and Wellington arrived at Palmerston on Good Friday. They consist of Messrs. Brown, Blundell,-. Bennington, and Barnett; of Christchurch, and Messrs. Wilberforce, Lewis, and Seley, of Wellington. On Saturday the party reached Wanganui, and thenco went on to Napier, through . the Manawatu Gorge, and from- Napier by the Wairarapa to • • Wejling500' miles by Toad: -The run from Wellington to Palmerston occupied five hours, including the, stop for lunch at : Otaki. \ The roads were-good, and there were no mishaps. On-the Wellington slopes of the Paekakariki hill, about a mile over the top, the • party passed two disabled motors, which h»d collided. One occupant had his hip, hurt.

A telephone message has been received from. Otaki stating that all the Y.M.C.A. boys in camp there are well. The weather has been'good,, and the sports are progressing favourably., Mr. Graves left by the afternoon |rain on Saturday, and addressed ~: the T)oys on Sunday.! Mr. Holmes leaves Wellington for the Otaki camp to-day: '

•From April 1 subscribers..to the telephone exchange will' not .'be given counts of the individual', items, debited against thenv for' bureau: communications. An account showing the total amount duo will be "rendered monthly, and, failing payment of the amount claimed within, a week from the date of rendering of such account, further communications may be; stonped.; 'Tho fees for the services of. special messengers, will, from April 1, be collected'at the time of the services being' performed, instead of being included: in the account, for .telephone exchange ' subscriptions. '.';:/ .■.•:.:.■■"-'•■:■ :,:<■:

Another raid- on alleged, sly. grogsellers was made yesterday afternoon by Sergeant Rutledge. and Constable M'Kelvey, who visited premises in'. Tory Street, where a quantity of- liquor was seized.' "'>-.'■ -'- •; ■■■:.

1 A Crushingtoh correspondent writes, the Inangahua "Times" that Halley's comet was visible -last Friday between 5 aim. and 6.30 a.m.; that it resembled very miich a silver bayonet suspended in the sky, and so bright was it and so large in comparison to the rest of the stars in tho,firmament that they, paled into insignificance altogether. .'He' adds: "It gives.one a slight idea what it will be like when we see it in a few weeks' time as an evening star, and i.>ter on when it will be at its .-.; Mr. Minns, night watchman at Westport, states he has seen the comet on several occasions, lately between 2, 3, and 4 o'clock. The'first "time he: saw it was on Sunday; morning a week ■ past, rising from the back of Denniston, when it resembled the last quarter of the moon rising. It was visible yesterday from' about 3 a.m. to"6 a.m. It'now resembles a star of exceptional size, standing out prominently from all other stars."