LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 948, 15 October 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities advise that itlie s.s.-, Aora.ngi, : 'which, sailed ;from Sydney on October -13, is bringing an Australian mail fori, the Dominion. She should reach Wellington on -Monday afternoon, Octobcr 17. -. . ••••

The Victoria College torn .examinations commenced yesterday.-

At a meeting of New Zealand soap manufacturers; neld in -Wellington" .yesterday. it was -unanimously resolved to raise prices of all bar soap £2 per ton. This step'; is taken owing to : the high prices ruling for tallow, coconut, cotton seed, oils, and American resin.

; Anxiety , is being expressed by Mr. W. H. Field, M.P.,. as to when the Minister, for. Railways' is, going to announce his decision as to granting a stopping-place or places for tho .Auckland express between Wellington 'and Palmerston North.- In an explanatory Bote attached to a . question to the Minister for Railways on ■ tho above subject,. : Mr. Field: says it is to be noted that the north and south trains pass at Otaki, whore, therefore, - one must mako a'stoppago.m any case;' and, .further, it is understood both trains' are 'to stop at Levin to .take-in water.

The Hine Allegations Committee did: not submit its- recommendation that a' commission of two r judges should be sot tip to tho House of Representatives yesterday as was anticipated. Questioned 'on tho subject by a Dominion' .irepotter, 'Mr.-Hanan,chairmari of the committee, said that it was agreed- by the cominitteo •-that; the--report * should, liot be presented yesterday.' No reason for this deoision- was assigned by, Mr. Hanan. It is .understood that. this.decision was arrived at owing to the:absence of ~the: Prime . Minister 'in. the South. The feeling "among , members of tho committee, soomed .to. be that' the report should-.not sbe brought >down until »the i Prime Mini ste r. returned, , for it was almost bert-sun that'information woiild be sought as to the scope of tho order of reference. The. matter is almost certain: to come before the House on Wednesday or .Thursday, ,

, In the Magistrate's Court yesterday, a defendant was charged with driving a :motor-car round a corner-at a pace othei; than a walk. The .police .wished, to amend the charge to one of "driving across the, intersection"-of two streets: at 1 /a -pace-; otihor than st walk. iDefondantrobjected to the- information "'bmn'g:- '&HindM t .'.'fciftl .case was.- difc. missed without- prejudice, Sub-Inspector Norwood vintimating that', another■ infor-,' mation would probably be laid. ■ ~:

. ■ - A;. dispute of some I standing ■ was : reviewed by -the Makara County ■ Council yesterday when':;its', clerk., .recalled' tho fact,;that ! 'audemand:. made pn"\the:_Cityl Council ithree. years- before/ on the land now; occupied l by. the'; abattoirs, had. fceh''.met-;:byia; : denial;of I liability.: The property : had then been marked exempt- in county:', 'but '.adT: 'vice.: lately Vreceivwl'.fo^ Department was to the effect'that , the property was rateable and the .City Council i liable.to pay rates .upon it to. the Makara County. ; )A .dobit note had therefore <been forwarded to the corporation with ■ a request.-^for.,payment of three years' rates:, The'.Malsara Oounoil . instructed: their, clerk: to, - pr«s'"tlie de-.

in connection with the acquisition of Quinton's Cotner vat intersection of Bowen Street and-Lamb-ton Quay are now. in full progress and the purchase - officer to tie Public Works Department is making necessary ,arrangements:.k -.The;purchase is part of the schemo which comprehends the ■widening, of .Museum Street and the closing- of Sydney Street .so as :-to*, join the grounds of' Parliament. Buildings with/ those of old Government House. Meantime it 'is proposed' to -'acquire Quinton's section;* Cook's section; ad-, joining and possibljva part of the land in the estate of< J." Maginnity, deceased: Day (Friday next) is to be celebrated by- the Navy -League's .local branch by a:supper to be held in the Hotol Windsor. His Excellency the Governor,' the Prime 'Minister, -and members■: ofthe. league, are being -'invited, to. attend... There is no set programme for.: the,, schools Day, but the masters are being: asked to mark' thes day either by a -"saluting the flag" ceremony, or by an address or reading suitable to the' occasion. ' . ; The hours' of-attendance, at the Wellington South Post Office'was - the subject of recent between. Messrs. Luke and : \Vright, M.P.'s and the Postmaster-General. In a reply, just received .by : the members, the' Post-. . master-General r states that ne regrets; that he is unable to authorise the opening of. the offioe between 5 and 7 p.m. Suoh reopening; .would require; to apply to all offices similarly, situated and the expenditure involved was not warranted 1 at present!-. Instructions had, however, been given for postal ■ notes to be sold at the' Wellington South, office, between 7 . and 8 p m-

: The ninny years' exporionco of Mr. Robert Gardner, of Palmerston : North, who is well known as a land valuer, is at the service of cautious leaders and buyers.—Aijvt.