LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 952, 20 October 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities advise that a steamer with 265 bags of American Mail matter for- the Dominion left San'; Francisco for Auckland on October 17.. She should : reaoh there about November 10.

Discussing the suggestion that the sessional arrangements for next year should be disturbed in order to "allow a bodyguard of M.P.'s to accompany the Prime Minister to : England;, the . Cliristchurch "Evening' News" ,says: "The country : is ripe for political changes,, and: Novemberof next year mil bring the Reform Party the opportunity they have .been' awaiting. For the leaders to participate in the Coronation trip means a political? truce that will cause the electors to question ■■ the Opposition's sincerity and doubt its real fitness to replace the sorry,. ill-assorted orowd which clings, to power, as to dear life." •' ' : '

Two .Stewards on the Ruahine were arresces yesterday > by.- Detectives Andrews and Bailey on charges of broaching passengers' luggage. They will be brought before the -magistrate .this morning. ■

The license of the Princess Theatre Hotel was again before the < Licensing Committee at the adjourned, meeting yesterday. Mr. W. R.'V. Allen had applied at the previous meeting to have his temporary transfer made permanent, but the matter was held over pending settlement of certain details concerning repairs. Mr. E. J.. Fitzgibbon, for. Mr. Allen, asked yesterday' for a further, month's' adjournment.- The' application .was not opposed by Inspector Ellison, and was granted.

Mr. Maurice O'Connor, who has secured the contract to erect a training wall and reclaim certain land from the harbour, in Evans Bay for the Union S.S. .Co., will make a.start with the work this morning. A large repair shop, sailloft, and laundry are to be erected on the block. • " ' ,' -

Amending legislation to change Labour Day from tho' present day in Ootober to a-day in some more suitable month, was asked for recently by Mr. D. M'Laren, M.P. In 'reply, tno Minister for Labour says that if it is the wish of labour brgariisations. genorally throughout New Zealand to alter the date of Labour. Day to some other month in' the year, and a request is made to him to that effect, he will be pleased to givo favourable consideration to the matter. '

Replying to a question put by Mr. Luke, tho Minister for Public Works stated that the Government is aware of the largo increase in .population in the .districts of Miramar and Evans Bay, and also of tile increase of industrial development 'ana shipping in Evans Bay, but considers that at present it would be premature to ex r tend the railway from Te Aro to Miramar, a distance of three miles, which would cost, approximately, : ,£150,000. ■

The Latter-day Saints of the. Horriion Church in Salt Lake City, in XT tali, are holding their 6omi-annual conference (says a cable message published in the Sydney "Sun" last week). Some remarkable speeches were delivered at the opening of tho conference, tho. majority of the speakers insisting that polygamous marriages must stop. . r ;

Tho Court of Appeal will deliver judgment to-day .in tne following cases:— Cliristchurch. City Council v. Boland and another; in re J. J. Patterson, solicitor; and Hatrick v. Nicol. '''

Two bookmakers Save been summoned to appear at, tlio Magistrate's Court tomorrow, to answer to charges of street butting. . , . . The Wellington Homing Pigeon Society's first race of the season (from Hawera) resulted as follows:—Mr. P. Williams's. "Enchantress II" (953vds. per minute), lj Mr. J. Bolton's No. 358 (946yd5.), 2; Mr. W. Ahler's No. 87 (937yd5.), 3; Mr. C. Ridding's "Alpha" (936yd5.), -1; Mr. A: Clark's ."Bruno" (936yd5.), 5. Eightythree birds competed, 'representing fourteen lofts. : . A cable message received in Australia states that a stage accident that occurred at the Munich Opera House on October 12, during the production of "La Boherne," resulted in Signor Caruso being knocked • insensible. : The physicians in attendance on the famous Italian tenor announced that he must abandon his engagements for some time to come. When the 5.35 p.m. train was drawing alongside the Trentham racecourse riding yesterday to embark passengers for the city, a lady endeavoured to step aboard while the cars were still moving. She oaught hold of the platform railing, but missed-her footing, and was in imminent danger of falling between the-carriages and the platform when a man who happened, to be standing close by caught and supported her till the train had oome to a standstill. It was a close call. : The reason for the delay in bringing down a return showing ' the number of charges and convictions ; for 6ly grogselling in licensing 'districts was asked of the Government recently by Mr. Arnold, JI.P. A reply has been received bir Mr. Arnold, 'stating'- that, the return is in couree of preparation, but, as the infor-. matiou has hid to be collected from returns furnished by each Court .in the various. districts, some' delay ids neoessarily occurred. -

Anxiety' was" expressed by,. Mr. Tr' E. Taylor, M.P., last .week as to whether, - with a view, to ;redyicing..the cost, of State coal to consumers,, tue Government will i procure the necessary steam colliers' to. make the' State coal mines ~ independent of the present coal-carrying steamship monopoly.", _A: reply:has, been given that the, sea-carriage of State coal, is always let by contract, and for this there is always very fair competition, consequently tnere is, no monopoly so. far as':seacarriage, is concerned. The Government 1 are, however, considering the advisability of procuring two steam colliers to deal with the. carriage of. State coal.

■ At the Dominion Confer? ence yesterday the 'president (Mr. W. H. Smith) urged the necessity 'of the formation of a federation of New Zealand fruit*, growers' . associations for ' the purpose iof regulatin gthe. distribution of fruit to, the marfcets.|- Ho' contended that, that would be in the interests of- the. fruitgrowers, and of;.the consumers,- : and said, that it was essential that 'the markets' should be .regularly ;supplied, -so that there would not be'a ,glut in,one. place, and a scarcity another.' It; was. resolved ; that a federation 'should be: formed, and named the New Zealand Fruitgrowers' federation. V ,- ;. A very pleasant evening was spent at the Hotel. Windsor, Willis Street) ''last? night, where the watohmakers and jewellers held a. dinner. - Air. T. Crouch presided. About fifty sat down to the dinner.. ; Mr. G. Moar .'proposed! the' toast of • The •/Watchmakers,/ ■ which was responde'd to by Mr. J. E. Rashc Other toasts were proposed bv Mr. Aisles, "The Jewellers," responded "to by llr. Watt; and, Mr. Savage, ' "The : Engravers," , responded to by . Mr. Mayer.- Humorous songs' and recitations, were given by the following, gentlemen Messrs. , Bastin, Kenny, Gardiner, and Bastin.- V Vv;,;. ■ .7;

In the annual report of tie. New- Zealand Journalists' . Institute . mention. is. made that, in the council's opinion the. headquarters' should -i be : transferred toChristohurcli for "a term; IThe statement of accounts', a deficit of il ss. lid., but the contributions due from /branches would place the institute in credit. The annual meeting is to, be held on October 31.