LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 964, 3 November 1910, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Petone Navals did some remarkably good big gun shooting yesterday morning, when they fired in the second series of the Garrison Artillery competitions. Five shots were fired from each of the six-inch guns engaged, and every shot was a hit. The battery commander for the series was Lieutenant Robinson. Weather . conditions favoured good shooting, the air being clear and the wind light. The average range during the series was about .4200 yards, and the time occupied in firing was 4 minutes 30 seoonds. The service of the guns, particularly in the case of "Al," was good. Observing and laying both were excellent. The observers considered that every shot fell within 20 yards of the rope connecting the towed Hong-Kong targets, and the fourth shot severed the ropo and cut the rear target adrift. Tho layers, too, performed their part well, placing every shot at or near. the objective point between the targets.

-• The ebb and flow of members of the House of Representatives generally keeps the House a shade under full .strength. Yesterday, however, something liko a record was constituted when every member of the House was present with the exception of tho.Hon.Geo. Fowlds, who is in South Africa, and Mr. H. Kaihau. The total attendance was 78. ' !

Owing to the large number of postal receiving boxes in the city and suburbs which have been damaged of late, the Postal Department has been forced, in the public interest, to place every case in the hands of the police for investigation, with a view to prosecution of the person causing the damage. Three receiving boxes were reported yesterday as having been damaged, presumably by boys using them .as marks for'stones and other missiles. In two cases the enamel was smashed, and the notice plates destroyed.-

A spontaneous donation , of forty guineas has been handed by the Wellington bookmakers towards the Rev. Mother Aubert's Golden Jubilee Fund.

At the Magistrate's Court to-morrow, Terence O'Hagan, labourer, will bo called upon to answer a charge of aiding the commission of an offence; to wit, street betting. O'Hagan was called ;as a. witness on Friday last in the case against "William Ham for alleged street betting. It will be remembered that on that occasion the prosecution collapsed.

Jack Vinegard (otherwise known as Jack Vinegrad, and Isaac Vinegard, or Vinegrad), of Wellington, mercer, has baen adjudged bankrupt on a creditor's petition, and the first meeting of his creditors ■ will be .held at' 11 o'clock next Saturday. Edmund George Pointon, builder, of Petone, has been adjudged bankrupt on ■ his own petition. The first meeting 'of' his creditors is to be held at the Official Assignee's office on Friday, November 11:

The "Methodist," in referring to tho New South Wales Cabinet, says:— "Mr. M'Gowen is not now .connected with Methodism, but was so in his earlier life. He is now superintendent of St. Paul's (Anglican) Sunday School, Redfern, but his family aro frequent attendants at Wesley Church. Mr. A. Eddon, Minister for Mines, was for many years a Primitive Methodist local preacher, but is now an adherent of the Lay Methodists at Lambton. The exclusion of Mr. Dacey from the Cabinet is significant. Ho is a Korean Catholic' as is also Mr.'Mahon,of the Federal Parliament. They are both able men, but aro both left outside tho Ministry."

Some days ago Mr. J. Allen, M.P. for Bruce, asked the Prime Minister whether ho had any knowledge.of an alteration in tho class of cruisers to be built for the China or Commonwealth fleet units. Hq understood that tho cruisers of tho "Yarmouth" olass were being built by the Home authorities, and it had been suggested that these wero intended to replace the '/Bristol" class of cruisers specified for the fleet units. The Prime Minister replied in the House yesterday that honad received no information on the subject. As far as New Zealand was concerned, tho class of ship was left to the Admiralty.

Detective Lewis arrived from Sydney by the Manuka yesterday, haying there arrested a man named Benjamin Searby, on a charge of forging a cheque for £45 at Little River, near Christchurch, iii 1908. Accused will bo brought before the Court at Christohurch.

The Wellington Homing Pigeon Society flew a race from Auckland on Saturday, an air-line distance of 308 miles.' The birds made the journey, against a head wind, in 9hrs. 42min. The following was the result:—Mr. C. Ridding's Admiral Togo, 930 yards per minute, 1; Mr. A. Clark's Day Star, 929 yards, 2; Mr. J. Elliott's No. 417, 929 yards, 3; Mr. J. H. Clark's Melody, 928 yards, 4; Mr. Bolton's No. 356, 921 yards', 5. ■ A second race from Auckland will bo flown on Saturday. . ■

' Tho Japanese Administration announces that Korea, has been annexed to Japan under the name of Cho Sen. Messages addressed as to Eorea or Cho Sen are to be accepted.

The supply of strawberries in Auckland is increasing daily, and in every respect the season promises to be an exceptionally good one. The recent rains have proved of groat benefit, and it is expected that in a few days the Eending of regular consignments of strawberries to Wellington will bo ooni' monced. At the Waitomata Fruitgrowers' Association's sales' on Tuesday the prices realised were from 7}d. to Is. 2>\d. wholesale, the berries being retailed at from 10d. to Is. 3d. per box.

Included amoi.g the passengers from Sydney by the Manuka yesterday were three Chinese, two of whom wore permitted to land, while the third is being kept aboard the ship pending a further examination of hi-s identification papers.

The Minister for Agriculture has promised Mr. Massoy to do his .utmost, as far as is reasonable, to prevent tho spread of noxious weeds on Native lands. Various suggestions made during tho debate on the Noxious Weeds Act as to conducting experiments are also to bo consjdercd by tho Minister.

Mrs. Rollcston, Hair Physician and Toilet SpecialUl. lms returned. Appointments may bo booked for tho latest and most scientific Hair ami Face Treatments, Electrolysis, etc. English, Amerienn, and Continental experience. 4 Willis Street. Wellington. 'Phono' 1599.— AdvU

Upon further examination yesterday, it was decided by the Health authorities to allow the two passengers who were detained on board the Arawa on Tuesday to laud.

Tenders for a uew pumping plant for the Calliope Dock (Auckland) have been invited by the Auckland Harbour Board to closo ou March 7 next. The present pumping plant has been working ever since the dock was constructed, and if retained would require extensive repairs m the near future. The new plant will ensure a considerable economy of time and labour. At present five to sis hours is occupied in pumping out the dock, but the new plant is estimated to he capable of doing the work in 2i hours. It is stipulated that the whole of the plant and fittings must be of British manufacture. It is also intended to repair the caisson of the dock, and this work will be done while the installation of the new pumping plant is proceeding. The dock will be out of commission for probably four to I six months whilst the two works are I proceeding. The estimated cost of the new pumps and tho repairs to the caisson is £10,000.