LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 996, 10 December 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities advise that the s.s. Wimmera, which loft Sydney nt 3 p.m. on December 7 for Auckland, has on board an Australian mail and a small English mail, containing specially addressed correspondence only. The Wellington portion should reach here by Ham Trunk express on Monday.

A premium of £2000 will probably be offered by the Government to the New Zealand architect whose plans for tho new Parliament Buildings are accepted. Competitive designs aro to be called for, and the conditions are now being prepared by the Government Architect, the Prime Minister, and the Minister for Public Works.

The local Builders' and Contractors' Association at its last meeting passed a resoliitiou recommending Wellington builders to observe a holiday period from December 24 to Jauuary 3. In past years builders and contractors have experienced considerable difficulty in getting their workmen together in the period between the Christmas and New Year holidays. The arrangement recommended by the association will be adopted, it is anticipated, by many local members of the building trade, but a percentage of builders caunot adopt the suggestion, having contracts in hand to which a time-limit is attached. '

Teuders have been accepted by Cabinet for the Shannon Post Office, and for police stations at Johnsonvjlle and Wellsford. A sum of £700 has also been allocated for additions to the Kilbirnio School and £2000 for the new wharf at Picton. •

. A Customs officer will in future be in. attendance at the Parcels Post Office, daily, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 to i p.m.

Our Feilding correspondent, states that the first athletic test for the Bayly Memorial Scholarship is to be held on December 15.

Ths Government has agreed to contribute £250 annually for the maintenance of the judges' library _ ; at the Supreme Court: In the past judges have had to rely on the law library, and havo in consequence 'very often been put to great inconvenience. Therefore the law societies voted sums for the establishment of the judges' library, which has since- come into existence. The Auckland Society contributed £254, Canterbury £250, Otago £275, and Wellington £525. ■

The tramway conference concluded its deliberations yesterday, after sitting for a day and a half. No public announcement was made. "I have absolutely nothing to say.," the replied when questioned by a. reporter last evening as to the result of the conference. : .

The annual summer show of the Roso and Carnation Club at the Town Hall on Wednesday next promises to be one of the most successful exhibitions yet held by the club. . The practice obtaining in the past of holding the summer show in January lias been departed from this year, it being thought that carnations' aud sweet peas, which provide the chief exhibits, are nearer perfection now than a month later. With, the recent, spell of finer weather and welcome rain, flowers of all descriptions are looking particularly well, and in consequence the entries are not only expected to be a'record, but the quality of the exhibits.should be very fine. The show will be opened by his Excellency the Governor at 3 p.m., and remain open until 10 p.m.. Afternoon tea will be dispensed by the ladies', and music by Vitettas' Orchestra in tlie afternoon, and by Pierard's String Band in the evening. , Exhibitors ate asked to note that entries close, oif Monday next for all classes.

A meeting of Society was held last evening.' The Rev. J. Crewes occupied ,the. chair, and there was a good attendance. , A ■letter-was received from his Excellency Lord Islington accepting the patronship of the society. . The chairman explained the position, of the Ncwtown Zoo respecting the offer of a lioness from the Dublin Zoological Society. From his remarks, it appeared that the Dublin.Society had offered a lioness- for £65, but was willing to take, in exchange, kiwis, keas,. or such New Zealand birds as could be procured by the "Zoo" authorities here. The City Council had considered the matter, and decided not to accept the offer.. . The, matter had been -left in tho.hands of the- Premier, who. had made no further. effort to secure a suitable animal. It was decided to purchase a kangaroo offered by' Mr. Wood, of Palmerston North, and to present it to the Newtown Zoo.. Since the last meeting two Textor weaver birds had been purchased and presented to tho Zoo. Other recent additions aro a pair of whydahs, presented by Mr. Copp, and a pair of cut-throat finches, from , Mr. Foglio. A sub-committee was formed with power to purchase animals when ' there was not time to consult the general committee. On tho conclusion of the other business, Mr. B. H. Lowo road a paper on "Interesting Occupants of Our Zoo."