LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1029, 19 January 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tolling the story of a straggling congregation at tho Primitive Methodist Conference yesterday, a speaker remarked:. "Our last congregation consisted of tho minister and myself, with now and then somebody else."

A deputation from Khandallah wanted the Minister for. Railways (tho Hon. J. A. Millar) to see' theit railway station and improve it. "Come out 011 Saturday and have a game of bowls, and we'll give you'a right good time, and then you can see if," said one. The Minister, weighed his words, and, seriously gazing up at tho ceiling, answered: "Unfortunately there is a race meeting 011 that day. . . ." (Laughter.)

For some time tho Wellington Garrison Baud has not benn so much in the public eye as it formerly was. Three years ago it fell out with the North Island Bands' Association over the selection of a judge, anil was disqualified. That embargo has now been removed, and tho band intends to take part in. tho competitions to be held at I'almerston .North next month. The band is short of tlm amount necessary to cover expenses, tnd is asking tho citizens to supply tho deficiency. I,ieutcnant-13andmaster Herd will acknowledge any, donations received.

Yesterday a party of police paid a visit to the breastwork on Customhouse Quay, and surprised a group of men near the Sailors' Best, where it- is alleged .they were engaged in a gamo of hazards. As a result of the raid some nine men were summoned to appear at the Magistrate's Court this morning. .

Genial and harmonious has so far been the tono of the. Primitive Methodist Conference, now sitting iu AVcllington. Only once has tho president had occasion to ask a speaker to withdraw a rqmark, and the remark in question Was only a very harmless one.

"We don't' want to argue with peoplo' who compare the. criminal statistics of different countries, and claim on this eround that New Zealand is better than other countries, said Archdeacon Harper, ill tho course of an address yesterday oil the subject of ''Bible in Schools. "People who employ Mich arguments, he continued, are setting up straw; figures to knock thorn down."

CouuciUor jl'Leod has given notice that he will move at the next, mooting of the Miramar Borough Council: "That cars b" run on from tho Junction to Mirauiar Avenue, so as to give a -10 minutes' service to tilo a\enne. For the best and most, tnodern Hair and Complexion Treatment, Mrs. Kolleston who has just returned from England and' America, is recommended. Highest diploma Mr removing superfluous hair. Vibro-mossase, Hairdressing, Shampooill" and Clipping 4 Willis Street (over Carroll's). Tel. 159D,-Advt.

"Our Church, of all churches in the world, ought to work in tho open air," said the l(ev. J. Cocker, of Auckland, at tho Primitive Methodist Conference yesterday. "It comnienccd in the open airit was born oil the top of a hill,. Let us go out before the people and win them irom the street."

The Municipal Tramway Department has installed an automatic point-adjuster lit the junction of Kent Terrace and Elizabeth Strec-t. This-should save the conductors a good deal of work at that spot. The adjuster is worked from the car automatically. If it is desired to turn :'e to Elizabeth Street from the trunk line, the power is kept on with tile controller, and contact being made at a certain point the frog and switch are pushed orty\ If, however, it is desired to keep on the trunk line, the power is shut oil' for a few yards as the car passes over tho junction with its own momentum.

Representatives of coal trade workers in Wellington met in the Trades Hall last evening to make 1 preliminary arrangements in connection with an annual outing known as "the black diamond pic'nic," which fails due shortly. Coal trade employers will shortly be approached by the workers with a view to fixing a date and place for tho outing.'

On the run across the Tasman Sen this trip the Ulimaroa's wireless operator, Mr. Kelly, succeeded in effecting sonic rather good work. , The vessel left Sydney 011 Saturday afternoon, in company with the' Kiverina, bound for Melbourne, and the vessels were in communication for seme considerable time, messages being exchanged at a distance of SUO to COO miles. Late on Sunday night Mr. Kelly was in touch with Sydney, and, on Monday, a message was intercepted from H.M.S. Cambrian at a distance of 600 miles, when she was in the vicinity of Auckland. This was replied to. On Monday night tho Ulimaroa's operator distinctly heard H.M.S. Powerful at Melbourne in conversation with H.M.S. Pioneer -at Sydney. The distance was from 700 to 800 miles. The record in long-distance "wireless" by the Ulimaroa was achieved wlien she was in communication with the Zealandia (the' latter fitted with a powerful Marconi plant) at a distance of 1200 miles. As stated yesterday, communication was effected with "Wellington on Tuesday niglit, the messages being transmitted by H.M.S. Cambrian.

Discussing some of the aspects of the recent Science' Congress at Sydney, llr. A. Hamilton, Director of the National Museum, who returned to Wellington yesterday, said that the absenco from the meeting of the president of the Anthropological Section (Mr. Edward Tregear) excited keen regret, as his address in this special department of scientific study had been looked froward to by the Australian scientists. Mr. Hamilton himsei? had intended, to read a paper on "The Progress of the Native Birds Extinction and the best Methods of Preventing the Same/' but owing to the great mass of papers ill the Biological .Section he did not do so. This paper could have been taken as read, and so formed part of the proceedings, but Mr. Hamilton s main object in preparing his matter had been to evoke an illuminating discussion on this very important subject, as ho was especially desirous of hearing the views of Australian zoologists.

A final reminder is given that entries for the Feilding A. and P. Show, close to-morrow (Friday), January 20. Schedules may bo obtained* from the office of this journal or from the secretary. .