LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1034, 25 January 1911, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities advise that tlie •s.s. Aorangi, with_ English' and American mails via Tahiti and Rarotonga, left San ,Francisco on . January 11 (timetable date). She is due to arrive at Wellington on Thursday, February 2. Yes'torday Cabinet granted a sum of £600 for a new building at Mount Cook Hermitage.

The new Marist Brothers' School, which fronts King and Tasraan Streets, is to be formally opened'by his Grace Archbishop Redwood on Sunday next at 3 p.m. l'ho newly-erected Brigid's School Chapel at Wadestown is to be opened by tho Archbishop on Sunday, February 5. \ , Dannevirke at the present time' (says Monday's "Evening' News") is literally hemmed in with fires. Tho heavy wind ,on Saturday afternoon - fanned the flames into fresh activity, and the fire at Tiratu sprang up afresh. The bush from Rua Roa to "Te Rehunga was passed through by fire yesterday,,and a fresh blaze in the direction of the old Totara mill sprang up. Tlie.Manawatu Gorge was also on fire yesterday.

A deputation introduced by Mr., W. M'Lean waited upon the Mayor yesterday morning to. ask that more accommodation should be provided at tho Town Hall for the Municipal Orchestra. This body now includes - some forty-five performers, and the stage of'the Town Hall is not large enough to receive them all. The 1 question of time for rehearsals was also raised. After hearing the application of the' deputation, Mr. Wilford desired that it should ,be submitted in writing to "the Finance Committee. That body, ho said, would give tliq matter its consideration at its next meeting, a fortnight hence.

The Solomon's Knob dam at Wainui r o-mata being now completed, the reservoir will shortly be available for use. It is anticipated that tile city- engineer will visit the!site within a few days, after which a date will be fixed for harnessing the w'ater.

The conference of representatives of local bodies which is to deeide on what day of the week the weekly half-holiday shall bo observed by shopkeepers, will meet-at the Town Hall to-morrow. Outlying boroughs seem generally to favour the Saturday half-holiday, but tho probability is that the weight of voting will be cast in favour of Wednesday.

Tho- following subscriptions to :-Itllefunds of tho Society for the Prevention of. Cruelty to. Animals are acbnowledrf--G;- M. 'Kdbbell, £2"'2's;rHus>" dart-Parker Proprietary,,.£l Is.: Mrs. W. R-. Williams, £1 Is.; Mossrs.-J.-M. Richardson, 3,, M'Breartjfj and Hirst and Co., lOs.'each; Mrs.:J. 11. Butt;" Messrs. J. Newton and Son, H. A. Shepherd, A. Izard, and- Union. Clothing Company, ss. each; Mrs. A. Cameron and Mr. J. M. Clark, and "A Friend," 2s. 6d. each; Mts. Nattrass, ,3s. 6d.total, £7 10s. Tho Mayor remarked yesterday that the duplication of the Wainui watermain would provide work for a considerable number of men during tho winter months. It is anticipated that a start may be made upon tho work at the end of March or beginning of April next. Tenders for .the supply of pipes required close at the end of the present month In supporting a vote of thanks to Mr.. William Moir, of Aberdeen, for an address in Sydney before tho Amateur Fishermen's Association, on the | possibilities of trawling in New South Wales, Mr. Frank Farnell suggested that the, Government should do more than it had done to establish tho industry, which was capable, he was certain, of becoming one of the greatest national industries. Mr. Moir, in responding, asked if Mr. Farnell intended to suggest that the . Government should start. the ' industry as a .commercial business? "No,-no," said Mr. Farnell, "only the pioneering work and research work." Mr. .Moir said the matter was beyond tho experimental stage now,' and it was ripe for private enterprise. For experience of Government handling, they had a sufficient example in the condition of the Government telephones .in Sydney , now. If that service was en example of what.'a Government trawler would be, he for one would not support such a proposal. Tho fishermen roundly applauded the sentiment. In the opinion of Mr. R. C. Kirk, expressed at tho Hospital' Board meetihg yesterday, the question of retaining tho services of a consulting engineer at, say, £50 per annum fee, for. tho purpose of advising the board upon all matters relating to machinery, works, repairs, etc., in connection with the various institutions under its jurisdiction, is worthy of consideration as a business proposition. The board now proposes to take preliminary steps accordingly. . After sitting all day yesterday, and failing to come to a complete understanding, the representatives of both sides in the carpenters'' dispute decided to adjourn further discussion until February 7. Everything has been settled with the important exceptions of the hours of labour, wages, and the matter of preference. It is quite possible, howover, that a settlement will be effected before that date. ' . It has been urged byiho local branch of tho Navy League that the postage of one penny (and upwards) charged oh tho League's monthly publication "The Navy" is a heavy tax on the funds of that institution, and in view of the patriotic nature of its work, the league has asked for. some concession in tho - somewhat heavy postal charges. In replying through the local-president, Sir Joseph Ward, tho Postmaster-General, says:—"'Tho Navy' is not printed in New Zealand, and is not registered as a newspaper elsewhero and so cannot bo accepted as a newspaper.- • But the new rato of postage for magazines, recently introduced by me, was designed to moot such' a case as this.' Tho publication weighs under Boz., and may be registered as a magazine. It would then bo passed at tho }d. rato for inland transmission." Application is now being, made for registration of "Tho Navy." as a magazine. Tho circulation of tho