LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1094, 5 April 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Arrangements havo been made- by the Post Oilice for delayed moils from London, via San Francisco, due in Auckland on Thursday, to be brought to Wellington by special train if a connection can be secured which will result in the mails reaching Wellington by six o'clock on Friday morning. This arrangement is contingent on the s.s. Talunc arriving at Auckland by 11 a.m. on Thursday. An old style of welcome to the stranger was illustrated last evening by Dr. A. M'Arthur, S.M., at the. Church Immigration Society's meeting. Time was, said Dr. M'Arthur, when, if two men saw a stranger, Iho conversation would run something like this: "I say, Dill, oo' is 'of" "I dunno." "Then 'cave 'arf a- brick at him." "I am glad this day is no more," concluded the speaker. One thins is very noticeable in connection with the health of the Maoris gathered at Papawai, and that is (he large number who are suffering from asthma and other chest complaints. The Opaki liillo Club is dissatisfied with the selection of the men for the New Zealand Bisley team. Their crack shot, Kifioman Winslado, has just won the championship—expert opinion picked him as a certainty for representative honours —and why he was not selected beats all comprehension, state his club-mates. "What's wrong with the Opaki liille Chili," ask they, "that the members are passed over so consistently?" Komnrking on how little people outside of New Zealand knew of this cotmIrv, Bishop Wallis last, night illustrated the fact by a recital of an incident: which occurred when he was at Salt Lake City, lie was asked to give an address, niid on consenting, was introduced somewhat after the following style:—"Tin's gentleman comes from New Zealand, which you all know is a little island in the Pacific Ocean, lie has enme here to tell von all about its blacks."

The exact date upon which nominations for the positions of Mayor and city councillors will close has not yet been determined, but, according to (he statute, Iho dav must be not more than seven days, nor Uss than five, prior to tko day of tlection,

Solicitude for the welfare of n Persian cat, confined in a cage at tho Newtown Zoological Gardens, inspired a letter which was considered Inst evening bv Ihe Society for the Prevention of Cruelt'v to Animals. The writer contended that"confinement in a cage was a most unnatural and unhealthy life for a cat, and expressed an opinion that unless the animal were released it would cortainlv go mad or die. Inspector Seed reported that he had teen the cat which, to all appearances was quite happy. It had been at the "zen" for four or five months, and was accommodated in a large cage. "It is no more cruel to confine a cat in a cage than to confine a linn nr liger," commented a member. Mr. Seed added that he had noted a very great improvement in the condition of Ihe animals at the . '7.00' during the past few months. Anima s that had been suffering from sores had been quite cured. He was very pleased at what he saw of the condition ot Ihe animals, taking it all round. It (lid seem unnatural, Mr. Seed admitted, to confine a cat, but the animal seemed quite used to it. It was decided to acknowledge the letter and take no further action in the matter.

When Mr. Martin Kennedv received the cablegiam announcing that the Irish dolegates were coming to New Zealand by the Lotorua, the messago asked that arrangements be made for Ihe delegates to address twelve meetings in the Dominion. »hen the last delegates were hero thev addressed over thirty meetings, and in view of this it was decided to cable to the delegates at Cape Town, asking if thev would he prepared to go through a lengthier programme than" suggested, as a dozen addresses would not nearly satisfy those in New Zealand, who were desirous of hearing them. A reply lo this is expected at any time now. A meeting of hairdressers' assistants is to be held shortly with a view to reorganising the union. . As lias boon reported, a sum of .£20,000 in the snaps of city sinking funds became available for investment on April 1. So far only one small loan has "been authorised, but another is being negotiated which, if ultimately approved, will absorb the greater part of the sum available for investment

Tramway revenue for the week ending on Sunday last totalled .£2265 2s. 2d. During the corresponding week last year the amount collected was .C2A55 17s. 4(1., so that there has been a decrease in the later period of .£290 15s. sd. This is in part explained by the fact that the week in (juestion last year included Easter Monday.

The number of passengers who travelled on the morning r-nccial ears last Sunday was 332 adults and 13 children. Fiflyfivo passengers made use on the same day of the 10 n.m. car running from the Government railway station to Lyall Bay, and 70 passengers used the 9.50 p.m. car to Constable Street. Ninety-four passengers travelled by the 10 p.m. car to Newtown. A total of IG7 passengers travelled by the midnight snceial cars during the week ending on Saturday last. The greatest number for any one'night travelled bv the Tuesday midnight car, which carried 10 passengers. The animal meeting of the Wellington Grocers' Assistants' Union will be held in the Trades Hall next Tuesday evening. Tho principal business will be the election of officers for the ensuing year and tho election of two delegates to represent the union at a conference of the four unions of the Dominion—one exists in each large centre—which has been arranged with a view to the formation of a Grocers' Assistants' Association. The conference will be held immediately after the Trades Council Conference in Christchurch at faster lime. .

Recently tho Wellington Trades Council asked tho Executive of tho Trades Council Federation (tho Duuedin Council) to alter the date of the approaching conference which is to be held in Christchurch at Easier time. In support of the AYollingtun request it was urged that a number of Labour representative; were seeking election to municipal councils and that attendance at the Christchurcn Conference might hinder the prosecution of their candidature. A reply has nowcome to hand from the Executive in Dnnedin stating that no alteration can be made in the original arrangement, and that the date fixed must stand.

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals met last evening, Mr. .1. Ilott presiding. Tho following donations were acknowledged i—Kempthorne, Prosser and Co.. £1 is. j Mrs. C. Harris, 10s.; Waddell, M'Lcod, and Weir, 10s.; Mrs. Tiller and "Maggie," Bs. Gd.; Jlesdames J. Godber, B. Brown. Mr. W. G. Mantell, Dr. Cahill, Dr. H. J. M'Lean (ss. each), .£1 55.; Mosdamos Wnkelin, Dumbell, Messrs. H. Pike, J. Clark, A. Robertson, T. Page, AV. C. Hemcry. and the Rev. Mr. Dumbell (2s. Gd. each), jet; G. J. Page, 10s.; total, <£5 is. Gd.

A member of the Trades Council suggested in conversation yesterday that of the 10CG signatures which were deleted fiom the half-holiday petition, bscnusc they did not appear on the city roll, somo might bo those of electors in neighbouring bcroughs, which, for the purposes of the half holiday poll are joined with the city in a combined district. The point was referred to the returning officer (Mr. Ames), but ho immediately disposed of the suggestion. The petition, he stated, was compared, not only with the city roll, but with those of the other areas affected, namely, Miramar, Karori, Onslow, and Johnsonville.

Inquiries made at the Christchurch Customs Department on Mondav' in regard to the effect of (he removal cf the surtax of 2.1 per cent, in increasing the quantity of Roods taken out of bond showed that the increase, as revealed in the business transacted on Saturday, was not so large as' might be expected'. The increase on Monday was not as much as .£IOOO as compared- with the business that would have been put through on an ordinary Monday. Such increase as there was might, moreover, be partly duo to the fact that it was the beginning of a new month, and to the near approach of ttio Easter holidays.

"The official returns for Masterton for the first nine months of No-I,icen<e, ending March 31 last (says the annual report Of the Now Zealand Alliance), record thirty convictions for drunkenness as compared with two hundred for the corresponding nine months of the prcccdin" year under license, or a reduction of 85 per cent. Of the fore-named thirty convictions, nineteen were from neighbouring license districts, which are served bv the Masterton Court. Thus (he actual reduction in Ihe convictions for drunkenness in the Masterton electorate is 34 5 per cent. Bravo Masterton! Our other iNo-I.iconse electorates continue to do themselves credit. A recent return covering several of them shows that crime has decreased under No-License bv 55 per cent., and'this notwithstanding tho deadly influence which is exerted by the neighbouring electorates under license." •

Tho Bishop of Wellington (Dr. Wallis), speaking at last night's meeting of the Church liiimigration Society, stated that ho supported with all his heart the closer settlement nolicy adopted here. When he returned to England he would probably bo asked what New Zealand was like. He would renly that it Was a good land for people, who had a little capital, knew a. little about farming, and were willing to learn more, as (here was plenty of room to start here. Ho might, also endeavour to get domestic servants to come out, also milkers and men able to do rough work. If a man wns not ready to do roimh work lie lied better stay at Home. There were also many people that he would advise not (o come to New Zealand. Men with occupations which were no! catered for here would find liltle to do, and would probably . only harm those already in

lhe annual Kastei camp and conference of (ho Young Men's Bible Class laiion and Institute of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand will be held ihi< year at Belmont, from April 14 to April 17. About 300 men are expected to be under canvas, and meetings will be held daily. The sports meeting for (lie Championship Banner is lo be held on Saturday

afternoon, April 15, at -2 o'clock. On Monday afternoon a man was seen to remove a pair of boots from a shop door in Manners Street; but, (hough chased by the owner of the shoo and a he succeeded in eluding his pursuers for the time being. A description of (he thief was given to the Detective Office, and yesterday afternoon a man whom lhe police think "'mrpf-- l'i» description was arrested at Iho railway station by Detective Meson ;n*l ijeiuiv tho departure of a train for Maslerlon. The April number of the Wellington Bradshaw is. now obtainable from all news agents. Price one penny. This handy , little- baofc contains all time-tables, mail services, and a host of useful information,"

Yesterday Detectives Cameron and Rawle arrested a man, who will appear at the Magistrate's Court this morning charged with the theft of a bicycle from the wharf. At a meeting of i"fio New Zealand Shipowners' Federation, held yesterday, .it was decided to recommend Captain 11' Arthur, of the Maori'.and Steamship Co., and Mt. I?. C. Kenner, of the Patoa Shippine; Co., for appointment as the employers' assessors in the Merchant Service Guild dispute, which is to come before the Conciliation Council on April 11. "The appeal of Charles P. Trillo, of the Petone Worlcshops, has given rise to a rather interesting situation. As our readers are probably aware, Mr. Trillo was refused leave to appeal, on the ground thai lie was a probationer, and had thereiore no standing. This of the question was taken up by tha Amalgamated Society, with the result that the Department gave way, and granted him leave to appeal. When the case came before the N.l. Appeal Board, that body, after taking evidence, declined jurisdiction, owing to the fact that no Departmental inquiry had been, held prior to Mr. Trillo being written ' off.''—"Railway Officers' Advocate." Sir. Hugh J. Ward and Hiss Palolta have, at the invitation of Mr. K. C. Kirk, chairman of the Hospital Committee, inspected tho plans of the,new Children's Hospital. They are delighted with the general design of the structure and the ample provision that is being made for the little sufferers.