LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1162, 24 June 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Owing to its following Coronation. Day, yesterday's holiday—Prince of Wales' Birthday—was only partially observed in the citv. Those trades who have the holiday included in the award observed tho day, but the majority of tho retail shops in'the city and suburbs'were. opened for business. It rained heavily early in the morning,, but the clouds cleared away during the forenoon, and the sua shone out brightly for the rest of the day. Last evening the Coronation illuminations: jewelled the night prettilv, attracting A good deal of attention. The Exhibition, and theatres were well patronised. Offing to a lack of opportunity tho Yorkshire Society will not have a chance of entertaining tho members of tho Sheffield Choir next week, though anxious to do so. Mr. Hugo Gorlitz, manager in Now Zealand for the choir, was communicated with by the secretary of tho society a few (lays ago, but held out no hope whatever of there being any time available for social amenities. >>o arrangements have been made so far by the municipality .in the matter of arranging a • reception to the choir, though the matter was mentioned by tho Mayor (Mr. T. M. Wilford) some time ago. If a reception is arranged, it will probably take place immediately beforo the first concert, in which case the York-

shire Society woifld probably be repre:ollt«l.

Owing to an outbreak of measles among I'iib students, St. Patrick's. College broke up yesterday, and will remain, closed for

a month. It appears that some halfdozen of the boys developed measles during this week, and as the epidemic would in all probability run through the school, it was decided to close down at onee, instead of on Monday, when the term holidays would commenco in any case. On account of this decision the annual match with tho Wellington College, which was to have been played this afternoon, has been abandoned.

Tho illumination of tho State buildings, in Wellington was repeated lust evening, and against the still darkness of a perfect night stood out in striking beauty, displayed to much greater advantage than on the previous evening, when tho atmosphere was blurred by tho rain. The illuminations will be repeated onco again to-night.

Wekaweka, north of Auckland, was the wetttet place iu New Zealand during the. month of May. During the thirty-one days nearly 17J inches .of rain fell—an average of between a half and threefifths of an inch per day. Puysegur Point, which is usually well in. the running when tho talk is of rain records, registered just over 11 inches during the month, and Whangarei had the benefit of 13 inches of rain. At tho Wainui reservoir (Wellington) B.J inches were registered. Less than half that quantity fell at tho Karori reservoir.

Dr. Charles Harriss, Director of Empire Festivals, has notified his intention to be present at .the public distribution of medals and certificates gained by candidates at last year's examinations under tho Associated Board of the K.A.AI. and R.C.AI., London. The function will take place in the Town Kail on Friday afternoon, .Tune 30. Sir E. 0. Gibbes', Bart., lion, local representative, will preside.

■At tho Mount Cook Police Court yesterday, before- Air. '!'. S. Lambert, .T.P., Iliurli Stewart, charged with drunkenness in Buckle Street, pleaded guilty. Accused requested to be sent to Pakatoa, as he could not keep away from drinking in Wellington. This being his fourth conviction for similar offences within six months, he was declared a habitual drunkard, and was sentenced to two months' imprisonment. Two first offenders were also dealt with for insobriety—an elderly man who had to find cab faro; and a woman who also pleaded _ guilty. They were each admonished, convicted, and discharged.

Air. A. H. Himlmarsh has given notice that he will move the following motion at next Wednesday's meeting of the Harbour Board:—"That the Harbour Board undertake the loading and unloading of ships trading to Wellington* and generally to perform all work requiretf to bo uouo at and on the Wellington wharves except cartage,"-

I An unusual number of personal references have been indulged in since Ihe opening of the New South Wales Parliament (states a contemporary). One member was repeatedly .illuded to as "wire whiskers," another was called : "humbug" and a "tcm-tit." The galleries were crowded with peopie, and the audience enjoyed themselves immensely. The member called a "torn-lit" tool; objection to the remark; but "wire-whiskers" treated the whole matter with contempt. There was slill another member who did not appreciate being dubbed "a worm." "A baronetcy for a battleship!" exclaims the "Hu'tt and Fetone Chronicle." "We—that is to say, the people of A'ew Zealand—bought the battleship, and Sir Joseph Ward has got (he baronetcy. The only difference about the position is that the people of New Zealand were not consulted before the battleship was bought, whereas Sir Joseph Ward was probably asked if ]ic would like to become a 'lesser or inferior baron' as the title implies. If our Prime Minister had given two battleships mid been made a baron, we should have been obliged to address him as 'my Lord.' If ho had given Ihrec battleships and been made an earl we don't suppose any ordinary person would have been able to get near him to call him anything. Still, there is no telling what tho future may bring forth. The Earl of Awarna would lie quite euphonious, and Lord Bluff certainly, appropriate. The democracy of New Zealand may or may not feel thrilled in its veins to have at the head of its .affairs a gentleman by letters patent a Dart., P. 0., and LL.D. On tho other hand they may get it into their heads that a man less set on braid and baubles would bo a fitter chief citizen to a democracy."

Before leaving for England last- week Mr. T. Sedgwick sent an interesting letter to all tho "Sedgwick boys" in New Zealand. He says that so far the. pchemc lias, with one or two exceptions, proved a success, and that, generally speaking, tho employers and the boys are very satisfied with each other. He expressed an earnest hopo that for the credit of the scheme the boys would sustain and intensify tho good opinion now held by the farmers with respect to them. "Tho future for you all," says Mr. Sedgwick, "is very bright if you work well and continue to save after your apprenticeship is up; and when you have each saved o. few hundred pounds I would strongly advise you to take up bush land, provided .there is convenienco of access to it by road and rail, and being young you will hovo-plenty of time to clear it and become as well, off as your employers, some of whom had a far worse start than you had." He urges tho boys to b3 thorough in their work and trustworthy —for, as he adds, "thoroughness is the keynote of success." With the assistanceof the Farmers' Union, Mr. Sedgwick intends to bring out another party of boys.

In connection with -;o-night's display ait the Athletic Park, scout troops of the southern and central battalions, with the Brooklyn troop and scout senior cadets, will meet .at the Park at a quarter to seven, while other units are to meet at the Government Buildings at the same time. Lights will bo carried as arranged.

Yesterday the Festival of Empire Sports Committee dispatched a cable from Wellington to Mr. Coombes in London wishing the Australian and New Zealand representatives the best of good fortune in the contests, which begin to-day.

Among tho unions who have cancelled their registration under tho Arbitration Act recently are the Wharf Labourers' Industrial Union of Workers, Westport; the Otago Ironworkers' Union, and the Deputies' Union, of Denniston.

Major H. Cox-Taylor, of tho Royal Australian Garrison Artillery, has produced a piece of mechanism which should bo of immense value to touring motorists It is an automatic road-chart, to be fitted in front of tho chauffeur, and will unfold to him an accurato plan of tho road he is travelling, enabling him to sec, two miles ahead, every hill, bridge, and other features of the road. As danger spots are approached mi eleelric bell sounds a warning, ■ and all land-marks, such as etc., are shown.

A report'by Professor Marshall (chairman of the Professorial Board of. : Otago University) spates that the work of Dunedin students handsomely with that of students in the other University Colleges. For instance, four first-class, six seeond-rlass, and seven third-class diplomas were gained by Dunedin students, while in the threo other colleges together there were only six first-class, nine second-class, and ten third-class diplomas won. Tho academic year was also satisfactory in connection with the senior scholarships. Including the Tinli-ie Scholarship, seven of these have l°-'r. awarded to Otago students this year, mid six only to tho other three colleges together. * This comparison, however, is slightly affected by the refusal of one of the scholarships by a Canterbury scholar.. This (comments the professor) is tho most successful year that the Otago University has had in the senior scholarship lists, and it allows of satisfactory anticipation in connection with tho honours list of next year.

Dr. Arnold Tzard will address the women electors of Wellington North in the Sydney Street. Schoolroom on Thursday, June 29.