LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1193, 31 July 1911, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Mahcno, with nn English mail (via Suez) and an Australian mail on board, arrived at Auckland from Sydney at !) a.m. yesterday. The Wellington portion of the mails is duo to arrive hero by this afternoon's Main Trunk express. In the last twelve vears, savs the "Pastora'ists' Review," .£15,745,000 of British capital has disappeared from Australia and New Zealand, representing tho investments of Anglo-Australian land and land mortgage companies which have been wound up and others which arc still in process of liquidation. Two companies have directly transferred capital from Australasia to Argentina. Altogether, including withdrawals by companies _not yet proposing to liquidate, or which liavc not taken .steps in that direction, there is about .£20,000,000 lets British capital invested by these land companies in Australasia than there was a dozen years ago.

lliq cradles are kept full at St. Helen's Hospital. Dmiedin. In nine days, at the beginning of the month, a dozen births were recorded. Six of these were girls and sis were boys. The happy tidings wero sent on to the Minister in charge of hospitals, and adding the brief comment, "Wonderful!" Mr. Fowlds gave the inspector's letter to the press gallery. The Mayor of Auckland (Mr. C. J. Parr), who has taken a firm stand on the question of civic receptions, seen by a "Star" representative, with reference to the cablegram received from Adelaide last week stating that the Mayor had refused to receivo the Sheffield Choir on the ground that they were on a money-making tour, said that while he did not agree with the Mayor of Adelaide in so far as the Sheffield Choir was concerned, lie certainly did agree with the principle laid down by that gentleman. Ho found that there had been a tendency in Auckland to grant civic receptions to almost everybody and everything that came along. Travelling theatricals*, lecturers, and othovs sought to make an advertisement of the mayoral office in this way. Ho had steadfastly set his face against granting civic receptions to people who were solely ont for money-making. In the last three months he had already declined 10 different applications of the kind. In his opinion, civic welcomes should onlv bo granted to persons of distinction, sucfi as, for inJ stance, Lord Kitchener, writers of prominence, such as liudyard Kipling, or the Admiral of the station, or peoplo who were really worthy of such high honour. Our own people who have achieved famo abroad were also entitled to civic honours. Somo peoplo scented not to understand what a civic reception really meant, but he took it that when the Mavor, with his Mayoral insignia or from the Mavoral chair, welcomed any person, he sliould speak for the whole body of the citizens, rotd should, therefore, be very careful bofore he committed tho city to a citic reception.

Tho popularity of pantomime in Now Zealand was capitally illustrated in Auckland last Thursday, when the box plan of the second week of "Jack and tho Beanstalk" was opened. People began to assemble soon after G a.m., and at 8 a.m., when the office onenod at Wildman's, the queue extended the full length of the arcade, and out into Fort Street. Over 2000 seats were booked during the day.'

A man named Charles Searle, for whom the detectives were looking, gave himself uu on Saturday. He was subsequently charged before a magistrate with stealing a caddy of tobacco, valued at ,£5 15s„ from the warehouse of AV. and G. Turnbull and Co., and was released on bail. A four-wire aerial has been erected between tho dome of tho Town Hall and the firo brigade tower, under the direction of Mr. Spry, of the fire brigade staff, who is greatly interested in wireless telegraphy. The strange disappearance of Daniel Condon, formerly a porter at the Auckland District Hospital, is giving riso to some anxioty. One day. about six weeks ago (says the "Herald") Condon left the institution at 10 a.m., and has not since been heard of. He was wearing his official white coat at (he time. For two weeks prior to his sudden departure CO7l- - had been suffering from influenza, and had been a patient in one of the wards. The day after his disappearance the hospital grounds were searched, without avail, and the police were notified. Since then _ all inquiries have failed to bring to light any explanation of the mysterious affair. A meeting of St. John's Debating Society was held on Friday evening, there being a good attendance. The evening opened with a debato on tho subject, "Does modern dress need reform?" This was affirmed by Mr. D. Douglas, and opposed by Mr, A. 1!. Coad. There were several speakers, and on tho subject being put to the motion, tho negative was upheld by 21 to 20. Enjoyable items were afterwards contributed by the Misses Jessm I'etrie, C. Horrell, C. l'etrie, and Messrs. D. Patterson, Palmer, Douglas, Crawford, and Sadler. The evening tormipated with stump speeches by members of the society. Yesterday was the iirst occasion on which the Ferry Company's new Lug Muritai had a chance to show her towing capabilities, and she acquitted herself very capably. She picked up tho barque Helen Donnv off Island Bay at 3.10 p.m., and had licr, at an anchorage at 5.45. Tho captain of tho Muritai says that tho new tug is a good one, and her towing powers proved very successful, both vessels bowling along 'in good style. The Muritai is rather light at present, and it is anticipated that with more ballast in her her towing powers will be much enhanced.

Aorangi, R.M.S., en route from Auckland to San Francisco, will be tho only vessel within range of Wellington's wireless station to-day.