LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1196, 3 August 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities advise that the c, s.s. Mamma, which left. Sydney nt 1 p.m. s on .lulv 31, tor Auckland, has mi board an i: Australian mail, a'lso an English mail, via Suez. The Wellington poition will lie duo here by .Main Trunk on Saturday \ ner.t, August 5. ■ j' The postal authorities advise that mails fc from England and America, via Van- i couver, are due in Wellington, per Main 'J Trunk, on Saturday next, August 5. s A writ claiming .I'oOl damages from [ .Messrs. Blundcll tiros., Ltd., proprietors 1, of the "Evening Po-t," for alleged libel i was yesterday issued from the offices of Mr. )■',. G. Jellicoo at the instance of Albert J'euey Major, chef. Plaintiff was 1 employed at Carroll's tea-rooms and the ] damages are claimed in connection with i a report that appeared in the "Evening I'est"' of July 5 regarding action Inken by the Health Department in re Car- j roll's (ea-rnoms and an editorial com- ' incut thereon. Plaintiff alleges that he | has suffered loss and injury by tho publi- \ cation of these articles and therefore seeks ; damages. ' Representatives of the shearers' unions , from various parts of New Zealand have ] been meeting in conference in Welling- ( ton (at tho City Council Chambers) since, j Monday last to discuss various matters. ( Mr. A. J. King (of Canterbury) is chairman. One important question under review yesterday was the advisability or ; otherwise of joining in with the Federation of Labour. A meeting ( of the Federation of Labour representatives is to be hold this morning .at fl o'clock when the Shearers' Union delegates will also attend and hear what has to be said in favour of Federation. As things aro Hie shearers favour their present position which really means that they believe that advantages are to be obtained from tho Arbitration Act which (hey would have to abjure were they to join the Federation of La-' hour. A deputation of citizens will probably wait on the City Council at its meeting on Thursday week, to protest against Hie erection of a stable, in the Botanical Gardens, on the site at present selected by Hie council. During the year ended March 31, 1911, the number of persons who arrived in tho Dominion from the United Kingdom was 10,331. Those assisted by the High Commissioner totalled 2G2J, possessing as capital ,£37,735, or an average of £U each. The number of domestic workers assisted was 831. Under arrangements made by the High Commissioner with three shipping companies a farm labourer possessing Xlfl capital could obtain a passage in a yix-borth enclosed cabin for .£B. A female domestic worker could obtain a passage in. a six-berth enclosed cabi.il for £1 Ills., the rales having been especially reduced in ordev to induce young women to come to A'ew Zealand and to assist local associations in introducing domestic assistants. "At a meeting held on March !), 1911 (says tho annual report of the Wellington Society of Professional Musicians) the council deprecated tho suggestion that a competition:, society should be established in Wellington, and afler discussion at ihe social meeting held on March 18, the following resolution was carried unanimously. 'That this? society endorses the action the council has decided to take in opposing the establishment of competitions in Wellington, on the grounds that competitions aro not in tho Irue interests of -music' A letter embodying the views of the council was published in the'local press. Your council regrets to say that the society has been formed, for it is felt by them that competitions are bound ti have a harmful c-IVect on music, conducing as they do to a spirit of commercialism, to undue 'cramming,' and to a craving—most undesirable in the case of young students—for public adulation and i iippearanco 'before the footlights.' It is , considered that the nervous strain and ; - excitement (in the case of children) and the undue value that attaches to success 1 at competitions are certain to banefully in- ; llv.encc the musical development of ■ students." Mr. Massoy will deliver' political addresses at Masterton ou Saturday, Au- • gust 12, and at I'ahiatua on Momlav, Au- . gust 11,. ' . j V'l.'iii ' Passengers by the Warrimoo from Syd- ; nay yesterday included five Chinese who j returned froin a visit to their native , land.

"The Vancouver mail service is going to be a big tiling for New Zealand," says Mr. G. W. 5. Patterson, of Auckland, who has just returned from a visit to the East and the United (States and Canada. "When I was in Vancouver," he said, "I found that' Hie people there wore looking forward to the inauguration of the new service just as much as New Zealand is In Western Canada they are waiting to trade with us and with Australia with outstretched arms'. The new service, in my ppinion, will bring about a now era in tlie Pacific, more especially as the boats to bo employed are really fine, the Makura being the most luxurious ship I have travelled on with the exception of those on the Atlantic." New Zealand should appoint a Trade Commissioner in the East, is the verdict of Mr. G. W. S. Patterson, grain merchant, of Auckland, who returned from his eighth visit to China and Japan on Sunday. "There is," lie declared, "a big trade to be done there, but to take advantage of this New Zealand must have a representative to advance her interests. As it is at present the people in the East aro hardly awaro t'hat New Zealand exists. They have never heard of it. But they have heard of Australia, and particularly of New South Wales, which has a Trade Commissioner there. Everywhere I went I found Australian butter and meat, but nothing from New Zealand —only Nelson jam." The number of unions of workers registered under the Industrial Arbitration Act to December 31, 1910, was 308, comprising 57,01)1 members. Some of the largest unions were: Auckland Hotel and Kestaurant Dtnployeos, 1255; Waihi Amalgamated -Miners and Workers, 1350; Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants (3d 6081; Wellington Drivers, Gl3; Wellington District Aust'ra- ; lasia Institute of Marino Engineers, 585; Wellington General Labourers, 75!); Wellington Section Australasian Federated Seamen, 102(i; Wellington Shearers, 075; Wellington Wharf Labourers, 1531; Canterbury Shearers, 1120; Christchurch General Labourers, 1200; Dunedin and 'Suburban General Labourers, 109 G. One of the responsibilities that New Zealand bad to shoulder when the late Mr. Seddon arranged for the extension of its boundaries by the inclusion of the Cook Islands was the leper island of Morokai. It is a little palm-fringed strip in the ocean near Penrhyn Island on which for a Dumber of years past the lepers from the larger island of Penrhyn liavo been isolated. An ordinance has now been gazetted appointing certain days for visiting the island, so that relatives of the diseased and the bringcrs of food will have as little communication with the lepers as possible. The visiting days are Wednesdays and Saturdays. Permits must be obtained and visitors must be accompanied by a policeman. "The number of certificated tcaclicrs in tho Native schools' service (states the annual, report of the Department's inspectors) is gradually increasing, mid several of tiio younger members of the staff are now preparing themselves to qualify for certificates—a slcp which we consider very desirable both in their own interest anil in that of the service. At. the same time it must not bo thought that the uncertificated Native school teacher is, ipso facto, incompetent; indeed, this is very far from being the case. Many of our teachers, in spite of their being uncertificated, have proced conclusively by the nbio management of their schools that the absence of a certificate does not always mean lack of efficiency in teaching. And it is n. matter of surprise to us that tlieso teachers not taken the trouble lo obtain what is popularly regarded as the hallmark of the teacher, seeing that they already possess so many of the essential qualifications for it." >

A sitting of (ho Mount Cook Police Court was held yesterday morning, at which Mr. P. Bush, J.P., presided. One iii-st offender was convicted and discharged tor drunkenness, while, for similar offences, John Walsh and Alexander Huthcrford were each-lined 'IDs., wilU || l 0 option of 18 hours' imprisonment. "iir'AZOI." taken' on some lumps nf sugar and allowed to slowly dissolve in the month will promptly euro a cold in Ihe threat or chest. For rolds in Iho head it is advisable to in addition inhale "NA/OL" llironch the nostrils as directed. >'o eold can withstand this treatment—it must succumb,—Advt.

A meeting of tho Wellington Engineers' | Education Society, is to be held on Monday next at the Museum. Besides the usual papei's. there will be a discussion on a suggestion that; health certificates should bo obtained by persons about to marry. The Weilingioii City Council has appointed tho following stands for taxicabs:— Earnuton (Juav (fronting Govern- c incut Buildings), 2 vehicks; Whilmora 1 S'reet, i; Ballnnco SI reel, 2; Hotel Cecil, t 2; Lambton Quav (in front of Public Trust; Oliice), 2; Stout Street, G; Brandon 1 SI reel, i; Panama Street, J; Featherston I Street (at Lambton Quay), Si Taranaki i Street, -f; Ghuzncc Street (east of Cuba i SI feel), 2; Uhuznce Street (West of Cuba I Street), 2. i A sitting of the Bankruptcy Court; will 3 be held on .Monday next at 10 o'clock, , but in oil probability it will be adjourned \ until Wednesday. ' j A social gathering in connection with I the Church of England Men's Society was held in the Sydney Street Schoolroom > on Tuesday evening," Mr. Barraud prosid- j ing. Addresses were given by tho Eevs. : H. Williams and' A. M. Jolinson, and ( Messrs. Morton, Clarke, Walton, and Dr. > Izard. Mr. Johnson outlined a scheme for tho forming of athletic and social branches of tho society, with the idea of 1 creating a fellowship and bringing members more in touch with each other. Mr. Clarkson arranged the programme of the evening, which was contributed to by Messrs. Warren, Parmer, Dowman, Clarkson, Tunley, and Hollow. • An episode, reminiscent of a miniature Knyvett case, occurred recently in connection with one of the local Territorial companies (says the "Southland Times")." One of tho company's members,, as tho outcome of a difference with his 0.C., wrote to headquarters, with regard to the matter and with a view to obtaining his discharge from tho company. This in military circles constitutes a serious brearh of military discipline attd amounts to insubordination. The delinquent is said, also, to have been impertinent to his commanding officer. At a recent' parade he was to have been drummed out of the company, but remained away. However, lie has been discharged in disgrace. It is understood that Ho steps are to be taken in the matter of a courtmartial. The following paragraph is taken from an American newspaper:—"Oakland, May S.—That compulsory arbitration in matters of difference between capital and labour has proven an economic as well as a moral success was the statement made bv the Kev. William C. Poole, assistant pastor of the First Methodist Church, in his talk on tlio sociology of New Zealand tiefore the Tri-City Botary Club." "There are," he savs. "practically no strikes or lock-outs in* New Zealand, on account of the compulsory arbitration law. In twelve years there have been bu£ sixteen minor strikes. A big strike is an impossibility. When a dispute arises Labour appoints a delegate. Capital chooses another, and the president appoints a third. The finding of the majority of these tbreo is final. Any dissent therefrom is unheard of. and would be tantamount to contempt of Court. If a citi- • sMi snows himself anarchistic by putting [ his own interest above those of tho ma- . jority lie is first fined, then for the scc- . ond offence imprisoned, and for tbc third ! offoncc he is deported from the country. . This applies to millionaire anarchists as ; well as poor ones. In New Zealand wo 3 liavc changed the old adage. 'Every one ; for himself and the devil take' the hindl most,' to 'Each for all and' all for each, t and the devil take the man who is only 5 for himself.'"