LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1269, 26 October 1911, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tho postal authorities advise that tho s.s. Marama, which left Sydney at noon on tho 23rd instant for Auckland, has on board an Australian mail, also a very small English mail via Suez. Tho Wellington portion is due to arrive hero by the Main Trunk on Saturday next, tho 2Sth instant.

Thomas M. Higher., moulder, of Wellington, was adjudged bankrupt yesterday. Tho first meeting of creditors will be held at 11 a.m. on Octoter 31.

A dispute has been tiled with the Clerk of Awards (Mr. E. Stockcr) by the Napier Painters' and Decorators' Union in regard to hours of work and wages. Tlio uni'in's demands are for pay at the rato of Is. Gd. an hour, with a week of 11 hours. Tho hours of work are (o bo from 8 a.m. to . r > p.m., with an hour for lunch, and from 8 a.m. until noon on Saturday. The dispute will come before tlio Conciliation Council at Napier on n date to be fixed. Messrs. 1). Golder, Thomas Hailev, and H. 11. Haughton are recommended as assessors for tho union.

Fourteen dogs, for Dr. Mawson's expedition to the South Pole, arrived by the Ulimaroa from Sydney yesterday.

The Home Mission Teport presented to the Anglican. Synod at Auckland stated that the Ohura had been separated from 'J'aumaninui, and formed into a separate district; but as yet no man had been found to work it. The mission priest at Taumarunui gave what timo he could to the largo district. Thero ought to he two men at least working in this splendid country—one at Aria, to work the Waitomo County, and one at Mangaroa, to work the Ohura County. There were over 2000 souls living within these counties outside of the township.-, mow than half o{ whom were members of the Church of tho Province of New Zealand, ilnngaroa was destined to be quite a largo place; it had already two banks, and was growing rapidly. At Taumarunui a church had been built seating about 100. It was opened in Decemlwr last, and another church was to bo built at Kakahi.

The Japanese Antarctic expedition, en board the Kainan Marti (which called in at Wellington last year on her first vovage to the southern ice) will leave Sydney about the middle of next month for the ice-lKiiiml fastnesses of the South Pole. It will comprise about !i0 members, of whom tho majority aro scientists. Tlio scone of tho expedition has been enlarged, ami threo or four more scientists will arrivo by tho next boat from Japan, uud as 6oon aftor their arrival as possiblo tho Kainan Maru will Bail.

On Tuesday uight an interesting lecture on "A Trip Through Italy" was given by Sir. lfecvon at the Sydney Street and Xorihland Mutual Improvement Society. This was tho last open meeting of tho .session.

Sir Joseph Ward stated yesterday in reply to Mr. J. Duncan, M.P., that it is not proposed this year to grant; a subsidy 01 .tl lor .111 up to JCJOOO for the construction of a trailic lyridge over tho Opawa Kivor near Blenheim. The Prime Minister also said that a suitable temporary post ollico is to 1m erected at Soddon and tile question of a permanent ollico will be further considered next year.

Kcprosontativcs of tho Government, the Board of Public Health and of proprietors, managers and operators of kinvmatograph shows have been appointed to act as a board to advise the Central Hoard ol Health on matters concerning public safety at these shows (states the "Age"). The board will include in its functions the examination of kincmatograph machine operators for certificates of competency. Uecont disasters abroad, caused by tho ignition of (ihns at crowded shows; the alarm caused at a Gcclong entertainment some time ago, and occassional outbreaks at biograph entertainments in the metropolis lately, have led the Hoard of Health to lake steps to saleguard the public. It is hoped that under the precautionary measures that will bo recommended by tho advisory board the risks at present incurred by the public from the employment of incompetent operators or from the carelessness of managers will be greatly minimised, if not entirely averted.

In a question addressed to tho Minister for Kailways, Mr. G. M. Thomson suggests that tho present metal drinldngcups in railway carriages and at railway stations should be replaced by paper-cups such as are used in the best-equipped railways. Mj-. Thomson states that tho common drinking-cup is a dangerous source of infection. Progressive railroads are now providing individual drinkingcups of paper, to be used onco and then thrown away.

Mr. Fisher has notified that ho will ask tho Minister for Defence whether any persons- bablo for service under the com-pulsory-training Act who failed to register in accordance with tho Act havo not been proceeded against; and what action tho Government proposes to take in future where failure to register is reported.

Tlic Tarawcra was delayed in her departure from Auckland on Tuesday afternoon lor about throe-quarters of an hour (writes our Auckland correspondent). One of the firemen declined to go on board, and while tho steamer remained moored to the wharf by a stern line, the fireman argued out his case in the midst of an interested crowd on tho wharf, and under the eyes of all (lie passengers. He was accompanied by another lireinan, who announced his intention of doing whatever l'eter did. l'cler had a strong objection to one of his officers, and blandishments on the part of those on tho ship would not remove it. At length a policeman introduced some tact into the proceedings, and Peter and his mate decided to take the trip. But they declined to climb up the side of tho ship like an ordinary seaman, and a gangway had to be brought so that Peter and his companion went aboard in state.