LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1273, 31 October 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tho postal authorities adviso that the Uoeraki, which loft Sydney at 1 p.m. on jetober 2S, has an Australian mail 011 ward. She is duo hero oil "Wednesday norning next. Tho Terrace Congregational Church was ■astefully decorated with lilies, palms, uid lycopodiuin on Sunday in celebration >f tho sixty-seventh anniversary of the iimday (School. The choir and a largo lumber of tho scholars (under the direction of Jlr. W. J. Laubshear) rendered ippropriato music, with orchestral acconiwniiuent. Tho morning service was alien by tho Hev. L. Macdonald Asplaml, ho 3 p.m. service by tho ltev. J. Gibson imifch, and the evening service by the !ev. J. Keed Glasson, who chose for his oxt, "For what is your life?" (James iv., .1). The anniversary "social" and mectng will bo held this evening. After giving two decisions yesterday norning, the Court of Appeal adjourned intil i)ece;ub;r IS next. Tho last sitting of tho Bankruptcy ?ourt, before tho summer vacation, will je held cn December f. ■ The oliicer in charge of the Christchurch branch of tho Department of Labour told a "Press" reporter 011 Friday that the condition of tlio labour Market was good, so far as Christchurch was concerned. It had improved during tho past week, and thero were indications that it was likely to keep on improving. Requests had been received from employers that labourers should be round, and the demands had been met. There were numerous inquiries for tradesmen, principally from the carpentry and furniture trades. Dr. luimiii, who is one of the best living authorities on African problems, considers that a veil* serious mistake has been made in giving tho franchise to the .South African natives, both from the point of view of the Government itself and of tho missionaries. Ho told «a meeting in Dunedin on Friday evening that tho resulting dillieulties were going to lie very serious. "We have taken away tho gods that they had," lie said, "and given them dangerous weapons, and there is 110 conscience to use them." The only remedy was that that franchise which had been foolishly given to the children of that continent should be taken away again. If that were not done, in ten or twenty years South Africa would be ruled by the coloured children of the country. These natives were neither grown men nor yet dogs, but children, and had to bo treated as such." •Sunday next has been fixed for the opening of the enlarged Presbyterian Church at Khaudallah. Special services will mark the occasion. At the meeting of the Wellington branch of the .New Zealand Educational Institute, to bo held on Friday next, Dr. Mason is to read a paper, entitled "Some l'oints in tho Teaching of I'hj-siology and AnaUmuTi"

A paragraph in Tub Dominion yesterday, under the heading, ".Native Lands," though actually tlio disposition of those areas in IS'JI, erroneously stilted that the figures given applied to their pri'sent position. In IS!)1 there were 10,S2!),JSU acres of Native lands in ail classes. The total area has now broil rejuecd to 7,137,-05 acres. 'i'ho Native Minister indicates, in the return iron' which (lio figures are drawn, that of (his area '1,0;>G,3i°2 acres aro profitably occupied, and .'),fISQ,S!>3 aro unoccupied laud.s, of uhiclt a portion are unlit for .settlement. A sum of .CMIO.DSO has_ been spout since IS:H in pnrcluisiufj Native lands for s'eltleiKent, (lie area acquired by the (iovrTiimenl being over three million -acres. During the twenty years (he Maoris had parted with the freehold of acres, all in the North Island, Private persons purchased 1M.S8!! acres. A ballot was taken yesterday—and will 1m completed to-day—of the waterside workers in Wellington, to decide whether tjieir nnion will afliliatf with (ho New Zealand Federation of Laljour, commonly called the .Miners' Federation, from the fact that ilie miners formed it. The principal unions in it are the miners, the shearers, and the Auckland general labourers. It is generally accepted, although it is not very clear, that the NewZealand Federation of Labour stands for what is called "Industrial Unionism," as opposed to sectional unionism. Their leader, Mr. I{. Semple, is an avowed enemy of the arbitration system, preferring tho general strike as a more effective weapon in the hands of tho workers. V. hefher the ballot portends anything is not known, but if the waterside workers decide in favour of joining (he miners tho Wellington union will be affiliated with the Waterside Workers' Federation, tho Trades Council Federation, and tho NewZealand Federation of Labour. The warehousemen's dispute, which has already been before tho Conciliation Council, will be considered by Mr. Jlally (Commissioner) mid tho Conciliation Council on Friday. This will probably 1m the final consideration of (lie case by the council, and if no agreement is arrived at the employees will t.iko tho dispute into the Arbitration Court. At St. oseph's Church, Buckle Street, during the past_ weolc, the Rev. Father .Ainswortli, of Kaponga, preached a retreat for the young women of the To Ara Parish, tho services being attended by some 500. i'ho retreat was brought to a close on Sunday evening, when tho service was open to tlio general congregation. Over 1-150 peonl'i were present, tho congregation being one of th largest ever eeno at SI. Joseph's.