LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1275, 2 November 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

There havo been rumours for tho last day or two that tho "Wellington waterside workers might possibly refuse to handle any passengers' luggage or other packages lroin the s.s. Sloeraki from Sydney yesterday—this out of sympathy lor the wharf labourers on strike in Syduey— but wheu the ship arrived yesterday a gang of men went quietly to work to take out of the ship the very light load sho carried. Practically all tho cargo sho brought was composed of cases of fruit. The union view of the case seems to be that since the Sydney workers have not been successful in enlisting the sympathy of wharf labourers in the other Australian ports, it is not tho duty of the New Zealand waterside workers to do anything. Members of the union executive are of opinion that the Sydney men have not the weight of public opinion in their own city behind them, and that they are therefore likely to fail to gain anything out of tho strike.

The Chapman-Alexander mission is expected to reach New Zealand about tho middle of March next. At the meeting of the Auckland Ministers' Association on Monday last, a letter was read from the secretary of tho Executive Committee ill Melbourne, announcing that a cablegram had been received from Dr. Chapman and Mr. Alexander, containing the definite information that they will sail from America on February 21 next.

The following tenders have l>ecn accepted bv the "Wellington Education Board I teacher's residence, Kniparoro, Mr. A. 11. Power; repairs, painting, etc., to teacher's residence, Maurioeville West, Mr. 0. Clayton; science room, Island liay School, Messrs. Sanders Bros.; additions and alterations to residehee, Pongaroa, Mr. \Y. Whiltaker; painting and repe.irs, Akataraw.a School, Mr. J. G. Lusty j repairs, etc., teacher's residence, I'orirua, Mr. A. 71. Mildenhall; additions to residence, Ivohiniii, Mr. W. P. Sayers; erection of school, Tablelands, Mr. A. li. AYallis; installation of c:as, Grey town School, Corporation Gasworks; erection of teacher's residence, Vvninui-o-mata, Mr. J. G. Lusty; new school, Rcikorangi, Mes&rs. Oliver «nd Thomson.

At Sydney on Monday evening last a monsler benefit performance was given in the Tivoli Theatre, in aid of I lie widows and dependents of those who perished in wrecks of the steamers Rosedale and Mneleny, rc.-ently 1(X-I on the const of New South Yi'alcs. At this performaneo Sam M'Yoa and .limmy Clabby, the wellknown pusilist;, gave a display of the art of self-defence; Tommy Burns, tho exchampion boxer of the world, ma<le an appearance, and assistance was also given by Mr. Jlarry Roberts, the well-known actor; Mr. Bert Levy, cartoonist; and Mr. John Cosgrova,

JJVwlny should 1)0 a Imsy day on the Wellington wharves, and there should bo f-enredy an idle man along the waterfront. Six lai'Ko steamers, the Xcrehana, Ayrshire, lonic, Athenic, liotorua, and 'i'urakiiia will- \.o in port, au-.1 of these the lonic and tlif* Itotorna will probably work doul.lo shifts right tln tin; day and Tho men on the wharf have had .'lack limes lately, and tho rush v.'il] he v i'hoinc 1 liy ;nost ol tin in.

During the voyaeo of tho ' 1? Alhenie t/i New Zealand a daughter was li'irit oil September i!H to Mis. Macpher-f-on, one of the Auckland pa.ssenßers, and a lilllo lad named John Proctor, four years of axe, died at sea, of acute pneu l iiiwiin.

Fruit, is scarce, anil prices arc high in Auckland at present (states a l'rsfcs Association telegram I'rom tlie north). J/.-cul huppliw are usually small at this time of the year, and merchants rely on Australia ami 'JVtwncinia for supplies, hut, "win# to the watersido workers' strike in Sydney, no fruit is coming to hand. Auckland is the_ home of the strawberry industry in New Zealand, but the oponins; of the season has Ikmh characterisi-d by small supplies arid poor fruit. At to-Jay's sah.-s tho best quality berries brought up to Is. M. per box, whilo inferior fruit was f/ild at lower prices. It i« expceteil that in a week or two the .-.upplies will incrta.se.

The Kfgistrar of Electors notifies that coiiiof. of tho Wellington East electoral roll may .be inspected, and enrolment, forms obtained at the following places in t distnet:—A. Bolton's .store, comer of Kent Terrace and ICllice Street; I'osl Office, Adelaide Road; Bell's hairdressers shop, corner of .Mein and Kevans Streets; S. Cope's store, llataitai; Grant's store, J'oseiieath; G. IMlon's store, Oriento.l Hay; 'J'. .M. Kaston's store, coiner of Wellington and Ilvans Il.ay Hoad, Ivilbirnie; and the Post Office, Kilbirnie.

With a view to ensuring the enrolment of those qualified electors who are not yet registered, the H-egistrar of Electors for Wellington East (Mr. J. W. Hill) has placed copies of the roll and claims-for-enrolinent forms throughout the district (as advertised in this issue). The supplementary roll is now in course of preparation, and electors who have not yet lodged claims for enrolment with the Registrar should take the earliest opportunity of doing so to avoid disappointment on polling day.

Mr. Semple, organiser of tho New Zealand Federation of Labour, is about to commence a tour of the waterside workers of the Dominion, to bring them all under tho federation (states the Prsss Association from Auckland). So fir, they have obtained the federation of Lyttelton, Wellington, Tiinaru, Auckland, and Westport. Ho anticipates that the other unions to be approached will unanimously agree to join tho organisation. Mr. Semple is at present engaged in. helping the coal miners employed under the Northern Coal Company to remove difficulties which have occurred under tho agreement on which they are working.

The question of delimiting the boundaries between tho Auckland and Waikato Acclimatisation Societies (states a 'Press Association message from Auckland), has been, referral to a commission, and the Justico Department advises that Mr. N. Reed, S.M., will bo able to undertake the commission in the first week in November. _ Arrangements havo been made to relieve him temporarily of his duty as Magistrate for that purpose.

The Murine Department is about to purchase tho clubroom owned by tho Dinghy Club on Thorndon Quay. Part of the building will be used as a shore schoolroom for tho Amokura's boys during t'he winter months.