LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1291, 21 November 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities advise that English and American mails, via Vancouver, are due in Wellington 011 Wednesday, November 22.

Tho postal authorities adviso that tho s.s. Manuka, which left Sydney at noon on November 18, has on board an Australian mail. She is due to arrive hero on Wednesday, November 22.

Tho Mnheno, with English (via Suez) and Australian mails, arrived in Auckland from Sydney -.at 11 a.m. yesterday. The Wellington portion of her mails will arrive by this afternoon's Main Trunk express.

Architects from all parts of New Zealand will asscmblo in Wellington to-mor-ro'.v in connection with the annual con.fereneo .of the. branch delegates of the .New. Zealand'lnstitute of Architects. The delegates are to be entertained at dinner in tho Windsor Hotel to-morrow evening.

Inquiry made at tho Sfarino Department yesterday elicited the response that the Government had not been asked to awist ill a search for the barquentino Star.v Isabel, which was reported missing on November 2. On that date she was 53 days out from Whangape to Sydney, and nothing has siuco been heard of her. The Marine Department does not contemplate taking action on its own account.

It- is admitted that New Zealand, for its area and population, prints more newspapers than any other country in tho world. Not only this, but it is said that more newspapers are sent through tho post in tho Dominion than any other placo of corresponding population in the world. Evidence in support of the latter statement was forthcoming ypstorday when it was stated that over 800 bags of newspapers (dailies aud weeklies) were dispatched to London by the Turakina, which sailed early on Sunday morning.

The tender of Messrs. W. H. Edwards and Son, Wellington («£'455), has been accopted for the supply of for tho AVellingtou and Auckland Post Offices. Unsuccessful tenderers wero Slessrs. Joosten and Sfurio, .£499; Messrs. Slayes and Yass, .£G!)7.

The 70 or SO ladies and gentlemen who form the committee to raise funds for tho Hospital aro working ',iard to make tho concert in tho Town Hall next Vriday evening a success. The Orphaus Qui) is providing the programme. The club's orchestra will render two selections, aud Sir. Clias. Hic'kinott will sing a "I'ay" song specially written for tho occasion, and Dr. Izard will deliver a lccturette, which found much favour at Palnicrston North when the Orphans visited that town and helped to raise JC2OO for tho Children's Hospital. It now remains for tho Wellington public to show appreciation •of those responsible for tho movement by extending a largo patronage to tho Town Hall on Friday evening.

At the final session of the Auckland District Methodist Synod 011 Friday, tho Rev. W. dittos and a number of the Maori ministers addressed the synod. Sir. dittos, superintendent of tho Slaori work, •stilted that the Slacvi preachers had been working faithfully during the year, and their labours had resulted iii an encouraging increase •of adherents and not a few true conversions. Tho outlook was most encouraging. The great need of the work is tho securing of inorc preachers. In many directions the Maoris aro leaving the Slormons and returning to tho faith of their fathers, in Iho ■Methodfet Church. Drunkenness ill the King Country was seldom seen, unless when drunken people enter tho country from "license districts." In Hokithere was a marked decrease in tho consumption of liquor, and in various districts the Maori women are actively furthering the work of the AVomcn's Christian Temperance Union. The statistics of tho Slaori work showed that in the Auckland district there aro ten churches, SO other preaching places, <ind 7780 attendants on public, worship. A resolution was passed on the motion of Sir. .1. Yoale congratulating the Maori ministers and their people on the success of their labours, and expressing the hope that they might grc.'iUy prosper in their struggle against the evils that Uneaten their race. The second meeting of the newlyformed Wellington branch of tho Over--oas Club, which now has IliO udd members, was held in Slessrs. Turnbiill and Co.'s auction rooms, Panama Street, last night. Sir IMward Gibbcs presided over a. fair attendance of members. The following officers were elected i-vl'residont, Sir 1:1. 0. (iibbes. Bail.; vice-presidents, Messrs. flcatlic and K. 1". Von llaast; lion, secretary. Captain W. de .1!. Barclay: lion, treasurer, Mr. lieaiicliampI'latts; committee, Messrs. W. W. Fry, K. K. Reeves, !•'. .1. Courtney, I!, J. Wynne, \Y. H. Hudson. C. St. U. (lore, and W. K. lifthulie. llules were formally adopted, aud it was pointed out that the chili has a distinct mission 1o fulfil, its object being to bind together ali members of the Anglo-Saxon nice in whatever part of the world they may be. The committee was instructed io arrange for three public lectures by experts on defence, naval matters, and social (|Uc.tions. Interesting discission look place concerning Iho Hag which may now l::i .llown by the, Overwas Club, with the sanction ol the Admiralty.