LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1294, 24 November 1911, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tho demand recently made by the Waterside Workers' Union for increased rates for handling frozen meat in c.ool stores and at -tho ship's sido has not been acceded to by t.lm shipowners.. The shipowners have, however, " expressed their willingness to meet tho union in conference, conditionally upon any point on which tho conference failed to agree being referred to the Arbitration Court for settlement.

The manner in which New Zealand is regarded by British politicians is indicated by a phrase used by Mr. T. C. Cooke, a member of the House of Commons in an interview at Auckland, on Tuesday. "We look upon New Zealand," he said, "as a legislative experimental laboratory for tho world."

The monthly meeting of - the Clyde Quay School Committee was bold on Wednesday evening. The headmaster's report was very satisfactory,, the average, attendance for the past mouth being !)1.5 per cent. Tho Visiting Committee reported having found everything about the school in psrfect order.. It was decided to grant tho Defence Department tho use of tho grounds and a room as requested, and to grant tho use of tho schoolroom to the Swifts Amateur Swimming Club for the purpose of instructing classes ill- lifesaving drill. It was decided to close the entries on November 30 for the competitive (lower show, to bo held on December 13. Tho competition has been taken lip with great enthusiasm by the scholars, and promises to bo a great success. A sub-committee, consisting of Messrs. Burloy. Dutliio, and M'Donald, was apliointed to carry out tho details of the show.

The Tongan Government, through Mr. Humphrey Berkeley, of Fiji, has presented to tho New South Wales Government a relic of Captain Ccok, in the sluvpo of a piece of hand-made cloth, part of tho cloak which the great navigator presented to Tamnha, a high chief, on the occasion of his visit to the islands 139 years ago. Another Cook relic, in the shape of tho original shipwright's plans of tho Endeavour, lias also just como to light. Tho plans have apparently been in Sydney for a long time. They belonged to Mr. Cunrmings, a blacksmith, who received them and other charts and diagrams from a Mr. KorilT, a naval contractor, said to be desceuded from a shipwright who sailed with Captain Cook. Mr. F. M. Bladen, principal librarian at the Sydney Public Libraiv, has expressed tho opinion that tho plan is tho original genuine draft made out by the Admiralty authorities. Mr. Montgomery, tho New Zealand Government's agent in Sydney, is in correspondence with Mr. Berkeley with a viewto getting a pieco of tho cloth from Tonga for Now Zealand, and he is also hopeful of getting a copy of the Endeavour plans.

A special meeting of tho local executive of tho Navy League was held lost night at the Chamber of Commerce, and was attended by Messrs. J. B. Harcourt (in tho chair), Captain A. V. Jones, Messrs. I?. Darroch, E. J. Lo Grove, D. M'Kellar, C. W. Palmer, and H. Myers. Congratulatory letters were received from London as to tho work of tho league in New Zealand. Various matters of a routiuo naturo wero reported on by the hon. secrotary.' During a recent business visit (0 Auckland Mr. Palmer met tho flag captain of the Powerful and made arrangements for tho welcome to his Excellency tho Naval Commander-in-Chief to taic place at tho Town Hall on Saturday, December 2, in conjunction with the league's annual demonstration. An attractive pro-, gramme, including moving pictures (naval films) and items from the flagship was approved. Lady King Hall has agreed to present the Navy League prizes for tho year and the. Admiral will givo a short address.