LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1303, 5 December 1911, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The roslal authorities adviso thr.t the s.«. Moeraki, which loft Sydney at 4 n.m. on December S, i, M 0 u lio'ard ah Australian mail. She is duo to arrivo hero on Wednesday next, December G. • The plumbers' dispute is to be heard before the Conciliation Commissioner oil -Monday next instead of to-dav, and tho builders' labourers' dispute will bo heard ou I'riday, December K, instead of oil (he preceding day. The date of hearing tho first dispute was altered because il coincided with that tet down fur a sitting of the Arbitration Court, mid tho date of the labourers' dispute because it coincided with 'that of the general election. The City Council ha.s accepted the tender of llcssrs. ,T. Duthie and Co. (JMGS 10s. M.) for tho supply of cast-iron pipes and fittings for 'Waterloo Quay drainage. The only other tender was that of Mc«.r« Briscoe and Co. U'-lflO 19s. 3d.). One lesson is being repeatedly impressed upon the performers in the musical and elocutionary competitions now in progress, says the Auckland "Herald." 'I ha judge of tho musical sections, and in a less decree the jud.ee of the elocutionary work, take frequent opportunities to tell the performers that they need first ol all to realise tho circumstances ill which the songs or recitations we.ro supposed to have been delivered. This has been especially necessary in connection with the operatic singing. Professor Ives has had to tell several performers of their great need to upplv themselves b the study of the operas or other works from which their performances have been taken. A number of the singers re-id their songs from copies, without much attention to the intentions of the writers. In some eases, they seemed to have to attend so much to the hook that they hid small opportunity to let emotion 'show itself in face and voice. The election for the first Mayor and councillors for the newly-formed 'borough of Ohakuno was held on Thursday last. On account of the great number of candidates for tho councillors' seals (20 for nine seats), the returning officer had a very busy time, and it was midnight lwforo the results could be declared. The Mayoral contest resulted as follows:—J. A. Butler. 1; T. IT. ICielv, 12. The councillors returned were:—Cl. ,T. Goldfinch, \\\ S. Baird, .T. 11. Craven, T. A. Blvth, W. .Topp, A. 11. AVilkie. W. D. Davidson, D. 51 'Intyre, and 1\ C. Allen, and the unsuccessful candidates were:—.l. Blackburn, 11. Copeland, K. Ileald, I?. .1. Jjyttle, J. Jl'Donald, A. D. Nelson, C. W. Kitchie. T. Skinuer, J. Sping, A. W. Tatton, and 11. AValsh.

A curious feature of the great Reform demonstration at the Town Hall last night was the fact that several energetic members if tho women's branch of the Political Itoform League, which promoted tho meeting, were unable to gain admittance to the hall. They had expected, naturally, that the meeting would be a very largo one, but they had no idea that their meeting was going to attract a crowd larger by thousands than had ever attended any political meetij;? ever held anywhere ill New Zealand. As a result, arriving shortly l>efore eight o'clock, and expecting to find a seat easily enough, they found that it was impossible even to squeeze inside any of the doors. As ou the night of tho general election of 190S, the cars along the shopping route to Laiubtou Station will bo diverted via Jervois Quay ou Thursday evening from 7 o'clock, when tho poll closes, till the crowds shall have dispersed. Instructions have been issued by tho general officer commanding the Xew Zealand forces (Major-General A. .1. Godley, C.li.), that as far as possible the officers and noncommissioned officers of (he Permanent Military Forces should between now and tho end of the ycaT take any annual leave they may bo entitled ki. Their work, it is jwinted out, has during tho year been practically night and dav, in order to bring tho now forco up to its present stage ot organisation, and ho doc? not wish anyone to forfeit his leave for the year, llarlv in January training will commence in earnest, and all officer's and noncommissioned officers will be required to be constantly on duty from tho time, to enable the training 'to )x> carried out with every regard to local circumstances and the industries of the country, During the period from now to tho end of the year the work of compiling, arming, and clothing tho forces will bu goao on with, so as to bo rcadv for tlw Irnjiuug that will Ire uiwincnecii early. ii J&muirx, •