LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1307, 9 December 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities ndviso the r.s. Wimmora, which left. Sydney at r> p.m. on December fi, for Auckland, lina on lKuiril nil Australian mail ami also an Kiigli.su mail, via Suez. The Wellington portion is due to arrive hero by the Main Trunk express on Monday next, December 11.

The mails which left Wellington on November 17, per K.M.S. Aorangi, arrival in Kan Francisco at 5 p.m. on December 7.

No meeting of Cabinet has been held for a fortnight, and as un accumulation of business awaits attention, a meeting will probably bo held within the next day or two. Several Ministers are tied to their electorates in anticipation of the second ballot poll, but tho Hon. A. T. Ngata is in town, tho Hon. 11. M'Kenzic is duo to arrive to-morrow, and if Sir •Joseph Ward and Sir .las. Carroll return from tho South Island, tho necessary quorum will be made up. It is probable, though not certain, that tho Cabinet will meet beforo the. (Into of tho second ballot on Thursday next

Tho tangi now lioing held at Waahi over tho remains of \Vherowhcro. third son of the late King Tawhaio, has- attracted fully 1200 visitors from all parts of tho North Island,. whilo every train adds fo tho influx. Most of tho time (writes the Huntly correspondent of tho Auckland "Herald ) is occupied in rccciviiiß the strangers. Explosions of/gclignitc in lieu of cannon, the characteristic keening, with its sad and mournful cadence, the presentation of offerings in money and in kind by tho visitors, tho speeches made in honour of tho dead chief, and the various replies thereto, minglo with the funereal music of the two bands present, and thus give visitors a vivid idea of the rites that accompany tho obsequies of a "big" chief.

This afternoon tho garden party organised by tho Sunshino Guild for the purpose of raising funds with which to buy comforts for tho inmates of tho Victoria Home, takes placo at Mrs. Harnard's, 81 Daniel Street. Various attractions have been arranged for, and it is hoped that something substantial may be the result for (he benelit of the incurable inmates of the Home.

It lias been arranged that, if wet, the garden l'eto which was to have been held ill the grounds of Awarua House for the benefit of the Richmond Free Kindergartens will bo converted instead into an "at home" to bo held in the Sydney Street Sehoplronni. It will certainly be a matter to bo. regretted if the weather will not allow the fete to tako place in the gardens bur in any 'case an interesting and enjoyable afternoon may be looked forward to. The iloral drill is said to 1)0 exceedingly pretty, and equally so the tamlraiirino drill, while the Christmas Carols arc another pleasant feature of the entertainment. There will bo stalls for sweets, flowers, and cakes, and no doubt tho fact dial tho fete has been planned for the benefit of the Kindergartens will eusiiro the attendance- of a kindly public.

,A meeting of the Society for the Protection of Women and Children wns held on Friday afternoon, Mrs. \'\. A. Evans presiding. Several cases that had been the subject of investigation were reported upon, and, in one case, it was mentioned that maintenance had been obtained. The following subscriptions were received:— -Airs. Wall, 10s.; Miss Richmond, 7s. Cd.; Mrs. J. W. .Ritchie, 55.; Mrs. ,1. M. Richardson, 55.; Mrs. A. Anderson, 55.; Mr*. Bnce, 55.; Mr. E. Anderson, ss.

A question was raised in the South Australian Assembly on Friday last iu regard to the Speaker wearing a gown. Mr. Jackson has followed the example of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and has discarded his robe of office. Ho explained that there was nothing in the Standing Orders to compel him to wear, it or even to mako members render obeisance to him when he took the chair, this practice has fallen into disuse since Mr. Jackson has been Acting Speaker. Ho also said thcrowas nothing to compel the clerks to wear gowns. Tho Leader of the Opposition asked if it was necessary for members on hot days to wear their coats, but the Speaker said that matter would bo left to the good seuso o-f members.

Heartened by tho decided success achieved during tho season just ended the executive of (ho Wellington Royal Choral Society is already well ahead with its arrangements for next year. Mas-cagni'-i dramatic opera "Cavalleria Rusticana," which has been performed onco beforo in concert form in Wellington, will constitute- the programme for the opening concert in April next. Following that, a now work of great musical charm by Mr. Coleridge Taylor (composer of "Hiawatha") entitled "A Tale of Old Japan. This work, a scoro of which has been received from Home, has not yet received its premiere, but it is said to possess qualities which will ensure its popularity among music lovers.

The Public Works Tenders Board sat yesterday and considered tenders for a number of works. Its recommendations will bo laid beforo a meeting of Cabinet at .the first opportunity.

A special meeting of tho United Clerks oi Auckland was held on Tuesday night to discuss the position which has been created by tho prominent opposition lately made to the movement to organise tho clerks of the city into a union. Tho situation was fully discussed, and it was agreed that the union should stick to its determination to'go on with its ease. A dispute within the meaning of the law. has been created by tho failure of tho employers to,send in replies to tho union's circular by the specified date; and as the union, holds that it is a responsible section of the clerks of tho city, and that the clerks as a whole aro not paid a living wage, it will hand over tho papers to the Conciliation Commissioner and filo a dispute to come beforo tho Conciliation Council.

Mr.?. Okey, mother of Mr. H, J. H. Okey, M.T. for Taranaki, died yesterday, aged eighty-two. Mrs. Okey was born in Gloucestershire, and resided in New Plymouth since 1857. Her husband predeceased her by two years. Tho deceased, during the Maori War, refused to obey the orders of tho military authorities "to leavo with all the women for Nelson, hiding in the bush so as to stay with he/ husband. The authorities sent no women away afterwards. The deceased leaves four s'ons and two daughters.

An exceptionally large cargo of fruit was brought from Fiji by the steamer Navua, which arrived at Auckland on Wednesday niffht. The vessel's holds nro full to the hatches, while almost every inch of deck space is stacked with case's of fruit. The cargo consists principally of bananas, of which there are 5133 bunches and 17,491 eases. Over 7000 cases and bunches will be discharged at Auckland, 8000 cases and bunches at Wellington, 581 cases for transhipment to Napior, and tho balance for Lyttdton and ilnnedin. Tho vessel also brought lines of pineapples, peanuts, hides, cocoa, and general cargo.

J..W opinion is to be obtained by tho Wellington branch of tho New Zealand Educational Institute as to "whether a teacher who, in an emergency, calls in a doctor to attend a child, while under control of a teacher, can be mado liable for the doctor s fee." The question was tabled (is « motion by Mr. Hopkirk at the meeting last evening, aud carried.

A meeting of the Wellington branch of the Ac»- /calami Education Institute was held Inst evening, Mr. V. Watson (president ot tho branch) in the chair. Sixteen members' -.vera present. Tho following were, appointed honorary officers of the Wairarapa sub-branch:—President, Mr. G. A. Jones; vice-presidents, Messrs. E. \. King and li. J. Foss; secretary, Miss Williams j treasurer, Mr. A. N. Bums; committee, Messrs. Becchey, Dempsoy, ami Haslnm, and' Misses Lazarus nnd K. Campbell. The main business before the meeting was the consideration of the orderpaper for the annual teachers' congress m January ueit, which is to be held at Timaru. A pleasant rounion of past and present members of the Wellington Guards Companr of the Fifth Regiment (Wellington Rifles) was held at the Tiffin Tea Rooms last evening. Captain J. K. Koache, nfficer commanding the company, was in tho chair, and there wero also present, amongst others, Colonel It. J. Collins, C.M.G. (reserve of officers), and Major C. Harcourt Turner, acting-commanding officer, Fifth Regiment. Tliero was a good attendance of past and present members, and toast speeches, musical ilems, recitations, etc., filled in tho evening. Among those who assisted to entertain the company werei—Messrs. Fletcher, Newton, nnd Shnpcott, and Lieutenants Wilkinson k wjd Kftnnjy