LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1335, 12 January 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

From further particulars regarding the great gathering of the fteform party and its supporters, to be held in the Auckland Town Hall on Wednowlay, January 21, or Thursday, January 25, it appears" that the Leader and many, of his supporters from all parts of tho North Island will be invitccf to take part in tho meeting, of which (he primary purpose is to enable tho supporters of (he .Reform movement to meet the leaders, and so become acquainted with the new members of tho party. Tho meeting will be n public one, and it is intended to include in tho progrnmme some selections on the city organ and some vocal numbers. A rally of tho party's supporters will be held at Te Kuiti at an early date. Furthar particulars of the collision between the New Zealand Shipping Companys < steamer Otaki and the Austrian steamer Britinia in tho Iliver Thames in November last were gleaned by the arrival of the Otaki at Auckland from London on Tuesday. The Otaki left the Poyal Albev, Docks at three p.m. on November 11. bound for Auckland direct, and anchored off Clapham Light to await the turn of the tide before proceeding to sea. At 10.30 o'clock that night the collision, occurred, the Britinia being at tho time inward bound wheat-laden from the Black Sea. The night was very dark, with heavy rain squalls, while half a gale was blowing. Tho Britinia struck the Otaki with considerable forco on the port side just, forward ot the main rigging. Tho force of tho collision tore two largo holes in tho Otaki above tho walcr-lmo, while the Britinia also suffered considerable damage, her bows being stove in. Tho Otaki immediately returned to Tilbury Docks, where sho lay for ten days undergoing repairs. When these we're effected she left London again on the afternoon of November 22, and arrived at Auckland early on Tuesday morning, nfter a passage of tS days. Tho Otaki met with heavy gales coining down tho English Channel and through tho Bay of Biscay, but otherwise her voyage out was uneventful. To encourage the works of Shakespeare, the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., management will offer prizes in New Zealand during Mr. 11, B. Irving's season in the various centres, for the best essay and impression on Iho character of "Jlumlct." Four prizes will bo offered in Wellington, viz., for students under 10 years of age, lirst prize ,L' 2 25., second J;l Is.; for students over 10 vears, lirst prize ,£2 25., second £\ Is. Forty-six Chinese, bound for Papeete, are uGoard the Maitai, which reached here yesterday from Sydney,

An unfortunate accident befell a little girl, seven yoars of age, nameil Vera Irvine, daughter of llr. B. Irvine, of the Grand Hotel staff, liotorua, oil Saturday nl'ternoon. The child, in the absence ot her mother, poured kerosene on sonic embers Unit were in tho fireplace, intending to ignite tho iiro before her mother's return. The resulting ll:unc severely burned the child about tho ncck, face, and .head. Tho unfortunate girl suffered great agony, but the results might easily have been more serious had it not been for the presence of mind of an elder sister who was present, and who plucliilv enveloped her sister in a covering which she hastily secured, afterwards applying vaseline to the affected parts. Dr. M'iJougall was soon in attendance, ami did nil 111 lus power for tho unfortunate little sufferer, who is now programing favourably. Amended Civil Service regulations conferring double increment on officers of the lost and Telegraph Department who pass senior examinations are gazetted. They provide (hut any oflieer in the clerical division below the sixth class who passes or who lias parsed the senior examination (excluding the matriculation examination of the University of ]S"eiv Zealand and not including the senior technical examination of tho I'ost and Telegraph Department as an equivalent of tile senior examination) shall lx> granted a double increment: provided that such increment shall not take effect to increase the salary beyond the maximum of tho class iu which the officer is included, except in respect of officers in the eighth class; alio provided that the conduct of the officer lias been satisfactory, and he is otherwise favourably reported upon. Tho acquisition by tho Crown of 8330 acres of Native land, in the Auckland district, known as the liunanga IB Block, is notified iu the current Gazette. A proclamation in tho current Gazette intimates that eight sections of Crown land in tlie town of Rnugatana have been set aside for the purposes of the Workers' Dwellings Act, 1010. Mr. H. G. Price, chief draughtsman ill the Lands and Survey Office at Napier, has ten promoted to similar position at C'hristehiirch. Prior to his departure lib was presented with a handsome silver-mounted oak tray (suitably inscribed) and a solid silver afternoon tea ssrvice, as a token of tlio esteem in which he is held by bis fellow officers in Napier. The annual meeting of the Senate of tho University of New Zealand will commence on Saturday week, January 20, at noon, and will extend over tho following week. The printed results of the census will be available about the end of the month, it. is anticipated. The Tear Book should also be available in bulk form about tho end of this month. The advance sheets have already ten distributed.

Last night the Onslow Borough Council met and confirmed certain amendments mado to its by-laws. The objects of tho amendments are to repeal existing clauses D and K of Section 51 (relating to building frontages), and to enact a new claim D, prescribing a minimum frontage and area for dwellings, with dispensing power in tho council under certain circumstances; and to enact n. now section 178 a providim* that master plumbers and master drain-layers, licensed by any recognised local authority of New Zealand may obtain permits to execute work in the borough upon payment on every occasion of a small'fee.

At the quarterly meeting of the Palmerston North Methodist Circuit ■ on Wednesday night, a discussion took plnco on a suggestion to divide the district, which ruiis from Longburn to Pohangina, and is now teo extensive. This important matter was adjourned to next meeting, when other special business will also bo discussed necessitating an afternoon and evening session. The senior circuit steward (llr. H. E. Harvey, who' lias servod for two years) retired, and Mr. J. Cunninghamo (formerly junior steward) stepped into his place, Mr. H. N. Vivian being appointed junior circuit steward. Messrs. G. H. Bennett and A. R. Wagstuff were appointed representatives to tho Dominion Conference. Mr. J. T. Burrcll was unanimously re-elected Sunday School visitor. '

There should have been a meeting of the Miramar Borough Council last night, but the meeting lapsed for lack of a quorum. The Mayor of Miramar is out of town at present. The meeting will bo held on Monday next.

Mrs. Lillian Robinson, who was severely hurt by a fall off a car on Wednesday, and was removed to tho hospital, was reported to be much better yesterday.

Tho City Council held a special meeting yesterday afternoon to receive tenders Sir contracts which are shortly to bo put in hand, The tender of W. Cable and Son was accepted for the supply of castiron columns for the Bell Road Reservoir, near Brooklyn. Lawrence and Hansen's tender was accepted for the supply of five miles of insulated copper wire, to be'used for the installation ot electric fire alarms.

Several amendments are to be made ill the tramway time-table next week, chiefly to compensate for tho diversion of the Karori-Newtown ears via the new Charlotte Streot loop from the Lambton Station route. The frequency of tho Aro Street, Oriental Bay, and Island Bay services will be accelerated, but at the same time the 7i-ininute service along the Wallace Street line during the lunch hour will bo discontinued, for lack of payable patronage.

The Tramway Department propose to extend the freight-car Borvice to Karori shortly. The venture has met with considerable support in the other suburbs, and it is believed that the further extension will be justified.