LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1363, 14 February 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities advise that mails from United Kingdom and America, via Vancouver, are due to roach. Wellington by -Main Trunk express to-day. The s.s. Mannganui, which sailed from Sydney on Saturday, has on board an Australian mail, duo to reach Wellington to-day. The Jlakura, which sailed from Sydney on Monday for Auckland, has on board mails from Australia and tho United Kingdom, due to reach Wellington per Main Trunk express on Saturday next.

The glowing cardinal colour which has distinguished the Wellington tramcars as the most artistically painted cars in New Zealand is being gradually superseded by a more serviceable shade of brown. Those responsible for the appearance of tho trams have ascertained by experience that the fine red enamel paint which is so attractive is deficient in wearing quality, besides being rather on the expensi'vo side. On the other hand, the brown paint is said to have a life half as long again, while being a good deal cheaper. Mr. I.en. Fr-cmaii. in a letter to the

■lit County Council, said:—"The bridle track between Waikanae and the Upper Unit is coming into favour ns a pleasant week-end walking trip, and, as a guide to anyone going through from Waikauae, .1 should respectfully like to ask if yoifr council would erect signboards at the intersections of tho different, roads at Koikioraugi. There are several roads leading in different directions near Eeikiorangi, and I am sure that if signs were erected it would prove a benefit." The council decided to advise Mr. Freeman that the matter was being attended to.

For a long time Wellington and Wairarapa Presbyterians have walked and worshipped together under the one moderator and presbytery, but with the advance of times ami growth of congregations in the Wairarapa that district has felt itself competent to walk alono, and with the hearty, good wishes of the Wellington Presbytery has appointed a governing body of its own to administer the affairs appertaining to a district presbytery. A letter was received by the Key. W." Douglas (Moderator of the Wellington Presbytery) from the Uev. A. T. Thompson, clerk of the sessions of the Wairarapa Presbytery, informing him of tho constitution of tho Wairarapa Presbytery. In reply, the Presbytery, at yesterday's meeting! resolved to send a telegram conveying fraternal greetings to the newlyfofmed body in tho Wairarapa.

Towards the end of last session the long-promised Civil Service classification list was laid before Parliament, but it was found to be not very informative, inasmuch as no names of officers were given. This lack has now been supplied, in the form of a separate "nominal roll," which lias been published in a supplementary Gazette, along with the classification list. Copies were not generally available yesterday, but they will no doubt be eagerly scrutinised by members of the service as soon as they are in circulation.

"One woman actually herds her cows on the main road, and requests her neighbours to keep their gates shut."—Extract of a letter from a Taita resident to the Hutt County Council, complaining of straying cattle.

The master bakers are meeting the representatives of the employees in conference at tlife Town Hall to-day to discuss the terms of a new working agreement, which the Arbitration Court will be asksd to regard as having the authority of an award. The men are asking for wages from £3 3s. to ,E3 10s. per week of 4S hours. Mr. W. A. Kellow, chairman of the New Zealand Master Bakers' Association, will preside.

The members of the Social and literary Club of the Post and Telegraph Department held their annual picnic at Day's Day yesterday. A fairly extensive programme of sports events was contested, among them a swimming race in the pond. Games of cricket and tennis were also playi'jl, ami # there was generally "imgli going to interest even non-parti-cipants. There were perhaps '100 members of the club and tlie.ir friends at the picnic, and, in spite cf the blustering weather, they contrived to make the outing an enjoyable one.

The examiners of tho Inspection of Machinery Department held examinations recently at Ashbm-ton, Auckland, Chi-istchuich, Dimedin, Gisborne, Greymouth, Hamilton, Invorcargill, Kaponga, Napier, Nelson, ()a-.'i:ini, Palmci-slon North. Hntorim, Timaru, Waitara, Wanganui, and Wellington. Candidates fiir the following classes of certificates:— Fivst-class marine engineer, second-class marine engineer, thinl-ola.-s marine engineer, river engineer and engineers of auxiliary powered vessels oilier than steam (both for sea-going and river trade), extra first-class engineer, fir.-t-class sta-tiontry-eiigine driver, second-class stationary engine-driver, locomotive ami traction-engine driver, winding-engine driver (for mining certificates), ainl clec-tric-lrani driver. Of the two hundred iuiil two-.ily candidates who were examined one hundred and sixty-four were successful.

At 10.15 p.m. yesterday the operator at the local wireless station heard Dr. Mawson's station, on the Macquaries, talking to the t'limaroa, which was then en route from the lllull' to Hobart. The message reported "All well" with the little community on the island.

([.M.S. Pioneer arrived at Timaru last evening, and will slay there for about a fortnight, stales a Press Association message.

M. l'auknitolT, chief of Hip Harbin Fire I'riiradc, arrived nt Moscow early in Ilccwiihcr by bicycle from Harbin, haviii" t:iUr-n fiiiir months to nrroiiiiili-di tlio di-l.inco of ">fi:>s mill''. He Marled with (litre omnpuniuii*, all of whom abandoned I lie joui'iiey at Tom«k. M. J"*:inJ;rntti!!' vent oh by himself, ami had liiimerotw adventure.-. He \va« fief|uently attacked by pe.i.?an(-s and on oue occasion was Ecrioasly injured-

A matter that is at present shrouded in mystery is reported from the Queen Street Wharf (says Monday's Auckland "Herald"). Two young men were walking round tlio U shed about 11 o'clock on

Saturday night, when they saw a man in an almost nude condition lying at the edge of Hie wharf. The clothing the man had on consisted of a pnir of bath-ing-trunks, a slouch hat, and a pair of light shoes. lie appeared to he a halfeast Islander, uliout 50 years of age. When spoken to he gave no signs of consciousness The police conveyed the man to the Auckland Hospital, and he gave no signs nf returning consciousness until Sun lay afternoon.' It is thought that it will lie some days before he will be able lo make a statement., Various surmises have been made as to the cause of the mini's piedieament. It is thought probable that: he was employed on one of the vessels in the stream," and had swum ashore. So far there is nothing lo indicate thai he was the victim of foul play, there being no marks of violence on his body. Tho police are engaged in making active inquiries, with a view to clearing up the mystery.

Inspecting the recent series of robl>erics from city business premises, seven boys were* accused of (he offences, before the Juvenile Court, yesterday. The cases wore formally called on, and then adjourned till February 21.

Still another theatre is to he erected in Wellington. Ycslonlay it was announced that an Auckland and Wellington syndicate was about to build a theatre and rink on the Hotel Cecil property in Charlotte Street. Now comes the announcement that another theatre and rink is to be erected by local capital at the comer of Charlotte and Sydney Streets. The structure, which has been designed by Mr. James Hennie, will have a frontage to Charlotte Street of 131 feet, with a depth of 71 feel, the theatre having a seating capacity of 11)00. The rink will have n skating HooMge of 7000 square Icet, commanded by a comfortable gallery. "Sranolcctic"'is to bo used instead of wooden llooring, and the success which h.is resulted at. South Yarra, and the most up-to-date Australian rinks where this material is in use, is considered as justifying the additional expense. The building la estimated to co=t .£9OOO. At a meeting of the trustees of the Presbyterian Orphanago held last night it was decided to ask his Excellency the Governor to lay the stone of the new orphanage. No date was fixed for the ceremony, but it will probably take place in about two weeks' time.

The results of tho "Hamlet" competitions, as advertised by Messrs. J. C. Williamson, Ltd., in connection with the Irving season, are an follow:—Class A— Students under 16 years of age: A. E. Gibbons, Island Hay, Wellington, 1; Zillah Lucas, 55 Scarborough Tcmic«, Wellington, 2. Class B: F. J. Carter, 188 York Terrace, Oriental Buy, Wellington, 1; Mrs. Grace Walsh, Karaka Hay, Wellington, 2. The adjudicators examined 316 essays sent in.