LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1400, 28 March 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Speaking of private railway enterprise at the animal meeting of the Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, Mr, A. Leigh Hunt urged thut permission lo construct linos should be given to county councils and municipalities. Tho inclusion of municipalities was a verbal slip. AVhat Mr. Hunt intended to say was that every encouragement slould be given to county councils to construct light lines of railway.

Trees which stand in tho way of building operations in tho grounds of old Government House are Co be saved as fur as possible. In somo cases tho branches will bo lopped oft and tho trunks, with their roots, removed to new situations. If the transplanting is successful, tlieso trees will grow in a "pollard" shnpe, which is not ungraceful. AH possible care will bo taken to preserve tho trees, which were planted, at different times, by tho late Duko of Edinburgh and his present Majesty tho King.

Tho New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts has l>een granted the use ot the Harbour Board's "U" store for tho purpose of exhibiting the liaillio collection (if pictures. A request from tho Academy came before tho Harbour Hoard last night, and Mr. R. I'letcher (chairman of the board) moved that the request should be granted on tho same condition as was stipulated on tho occasion of the recent industrial exhibition—that the board's interest should bo safeguarded.

Very marked increases in the price of Auckland city property in a very short period aro qiiile a common thing, an objector was reminded at the Assessment Court yesterday morning, when urging that tho increase of valuation on his property was unreasonable. An instance was mentioned where not long ago a S.vmonds Street property was sold for ■£1000, and tho man who paid tho deposit resold in a few days for .£2OOO. This, it was claimed, was not an isolated instance of _ what was going on in property transactions.

In the eourso of discussion at tho Auckland Education Board yesterday morning, respecting the erection of a new school, Mr. G. W Murray introduced the opinion that it would an excellent thing in future if over tho front doors of all new brick schools built there were placed some maxim, motto, or pithy saying that might act a.s an incentive to right living in the children who attended tho school. Ho had spoken to tho architect about the idea, and he had said that the extra cost would be very little. Mr. Murray,' in moving in tho direction indicated, also suggested that the children themselves should be asked to compete in the choice of a motto, prizes and certificates to be awarded tho children submitting the selected mottoes. Mr. Harris suggested that tho proposal should be applied also to those brick schools already ■erected, a suggestion . with which the board a.s a whole Expressed complete sympathy. The question of choosing mottoes and other details was referred to tho Executive Committee for a report.

Two firemen, members of the crew of tho steamship Waimana, were arrested yesterday by Detective Bailey on a charge of deserting their vessel at Wellington. They will appear in court to-day. Tho Waimana is now lying at tho Glasgow Wharf. Hhe is due to leave for London at daylight on Friday.

On Wednesday next the grocers' dispute will be heard by the Conciliation Commissioner at 10..10 a.m., and at 7.30 p.m. on the same day, at Palmcrsfon North, the ilaxniillers' dispute will be finally prepared for reference to the Arbitration Court, to luivo the agreement already errived at made into an award.

The weekly session of the Pioneer Lodge, 1.0. G.T., was held in the R-echabite Chambers, Manners Street. 13ro. Kelly, P.C.T., preside:!, in the absence of Hro. Atkinson, C.'f. There was a gcod attendance of members. A lecturette was given by Bro. Thompson 011 "Wealth and AVages," touching incidentally on strikes. The lecture was listened to very attentively, and was followed by a short but lively discussion. During the evening a song was given by liro. Lambert, and a recitation by 13ro. Jlhodes,

The Manawatu Maoris intend to hold a church conference at Awapuni, near Palmers ton North, next week.

Lieutenant Shirose, leader of the Japanese exploration expedition, accompanied by three of the scientific mesibers of the party, will leave Wellington for Sydney by tho Moeraki to-morrow. ' They will join a steamer at the New South Wales port for Japan. It is expected that the vessel Kainan Mam will leave Wellington for Japan either to-morrow or Saturday. Instructions are being awaited fromTokio, and if these stato that the vessel remain at Wellington a few days longer, she will berth at tho wharf. Provisions are being taken aboard for the homeward journey.

Tho annual general meeting of the Victoria College Debating Society was held at the collego 011 Monday evening, Mr. 51. H. Oram being in the •chair. 'J.'ho annual report showed the society to have again experienced a very successful year, keen interest having l>ocn evinced in all its procedings. The representatives of the society, Messrs. (J. IL. Taylor, M.A., and M. It. Oram, Jr.A., secured for Victoria College again the Jovnt Challenge Scroll at the inter-college debate, held at Dunedin. Tho union prize was won by Mr. \V. J. M.'loldowney. Despite a falling cif in subscriptions, the balance-sheet showed a very satisfactory balance on the year's working. After somo discussion, tho report and balancc-sheet were adopted. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows:—Patron, liis P.xccllency the Governor; president, Mr. -XV. P. Ward, M.A., 1Jj.8.; vice-presi-dents, Messrs. W- >'• M'Uldowney and A. ]■!. Caddiclc, jr.A.; secretary, Mr. G. G. G. Watson; treasurer; Mr. G. C. Jackson, H.A.J committee, Messrs. Hroad and Struck (and two ladies not yet. elected); auditor, Mr. A. Pair, 1,1,.13. The 1912 session will bo commenced on Saturday next with what should provo a very interesting debate, viz.: "That the tactics adoplcd by the Government in the late political crisis were not such as should be adopted by political lenders."

The Wellington Canary and Cngo Bird Club hold its second annual dinner last evening, there being a large gathering of members. A very enjoyable evening was spent. The president of the club, Mr. I). .Murphy, presided, vuid presented the prizes and certificates as follows: —T. O'Sullivan, , r > special prizes, 13 first-class certificates, :) seconds, and fi thirds; It. Bailey, 3 special prizes, 1! -first-class certificates, !i seconds, nml 1 third; \Y. Foglia, - special prizes, 3 first-class certificates, - sccouds, and 3 thirds; W. Bull, a special prizes, and 1 first-class certificate; A. Staples, ;! special prizes, 2 firstclass certificates, nml 4 scconds; AV.Gcarv, 1 special prize, 3 first-class certificates, anil 1 second; P. Itodsors, 3 first-class certificates, I seconds, and 2 thirds, Miss lla-lie, first-class certificates, and - thir.l-; \Y. Denlunn, firsVclnss certificate-, - seconds, and '2 thirds; J,. Double, l.lirst-clflss certificate, 1 Jccnnd. and 1 third: .1. Copp, - secnml-ela** certificate', a'lil 1 third: H. K. Airth. I first-class certificate, aad 3 third-; I'. \V. I.amb. 2 tir-!-cia-< certificate-; A- (Hlivcr, 2 thifd-ela-s eertitieates; (1. Vetei-Miii, 2 lirat-clasS certificates. aud 1 second.