LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1431, 4 May 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

In connection with the gold-seeking expedition to tho Auckland Islands, a rumour is current in Dunedin that the diver who came from America to do the diving from the cliff overhanging the cave- where tho General Grant, with the gold 1 aboard, is supposed to be submerged, has withdrawn from the venture. This decision is said to bo duo to difference pf opinion in respect to the terms in connection with the kinematograph pictorial representation of the expedition.

Tho following extract from a letter received at general headquarters, Wellington, from the AA'ar Office regarding the examination of officers of tho New "calami Staff Corps and Boyul New Zealand Artillery, who sat for promotion last December, appears in general orders-.—"l am to say that, considering this is the first examination held under the present system, the majority of tiie candidates are to 1)0 congratulated, on the general result, which compares most favourably with that for officers of the Regular Army, examined to England."

Says our Otnki correspondent:—Tho search party that has boon out on the hills for.tho past few days in search of S. ,T. Boattio, returned to Otnki on Thursday, without having found any traco of the missing man. Another party of experienced bushmen is being formed!

The supplementary roll, prepared in view of the approaching election to fill the vacancy on the City Council, contains about one thousand names. Mr. A. H. Full ford, of Brooklyn, is n probable candidate. He has received numerous requests to stand for tho vacancy, and has promised to give a definite reply to-day. Tho candidates who have announced themselves are Messrs. W. J, Thompson and E. Tregcar (Labour).

Tho hew Children's Hospital will be ready for the reception of patients about a fortnight henco. Cots and other furnishings are now being put in, and tho work will soon bo completed. The wallpanels of Doulton ware, illustrating nursery rhymes, hava all arrived, and a number havo been placed in position.

Mr. R. C. Renner writes: "I notice in your report this morning of tho diacus.sion on tho question of a new central railway station at tho Harbour Board meeting vesterday yott say: 'Mr. Harknc-ss mid Mr. Renner urged that the station was necessary.' As far as I am concerned this is not correct. I never- spoko on tho subject at all."

The third of a series of men's services will be held in St. Marie's, Church, Sussex Square, at ;l p.m. to-morrow, Sunday afternoon, when an address will bo given by the Rev. C. V. Askew. At 2.-15 p.m. selections will be. played on the organ by Mr. h. ]?. AVntkins and a sacred solo will be sung by a member of the choir. All men of tho parish are invited to be present, and it is anticipated that there will be a large attendance.

The New Zealand system of inspection 01 engines, boilers, and machinery- has attracted expert, attention in America.The lion. G. Laurenson mentioned lust evening during his interview with the enginedrivers' deputation that ho had received a letter from a high authority in tho United States, remarking upon the phe- | nomenalSv low percentage of accident!) in connection with engines in New Zealand, and a«king for information as to the "law end practice- in the matter. Ho had, in replying, forwarded copies of nl! tho Inspection of Machinery Acts and the regulations under them. Tho private enterprise recently started end known as tho Express Messenger Service is just tho thing wanted in WellilHon. All that is necessary is to Ring iip°23B2, when, without delay, n. smart Bo* - MoewigT is disnatched and nt your enVyjrfl" fy do anrthiij!} rwiuliH. Th,«

A conference of wholesale clothing manufacturers of New Zealand and of representatives of I heir omplovocs will meet in Wellington on Wednesday, .May 20, to discuss' twins of a new industrial agreement. A concert ill aid of the funds of (lie Brooklyn .State School was held last night in Fullford's Hall, Brooklyn, and was largely attended. So highly did the audience appreciate the entertainment that the committee decided to promote another concert next Friday night. The Bishop of Wellington (Dr. Sprott) will open, at .'I p.m. to-morrow, the Boys' Rescue Home, on Camp linad, Lower llntt. A house of six rooms has been leased by a committee connected with tho Anglican Church, with a purchasing clause, and when the necessity arises an addition will he made to it. Two boy.* have already been enrolled, and application lias been made for admission by several others. The object of tho diocesan authorities is to obtain possession of boys whom it is desirable to remove, from undesirable surroundings. Attached to tho homo is an acre of ground, tho greater part of. which will ha used to cultivate (lowers for the Wellington market. Tho idea of establishing the institution emanated from Jlr, W. 11. Walton, at one time in charge of St. Peter's Mission in Tnranaki Street, and a committee has beer, formed to further the scheme. Mr. Joseph Fawcctt, formerly on tho start of the school at Robin Hood Bay, near Picton, has been appointed manager of the home. Trains will leave Lambtnn station for tho Hutt to-morrow at 2.1U p.m. and 3.10 p.m., and will bo mot by special buses. Members of tho Jfiramar Borough Council are to make a tour of the nor- - ougli to-day for the purpose of inspecting roads, reserves, and tree-planting areas and other works connected with tho water (Mid drainage systems. Four deputations on train services are to wait upon the Minister for Railways (Hon. A. M. .Myers) next Monday. Following is the list:—ll.ls a.m., Porirua and Tawa Fiat Railway League; noon, Paliiatua and PongnYoa residents; 1,-t.i p.m., Mastertcn Chamber of Commerce; 2.30 p.m., Fcilding Chamber of Commerce. A petition in bankruptcy has been filed by Albert Swindale, hotclkeeper. The Qrst mooting of creditors will be held on May 15 at 11 a.m. In a letter from New South Wales received by an Auckland the writer refers ia an optimistic strain to the prospects of Newcastle. "I knew it first," ho writes, "seven and twenty years ago, and its progress has not been nearly so great as I anticipated. The cause has been, I mil inclined to think, cirelly labour troubles, which appear to have been perennial. But now it is forging ahead. The shipping is hugely on the increase,the demand for bottoms for coal being unprecedented. I was assured that there are over one hundred vessels oil their way thither for cargoes of coal, of which they will lake away not far short cf the huge quantity of a quarter of a million tons—unless more labour troubles intervene." Referring to mixed marriages, Archbishop Kelly, of Sydney, in a sermon last week, said that there were those outside, the fold more numerous than, they wero who would propose mixed marriages, but what about "the union of hearts if they knelt before different altars. "What about the union of the soul," he asked, "if what we believe they condemn as idolatry? What about raising our thoughts and mind above aniinality ? 'ft hat aoout lifting ourselves up? God pity the Catholic nirl who will deprivo herself of a Catholic husband. You have souls and an eternal life before you. But if a Catholic young man for any reason will deprive his children of a Catholic motherall—listen now. Our Lord himself spoke and said: 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.' Let us stop mixed marriages. Let Catholics stand their ground and refuse to enter into wedlock ill such circumstances." The family, he. continued, was the fountain head of society. If they could not agree before wedlock on the religion they wore to follow, it would be a bond of ruin and damnation to the children.

A special meeting of the Hutt Park Committee was held last evening, when a letter was received from the Hutt Valley Trotting Club accepting the conditions with regard to the new trotting hack at the park. The committee further resolved to call for tenders for the use of the park for 10 years, with the right to chargeon four days of the year; also, alternative tenders for the use of the" hockey grounds for 10 years—seasons of April 1Angust 31—with the right to charge on three days of the year. These arrangements will not interfere with the golf links.