LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1509, 3 August 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

the postal authorities advise that the s.s. Victoria, which loft Sydney at 3 p.m. on July 31 for Auckland, has on board an Australian mail, also an English mail, via Suez, the Wellington portion is duo to arrive here by Main Trunk on Monday, the sth instant.

At tho meeting of the Teachers' Institute last evening, Mr. W. W. Eountree, in a "personal explanation," referred to a statement which had been mado by Mr. h~• Vil ° a * tno Juno nieeting of the Wellington Education Board, with reference to the practico of canvassing for school appointments. Mr. Kountree, by the way, had moved at a previous meeting of the institute n motion condemnatory of the canvassing evil, and Mr. Vile, at the subsequent board meeting, declared that he had never been canvassed but once, in all his experience, and that was by Mr. Kountrce, the mover of the motion. This statement was criticised by Mr.' Rountree at tho institute meeting last evening. "There are two others in this r p° m >" said he, "who aro prepared to state that they also canvassed Mr. Vile, bo far as I was concerned, all that occurred was that I happened to meet Mr. Vile, and simply mentioned that I was a candidate for a certain appointment."

lie report of the Commission on the Cost of Living will not reach Parliament until towards the end of the month. The evulenco is now being printed, and copies of it will be distributed on Monday to members of the commission for their individual consideration during the following weeks. The commission will resume its, sittings on August 12 to frame its report.

Masterton!" said Mr. Will Fox, tho American humorist, now at the Opera House. "Ever been to Masterton? I spent a year thero one day. They do ear that Masterton is quiet-it's, not; it's merely unconscious!

When a lady depositor in tho Government Post Office Savings Bank marries it is incumbent on her to inform "the authorities of her new name. One lady recently wrote into the Department (sav's a prominent official) as follows:-"! am now- married, but wish to carry on as before!

the possibility of locating platinum Jules at Orepuki (Otago) is indicated by Mr. 0. M. Ihomson, M.P., in a question addressed to the Minister for Mines. Mr. Ihomson suggests tlut a scientific survey should be made with a'.view to locating the lodes from which tho platinum sands in tlie Orepuki district are derived. Platinum is in ever-increasing demand, and the present market price is over ,£lO per ounce.

Sneak thieves are not yet dead in the land. On Thursday evening one of thoso who attended a dance 'in tho Sydney Street Schoolroom looked in vain for his overcoat (the pockets of which contained a valuable pipe, ponch, etc.) after the dance was over. It is satisfactory, however, to learii that tho "new owner" is likely to be presently tracked to his lair, and will ndt retain tho coat long. .

Tho- annual general meeting of the Wellington branch of tho tfeiv Zealand Educational Institute was held last evening, 11. C. Watson (president of the branch) ill tho chair. Tho annual report and balance-sheet (previously published in The Dominion-) were adopted. Tho election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows:—President, Mr. G. Barry; vicepresidents, Messrs. B. H. Low and E. H. Ballast}-; secretary, Mr. W. W. Kountree; treasurer, Mr. J. C. Burns; auditor, Mr. J. C. Webb; Management Committee, Miss Petrio and Messrs. C. Watson, A. M'Kenzie, and J. Tamblyn. Tho "Government Insurance Recorder," which disburses life insurance information and humour judiciously at irregular intervals, is to hand. It contains an in-

formative loading article ou the National Insurance Act, lflll, a summary of tho tri-ennial investigation into the finances of the Government Insurance Department, some world-wide criticisms on the same, and several excellent joko stories. The illustrations include portraits of the chief branch managers of the Department, and one of Hass.ill's cleverly-conceived iokepictures. The generous admixture of humour in tho compilation of tho "Recorder" must not bo taken to indicate that life insurance is a joke. ,Rome very severelooking tables are a good and sufficient antidote to that suspicion. , . A missionary bazaar is to be held in tho Wesley Hall, Tarannki Street, on Wednesday, Thursday, nnd Friday next, for which elaborate preparations have been made by tho promoters, and an earnest band of helpers. Tho bazaar will bo opened at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, and at 7.30 p.m. on each evening. Mr. L. J. Brabin is attending to the secretarial duties. The proceeds are in aid of the Native teachers in the South Sea Islands, and the deaconess who works among tho Mauris.

There has recently been organised a Manawatu sub-branch of the Wellington District Educational Institute, with a membership of 2D, and tho first meeting of tho new organisation has been fixed for August G. At the annual general meeting of tho District Branch, held last even-

ing, tho new sub-branch was formally constituted.

Seldom does tho Court of Appeal sit on a ■ Saturday, but there will bo a special sitting, at 10.30 a.m. to-day in connection with a point to be argued regarding leave to appeal to the Privy Council in the Harris v. M'Gregor case. When it was announced yesterday that the Court would sit to-day, Mr. Justice Denniston wished it to bo clearly understood that it was only on account of very exceptional circumstances.

Tho Conciliation Commissipuer (Mr. P. Hally) has appointed August W next, as tho date for tho hearing of the dispute between tho Wellington Drivers' Union and tho employers of Wellington, Feeding, Eongotea, Palmersfon North, Levin, and Mnsterton. The union's demands aro for a week of 47J hours, at u minimum wage of .£2 14s. per week, with 4s. per week extra for every additional horso oither driven or attended to. The .usual provisions are made for casual labour, holidays, overtime, preference, etc. Messrs. H. Hunter, E. A. Mooro, and John Eraser aro recommended for appointment as assessors for tho union.

A mooting of the creditors in tho ostato of Harold Hill Telford, warehouseman, Wellington, was called for yesterday morning, but no quorum was obtained. Tho liabilities appearing in the bankrupt's statoment were mado up of a number of debts to tradesmen in Christchurch and Wellington, totalling JIB 3 18s. Id. As to his cause of getting into debt in Christchurch, the bankrupt stated that it was consequent upon unemployment. Being a married man ou a salary of JC2 10s., and later £3 55., a week, ho was unablo to "get freo" again. Ho had an interest in a house in Christchurch, but it had been sold by tho mortgagees for less than tho amount advanced on it. Tho meeting was adjourned sine die.

Interesting statistics regarding patents, designs, and trademarks aro given in the annual report which states that tho applications during the year numbered C 022. Tho registrar (Mr. J. C. Lewis) remarks that tho applications in respect of dairying, fibre dressing and fencing and others connected with the principal industries were well maintained. Tho most noteworthy increase in any class was in cutting and sawing and tools, chiefly duo to the number of inventions for extracting contents from petrol, kerosene, and similar tins. Chiefly duo to the number of hatpins and pin-protectors was the lnrgo increase in tho inventions in connection with wearing apparel.

Two boys were apprehended by Wellington detectives yesterday. Detectives Lewis and Andrews arrested one on a chargo of the theft of postal notes and a money order from his employer; .and Detective Mason arrested the other on an accusation of his having stolen money from the steamer Arahura on two occasions.

The State Guaranteed Advances Office reports that during tho past year thero were 355 applications to loans, amounting to £2,593,081. The loans actually granted amounted to £2,171,085. This is nearly a million more than was granted during tho previous year; 1133 applicants declined the grants offered them, amounting to £1,GG8,0G5. The total amount of advances actually paid over during the your for both tho advances to settlers and advances- to workers' branches, was £2,717,925. Tho total advances to date (18 years) amount to £12,051,360.' Tho advances granted to workers during tho year numbered IG2I, and tho amount £543,610. The total net advances to date aro £2,002,375.

Owiii" to unfavourable climatic conditions, there was a high death-ralo among newly-planted trees lust year, but tho growth of established trees in the State plantations was good. The annual report on State nurseries and plantations states that no fewer than 8,503,050 trees were raised from seed in the four nurseries during tho year ending March 31, and nearly all that number were dispatched for planting out, leaving over sixteen million tro n .s in tho nurseries. Since tho establishment of tho nurseries in. 1890, a total of 71,901,231 trees have been raised and made available for the work of afforestation; « gross area of 18,870 acres has been planted, and it is estimated that 11,508,505 trees are growing upon those lands. Prison labour continues to be a success, there having been a daily average of 028 men employed in the North Island plantations, and 13 men in tho South Island.

In the House of Representatives vesterday Mr. F.'W. Lang moved on behalf of tho Speaker (Sir Arthur Guinness) to ask the Prime Minister whether as the battleship New Zealand will shortly be visiting tho Dominion, he will make representations to the Admiral, for the battleship to visit the West Coast of tho South Island, and stay a reasonable time in the roadstead at the ports of Groymouth and Westport, so that the inhabitants of these ports may havo an opportunity of seeing

To those wlio may be interested in The most modern form of steel construction, on a large scale, the new His Majesty's Ihoatre, that is being erected for Mcssm. John I uller and Rons in Courtonay Place, K??, euts ' an interesting 6ight just .now. \) ith nearly the whole skeleton of the structure in position, the entire scheme of bu'ilding is revealed. At the rear tho big steel standards have been encased in concrete, and part of tho back wall has been bricked in. On the street frontage the steel frame is almost competed, and pendant, from! tho standards are the wry substantial steel cantilevers, which are to support an eight-foot exterior bnlconiy, the full breadth of the building. A little later the • structural details will bo obscured from view in the walling-in and finishing process, but the present view of the work, which is being done on the most up-to-dato lines, is most interesting. For the clearer instructions of those in charge of certain sections of l;h© work Mr. H. E. AVhite (the structural engineer who designed and is building the theatre) has had a oompjeto model of the structure made, showing exactly on a diminutive scale the "lay" of every standard, principal, and girder in tho building, as well as. the cant of the floor and galleries. From this model it can be seen that tho line of' sight will be perfect in the new His Majesty's, which is to be ready for opening on Boxing Night. \

Particulars regarding Sunday services wil l bo found on Page 2 of this issue. Tho preacher at St. Paul's pro-Cathedral in the evening will bo tho Rev. W. Fancourt. At St. Marks, Sussex Square, the monthly men's service will bo held at 3 p.m. Particulars of tho services at St. Peter's, Willis Street, and Wesley Church, Taranaki Street, aro also announced: At St. John's Church (Presbyterian), Willis Street, Dr. Gibb's subject in the evening will bo "Tho Eighth Commandment: its bearing on the possession of property and the distribution of wealth." "The Problem of Sabbath Observance" wil! be tho subject of tho Rov. J. Gibson Smith's sermon at tho evening service at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church. Services will bo hold at the Terrace Congregational Church at 11 a.m.. and ' f p.m., tho latter service being followed by tho Communion. The. Rev. .T. !?<>cd Glas-' son's evening subject will bo "Him that is weak in the Flesh."