LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1524, 21 August 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

"Very like a moa" is what Polonius would have said had he been concerned in the excavation work for the new bowlins green at Seatoun on Monday. There the workman exposed what appeared to bo the long-buried skeleton of a very largo bird, either an abnormally large kiwi or a member of the extinct moa family. When the bones were exposed to the air they soon dissolved into powder, so that it was impossible to save the remains. Tho spot has boen photographed. The opening of the rowing season of 1912-13 has been fixed to tike place on Saturday, October 12. Tho annual regatta of the Wellington Rowing Association is to Ixs held at Easter. Councillor Grigs has given notiec that he will move at to-morrow's meeting of the Mirainnr Borough Council: "That a special committeo be set up to consider the question of tramway and water-way traffic for the district, and that the committee bo empowered to confer with tho Directors of tho Harbour Ferries Company, ro ferry services to the Miramar, Seatoun, and Karaka Bay wharves, and with tho Eastbourne Borough Council re the purchase of ferry boats suitable to both the Miramar and Eastbourne districts, and that tho committee report generally as to what steps can bo taken to secure a reduction of the present high tramway fare." King Alfonso of Spain, the Queen and suite will (says the .San Francisco "Chronicle"') come to California next fall and pass the winter in that country, and Mexico, according to' a definite official announcement. The monarch is coming to the new world with the. primary object of forming a closer union between tho Latin countries, and it is understood he will officially visit all those Governments both in North and South America, so that an alliance of. far-reaching importance may be the result. Tho Latin countries to the South object to what they term usurpation of the name "America" by the United States, and their protest may bo voiced through the Spanish King if he can bring about the unification desired. A meeting of delegates from districts affected by the tramway alterations was held last evening to arrange for speakers at the forthcoming deputation to the City Council on Thursday evening next, and to discuss tramway matters in.gencral, A demonstration of "how to make tho tramways pay" was given by an expert in such matters, and it was decided to invite tho editors of the daily papers to a similar exposition. It was also decided to form the meeting into a Citizens' Tramway League with Mr. t J.' Brodie as chairman, Mr. E. C. Ludwig as secretary, and the delegates present as a first executive: ■ There was another tramway smash on. the Kingsland line, Auckland, on Saturday evening last, when two cars collided with some force opposite the 'Kingsland Polico Station. One car was stationery and without lights, when auother came up at a good pace on the same line, and crashed into it. Both cars were badly damaged, but none of the passengers were injured. Motonflan Carson had his faco cut by the broken glass of'the shield, and Conductor G. Denham was thrown against something and had his jiose badly hurt. . The Wellington Hospital Board has decided to request the Government to afford it reasonable opportunities for the acquisition of information at first-hand respecting children boarded out under tho Industrial Schools or other Acts, as a considerable proportion of the maintenance of these children is provided by tho ratepayers whom tho board represents. At present the board is charged for 248 children, at a net oost of £778 2s. lid an average of ss. sd. per child. Of thee 202 are at the Wellington Receiving Home, four at the Wereroa Fhrni, 22 at St Joseph's Orphanage, nine at the Stoke Industry School, two at tho Auckland Industrial School, two at Te Orangi Home five at St. Mary's Industrial School, one at Caversham, and one with tho District Apent. Since the last meeting of the Society for. the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals the following donations have been roeeived;—His Excellency Lord Islington, „ V,. City Council, JX; K. U. Webb, XI Is.; Aitken, Wilson, and (.o„ il Is.; Thomas King, 10s. Gd.; Mrs. H. Jack. OS.; 1). W. Virtue, 55.; P. Hayman and Co., 55.; Watson and Meredith, as.; C. R. If. Kline, 35.; Mrs. P. Castle, 2s. fid.; Mrs. Crease. 2s. Cd.; Mrs. R A Loughnan, 2s. Gd.; P. H. H. Neville, 2s! Total, «£lO 6s

l[r. CI. W. Russell (Avon) has given notice to ask the I'l-inic Minister whether ho is awaro that all berths for immigrants from Great Britain lo New Zealand are already hooked for five months ahead; and whether, if the statement lierein mnde is correct, lie will communicate with the chipping companies with the view of arranging for more frequent steam communication? Tho decision of General Godley at the recent Rifle Clubs Conference to appoint a Council of Management, which will draw up the annual programme for tho Dominion Kiflo Association, and generally carry on the meeting, has given gveat satisfaction to tho shooting men. This executive consists of three Staff officers, threo Territorial officers, and three riflo club officers, with Colonel li. ,T. Collins, C.M.G., as chairman and executive otiicer. 'l'ho opinion of practical shooting men is that this will inspire the fullest confidence in tho association, and result in larger entries, now that tho uncertainty regarding its future is removed. An important factor is that the rifle club men now feel that they have a genuine partnership in the association. Tho twenty-first anniversary of' the Wellington Football Association is to bo celebrated by a dinner to be held at Godber's this evening. Tho president, Mt. C. P. Skerrett, K.C., will occupy tho chair. Two deputations are to bo introduced on Fridav to the -Minister for Railways (the Hon. 'W. 11. Ilerries) by Mr. W. H. D. Bell, M.P., one from Jolmsonvillo and tho other from tho ITutt County.