LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1703, 20 March 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

•Tun Dominion will not bo published tomorrow, Good l Friday, . Mr. G. Allport (Secretary for Marine) sat yesterday morning to continuo the Amokura inquiry, but after hearing tho evidence of a number of tho Amokura boys it was agreed to adjourn. Mr. J. G. Harp, of Plankton Junction, who has made public allegations about excessive corporal punishment being inflicted on boys alwnrd tho Amokura, attended, but declined to give evidence until the ar- 1 rival of Mr. Campbell, late sccond officer of the training ship, from the north. Mr. Campbell is to arrivo this afternoon by the Main Trunk express. The inquiry will resume at 7 p.m. arid the evidence of Messrs. Harp and Campbell will be taken. If no other witnesses appear the taking of evidence will, probably jbe concluded tins evening, but it is open to any one who wishes to do, so to attend anil give evidence.. So far Captain Hooper, tho chief officer of the Amokura, and seven boys have been examined.

In connection with the final fate of the well-known steamer Wellington, a contributor writes to a Napier paper as follows:—"I read with a twinge of regret th 6 fate of tho s.s. Wellington, in being converted into a cement block for tho extension of the breakwater at Whangurei. My earliest recollection of the Wellington was in 18G5, when she, with her sister ship the Tarannki, was considered the handsomest 'model of marine architecture that ever left England. Built in 18G!i by Blackwood and Gordon, of Glasgow, she has had 50 years' career in NewZealand waters, 'and never had a mishap. Owned originally by the N.Z.S.S. Co., sho was subsequently attached to tho Union Company's fleet, and, later on, the Northern S.S. Company, her latest, owners, who have had her. on the Whnngarei trado for years. The Wellington has outlived all but one or two of the master mariners who commanded her, the oldest living being Contain. Wheeler, of Wellington, who 110 doubt, like myself, will feel the shock, but more acutely, as she was> ,t<j him a 'thing of .beauty,' a steam yacht, in which ho took the greatest pride, and a more popular master :■ never trod her decks."

It is the intention of tho city solicitor, on behalf of the City Council, to prosecute "lilectra," the demonstrator in electricity now appearing at tlio Theatre Royal for tampering with tho tramways trolly wire on Tuesday evening. Tho demonstration Riven by was the amazing act of allowing tho full current which feeds tho trams to pass through his body by standing on tho rail barefoot whilst connected with a wire loading to tho overhead trolly wird. Tho feat was witnessed by several hundred people. The Napier-owned steam trawler Nora Nivcn arrived in port,'from Napier, via Cook Strait, last evening. The little vessel has been out about a week and lms brought in a good ''catch" for Good Friday. Says our Waligaimi correspondentA young man was before the Court yesterday morning charged with assaulting a noiiyiionist slaughterman at Castlecliff about ■three weeks- ago and was fined £2. This was practically tho only disturbance of a serious nature during tho recent strike, those' who downed tools having generally behaved in an exemplary manner. Accused was not a striker, and in the ca«e 111 question, was (as a matter of fact) restrained by those of the strikers who ■ i-ero near by when tho assault took place. Thero_ta a risk that the available supply of' Navy League badges may run out so greatly has, the demand for them, been stimulated by tho interest taken in the approaching visit of tho battle-cruiser New Zealand. . Regarding the Friedmann cultures (for tho cure of consumption), tho Hon. R. H. Rhodes (Minister for Publio Health) informed a Dominion reporter yesterday that tho High Commissioner had advised him by cablegram, in reply to an inquiry on' tho subject, that- tho cultures were unobtainable at present. Mr. Mackenzie added that ho was advised- to take no further action in tho matter meantime, and that ho was forwarding fuller information to tho Minister by letter. This, Mr. Rhodes remarked, practically confirmed tho opinion of tho Now Zealand Public Health. Department that it was premature to take , any definite action on the articles tliat had been appearing in tho press on the subject of Dr. Friedmann s serum. A pure white kiwi was recently captured on tho Tarawera Estate in the Taupo district. TJio bird was about half-grown. As soon as tho Tourist Department became aware of its existence they dispatched a man from Rotorua to obtain tho bird. It is stated that tho bird's future homo Willi be-in "Wellington. Only two such, birds have previously been heard of in Now Zealand. ,

A disturbance which occurred in tho Auckland Opera House on Tuesday evening might easily have resulted- in ft very serious panic, owing to tho action of some irresponsible person in the audience. A man evidently under; the influence of liquor made himself objectionable in the back stalls, and naturally many of the audience rose to see what tho trouble was. At this juncture someone in the building called out "Fire," and nearly all those in the house rose to their feet. The lights were immediately turned on, and the artist who was performing at the time, a conjurer, went on calmly with his turn, with the Tesult that the audience was soon reassured, and a possible stampede was averted. . The of wearing unprotected hatpins has already been demonstrated more than once (says the Auckland "Star"). As recently as a week or two ago at Mt. Edon a child had the sight of one of' its eyes destroyed when running into its mother's arms, the protruding point of a hatpin entering the child's eyeball. Tho City Council has been considering by-laws to cope with the danger, and has now framed the following:—"No person shall, in any street or public place, or in any tramcar, or other public conveyance, wear any hatpin which protrudes' in such a way as to be.a source of danger to any person." ■

Tlio thirteenth Teachers' Convention of 'the Sunday School Union is to open tomorrow nftcrnoon in the Baptist Schoolroom,. Vivian .Street. There will bo a conference in the afternoon, followed by a public tea meeting. In the evening the Rev. Dr. Gibb will give an address on "The Sunday School Teacher's Chief Concern." There will bo one session on Saturday morning, and two on Easter Monday. On Sunday evening there will be a. united Communion service jn St. John's Cluirch. When tho Huddart-Parker steamer Ulimaroa leaves Wellington for Sydney tliis afternoon she will bo a full ship as far as her passenger accommodation is concerned. The applications for berths have been so numerous, during tho past itw. days that the local offioials of tho company have had to refuse passages.

. THE "TRIUMPH" STILL ON TOP. The Christchurch-ICaikoura-and-back record still stands to tho credit of JJ> G. B. Brown and his full roadster. "Tri! nmph," and tho new rocord mado last Thursday has been buried almost as''soon as it was born under the crushing weight of two hours and twenty-ono 'minutes The principal features of Mr. G. b] Brown's great ride oil Saturday have been given full publicity. On Bth February he rotlo olonc. Some capital was made out of the fact that on a previous occasion ho was accompanied by another rider, and, though tho precedent thus set has been followed ,in the subsequent attempts upon the record by riders of machines other than the "Triumph,"' Mr Brown decided to demonstrate his faith in "Triumph" reliability by'riding alone He rode the same full roadster threespeed "Triumph" as he rodo when he established the record on January 17, Tho only difference in tho conditions was that lie know the road. It must be remembered that this Christchurch-ICaikourn ride was suggested by "Triumph" competitors presumably as a course 'on which their machines had a better chance against the "Triumph" than any other. The course evidently docs suit their machine—when their machine is going well—but it quito as evidently suits the "Triumph" just as well, and a great deal better. So the result, of this little sporting controversy has been to establish the "Triumph", as the best "cross-country" motor-cycle, as well as the best speed machine, t'lio best machine for reliability, and the best for hill-climbing. Tho latest "Triumphs" are now to hand; prices; fixed engine, -E7O; free engine. .ISO; three : spced, jjsf Ills. Adams, Limited., Clinslchurch. Branches. AVanrauui. I'alnicr.slon North.' Agent's Sutherland and Kankine. Wellington, and Tourist Jlutw Co., Hastings.Advt.

[ A visitor to Auckland frota Hawko's Bay reports the loss of .£1 10s. on Monday' at tho races. In tho morning ho states that ho boarded a car in Queen Street for Alexandra Park.. On the way out ho got into conversation with d fellowpassenger, who, as ho spoko of peoplo that the other man know well, won his way into tho latter's confidence. Arrived at tho racecourse, tho visitor, from llawke's Bay was introduced by his tramcar acquaintance to another man, who oonfided the fact that a certain horso was a "good thing," and well worth backing. The man from Hawko's Bay decided to follow this advice, and handed over 303. with instructions to placo it on tho horse. The race was run, and though tho horso only came in second, the dividend was a two-figure one. The man from Hawko's Bay states that ho awaited the arrival of his friend with tho dividend. Tho latter, duly returned, but minus any dividond,' giving as lias explanation that tho 30s. was 'only a commission." . The explanation did not satisfy tho disappointed investor, who said ho would fetch a constable. Before, however, ho' could putTiis threat into execution, the man made off, and was not seen again.—Auckland "Herald." The Timber Commission was at Hanmer yesterday, will bo at, Christchurch to-day, leaving to-morrow for llokitikn. A special meeting of tho Hutt River Board was held in oonimittco on Tuesday night to discuss tho position in regard to. tho rejected loan of JB2OOO. After lengthy argument tho discussion was adjourned.

. A large number of passengers left Auckland for Sydney by the steamer Wimmera on Monday ovening, when tho whole of the i vessel's saloon and steerage accommodation was occupied. At an early hour in the morning numbers of people were waiting outsido the shipping office of the Huddnrt-Parker Company for tho doors to open, so as to be. amongst the first to book a passage, and tho various clerks wero kept busy throughout the day in allotting berths. The rush to Australia is exceptionally heavy at the present time, and already a large number of holidaymakers and others have booked their passages by the Maheno, sailing from Auckland for Sydney' on Monday .evening next, and by the Victoria, sailing on Monday, March 31. Tho bookings in the south for Sydney are equally as heavy, as the steamers which leave Wellington every Friday are carrying, in'almost every instance, a full complement of passengers. As several changes in the AucklandSydney service ill regard to the HuddartParker steamers are contemplated when the Zealaudia is withdrawn from the Vancouver service, it is probable that larger vessels •will bo put on tho run between the two ports.—Auckland "Herald/' "You 1 may go home aud ect another taxi-cab, and go out and kin somebody else," eaid .Tudgo Foster at the Now York General Sessions Court recently. Tho- Judge was addressing Leon Gerard, a taxi-cab driver, who had been charged with murder, and was acquitted. He was indicted for tho murder of Mrs. Mary Bethbridgo, who was rim over and killed in April last. Tho Judge, addressing the acquitted man, added: JTlio jury have given you I 'permission to do 60." : Turning to tho jurymen, lie said: "Gentlemen, you seem to think that a drunken chauffeur can run recklessly through tho street 1 ) and go unpunished. At least, that is what you say by your verdict. But in this case, your state of mind, in order to arrive at that verdict, can be best described as liko tlife peace of heaven, it passeth all understanding." .

In regard to tie complaint' of the cliauging of subscribers' numbers in telephono exchanges it is -officially stated that tho policy of the Department is _ to change subscribers' numbers as little as possible. With large exohanges in tlio -irocess of transi tion from manual to automatic working, and with tho prospective introduction ot branch exohanges and Glib-exchanges it will ha impossible to maintain this practice in a relatively large number of'cases >in the near future. Tho is in tho stage of transition from manual to automatio working. The change of number is only resorted to when necessitated by mechanical exigencies but" it'will result in enabling better service to be given. Suoh changes are not peculiar to New Zealand. They arc, common in largo telephone areas elsewhere and uro unavoidable in an. expanding system. Telephone exchange subscribers recognise that the numbers given on nil exchange are only a short and rapid means' of identifying "them and- are in no sense their property. , In tho course of an address on March--12 Mr. Joseph Cook, M.H.R., referred to the administration of the Federal Labour Government, pointing out that there had been gross extravnganco in many ways. , Waste running; into 6cores 'of thousands of pounds, ho said, was taking place, and could one but uncover what was being done, one would bo startled by tlio amounts involved. Tho expenditure in connection with Sydney General Post Office, however, (was not going in wages, for Hie amounts were not at all out of the ordinary. There seemed to have been a great chango sinco tho post office was taken oyer, and something would l havo to be carried out before oontentment and efficiency niado their appearance once again.

Two; bullets liavo now been extracted from tho wounds sustained by Mr. Skeates, who was soverely injured during the shooting sensation which took placo at Takapuna (Auckland) last Thursday. Ono was taken from liis eyelid on Friday; and at tho same time part of & slug was removed from his >scalp; and in ;the course of tho operation it was found that , tho other part of the bullet had penetrated the skull. Tho_ X-rays were used, and the missile having been located, it was successfully removed on Saturday. Somo danger of meningitis was feared,' but at present the risk seems to 'have been averted, and on Monday Mr. Skeates was making very satisfactory progress. Mr. H. G. Hill writes: In response to my appeal .in your paper on behalf of Mrs. Bassetx, I have pleasure in acknowledging the sum of i>B JJs. Gd.. as follows:— J. M'Menamin, ,£5; E.R.H.. XI: Mrs. O'Connor, £1 Is.; W. F., £1; E.W., 2s. 6d. Tho report that Haywards* Picture Enterprises, Ltd., have taken a three years' lease of the King's Theatre is not correct. What has probably given rise to the report is tho fact that Hayward's, Ltd., are now looking after the West's interest in New Zealand, and in that connection are interested in tho theatro named. The seventh annual conferenco of tho New Zealand National Association of Spiritualists will bo held at New Century Hall, Kent Terrace, commencing on Friday morning nt 10.30. Delegates from Auckland, New Plymouth, Stratford, Wauganui, Levin, Christchurch, and other parts of the Dominion, will be present. It is understood that a Bill for the improvement of the movement will bo presented to the Hon. A. L: Herdman. Minister for_ Justice, with a request that it bo submitted to Parliament for approval. A deputation will wait on the Minister at 10.30 on Tuesday morning. Special sermons, which are advertised in another column, will be held on Friday, Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Monday night, and after the deputation has met the Hon. Mr. Herdman tho work of tho conference will be brought to a close.

The Wellington Hospital out-patients' department will bo closed on, Good Friday and' Kastov JJonduv and Tuesday. UrKent ousts will be treated at tho'main hospital on those days, The Hew J. (Jocker was presented with a handsome silver-mounted inkstand by the Auckland Prohibition League on Mollday evening. A characteristic story regarding Mr. Cocker was related. Ho was speaking at a street lomporanco lneciimr, wJien ii burly follW shouted, "Why don't you taico your coat off and earn an honest living? Mr. Cocker promptly offered to moot- the man at 8 o'clock the following Monday morning, with a pick, shovel, and barrow, (ho two to' put in a solid eight hours, and see which could do the most work. The big man then gave him- , v ', nvl ,'- v thoroughly by declining (ho 'oiler, with the remark, "1 never did a day's worl; in my life with my eont off, and never intend to." Captain Gordon Smith, who is to lake command of the Encounter, arrived in Sydney on March 18 by (ho Ostorloy. Captain Smith succeeds Commander Stevenson. Engiiicor-Licutcnunt M'Kenzie, who has been appointed by the Admirnlty as overseer and inspector of fnol contracts with' New Zealand, and Lieutenant Eardley Wilmott, who has been appointed to the Encounter as first-lieutenant, also arrived by the Osterley. Captain T. A. Dvkes, examiner of masters and males at Auckland, passed through Wellington en rnuto to (lie south on holiday leave yesterday. for Children's Hacking Cough at Night, v Voods' Gmaf Peppermint Cure. Is. Gd.*