LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1705, 24 March 1913, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The authorities advise that the Maheno, which sailed from Sydney for Auckland on the 19th instant, has on board an. Australian mail; also an English mail, via Suez. The Wellington portion, is due per Main Trunk express to-day. _A shock of earthquake was felt in the city Jit 5.30 p.m. yesterday. , The Primo Minister stated last night that the Government had decided to ask Parliament to. contribute to tho Captain Scott Fund. They had not, he added, decide! what sum should be contributed, and would not be ablo to fix upon an amount until they had further information as to what was required. Unfortunately for the hopes of astronomical students in Wellington, the total eclipse of the moon, which was timed to take place from about haif-past nine on Saturday nifiht .fill about 2 a.mi yesterday, had to be "taken as read." Tho sky was thickly overcast by a murky pall, which had been wafted up by an unexpected southerly, and tho only evidence of 'the moon's doings was a pronounced deepening of tho gloom in the sky after ten o'clock. Yesterday's showers were as sudden as they were severe. One passed over the city, just as the Maori from Lyttelton was berthing at Queen's Wharf. A great many people were watching tho arrival of tlw steamer, and there was a wild scatter for shelter when the rain came on. The cabs—they were present in strong forceleaped quite a harvest. "The poor lily-white amateur no longer exists," said Mr. E. D. Kesteven (Canterbury) at tho New Zealand Rowing Association meeting on Saturday night. "The chap that was content .to race for trophies and pay his own expenses—he's gone for ever. '

Saturday was a "white glove" day at tho AVelliilglon Magistrate's Court. Not a case of any description was called. One of tho most interesting of the plans for the preservation of Captain Scott's memory is that which has been designed by tho Christchurch "lleferce." The "Referee" has opened a Sportsmen's Memorial Fund, to which sportsmen ail over tho Dominion arc asked to contribute, the object being to secure sufficient mt.ncy to purchaib a bust of Captain Scott by his widow. This bust would lie placed in tho Christchurch Art Gallery, fteferrins to tho fund last week, the "Referee" said: Prior to leaving New Zealand Lady Sc-ott's brother) Lieutenant. Bruce, 1!. N., accepted, on telialf of his sister, the commission to execute the bust, and tiio proposal will lie placed before Lady Scott in due course of time. Just for the piesfint we need say 110_ more than this:— Coinandcr Evans, .Lieutenant Pennell, Lieutenant Bruce, Lieutenant Renniek, and .the other companions of the dead explorers. wero touched aiid pleased .with tho suggestion that Lady Scott should be asked io execute the Sportsmen's Memorial. Already over has bren given or promised by sportsmen in vaiious parts of the country. Tho annual camp conference of the Young Men's Bible ClasS23 of the Presbyterian Church is being held at I'arndon Park, Napier. Delegates aro present from all parts of tho Dominion, nearly two hundred being under canvas. Good Friday was devoted to the conference, and sports we.ro held on Saturday. On Saturday night Police-Sergeant Rutledge arid Constable M'lvelvey raided No. lj Waller Street, a house occupied by Alfred lltfti.i, niul seized a quantity of beer and whisky.

! A strange confusion, of names and dates ivas noticeablo on tho shipping board at tlio General l J ost Office yesterday. Among other errors, the steamer Blenheim was credited with arriving' yesterday morning from Blenheim instead of tho Wairau from Blenheim, while sorao of Sunday's sailings were dated Saturday. A master mariner also complains that three boats entered Palea frdm Wellington on Thursday and left again without any advico being posted at Wellington. Tho special services run on the harbour by tho Wellington Harbour Ferries, Ltd., were well patronised on Saturday and Sunday, and tho publio will ;io doubt liberally patronise the ferries again today. . On Suhday evening tho Ponsonby Boys' Band assembled outside tho Town Rail, and taarchcd along Cuba. Street to tho Boys' Institute in Arthur Street. Unfortunately they were caught in a shower, and when they arrived at the institute many of them were wet. Mr. G. A. Troup, chairman of the Institute, accordingly advised those of them who were wet to go homo and chango their clothes. Tho rest assembled anc) were addressed by Mr. John lioss, M.A., of Dunedin, on the subject of "Energy." JIo also addressed a few words to them on the "Resurrection." .With a viow to making arrangements for tho ball to. be .tendered to Captain Halsey and officers of H.M.S. New Zealand 011 April 15, a meeting of members of the Navy League and others interested will bo held in the Town Hall on March 20, at 4.15 p.m.