LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2502, 1 July 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Enthusiasm ovor the excellent financial rosult (to date) of the Wellington Queen Carnival was displayed by the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce yesterday. "It is amazing," the chairman observed, "how liberally the peoplo have responded." The result had, he added, surpassed the hopes of the most sanguine, and he considered that the Wellington total would ■ be swelled to £90,000 or £100,000 before long. The Defence Department, through Colonel C. J. Reakes, of the Veterinary Division, acknowledges the presentation' of an excellent mounted rifle horse each by Mr. 0. 0- T. Rutherford, M'Donald Downs, Hawarden, Canterbury; Mr. W. C. Ohalker, Blenheim: and Mr. D. M'Donald, Methven, Ashburton; also the presentation of a staunch artillery horse by Mr. W. Nicliolls, of Turakina. Further, the Department desires to acknowledge the. patriotic action of the Timaru A. and P. Society in allowing Mr. C. S. Neville, the local purchasing officer, the free use of thei: show ground for the purpose of temporarily holding horses bought on behalf of tho military forces. A movement to ask the Government to have the Trusts and Monopolies Act applied to shipping companies has been set afoot by the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce. On the motion of Mr. A. Leigh Hunt, the Chamber decided yesterday to have the matter brought before the forthcon ing conference of Chambers of Commerce. A considerable sum was raised at Gr.eytown on Tuesday evening at a concert and dance held in the Town Hall. Several articles were auctioned during the evening, and brought comparatively high prices. A wedding cake sold for £o 125., while a Mock Court, held in the hall, resulted in £15 15s. being secured in fines. During the hearing of charges of theft against a letter-carrier in the Magistrate's Court yesterday, a witness—a postal official—was asked by counsel was tliero not a regulation to the elfect that postal packages containing money should be registered. "Yes," answered the official, "and we only wish the public would carry out this regulation." The City Corporation has been advised that the material ■for the extension of the tramway system via Crawford Road to' South Kilbirnie has been shipped. It is expected to arrive here early next month, and as soon as it arrives a start will be made with the work of laying down the track. In the meantime the work of preparing and . widening Crawford Road for the requirements of a double track is proceeding satisfactorily.

The judge at the Dunedin mock court was an embryo barrister, who was "under the painful necessity" of having to pass sentence on his father, a .wellknown clergyman and temperance advocate, who was charged with (l).baving a corkscrew in his possession, and (2) masquerading as a minister. The judge severely admonished the prisoner, and characterised' the first offence as, disgraceful. He fined him £100, and said they would accept 3s. of it "to be going on with."

In thanking the members of the Newtown Bowling Club for electing him to be president for the ensuing year, Mr. C. Si. Luke said that he may not be a great bowler, but he could claim to be an old bowler, . and. now that he had been knighted and created the Most High Controller of Bowling Greens— (laughter)—he thought lie might, fulfil the duties cast upon liim. lie had endeavoured to perform the duties to the best of his ability alter the death of their late president (Mr. James Trevor), whom he regretted was not now among them. He may not be able to fulfil the duties as others may do, but he- perhaps could make amends in other directions, so that lie would not be in any way a disappointment to the club. He hoped the club would have a long and happy season together. Midwinter is here, and though it cannot be said that there is no unemployment in Wellington, the conditions at present existing do not vary appreciably from those existing at this season of the year when compared with other years. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) has a list of callers at the Town Hall every morning, but they are scarcely of a class to which pick and shovel work could be offered with any satisfaction to the City. Careful inquiry is being made into every application made by women in distress', and on the reports made judicious -relief is being granted,' particularly iu cases where necessitous conditions can be traced to the effect of the war. The worst of the winter is yet to come, but the Mayor does not consider that the call made on the distress hinds will be very heavy unless unforeseen circumstances arise.

"A cheapening of the cost of cabling is a matter of vital importance to the commercial community of this Dominion." remarked the chairman of the Contra! Chamber of Commerce at yesterday's meeting of the body. At yesterday's meeting of the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce, the president (Mr. C. M. Luke) said that a formation of a National Ministry would be a step in the right direction. He regretted that such a. step had notbeen taken before this. He believed that it was the wish of the people that in tlio present circumstances party should be sunk, and that everything which tended to impair the smooth working of tile .machine should be avoided* He hoped that there would be a coalition, and not merely a coalition in name, but a coalition in fact, and that everyone would strive to make it a success. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Norman Kirkcaldie's offer brought further support to the fund for wounded soldiers and the of thoße killed, in ike shape of a donation, of £25 from Te Opakete, Ltd., Koputarua. Mr. George Ki'sby received donations in the Ohariu district to the Bum of £47 lis. Gd., including a douaction from Messrs. Bryant Bros, of £25. These amounts counted in the Queen contest for the Farmers' and County Queen, Miss Jessio M'Kegg. Pahautanui donatios, £171, paid to the Mayoi of Wellington, were apportioned to tilt Country Queen, as was also Mr. F. S> Easton's (Foxton) donation of two hundred guineas. Tho Auckland branch of the Farmer! Union has forwarded the following ,re mit to be moved at the annual Dominion Conference of the union:—"That this conference heartily, endorses the prin-' ciple of the establishment of a Dominiot Board of Trade, provided itß constitution makes it a genuinely representative bodv of all branches of trade and industries in tho Dominion."