LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2992, 1 February 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Board of Trade is to meet representatives of the producers in order to dirouss tbe Tvinter price, of butter. The local retail price may Hot exceed 16. 7d. per pound at the- present time, but this arrangement, made for the summer trade, will not necessarily bo maintained throughout the coming winter. If any increase is made tho amount will not be large.

The mobilisation of tlie Twenty-sixth Reinforcements will be undertaken next week. The Wellington men will parade on Monday, and will enter camp on Tuesday morning.

The monthly drafts of recruits from Group 5 (Wellington City and Suburbs) assemble at the Bucklfl Street Barracks, and they have usually been marched to Lambton Station to the inspiriting strains of the band of the oth (Wellington) Regiment. But the band has been sadly depleted by en« listments, and tho last Wo drafts of recruits have had no music to cheer them on tlieir way._ Recently the Group Commander circularised eight other bands in Wellington, asking them if they would undertake in rotation to march with the recruits through the city. Tivob Hiids havo replied, one declining the request, and tho other statins; that the matter is being considered. The Wellington ■ men -for the Twenty-sixth Reinforcements will mobilise, on Tuesday noxt, aud there is au opportunity for one of tlio city bands to show pracSfcal patriotism by playing a few tunes for tlio men who aro going into camp.

Tlio Leader of the Opposition in the Queensland Assembly has given notice of a no-confidence motion because of the Government's alleged incapacity to conduct tho public busiuess. —Press Association.

The annual conference of the New Zealand Newspaper Proprietors' Association is to begin in Wellington on February 26. An interesting programiuo of recreative outings is being arranged, for tho week the visitors will be in-town.

The priuo to be paid by the Government for wheat was further considered by Cabinet yesterday, but no announcement of the result was made pending tho submission of some points to tho Solieitor-Gcnornll. It is understood that the proposal beforo Cabinet covers flour as well as wheat.

Mr. G. M. Thomson has given notice of his intention to move at,the next meeting of the New Zealand In? stitute:—"That this institute* recommends that to the Government that the time has come for the establishment of a Department of Scientific Affairs, in which all the purely scientific departments of the Government be placed, and that an 'advisory council be set up to assist tho Minister in charge."

A fire in Victoria Buildings, Queen Street, Auckland, on Tuesday night caused little damage to the building, but tliei stock of Thomas Jay and Co., photographic indent agents, was completely destroyed. The stock, which was valued at £4000, was insured for' £2700 with the British Dominions Genoral Insurance Company and the Norwich Union Company.—Press Association. .

Meredith and Company, of New Zealand (states a Press Association message from Sydney), lave secured a verdict of £211, tho Ml amount claimed, from Foley Brothers, for an alleged breach of contract in connection with a sale of chaff. '

■On Saturday last tho employees of Messrs. George and Kersley, Ltd., cabled the sum of £90 to Mr. A. Varnoy secretary of the local Y.M.C.A., who is at present in England supervising the Y.M.C.A. war work for New Zealand troops. This amount is to be spent on comforts for tho men in the front trendies. Since the outbreak of war Messrs. George and Kersley's employees have contributed over £350 to various patriotio funds. Representatives of the cheese factories met in Y/ellington yesterday to consider some points connected with the Government's purohaso scheme. One of the matters under discussion was the position of the factories in relation to. consigning agents who had secured contracts for the purchase of cheese bofore the Government's scheme was announced. The conference considered, also, the, disposal of flie cheese that had been placed iu store in Wellington and olserrSere before the Government took over the output. Some of thischeeso is stated to have suffer-, ed deterioration owing to delay in shipment. The conference mado eome rcy commendations to the Minister in charge of the purchasing scheme, the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald.

One person was adjudged bankrupt in the City during the past month.

The cessation of work on the waterfront ia beginning to affect the business community. No cargo for the South Island was shipped away yesterday, and that which arrived hero per the Maori was not discharged. The work that is going forward on the oversea steamers that are at present in port is making little impression on tho total that remains yet to bo lifted, so that the deadlock that has arisen must in tho course of a few days have a serious effect in trade circles —as serious as though tho whole of tho waterfront workers had gone out on strike. Tho situation is such that 'the shipowning interest has set up.a special'committee lo deal witli tho situation in a united manner. A (inn stand has been taken against those men who have openly flouted the existing agreement by adopting "go slow" tactics calculated to delay the dispatch of certain vossols in port- Tho action of the men is said to bo resented by many members of the Watcrsido Workers'"TJhion, and it is stated that it is not improbable that Uiis feeling will hi! manifested at, the general meeting of thn union to bo held this evening. Tut it in your cruet—SHAKLAND'S Malt Vinegar. Mellow and mature. Most wholesome and most pa.lata.ble vinegar in New Zealand. In Bulk and bottle. All grocers—Advt. Wellington merchants, once again we liave to warn you not to let your stocks of "No Rubbing" Laundry Help run too low before ordering. Tke factory is running at highest pressure trying to satisfy everybody, eo please remember that a few days' notice will ba much appreciated: by the fflaßufaotureiaj-iawt, j

A fire broke out in the horse stalls at the Palmerston show grounds. Tho Firo Brigade, after a long fight, saved half tho long building. The insurances aro_in the vicinity of £400.—Press Association.

Percy Erictson, aged 20 or 21, and of very youthful appearance, came before Mr. L. G. Reid, S.M., yesterday. 011 no fewer than thirteen charges of theft, theft from a dwelling, and breaking and entering. Ho pleaded guilty to three charges of tlieft, and one indictable caso against him was yesterday partly heard. These- four cases were then adjourned till to-day, and! remaining nine till February 7. Four motor cycles aro arocng the articles alleged to have been stolen by tho accused.

Only one bankruptcy (that of a, Grey town Native-) was recorded in the Wairanipa during the month of January.

The tonder of Messrs. Taylor and Hodges, at £2600, has boon accepted for tho erection of a new isolation ward at tho Mastcrton Hospital.' '

Log and stump fires have beon,ragiiig in the Eketahuna and Hukauui districts during the last two days, and considerable damage is reported to have been. done. :

An open-air class-room is being erected at tho Lansdownc School.

Tho following notice of motion has been given by tho Mayor of Petone to be moved at tho next meeting of the council:—That tho offer of an Auckland 1 firm to supply for the sum of £650 a. standard two-ton Burford motor-truck, similar to that recently purchased by the council, receive the consideration of the council.

The discharged soldiers who took up sections at lvahvaka at the beginning of January aro displaying, creditable energy (says our Napier correspondent). Already five houses havebeen erected,: and will be completed,in about a week's time. The men appear to'be well,satislied.

Three bankruptcies were recorded in Napier during January.

The- Petone Technical School Board lias unanimously decided to grant the whole of the staff a, 10 per cent, war bonus and to raise the salary of. the director b,y £25. Eiilogistio reference was inado at Tuesday's meeting to the mannor in which tlie director (Mr. J. H. Lynskey) carries out his duties.

A cable messages lias been reecired to the effect lhat.tho Commercial Union Assurance Company has subscribed £5,000,000 to England's "victory" loan. The Tiinatu Borough Council.has decided nob to sanction aiiy more-street collections on behalf of tin war .during the next three- months; it being considered: that ,tho townspeople are being too much exploited, while others, not so easily accessible, are giving nothing. Moreover, the council considers that all money needed for the war should be gob through taxation imposed by the Government.

Tho first sitting of the second: Wellington Military Appeal Board was held at Masterton yesterday, when fortyfour appeals were dealt with, of which' tho majority wore dismissed. An extension of time, was granted! in certain cases.. , ■ . •

The Hon. "W. D. S. Mac Donald has (says a Press Association telegram from Christehuvcli) advised local members of Parliament that it is not now found possible to hold the proposed _ Wheat Conferences in Cbristchurch this week.

A correspondent ('Emerson") writes, asking if the City; Council is aware the new name-plate placed at the corner of Enierson Street, is spent "Emerson , ." The patriotio residents of tho street, the correspondent adds, object td a foreign name taking the place of good old Emerson.

A monster military carnival is to be held on the Sol way Showgrounds on Thursday: About 3000 troops. _ from the Featherston Camp will be in attendance. The: Hon. James Allen lias intimated his intention of being present. .' : ■ •■ .

For flexibility, springing, silence, power, and beautifully even torque, it is impossible, to beat the eight-cylinder King Car. This cor may now be inspected at Tho Dominion Motor Vehicles, G5 CouTtenay Place. If you cannot call personally, write or 'phone for a deronstration or catalogues, which will willingly be sent you without obligation.—Adyt.