Page 6 Advertisements Column 4

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 134, 3 December 1909, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL, Parliament spent a busy day yesterday. The Legislative Council had a good deal to say on the Hospitals and Charitable Aid Bill, with special reference to friendly societies. The House of Representatives the leasehold v. freehold question at considerable length, and then turned its attention to general subjects in the opportunity afforded by the Imprest Supply Bill. La^t of all, the Defence Bill was brought down— just before the House rose about 1 o'clock p.m. Star-gazers should be on the watch for "November showers." Small meteors were seen last night at very frequent intervals, and some rather bright. One conspicuous example, about half-past nine o clock, was dissipated with an explosion and shower of sparks. The following Christmas and New Year holidays will be observed in the public offices of the Government : Satur-' day, 25th inst. ; Monday, 27th inst. ; Tuesday, 28th inst. ; and Saturday and Monday, Ist and 3rd January. The following letter has been sent by Sir Joseph Ward to Mr. H. G. Ell :— "I am in receipt of your letter of the 18th inst. with reference to the restrictions which banks plaoe upon their officers in respect to marriage until an officer's salary readies a certain amount. I note the representations" you make relative to the matter, and your suggestion that legislation be introduced to remove the impediment inflicted upon bank officials. I regret that in view of the very full legislative programme now before Parliament there is no possibility _of anything being done in the direction indicated this session, but when, an opportunity occurs I shall be pleased to give your representations my consideration." - For the annual matriculation examination of the New Zealand University, now taking place afc various centres throughout New Zealand, there are some 1400 candidates, representing an in crease of 60 on last year. The numbers at the four centres are as follow : Auckland, 203; Wellington, 174; Christchurch, 169; Dunedin, 201. A main event of the University year is the selection of the Rhodes scholar. This will take place on the Ist March next, when candidates nominated by the affiliated colleges will be assembled, at Wellington to meet the committee of selection. A lettsr has been received by Mr. C. W. Palmer, honorary secretary to the Wellington Branch of .the Navy League, from the general secretary of the league in London, expressing appreciation of the wreath which was sent to London for the purpose of being placed on, the Trafalgar monument on commemoration day, and conveying an expression of gratitude to the Premier and. people of New Zealand for the manner in which they took the initial action of oversea Britons in naval defence. The badge from the centre of the frozen wreath is to be returned to the local secretary. "What action does the council propose to take in connection with the Zoo?" asked Councillor Carmichael at the City Council meeting last night. " The x cas« has raised a considerable amount of interest as to the management,." The Mayor replied that no doubt the matter would in due course come up before the next meeting of the Reserves Committee, and would receive consideration and report. Luggage on the trams has been a question before the City Council for some time. It was decided last night that a trial of one month should be given to the suggestion that a box car for luggage should be run behind the car meeting the heavy traffic trains. Luggage which could not be carried in the passengers car should be charged for at the following rates. ' All luggage such as handbags of ordinary dimensions and. weight — the same rate as passengers ; luggage of a bulky nature, such as portmanteaux, 3d any distance within the city. A shopkeeper complained yesterday, at the meeting of the New Zealand Shopkeepers' Association, that he had been prosecuted for being open after hours, without first being apprised of the fact that he was breaking the law. He considered that it should be the duty of the inspectors to call into a shop found open after the prescribed time and inform the proprietor that he was infringing the law, otherwise, it would be open to any inspector to say that a shop was open on a certain date, and a prosecution would follow. He instanced a case where an inspector called into a shop and told the man he was transgressing, but when shown the clock apologised for being an hour too soon. If that inspector had not called into the shop a prosecution may have followed, and probably the inspector's word accepted that the shop was open after hours. Liedertafel matters were brought before the City Council last night by a deputation from the society consisting of Messrs. J. W. Joynt, W. D. Gorham, and D. Jackson. Representations were made to the council as to the unreasonableness of the. charge on the society for the use of the platform at its performances. The speakers regarded the sum of 15s additional charge for the extension platform as excessive and unjustifiable. The society had expressed its willingness to pay 10s for the use of the platform. The society found it difficult as it was with competition with other societies to keep going. They asked for the sympathetic consideration of the council. Another member of the deputation asked the council to treat the matter from a business point of •view. "That's just what we are doing," said his Worship. "The cost of the platform was £15. This is a large and important matter," he concluded, "and the council will give it every consideration." "Toyland" at this store is now in. full readiness for the great, Christinas trade. There is something for every one. Every department is prepared for any demand made upon it. Visit us to-day. — Kirkcsldie. and Stains, Ltd.— Advt.