LOCAL AND GENERAL,

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 109, 10 May 1910, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL,

The bronze symbolic figure which is to surmount the monument erected over the late Mr. Seddon's grave was shipped from London last month by the Arawa, due to reach Wellington on 13th June. Following are the nominations from Otago for the New Zealand Rugby team for Australia :— Patten, Patterson, I. Vimey, and^A. Mitchell. All are for-, wards, states a Press Association telegram. In Teply to a telegram sent by Mr. H. G. Ell, M.P., to the Prime Minister with .respect to a supposed suggestion in his Winton speech that labour should be_ imported under contract, the Prime Minister replied: "I have not proposed anything in the shape of contract labour, nor is there any intention of carrying out such a system." A marvellous escape from* a serious accident was witnessed on Lambtonquay this morning. A youth "riding a bicycle swerved to avoid a lady who was crossing the road. The machine slid on the slippery wood-blocks and, running into the tram-rails, fell and threw the rider. An express came by at that moment, and passed within an inch of the boy's head. The boy, who was apparently dazed for the moment, slowly remounted ,|3 bicycle, and continued on hi 9 way. He had been within an inch of possible sudden death. An interesting experience which befel the diver (Mr. May) at present engaged on salvage operations in connection with the VVaikaTe wreck, who had been inclined to ridicule the statement that the blue cod will attack any moving objects under water, no matter how formidable they may seem, is told by the Bluff correspondent of the Otago Daily Times. While Mr. May was pursuing his submarine researches a big cod suddenly hove in sight, and showed unmistakable evidence of a design to join in the undertaking. The diver made at least three splashboard movements to drive it away, but the fish was not to be so easily disposed of. He seized the diver by the finger, leaving incised wounds sufficient to testify to thewholeheartedness of the assault. It was not until the diver brought his sheath knife to bear on the subject that the question at issue was finally disposed of and the cod driven off. When the question of the email birds' nuisance was introdiiced at a recentmeeting of tho Ashburton. County Council, Mr. Priedlander said he was not aure whether it would not be wise co leave the birds alone for one season, in view of the enormous increase and spread of the caterpillar pest. He had authority for stating .that were it not for the small birds caterpillars and other destructive insects would increase to such .in extent .that they would be of greater annoyance to the farmers than the small birds. Mr. jLamb^e incidentally remarked that a friend of his had informed him that he had' seen a paddock of oats attacked by caterpillars ; bub the birds refused to devour the insects and preferred the grain. la any case, there had been abuses of the system of dealing with the small bird pest, which had proved so costly to various county councils in Canterbury. For ifl&tance, it . was a well known fact that boys'declined to destroy the nests of small birds when collecting eggs, and this induced the birds to lay a greater number of eggs. He had heard of one boy who had actually collected 20 eggs from one nest in a season. Mr. Lambie thought that it >vas much better to destroy as many old birds as possible. Other members of tho council agreed that it was infinitely more satisfactory to destroy the olds birds, and that the collection of birds' eggs had been reduced to a "fine art" — in the matter of paying thos^ who practised it At last nighfs monthly meeting of the Hutt Electorate No-license League, Mr. T. Townsend gave an address on "A Review of the Temperance Field." It was shown that although there had been individual and general spasmodic efforts to suppress the drink traffic, it was not until recent time, under one hundred years ago, that any very powerful or general move was made toward its abolition. Now. however, there vere societies strong and powerful in ewiy part of the civilised world *o lii;ht it. Doctors, judges, legislators, and many others were quoted as strongly against alcohol as a beverage; "indeed," said the speaker, "it is one of the great problems to-day that has the serious consideration of all nations." Mr. Pov.nsend had an attentive hearM^, an<l was heartily thanked for his address. Special Bargain for To-morrow. — Se.venty 'Varsity suits for boys, all sizes ; usually 10s 6d to 17s 6d. Special price 5s lid, for to-morrow only. Kirkcaldio and Stains, Ltd. — Advt. The approaching comet has been responsible foi a considerable amount of early rising on the part of people unaccustomed to it. In some instances parties have made the ascent of Mount Victoria, gazed upon the morning star, and descended, quite satisfied they had seen the comet. Mistakes are easily made. For example, ladies, when buying Winter Hosiery, unless they deal with a house with a reputation to lose very often fail to obtain reliablo goods. The Hosiery Department of C. Smith, Ltd., Cuba-street, gives unmistakable value in all classes of ladies' and children's hosiery. Their Indies.' black and tan plain cashmere hose, also fine, medium, and fancy ribbed, at Is, Is 3d, Is 6d, Is 9d, 2s to 3s 6d per pair, are the best value in the Dominion, and must be worn to be fully appreciated. — Advt. A King Edward VII. memorial pictorial supplement, consisting of sixteen pages, is to be published with the Weekly Press, of 11th May, which will be on sale in Wellington to-morrow. Besides the memorial supplement, thoro will also bo sixteen further pages of illustrations, including seven depicting the rescue and other scenes in connection with the Oiira tunnel accident. * By rail and sea we arc nocv checking baggage. To avoid trouble, save money, employ us. Delivery promptly after amval of steamer, train. New Zealand Express Company. — Advt.