LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 28, 1 August 1912, Page 6

For some time now the trade between Wellington and Picton and Blenheim has been suffering considerably, mainly through the continued boisterous weather and the state of the Waii'au bar. For close on a fortnight it has been impossible to get across the bar, and the Wairau has been inside since last Sunday week. The Blenheim, which went aground there aome time ago. was floated off to-day, and returned to the Blenheim wharf. It seems likely that she will have to stay there for some time. As there haa been very little prospect of the Wairau getting out, the crew has already been paid off. Now the Opawa, which usually runs to Picton and Blenheim, is to be laid up in Wellington, and the crew were paid off to-day. Tho Opawa will not resume before the Wairau bar improves considerably. Tho Opawa has been running to Picton only, but owing, it ia alleged, to lack of facilities for handling cargo, this is to be discontinued. The local agents state that under the circumstances it would not pay expenses to keep up the running. A sample of the delay which has been caused in Picton is quoted in reference to the Opawa's last trip. The Opawa was alongside the Picton wharf ready for discharge at 8 a.m. on Tuesday morn, ing. It took her two days to unload and load up again. Under ordinary conditions she can discharge and reload cargoes in about six hours. | The Wellington wharves present a, very deserted appearance to-day, there being no more than twenty vessels in port. Of these, the Drayton Grange, the only oversea vessel here, is the largest, tile only others of any size being the Ulimaroa, the Wimmera, and the Monowai. With the exception of three others, the remainder are all small coastal "hookers" of 100 tons, or so. The position is not likely to improve for a few days; in fact, it is liable to become worse. The Drayton Grange, the Wimmera, and the Monowai were due to depart to-day. ' The long delay of live stock in transit on the railways was brought uc by Mr. Richards at the Farmers' Union Conference to-day. Ho instanced stock taking eight to ten hours to come from Palmerston to Wellington. It was absolutely necessary that speedier delivery should be made, and this might bo done by taking stock trucks out of trains carrying general merchandise. Mr. S. Chambers instanced cattle taking fifty hours from Hastings to To Kuiti. The animals could not bo taken off the trucks for the whole of that time and distance. Finally, a motion was carried, to the effect that the Railway Department be requested to provide speedier transit for live stock. What was described as "a burning question in Auckland," was brought up by Major Lusk and Captain Colbeck at the Farmers' Conference to-day, when it was moved—" That all travellers on the New Zealand railways should have the benefit of suburban fares." Mr. Sheat (Dunsandel) described the present system a« " vicious." The suburban faro should, he thought, be abolished or made general. Mr. Begg (Otago) opposed the motion. The concession was simply a business proposition. The Railway Department should be encouraged. Mr. Birch (Ma-rton) was opposed to the motion. Mr. Nisbet thought that if it were proposed that the suburban fares should be abolished, it would show a churlieh and quite parochial attitude on the part of the farmers. He was against the motion, which was finally lost. At last night's meeting of tho Management Committee of the Wellington Football Association, the following letter from the Town Clerk, Wellington, was read:— "I am directed by tho Reserves Committee to collect; without delay, all ground fees due by various clubs using the city reserves. I shall, therefore, be glad if you will forward me by return mail a cheque in full payment of ground fees owing by your club. The amount is £39 7s 6d." Included in that sum is £10 for the Wednesday' competition, which has been abandoned. The Wellington Football Association wrote to the council regarding the charge* for the grounds to be used in the Wednesday competition, but have not yet received a reply. A motion to tho effect that the matter of payment be deferred until a reply had been received respecting the association's letter to tho council, was carried. "Six hours a day, four quid a week, and three sweethearts." This ia how Commissioner Hay (Salvation Army) summarises the aspirations of the rising generation of Australian workmen. They must, he said, combat such ideas. At KirkcakuVs great winter flal« kid and suede gloves are being offered at greatly reduced prkm Full details are ods'ertised. — Advt. Furniture removals and packing undertaken by tho Colonial Carrying Company. Only experienced and careful men employed. Agents everywhere. 109, Cttstomhouse-quav, oupogito Bajik of 1 New. Zealand.~Advt> ' &

The contingent of N«w Zealand Cadet* selected to visit Canada left Wellington for Auckland by the Main Trunk line to-day, on route for Vancouver. A seal, mentioned in Tuesday's Post a* a visitor to tho harbour, w&» seen playing round the bovr of the XJlimaroa th\« morning, and, as on the previous occasion, it excited considerable interest. The Union Steam Ship Company was established thiriy-soven years ago last Tuesday. Tho company has now a fleet of 69 veeeoLs, while there aro two more — the Niagara (13,600 tons) and tho Wahiuo '(3760 tous)-- -building. The total tonnage of tb» fleet, including theso two vgdbolb, is 197,270 tons. Sovonteao of the bo4tit are fitted with wireless telegraphy. Another proof of tlw progxessivenew of shipping tonnage, and of Australia, is tile 18,000 ton paiwcngor linor which is being built at Bolfosi for tho Whit* Star Line's Australian service. It ia Aobedthat ehe will be launched at tho close of tho present year. Thin weans that ehe should be ready to sail from iCnglaad on her maiden voyago to Australiai* ports by the end of May, ]gi3. There were twenty-one more rimmacoa in Wellington last ttyonth than in July, 1911, the respective totals being 81 andi 60. No fewer than 22 out or the 81 were before the Registrar ' (Mr. Hodgkins). T^he number of deaths in Wellington last month was £37, as compared with 88 in the corresponding month of last year, while the births during the month totalled 161, 10 less than in July, 1911. Farmers in tho Auckland district (through Major Lusk) wish to have excursion rates on the railway during tho slack seasons, especially on the occasions of winter shows. Reduced rates are allowed, it was true, but the farmer is most busy tit the time when tho rest of! the Dominion is able to take advantage of excursion rates. The matter cama before the Farmers' Union Conference to-day, Mr. Begg (Otago) and several other members were opposed to asking the concession referred to ; and the pro- | posal was rejected by a large majority. All the flotsam and jelaam found at high-water mark when ith« tide of humanity has ebbed from the railway carriages was offered for eal© by the Railway Department yesterday afternoon. Umbrellas in bundles were auctioned for a few shillings; it was a lottery whether there was a good one in the bundle. Bulkier packages, boxes, and other luggage, which it must have boon an effort to lobo, fetched price* jn proportion to the appearance of the exterior and the gambling instinct of the bidders. Mr. James Dykes was the auctioneer. The Argentine correspondent of tho Pastorahsts' Review writes:—" Not long since a contingent of some sixty Sikhs arrived hero from British India— all picked men, big upstanding fellows, who should make excellent colonists in a, country like this, where the colour line is no obstacle. The Government, however, while encouraging the riff-raff of Russia, Syria, and .other out-of-the-way, places, for some occult reason discountenanced any further immigration! from British India, and the men now here are not likely to forgot the reception accorded to them." A communication has been received by; Mr. George, o.f George and George, from Harry Trott, the well-known Melbourne cricketer, inwhich the writer states that in the coming summer ho is bringing over a powerful cricket team to Wellington. The team, it is said, may >be accompanied by Frank Luver and M. A. , Noble. Mr. George, who was over ia.« Melbourne some time ago, began negotiations for the visit of a team con* nected with the South Melbourne Clabc to these parts, and since hie return haaJ been in communication with Trott. The\ Wellington Cricket Association, we *ro4 informed, is taking tho matter up. At Kent'terrace Presbyterian Church | la6t night, the Rev. F. L. Paton addressed an interested audience on the^ subject "Life in the New Hebrides, "^ The lecturer, who for a period of six; {'ears was a missionary on Tannas Is^ and, gave a picture ot tho heathenism > as the missionaries found it; and wonfr* on to say how completely the whole* character of the people had been changed^ by the Gospel. The Rev. Mr. Bcggs, who j presided, thanked Mr. Paton heartily foij< his address ' Shortage of trucks came up before the* Farmers' Conference to-day, when Mr. ' Lill (North Canterbury) moved—" That the conference protests against the continued shortage' of rolling stock and covers, especially the latter, a« largo i quantities of grain had to be sent away; ■ this year uncovered, and thai the attention of the Minister for Railways be. drawn to the inconvenience and lofia which i« being sustained by grain growers through the difficulty of obtaining sufficient rolling Btock to convey their grain to port* of shipment." It was elicited that serious loss was caused through the shortage of trucks in Canterbury for wheat, and in the North. Island for lambs. Mr. Vavaeour (Blenheim) complained bitterly of the obstruction caused by the Railway Depart- . ment io the erection of eidinge and stores on private property. The reeolu* tion was carried. Last season (says the Otago Daily Times) tho Dunedin Centre of the New, Zealand Bowling Association endeavoured to play its inter-club matches on the basis of " every club play every ' other club." As there were eighteen ■ clubs affiliated, the programme of 1 matches totalled seventeen. Tho numj ber proved very heavy, particularly as / the Dad weather experienced deprived' ' devotees of many an afternoon's sport, ' and, as a matter of fact, only two cluba monagud to play sixteen matches, while . the majority reached only twelve or fourteen. The consequence was that ou avery green there was usually a pw*sur« of match-playing to the exclusion of the social game. ' Accordingly, tho caavp of ' the bowling fraternity became divided on the question of foreign matches or homo games. That the parties apa> evenly balanced was proved at Che annual meeting of the Dunediu Goftt*© this week. This question Wiia raised and two alterations to the old system mooted. One was that match play, should be in sections and occupy tba greens only on alternate Saturday*. This proposal was fairiy effectively killed by 16 votes to 5. Tho second" amendment was that th«e should ht «■ limit of twelve m*tch«e, tho details to be arranged by tho executive. The voting on thiß suggestion a* opposed to the present system, was M voles to 16. Last year's system, therefore , aguin obtains by the narrow margin ot two vote*. 1 To all p»rte of the globe wo forvrard parcels, goods. We effect insurances, , collect invoices against doiivory ot" goods. N.Z. .Express Coy., 87-01, Cusi tomhous&>quay.— Advl. Reciprocity is now on the horizon, and , indeod if on exchange of products can bo arranged between Australia and New Zoa land on fnir and equal term*, ifc should be t w*lcomed by all, not only as good business exchange, but a« a paving of tho way for other consideration/) of tv mutually benfifictfu character to both Dominion*. A strong example ot this mutual spirit may bo obsnrvod in Cubvslvcel. Wellington. The firm of O. Smith, t,t<l.! after a vory succowful n»lo, uve clown :>• this week with «>mo special oddmont offerings in tho drefiu dopartmcttt. Those oddments, together with the wholo balanco of dress remnant*, will be offered at half ihciv »a»to prioes. (or cntiro clear* unco. You kuow what that moana, so wo advise, yot* to get in early, for bargains.— A<.£t.