WELLINGTON NEWS

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 November 1926, Page 3

WELLINGTON NEWS

ROYAL VISIT PREPARATIONS. (Special to “Star.”) WELLINGTON, November 26. Mayor Norwood has decided to call a public meeting next week, in connection with the Duke and Duchess of York’s visit. A special Citizen’s Committee will be set up to handle the necessary arrangements. Mr Norwood remarked that owing to the short visit of the Duke to Wellington, it was not possible to incorporate in the programme many of the entertainments suggested. The Renown was likely to remain here for some days and suitable entertainment would be provided for the officers and men during the period of the visit. A.S.R.S. BALLOT. Members of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants are at present engaged in taking a ballot for a general secretary to succeed Mr H. J. Mack, who has been secretary for eighteen years, and has now resigned. There are four candidates for the position. T. Carlyle (Wanganui), T. Glasgow (Auckland), H. Lee (Napier), L. Mcllvride (Napier). Mr Glasgow and Mr Mcllvride are expected to poll a majority of the votes, the real contest being between them. Air Mcllvride is a well-known member of the. Labour Party, who represented Napier in the last Parliament, but was defeated at the last election. Mr Glasgow has been a. member of the Executive for some time. Mr Lee is an ex-member of the Executive.. Mr Carlyle is the present President of the Society. In addition to the General Secretary members are asked to elect the necessary officers to control the business of the Society during the next two years.- Voting papers have been distributed .to all parts of New Zealand, and have to be returned to Wellington on or before December 1, when the counting will be commenced. It is not expected that the result of the election will be available before the second week in December. * A SILLY HOAX. A senseless joke was plav id on the Harbour Board officials last evening. A telephone message was received that a large yacht was ashore at the northern end of Soames Island. The pilot boat, Arahina, was immediately dispatched. A complete search of the Island was made, but there was no sign of. any yacht. The pilot boat returned to town. A heavy northerly gale was raging at th,e time, and

those aboard the Arahina, including policemen and others, had an uncomfortable time. They returned to Wellington soaked to the skin, and thoroughly angry at what now appears to be a hoax. A further search this morning revealed the fact that no yacht was ashore last night, further inquiries eliciting the fact that no yacht had left the boat harbour for the purposes of cruising. A heavy gale was blowing all day, and it was hardly likely any would venture forth in a small vessel unless absolutely compelled to do so. The harbour officials and police are considerably incensed at the foolishness of such a hoax, the police stating that similar silly jokes have been occurring far too often lately. MEDICAL CONFERENCE. The Deputy Director-General of Health (Dr H. M. Watt) left by the Marama to-day, to attend a medical conference in Melbourne. The chief subject for discussion will be the question of prevention of disease in countries bordering the Pacific. A CARPET KING. G. S. Tomkinson, principal of one of the largest carpet manufacturing concerns in Kidderminster (England) is at present visiting the Dominion for the purpose of investigating Dominion requirements. His firm have a special interest present, as it was the one selected by the Duke of York during his tour of inspection of the industry in July last, to weave a special carpet for the Duke as a memoir of his visit. Mr Tomkinson is a Councillor in his town and President of its Chamber of Commerce and Conservative Club.