Local and General.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3592, 3 August 1912, Page 6

Local and General.

In the House yesterday afternoon the usual Sessional Committees were set up. —P.A.

Several cases in which parents will be charged with allowing children to be absent from school are pending.

Mr E. W. R. Bousfield’s dog Lome took 2 firsts, cup and special, prizes at- Auckland- The same dog took prizes at Napier.

The articles of association, passed at a meeting of the Gisborne Sheepfarmers’ Frozen Meat Co. recently, were confirmed at a special meeting held yesterday. Tlie Auckland ironmoulders’ dispute, which has occupied the Conciliation Council under the presidency of Mr T. Harle Giles (Commissioner) for three days this week, was concluded yesterday morning, when it was decided to refer the whole matter to the Arbitration Court for settlement. —P.A.

Tlie Chairman of the Cook County Council (Mr H. Kenway) reported at Yesterday’s meeting that the Mayor had arranged with tlie Hon. Captain Tucker for the purchase of 2-5 acres of laud at Tanrheru for a cemetery at £IOO per acre. He (the chairman) had on behalf of the County Council agreed to the purchase cf the land and his action was approved.

A special meeting of the Cook County Council was held yesterday for the purpose of considering the rates to be struck in each riding for the current year. It was decided after discussion that the various members should go through the schedule that the Engineer had prepared and decide on the rate to be struck in tlieir respective ridings.

Our Parliamentary correspondentwires that the report of the Commission on the cost of living will not reach Parliament until towards the end of the month, and evidence is now being printed and copies or itwill be distributed on Monday to members of the Commission for their individual consideration during the following weeks. The Commission wid resume its sittings on August 12 to frame its report.

The House met at 2.80 p.m. yesterday. Mr Fisher gave notice to introduce the shipping and ."eamen Amendment Bill and the State rire Insuran' e Amendment Bill. The following Bills were read a first time: The Gaming Act Amendment Bill (Mr Hunter). W'aitetmata County Council Empowering Bill (Mr Harris), lnregi stored Nurses Registration Bui (Ylr Pavne), the Sumner Foreshore Empowering Bill (Mr Laurenscn).— P.A.

I In a commumeat on to the W airarapa “Standard,” Mr. Coleman Phillips urges that the political capital be shifted from its present site to the Moroa Plains, which he to the south of Grevtown. In support of his suggestion he says:—Parliament House has not yet been begun in W eliington, and there is practically no room there for it—certainly r.o room for enticing people to assemble to welcome cur gracious King should he ever visit us: or any other important occasion. The public records should also be removed from the danger of hostile sea attack, and also the enormous damage from fire and earthquake disturbances, as have be.experienced in San Francisco, Valparaiso. Messina. Kingston, and ether volcanic seaports within the past few years. What- has happened in those towns is almost certain to barmen in Wellington. | which is very liable to, and has been in the past, greatly damaged by earthquakes.

One cf the most picturesque and pleasant walks in Timaru—a walk as old as Timaru itself—disappeared last week, never to be seen again, says the “Herald.” The walk referred to is the one around the steep cliffs between the Waimataitai beach and Dashing Rocks. Year by year the sea and the rain have encroached on it, and for a long time past only a very narrow path has been left in one particular place. The heavy rain of last week caused this to disappear, and with- it many tons of clav and black soil. Many strollers went' that way on Sunday, only to find their steps suddenly blocked by a wide gulf which extends into the abattoir paddock adjoining. The wire fence ot the "addoek spans the opening, but there is ample room for cattle to fall between; the fence and the nearest bit of solid ground. A going along there at night, and being unaware of what lias happened, is liable to meet with a mi si urn from which lie would never recover.

The' sculling championship between Arnst and Barry, which has recently taken place on the Thames, evoked world-wide interest in the race A great disappointment was the wet weather. However, Melbourne Cash has made preparation for the wet, and are selling ladies’ umbrellas foils lid, and gents.’ 8s 6d each.*

• ‘Nothing succeeds like success” is an axiom the truth of which is universally acknowledged. The reason that the People’s Emporium, the new shop next the Kimpton Cycle Co., Gladstone Road, has made such a signal success of their business is because the- "ive honest value at a fair price, and believe in small profits and quick returns.*

Ti-^ n ™ ,r . ga . n recital will be given at Holy Trinity Church on Mondav There were three “drunks’-’ in the look-up last evening.

Sergeant Hutton and Detective Mitchell yesterday afternoon arrested a Norwegian named Knudson on a charge of stealing, on July 29, a saddle and bridle, the property of Hoehepa Torei, Waipiro Bay, and the accused will appear before the Court tins morning.

A firm at Palmerston North has its own idea of how to encourage mater nity A local paper announced the other day that “Messrs Barraud and Abraham have decided to close their premises and keep next Wednesday afternoon a half holiday to celebrate the fact that three of the staff have had their families increased by baby girls during tlie past week, the happy' fathers being one of the. managing directors and two of the staff.

When tho House resumed at 7.30 last evening Mr Herdman moved 'the second reading of the Deputy Governor's Powers Bill, providing that during the temporary absence of the Governor from the seat of Government or from New Zealand all powers and authorities conferred on or vested in the Governor may be exercised by a. person appointed by the Governor'to be his deputy during such absence. The Bill was read a second time. At Nelson yesterday Mr Evans, S.M., dismissed an information against some senior cadets for refusing to take the oath of allegiance on the grounds that the cadets are not part of the territorial force and cannot be drafted directly to the force. They are not required to take the oath prescribed by the Act, nor are they liable to punishment for refusing to take the oatli prescribed by the military regulations, which differ materially from the statutory oath, both in scope and obligations. —P.A.

The s.s. Flora, which left Greymouth on Thursday afternoon for Westport and arrived there last evening. reports having sighted a huge dead whale 80 feet long and standing out 7 feet above the water. * The captain informed the harbor authorities by telephone that the whale is in the track of the shipping, and when sighted was off Barry-Town.—Grev-uiouth P. A.

At the Mackenzie County Council meeting yesterday (says a P.A. telegram from Timaru) strong complaint was made regarding the unequal valuations of tho To Kapo riding (Mackenzie country pastoral runs). It was stated that some of the small runs equal the carrying capacity of some assessed at twice their capital value, the onlv reason suggested being that the valuation is based on the rentals and not 011 the values, the higher assessments being runs lot by auction and the lower those let by ballot. r rho chairman will visit Wellington shortly and will see the Department about'the matter.

The efforts of the borough authorities in the direction of improving the roads of the borough are being watched bv many ratepayers with great interest. “Well-wisher.” in the course of a letter to the Editor, said that much more can he said in favor of, tluvn against, the system of dumping sand in the holes. Where it cannot be washed away it solidifies (he says) to a great extent after heavy rain. He would, however, dearly like to know what good can possibly 'result from putting soil in the quagmires as is being done in some of tlie streets on the Whataupoko ? ‘Tf the borough Council are willing to learn, adds our correspondent, “ a great lesson is presented to them this winter. J lie real reason why the streets have become so bad is that they have been allowed to become sodden. Before next winter tlie Council should see that tlie grass is taken off the sides of the roads, so that when the first heavy ruin comes it will he able to get away off the streets.” Our Wellington correspondent telegraphs that Inspector Dwyer, during the course of his annual report on the Napier district, remarks that there were 1874 offences of. all descriptions reported and 1833 arrests were made or summonses issued—a decrease of lOC compared with the* previous months. There was 110 crime that called for special comment, and on the whole the district had been quiet. Tlie Horouta district had been brought under the provisions of the Licensing Amendment Act, 1910. and the natives were now prohibited from being supplied with liquor. He had not received any complaints that the Act was being'violated in any way. Ho recommended the appointment of a constable to take charge of the Nuliaka district, which, he proposed, should include Morere and Mahia.

The Wellington City Council, after lonjr consideration, adopted the report of the Tramway Board, recommending alterations in the penny sections and fares, to provide £IO,OOO more revenue. According to a statement by the Mavor ; the average length of the sections is longer, and the avei-ige fare less than in other cities of ths Dominion. New sections are therefore introduced on some of tlie longei runs and concession tickets abolished, but in place of tlie latter a certain amount of reduction will bemad© on Ion" distance rides. In addition to the loss on concessions wages have been largely increased, the additional amount last year alone being £2OOO. P.A. message.