LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14984, 4 May 1912, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Though there Is no immediate prospect of a general election, measures are being taken by the Auckland Political Reform League to prepare for an active campaign at any time iife efforts should he required. A definite scheme of organisation has been adopted, and branches -of the league are now being formed in all parts of the pro* vince. Though lacking the stimulus of a pre-election campaign the. organisation is being undertaken with much enthusiasm, and members are * being, rapidly enrolled by the branches already formed.

The swimming clubr in Auckland , are not pleased witii the City Council's plana for the municipal baths to be «recte<£ near Hobson-atrefet Wharf. It is pointed out. the clubs provide a fair amount of revenue. Each member pays ?s 6d per season for the privilege of swimming in the Council's baths in Albert-street, and in addition the clubs paid £27 during the past season in fees for the holding of carnivals. The plans for the new bath* provide for a bath 105 ft long and 40ft or 45ft wide. The clubs . would prefer the bath to bo 100 ft long, so as to mala three laps equal to 100 yds, audi the breadth to be. 60ft.. Such dimensions would ''be!'. more suitable for races. The lack of provision for ft pavilion within the building will militate greatly against the holding of carnivals at the new baths, as it will greater hamper the attendance of spectators. {

At the meeting .of the Maaukao conference yesterday, Mr. W. F. Masaey, M.P., pointed out that there were two important points about the Local Government Bill that should be considered by delegates when discussing the Bill in conference next month. . The first point was with regard to the franchise. Every elector over the age of 21 yean, an far as he could see, would bo'entitled to one vote," and if he were a ratepayer he would be, entitled to another. " This represented a new departure, and was exceedingly im-i portant as far as country : district* were concerned. Then there was- the question of finance, which was the one point where amendment was most urgently needed, and it was the duty of the conference, as far as it could, to see that something was done in this respect. At present Parliamentary grants were distributed on a most un-business-like system, for t'-he local body that had the most influence and the loudest voice was the one that- often received thf} largest grant. He had seen grants given to boroughs almost in the cities, while the local bodies in th© backblocks were being starved, and the settlers cut off from civilisation for months at a time through lack of roads and bridges. In conclusion, he urged that moneys should be spent in districts that needod them. most.

The proposal to establish a Reform Club in Auckland has been received with much favour. It was first discussed by the executive of the Auckland Reform League some weeks ago, and a committee was instructed to prepare a report upon the matter. At last evening's meeting of the executive, the committee reported that it had inspected several premises, and anticipated that there would be no difficulty in securing comfortable accommodation for a club of the numerical strength contemplated. A prospectus of the project is to be considered by the executive at its next meeting, and a definite scheme • will then be formulated for submission to prospective members. It is intended that the club should be established on broad democratic lines, its membership being open to all supporters of the Reform party in the Auckland province. The main purpose of the institution will be to provide a convenient meeting-place and social club for supporters of the party resident in or visiting the city.

Notice has been given by Mr. Chaa. Bagley that at the meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board on Tuesday he will move : "That in accordance with the provisions of the Manukau Harbour Control Act 1911, the secretary be instructed to obtain the following information: (a) The price and terms at and upon which the Hon. Minister for Railways will sell to the Board the Railway Wharf, and its site at Onehunga; (b) a statement of the receipts and expenditure in connection with the Manukau Harbour and wharf durino l'jll." , *>

Nominations closed at noon yesterday with the returning officer (Mr. A. Ernest Greenslade) for the two vacancies in the Northoote Borough Council created by the resignation of Mr. W. H. De Luen, and the . election of Mr. George Fraeer as Mayor. Four nominations were received* viz.: Mr. Arthur E. Greenslade, MP Rupert H. P. Hopkins, Mr. H. H. Hunt* and Mr. Alfred Wm. Tyer. The election mil take place on Friday, 10th inct.. at the Borough Chambers, ITorthcote. :

5 In ■ the supplement issued tfSSSB . Herald to-day will be found *rtid*l^| titled, " The Successful + , Tohunga; "Of Stupid Books," b£&W - Morton; " Going on Duty; n.. - Stoker," by Arthur *J- . " Autumn Tide," by Ascot A another article in the series " m ' , White Man Treads;" MerculW. ,IP of "Local Gossip'" appears as usual * * illustrations show the liner Oceana . down after her collision with the ns|i I barque Pisagua, and the site of n PT f Ii Industrial Exhibition. ' r , The waterside worker. Henry MomsJ I Anderson, who sustained serious injiSl to his head and a fracture of ffc* -? ; - thigh through falling down the hold ofM r 8.8. Mokoia on April 26 last, died at'B 5 hospital yesterday morning. An i nqt 2l - bo heldattheh.piSr^^ 1 at 10 o clock. I A considerable profit was realist fiM . the United Labour Day celebrations I I Auckland last year. The income from 2'' I ' sources amounted to £833 6s 2d and wl' 1 J expenditure to £526 13s 6d, leaving 1H 1 credit balance of £306 12s Bd. The auraM | . will be placed in the trust fund of M I i Trades' Hall. , 1 3 I , Several articles vin the • nature .of Jiß . advertisement about a " mountain *'&£§■ i greenstone " having been found in Zealand have appeared in various AiaJSi 1 tralian papers (says our Sydney represea- 3 > tative), and a correspondent in the Sydney 1 i Sun humorously suggests that tha.lSl r South Wales Government should ohtaii i , sufficient of it to build a new State PaHfflfflj ment House and Governor's palace. , «« flip > might be expensive," he admits, M bot £j l it would be not only unique, but everlast* jg [ ing, and would score another world's cpilli , cord for us. With such material th* H I Government should establish • for . IhemJjH selves a monument of their ability aajlvM skill that would last for untold ages.", i fi Delegates from the various branches ■ 1 the New Zealand Federation of • Lal»«f 9 1 will meet in annual conference in Writer/; 1 ' ton on May 23. The Auckland nnia® I affiliated lo the federation will be sented by Messrs. J. E. ' Duncan (WmII | Sato miners), W. E. Parry r and '#i ■ Kennedy (Waahi miners), P. Fraßoj'^\ ■ J. B. King (Auckland general 'sbourerrt i ; E. Canham ; (Auckland waterside worker# ; i P. Richardson and A.. fioaiar (Auckiacj " tramway employees). ' ' | Compulsory training questions WMn |||f! fore the laat meeting of the Wo®ifS Political League, which was presided i by Mrs. Kirkby. A letter was MoidtiSilf from the Hon. A. M. ' Myers stating the Defence Act would be amended, amj ' that in the meantime the youths imprf. ' soned are kept apart from/the 1 soners. It was decided to ask the Si ' ister to stop any further prosecution ;i ; 5, Parliament meets and the Act is amamitd, , }■; The :second meeting of, the Grey tfamli Young Men's Club was held in , , Hall last night. There was ; a fair' attendi anoe of young fellows, and all* seemed to. be thoroughly imbued with enthusiasm foiift the ; club.lt is hoped that the , membmfp/ ship will eventually reach 25, but at ' gent there axe only about 16,, AlthkM . {,<> i v*ti> »iiWS^*EP|l|K|l 1 'plans,; l are being s made as to r the Vi.r<pa ' {KftmtlCO Ot "the club. Then [ elude gymnastics, boxing, reading debates, and various other interesting «u4 ||l ■ instructive amusements. If) has been de> ' cided to make efforts to secure, tbti Wl , ■ 1 vices of an efficient gymnasium ' instnictv ' to attend the classes. It Has also he w " resolved that the entrance fee for law: under 18 be Is and over 18 2s, and t&Sfe ' .the monthly subscription .be and 4« r» 5 : spectively. . The club will :be i, undenominational, , and the : . be elected. -- i It a meeting of 'the St.Johtt' i College « . ' Old' Boya' Association held at Pham* V Chambers on Tuesday last it was .to • hold ' the annual : reunion—dinner -.ta& I smoke - concert— the ; Tiff en on July- 26. The • date. of the • ball .'match, : Past v. Present Boys, wjt fixed for August 14. . The foSo^g:',odi^p| • were duly elected for the'«iau^.yw'iS||; - Patron, Rev. P. S. •; SmallfieH Mr. A. G. Pilkington; vice-president Mr.' F. Jowitt; hon. treasurer, Mi , i Clark ; hon. ; secretaries, Messrs. I* ham and E. W. Boucher; : Messrs. ;F. Jowitt. G. 8. Pierce, G.'C&Wil. , S. J. Hanna; E. W. Boucher, and ItT'ldk- : - ham. The committee is using its ' endeavours to make this year's : pass all previous reunions, , and . request* the hearty co-operation of each and'ftjw|^ • old boy.. - : ' A fire has broken out in the a.bandon«|' | ' Taupiri ' coal mine. Oar / Hun^^eOT^S. pondeixt writes that the ■ coal appe&Wtt »' j : have - taken fire'late on Thurad&y or early yesterday morning, and from , volume of smoke it appeared to be bwnfr . ing furiously. 1 1 ' The v Auckland Amateur ' Ojawcatle ciety has decided- to ' give ; a' .» formance of "H.M.S. Pinafore" afternoon at 2.30 in aid of the relief fund. The opera will be staged. m ' the'- same scale as in the ■ evening. Bert Royle, . on' behalf . of Messrs. Williamsoiu Ltd., has kindly oonwife||®' to forego the royalty for . that which means that the fund will be supply mented by lOgns. It is hoped thajttw|jS public of Auckland will respond to > efforts :of 'the Auckland 'Amateur' Society, and ©how' their sympathy with this deserving object by attending it WS* numbers. The ' final . performance of " H.M.S. ■ Pinafore " will take place thi||| evening. : ■ A disorderly scene, in which several men from steamers in port played »TP r minent part, was witnessed at the cornfi? ; of Queen and Wellesley Streets Ja3t^ey®f^© f ing. A constable,who was attempt^? arrest a seaman on a charge of / being drunk and disorderly, was subjected to r a|| good deal of obstruction from iudivitiuals. in a noisy crowd. Eventually fwo detectives came to the rescue, and -the eeaaflan was hustled away to gaol, afld with him a young man who was alleged to have lflv cited the prisoner to resist?' arrest.'t During the present month 12,885 acres of Crown Lands will be opened for .eeloctiOtt& in New Zealand. The area to be throws open for settlement ift the Auckland F o *^.' vines includes four lions of second-cISSI land on Waiheke Island, of from 31;acr»g to 85 acres each, 50 acres in the Msy-J muka survey district, and 1742 acres in BtQ sections in the/Kerikeri, ' Pirongia survey districts, and • parish, for all of which applications. on May 27. Three sections, ooinprjsongg 1986 acres of second-class land _ in Takahui, arid Otanewainuku . districts;, v «|l| the Aiaiamaru parish, and a section . .i M acres of ; iiiird-class land in the Kati^tt§«»|| trict, being portion of national ment, will be available on renewable . ■ up to the same date. A section land suburban land, comprising one ■32 perches, will be sold by public auc B on May 31, the upset price oemg The oyster season, which opened on : H nesday, has so far not been produCtlv£«ro||a'H| very large supplies. About 2d sacks. to hand ou Thursday, and were #®,l disposed of. The qualtity of the oyst|rij®WM season is reported as not beinghigh as in previous . seasons. A consignment came to hand was' eagerly sought' after,V but the"|p||iM«« so far is not equal to the demand.' ] ■