LOCAL AND GENERAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 4870, 23 January 1903, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The annual general meeting of the New Zealand Gun Club Association takes place to-night at 8 o’clock at the Dodoga, when matters of interest to pigeon-shooters will bo discussed. ‘Tho Auckland Electric Tramways Company has applied for permission to run its trams on Sundays. The Sunday School Union and tho Christian Endeavour Society arc protesting against the application. At the opening of an Oddfellows’ Hall at Albany, New South Whiles, it was mentioned that in New South .Wales tho funds of tho lodges represented £S per member, in Victoria £l3, irml in New Zealand if tho friendly societies were wound up to-day they would distribute about £2O per member, Tin* average earnings of societies in connection with their funds were:—ln Victoria, 4 per cent. ; in New South V ales, 2 per cent.; and in New Zealand, 5 per cent.

It has been the custom of tho Railway Department in Wellington not to claim expenses for its employees in Court actions taken by tho department against persons who'' break its by-laws. Seemingly, this is to bo altered, for tho Christchurch “Press” records that in r. railway by-laws offence case at Ivaiapoi it was' stated the department expected tho Court to allow tho fare, if necessary, of its servants, and an allowanco-for their wages. An order was made for these costs.

Auckland must be a cold place lor Chinamen. During the hearing of the grocers’ dispute in the northern city, Mr Justice Cooper remarked that in Auckland there did not scorn to he any great number of Chinese in the grocery trade, though in Wellington there were a great many. Mr Tcinplor, who appeared for tho Master Grocers’ Union, replied that.the conditions of the grocery trade in Auckland were. such by reason of competition amongst ' the whites that even a Chinese , could not mako a living at it! , ;

When tho rifle clubs’ deputation waited upon tho Premier last Wednesday, a member spoke of the prohibition of riflo club men from participation in the service matches. Ho went on to speak of the capabilities of rifle club mjin for this kind of shooting, which is conducted without extraneous aids such as verniers, orthoptics, etc., and asserted that if members of rifle clubs wero allowed to compete with volunteers it would he seen that the club men could easily beat the volunteers at their own game. Tho Premier, however, knocked tho speaker metaphorically “ out of his stride ” by saying that tho point just made was a reason for keeping tho event for volunteers alone, inasmuch as the latter had to drill when tho club men wero perfecting themselves at shooting. A rifle club man who formed one of tho deputation that interviewed Mr Seddon on Wednesday evening controverted tho idea that rifle clubs were composed of “pot-hunters” too indolent to join volunteer corps. Citing his own case, this doputationist said he had earned both an Imperial and a colonial long-servico medal as a volunteer, and, in addition, ho had served his country on tho memorable occasion when some thousands of tho colony’s defenders were marched by a mistaken Native Minister to Parihaka. On that occasion ho was put to an expense of over £4O, not ouo penny of which had been refunded to him. The mention of money reminded tho Minister of Defence that ho was also Colonial Treasurer, and so Mr Seddon sagely terminated this reminiscence by a remark that they wero “going too far hack altogether !”

It lias been said that there is poetry to bo found in all things if the delving be deep enough. The aphorism is recalled by a paragraph in ‘The Capo Times” concerning a peculiar necktie knitted by a female refugee' for her lover. The paragraph is as follows:—A Stellenbosch youth was proudly displaying in an Addorley street cafe yesterday a manycoloured necktie worked by the fair lingers of a maiden in the Uitcnliage refugee camp. From an artistic point of view, the combination of colours is somewhat startling, the hues employed being bright green, lilac and white; but on the ethics of the tie being explained by the stalwart wearer, the effect is not so jarring. Green represents bone, lilac'lovo. and white innocence. But there is a deeper meaning vet. Lilac, the youth explained, is formed by the mixture of red and blue, whilst green is an amalgamation of ormjge and bkio. Thus the “Verecnigincr” tie. as Jf banpily christened, combines the red. white and blue of Great Britain with the “Vierklenr” of the Transvaal and the colours of the late Orange Free State.

The picturesque foreshore of Oriental Bay was yesterday visited by over a thousand children, who found peacefeli and healthy amusement on the beach. Tho annual meeting cf tho M ellington Trust, Loan and Investment Company will ho held at the Chamber of Coiumcrco rooms on tho 2nd prox. Tho Central lire Brigade received a call at II o’clock last night from Taranaki street. A stable next to Messrs Bouse and Black’s premises was found to be ablaze. The flames were quickly subdued. (jj Teams from the Hawke's Bay and Manawatu Polo Clubs played yesterday at Palmcrsi on North, the latter winning by six goals to two. JVlauawatn had nil tho best of the play after tho first spell. A person in Kelson was fined ten. shillings a few days ago for travelling in a railway carriage when suffering from measles. This should net as a warning to others. Tho offence is punishable by fine sip to XTO. A garden fete is to bo hold 0,1 the lllh of next month iir the grounds of'' Wellington College for the benefit of tho Veterans’ Home Fund; The function will be under the patronage cf bis Excellency tho Governor. There will ho a living poster competition, motorear rides and a musical bicycle ride. Humorous competitions, decorated bicycles and other things will make up tho programme. The Ecv. J. Paterson, ministot of St. John’s Presbyterian Church, has expressed a desire to the ollicc-bcarcrs of iho church tfiat limy should take into consideration tho appointment of a colleague who would be associated with him in the work of the church, and who should eventually become his successor, Tho matter lias been discussed by tho office-bearers, and they have decided to bring it before tho congregation at the annual me'eting on 11th February. An unanticipated event occurred during the first part of tho programme at tho Theatre Ec-yal last night. Whilo a lady member of the company was singing, a piece- of canvas and wood, fifteen or twenty feet long, fell from tho

“ flies,” and landed on its end at tho exact spot where ouo of the “ cullud genclmon ”of tho show had a seat. Ho vacated his position with great celerity, and thus escaped injury, but tho structure struck tho singer on tho top of the head so severely that she had to retire from tho stage. When tho dust and excitement, had subsided, tho merry circle was re-formed, and tho injured performer returned to tho stage to complete her interrupted melody. A Martini-Eufiokl rifle that “throws its shot seven feet to tho left” was issued some years ago to a member of p. rifle club near Paraparamu. Ho found that with a strong cross wind td counteract tho bias bo could do excellent shooting, but at other times ho was greatly handicapped when competing with his fellows! Notwithstanding such disabilities as those, however, riflemen as a body have still a good conceit of themselves, for ono of tho club’s deputation on Wednesday assured tho Minister of Defence that at 200, 300 and 500 yards a team of average! riflo club men could put on 90 per cent, of hits—and ho would like to see tho volunteer company that could do that ! Thu New Zealand Motor-car Company’s passenger cal’ plied all day yesterday for tho first time between the Royal Oak Hotel and Thorndoa. Esplanade. Tho car started miming at 10 o’clock. During the early part of tho day passengers were rather shy, but as tho day wore on the smoothness and regularity of tbo machine inspired confidence, and tho car was crowded on every trip. The car ran every twenty minutes, and accomplished each return trip easily in fifteen minutes. Not tho slightest hitch or inconvenience occurred all day. Mr Leigh, tho company’s expert, handled tho car admirably. Tho car will run daily on tho same routa every twenty minutes, starting from tha Royal Oak at 10 a.in., till further no. tice.

Will you allow me (writes “Hellespont”) a little space to ventilate a grievanco of the ratepayers and the public generally concerning the hours observed at tile city baths? In Thursday morning's issue of the “New Zealand Time's’’ it was announced that high tide would be at 11.33 a.m. A number of persona thought they would spend a part of tho holiday by having a dip in the “briny,” and accordingly waited for 11.30 a.m.—high tide—as it is impossible tot have an enjoyable “dip” excepting at high tide, so shallow are those much l>omuddled To Aro baths. On getting to tho baths shortly after 11 a.m., the doors were found locked, and a scribbled note on tho window bore tho legend : “Baths closed 11 a.m.” The crowd had to retrace their steps “sadder and wiser,” and of course with benignant feelings towards the City Fathers and their popular system. In Sydney and Melbourne the Corporation baths arc at the disposal of tho public on public holidays as on ordinary days. Attention is directed to Mr Mill ward's advertisement in another column regard! ing. the Rutland Stables, Wanganui. The remarkable success attending Hannah's great salvage shoe sale is couvimy ing evidence of tho reality of the bargains. Such small prices for high-grade shoos is unprecedented. Fresh bargain* are announced, for to-day. Abraham and Williams, Ltd., will sell stock at Palmerston North next Thursday. Messrs Sidey, Meech and Co. will hold a sale next Wednesday on account ol Mr G. Bowker, Otakt. when the furnituro of seventeen ro'oras, also a good waggonette, will be offered. Messrs Gosling and Graham, an a. tioneers, Levin, will hold a clearing sale, without reserve, of dairy cows, stock, implements and furniture.. on Mr Kichol. son's farm. Queen street East, Levin, next Tuesday. The premises of Laery and Co., Ltd., Jervois quay, have been specially erected for the conduct of the farm’s business ae auctioneers and grain, produce and gene; xal merchants. Cool storage is provided for butter, eggs, etc. The firm hold* daily sales of fruit and produce. The first term of 1803 at Wellington College will begin on the 4th prox. The headmaster receive parents and guardians on the 30th and 31st inst On our third page to-day the Castl# Tea Company has an announcement ol special interest to householders. In big, hold type .£SO reward is offered in the shape of coupons to users of Moa, Tui, Huia and Golden Nugget teas, every packet of which contains a'coupon. Th« holders of these will be rewarded on thi 30th June bv prizes varying, according to tho number returned, from half-a» crown to ten pounds. A list is given ol winners during the half-year just closed, Tn addition to presenting these bonuses, the company guarantees the teas to b( the best in the market.