LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11028, 17 March 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Swimming Notes, by " Natator," will be found on page 2. At the Gisborne Supreme Court, today William James Austin for an alleged theft of a cheque- wars acquitted, says a Press Association telegram.

The following vessels are expected! to bo within range of the radio stations to-night: Wellington - Westralia, Maunganui, Maitai, .Maori,' Wahine, Rangatira, Argenl'els and Banufshire. Auckland—Riverina, Victoria, Maunganui and Star of Scotland. Awanui— Victoria, Riverina and Wainrate. The taxi-cab drivers' industrial dispute, whioh is to be called before the Conciliation Commissioner, Mr J. R. Triggs,, on Friday next at 2 p.m., will be' referred directly to tho Arbitration Court, since the employers refuse to meet the men, declaring that there is no industrial dispute since the Union is not duly registered.

There wore enthusiastic audiences at fclie Queen's Continuous Picture Theatre yesterday, when ; the current programmo was -sho\Vn for the last tune. To-day's new pictures will include "Topical Budget," "The King of Workmen'' (drama), "Motor Hide up a Mountain" (scenic), "The Famous Scout to the Rescue " (drama), " Zipperin's • Duel " (comedy), " The Othe/ Woman " (drama) and A New Physician'' (comedy). Special films in celebration of St Patrick's Day will be "Eory O'More" and "An lixile from Erin."

At n recent meeting of the Lyttelton Borough Council it was decided to write to the lion W. Fnisei', Minister of Public Works, asking him to visit the proposed deviations to the Zig-Zag Road between Lyttelton and Sumner, and last-evening a letter was received from the Minister to the_ effect that he would be pleased to visit the locality if it was possible on his next visit to Lyttelton. Councillors Guthrie arid Miller * remarked 1 that every effort should he mado to get a full muster of Councillors present on th 6 appointed day, and the suggestion found favour around the table.

A Masterton Territorial, "'ho has consistently refused to conform to the clauses of thfi IMencC Act, was to be escorted to Wellington yesterday, to undergo twenty-eight days' military detention. The young mar. in question is a purely conscientious objector to compulsory military training, which he does not believe in. He has 6tated that, should his services he demanded to fight; for his country, he would be the first, to offer himself, but lie objects to compulsion. He gives no trouble to the authorities, and, when called upon, presents himself at the railway station to be taken to Wellington.

Rats, they bay, desert a- sinking ship. But. the rats on the Devon had no time to do that. Only the forepart of the vessel now remains sticking up out of tho water. It is swarming with great black and grey rats, as large as sniall cats, and much more fierce. Some time ago, when more of the Devon was above water than is now,.the man who was left on board found it impossible to sleep. At present tugboats do not like to, approach too near for fear of some of the hungry vermin transferring themselves to better quarters. It is hard to see how the rats manage to exist at all, unless they feed on one another. ,

A keen contest is expected in the Waitemata seat next December (remarks the Auckland " Star "). At least five candidates are expected to enter the field. Messrs W. J. Napier, W. Wallace land A. Ha rris are certain candidates., and Messrs E. W. Alison and L. R. Phillipps (both of whom have previously represented the electorate-) are freely spoken of as likely candidate's. Interest will specially centre in -this contest in view of the repeal of the Second Ballot Act. On the occasion of the last two elections, Mr Napier headed tho poll each time, but was defeated at the second ballot. As Waitemata cannot bo considered a city seat, and accordingly is hardly likely to be subject to the conditions of any preferential system which may be passed next session, 'the issue should be a straight-out one next election. The Duke of Sutherland with a great flourish of trumpets recently ottered the British Government a portion of his Highland estate. Here is the sequel: Speaking at Glasgow Mr Lloyd George said—"This nobleman has asked £479,000 for just the lean,, scraggy end of the whole of the huge joint up there. Shortly before that he had overlooked that his trustees had sent us a valuation for death duty purposes of the whole estate, the good and the bad. They had sent it on oath. They had sworn that, to the best of their judgment, the whole of the million acres worn worth £IOO,OOO. What does he mean? Does lie mean to suggest that his trustees had Committed perjury by swearing that the land was only worth one-third of what it was really worth? There has never been such a case since the days of Ananias and Sapphire."

One of. the planks of the platform of the recntlv formed New Zealand Natives' Association at Wellington, is to uphold the proper consideration in all spheres of life, as against, tlio constant stream of immigrants that are pouring into the country by every steamer. It is alleged that there are cases on record that where all else is equal the immigrant has been selected for employment when there were New Zeaianders available, and in this manner certain avenues of employment are being closed to the native born. It is also stated that a great number of the immigrants who are assisted to, com© to the dominion by the Government in the belief that they on arrival will offer themselves for work on the land congregate in the cities, and openly compete with those who mny be in temporary employment or waiting employment in certain trades. It is the intention of the New Zealand Natives' Association to endeavour to see that the New Zealand born shall get. a "square deal," and when the Association acquires rooms of its own it is intended to.'keen an employment book, covering every avenue of employment, so that employers will not he able to say that thtre was no means of discriminating between the immigrant and the New Zealander,

A mail named Irving, living at Sydenham; was admitted to the Hospital this morning suffering from a broken ril>, caused by a 101 l from a dray.

The following is the report on tho Canterbury trout streams this morning:—Waimaknriri (north) clear, AVaimakariri (south) discoloured, Rakaia clear, Rangitata clear, Opihi dirty, Waitaki clear.

The recommendation of the Conciliation Council in the Christchurch farriers' industrial dispute has been filed with tho Registrar of Awards. If no objections are lodged within a month the agreement will go before tho Arbitration Court to be made into an award.

The Napier Harbour Board (says a Press Association message) has decided to purchase a dredge for the purpose of constructing an embankment across the inner harbour, and expects to malco a start with the work which is to carry tho east coast railway line, within three months. In observance of St Patrick's Day many Government offices were closed to-day. This evening a special St Patrick's Day concert will be given in the Theatre Royal and the proceeds will go towards the fund for the erection of a, hospital for the Nursing Sisters. * At the Lyttelton Magistrate's Court this morning Delias Pino Alice Booth was charged before Mr L. A. Stringer, J.P., with the theft of £9. The chargo had been adjourned, for some weeks on account of the illness of defendant, and a further remand of ono week was granted this morning.

What tho Natives describe as a "white toliungn," a. woman, has been attracting many Coast. Maoris to Auckland for treatment'of ailments of any kind. "Pilgrims" who have returned to their pas have been warm in their praise of tho "cures" effected, and the indications arc that many other Natives wall proceed north_ for the treatment of real or imaginary ailments.

A curious growth of mushrooms may be seen in Tonkinson's engineering shop in Dimedin (says the "Star"). The floor of the shop is laid down in asphalt, and has a thickness of fully three inches. Yet despite so stony an obstacle, several mushrooms, from two to three inches in diameter, have forced themselves 'up into the light of day. .Tile asphalt in the near vicinity of the mushrooms looks-very much as if a pick had boon at work,. and it seems hardly credible that the tender and succulent mushrooili possessed such a forcing strength as is displayed. Detective-Sergeant Siddells, of Wanganui, has been engaged this'week investigating tho burning of tllirty-one stacks of grain on Mr W. Chapman's farm, at Ford ell. ' Mr, Sidd'ells stated to a "Herald" reporter that the fire was fifst discovered about three o'clock on Monday morning,' when a farm employee, who, lives in, a tent in one of the fields, was awakened Tiy the noise of the burning stacks. He , immediately arose, and found the stacks in all directions ablaze. The nearest 'house to the: paddocks is two miles away, and this accounts for the outbreak not being discovered until the flames had got a. great hold'. The genera I opinion scorns'to'be that tlie fires were caused by the application of phosphorus, go applied as to ignite tile stacks simultaneously, and so the miscreant, whoever he wi>s, who sot fire to the stacks would hot need to lie. in the vicinity for a period of some hours before the time he' had fixed for the fire. It is to be. hoped -that the person who is committing such outrages as these will be apprehended and punished. The stacks were insured'for £6OO in the Phwnix Office, but they are valued at £2OO above this amount.