LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 13701, 7 June 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A rich discovery of diamonds ia reported from Ungava, Canada, to which place a great rush has set in. The Bishop of Polynesia has returned from a visit to England, where it was arranged to increase his staff of white missionaries to twelve.

The French International Cold Storage Company, with a capital of £700,090, has been formed to organise refrigeration, particularly of meat, throughout Franco.

Constable Davies, of the North-west Mounted Police, was found on the prairies at Medicine-Hat (Canada), with a bullet in his heart. It is suspected that he was murdered by the Indians. A Paris cable states that the Doucct collection has been sold to Henri Rothschild for £, iff,4ol). The Latour pastel, which was sold by auction in 1903 foi 0000 franco, and 74 drawings and 22 pastels realised .£132,504.

A well-known resident of Wanganui, who is at present spending a ho.itlay in Australia, writes of the deplorable condition of the country from Sydney to Melbourne and from Melbourne to Adelaide, owing to the drought. Water is scarce everywhere, pastures have long since disappeared, except in specially-favoured localities, hundreds of miles arc traversed without the sign of a olade of grass, and steamer traffic on the Murray River has Ix'en suspended owing to the low condition of the river.

To-morrow evening, commencing at 7.45, the Garrison Band will, weather permitting. g' ve tlieir promised open-air concert on the balcony of McGrner’s new buildings. The programme will, as usual, be a varied one, and should attract a large audience. By request of the Gonvillo School Committee, the Band have consented to give a concert in the Gouvßle Town Hall in aid of the school funds. The concert will be given about the 27th inst., and an excellent programme may be expected. Full particulars will be announced later on.

There are nine applicants for the position of organist for the city of Auckland, and it has been arranged that each shall give a recital in the Town Hall beloiv the committee makes its selection from the list. The first recital takes place on Saturday evening next, when Mr Horace Hunt, of Wellington, is to play. The other applicants are:—Mr H. G. Gutton, of Auckland; Mr H. 6. Wober, of Napier; Mr E. S. Craston, Auckland; Mr W, T. Sharp, Auckland; Mr P. Webb, Masterton; Mr E. Randal, Oaraaru; Mr H. Grogson, Auckland: and Mr T. C. Webb, Wanganui. The monthly meeting of the Wanganui East School Committee was held last evening. A letter was received from the Education Board re additions to the school, advising that it had applied for a grant for two large rooms and also for a grant for the purchase of more school ground. The headmaster’s retort showed that the roll number was 345, but owing to the prevalence of mumps the average was low —295. The visiting committee’s report recommended 50 yards of pumice to be iml in the sehoolground, and that some fencing material had been stolon from the school property. The matter of pumice was left to Mr Thompson, and the police are to be communicated with in regard to detecting the light-fingered gentry. Accounts amounting to i‘s 19s 3d were passed for payment.

The suburban tramway service to Gonville was commenced this morning, and was fairly well patronised, though there was some misconception with regard to the destination of the trams, there being an impression amongst some folk that the trams only ran to the Hospital. As a matter of fact, the line as far ns the junction near the ton of Alma Pond and Gonville Avenue has been inspected by the Public. Works Department, and the cars are running from this junction to the Past Office and vice versa. The trams will be found a very great convenience not only to residents in the suburbs, but to those who have occasion to visit the Hospital and to those who attend Messrs F. I’. Jackson and Co.’s sales, there being a ■stopping-place in close proximity to the suleyards. A passenger from Vancouver by the Manama was Prince Gustave Dikran, who is at present an exile from Turkey on account of the part he played in the Al-banian-Macedonian revolt against the Ottoman Government. In the course of an interview the prince said that the revolution of 1907 was due to the attorn) t of the Turks to close the Albanians' schools and churches and force the Mohammedan religion upon the people. He predicted another revolution at a very early date, if not : mmediately, but said he did not intend to take part in it, as he had sacrificed enough. His father and two brothers had died fighting, his estates had been confiscated, and bo had to consider his mother and sister, who woe living in Egypt and were dependent on him. He had spent some time in America, and hoped while in New Zealand to deliver several lectures on his experiences.

The question of child labour in country districts was referred to by Mr W. 0. Lamb, president of the Auckland Country Teachers’ Association, in the course of hie, evidence before the Education Commission. His association had instituted inquiries, and had found that country children often suffered considerable hardships. In some cases they worked at home for seven hours and then travelled several miles to school and arrived there in a jaded condition. The result of the inquiries showed that when such children reached the school they were not in the receptive condition necessary to receive instruction. It was not considered a hardship for children to milk two or three cows, hut in some cases children were subjected to real conditions of slavery. The Country Teachers’ Association- hoped that with the advent of milk-ing-machines the evil to a large extent would be removed.

Can strikes be abolished by a better economical education? In the course of his evidence before the Education Commission, Mr It. E. Rudman, principal of the Thames High School, detailed a conversation he had' with the late Hon. James McGowan (formerly Minister for .Mines and Justice), some six weeks ago, on the subject of strikes. Mr McGowan on that occasion had remarked: “We will never stop strikes until the teaching of the elementary economic conditions is carried out in all the schools of the Dominion. Such teaching would have a splendid effect on the thoughts of the next generation, and would tend to a settlement of labour problems.’’ The witness menlioned this con••ersation, becau.se Mr McGowan had given the matter much thought. Til answer to nnestior>s, Mr Rudman said that, speaking from his own point of view, the teaching of economics anight have a good effect and tend to enlightenment, but he understood the syllabus was so crowded already that there was no room for the subject in the curriculum of the schools.

Air AV:iltcr Morrison Inis given Oxford L‘lo.ooo for n readership of Egyptiology.

The Marama, Victoria, Zealandia, Moana, Wimmcra, Moeraki, and Navua should be within wireless range to-night

James Coates, the millionaire, head o' the famous thread manufacturing firm o; England, who died recently, left no will. The Central Medical Council (London) erased James Wallace's name from tlu register for associating himself with the Sandow Institute.

Several valuable dogs have been poisoned during the past few days at Wanganui East. Wo understand the police have the matter in hand.

In Wanganui, at 9 a.m. to-day, the thermometer registered 56 and the barometer 50.01. There was a moderate see. on the bar.

The Federal Government Ijas accepted he tender of the Austral Otis Engineering Co. for forty locomotives at a cost f £IBO,OOO.

The Cabinet yesterday authorised the expenditure of ,£t;000 at the Point Elizabeth State coal mine, to give miners a better road access to their places of work, and for the electric lighting of the mine. The Union Company, having sold the Rotoiti to the Northern Company, intimation has been received at Napier that the Takapuua will be placed on the Napier-Gisborne run early in the spring to provide a daily service. Owing to the bad weather last Saturday it was found impossible to complete the District Nurse’s Saturday collection in Gonville. In response to requests, however, the League has decided to complete the canvass of the Gonville district tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon. The District Nursing League desires to acknowledge the following further donations, per Mrs Kitchen:—Mr L. Cohen, £2 2s: Messrs R. and E. Tingcy and Co., 10s fid. The League also desires to acknowledge donations from the Sash and Door Company, £3 3s; Dr Earle, £1 Is; Mr A. A. Gower £1; Mr 0. F. Moore, £1 Is.

The Wanganui East Technical Committee met last evening. The secretary reported that three very successful classes had been started, and other classes were in course of preparation. It was resolved to ascertain the cost of lighting the building with gas, and the matter was loft in the hands of Messrs Thompson and Willis. The secretary was authorised to have the piano tuned. At the Magistrate’s Court this morning, before Messrs J. L, Stevenson and A. 0. Bignell, J's.P., Nicholas Joseph Winders was committed to the Supreme Court for trial on a charge of stealing certain moneys, the property of the Mutual Life and Citizens’ Assurance Company. A young man also appeared to answer two charges—drunkenness and breaking a window—and was fined 10s on the first count, and ordered to pay the value of the broken pane, 8s Cd. The Mayoress (Mr? C. E. Mackay) presided over a well-attended meeting of ladies at Dustin’s Yesterday afternoon, when the question of holding a bazaar in aid of the City Baud’s instrument fund was considered. It was decided to hold a six-daV bazaar in the Opera House about October next. The following committee, with power to add to its number, was formed:—Mrs and Miss Townsend, Mcsdames Olson, Bogle, Gray, Shardlow.and Misses Shardlow, Mesdames H. Humphries, G. Humphries, Harman, Wilson, Summers, odrews, Spurring, and Miss .Spurring. Mrs G. Buckley was elected chairwoman of the committee. It was decided to have ten stalls, as follows: Flower stall (Mrs Shardlow), produce stall (members of the band), doll and Christmas tree stall (Mrs G. Humphrey), refreshments (Mrs H. Humphrey), art sill! (Mr Andrew), bran tub (Miss Townsend), sweet stall (Mrs Andrew), fancy stall (Mrs Bogle), plain needlework stall (Mrs Buckley), jumble and kitchen (Mrs Townsend).