LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 13979, 12 May 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

_The Appeal Court in BlSemfontein decided that the Restriction Act docs not apply to Syrians. The Confervative Press in Canada (asys a cable .from Ottawa) generally expresses pleasure at the report that reciprocity has been effected by the Hons. Foster and Tudor. , The total estimated population of New Zealand on March 31 was 1,124,190. The net increase during the March quarter, excluding the Cook and other islands, was 9121. The new genera 1 manager of . railways (Mr E. H. Hiley) is expected to reach the Dominion in September. The present general manager (Mr T. Ronayne) will continue to hold office until his successor arrives. A Berlin cable states that Professor Behring has obtained a new diphtheria serum producing immediate immunity in the epidemic, and! prolonged immunity thereafter. It also renders germ carriers harmless. The London police , have removed an old woman named. Lerat in a dying condition (says a cable dated on Saturday). In grief at her sister’s death she shut herself up in a flat, and dived in darkness for seven years. The circumstances recall the story of Miss Harisham in “Great Expectations.” ,

There was a considerable “fresh” in the river yesterday and Saturday, and a good deal of timber came down from the upper reaches, where there has evidently been very wa nn rains. Yesterday the river rose 13ft in five hours at Hipahgo Park, and the Water was so- rough between Kennedy’s and the railway bridge that it was with difficulty the larger launches on the river got up and down. In last week’s Gazette it is ( notified that stamps, envelopes, and post-cards bearing the portrait of Her late Majesty Queen Victoria, the Christchurch Exhibition stamps, law Court, fee stamps, and. Land and Deeds fee stamps, cannot be lawfully used for the payment of any postage or revenue,duty after 31st December, 1913. Such stamps can be exchanged for new ones by application at any post office before the end of 1914-.' The Tyser’s officers and men have evidently been . instructed to observe strict reticence with regard to the Indrabarah. On, the beach yesterday afternoon, the genial marine superintendent, Captain Rainey, was surrounded by a group of eager. Press representatives asking for information, but all they could get was the intimation in 1 the captain’s best, “dgcp sea” bass; “Well, gentlemen, there’s/the ship! She’s ashore, as you see; and I can’t tell you any more than you can seefor yourselves!” The captain remained proof against persistent blandishments, and the reporters finally gave him up, and devoted their energies elsewhere. A dozen Children from a back-blocks’ school walked with their teacher 10 miles early on Monday morning, and caught the train at Waimilia station for Auck--land (writes the Tauinarunui correspondent of the Auckland Herald.) They took lanterns with them for use on the return tramp, which would have to be performed at night. The King Country children were delighted With the kindness shown them by the education authorities in Auckland. They greatly enjoyed “camping” on the straw in the Chapel Street school. As the ferry steamer Maori was leaving Lyttelton for Wellington on Thursday evening, a young lady who was seeing a friend off suddenly c'/erbalanced and fell into, the water. The third officer of the Maori (Mr R. Irwin) immediately plunged overboard, and after swimming some distance, managed to get to the lady in the water, and held her'up until further astance was forthcoming. ; At the time of the mishap the Maori’s propellers were revolving rapidly, and both the rescuer and rescued were in imminent danger of being caught in the blades. Those who witnessed the rescue state that Mr Irwin’s action was a very plucky one. Considering the weather, the number of people who visited the scene of the wreck of the Indrabarah yesterday was remarkable, all sorts of conveyances being requisitioned from motor-cars, motor cycles, to gigs' and' horses, a number also going pn foot. We learn that on their return about fifteen people lost their way in the flax and swamps, and had to remain out all last night. The plight of the lost ones must- have been a very sorry one, as the night was very bleak and wet. In view of the rough nature of the country between the Bulls-Parawanui Road and the beach, those who intend visiting the wreck, and who are ignorant of the country, should not go without a guide, otherwise their experience may be the reverse of comfortable.

.The annual meeting of the Wanganui Employers’ Association was hold on Friday evening in the Association’s rooms, the vice-president, Mr G. Caiman, presiding over a very good attendance. The annual report and balance-sheet was read and unanimously adopted. The report showed' that the membership of the Association had almost doubled, the number on the roll at the close of the year ueing 190. The Association also has an increased credit balance. The report algo stated that' the dispute between the Soft • Goods Union of Workers and the employers had been satisfactorily, dealt with, and the arrangement come, to had been cohflrmed at the recent sitting of the Arbitration Court. Disputes between the bookbinders' and paperrulers and the stationary enginedrivera had also been dealt with before the Arbitration Court. In each of these disputes the claims of the employers had been fully represented to the Court, and various exemptions grant- ; ed to firms who were already working under different awards. A noticeable feature, of the proceedings was the facility given by the Court to assist parties in bringing out all necessary evidence. A considerable portion of the secretary’s, time has been taken up in visiting outside districts, and in enrolling new members, and the results were very gratifying, a large number of employers having joined, the Association from the outlying districts. Forty-seVou new members were elected at the' meeting. The election of officers resulted as follows; President. Mr a.. Hatrick; vice-president, Mr G. Caiman; executive committee, Messrs F. M- Spurdle., H. Hooker, Llovd Jones, John .lones, E. Mathieson, J. C. Richardson, H., Purser, W. Dustin, L. J. Sigley; 'E. McNiven, .T. A. Murray, C. J. McCarthy,N. Meuli, E.’ Green! H. V. Diiigan, and J. Hodgson. The meeting concluded with a vote of aoprcciation to the secretary for the steady progress undo during tire period of his appointment.

A prohibition order, was granted against a local resident at. the Magistrate’s Court this morning by Mr Kerr, S.M. Special prayers for the success of the Chinese Republic were read in the Anglican Churches in Wanganui last evening. At the Magistrate’s Court this morning, before Mr Kerr, S-M-. D. McConochie, who was represented by Mr Cohen, was adjudicated, by consent, the father of an unborn illegitimate child. A Paris cable states that the Chamber of Deputies, by a majority of seven, adopted a motion for, the suppression of gambling in opposition to the Government’s proposal to impose a progressive tax on gambling profits. i The population of the Dominion of New Zealand, estimated oh the 31st March. 1913, and excluding Maoris and residents of the Cook and other Pacific islands, was .1.031.748, made ut> of 558,083 males and 503,665 females. The Maori population is estimated at 49,844, population of, Cook and other Pacific Islands 62,442. making a total of 1,124,180 for the whole Dominion, an increase of 9121 during the first ouartor of 1913. In that period the arrivals were 14,595 and the departures were 10,030. The births registered were 6954, and the deaths 2398, which gives a net increase in population of 9121.