Local and General.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3688, 25 November 1912, Page 4

Local and General.

A man was prohibited on Saturday, on his wife’s application_ The annual meetings of the Cook and Waikohu County Councils will he hold on "Wednesday. Saturday appears to have- passed as a quiet week-end. There were no occupnnts of the police cells on Saturday or last evening. One of the East African giant snails at the Wellington Zoo has laid an egg for the first- time. The snail is 7in. long, and the egg is as large as that of a- sparrow. “The Great- Circus Catastrophe.” a thrilling and sensational story of a circus troupe, forms the chief attraction in the change of programme which Rathe Pictures will submit to their patrons at His Majesty’s Theatre to-night. Included in the programme at present showing at the Opera- House is a very pretty comedy-drama, entitled “iSo Near and Yet so Ear.” The film is by the far-famed A.B. Company, and that most -popular actress. Dolly Nicholson, takes the part of the leading lady in a most convincing manner.

The twenty-fifth annual report of the London directors of the Now Zealand Shipping Company, submitted to the shareholders of the Company at a general meeting in London on October 15, states that during the year ending June JO. the Company had acquired a controlling interest in the Cede ra l Sfcbam Navigation Company, and lmd purchased the Australasian business of Holder Brothers and Coiujmny. The directors, with expressions of deep regret-, recorded the death of Mr C. do C. Malet, a member of the New Zealand Board. The directors recommended payment of a dividend amounting to Ids per share for the year, free of income tax. "Messrs "Williams and Kettle, Ltd., will bold their next stock sale at To Karaka to-morrow. Entries are invited.

’Hie meetjng of the Poverty Bay River Board, which was to have been, held on Saturday afternoon, was, ah the request of two members, adjourned till to-morrow. The Old Settlers’ Picnic committee met on Saturday when the balance sheet was presented. The sum of £SO was voted to the Children's Creche and this will carry a £ for £ subsidy. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded close who had donated prizes for the picnic. A large number of bricklayers assembled at the Royai Hotel on Saturday to discuss an application for an-in-crea.se in wages of one shilling per day on account of recent bad times, when all bands* were waiting for bricks through bad roads. Mr S. F. Pirie was in the chair. Messrs Pirie and Field, on behalf of the employees, were" elected delegates to meet the employers. 'Hie Recreation Ground is beginning to wear an attractive appearance';'and is apparently receiving the attention it deserves. There is a splendid green carpet, the patios are clean and well-formed, and the flower beds and plots should make a pretty showing in the early future. The little reserve is indeed an enjoyable spot at which to spend a spare hour, and is being appreciated.

Questioned by a “Southland Times” reporter in regard to his attitude towards the proposal to import teachers from England, Hon. James Allen, Minister for Education, said that the Dominion was certainly to some extent short of certificated teachers. The shortage was due to a change of system, which reduced the number of scholars each teacher had to -superintend, and if there were an urgent necessity to relieve the shortage he would be in favor of it, but he did not know that there was any urgent necessity. Personally, he was of opinion that a little patience was all that was necessary, and then the difficulty might he overtaken. It was, moreover, a very awkward thing to import teachers, as they would not be at all sure of what they were getting. Captain Scott’s Antarctic expedition ship Terra Nova has had her hull thoroughly cleaned and re-ooated with a special composition of tar and pitch. A start has been made to ship 500 tons of coal, a quantity which is estimated to be sufficient for the journey south and back to .Lyttelton. Speaking to a “Lyttelton Times” reporter. Commander Evans stated that the Westport Coal Company had most generously donated to the expedition 100 tons of coal, and on behalf of Captain Scott he had to extend his best thanks to the company for this gift, which wou’d considerably relieve the strain on the finances of the expedition. The Rotorua, due at Lvttelion early, has on board about* 20 tons of stores and equipment for the southern party, and these will be taken on board the Terra Nova. As only another month remains on hand prior to departing for the south, the whole of the ship s company is extremely busy attending to the work of fitting the vessel for the cruise.