Untitled

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 118, 15 November 1917, Page 8

In reference to an accident which occurJ red to Charles Stewart In Adelaide-road yesterday, Mr. R. C. Robinson, secretary of the Wellington Electrical Workers' Industrial Union, writes to the effect that (Stewart was not a member of the Tramway staff, but an employee of the Electric ■Lighting Department of the City Corporation. At the time of the accident Stewart was engaged working on lighting wires only, made necessary owing to the centre pole alterations in Adelaide-road. Mr. Robinson's letter concludes: "Wo would also like you to add that this is the third serious accident in this department'in. a little over two years. Fortunately none has proved fatal, although the work is more dangerous than that connected with the overhead tramway wires."

The following excerpt from the Petone gas manager's half-yearly report shows how greatly the extra price of coal and wages has affected the price of the production of gas. The. present price o£ coal is a-s follows, the increase since 1914 being given in parentheses :—Newcastle, 42s per ton (13s 2d), State 30s 3d per ton (6s lOd). In both periods, equal proportions of Newcastle and State coals were used. The amount of coal carbonised for the half-year 1914 was 1534 tons: Assuming that- the same amount of coal was being used in 1917, the extra cost would he as follows : 767 tons of Newcastle at 425, £1610 14s; 767 tons of State coal at 30s 3d, £1160 Is 9d; total, £2770 15s 9d. This would represent a total increase of £884 18s for coal, to which should be added the increases in wages for yardmen and stokers, representing art increase since 1914 of £127 13s in the half-year'a working. This makes a total increase of £1012 11s in working costs for the half-year just ended, as compared with a similar, period in 1914.

With respect to the recent prohibition of imports of wheat and flour, especially fowl wheat, it is understood that the Government does not intend to make the order immediately absolute. It will be used as required. Importations maybe made under permit, if such is obtained

At a social.and dance held last Tuesday evening at the Petone Fire Station, the Mayor (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan), on behalf of the local Fire Brigade Association, presented the Lower Hutt Fire Brigade with the Licensed Victuallers' Shield, which the brigade has won ior the second time in succession. With the shield was presented a gold medal to each member of the brigade. The Petone Brigade was presented with the Jenness Rose Bowl for the three-men event .yon by Supt. Gaynor, Foreman Witcher, and Fireman Williams, who also each received a gold medal. Supt. Gaynor and Fireman Shardow were presented with trophies for the winning of the two-men event. Amongst the guests of'the evening were Mr. H. Baldwin (Mayor of Lower Hutt),- and Councillors Clendon, Walton, Cotton, and Meldrum. A programme of music was rendered, Mrs. Pollock presiding at the organ. A Mayoral reception is to be tendered to 'Mr. Cyril Maude, the noted English actor, on Monday week. Messrs. Williams and Co., Ltd., will sell furniture to-morrow, at 2 p.m., in the Auction Arcade, Courtenay-place. In furtherance of the Citizens' Christmas Gift Fund, a. grand 6-vvimming carnival is being held at Evans Bay on Saturday next. Record entries have been re- | ccived, and, as the competitors are mostly youths, some keen sport is -anticipated. Tho ladies' committee has its arrangements well in hand, and several stalls and ■side-shows are being set up for tho purl»se of augmenting the fund. The Patriotic Society's Band will be in attendonce, and patrons are requested to taka No. 2 car, which will stop within 100 yards of the gathering. On Saturday, 24th instant, at the Grand Opera House, Miss Gladys Campbell will revive for one night only the gorgeous pantomime play, '-The Magic Carpet.'' All the previous successes will bo repeated. Tickets can be obtained at Mr. Norman Aitken'6 shop. Courtenay-place Terminus, ar.d at The Bristol Piano Co. Mrs. Arthur Duncan, with an inSuential ladies' committee, is.undertaking the sala of sweets, and appeals for contributions of sa.me. Her Excellency the Countess o| Liverpool has again signified her inton, tion of being present.