TAKAPUNA TRAMS

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 136, 8 June 1917, Page 4

TAKAPUNA TRAMS

- ALTERATIONS DECIDED UPON. A deputation from the Takapuna Borough Council, consisting of the Mayor (Mr. W. Blomfieid) and Councillors Bias, Grimwade and Duncan, waited on the Takapuna Tramway Company's board of directors yesterday afternoon, with a view to deciding on alterations to the company's time-table. It was intimated some time ago that the company had decided to abandon certain extra boats not provided for in the deed of delegation. The Council and Mr. Brown of the company conferred on Wednesday evening, but were unabie to come to any decision. The discussion yesterday ended with the following agreement: "That the steamer leaving Auckland for Bayswater at 5.45 pjn. daily, and the corresponding tram on the other side be omitted in future; also that the 11.15 p.m. boat and corresponding tram be dropped except on Saturday night, when they will be retained. In view of the alteration to the late night service on week-nights, the 10.15 p.m. boat will leave at 10.43 pjn. in future, and the 0-55 a.m. tram from Milford will leave at 10.25 p.m., but will not connect with steamer to Auckland. The 6.30 p.m. tram from Bayswater is to run via Hurstmere instead of via Northcote Road."

For five years (observes the Wellington correspondent of the "Poverty Bay Herald") the new Parliament building has been in process of erection, and at last the work has reached roof level. In a fortnight the roof will be placed on the front elevation, leaving only the massive pillars and the entrance steps to the first floor to be built up. The House of Representatives' chamber has been roofed for several weeks and the lobby, Press room, "Hansard" room, and " smaller offices are in the final stage of erection, except for internal fittings. Plumbing is going on apace, and the woodwork is coming well to hand. The Nelson, or Kairuru, marble used in the front and back elevations turns out to be an exceedingly fine building material, looking exeellent-when in position. It has been quarried in such large pieces of sound quality that there has been no difficulty in cutting up blocks of suitable size for the heavy pillars and their ornamental caps. This stone works up well under the sculptor's chisel, and New Zealand will have good reason to be proud of its chief public building when completed As for the date of that event, so lon» awaited. I am informed by the contractors that there will be no difficulty in making the whole building ready for the 101S session: in fact, some of the rooms are ready now. but it will not be convenient to use them.

A fine collection of Japanese bronzes, Satsuma and Kioto porcelain, and Cloisonne enamel bowls and vases has been presented to the Auckland Museum, by Mr H. Shaw, and is now displayed in the same room with the fine collection deposited by Mr. H. & Dadler. Practically every branch of Japanese art is now represented in the museum, which is undoubtedly richer m this respect than any other institution in New Zealand The library ot the museum has lately been presented by Mr. R. Logan w.th a copy of Hon. \\ . Rothschild's book on extinct birds. Ihe work is a rare one. only :SOO copies having been issued to subscribers at the high price of £25 each. It contains a number of very fine plates. A Masterton blacksmith told a reporter that steel which cost him £8 per ton prior to the war now costs him £32 per