NOTES FROM OTHER CENTRES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 18, 16 October 1907, Page 9

NOTES FROM OTHER CENTRES.

(l'nOH OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS,) CHRISTCHURCH. October 14. The cajjs, which arc a feature of the Christchurcii streets, have suffered ■no loss of trade through the , establishment of the ' electric tranr service. According- to a " Times '.'• reporter, who lias bocn inquiring into cabby's business, there nro more cabs plying tor lure at- present than at any previous time, and the vehicles and the horses are of a higher standard of excellence \ all round. There are now.about 140 licensed cabmen in Christ-church, and in a great many cases each licensee owns his horses and cab,-and is m business on\his own account. Their earnings vary with the smartness of their turn-out and their experience Cabmen who have been hftoon or twenty years at the business in Christchurch state that their earnings average £4 to £5 per week, from which, of course, must bo deducted working expenses. Men with shorter experience in possession of cabs which aro not exactly.the acme of modernity place their average gross takings at fifty (shillings a week, while the really smart turnout in the hands' of men of five or six years' service can bo depended upon to bring in £'3 10s. to £-1 a wook. Tho working expenses may run from 235. Cd. to 275. Cd. a week, so that tho net weekly earnings of a hansom cab-nian may rango. from £3 ss. to £1 ss. a week. The four-wheeler proprietor probably earns something less. Cabmen state that by. far tho largest proportion of their customers come, not from' the ranks of tho " upper ion," but the ranks of the workers. The average middle-class worker, v/hen on pleasuro bent does not worry about tho expense, and he "cabs" extensively.. The cabmen find anothor source of profit in the men who occasionally find their way, into town from the back-blocks with cheques to bo " knocked down." "'

In spite of all efforts, die new theatre will not bo ready in timo to permit of. the appearance therein of Mr. J. C. Williamson's Mother Goose" company, who have the November racc3 and show week datos. Every nerve was strained by the proprietary, double shifts being worked, but the fates in tho shape of the scarcity of the particular kind of labour required for tho interior decoration were against them. . Doublo wages wore' offered, but tho men wore not available. Whon completed, the theatre will be the best in the Dominion. The interior decorations will be very handsome. The main colour scheme is croain, gold, and blue. The subjects of the panels of the contre dome, which will he painted by a French artist, will be selected from "A Midsummer Night's Dream."- In the important matter of fire escapes, ample provision has boen made, and though the theatre is seated to hold 1500, it can bo emptied in one minute and a half if required.

V ;, DUNEDI.N. "' . .-.'■'•..' October 14. An oil painting that' is causing some comment and speculation among local artists nas boen discovered in possession of Mr. T. P. Beck, of Alexandra. Many who have examined it express the opinion that it is a genuine Turner. The picture represents a forest glade with two largo trees in the toreground and a break in the- forest shown in perspective. The painting was brought to Now Zealand about forty years ago.' HASTINGS. ■ , • ■ '.••■•:■ ;•■ October 14: Messrs. Roachfort and Rogers, the engineors appointed to givo a joint report on the sewage system, have sent in separate reports, which, will, bo dealt with:'at,a .special meeting .of tho Council. Mr. Ilogors embraces a scheme providing an entirely new system, with present sewer-as an auxiliary to take off sowageland, stbrm.watpr. Estimated cost, £53,000. .: .. . .;■;■■ ," v :..; ; ;■•■■..■■;:.,■;. ':.,■.' ;'i ". .' '. DUNEDiN. '■ ' ;'\ ' / /.;-:. .. October 14. Up to'about a month ago the protests of peninsula; residents against turning "the Campj" the residence of the lato Mr. W. J. M. Lariiach; into an asylum for lunatics of criminal tendencies, seemed to be'utterly fruitless/ but o'n some mysterious way the work has been checked,, and the/people are so hopeful that it is finally stopped that tho the petition to Parliament is pigeonholed in the 'meantime. .;.'. ...

Dunediii will suitably remember Trafalgar Day, but there is to bo.no/organised celebration this- ": "■■■..■■■ : The suggestion to form-another mounted Volunteer corps.in DunoHin seems likely to take practical shape. Mon are sure-to join if invited. ' , . ■• ■ The-jockey, William O'Connell, who was injured at Wingatui on Saturday, is mending rapidly. Tho chief injuries aro severe bruises about the chest. The Mayor and tho Tramways Manager (Mr. C. F: Alexander) leave.-for Wellington on Wednesday to give evidence in opposition to' the Tramways Amendment Bill. •