LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 286, 27 August 1908, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Yesterday tho TJlimaroa, from Sydnoy, brought two Chinese passengers, noithor of whom had previously resided .in the Dominion. It is understood that tho recent trip of tho Wellington professional football team to Auckland was a financial success, and that each member received as his share Over £9. A meeting of tho Conciliation Board was held yesterday for tho purpose of considering tho Napier Fishermen's disputo. It is probable that tho recommendation of the Board will bo filed this week. Tho Loyal Antipodean Lodge, 1.0.0. F., M.U., mot as usual last night, Bro. Schmidt, .N. 6., presiding. One candidate was initiated into the Order. The Surplus Committee presented a report, consideration of which was deferred until quarter night. The lodgo was congratulated on the success of the recent "At Home." Fivo candidates were proposed for membership. • ■ Tho Mayor (tho Hon. T. W. Hislop) informed a reporter yesterday, wlion asked if anything was being done in connection with tho proposed tramway to Wadestown, that the Tramways, and Power Committee was preparing a report on tramway construction and addition to plant, but ho was not certain if the report would bo ready for tonight's meeting of the City Council.

A conference between members of the Petono and Hutt Borough Councils, the engineers of those two bodies, their solicitors, and Mr. Wilford, M.P. for tho district, was hold in tho Parliament Buildings last evening to discuss the Hutt Valley Tramway Bill. The measure was gone through clause by clause, and various amendments were approved of. Tho procedure of taking the necessary polls in both districts was agreed upon, and tho machinery to enable tho Board wlien constituted to be dissolved, if the ratepayers twice reject tho proposals, was considered. . Tho next step will be taken when an appointment is mndo by tho Local Bills Committee for the hearing of evidence.. Tho travelling time between Wellington and Palmerston North will be greatly shortened by the new time-table to be instituted as a result of tho completion of the Main Trunk Railway shortly. Meanwhile various motorists have tried conclusions with the powerful Baldwin engines of the Manawatu Company over the distance, tho latter- not always coming out on top. A party consisting of Mr. AV. Duncan (AVanganui) and Mr. E. Short (Feilding) and others, after allowjng for road traffic, by-Jaws, and other motor impediments, did tho journey on Tuesday from tho Manawatu centre to the capital in 3hrs. 23min., which takes some beating. The ear .was a 40-h.p. "Weigel," whose owners consider that the journey could have been comfortably in- three, hours. A writer- of "Labour Notes" in the Auckland " Herald " says:—The ' outstanding feature of the past, week in Labour circles is - the refusal of the Arbitration Court to make an award in the Canterbury farm labourers' dispute. While the employers may look upon'this decision as a victory, it will have the effect, in.conjunction with the recent refusal of the Labour Department to accept the Domestic Workers' .Union for registration, of hardening up Labour ranks, and widening tho breach that has been growing between tlio Labour and Liberal ranks. The failure'of tho strike, and of tho Arbitratipn Court as now constituted will givo way to tho strike in the ballot box, and ultimately bring into being the tri-pnirty system wherein Labour will secure tho; wliolo of its demands from ■ the party in offico in return for its support. So perhaps recent decisions may not be altogether without profit to Labour."

"The craving for strong drink, which would seem to bq a Polynesian characteristic," the. Commissioner of tho,Cook Islands in. his annual report, "has been exhibited in a very singular manner during the year. Tho peoplo would seom to have become dissatisfied with the ordinary bush beer, whether "m'ado from • the orange, banana, or pineapple, and were fast becoming confirmed drinkers of scent. I suspect that a special brand of , scent has been manufactured for their benefit, otherwise I find it difficult to account for'the wholesale consumption of florida water, bay ruin, and other abominations of the same nature, which was disclosed by the fact that one firm imported 28S lloz. bottles by one trip of the steamer, it being well known that a Native does not require bay rum for his hair. Previous to the arrival of this shipment'-my' attention had . been called to the increasing import of scents and hair-wash, and tho matter was referred to New Zealand, witlrthe result that an Order-in-Council has been issued restricting this infamous traffic." - '

Mr. George Benge and other Upper Hutt residents were introduced by Mr.' T. M. Wilford, M.P., to Mr. T. Eonayne, general manager of railways, yesterday, in order to give them an opportunity of speaking, of the removal of the maintenance works from tho Wellington railway statioh to Upper Hutt, a stop which has been for some time con-i templated by tho Department. Mr. Ronayne! stated that the works would have to be re- : moved from Thorndon, and the plans for the new arrangements were now being completed, but tho obstacle at present was the housing problem. Mr. Philip Davis, a membor of the deputation, thereupon itffered to build six houses at Upper Hutt, and let them at rcasonablo rentals. The deputation' undertook to ascertain whether it was possible to secure in the near future suitablo dwellings for 20 families. Mr. Wilford mentioned a rumour that tho Department intended to remove tile. Petone worksliips to Upper Hutt. Mr. Ronayno said such a project had never been contemplated, "and the only transfer to Upper Hutt that was proposed was that of the maintenance men now working at the Thorndon station.

There are possibilities of a beef-steak tragedy afflicting Woodville (writes our Wairarapa correspondent). The facts which arc alleged to be the causo of this threatened calamity are that the Woodville railwaystaff, numbering sixty members, formed a co-operative cash purchase association. Traders wero asked to pUt in tenders for supplies, with the result that the Association is now purchasing at liberal concessions compared with previous prices. The price of meat, for instance, went down from 25 to 50 per cent., according to tho' cuts. Therein lies tho trouble which is threatening, for tho families of the staff have been making a dead run on rump steak at 41d. per pound for tho past week. The general price of this commodity' is 7d. or Bd. per pound, and tho butcher who has been favoured with tho contract complains that if tho run on rump steak continues much longer lie will have seriously to consider'his position. Ho lias made repeated applications to the families of the staff asking them to refrain temporarily from including such an expensive item as rump steak in their cuisine, but so far his entreaties have been unsuccessful. Tho situation is provocative of much amusement in Woodville. Meanwhile families are waxing fat at the agonised expense of tho butcher. /

While our neighbours in the Dominion (says tlio Sydney "Daily Telegraph") wero working themselves up into a state of feverish excitement, and straining their eyes in an endeavour to seo far beyond' the horizon — whoro the American Fleet steamed Aucklandwards—an important internal eruption was going on. It was not that Rangitoto sought to empty .half the North Island through its crater into Waitemata, nor that Wairoa geyser was going to engulf the Arawa in its soapy storm. But, near by, in tlio Waikato, tho great Tupii Taingakawa, son of Tamehamv To Waharoa Tarapipipi, had caused troublo in tho councils of tlio great King Mahuta, whoso Prime Minister ho had been for many seasons. The bone of contention does not appoar to have been disclosed, .but probably the turbulent Tupu had been usurping kingly privileges! Anyhow, in tlio language of tlio Maori, his " potato is cooked" by tlio publication of the following notice, bearing tho imprimatur. of Ahuriri, Minister for the Waikato district, in the! local Press: —"All the people of New Zen-' land should understand that Tupu Tainga-' kawa ; son of Tamehana To Waharoa Tarapipipi, is struck out of' King Mahuta's Government." Just that, and nothing liioro. This summary fashion of deposing a Minister probably lias its merits, and gives rise to a speculation, supposing it could ho applied with equal vigour in relation t.o our own affairs of State, as to what chameleon-liko plmiiEes'might occur in tlio lifo of an aver-, ago Cabinet*

It is understood that the Abattoirs Committee will recommend the City Council not to accept the Banks Meat Company's terms for their sito for the proposed abattoir. The tender of Messrs. Jorgensen Bros, and Johann has been accepted by the City Council for the fittings to the enlarged Newtown Library. Tho contract price was £217 10s. The highest of the unsuccessful tenders was £425. Undefended divorce cases will be heard,before Mr. Justico Cooper to-day. His Honour stated yesterday that lie intended to devoto tho wholo of the clay to cases of tho kind. Ho hoped that all the cases on the list, would bo disposed of. The civil action between the .New Zealand Acetylene Gas Lighting Company and Frederick Andrews and Charles 11.. Bailey, whicli was to have been beard at the Supremo Court to-day, will not be taken until Monday, September 7. Tho claim in this case, is for £103 lis. 4d., interest alleged to bo duo on a promissory note. At the Mount Cook Police Station yesterday, Mr. V. Hildreth, J.P., presiding, John Iteid, for drunkenness, was fined 10s., or 48 hours' imprisonment, in default; Margaret Coles, for a similar offence, 55., or 24 hours'; John Patterson, similarly charged, was convicted and discharged, but for being drunk while in charge of a horse and cart was fined 155., or 48 hours' imprisonment in default. Two first offenders wero mulctcd in--ss. each, or,- failing payment, 24 hours' imprisonment.