LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 454, 12 March 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Postal authorities advise 'that the Manuka, which left Sydney on Wednesday for Auckland, has on board an Australian mail, which is duo horo by the express train from Auckland on Monday afternoon next. The Mariposa, which left San Francisco for Papeete 'on March 10, has on board a large American mail for New Zealand, which is due in Wellington by the Manapouri on April 6. Tho s.s. Riverina, with an .English mail on board, is due at Wellington from Sydney this morning. New surveyors' examination regulations are gazetted. "Water-finding" is to be tried at Eastbourne. A bore will probably bo sunk at ono of tho spots recently indicated by the Rev. Mr. Mason, whoso success as a water-finder is now well known. Following is a list of tho business to come on at the sittings of the Court of Arbitration, which open at Wellington on Monday next: —Disputes, 3; compensation eases, 11; and enforcement cases. 29. Councillors Godber, Murdoch, and Morrah, who have decided not to stand for reelection to the City Council this year, are members of the District' Hospital Hoard. ;\fter the election therefore, the membership of the board will undergo a partial change. Tho amount of time wasted as tho result of litigants failing to appear when their cases are called at the Civil Court was remarked on yesterday by Dr. A. M'Arthur, S.M. "Two days have positively been frittered away during the past week through clients not being here to go on with their cases," remarked his Worship. It is now .slated that the profits on (lie British football tour amounted to only nlmiit i£9o() —!i lesnlt which is considered somewhat disappointing. Although some months have elapsed since tho tour was concluded, tho New South Wales and Queensland "Unions have not yot made a final settlement of accounts with the New Zealand Union.

New regulations for the election of members of Land Hoards are gazetted.

Revised regulations concerning arbitration under last year's Land Act are- published in yesterday's OasioUe.

Tlio Governor in Council has approved alterations to llie boundaries of llio borough of Hastings as set out in a petition, despite the objections of the Borough Council.

Tim temporary employment for two years of dairy inspectors in the Agricultural Department has been authorised by the Governor.

A ballot was hold at the District Land Oflico yesterday for the 21 years' lease, with right of renewal, of a grazing run of 2700 acres in the lluahinc district. Mr. James D. Anderson, of Kinibolton, was successful out of eleven applicants.

The Government lias decided to institute proceedings against a newspaper for publishing particulars relating to totalisalor betting, 'llio proceedings will be in l the nature of a test case under the Gaming and Lotteries Act, 1907.

'i'ho Wadcstown tramway was referred lo at last night's meeting of the Trades Council liy Mr. M. J. Reunion, who moved that tlio Mayor and City Council be urged to push on with all speed the construction of tlio tramway, in view of tlio unemployed difficulty. This was carried.

The following hours of closing for motor and cycle, shops in Nelson have, been agreed to by tlio Governor, as the result of a petition:—Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, at G p.m.; Saturday, at 9.80 p.m.; Wednesday (being statutory half-holiday), at 1 p.m.; Christmas and New Year Eves to be exempted.

Further votes that have- como to hand in connection with tho election of secretaries of tlio Duiiodin and Wellington branches of the Seamen's Union show that Mr. W. flelcnor (Dunedin) has received 087 votes, and Mr. W. T. Young (Wellington) has received 979. A fow more, votes may come in. Both candidates now havo a majority of over 700 each.

This week's issue of "Tho Citixen" contains, among other interesting items, an amusing r.rticlo on "Tho Art of Criticism," as practised by a southern magazine devoted to tho arts. In a racy and laughable "discourse to Angelina," the methods of tho journal in question aro subjected to a prolonged and raking lire.

No extra precautions are being taken by tlio local health authorities in view of tho recrudesconco of plague in Sydney. Careful inspection of passengers arriving from that city is always made, by the port health officer, and shipping authorities aro enjoined to keep down rats and vermin on their steamers, but this they aro ready enough to do for tho sako of their cargoes.

At last night's meeting of the Trades and Labour Council, Mr. A. liloch stated that the City Council allowed its officers to act as paid servants in connection with entertainments at tho Town Hall. He objected to this as so many men wcro out of employment. He moved 'that strong protest bo forwarded to the City Council. After discussion, the matter was referred to ■ the Management Committee.

A proposal for an Australasian federation of the various Electrical Workers' Unions has been submitted to-the unions in tlio various Australian States, and tlio Adelude Union has authorised the Hon. J. P. Wilson, M.L.C., to visit Sydney and other centres for tho purpose of propagating the federation ideal. Delegates are now being appointed with a view of arranging preliminaries of tbo conference.

Among the various recommendations made to tho City Council by tho Baths and City Reserves Committee was one to the effect that for the 1910 season swimming clubs and associations be charged a feo for tho uso of tho baths for carnivals. It was also recommended that a youth recently convicted of stealing money from the clothes of a bather at Thorndon, Jiaths bo prohibited from entering cither of tho baths in future. Both suggestions were agreed to.

"An old broken-down cowshed and no credit to the capital of New' Zealand" was tho epithet bestowed/ .by Mr. W. T. Young at tho Trades'' Council last evening, referring to tho Government -Railway Station. Ho moved that tlio Government bo urged' to commence tho public buildings: already authorised in ; view of the number of men out of work. Somo people, ho said, wcro on tho verge- of starvation 'owing to'the difficulty of obtaining employment; Tho motion was carried.

In regard to tho labour dispute- mentioned in yesterday's Dominion, it appears that tho trouble arose in tlio'following way: —According to tho plasterers' award, the putting on of wood lathing is plasterers' work, but expanding metal lathing may bo put on by other than plasterers. Tlio award and tho union rules aro contradictory on this point. The carpenters were putting on tho expanding metal lathing, thus doing tho plasterers' work, and the result was that two plasterers refused to cover it.

The question as to whether there should bo a tram service on Good Friday was briefly discussed at last night's meeting of tho City Council. It was pointed out by tho Mayor that on Good Friday last year tho service was practically a iSunday service Die electrical engineer recommended that a similar service be adopted on this occasion. In reply to a question tho Mayor stated that he did not tiiink tho service paid last Good Friday. Tho suggestion of Sir. Stuart Richardson was adopted.

The disciples of "two-up" in Wellington think themselves hardly used when they aro raided now and again, and lined a few shillings. In the Nowtown Police Court (Sydney) last week, a man, found guilty of playing the game, was given fourteen days' imprisonment, without the option of a fine. The same day a Chinaman was fined £101 for smuggling 15 tins of opium, valued at £00. His lawyer asked for the alternative, as there was no possibility of paying tho line, whereupon tho Magistrate said it was provided for in the statutes—six months' hard labour.

Captain Fylcr, of H.M.S. Encounter, has written to Mr. C. \V. i'ahncr, secretary of the Wellington branch of tho Navy League, as follows: —"The officers and ship's company of H.M.S. Encounter join mo in gratefully acknowledging and thanking you and tho audienco at the Navy Leaguo lecturo, held on January 26, for your tribute of respect paid to the memory of our lato comrades who lost their lives in the recent sad disaster in Sydney harbour." Mr. A. M'lntyre, of Hobart, has written expressing appreciation of tho league's action in providing a floral anchor to the memory of the ollicers and men who were lost in tho Penguin wreck..

A now scalo of fees in connection with inquests is gazetted, and conies into forco at once. Tho following is tho schedule:—To tho coroner or Justice of the Peace, other than a salaried stipendiary magistrate, for holding any inquest, £1 Is.; to tho coroner, being a salaried stipendiary magistrate, for holduig any inquest, 10s. 6d. In addition to the above fees, mileage will bo paid for any inquest held at ft distance exceeding one milo from the residenco of the person holding the same, per mile, one way to tho amount of Is. It is provided that tho actual travelling expenses of a coroner incurred in holding an inquest may bo paid in lieu of mileJ agß fees in any case, at the discretion of the Minister for Justice*: and that in any caso whero exceptional circumstances render it desirable that any of tho fees shall bo exceeded, the Minister for Justice niny allow such additional fee as may appear to him to be reasonable.

There are forty thousand Hindus jn Fiji, which was chielty the reason that induced tho Rev. J. W. llurton, a Wpslcyan Methodist minister, stationed in the group, to seek knowledge in tho home-land of his ilock. Mr. Burton, who arrived by the Warrimoo from Sydney on Wednesday, has been three months in India, and whilst in that deeply interesting country of perplexing, creeds and hoary tradition, ho went into the question which is usually generalised under the heading of "Unrest in India." After as close an investigation as time would permit, the visitor came to tho conclusion that the word "unrest" did not necessarily mean "disloyalty." He found that thero was a deal of unrest, but did not find iiliv evidences of disloyalty to the British ruin. The unrest was the awakening of a great and highly intelligent race, which was to play a big part yet in the history of tile world. What that purt would be who uould say?

A meeting of the District Hospital Board will bo held shortly to adopt tho year's estimates and to decide upon the apportionment to bo paid by the contributing local bodies.

It was resolved b> Hie City Council last night that lenders be called for t]io_ right of advertising on the backs of tram tickets, exclusive of the right of advertising alcoholic liquors.

Three names are mentioned in connection with the Mayoralty of Kastbourno. It is considered likely that the present occupant of the olliee, Mr. l< , . G. Bolton, will again corns forward. One of tho other likely candidates is Mr. Savage, who, on a former occasion, contested the election, but failed to poll heavily. Another probable aspirant is Air. Harr.

Tiie sum to bo contributed by tho local bodies to the funds of tho Wellington District Hospital Board this year amounts to £12,050, which is £550 in excess of last year's total. It does not, however, include any sum for tho erection of the fever ward or tho cottage hospital at the liutt. No decision has as yet been arrived at by the board in regard to the placing of a sum on this year's estimates for the cottage hospital.

"Tho' civil business of tho Court is increasing in all directions," remarked an officer of the S.M. Court yesterday, apropos of tho heavy civil list, which comprised 220 cases. The calling over of tho list and sorting tho default, confessed, and other cases, from those defended, was a work in itself yesterday, and occupied from 10.30 to 12.15. Tho Courtroom was crowded with litigants and solicitors, many of whom could not find seating accommodation, and had to be content with standing room round the walls. At tho end of the long day!s work seven defended cases were still standing over, to be taken when tho Court can find the time.

It seems not to bo generally known why tho Miramar Council is seeking an interpretation of portion of a deed between the Wellington Harbour Board and the borough. Inquiry shows that the Wellington Gas Company is desirous of obtaining a lipenso upon special terms in respect of a proposed trainway to connect tho Miramar wharves with the properly upon which its new works will lie situated. Tho company requires tho use of tho line for tho haulage of coal and other goods. It is not known whether it will lie possible to grant the license without complying with certain provisions in the Tramways Act.

New allowances as follow havo been fixed for junior officers of the Post and Telegraph Department when they aro on relieving duty: While actually travelling on shore, 10s. a day; while relieving, 7s. 6d.; while at sea—for tho first day 10s., for subsequent days 2s. 6d. Cadets and other junior officers drawing salaries not exceeding £110 a year, when appointed to relieving duty, will bo paid actual expenses ouly during the period of such relieving duty. Claims for such actual expenses shall be supported by vouchers, and no subject to revision by tho Secretory. Cadets entitled to lodging allowance, when appointed to relieving duty involving separate payment for such duty, will not be entitled to claim lodging allowance for a longer time than one week after tho relieving duty commences. Only actual expenses will bo paid for day of return to home or arrival at station. Cost of transport by land and sea will be paid by the Department. •.

Deer shooting regulations for tho AYairarapa district are gazetted as follow:—β-cd deer stags may bo taken or killed from April 1 to May 15 inclusive. Licenses to kill deer may bo issued by tho Chief Postmaster at Wellington, and the postmasters at Masterton, Carterton, Greytown North, Featherston, and Martinborough, on payment of a license fee of £2: provided that not moro than one licoiisq shall bo issued to tho same person. No licensee shall take or kill more than four stags, and no stag shall be killed carrying antlers with loss than ten points. No hind or fawn shall bo taken or killed on any pretext whatever; and no licensee shall allow any dog to accompany either himself or.any attendant ho may havo with him. Nothing horein contained shall extend to authorising any person to sell any deer or. portion thereof. Any.•porfcdii / "com'iiiitt!ihg 'f.Wi&i 'of '-by of the regulations shall bo liable, on conviction, to a lino not exceeding £20. .

Tho.Minister for Railways (Hon. J. A. Millar), speaking to a, reporter ycsterday ; said he regarded tho prospects of the' railways generally as decidedly hopeful. The grain harvest in tho south promised to be. exceptionally heavy, and the figures of the revenue already published showed that, notwithstanding certain reductions, such as the loss ot the timber-carrying trade, the earning capacity oi the Dominion railways continued to show a most satisfactory increase year after year. Economies were being effected by the use of improved rolling stock. Tho new "A" engines, "for instance, had a much greater tractjon power than the ordinary class, while showing a decreased consumption of coal and water of 10 per cent, in each case; and tho huge 90-ton "X" engines, employed on some of tho sections of tho North Trunk line will also do more work at a less cost. Mr. Millar further stated that no changes of policy would be made until ho had had a' year's experience as Minister for Railways.

Tho following letter from Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P., was read at last night's meeting of the City Council: —"I have been requested to ask if tho council would set apart the section of ground known as 'Jam Tin Gully, 1 near Crawford Street, as a football ground for the young men in that part of the city. It would not require a great outlay to make the section a useful reserve, and would at tho samo.timo bo a boon to lovers of athletic games." Tho Baths and Reserves Committee recommended that the City Engineer report on this matter when he submits his report on portions of Town Belt that could be made available for sports purposes. Councillor Ballinger said he understood that tlic property was portion of .'tho land proposed to be acquired in connection with the now Technical School. Councillor Luke: "That is not so." Councillor Ballinger: "I mean for recreation purposes." The point was not pursued further. It was agreed to adopt the recommendation.

An emergency meeting of the Harbour Board, convonod by the chairman (Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P.), who presided, was held yesterday afternoon to consider what course should bo taken to meet the position created by tho late fire. It will bo remembered that a committee was recently set up to deal with tho question of additional storage accommodation for wool in tho coming season, jt being considered that such would bo neccisary in consequence of the completion of tho Main Tr.unk railway. After discussing the situation yesterday, the board decided to refer the question of providing for tho deficiency caused by the waterside fire, as well as tho wholo matter ofwncrensed accommodation, to tho committee, already set up as mentioned above. Tho committee will meet shortly, and will report to tho board. One suggestion that will probably bo considered by the committee is that a new shed should be erected adjacent to tho King's Wharf.

An unusual slackness in tho freezing industry, felt recently in Dunedin, has not been so severe in Wellington, and at the present time the industry is very busy. A recent paragraph in tho "Otago Daily Times" stated:—"Operations at the Burnside Freezing Works were resumed at the beginning of last month, after being at a standstill since about November of last year. They are, however, not working to anything like their full capacity, and wliero up to this time last year, with the opening at about the same date, 20,000 carcasses of mutton and lamb had been put through, only 8000, or 10,000 carcasses have been put through tin's year. The reason of this i'.ill-ing-olf is to be found in the poor inducement there is for export to the London market. J'rices ruling there will not permit of tho New Zealand freezing companies giving high prices for stock, and tho outcome is that farmers who had paid big prices for sheep are not disposed to send consignments to tho freezing works, preferring to hold on in tho hopo of an improvement. There is, however, no immediate prospect of the London market hardening owing to tho vast supplies which are pouring in there, from , tho Argentine, the output from this quarter tin's year boing much in excess of that of last year." Inquiries made of Wellington companies, showed that one of them had found February a record month for business, while the other, though admitting that there had been a moderate slackness from November to February, declared that more stock were now coining forward than tho company could kill.

The proposal of Iho Wellington Zoological Society to approach the Government for a subsidy for the ''zoo" will not have the cooperation of the City Council. The latter body consider tiio time inopportune. At a meeting of the Wellington and Sun. iirban aerated-water manufacturers, held yesterday afternoon, the following officers Were elected:—President, Mr. A. G. Savmders; vice-president, Mr. A. M. Samuels; secretary, Mr. Geo. Willis. Michael Hurlihy, who failed to appear at the S.M. Court on Wednesday, when a charge against him was read, and whose bail was consequentl,v estreated, was rcarrested at the Upper liutt yesterday, and will be brought before the Court this moming. In reply to a deputation from the Maranui Municipal Ratepayers' Association, which waited upon him, Councillor W. 11. Jlorrah stated that ho had decided not to come forward at the election of city councillors on April 28, but lie gave them a promise that ho would roronsidor the matter. The trouble caused by tide waters getting into the. drain in Victoria Street, between Willeston Street and Hunter Street was the subject of a recommendation from the City Engineer to the City Council last night. Mr. Morton suggested that the drain bo replaced by an iron sower or encased in concrete. It was agreed to adopt his recommendation. In the course of its fortnightly report to the City Council last night, the Abattoirs, Milk Supply, and Public Health Committee stated that it had received from Dr. Frengley a lengthy report on the. municipal milk supply question, "and would recommend that copies of same bo at once circulated amongst councillors. The committee added that it hojMd to bring down a scheme for the consideration of the council at the next meeting. Upon its recommendation, the best thanks of the council were ordered to be tendered to Dr. Frenglcy for his report.