LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 546, 29 June 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The JMstnl'authorities -advise., that the Ifanuka, which lott Sydney-.on Saturday, June 2C,. for yi'ollinijton, lias on board' sin Australian mail, ■which.-is: duo liorc on Wednesday!'morning next. An: English and Ansl.ralinli ninil camp through by the express train from Auckland ycatorilay nfternoon. Tho Minister for Justice (Dr. Findlay) stutes that tho. order of reference in connection with "the Commission of Inquiry into mnttcrs relating to the Police Forco would bo. dcfinitoly . decided upon eithor to-day :or to-morrow. '

It wan decided by Cabinet jteeterday thtt the lowest tender for tho erection of a police station at Shannon should be accepted.

During the course of .the next three or four weeks, the Minister for Public Works (Hon. R. M'Kensie) will visit the Nelson district on railway business. ; .

Mr. Montgomery, Sydney representative ot tho Tourist branch of the Agricultural Dopartment, has advised the head ofiico that a troupe of 60. Maori men, and as many women, has been engaged to do their native dances at one of the Sydney seaside, resorts. "In'spite of the prevailing deprcesion, building has gone on space in Kelburne during the past year, and it is now difficult-to find a section unoccupied." So- runs a cheerful extract from tho, annual report of the Kelburno Ratepayers' Association.

. In : urginc the better lighting of'oertain parts prilelburnc, one resident informed last night's meeting of ratopavers ' i\\at, on two occasions,, young women had called at his house, and asked to lie escorted through tho .cutting;.;'.'. This should not bo, and too spoakor urged that the.Ratepayers'. Associa-tion-should mako.the question of improved lighting one of its foremost aims.. , : .

Owing to a typographical error," -the sense of the clause relating to land tenure in .tho platform'of the-Political-.- Reform League, which was published in yesterday's issue, was lost. , .It should have read: "Freehold' tenure upon equitable terms to Crown tenants, with provisions lo prevent the crea.lion of large:holdings." ;.. .' .-/ ■■-,; ;',' -'

, At 3.19 p.m. yesterday the Fire Brigade received,.a call to the Kclburno Tramway, power-house; where a fire had broken'out in a wood and iron.shed situated at the roar of tho poww-hbuse and used as a blacksmith's shop. The shed and'its contents were totally destroyed. The fire was caused by the. over--

heating of some tar. :. . . .:,.. .. ■;. Cabinet yesterday approved fo tho ; expenditure of tbb following moneys:—Rivers- , dalo-Switzers .railway, £1500; inter-locking system at' Paokakariki,' £2500 j '■.additions at Packakariki, £3650; fixed signals; at, stations on . North Island' Main Trunk line ; and branches, £G7o; Tawa .Flat; erossing-sidingj £500; sidings at Wellington, £450; re-laying on North 1 Island Main Trunk line, £5500.. ; Tho Wellington Sunday School Union has 1 received 1072 entries from 65 schools for the annual scholars'. Scripture examination, to be;held on Friday next. Tho following have consented to act as supervisors:—-Willis Street School, Mr. R. B. Davis, president of the union; Clyde Quay School, Mr.; E; C; Jack; Newtown School, Mr. .F. Fathers; Bropklyn School, ; Mr.. T. Thompson; Terrace Cdnßregational Schoolroom, -Mr. ;C... W. Smith.; ■ ';.■■;"■:'-' : ,-■'•/";" ::'.';' V-''. "\r-"iy. :•:■. !. On ; behalf. of. residents of ■ Ngahauranga, and otliers, Mr. Luke, M.P., has' made; representations, to- the -Minister , '; for Railways against the reported decision of. : the, ,Do ; partment to erect cattle and sheep , yards;lxh: tw'cen the tho.main road. |.He' has iwinted .fa'uf that,-'if. tho .yards lonrp erected on ■ tho area at the , north of the-'sta-tionV.it would- facilitate'tho :work'; of, ; the Department ! and prevent tho creation-of a -.■,/■■•'■■.■' -\- '■,: : ',■■■■;','.'■■.'. '•;'.■.■. >v : ' .. ■■,'.

'; The' shield which is to .be handed, to',the starboard watch of tho training ship;;Amokura, by.irCominandor' , Blunt,'BlN;, is'now on viow : at Mr.. F;. Grady's shopi- iii Willis Street.; .The. shield was' won •by the ; boya

ina competition for running out and weigh-:' iiig a. kedgo:anchor. On'.presenting the shield, Commander Blunt'; will," it is understood,, take tho opportunity of-making a ' few remarks regarding tho Navy 'League,,and tho training ; of, boys. for."..the' , soa. ';: ,-,•';. |. Tho Wellington Gas Company, Ltd., has entered into; aj three-years' agreement with its employees in. regard, to wages -and,conditions -of The-agreement, which is tho outcome of a conference arranged arid presided over\by F. Hally • (Conciliation Commissioner), not differ greatly from tho award under Which the parties. liav,ebeenworking duringtho last twelve months..'The Hawke s Bay, shepherds'; and. drovers', dis- ; puto willi.como. before;'a: Gonciliatibn-.Council at Napier,on July 12,; the; Oommissionor (Mr. HaHy)"prosidingi» r>-. 'li'.i-i'm-; ,m»); -iai : :.tii,:>?t-: . Matters relating 1 to 'the 1 proposal to'iniinicipaliso. tho gasworks .were- •.brought 'under tho notice of the, Government by;the Corporation, authorities yesterday. ; '',--It-was anti-: the, Acting-Prime Minister (Hon. , J. Carroll ).. would ho asked to'Teceive' a 1 largo deputation on the subject. :■'■'. Mr.. Carroll -was; howover, scon only-by .'the Mayor' (Dr. Newman} andthe Town Clerl? , (Mr. Palmer);'and; tho interview 'wns of a private l nature.' 1 A" ! deputation' :nmy interview the Acting-Prime Minieter on ;tho.;subicctlater. -.;';-;;■ '; 1 iTho'Knox Rcsidontial' College,; opened last', week: in Dunedin' has' cost over i £2l,oQo.';T.ho. part completed is only h'plf -of the proposed, plan, mid prpvidce accommodation, for forty. ' studonts and the theological classrooms. , ';! The remaining ;part will ho built .when; the necessary ifunda-'aro available, and '.will, givo'a; total accommodation for/eighty studshts.;.A largo ', assembly' hall and chapel .will bo includdd in/ this: : latter 'Scheme; .and when' finished the buildjng will bo one of the archi-, tectural features of.Dunedin. 1 Mr. W. Gray! Young, of 'Wollington,. was, the architect, for the - building; ■:.',- ' : ./A.,,;.; r . ''._ .;/■'. ; -'.'-'i v '■"':■. • During thor recent session of Parliament '■Mr'.'-Wright,'member, for Wellington South, , protested, a£ain_6t; the granting •of wholesale liquor licenses; in tho King■';; Country.■.';„■■ Ho assorted,that the; decision : to ,'■ the licenses, was:, arrived at'as- a .result .of the olmirin'an of tho coniitiitteo exercising hoth his deliberate and; his casting' , , votes. 'The Minister for Justice (Dγ; Findlay); , : who; has

had thb matter, under \ consideration, , '>ndw.

■ stated that the decision- apparently/ contravenes the' wholes spirit'.'of. the legislation' on : the subject; .. It was, ho , continues, regarded by. the "best friends, of tho Maori -raco "as a serious menace to , the : -well-being : of tto ■Natives'..- 'As Attornoy-Gcnoral he had issued instructions :that, if it'.was , fonnd; that tho grant was not 'strictly within the powers of the,committee,"proceedings should be taken to liavo the granting of tho licenses tested by certiorari in tho Supreme Court. ".: --'■ , .;'

The luck,of good,'taste on tho part of some of the audience , at the: Hill Concert in the Town Hall, last evening, in making for the'door'just', as! tho last orchostral number was about to ibo performed, was pointedly emphasised by the conductor, Mr. J:- M. fiarnett..' Ho'was' about to 'commence, when ho noted some ladies rising from their seats in tho-gallery:.: He'immediately /resumed his , seat,■'.'■ and' watched ■ them deliberately, ■ until every eye was upon; the,.offenders,- They, in-turn, became' so 'embarrassed, that; they stood still, when Mr.Barnett fit once'resumed his duties. Speaking to n Dominion.'representative,' Mr.. Barnctt said there . ,\vns. •■ a great dealtoo much of that sort of tliinpc in Wellington. . He admitted .that there'.might bo .ah. excuse when .the hour was late, but it was then hardly 10 o'clock. .It .'was quite unfair,.to! him. and his .orchestra -for people to be tramping out during a number, and it was the only way in which he could show his just resentment for such; lack: of consideration. ■ ■'.. ■':'.'

During tho course of an interview 'yesterday on the question of settlement ; v of. ; Native lands, the Acting-Prime Minister (Hon. J, Carroll) stated that, under' tho present policy, about two million' acres of suchlands had been settled.--■ Great .difficulty, -'lia'd : been experienced in getting surveyors "-. when a block bNand had to bo subdivided for settlement, purposes;, 'AVith aYviow.to expediting the settlement of.Native'.lands, he was making special arrangements'-with the Survey Department to : have ;Uio work carried out. The cost of such surveys would bo charged against the land surveyed, and.would'roquiro to be paid either in cash or in'land. During the .'.pastthree or four years ho had given authority for some, soven hundred; or eight •liiindretl.private surveys'in different!parts.of New Zealand, ami yet thero had been no'ap-. prcoianlc' diminution-"■ in tho demand. Mr,Carroll went on .to say that it was quite ovidont that the- pulilio wished to sco further, areas-of Native lands opened for settlemont. They seemed to forget, however, thai, it was, ■and hnd been'; for. a 10112 time, quite open for-priyntn individuals to contract under certain conditions with the owners for the lcaso or purchase of Native lands, ■ '..•., "Tho advico of ono so. long familiar with Land Values, as Mr. Gardner, of -. Piilmcrston North, who is also well known to tho Capitalists of Wellington, should be ofpreat value' to Investors, 'Lending,'lnstitutions,, and any one who wants to'avoid mistakes in tho nurI ohase'of land." TeL M 5, Palm. North.-Advt ■

An, arrest true effected yesterday.at.Nowtown of a young man charged with approjfri- ' ating to Ins own use a sum of money which ho received on behalf of his employer, .v v At the Mount Cook Police Court yesterday , morning, before Mr. H. Bakor, J.J?., three first offenders, charged with insobriety, were fined 105.,' with tho usual alternative. Two ' other first offenders were convicted and;dia-' charged.. : '■_'■•'. , ' ■

Entries aro invited in* this issue for a draughts _ tournament which ■is being held with a view to sending a representative., to compete for the draughts championship of Australasia, which will bo held at Brisbane in August; To-morrow evening at 8 o'clock a meeting of competitors will ho held at'tho' Working Men's Club, and entries will bo-re-ceived, by-the secretary at the club. ; :,.' ;

A echenio of claesifjcation of priaoners ; ;.;;..- throughout the.Dominion ie being prepared. With regard to the matter, the Minister for :V Justico.(Dr, Findlay)' on'account, ■■.:'; of tho'structural .'divisions in, the existing , ■ ; gaols) he was-encountering serious difficult.*..'.'.' ties'. "It , would, probably bo easier," he \ ' states, "jf 1. could adapt the gaols-to tiw : ■. classification system rattier., than the systemto the gaols." '•.'.'■ ■■■■■•:. : -: , .'- ,, ' : .- ■ ■ '■:■ 'It is not a choerful prospect to look "for- ; ward to this payment of twopence per-ride to the KolburnoTram Company for!'- tho.-i next seven years";was the comment: of ono /. of the Kelburne ratepayers at last night's meeting, -whenMtwas mentioned that tho -■' pity again have the- option of taking over the Kelburno tram' before 1916. Ho , thought that an influential deputation should. be formed to wait on the company and seek \ some oonoossion k ; the way of monthly, ''tickets.-. •-.■-.'-■■..•-.■'■-'•' ■:1;'-; : ..''■. ■-...: •,.■■"•'• , ! -'---.';\^'C

Dissatisfaction with tlio mnnipnhition of; the water pressure on Kelburne Parado \m the eubjc'ot of complaint at hst night's meeting "of tho' Kelburno : Ratepayers ABSocia-r , tion. lit was etated by various speakora that the was turned off at irregular hours, and one; could , not; depend on finding water on whenVhe.went.for'h'is bath. Several ratepayers urged. tliat, if it was" knowa definitely ithat the water must be turned "off at a certain time and , that time was ad--hered to,' then the residents could make.their arrangements accordingly.until the Bupply on the Parado was as good as it is intho other parte of the district. >.'.■-. V■■ : ',"'.- ;-;v ■'

: A number of appeals recently before .the i North" Island. Railway Appeal 'Board 'have■•'.': /' boon finally dealt;with by the Minister' for:'.■;■.•"• ~ Railways.; It; has been' decided not to alloTf ;; '/'■ tho. appeals of Thos. Edward Hutcbings,; r < train examiner, Woodville, and H. J. Sea-/ , ton, trainexaminer,' Cross Creek, , against , ■ reduction from., grade, Ito grado2 in oonso-^:,' . quenco of a general; revision of the Claesinca* ■.; tion Act,., despite the factthat\fche board :\,)' had reported upon ; them favourably. The ap- > plicatione ~ -for , , reinstatement; by. James, i ; Sl'Gurk, eriginej driver, and X' A. Shelton, : ; shunter, ivhowefo dismissed in consequence '•'■:■'■' i of a collision at.Marton'Junction, were .not '..;; apprdvody .'Success, '. however, ; .attended tho, : " : application , of H. J . boiler-maker, I '. ;.'-; Wanganui,.who , appealed•;against' the/ wjth-.;;;.,j-' holding ot. .6d.";incremont provided by ;■ the , :., . 'Claesincation'.Act. y ' '.■,. .'.,;:.-\.'..■': ■'..)"... : .- v>..: ';'. -.•;:

Tho.managing director of tho Union , SteaK' '~;: Ship'Company-' has: had his 'attention' drawn y>.:.;; to-. communications', appearing in 'the press . regarding tho .'temporary, substitution or tho! ;.'..." Pateena for'tho Mararoa.'during-tbo winter - months, and?.it■ is , ,his■ intention to'discuss .;... .the,matter.'with the , :Honi Mr; MiUar'.;on his , arrival in Dunedih,.which is expected;tc; bo . . within,the next few days. The company' is, ■ ''■■;/ of icourse,'.alive' to its.duty to the public,,:■■' ; ,;.' »nd recognises the latter Is bntitlcd to roceivo ,-,: : _'.. '- the best possible, ati its,hands; but it.points.';..,. out that 'it'has ttlso.toireoognise.that apart ; : . ■from the-usual , , falling; off lii.vtraffic;in the: ■>. iwinteri. ns compared wtyh the summer, , the ;.- ,/'. severe depfpssiori through which the country .' , is passing,owing,to financial stringency.,hail;:.'. ; . still furt-hor 'reduced the;yolume ot ,tho winr.'v;.- .' toritraffi6, ; : while the fact that.!,there is n0.;,.';: ■ session;'of Parliament this winter cannot fail ':, V;. to hive an adverse effect upon the ferrj.; _'.■■ service between /Wellington, and-Lyttoltcn. /' ; This .being so, the company felt called,. upon' ;: toendoavour to effect such economies aßaro, 1 , ■reasonably',.possiblei-.and that this, k' not an. unnatural attitude" to'adopt is'shown by;tho' ;.-J •■ fact that tlio Gpvetnmont has found it neces- ; >:•■., • sary to adipt'a f, si'niilar'course:with regards '.' to railways by: dispensing, with., unprofitablo -, ,; services' wlierevor- possible, .\.and ■.from .Itho ~ ~; .utterances ,of-Ministors: the--public; are:..lod r v...:;.:. to believe that even more in the eaine d\reo- .■■.•:• tion is; contemplated..; v., ;. ditions botn tlio Mararoaand Maori ■would;be,: ; ; , running" at a loss, 'it seemed, to the company ; .-.■ .'„.- that if'they' kopt.:the Mao" : in the' service,-;.- .., they were- prpvidingVamply for tho comfort. ■ • . v and convoniencobf.tiio bulk of the travelling publio,' while tile daily mail service would not : '■ , be disturbed by tho withdrawal of tho.Mara- • . roa. Tho '.present intention' )s_ to ■■, ,:■ place' the MararoaVin■■.theXyttelton. rnnning.; ■..' again on. Septenibor.lv , - ; : .:.•'. j> 1 . , . ,, ;' ■'' ','