LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 989, 2 December 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

9 The- tender .of Mr ; George C. Smart, of Wellington, has been accented for the erection of the Courthouse at Petone, tho price- being .£l2O-1. The unsuccessful tenderers were: Messrs. .Tohn Wood, .£1436 10s.; A. Smith-and Co., .£144.1 10s.; G. L. Walcelin, .£1449 15s. Gd.: W. Harwood, £UK 13s. Cd. It has often been remarked by those familiar with the great extent of,ground ho has to'cover-in a limited time, that tho City Engineer .should he provided with a motor-car. Tho corporation decided last evening to procure him one' from London at a. cost not exceeding. .£250. ... A nurnbor of sailors off tho Italian, barquo King Malcolm engaged in a'fight iu Peathersfon Street last night, blows being exchanged in a way suggesting utter disregard of the Wellington Boxing Association's ring rules. A policeman happened to come on tho scene, ami two men were arrested, and will bo charged with using threatening behaviour in a public street. Tho tender of Messrs. Meyer and lllingworth has been accepted for the erection of St. Hilda's Church, Island Bay. The new church, which will seat 250 persons, will cost ,£827 19s. (contract price). The plans were prepared by Mr. 1 , , de J. Clere.. Tho street-tarring operations, which se far have had a decidedly beneficial effect on. the streets treated, are proceeding apace. So far, Featherston Street, Thorndon Quay (as far north as tho city boundary), Hunter Street, Grey Street, Johnston Street, and Waring Taylor Street have been tarred, and from the appearance of theso thoroughfares there is likely to be a. marked abatement in the dust nuisance. ■ Thorndon Quay, which has always been a notoriously dusty street, and tho .birth-place of many of the dust-clouds which envelop the city on windy days, behaved itself remarkably well yesterday, despito the fresh northerly breezo, and the residents are duly thankful for the further benefit that seems likely to accrue, when tho tar sets firmly. One.business man in Lower Peathcrston Street declares that the tarring of that thoroughfare has had. ■ a salutary effect on tho "rocks" that used to be hurled into his premises when a northerly blew, and tho dust has certainly been greatly checked. 'As tho machine was .not working as well as it should when that section 'of Featherston Street between Grey and Waring Taylor Streets was first done, it is. to be given another coat. If for the" future the streets are kept clean, and the waterchannels sluiced or swept well, Wellington should be a much more pleasant city to movo about in when "the stormy winds do blow." ■ Export slaughtering at Messrs. Nelson Brothers' works (Tomoana), in. Hawto's Bay, is now in full swing, tho maximum number of 30 butchers being employed. There has been of late a rapid increase in the number of butchers employed at tho local meat works. The Gear Comnany now has 50 butchers in its employ, and tho Wellington "Heat Export Company neariy as many. A meeting. of the local branch of tho New Zealand Labour Party was held on Wednesday evening. Reports from secretaries holding membership oooks were to the effect that the enrolment uf ?.')0 members, necessary under tho constitution before an executive/ could be appointed, had been secured. The piobability was that tho minimum stated woufd soon bo exceeded. It was agreed that the next meeting (to "he heid tn December 14) should be a special meeting for the purpose of receiving nominations of officers to be elected at a subiiequent meeting. The work of remodelling the interior of the Opera House, Auckland, which is being carried out for Messrs. John Puller and Sons, was commenced on Monday. A largo'staff of men numbering between CO and 70 is engaged. The plans of the- new Children's Hospital, prepared by Messrs. Atkin and Bacon, have been approved by the Government. , The specifications are, now being prepared, and as soon as that is dono tenders will bo called for tho erection of tho building. At last nighf s meeting of the Wellington Trades and Labour Council intimation was received from the Sydney Trades Council of the fact that Mr. John Hodge, Labour member of the British House of Commons, would be arriving in Wellington on Wednesday next, and asking tho council to extend to him tho hand of comradeship. It was unanimously- decided that the council should entertain Mr. Hodge during his stay in Wellington, and the president and tho executive were instructed to meet him on arrival, nnd make the necessary arrangements for his stay in the city. In answer to a question, the president stated that, if possible, arrangements would be made so' that Mr. Hodge would deliver a public address on the political situation in England at the present day. A question, relating' to the bush sickness that occurs amongst stock in tho country round. Mamaku was raised by Mr. Massey in the House last night. Mr. Jlnssey said a gentleman who was reliable'had written to him claiming that he had a cheap, simple, and effective remedy for tho sickness, which ho was willing to sell to tho Government. Ho was willing that the Temedy should be proved. before ho got any payment. Sir Joseph Ward said the usual trouble was that those who claimed to have a remedy wanted payment before it was tested. The Government would not mind paying .£2OO or £M for such a remedy if it wero proved. Mr. Massey promised to communicate further with his correspondent. Tilts Railways Committee of the Houseof Representatives, reporting on. tho petition of Samuel Vaile, of Auckland) for a trial of tho stage'system on tho New Zealand Railways, recommends that tho petition bo referred to tho Government for consideration.. ■

Let J. .T. Curtis and Co., Shipplm* Forwarding, and Customhouse Agents, Customhouse Quay; move your furniture. They've had years o£ experience in this kind of work, und will do jt t 0 your satisfaction. No carelesa packing or rough handling, Moderate charges,— Ai.it ' : ■■. ; •

Jlr. Justice Chapman, who arrived from the south yesterday, will hold a Chamber sitting at the Supreme Court at 10,30 this morning, and .will lcavo for tho West Coast to-morrow. Yesterday, at the Mount Cook Police Court, before Mr. Thomas Bland, J.P., Bartholomew Maboney, charged with drunkenness, was convicted and discharged. E. Musgrove, also charged with being drunk, was fined 55., or 24 hours' imprisonment. The secretary of tho Waterside Workers' Union, of Wellington, Mr. T. Smith, reported to last night's meeting of the Trades Council that the Waterside Workers' Federation of Now Zealand had decided to affiliate with tho Federation' of Labour as proposed by the Trades Councils of the Dominion. The Primitive Methodist Conference has been granted permission to hold a religious service on Noivtown Park on Sunday afternoon, January 14. A notice in this week's Gazette states that the registration of the Auckland Female Typesetters' Union is to bo cancelled, also the registration of the Canterbury Cyclo Traders' Union of Employers. On and after to-day the car leaving Lambton Station at 10.0 p.m. for :tho Junction \\-ill run through to Miramar. The cat will leave Miramar at 10.46 p.m. for Lambton Station. Councillor Trevor invited the. City Council last evening to impose a charge for the carriage of perambulators on trnmcars. "I can't agreo with S'ou at all," said tho Mayor. "I would rather pay a premium on perambulators,. and especially on those containing two occupants." Councillor Trevor's proposal fell dead. ' ■ Mr. T. E. Fleming, M.A-., LL.B., will read a paper on "The Educational Conferences and tho Syllabus" at a meeting of the Wellington branch of tho New Zealand Educational Institute, which is to be hold this evening. ~ During tho fortnight to November 29 twenty-nine applications for permits to erect, alter, and extend premises in the city were received by the city engineer's, department. Forty-one plans were'examined and approved, and permits , issued. Tho value of the work passed is—City, .£19,273; ' Mebose, MUM}-- Northland, .£1450; total, The City Council last evening decided to acquire the city of Wellington rights of the Gardner patent rail cleaner, at a cost of' £50. The Mayor explained, ■, in reply to a question, that the machine was tho invention of n council employee. It was in the form of an attachment to the car, and consisted of an adaptation of brushes and buckets, which lifted dust from the rails into a/ truck. The engineer bad reported favourablv on the invention, which it was anticipated would enablo the council to save hundreds of pounds annually. . . I