LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1128, 16 May 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal nuthoritics arlvieo that the s.s. Mcaua, which left Sydney at 2 p.m. on the 13th instant, has ou heard an Australian mail. She is due to arrive in Wellington to-morrow morning. A correspondent write?: "Are you aware that an event unprecedented in the history of the Ward Government laolc place in this city to-day? Without :■ single botllo of champagne, without a single silk hat, without a single .-speech by the Minister, without a single speech from anybody, without a vote of thanks, without a cheer—in short, in circumstances of unutterable gloom, the new 'i'horndor. Post Office was opened. What are v.e coming tor" The writer goes on to suggest that the absence of champagne and sill; hat and prominent, citizen and Ministerial eloquence was due to the fact that the post office is situated in the electorate of Mr. Hordman, and is therefore accursed and not a matter for rejoicing, lie suggests that if this is so the Government has erred, since the opportunity might have bpen seized to work Dr. Arnold Irani into the function somehow: "Ho might have seconded the vote of thanks, for example, or have driven up with the Minister, or • poured out the glass of water at half-time, in the Minister's speech, or something." Inquiries made yesterday elicited . the following reply from Mr. W. A. Kennedy, Wellington manager of the Union htcam Shi,i Company, in reference to the allegations made by a number of passengers by the Patcena from Picton to Wellington on Saturday night: "There were not 150 passengers on board the vessel.. The total passengers numbered 93-89 ' saloon and four steerage, lie had no information then as to any happening at Picton, but under the company's regulations every passenger on board one of its ships arriving in port after 10 p.m. had the right to remain ou board fir the night." 'this does not throw very much fresh light on the matter, but we understand thai, tho complaints made will form the subject of further inquiry. "I think, your Honour," said counsel in a case at" the Supreme Court yesterday, "that the experience of this Court is that two drinks is the greatest common measure—the utmost that a witness will depose to." "Especially," exclaimed opposing counsel, "when it is 'about two.'" The Finance Committee of the City Council, which comprises tho chairmen of the various standing committees of the council, is constituted as follows:— The Mayor. (Mr. T. M. Wilford), chairman; Councillors G. Frost, A. R. Atkinson, J. Smith, Geo. Shirtcliffe, J. Trevor, and A. It. Hindinarsh. A special gathering i 9 to be held ' at Karori on Friday afternoon to mark the opening of the tramway cxtensiou to Karori Park. A speech will be delivered by the Mayor (Mr. Chas. Catiiie), and there will probably be other speakers. The warrant authorising the construction of the approaches to tl)u Hutt Bridgo will be applied for by tho City Council this week. Everything is in readiness except that a few additional copies of'the specifications have to be made. The application for the authorisation of the Charlotte Street tramway has gone forward from the City Council to the Minister for Public Works. At Thursday evening's meeting of the City Council, Councillor M'Laren will move that the rates of pay to the general labourers in the employ of the corporation be raised to !)s. per day for permanent men, and Is. 3d. per hour for casuals. The tramline at the corner of Molesworth Street and Tinakari Road is causing a good deal of trouble, and another ear, tho third, ran off the rails at 9 o'clock yesterday morning, just when tho heaviest" part of tho traffic was on tho line. Alterations to the permanent track are being made at (he spot in question, in order that the Wadestown lino may be linked up with tho Karori-Newtown line.