LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1144, 3 June 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Postal authorities advise that the 6.5. Mahcno, which left Sydney at noon on May 31, for Auckland, has on board an Australian mail, and also an English mail, via Suez. The Wellington portion is due to arrive hero by the Main Trunk train. 05, Monday next, Juno 5.

A claim for compensation for land taken by tho Wellington City Corporation in connection with tho Willis Street widening scheme was sot down for hearing at the Supremo Court yesterday, but, owing to tho absence of one of the assessors, was adjourned till June 23. The plaintiffs aro Arthur T. Bate and John A. Pike. Plaintiffs claim the sum of .£3703 38s. Cd. as compensation for loss arising out of tho taking of tho laud, which sum is made up as follows—(:a) 29ft. Gin. of land, with a depth of 10ft., at .£75 per foot (next to tho Duko or Edinburgh Hotel), .fronting Willis Street, having regard to its special value, use, and adaptability, .£2212 10s. i (b) interest at 6 per cent, per annum on £17,715, being the value of the whole section from May 5, 1908, to August G, 1910, ■£1331 55.; (c) to cost of specifications and plans prepared for tho purpose of erecting a building rendered useless by tho taking of the land, JMS; (d) cost of previous claim, rendered useless by proclamation on being revoked, .£lls 3s. Gd.; total •£3703 38s. Gd. Mr. M. Chapman, K.C., with him Mr. W. J. Organ, appears for the claimants, nnd Mr. H. D. Bell, with him Mr. J. O'Shca, for tho Wellington City Council.

A conference which will bo attended by representatives of Hospital Boards throughout tho Dominion is to assemble at Parliament Buildings, Wellington, on Juno 27. In notifying Hospital Boards, a. couple of months ago, that the conference would bo held, Dr. Valintine (In-spector-General of Hospitals), invited thein to forward remits for consideration. A number of Wellington remits aro being prepared and will bo considered by the local board at its next meeting. Ono of tho matters to bo brought up will bo tho failure of tho Government to notify boards in good time of liabilities incurred by them under the provisions of newlegislation. Tho Wellington board wilt be represented at the conference by its chairman (the Rev. W. A. Evans), nnd Messrs. R. C. Kirk (chairman of the Hospital Committee), J. W. M'Ewan (chairman of tho Charitable Aid Committee), G. T. London, nnd J. Coylo (secretary). It is anticipated that the deliberations of tfie conference will extend over a "period of several days.

The Public Works Department has accepted the tender of Mr. Walter Rowsell, of Maungaturoto, for the erection of station cottages at Otamatea, North Auckland. The contract price is £1219.

The Acting Minister for Defence (the Hon. G. Fowlds) has made tho following announcement on tho subject of the pos-. siblo disabilities of dairy and other formers under tho compulsory training scheme:—"When the registration is completed, and tho posting of youths to units for training begins, every consideration will bo given by the Defence authorities to the dmculties which may exist in certain cases of complying with the Act, owing to the nature of anyone's employment. Training parades in the farming districts will bo arranged to suit tho slack seasons, and everything possible will bo done to meet tho requirements of local industries. It is not considered likely, therefore, that the training which tho young men will bo required to undergo will inconvenience to any great extent the majority of farmers."'

Tho annual meeting of the Hutt Licensing Committee will be held at tho Magistrate's Court, Lower Hutt, on Monday next.

At the next meeting of the City Council, Councillor Frost is to move: "That the work done in committee of the council on June 1, other than tho acceptance of a tender, be rescinded."

Yesterday was the Jewish Day of Pentecost. Special services were conducted in tho Synagogue by the Rev. H. Van StavercH. '

Assessors for the Niwaru-Admiral inquiry'have'been named; These are Captain's C. 'F.-'Post'iind Felix Black.

A supplementary report from the city valuer (Mr. E. Sickling), winch was presented to tha Auckland City Council on Thursday evening, showed that the increase in tho rateable value of the city for the' month of May amounted to £7150. This was tho largest supplementary increase reported up till tho present time. Tho Mayor (Mr. C. J. Parr) said this was the largest increase yet recorded for any one month, and that it represented an increase in the rates of nearly .£IOOO a year. Such an evidence of progress was very gratifying, as it was founded principally on new buildings. It was ridiculous to talk about a boom in the face of evidences of solid and substantial progress.

Tho naval branch of tho Federal Defence Department is busy preparing for the enrolment of cade'ts. which commences on July 1 (states tho Melbourne "Ago"). Captain Chambers, the second member of the Naval Board, will proceed shortly to Sydney to inspect tho proposed sites of tho instruction school and to inquire into tho proposal that tho Sobraon bo purchased as a training school. Captain Clarkson will arrive on June 19 to take up the new position of supervisor of construction and engineering of ships, repairs and control of naval (lock yards and bases. Captain Clarkson will be'(he third member of the board, which, with RearAdmiral Crcsswell and Mr. Manistv, secretary of the branch, will then be complete.

A man who lias been "wanted" by the police since .September last was arrested by the detectives at a late hour Inst evening. Tho prisoner last year was fined .£ll —with tho option of a month in gaol—for a breach of (he Legislature Act, in that ho signed a false 1141110 on the roll mid claimed a vote. The man disappeared, immediately afterwards, and enjoyed a spell of liberty, which came to an unexpected close last night.

The question of getting something dono towards reclaiming the south-western portion of Evans Bay was discussed at a meeting of the Kilbirnio Ratepayers' Association on Thursday evening. Mr. J. A. Ilcginbothain (chairman of tho association) stated that when tho borough of Melrose agreed to come into the Greater Wellington scheme the people of Kilbirnio wero promised an expenditure of .£2OOO on their reserve. Tho promise had remained almost a dead letter. After some discussion, iu tho courso of which it was stated that the population south of (ho tunnel was 7000, it wos decided to seek tho assistance of tho sports' bodies, friendly societies, school committees, and clergymen of tho district, to assist in getting something done. Various sub-committees having been set-up, further consideration of the matter was postponed for a week.