LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1276, 3 November 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr. Belcher, secretary of the Seamen's Union, and Messrs. Holds-worth, C. Aiken, and Smith, representing tho "Union Company, will attend tho conference between i ho representatives of the shipping interests and tho executive of the Seamen's Union in the Wellington Town Hall on Wednesday next, slates a Press Association telegram from Dunedin.

As tho cost of tho construction of the proposed Kilbirnie traffic tunnel is JBGB.OOO, as estimated by the City Engineer, tho City Council has decided that tho proposal cannot bo entertained.

Major F. E. Forrest, military instructor for Tasmania, hopes to send at least threo teams to compete at tho forthcoming mililary tournament at Polmorston North. Tho teams will includo ono from tho Hobart Battery, one or two from tho Australian Light Horse, and probably ono from tho Launceston Battery.

A trial was made recently of a new targot at tho rifle range at Papawai, near Greytown, several pronuuent riflemen boing present. The target is on the sliding shutter principle, with a dummy to register the value of the hits. Tho target worked very smoothly, and was handled quickly; it is light of structure and easily managed. Tho target is intended to 1m used at the next rifio meeting of tho association, when tho order of snooting will bo one man down on tho mound, with ono target to firo at.

The little difficulty which builders had willi their plasterers tlie other day has boon got over bv tho payment to most of tho iuen of the extra penuv an hour demanded. Most of them arc'now back at work, receiving the 13s. per day for which tliey asked.

Tho basis of settlement between tho Vacuum Oil Company and tho City Corporation on the question of damage caused to the company's shed at the Hutt Road was agreed to at the council meeting last evening, and the City Engineer instructed to report as to the best means of preventing further slips at this locality.

The Brigade Committee of tho City Council has been waited upon by a deputation from the Hataitai Municipal Electors' Association, who asked for tho establishment of a hose reel station, the alteration o£ the system of alarms to connect with tho Central instead of Kilbirnie, and ail increased water pressure for fire extinction purposes, the association undertaking to lonn a volunteer brigade to work tho lioso reel. Reports arc being obtained from tho brigade officers, and tho committee will make a recommendation to the next meeting of the council.

A horrid something is haunting the neighbourhood of Takapuna (says an Auckland exchange). Its habits aro unpleasant, so far as it has yet indicated them, for it has, according to report, nearly unseated a horseman by scaring his horse, and killed a calf; and, to crown ali, has left footmarks 'fin. across, and of a nature capable of being mapped out upon a diagram. The horse wns seared at Deep Creek nbout a week ago, and the calf temporarily disappeared a few days later, oniv to bo discovered in a mangled stale afterwards. On Saturday some settlers formed themselves into a vigilance committee, and, heavily armed, stalked tho invisible creature. It was not found, but its footmarks wero duly discovered; and now the local Smithsonian Institute is arguing as lo whether they arc the spoor of a pumn, or an elephant, or a banshee. Probably if taniwhas were not purely mythical boasts, it would have been a taiiiwha. No inquest has been officially held to discover, what, killed the calf, and as the rider of the scared horse did not have much opportunity lo examine the intruder its nature is a pleasant mvstery. I'or the sake of keeping up a. lively interest ill a suburb where tho evenings are of a. country peacofulness, ami for other reasons that havo to do with I heir own feelings, the people who have been investigating the apparition aro no doubt earnestly hoping that it will turn out to be a real live User,

The state of the building trade is fairly brisk in Wellington at iiivwnt. Unimi secretaries questioned yesterday reputed !i Rood demand for cai'ix'iilcrs, buiiding labourers, and painters. Tin; position is attributed to the fact that many building tradesmen and labourers have left Wellington during the winter. There is not more work limn there was last year, but fewer men remain to uwK'rtalie it.

The Conciliation Commissioner will be engaged 011 Tuesday next hearing on the Tramways' dispute; 011 Thursday, 011 tho tailoi'pssps' dispute, and 011 Friday, on the merchants assistants' dispute.

On tho recommendation of tho Baths and City llcservos Committee, it was resolved by tho City Council tluit a reward of Xl is to l>e offered to any person giving information that will lead to tho conviction of persons lighting fires or Kottiiitf (ire to tho grass at the Karon Catchment Area.

A waiting-shed is to be erected by tho City Council at the junction of tho Lyall Bay and Kilbirniu tramway sections.

The sum of .£750 is to ho placed on next year's corporation estimates for tho construction of public baths for Brooklyn, on a site selected by the. cily engineer at tho Town Belt, Nairn Street.

In connection with the desire of a recent Karori deputation to tho City lieturves Committee, with reference to tho establishment of a recreation ground at the Cemetery Reserve, the City Council has docided that the area referred to by tha deputation bo not used for burial purposes at present.

"That the trains do not rnn on Christmas Day" was tho substance of a recommendation from the City Tramways Committee to the City Council last evenin.?. Tho Mayor paid this recommendation would havo to Ix 3 referred back to tho oommittfe, and he would move in that direction. Since this had been passed 110 Had received a report on tho qutfition from the tramwavs engineer, and also a requisition from Councillor Fitzgerald. Ttio motion was adopted.

Tho employees of tho City Engineers' Department obtained leave this year to enter two of tho corporation's horses at the Manawatu A. and P. Show, Tho Jlayor told councillors Last night that the men had taken a great deal of pains with the horses, and he had received a telegram last night stating that with the two horses they had taken four first prizes, two seconds, one special, and one championship. His Worship thought that they had done very well, and that the City Engineer was quite justified in asking that the horses be scut to the show. Councillors showed their approval by applause.

'l'ho City Council has authorised tho crection ol' a dressing-shed at Evans Bay, for tho exclusive use of ladies, Ihe site to be selected by. tho City Engineer.