LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1289, 18 November 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

_ 'i'hc postal authorities advise that English and American mails, via Tahiti and Itarotonga, are due in Wellingtoa on Thursday, Dooombor 7.

At the next nicotine of the Wellington Harbour Buard, Mr. J. G. Uarknces will move:—"That tho engineer bo instructed to Keloct on tho reclaimed ground a suitable site for the erection of a building for freezing and storage of dairy produce.. Tho site to be chosen adjacent b tlio Glasgow Wharf, with a view to tlio economical and efficient handling of such produco railed or borno coastwise. Tliat plans, together with an ostimato of tho probable cost, bo prepared of a building for Ihc above purpose, in a design that will permit of tho immediate construction of tlio cheese room in time for season

l!) 12-1013, and submitted for comsideratiou of flip board, and, if approved, included with tho proposed annual works to bo undertaken during 1912. Tho furIhor construction of tlio complete plan to bo dofcrrod until such i time ns may bo deemed necessary to finish it."

During tho discussion on the Supplementary Estimates in the House of Representatives on October 28 last, Sir James Carroll was asked what action was being; token to comply with tho recommendations of the Chief Justice in connection with land titles in tho Cook Islands. In reply, tho Minister stated that ho intended to eend one of tho Judges of tho Native Land Court to investigate and determine these titles. It is understood (says tho Auckland "Herald") that Judge MacCormick, of , the Native Land Court, has been selected for this special mission.

Tho settlers in tho Waitomo district evidently believe in the virtue of eelfhelp and the necessity of having communication with tho outside world (writes tho Tβ Kuiti correspondent of tho Auckland "Herald"). The Waitomo district is a sparsely settled one, owing to the holdings being large, and the settlors decided to have a telophono service of their own. About six months ago tho matter was taken in hand, and ii miles of telephone wire havo been stretched in a network fashion throughout tho district. The lino is substantially erected, and will last for many years to come. It is estimated that tho cost of the lino, without instruments, will bo .EG per mile. Some difficulty is being experienced in procuring instruments, the Government being unable to supply them. A few second-hand instruments havo been installed at the farthest points, and havo proved of great benefit. Thero will Ijo from 15 to 20 farmers connected by tho service, which will top tho Putako, Awaroa, and other districts. Tho service at present is connected with the stores at Waitomo. It is intended to connect with tho Waitomo Tost Office.

A Japanese training squadron, under the command of Roar-Admiral Kato, will arrive at Auckland on January 3, and will remain in port until January 8, Bailing on that date for Sydney. The squadron is to leavo Yukosuka, tho naval station near Yokohama, on November 25, and in addition to calling at Auckland, will visit Suva. Tho stay at Sydney will bo till January 22, when the sqnadrou will leavo for Townsville, Queensland. Subsequently the squadron will visit Batavia, Singapore, Manila, and Shanghai, reaching Yokosuka again on March 28. The Tramway Appeal Board delivered' its decision yesterday in the case in which Conductor J. H. Tinims appealed against his non-promotion. The grounds of tho appeal were:—(l) That ho had been employed as a. conductor for i\ I

years; (2) that he had applied for promotion and been refused it; (3) that a largo number of conductors who were junior to him had received promotion; and (4) that liis record was good. Dr. M'Arthur, tho president of tho board, said that tho evidence had been carefully gone through. Mr. Timms had dono good service as a conductor, but after considering the ovirlenee tho board was not prepared to take the responsibility of making him a motorman. Tho board dismissed the appeal. The Arbitration Court award under which the Wellington Bootmakers' Union is working runs out nest month, through efflnxion of time. It is understood that this award has not given complete satisfaction to either master or men, and in its present form there is small chance of it being renewed. In all probability the Conciliation Commissioner (Mr. Hally) will bo called on ti effect a settlement on a now basis before Christmas.

On November 15, 1861, "Tho Otngo Daily Times" u'rst ventured out amongst tho people of that rough-hewn community, who laid the foundation o£ the city oi Dunedin. It was but a fow months boforo that tho population of tho settlement was shaken out of its plodding quiet by tho discovery of gold—rich denosits of yellow gold—in tho Tuapeka district. The [ population streamed to the El Dorado, ond tho little village became a bustling centre, and the "Otago Witness" proprietor, (hen Mr. W. H. Cutten, ventured the publication of a daily newspaper. From the commencement the now paper was successful, for in tho first week the circulation rose to 2750 conies. Sinco then Hie journal has never looked back, until now after fifty years, it holds an enviable reputation among the country's newspapers. Last Wednesday, its fiftieth birthday, the paper appeared as a srnecin.l jubilee number, wluch contains a'deal of interesting history, first of all of tho popor, but incidentally of tho town and province. It contains also mcssnOTS of congratulation from His Majesty tho King, his Excellency tho Governor, his Itoyal Higlmes9 tho Duke of Connaught, tho Earl of Glasgow, tho Earl of Onstow, Lord Plunkct, from other British public men who interested themselves in ttio Ovcreeas Dominions, from men well-lawn in stalecraft, letters, law, religion, commerce, and journalism, in the whole Empire. Very cordial congratulations are also acknowledged from tho editors of New Zealand's leading dailies. All the mepsngee strike the sumo note of congratulation for things well done, and of hope that tho "Otago Daily Times" may have an illustrious future worthy of its honourable past.