LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1787, 27 June 1913, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities advise that tho Maheno, which sailed from Sydney on Juno 25 for Auckland, has on board Australian, American, and English mails, via Suez. The Wellington portion is due on Monday next. Tramway matters received a good deal of attention during question time at tho City Council meeting l&st night. Councillor Tregear thought tho multiplicity of names on the cars was very confusing, and asked if some method of coloured discs could not bo adopted to show the general direction of the cars. Tho Mayor explained that tho Tramway Board had had a great amount of work lately in connection with tramway , development. The chairman of tho Tramway Board had informed him that tho matter was being considered now. Councillor Fuller wanted to know why push-bolls oould not be installed instead of pull-bells. The former, he considered, would bo much more convenient for lady passengers. "Whon wo had the push-bells before," answered the ' Mayor, "they were a confounded nuisance."

4 curious position arose at last night's meeting of tho City Council. Tho Reserves Committee reported "that they had fully considered tho draft leaso of part of Section. iS, Town Belt, to the Kelburno Bowling Club and' tho Kelburno Croquet Club, as drawn by the City Solicitor, and tlicv recommended that tlio draft, siil>mitteil be approved." The copies oftlio draft referred to covercd several typewritten sheets of foolscap, and, as not ono of thorn was logiblo, it was decidcd that consideration of tho wliolo matter be held over until tho next meeting. Mr. Boyd Garlick, Director of Physical Education, with his instruction staff, will give a demonstration of the now syllabus of physical education before members of tho Cabinet, members of both Houses of Parliament, tho different branches of tho Education .Department Board, medical ofii : cers, defence officers, and ladies, in tho Town Hall, at 11 o'clock this morning. At 7.30 p.m. a demonstration will bo given to tho teachers of 'Wellington and suburbs, in the Teachers' Training College Hall. The City Council have decided to givo a trial to the proposal of Dr. Fyffe that organ recitals be giveu on Sunday afternoons, and Dr. FyfTe's offer to givo tho first recital was accepted with thanks, when tho matter was considered at last night's meeting o£ tho council. Thero will be no charges for admission to the recitals, which will bo in place of tho Saturday recitals, if they prove a success. Tho City Council have decided not to accede to a request from (he Wellington Rugby Union for a grant towards tho payment'of tho rent of Athletic Park, or, in the alternative, a percentage of the tramway revenno derived by tho council from football matches at Athletic Park. "That tho request made by passengers using tho first morning train from Paehikariki, arriving at the Thormlon Station at 7.35 o'clock, that they be allowed (o travel oil the cars nt workers' rates bo not acceded to."—This-was a motion before the Citv Council at last night's meeting. It was carried without discussion.

Tho Tromw.iys Committee reported to tho City Council last night that they had received a report from tho Tramways Hoard of Management with respect to tho cost of the printing required by tho Tramways Department, and reoommended that tho council should take necessary steps to obtain full information as to the cost of installing and operating a plant capable of carrying out all tho printing of tho corporation, i Tho recommendation was adopted by the council. Already it has been ascertained that for between .£BOO and .£9OO, plant sufficient to do tramway work can bo obtained, and such a plant could bo run by a man and a girl. "There are many indigent people" really unable to pay for their attention in tho hospital, but there is unfortunately also a largo number who aro deliberately neglecting to pay fees which they can well afford to pay. These latter are sheltering behind the present Act, and that is why wo wish, for ant amendment." So spoke one of tho deputation of local bodies representatives to Dr. Valintino (Chief of tho Health Department) yesterday. Under the formal title of "Ilistory of Wellington Post Office," tho Post and Telegraph Dopartment has issued a uiorft interesting brochure dealing with postal matters in Wellington sinco tho oarlkst days of settlement on tho shores of Pont 'Nicholson—that is in tho days before Wellington was finally located at file southern end of tho harbour. According to the booklat, a notice appeared in tho New Zealand Gazette of July 11, 1810, notifying all whom it may concern "that a mail between Thorndon and this place (Britannia, now Petone) will bo made up for the •first time on Monday next at 8 o'clock a.m., and a return ono from this place to Thorndon at 1 o'clock p.m. Tho rate to bo charged is 2d. for letters and Id. for newspapers. Mr. Paton will have tho superintendence of it at Thorndon, and Mr. Hunter at Britannia. Should the weather prove unfavourable for the bout, tho mail will bo dispatched on foot," From 1810 to 1913 is a far cry, but as far as records will allow, the history of tho Post Office in Wellington is interestingly traced .in ietterpress and illustration, 'llie latter includes views of most of tho old post offices and good half-tone pictures of tho palatial new General Post Oflico, and also illustrations of tho latest conveniences. _ The decorative work by tho lato Mr. Archibald G. Anderson is of a Uglily artißtio quality.

The Miramar Borough Tramways Committeo waited on tho City Tramways Board yesterday with a view to securing slight alterations in the borough timjv tables. The Mayor (Mr. F. Townsend) pointed out that the present time-table was not suitable for persons commencing work in the oity at 8 a.m. The attention of tho board was also drawn to the laxity in collecting tramway fares in the borough and ■ the lack of inspection m the district. The total rainfall in Wellington for the month of May was 11.8 inches, ram falling_ on 22 days. School tickets on the trams were tho subject of a resolution _ moved at lost night's meeting of the City Council. It was decided that, in view of reports received relative to irregularities in connection with the use of school tickets sinco the new system was adopted, tho old system of issuing a ticket for each month bo roverted to aa from August 1 next. Considerable discussion arose at tho City Council meeting last night over a resolution brought down by the Tramways Committee. "That, in accordance with the reoommenuation of tho Tramways Board of Management, tho members of the Tramways Department staff be provided with passes to and from work similar to those issued to tho engineers and the general body of tramway employees.?' Councillor John Fuller, jun., opened the discussion by -moving that the matter bo referred back to the committee. This was seconded by Councillor Luckio, and, after several councillors had expressed strong disapproval of the proposal of the Tramway Board, the amendment to refor the clauso back was carried by 10 .votes to G.

The City Council decided last night that a penalty of =ClO be imposed in connection with the late fulfilment by the Stewart Timber Company of a contract for tho supply of rata arms to the Lighting Deparnnent. - It was reported at last night's meeting of tho City Council that tho Reserves Committeo liavo arranged with tho Kclburno Beautifying Society to accept their ofFor to pay for tho planting of trees'on Upland Road, from North Terraco to'tho end of Mariri Road. The proposal' necessitates the construction of a footpath 15 feot wide (Gft. ■ in asphalt and the remainder grassed), with approximately 110 trees planted, and properly protected. ]he tvork is to be commenced as soon as the association deposits the sum of JJIOO to carry out tho work. The whole work is to be carried out.to tho satisfaction of the City Engineer. The Libraries Committee • recommended to the City Council last evening that applications bo invited for the position of curator for the Newtown Museum, at a salary of .£2OO per annum. Councillor Hindmarsh (chairman of tho committee) said that a very valuable imuseum could be built up. If they wanted a first-class man they would havo to pav a salary, large enough to attract a good man. if they wanted a glorified caretaker, they could possibly get a man for less than ,£2OO. Ho had discussed tho matter of 6alary with several authorities in Wellington, and asked t leave to amend the salary recommendation to .£3OO. It was decided, after considerable discussion, to refer the clause back to tho committee. At 10 o'clock last night tho City Council went into committee to consider tlio estimates, and at 11 p.m. the meeting was adjourned till 4 o'clock this afternoon.