LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2216, 31 July 1914, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Week-end cable messages may be accosted on and from"August 1 for Portugal under tlio same conditions and rates as are now in force for a similar service to the United Kingdom (minimum 20 words, 155., each additional word 9d.). Messages must be sent via Eastern route.

In order to mako a good bridle track on tlio Wairarapa side of Mount Hector, the Tourists' Track Committee has decided to apply to the Government for a grant of £200 (writes our Greytown correspondent).

Tlio Education Board has purchased two sections facing Tainui Terrace adjoining tlio Maraiwi School for the purpose of enlarging the school and playgrounds. The two sections which comprised an area of half an acre will be used for the erection of an infants' school, while the school committee proposes to lay down three tennis courts on a portion of the ground. From the latter it is hoped to obtain SBveral for the colwal.

Boundaries of the Borough of Mira-1 mar, which were . altered by a proclamation dated Juno 2, are redefined in I this week's Gazette. . The distinction of being the first person to rido a motor-bicyclo over tho White's Bay Hill and very nearly up io tho top of the next hill belongs to an old Rouin Hood Bay school boy, who accomplished this feat last weok. lie left Blenheim on Thursday,' rodo to Nelson in tho rain, transacted some business thero, left Nelson on Friday at 11 a.m., called at Spring Creek for benzine, and then rode,' with tho exception of the bottom short turns, up to the top of White's Bay Hill, down tho other side past the cable station, and-nearly to the top of the next Jiill. Here the hicyolo ran off tho track, and, tho hour being late, the rider walked or to Robin Hood Bay, and after spending three pleasant days at his old school motored back over the liijls again. Those who know the track will appreciate tho feat. A proposal has been made by Sir James Carroll to the Minister of Education that he should consider, in connection with the Education Bill the adoption of a system of grouping school committee districts into urban and suburban school boards, such boards to be vested With such adequate powers and grants as will to keejJ all school property in their districts in a thorough state of rcpair'and efficiency, Mr. T. K. Sidoy, M.P 1 ., is asking the Government whcther.it is intended to introduce legislation this session dealing with the pea rifle nuisance. The thirteenth annual report of the Royal Humano Society of New Zealand states Jhat the past year has been prolific in deeds of bravery in the Dominion; 38 applications for awards had been investigated, 34 of which were found worthy of recognition. The total number of awards made since the formation of the society has reached 391. The directors had taken into consideration the danger of accidents at seaside resorts, and had accordingly presented twenty life-buoys during the year to the authorities in charge of these places in different parts of the Dominion. The balance-sheet showed a credit balance of £539 Bs. Id. In April last a Press Association cablegram from London "mentioned that d Wine Trade Cliib had tasted a number of wines, and had decided that tho Cawarra brand was a long way above others. Exception has been taken to this message by Messrs. Penfold and' Co., on the ground that it was merely a private trial, and neither they nor other firms had been asked to submit samples, or knew anything about the experiment. Inquiry made iby the Press Association shows that this is .correct, and that the message was misleading, The olub mentioned is merely social and educational, and though it holds periodical tastings, they are for comparative, not' competitive, purposes, and are not in the nature of a publio competition on a broad basis. . The opinion expressed was merely the president's view, and evidently only, had reference to such wines as were before the club. It cannot, therefore, be regarded as jn any way authoritative or detrimental to growers who wero not represented. ' The workshops staff of the Publio Works Department celebrated the opening of ijieir new building, at the rear of the old Parliament Buildings by holding a social in the building last night. The Hon. W. Fraser, Ministor of Publio Works, attended as an invited guest, and made a short speeoh to the company. He said that as soon as betook office he decided that new quarters for tho workshops staff were an absolute necessity to enable the men to do thojr work. -For years previously money lia'd been :, Voted in' Parliament for new shops, but nothing was done, and lie made up his mind that something bo done at once. Ho set to work, and tho result was that in the first.year' that lie was in office he completed arrangements to secure a sito;. and tho foundations of. tho building were laid: Now it was finished, and already thero. jvera about one hundred men employed in it.

A scheme to aid workers in securing homes for themselves was propounded by Mr. H. Poland, M.P., in a question which ho gave notice to ask the Primo Minister yesterday. He will ask Mr. Massey "Whether he will this session amend the State Guaranteed Advances lAot in the direction , of providing that a worker who. is able to pay a deposit of £10 on tho purchase of a property may arrange with-the vendor for a second mortgage for. tho balance between the amount of the first mortgage to the Department for 75 per cent, of tho valuation and the amount of tho deposit, repayable under a, table in five or seven years, both mortgages to be prepared and completed in tho office free of charge, except cash disbursements." Under such a system, says Mr. Poland, for 15s. per woek for five years or 12s. Gd per week for seven years, and 6s. 3d, per week afterwards, a worker with, only £10 can purchase his own homo at a value of £425.

The Tramways Board reported to the City Council last night why it preferred to make the Constable Street tramway extension by way of Crawford Road rather than along Wellington Road. Tho reasons were: (1) Extra distance for Lyall Bay and such-like cars; (2) better grades on Crawford Road; (3) extra running expense of £800 per year on Wellington -Road as against Crawford Road; (4) extra power needed for hmilage on Wellington Road. ' It was estimated that the cost of construction of the Wellington Road route would be £21,000, of which £12,000 would bo for a larger feeder cable from the powerhouso to the top of Constablo Street. The £21,000 includes Constablo Street duplication work,-etc. Tho difference in the -cost of the two would not bo vory groat owing to the increased cost of tho feeder cable. '