LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 219, 10 June 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

One of the big local works which will mean much to the city and port of Wellington is iho reclamation of that portion of the harbour known as the Kaiwiura Bight. At present, railway track facilities are to some extent restricted by iho narrow neck of land that lies between the Hutt Road as it leaves the city (at the western end of tho Thorndon Esplanade) and tho harbour. It lias long been recognised that the extension of railway facilities at this end of the North Island system depends to some extent on the provision of more yard space at Thorndon, which can only be obtained by reclaiming the harbour at iho point mentioned. Several conferences of the chief engineers of the Railways Department, Harbour Board, and City Council have been held, but finality is approaching. A draft agreement has been prepared by the Railways Department, and is now being considered by the engineers of the bodies concerned with a view to corning to a, working arrangement. The chief work will be the construction of a concrete sea-wall, and the gradual filling-in of the wal ed-off space bv the Harbour Boards dredge Whakarlre, which has for no long been out of commission.

Information received by a leading Wellington merchant is Io the effect that it is practically impossible to obtain lines of crockery from English manufacturers. Thie state of affairs is due, it is said, to the coal miners’ strike, and the absence of material -with which to manufacture the various required. There were no stocks available at the end. of April, and so far there is _no likelihood of any reaching the Dominion for a considerable period.

The following recommendations of tho Housing Committee wore adopted by the City Council last night:—"(l) That tenders be invited for tho erection of three houses at the council’s housing block, Northland, designs to be determined by the committee; (2) that the operations of the Housing Committee be confined for the present to the subdivision of land, Creswick estate, Northland, and that other lands acquired by the council as housing areas, be handed over to the Finance Committee; the Housing Committee to make application for additional lands as required from time to time. With regard to the second clause, Councillor W H. Bennett explained that the committee had bought <t considerable amount of land in different parts of the citv and suburbs. As there was no probability that the Housing Committee would have anything to do with the land for a considerable time, the committee thought that it should be placed in the hands of the Finance Committee, which would let the properties and collect the rents.

Councillor M. F. Luckie (chairman of the By-Laws Committee) told the City Council last night that the Commissioner of Police was arranging to hayo a constable placed on traffic control duty at Courtenay Place intersection. With a cheerful disregard for the high cost of living, the growing colony of animals birds, and fish established at the municipal Zoo in Newtown Park continue to devour hearty meals. Ihe problems attendant on the maintenance of the Zoo are seriously exercising tho Reserves Committee of tho City Council, which last night tabled the following recommendation") "That stops bo taken to secure legislation to anthorise a charge to be made on Sundays for admission to the’Newtown Zoo." In support of tho proposal, Councillor M. F. Luckie explained that Wellington had the only municipal Zoo in tho Dominion, and it was not proposed to charge for, the admission of children under fifteen years of age. Councillor C. IT. Chapman opposed the recommendation, urging: ‘‘Let s hnve something free in Wellington, anyhow.” The Mayor, on tho other liaiifl, pointed out that last year the council incurred a loss of ,82700 on the Zoo, making a total lose of .£7OOO for the last three years. The recommendation was adopted. The Island Bay Municipal Electors’ Association is to be informed that the City Council's promises with respect to the duplication of the Island Bay tram track will be fulfilled as soon as possible; but that the sleepers for ths work have not yet come to hand.

The Outlying Districts Committee of tho City Council will visit the Melrose district on Tuesday next, leaving the Town Hall at 2.80 p.m.

In a report presented to the City Council last night the By-Laws Committee stated that it had received a report from the City Engineer drawing attention to "unsightly advertising signs attached to buildings in tlw principal streets of the city," and jKiinting out that these signs had’been erected without authority, and in contravention of the city by-laws. The committee was of opinion that Die council should require tho removal ot such unauthorised signs forthwith. Iho report was adopted. A subsidy of -£209 is to be granted by the City Council to the Boys’ Institute tepid baths, on the understanding that tho bnths are kept open during the whole year.

Authority has been granted to the City Council’s officers to inspect verandahs and awnings in the city and to require their repair or removal where the structures arc found to be defective or in a dangerous or disreputable condition.

One effect of the financial stringency will bo that there will be less land broken in for pasturage in New Zealand this year than for many years past. Owing to tho prevailing conditions, the winter contracts for scrub-cutting, bushfelling, mid fencing will not be nearly so numerous as in normal years, which means that less new land will be sown in tho early spring.

Vehicles carrying goods of ft nature io which tho Dangerous Goods Act applies will be permitted to park during meal hours at tho following places:—Cable Street, east side; Harris Street; Waterloo Quay; north Harbour Board K Shed; Featherston Street, between Whitmore and Bunny (Streets, on western wide. A decision to this effect was made by the City Council last night.

Some very poor illustrations, said Councillor J. Burns at the City Council meeting last night, appeared in tho official handbook to the city of Wellington. A view of "tho city from Brooklyn” ho considered particularly bird. It was not tho fault of the printer: the photographs had not lieen suitable. He thought that when a new issue was made the poorer illustrations might advantageously be deleted. The Mayor said that the matter would bo kept in mind. Would the council consider opening tho reservoir reserve to visitors again? asked Councillor J. Bums at the City Council meeting Last night. Ho was informed by tho Mayor that permits to visit the reserve could bo obtained by persons of ordinary respectability if they applied. In the Magistrate’s Court at Hokitika yesterday, two women and the husband of one of them were convicted and fined 44>s. nnd costs 455. on charges of assaulting a referee after a football match at Rimu four weeks ago.—Press Assn. Mr. Robert Parker writes:—“Will you allow me to correct a slight mistake, duo doubtless to my own ambiguity of statement, in your account of my Beethoven lecture. The symphony played here by the New South Wales Orchestra was not the Napoleonic ‘JEroicn,’ but the better known C minor. Also, I did not intend to claim. credit for the performance in former days of eight of the Beethoven symphonies. I was privileged to conduct six of them, beginning with No. 1 at the Festival of 1888; the other two were played under the direction (I think) of Mr. I. B. Connolly. It was a great pity that the Municipal Orchestra, which in recent years began such excellent work under Mr. Maughan Barnett, was allowed to lapse. Tho orchestral works of the supremo masters of music are now a sealed book to most of our young students." The City Council Inst night resolved:--“That the application of a. city auctioneering firm for permission to conduct sales of fresh meat in a. portion of their auction room lx? not acceded to, as in the opinion of the Public Health Committee the premises are not suitable."

In tho Supreme Court yesterday, by His Honour Mr. Justice Salmond, a decree nisi was granted Alice Hester Melville (Mr. Jack-son) against John Melville, following a deed of separation made in June, 1917. The parties had not lived together since that date. Tho respondent, it was stated, had paid regular contributions towards the maintenance of the petitioner. The case was not defended. "Where the attendance of men at: artificial limb factories for the purpose of repairs to artificial limbs is certified by tho officer in charge of the artificial limb factory to extend over a part day, e.g., from June 1, 1921, to 10.30 a.m., June 5, 1921, an allowance will be paid for the part day, at the rate of 2s. 6d. per meal required during the part day involved," states a General Headquarters instruction just issued. This instruction validates payments made in this connection as from November 5, 1920. Tho Director of Vocational Training will in future, under direction of the Director-General of Medical Services, be in immediate control of the surgical appliances workshops, i.e., splint, artificial limb, and surgical boot workshops, in addition to Lis present duties. The Director of Vocational Training will in future be described as the Director of Training and Surgical Workshops—Extract from General Headquarters’ instructions of the Defence Department. Tho offertories at Canon Fielden Taylor’s popular mission meetings _at the King's Theatre on Sunday evenings for the year ended March 31 last amounted to £lOl6 15s. 9d. The "penny offerings” at the same place amounted to £205 Os. lid., making a total of £1221 16s. Bd. for the year. Jumble sales brought in £249, and £956 14s. sd. resulted from a special appeal. Up till March 31, £l7i2 had been paid off tho mission’s property debt, and since then, with the aid of a street collection, another £7OO has been paid off. The trustees estimate the assets of the mission (property) at £6906 125., and liabllites are set down os £2BlO Is., but since tho estimate was made £7OO has been paid off.

To-day is the fifteenth anniversary of tho death of the late Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, and at 9,30 a.m. the members of the West Coasters’ Association will place on tho national monument erected to his memory in Parliament Grounds a laurel wreath inscribed aa-follows: — "On the fifteenth anniversary of the death of tho late Right Hon. R, J. Seddon, the members of the West Coasters’ Association place this wreath on his monument with deep affection, and in grateful remembrance of his devoted services to the cause of humanity.”

The Finance Committee last night recommended that the City Council should advise tho Mount Cook School Committee that the council was not in a position to carry out improvements at the present time in the neighbourhood of the new school cite adjoining Tory Street. Councillor T. Forsyth thought that the council might well dispose of the tramway site in Adelaide Road, and with the proceds purchase an area sufficient to make an ample playground. He suggested that the recommendation of tho committee should be referred back for further consideration. Councillor W» H. Bennett said that the council should not adopt any’ such proposal until it knew whether the milk department would have need of the Adelaide Road site. Councillor L. M'Kenzie uaid that if the site in question were sold tho proceeds would have to be credited to tho Trainways Department. Councillor Luckie thought that there would be no harm in referring the question back to the committee.—The council sent ihe clause back.

A meeting of Wellington landowners who are interested in the new valuations of land was held in the Chamber of Commerce yesterday afternoon. Mr. Stanley Harcouri presided. The proceedings wove not open to tho Press.

During the absence in England of Mr. Leonard Tripp, honorary corresponding secretary of the Royal Colonial Institute, Colonel G. F. C. Campbell has consented to net in that capacity, and will be glad to give information as to tho work of the institute, and accept nominations from those who may desire to become Follows.

A free iesuo of uniforms will in future bo made, on first appointment, to officers of tho New Zealand Territorial Force. This free issue is made conditional upon tho officer undertaking 4 <> render four years’ efficient service, II an officer's appointment lapses or is can. colled or revoked, or if an officer 1«sigrrn hie commission within two years from the date of such first appointment ho will bo required to return ihe uniform and refund 25 per cent. o£ its price.

An amending regulation regarding fishing, published in this week’s Gazette, provides that no person shall take, kill, or have in his possession any salmon or trout during the spawning season—that is, during the close season from May 1 to September 30 in any year in every acclimatisation district, other than the Rotorua acclimatisation district, and in that district from June 1 to October 31 in any year. The regulation doos not apply to fish taken by officers of tho Government or of acclimatisation societies for the purposes of pisciculture, or as otherwise provided in. the Act. The penalty for a breach of this regulation is ft fine of not more than £5O.

A quart of milk per day is allowed each worker employed by the milk department of the City Council. Councillor T. Forsyth at last night’s council meeting found fault with this. He had noticed! that the Court’s award contained a clause providing for tho free supply mentioned, and he felt prompted to ask why any distinction should ba made between the dairy employees and' the other workers in the council’s employ. Why, he inquired, should not the men handling coal at the power-station take homo five shillings’ Worth of coal each week; or tho tramway department’s men bi given five shillings' worth of freo tickets? Councillor C. B. Norwood (chairman of the Milk Committee) repl tad that in tho first place tine matter under discussion was part of an award made by the Arbitration Court, and that, therefore, the council’s view would make no difference. However, he wished to say that tho practice of giving milk to dairy employees was a long-established one, followed throughout the dairying business. In conclusion, Mr. Norwood told the council that at next meeting a report would bo presented showing what changes would take place as iho result of the award.

Regulations governing the carriage of explosives in ships or carriages propelled by engines using dangerous fuel (benzine, etc.) are published in the Gazette.

The Government has agreed to give the Stale guarantee to a loan of £500,000 that is to be raised by the Auckland City Council for electric-power extension.

The value of the tomato-growing industry in Nelson is approximately £30,000 a year. This statement was made by a deputation of tomato-growers that waited on the City Council recently.

The time allowed the Knurl Gum Commission for the presentation of its report has been extended until Juno ]l. A Wellington grocer informed a Dominion reporter yesterday that he had received more complaints about the quality of butter during tho lust fortnight than for years past.

The Wellington 'Town Hall has been engaged for a week, commencing June 18, for the exhibition of a film depicting the recent tour round certain portions of the Empire of the Prince of Wales.

Th© Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers’ Decoration has been awarded to Major C. H. Broad, Reserve of Officers, General list; Major L. Craig, Retired List; Major (temporary) R. Macartney, Ist Mounted Rifles (Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry). The rapid growth of population in Kilbirnie has forced upon tho education authorities the need of providing special accommodation for the infants of the district. That accommodation has now been provided by tho erection oi a brick building, which contains two largo classrooms, capable of seating 100 infants at the latest kind of desks. The building has a northerly aspect, which ensures a maximum amount of light and sunshine. A teachers’ room is also provided, and provision has been made for any future extension which may be necessary. The new infants’ school will be officially opened on Wednesday next. From July 15 next medical attention free of charge will be provided for all giembers of tho Permanent Force for disabilities arising out of, nnd during the course of, their official duties. A soldier, while in camp or barracks, who reports sick will be attended by a medical officer, who will certify as to whether the disability is the direct result of fbe man’s official duty. If tho disability is not due to this cause the soldier will bo subject to a stoppage of 2s. a day during tho period ho is receiving medical attention at the Government expense. If transferred to a civil hospital for treatment of disabilities not arising from his official duties, the soldier will be responsible to the hospital authorities for all charges in connection with his treatment during tho time ho is a patient in hospital.—Extract from General Headquarters Instruction. From June 15 all construction and maintenance of buildings in connection with military hospitals and sanatoria aomtnistered by the Defence Department will be carried out by the Public Works Department.

Referring to the question of the closing of the front doors ofJiotels at night, Mr. M'Carthy, S.M., at Christchurch, said that licensees should keep the front door of their houses open tor a. reasonable time after six o’clock, so that people who wanted a meal or accommodation could get in without having to go round to the back. At .the present time at many hotels the front drnir was barred at night, while tho back door was kept open. The back door often afforded a means of escape to men who had been drinking after hours.

The Library Committee of the Auckland City Council has purchased for the City Art Gallery “The Main Body Convoy in tho Tasman Sea,” by A. J. Lloyd. The committee acted under authority given at tho lost meeting of the City Council to purchase one or more pictures it the exhibition. Mr. Llpyds picture, apart from its great artistic merit, should bo in the gallery on account of its historical value, aaya an Auckland, paper. Keen judges and critics have given high praise to this work from Mr. Lloyd’s brush. The t ports conveying the first of New Zealand’s soldiers are depicted in a heavy «ea in & most realistic manner.

"In the heart of the city of Wellington there lies a district possessing distinct characteristics of its own. l<r the most part its streets are IU houses miserable and mean. It boa Is quite a number of public houses, and, as if to give a guarantee for its respectability, it is bounded on the.north and south by police stations. Both Uuy and tho public houses are kept fairly busy. There arc not many real residents in this district; the dwellers come and go, sometimes they go very suddenly and mysteriously. Iho standaru of inorals is not high; how could it »e in this environment? Such spots are to bo found in all cities, and ‘what to do with them?’ is the problem that baffles legislators, politicians, city councils, reformers, and all thoughtful people. W o believe there is only one answer, to bring into the lives of the dwellers of our slums the power and love of God revealed by the Lord Jesus Christ. Io accomplish this is the reason of the existence of St. Peter's Mission. -J his « tho opening paragraph in tho published history of St. Peter's (Wellington) MisSion.

Tho following awards of tho Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long-Service Me.dal are announced: —Major D. White, 4th (Otago) Regiment. Coast Defence Detachment; Captain G. C. Felton, Reserve of Officers, sth (Wellington) Regiment; Quartornios-ter-Sergeant H. P. Mole, M.M., N.Z. Garrison Artillery; Company SergeantMajor J. Johnstone, 14th (South Otago) Regiment; Company Sergeant-Major F. Richards, Ist (Canterbury) Regiment.