LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 181, 28 April 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The City Council last night, in view of a request from the Public Health Department, decided that the ratcatching campaign should be extended until the end of May,- when the position would be reviewed. Councillor L. McKenzie said that tho Government -was asking theip to curtail expenditure on one hand, and on the other they asked them to undertake fresh expenditure. Why not let the Government catch the rats? Tho Mayor: They would only charge us with tho cost.

A sum of £25 has been received by the Treasury as conscience money from some person unknown. The officers of the Treasury receive many contributions of this kind in the course of a year, but the consciences are not often active to the extent of £25. Councillor P. Fraser asked- the Mayor last evening whether, in view of unemployment existing, the work in connection with the • new road to Khandallah would be pushed on with at the earliest possible moment. The Mayor said that the money had to be provided first. Their first duty was to obtain an Order-in-Council sanctioning the loan, after which they would approach the public for the money. Councillor C. H. Chapman asked if some of the works provided the London loan, now raised, could not be proceeded with at once. Tho Mayor stated that only 5 per cent, of tlje money (on application) had been paid in London. The bulk of the money would not be paid into the bank in London until May 19. Some of the works provided for, notablv the Orongorongo waterworks, was already in' hand. _ '‘Councillors should understand,” said Mr. Wright, “that'we cannot proceed like an ordinary business firm. Hurdles and obstacles are continually cropping up, which we ha’-e to leap or overcome. There was one only the other day over the land at Shag Point, but that has been settled. The new -powerhouse nlnns are ready, and tenders will bo called at the earliest moment.” A vorv painful accident occurred at about 10 o’clock last evening at the King’s Wharf. It appears that a man named James Blair, living at Houghton Bav Road, Melrose, was working on the Cs.S. Konmjto, loading coal, when one of the slings, froni which a basket had just been released, was drawn from the hold and swung to where Blair was working. The hook caught him on the groin, inflicting very painful iniuries. Blair was admitted to the Hospital, but his situation is not regarded as being at all serious.

Recently applications were invited for the position of secretary-manager and assistant-secretary to the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association. Mr. R. J. S. Aldridge has been appointed secretary-manager, and Mr. L M. Boy th assistant secretary.

The Education Department has, approved of the expenditure of £l6o for additional conveniences at letono West. x The Wellington Hospital Board decided yesterday:—“That it would pcooperate with the Auckland, North Canterbury. and Otago Hospital Boards m making arrangements for holding the conference of tho hoards of the four centres to be, held during July, in Wellington.

The subject of venereal disease cropped up at the meeting of the Wellington Hospital Board yesterday. A communication was received from tne North Canterbury Board asking support for a proposal to urge the Government to set up a commission to inquire into the prevalence of venereal disease, and to suggest the best means of combating it. Mr. F. Castle (chairman) said thei committee disapproved the idea because it considered it was not required, and the subject had been gone into fully by the board a few months ago. Mr. J. W. Butler thought that what - was being done warf insincere and ineffective; a definite policy .on ..the part of the Health Department was lacking. thev were assured tho position was really serious. Mr. E. Windley said it would be a very serioufc thing to turn down a proposal for a commission, more especially if the commission were to be composed of medical mon. An amendment was moved that the motion (the committee’s report that it could not see its wav to support the Canterbury proposal) bo referred hack. Opposing the amendment, the chairman said that everything was known about tho prevalence of the disease in New Zealand, and tho best means of combating it; the Health Department had all the information on tho subject, and tho onlv end a commission would serve would be to draw public attention to it. On being put the amendment was rejected by 7 votes to 3.

The first election of members of the Tararua Electric Power Board is to take place on Thursday. May 18. An Order-in-Council published in this, week’s “Gazette” apportions the representation among the constituent districts as followsEketahuna county, three members; Eketahuna borough. one member: Pahiatna county, four 'members ; Pahiatua borough, one member; Mauriceville county, one member. A deputation from the Wellington Progress League on the question of general unemployment will wait upon the Prime Minister on Monday morning next. The City Council has decided that the Crofton Downs Estate Company be requested to convey to the corporation a strip of land for the purpose of forming an access between two existing roads at Ngaio. A street day for the Russian Famine Fund is to be held in on Friday next. The Street Lighting Committee recommended to the City Council last evening that authority be granted for the erection of lamps at the following streets;—Right-of-way Sefton Street to Watt Street, Wadestown; Ngaio Road, Kelburn; Upper Adelaide Road, Rakau Road (Hataitai), Drainage Reserve (Kelburn Parade). The committee recommended that authority be granted for improvements to bo effected in the lighting of Cuba Street as follows (a) By the erection ®f three lamps of 100 watts each; (b) by the erection of one/500-watt lamp at Ghuznee Street; (c) by increasing the candle power of nine existing lamps of 60 watts to 100 watts; (d) by the transfer of the track lamps to tho street ’ lighting circuit. Authority was given tho Milk Committee by the council to open tho applications for the position of general manager when they close on May 11. The fees' for grounds for winter sports for tho 1922 season have been fixed at £lO 10s. per ground. At last evening’s meeting of the City Council, Councillor L. McKenzie said that this was double what they were last year. Tho sports bodies had agreed to the charge. Stops are to be taken • forthwith to have tho boundaries of tho reserve at Miramar North defined and the area fenced. The tenants of corporation property in Willis Street aro to be offered leases on the terms recommended by the city valuer, tho leases to expire in December, 1926. The City Council decided last evening on the recommendation 'of the Finance Committee, that the ordinary meetings be held every three weeks instead of fortnightly.