City and Suburban Items

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 259, 2 August 1928, Page 6

City and Suburban Items

News and Notes of Interest

July was a record month for the City Ambulance as far its eases attended and miles travelled were concerned. During the month. 521 cases were attended, an average 0f,17 per day, and the total mileage covered was 5322 miles, an average of 172 miles a day.

The annual meeting of flic Wellington Returned Soldiers* Association will lie held at the chib’s room, 12 Brandon Street, next Thursday night. Nominations for olliecs must be lodged at the club's office before 5 pan. that day.

Wellington harrier runners selected to compete in the New Zealand crosscountry championships to be held at Wanganui are advised by the local centre that they must leave Wellington by Thursday, August 9, at the latest.

The annual balloting for the appointment of officers of the Federate*! Seamen’s Union is at present being held at the Dominion Farmers’ Institute. The result is expected to be available about the end of the week.

His Excellency the Governor-Gen-eral, Sir Charles Fergusson, is to perform the opening ceremony of the new Salvation Army Congress _ Hall in Auckland on August 25. This is the largest Salvation Army building in New Zealand, outside of the headquarters at Wellington. Commissioner J. Hay and all the leading .lieials from headquarters in Wellington will journey to Auckland for the occasion.

At 11.15 last night a man named E. Patterson fractured ids left leg as a result of-a fail, nt the Balmoral Hotel. The injured man. who resides at ISO Queen’s Drive, was al tended by the Free Ambulance, and taken to the Public Hospital.

Prominent retail grocery stores in lite city state that it is highly improbable that any change will be made in the local price of sugar as a result of the recent ten shillings reduction in the price per ton announced at Auckland by the Colonial Sugar Relining Company. The price was recently reduced one shilling per 701 b. bag, that being the last local reduction. Prices are likely to change only if a further i 'duction takes place. ,

Thomas Daubney, an upholsterer, aged 30, appeared before Mr, E. Page, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court, yesterday charged with. obtaining £3 from Edward Stare Hyton with intent to defraud. On the application of Chief-Detective Ward, who stated that there were- other charges pending, Daubney was remanded until August

The secretary of the Wellington Free Ambulance, Mr. F. Roffe, has received £6 from Mr. G. A. Jones, headmaster of the Johnsonville School. The scholars raised this contribution by organising various little gatherings, and it is the first contribution of its kind tendered to the ambulance. The interest and assistance of the scholars in this instance is greatly appreciated by the board.

The Civic League has intimated to the Mayor that it is prepared to cooperate with the Chamber of Commerce or any other local body in any action that may be taken for adopting a local form of daylight saving. The league recognises the difficulty that may arise in having one time outside the city and suburbs and another within, anti suggests that, prior to the calling of any public meeting, selected representatives should meet in order to Ivo a practical scheme. If such a scheme was worked out it would have the support and co-operation of the general body of citizens when placed before them.

Mr. A. Moore. Johnsonville, representative on the City and Suburban Highways Board, asked the board yesterday to consider the question of having more police patrols on the roads under the control of the board. A discussion followed on the various speed limits in force, and it was stated that the Police Department had expressed unwillingness to put on patrols unless the speeding by-laws were made uniform. An opinion was expressed that the speed limit on the Hutt Road should be increased to 35 miles an hour. It was agreed that the city solicitor should look into the matter.

Plans have been prepared and a contract is about to lie accepted for the erection of a new boys’ home for the Salvation Army at .Vallaceville, on a site off the main road leading to Upper Hutt and only a short distance from the station. The building will be commenced immediately, and it is hoped it will be ready for occupation by the end of the year. The main building will be of two stories, and is to accommodate about 70 boys with officers, and staff. There will be a large paddock for a play area. The boys will probably attend the locai primary school. At the Eltham Home the boys, numbering about -10, have received their primary education in the home, but on August 14 the boys are to be transferred to Eltham primary school.

The following resolution has been forwarded to the Mayor: —"That we. the Wellington Grocers’ Employees’ Union, express surprise that the Daylight Saving Bill has been turned down by the majority of members in Parliament. and that wo urge a meeting of the different bodies who are interested in the cause of daylight saving, so that they may be able to expound their views in favour of the measure.”

The new regulations governing the sale of tobacco, cigarettes, and other smokers' requisites, brought into operation in Wellington by requisition of the trade in March, lias now been in force nearly six months. A few confectioners, fruit shops, and restaurants ceased the sale of tobacco altogether when the regulation: came in, but others have carried on “sub rosa.” There have been isolated cases which have been prosecuted, but it is understood that the first big batch of offenders will be called upon to appear in the Magistrate's Court shortly.

In reference to the historical holly tree planted on the Moera Estate, Lower Hutt, to commemorate the holding of the first meeting to consider the eight-hour day in New Zealand in the late ’forties, the Mayor of Lower Hutt (Mr. W. T. Strand) said the tree stood on the property of the Hutt River Board, which had been caring for it. The tree was still growing vigorously, although it had been cut back. Five years ago the River Board gave instructions that the tree was to be protected. He had mentioned the matter again, and lie believed that something further would be done in the way of placing a notice board near it to show what it ■was and the reason for which it was planted.

Following the opening of a soup kitchen in Wellington by the Salvation Army, a similar institution was opened in Christchurch last Saturday under file supervision of Colonel H. Simpson, Dominion social secretary, who went down from headquarters in Wellington for the purpose. The kitchen is at present supplying three meals daily to about 90 people. Soup kitchens are a new phase in the work of the Salvation Army in New Zealand, and those in Wellington and Christchurch are the only ones in existence at present. It is only intended to institute where the n 1 is apparent, and has not been 1. et by existing organisations.

Mr. D. R. Hoggard, at the meeting of the City and Suburban Highways Board yesterday, expressed his disappointment that there was no report from the city engineer on the subject of obtaining alternative tenders for the construction of the Porirua-Jolin-sonville section in concrete or in hot mix. He had mentioned the matter at the last meeting. To put it in order he now moved that alternative tenders be called. The chairman (Mr. G. A. Troup) : “The engineer has the work in course of preparation.” Mr. Hoggard: “Preparing the report?” The city engineer: “I am not aware there was any report wanted. What I understood was that I was to prepare specifications for alternative lenders. That work is in hand.” Mr. Hoggard: “I am satisfied if specifications are now being prepared for alternative tenders.”

The rounds of applause testified to the popularity of Misses M. Peterson and Lena Backers’s programme for the seafarer at the Sailors’ Friend Society on Tuesday, when singer after singer was recalled. Light refreshments were dispensed by the hostess. The performers were Mrs. Retcliie, the Misses Gerda Brigden. Joyce Stewart, Joyce Twist, Una Smith, Violet Jones, and Messrs. Marmniison .ind Selkirk. Mrs. Retchie was at the piano. “Mind Your Head. No. 2.” was the title of Mr. J. Moore’s temperance chat. Pledges followed. Some good work was done by the men in the competitions, the prizes coming from Marton and Marlborough, and going to the Hunlingdon.

The chairman of the Hutt County Council, Mr. D. R. Hoggard, said yesterday that though his council had not seen the Local Bodies Amendment Bill, it had decided to oppose any increase in the City Council's powers of expenditure, and was also against any general power of purchase of land being conferred on the City Council.