City and Suburban Items

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 261, 4 August 1928, Page 6

City and Suburban Items

News and Notes of Interest

At about 4.30 p.m. yesterday tram traffic was held up for some ten minutes as the result of an outward bound car to Lyall Bay colliding with one of the Ilutt River Shingle Company’s lorries. The front of the tramcar was badly smashed, and glass was strewn across the road. Quite a crowd of spectators collected. The tramear was able to continue on its journey, and later went into the sheds to undergo repair.

A feast of good music was provided for his seafaring guests by Mr. W. C. Tanner at the Sailors’ Friend Society on Thursday, when his band came in full force. The applause and the response were inspiring. Light refreshments were dispensed to the guests. The performers were the Misses Jeness, White, Rothwell, Bernasconi, De Berry, Tanner, and Messrs. Clancy, Eaton, Macwhirter, Quail, Draper, Tanner. Mrs. Bernasconi was at the piano. The competitions filled a niche in the programme, prizes coming from Miss Richmond, Nelson, and went to the Arawa. Mr. Moore, missioner, pleads for discarded books for use at sea. The host responded to a hearty vote of thanks.

.Some time ago several of tlie Wellington Zoo cages were destroyed by lire. These have now been replaced by larger, more substantial, ornamental enclosures. The Zoological Society recently presented a beautiful Lady Amherst pheasant, and on Thursday supplemented that gift by three fine silver pheasants. These birds are all in good plumage, and provide a brilliant contrast to the hybrid or game pheasant which is also represented in the gardens. The white peacock, and also the three blue peacocks, are in fine feather, and display their magnificent robes to advantage in their new quarters. Muscovy ducklings have already been seen on the pond; the white and the black swans, in company with the great variety of ducks and geese, make the Zoo lake a picture of life and animation, but perhaps the most admired birds in the Zoo are mandarin drakes, with their varied colours, and unique, jaunty fans.

A fine of £2 and costs was imposed by Mr. E. Page, S.M.. on Septimus Knight, who appeared in the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning on a charge of selling milk not complying witii the regulations. The Magistrate stated Hint a small fine would meet the case, as the offence did not appear to be intentional.

During the course of the erection of a bowser pump in Broadway, Miramar, yesterday, tlie tank fell on to the foot of A. Spick, a labourer, residing at 274 Queen's Drive. The nail was torn off his big toe. He was attended to by tlie Free Ambulance. who took him io a doctor, and later to his home.

As tlie result of a stack of timber falling on him while lie was working at C. and A. Odlin’s timber yard, Petone, early yesterday morning, M. Biggs, a labourer, residing at 35 Tlie Esplanade, Petone, sustained a fractured left thigh and a fractured left arm. He was attended to by the Free Ambulance, and was removed to the hospital.

Richard Charles Bertram Legge, a salesman, aged 28, appeared before Mr. E. Page, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court yesterday on a charge of stealing a suitcase valued at £2 10s., the property of Gertrude Hamilton. On the application of Chief-Detective Ward. Legge was remanded to appear on August 10.

Mr. 11. Palmer, of the Seatoun and Bays Progressive Association, complained to the City Council of vandalism among the shrubs and native trees which are such a magnificent sight from the marine drive in this part of tlie city. Some damage is also done by children. The City Council employee in tlie vicinity is to give an eye to this sort of tiling in future, and offenders may find themselves brought before the Magistrate's Court to answer for their misconduct.

The executive of the Hospital Boards’ Association at its meeting in Wellington yesterday decided to draw attention to the increasing number of vehicular accident cases treated in hospital, and to urge that provision should be made for payment of public hospital expenses in connection with the proposed compulsory third-party insurance cover.

Messrs. F. Campbell, F. Sunders, L. O. Atkinson (New Zealand Council), W. Duncan (W.F.A.), and S. E. Stephenson arc leaving by motor-car this morning for the Mauawatu to witness the Chatham Cup Soccer game between Petone and Hastings United. They will return to-night.

During the course of a. lengthy crossexamination 'n the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Ch.ef Detective Ward asked a man if he was an alert business man. The witness replied hat as a matter of fact lie was very nervous and of a highlystrung disposition. “He is a musician, Mr. Ward,’’ interrupted Mr..O. C. Mazengnrb, “and when you say he is a musician you have said everything.” (Laughter.)

The attitude of the Labour Department witii reference to the proposal to institute local daylight saving schemes in various parts of the Dominion, was announced by Mr. A. E. Waite, officer in charge of the Wellington District Office of the Labour Department yesterday. Tlie Labour Department, he said, was willing to assist any such schemes as proposed by' regarding arrangements Hint might lie agreed upon by the parties concerned —unions of workers, employers, etc. —as compliance with the various awards, factories, and Shops and Offices Acts in the localities concerned.

At yesterday’s meeting of tlie execu*, tive of the Hospital Boards’ Association it wan resolved to make immediate representation combating tlie proposals made by certain local bodies that members of hospital boards should be appointed by the contributing local authorities in lieu of the present system, by which the electo: of the local authorities also elected the representatives of the district on the hospital board. The president, Mr. W. Wallace, of Auckland,' thought that some explanation of the reasons for tlie increased hospital expenditure should be issued. 1. lie executive approved a statement in that connection.

Thursday’s concert at the rooms of the British Sailors’ Society, given by the Black Diamonds Costume Company,- under the leadership of Mr. 11. Davies, was very enjoyable. There was a very large assembly of men from the ships in port, who thoroughly appreciated each item, and encores were insistent. The party was introduced by the society s port missioner (Mr. H. Jackson). Supper was served by the young ladies of the society. A vote of thanks to Mr. Davies was proposed and carried with acclamation. Mr. Davies responded on behalf of the party, the evening concluding with the singing of the National Anthem. Items .were contributed by Misses Hazel Martin, S. Noel, and Mrs. Roienthal, Messrs. 11. Davies, Carman, F. Robson, C. Sherwood, and The Bcllamores. Miss M. Richardson, L.T.C.L., was the accompanist ioi the evening.

In its original report to the City Council, the Milk Committee had recommended August 16 as Ihe date for the change to summer prices. Owing to the appreciation in butter prices, which affects the price the City Council pays for its milk, the committee had to review the situation, and postponed the date for a fortnight. This postponement will make a difference of over £lOOO to the coffers of the Milk Department. It is anticipated that Wellington’s milk supply during the forthcoming summer will cost about £6OOO more than last summer, in spite of which the committee hopes to do well enough on 6<l. a quart to keep the maximum price at 7d. next winter. Certain capital charges belonging to tlie past having been cleared up, gives use to this favourable position.

Friends of China will be pleased to know that conditions have so much nnproved of late in that country that Mr.. D. E. Hoste, the general director of tlie China Inland Mission,' cabled to Australia a few weeks ago .uthorising the return of fifteen workers to the field, ami the sending Out of all accepted candidates. Four months ago the mission heard from Shanghai that 112 stations were occupied by members of tlie mission, and 403 missionaries at their regular work. Two months ago it heard that Marshal 1’ eng was dealing with the bandit scourge in Honan, anil quite a number of ladies have been permitted to return witii the Ainderstauiling that it will be permanent, should no difficulty arise. He (Feng) Was also putting out proclamations which granted religious liberty in all places, over which lie had control. Besides the return of fifteen missionaries to China within the next three months from Australia and New Zealand, seven new workers are ready to leave Melbourne in October, four from New Zealand and three from Australia. The Misses Naomi Grey and Reta Dobson are giving farewell addresses at several places between Dunedin and Auckland. They are due in Wellington on August 7. The farewell meeting, which is advertised in to-day's paper, is to be held ou August 9. ' Mr. Cyril Patchett and Miss Mary Ada Smith are from tlie Auckland district, and tlie mission have no news yet as to whether they will visit Wellington before leaving for' Australia and China.