City and Suburban Items

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 70, 15 December 1928, Page 7

City and Suburban Items

biews and Notes of Interest

The next meeting of the City Counit will be held on February 7.

The population of Wellington is now placed at 102,900, and the number of electors on the municipal roll at 42.903. The city has 1613 acres of reserves.

The New Zealand Toy Dog Club held its first Christmas party in the New Century Hall last night. There was a large attendance at the “party,” which was a very enjoyable one indeed. An excellent orchestra was in attendance, dancing being the most popular attraction of the evening. Cards and other games were played and supper was provided.

At the meeting of the City Council, on Thursday night, the By-laws Comittee recommended that amendment be made to the new traffic by-laws to provide for owners of motor-cars to have a registration certificate attached to the steering column of the vehicle. This was adopted.

F. Walsh, a salesman residing at 22 Hobson Street, was taken to the hospital by the Free Ambulance in the early hours of yesterday morning, suffering from a deep wound over the left eye, caused through his falling out of a motor-car.

The monthly meeting of the Donbank Philatelic Society was held on Thursday evening, the president, Mr. E. Philpot-Crowther, presiding over a fair attendance. Three new members were elected. The president and the secretary (Mr. F. A. Davis) were appointed to wait on the Philatelic Society of New Zealand, to discuss the question of affiliation fees. The secretary reported that he was holding six copies of the only issue of a publication entitled the “Junior Monthly News'Letter.” He was instructed to forward one copy to the Turnbull Library. During the" evening, members were permitted to view the splendid collection of the 1873-84 issue of New Zealand stamps, formed by Mr. Spierling. These stamps arc a group that have been very much neglected by philatelists, and appear to form an extremely interesting field for researth.

The Y T .M.C.A. of Wellington is spending £5OOO in improving its premises in Willis Street. A special feature of the improvements will lie the provision made for young men visiting the capital city from the provincial towns and country centres. An excellent suite of lounge", reading, writing and toilet rooms is being added as well as extensions to the dining-room and residential section. In another column there is an announcement regarding the accommodation available for young men visiting Wellington during the forthcoming holidays.

Yesterday the pupils of the Wellington Girls’ College presented Mr. Moore, the caretaker, who has acted in that capacity for over twenty-one years, with a pipe and a tobacco pouch. Much regret was expressed by all at Mr. Moore’s leaving, as he had always performed his duties faithfully and well. Mr. Moore served in the South African police force for a considerable period.

The capital value of Wellington city ut March 31, 1928, was £34,987,966; the unimproved value was £14,983,585; and the value of improvements, £20,004,378.

Improvements at premises 41a Willis Street were authorised by the City Council on Thursday night, provided the Federal Club authorities agree to a lease of five years at annual rental of £440 as from February 1, 1928.

It is officially recorded that there are 21,962 dwellings in Greater Wellington, 80 public,<and private hotels and boarding houses, 58 institutions, 1989 business premises such as banks, shops, offices, warehouses, etc., 139 public buildings, including churches and halls, and 2703 other buildings. The building permits issued for 1928 represented the record sum of £2,024,291.

The recently formed Hutt Valley Railway Ambulance Division held its first annual inspection this week, 16 members being present. The divisional superintendent, Mr. Nicholson, was in charge of the members, who showed great progress in tbeir work, especially for such a new division. The work, it is reported compared very favourably with that of the divisions of longer standing, and promises well for future competitions. The assistant-com-missioner, Mr. A. O. Richardson, and the district superintendent. Mr. J. I’. Hislop, conducted the inspection.

The By-laws Committee of the City Council, on Thursday night recommended as a matter of urgency that authority be granted to establish an observation bus stand at Post Office Square, at the rear of the Huddart Parker building. This was the compromise arrangement between the Bell Bus Company, the Engineer’s Department, and the Tramways Department. The recommendation was adopted.

So well did the various branches of transport throughout the city coordinate and work together in the recent Queen Carnival that it has been suggested the organisation should continue to function as a transportation institute. It is considered that the institute could Hold a luncheon monthly at which an address suitable to the occasion could be arranged for.

Thursday’s concert at the Sailors’ Friend Society was in the hands of Miss D. J. Ellis, who provided for the varied tastes of her guests. The items drew forth loud and loug applause and demands for encores. Light refreshments were dispensed in an interval. The performers were Mesdames Birch-Johnston and Arunn, the Misses Ellis and M. Davies, and Messrs. Brown, Lorraine, Wilson, Smith. Mrs. Birch-Johnstone and Miss D. J. Ellis were at the piano. At the request of the chairman. Mr. J. Moore, missioner, it was moved: “We, the seamen present, respectfully thank Iler Majesty the Queen for her kindly act in unveiling the seamen’s memorial on Tower Hill, Loudon, and further, we pray that His Majesty the King may bo speedily restored to his wonted health and strength.”