CITY AND SUBURBAN

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 263, 2 August 1929, Page 3

CITY AND SUBURBAN

HAPPENINGS IN AND ABOUT TOWN

E. J. Black, who resides at 74 Victoria Street, Petone, dislocated his right shoulder about 5.30 p.m. yesterday through falling off his motor-cycle in Tinakori Road. He was removed to the hospital by the Free Ambulance.

The Director of Parks has been authorised to confer with the Maranui Surf and Life Saving Club and select a site for the erection of new club premises on the beach at Lyall Bay.

Councillor G. Mitchell asked; at the City Council meeting last night if the cost and original estimate of the work in Glenmore Road could be given now the work was completed. The Mayor: “It is nothing like completed.”

“There will be quite a number of charges—a dozen or more,” said ChiefDetective Lopdell in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday when asking for a remand until Wednesday next in the case of Francis Clark, alias Gilford, a labourer, aged 37, who appeared on six charges of breaking, entering and theft from dwelling houses of jewellery, watches, other articles and money, of a total value of £167 Is. 6d., and one charge of breaking and entering with intent to commit theft. The Magistrate (Mr. E. Page) granted the remand.

"It would appear that the present Government is not disposed to convene a further conference of industrial interests, which it was the intention of the Reform Government to do, had it remained in office,” states the annual report of the Wellington Employers’ Association. “Probably the present Government’s attitude is largely influenced by the question of expense. It is understood that the previous conference involved an expenditure by the Government of almost foOOO, and further expenditure may not be considered warranted in view of the small prospect of any agreement being reached on the fundamental question of Arbitration in industrial disputes.”

The hope was expressed by Councillor G. Mitchell at the City Council meeting last night that everything would be done to facilitate the completion of the airport at Lyall Bay and enable it to be used for the purpose for which it was intended, aviation. They should do all they, could to encX.rage it. The Mayor replied that the work on the ground had not yet been completed, and the fencing had also to be finished. It was desired to hold an air pageant on the ground, but the Minister would not permit it. The engineer had been instructed to prepare plans for a hangar, and the present temporary one would be moved further along and converted into a workshop. Lhe cost of the fencing would be a charge against the expenditure on the airport.

“I hold that petitioner is entitled to a decree nisi to be made absolute after the expiration of three months,” said the Chief Justice (Hon. M. Myers), when giving his reserved decision in the Supreme Court yesterday in the case of Carrie Brindle v. Frederick Brindle, a petition for divorce on the grounds of mutual separation. His Honour said that the position was not altogether satisfactory, perhaps, where an oral agreement had to be relied upon, but nevertheless there was the provision of the Statute, and the existence of the agreement was a question of fact, and had to be determined from the evidence. He had come to the conclusion, after considering the evidence, that the existence of an agreement had been established, and that the necessary ingredient was present for the success of the petition. At the hearing Mr. J. Hanna appeared for petitioner and Mr. A. B. Sievewright for respondent.

The request of residents in the vicinity of Moxham Avenue for the provision of a waiting shed in their locality has been declined by the City Councli.

“Ask them to lend us Constable Morrison for a week,” said a committee man of the Khandallah Progressive Association last night. Speeding tradesmen, it was stated, were endangering life and limb in the district.

Tenders are to be called by the City Council for the following works of the Basin Reserve: Wife netting, roof of pavilion; improvements to players entrance at pavilion; renovation of old pavilion near south gate; and rebuilding soil shed.

Orders-in-Couneil in the Gazette exempt certain streets in the City of Wellington from the provisions of Section 128 of the Public Works Act. 1928, subject to the usual conditions as to the building line. The orders apply to the north-western portion of Hawker Street, the north-western side of portion of Wellington Terrace, and portion of Buckingham Street Extension.

At the meeting of’ the City Council last night the Libraries Committee recommended that the Library Department be exempted from the payment of rent and rates from March 31, 1930; also, that tenders be called for painting the interior of the Central Library, provision having been made in the estimates. The first clause was taken back by the chairman of the committee and the second was approved.

One of the most annoying things to contend with is to find oneself seated close to the spotlight man in the Concert Chamber. If one is sitting at the sides or behind, the brilliant light from the side ventilation holes of the light box makes it almost impossible to concentrate on the stage. At a recent entertainment some people in the gallery had to overcome the nuisance by making a screen of their programme. Others preferred to search for seats on the main floor.

What is certainly the finest enlarged photograph of the Wellington waterfront ,now reposes in the board room of the Wellington Harbour Board, bur such is its quality that it has been decided to exhibit it in a city shop window. It is a panoramic view of the harbour front taken from the western hills on a very clear calm day with a telescopic lens, and takes in the full sweep of the foreshore from the Clyde Quay Wharf right round to the Kaiwarra bight reclamation. Each of the new and lofty buildings, which have been erected in the last two years (and which have given Wellington a new architectural aspect) stand out boldly, a new dignity to the city. The enlargement for the board room has been handsomely framed in rimu. and measures 12ft. in length by 3ft. in depth.

It is expected that the conditions governing the competition for designs for the Dominion Museum, Art Gallery and carillon will be ready in the course of a week or two. These will be submitted to the Board of Trustees, and when finally approved will pave the way for the next step, which will be to call for designs. It has already been decided to restrict the competition to New Zealand architects, although there has not been absolute unanimity on this point. The submission of designs may take three months or longer, and when one has been accepted the next step will ' 3 to call for tenders. If and when a tender is accepted the time will then be near when It will be necessary to prepare the site. The work io be tendered for will possibly include the demolition of the old barracks.

An application for a reduction in the rentals of existing encroachments at Hamilton Road was refused by the City Council last night.

In yesterday’s “Dominion” appeared a long list of donations to the National Art Gallery and Dominion Museum, fund. To that has now to be added the sum of £5OO donated to the fund under the will of the late Dr. P. Mackin, of. Wellington. This makes the total £94,618 15s. 4d.

Yesterday—August I—was the most perfect of spring days in Wellington. The sky was almost cloudless throughout the day, and the zephyr from the north-west did not disturb the calm serene brilliance of the day. As a harbinger of spring it filled the role completely.

The City Council last night gave authority for Mamari Street to be taken over by the council as a public street.

The Wellington Fire Brigade acknowledges a donation of £5 to the brigade recreation fund by Messrs. A. and T. Burt for services rendered at their fire at their premises, Courtenay Place, recently.

The City Council last night decided that no further action be taken with regard to the laying-off of a stormwater drain at Rakau Road until all the property owners concerned agreed to contribute towards the cost of the work as recommended by the city engineer.

The old shooting gallery at Williams’ Park is to be leased to a miniature rifle club for use as a rifle range one evening per week, at an annual rental of £2 25., the club to put the building in order and to be responsible for the lighting of same.

The request of the Eastern Suburbs Citizens’ League for higher-powered lamps to be installed at street intersections was not approved by the City Council last night. The lighting is to be in accordance with the volume of traffic over the intersections. Requests for the erection of additional lamps at Liardet Street and Old Karori Road- it was stated, could not be acceded to at the'present time.

Rotary clubs at times have a strange sense of humour, or shall we call it justice? The wife of one of the members of the local club presented the Kelburn Boy Scouts on the 20th anniversary of their birthday with a handsomely decorated cake. In consequence of this the president fined the member for having such a thoughtful and considerate wife who was, moreover, an excellent cake-maker.

The City Council agreed last night to allow the Girl Guides’ Association the use of Newtown Park for a function on January 11 next. In the event of the weather being wet they would be able to use the Winter Show building. Councillor G. Mitchell said a similar request had been made for the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides’ function next Saturday in the event of bad weather, and the Winter Show building would be available if wanted. If fine the event would take place at Association Park.

Regret that the Zoological Society had found it necessary to disband was expressed at last night’s meeting of the Wellington City Council. The Mayor (Mr. G. A. Troup), the chairman of the Reserves Committee (Councillor B. G. 11. Burn), Councillors M.'F. Luckie and R. A. Wright all referred to the assistance the council had received from the society in promoting the interests of the Zoo. The Mayor said that the president of the society (Mr. T. Fathers) anc the secretary (Mr. I. Castle) had called upon him and informed him of the decision to disband. He had done his best to persuade them to carry on, but without success. He had told them how greatly the council appreciated their efforts. “It is a great pity the society has gone out of office,” said Mr. Troup. The council passed a resolution expressing its thanks of the society's work and sincere regret at the decision to disband.