CITY AND SUBURBAN

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 74, 20 December 1929, Page 9

CITY AND SUBURBAN

HAPPENINGS IN AND ABOUT TOWN

The holidays to be observed by the banks in "Wellington will be December 25, 26 and 27, and January 1 and 2.

The City Council has authorised the installation of an electrically operated and controlled system of synchronised clocks in the new milk station.

Notices are to be served on all owners of boatsheds on the foreshore at Evans Bay, whose sheds do not comply with the City Council’s requirements, to demolish the buildings by April 30, 1930.

The City Council has granted an extension of the quarry at Island Bay to Mr. Baylis for a further period of one year.

Councillor R. McKeen, M.P., has tabled a motion to be brought before the City Council that a return be submitted showing the cost per k.v. maximum demand of electricity purchased from the Government; and the total cost per k.v. generated at the City Council’s plant.

The surface sealing of Matai Road, at an estimated cost of £420, is to be considered by the City Council in framing next year’s estimates, together with the tar-sealing of Knigge Avenue.

The use of the Basin Reserve is to be granted to the Wellington Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association for daylight sports meetings for the present athletic season, subject to the payment of 15 per cent, of the gross gate takings and 50 per cent, of the stand takings.

“I hope that before another year or so is gone, Wakefield Street will be nothing more than an unpleasant memory for some of you,” said the principal, Mr. J. H. Howell, at the break-ing-up ceremony of the Technical College yesterday, a remark which was greated with hearty applause. In expressing appreciation of the grant which had been made by the Government, the speaker said they were grateful to the Minister of Education for not increasing the fees last year. He called for three cheers for the Minister, which were heartily given.

An aerial flight of something like 60 miles as the crow flies is recorded as the achievement of a toy balloon. A number of the balloons were released by a Wellington business firm, with sixpences and other coins attached, the idea being to get the youth of the community interested in following up the balloons as an advertising device. No doubt many of the balloons came down and were picked up in the city, but one at least had an adventurous journey passing over the harbour and the Rimutaka Ranges in the Wairarapa, where it was picked up by a little girl in a paddock near Carterton.

Acting on the recommendation of the city solicitor, the City Council last Hight decided to send forward a remit to the Municipal Conference authorising local authorities to impose rates, under the system of rating on the unimproved value, on any easements granted by statute or deed to any local body, company, or person owning such easements, and that the Valuer-Gene-ral be authorised to value such easements, notwithstanding anything contained in the Valuation of Land Act, 1925.

Rudolph von Gruber, a Hungarian, appeared before Mr. E. Page, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday on charges of stealing a pair of fieldglasses belonging to Arthur Schaeff and stealing an attache" case, an overcoat and a suit of clothes, the property of Cornel von Berwald. Von Gruber was before the Court last Friday when the Magistrate remanded him in order to consider the evidence. Yesterday the Magistrate convicted and fiped accused £2, in default one month’s Imprisonment on the charge of stealing the field-glasses. The other charges were dismissed. Accused was also ordered to pay witnesses’ expenses. He was allowed a fortnight in which to find the money. Mr. D. Foster appeared for accused.

The dog tax in Wellington for th* year 1930 was fixed by the City Council last night at 10/-.

A by-law is to be framed prohibiting the dropping of pamphlets over the city from aeroplanes without the consent of the council. ’

At the conclusion of the City Council meeting last night the Mayor (Mr. G. A. Troup) entertained the members of the council and the chief officers at supper. The function was a very happy one, and was thoroughly enjoyed by ali present.

Even the Town Hall organ is not immune from the electrical changeover. The organ is electrically controlled, and it is proposed to make the change-over during the next month. The cost will amount to £80 —£30 for the Department, and £5O from the Consolidated Fund.

The City Council last night agreed to the City Council staff picnic being held on Friday, January 3L The use of the Day’s Bay grounds was granted.

James William Hudd, a painter, aged 39, who was charged before Mr. E. Page, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday with committing bigamy and with making a false statement in the marriage register, was remanded until Monday morning. Bail was not applied for.

Mr. R. McKeen, M.P., has received a telegram.from the Minister of Education notifying him that Cabinet has approved of a grant for the erection of a new school at Happy Valley.

The City Council intends to serve notice on gramophone dealers and others to refrain from operating gramophones and radio sets in the street doorways of their premises.

A party comprising seventeen blind students who have been training at the Jubilee Institute in Auckland, arrived by a Main Trunk express yesterday en route for the South Island, where they will spend the Christmas vacation among their own folk. The party was met on arrival by the Red Cross Society, and transported in motor-cars to the Y.W.C.A. and Y.M.O.A, where they were entertained. The cars for transport purposes were made available through the kindness of the members of the Rotary Club.

There was somewhat of a diversion in the city fruit and produce markets on Wednesday morning. Prospective buyers were busily bidding for some lots of fruit, when a Chinaman, not satisfied with his position at the rear of the gathering, attempted to force his way to the front. His actions were strongly resented by a European, with the result that blows were freely exchanged. It was soon seen that both men were really in earnest, and much to the delight of followers of the fistic art present, a ring was formed, and it was a fight to the finish. A witness stated to a “Dominion” reporter yesterday that the white man had the better of the combat.

At last night’s meeting of the City Council, Councillor R. Semple brought under notice the condition of Palllser Road, leading from Shannon Street to Roseneath. Councillor Semple said that the road was in a very bad state of repair. There was no footpath. The road was not properly graded, and women with perambulators had to push their way up through the slush and mud. A grader did go up occasionally, but it spread the metal in the middle of the road, and on the first fall of rain it was all scoured out, and the road became as bad as ever. The use of the grader in this way was a waste of public money. He understood there was a sum of money allocated for the work (unemployed relief), and he asked that a portion of the money be expended on the road as soon as possible. Councillor R. A. Wright (chairman of the Works Committee) promised' to look into the matter. I