LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 154, 29 June 1912, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

At 10 o'clock to-night Hie last legallyserved drink will be handed over the bars at the iPorirua and Pahautanui Hotels. Their licenses become extinct by reason of their inclusion in the Wellington suburbs electoral .boundaries when tho came were recently altered. Previously they wore not \ within the boundaries of a dry district. The closing of theße hotels, together with tho shutting up of the Johnsonville and Ngahauranga Hotels, extinguishes the old coaching inns from Wellington City borders to well along the main road to Wanganui. When the Manawatu railway waa not built Wellington's connection with Wanganui was by coach, and the route was by Ngahauranga Gorge, through Johnsonville, Porh'ua, and Pahautanui, and along the Olaki Beach. The inns at these townships were well patronised by travellers in those days. The annual sessions of the Wellington Diocesan Synod will be opened in tho Sydney-gtreot Schoolroom at 3 o'clock next Tuesday afternoon, 2nd July. On Monday Kirkcalrfio and .Stains, Ltd., will offer a special lot. of over 400 English tailor-made costumes at tho record bargain prices of 10s 6d, 16s. 6d, '21s. 29s Gd, 80s ed, 4&. Soc'the window di*P>3s«-Ad.v^ ~ •■"

During the quarter ending lv moivow there hava been eight bankruptcies in Wellington, as compared with four in the corresponding period of last yeur. The number of bankruptcies in Wellington this month was two. as against four in tho June quarter of 1911. The balance-shoet submitted to the Wellington Technical Education Board last evening showed a satisfactory reduction of the debit balance. For the corresponding month of last year a. debit balan«.-o of £457 «sisted, while this year it ie £8 9s Bd. Recently a committee- yras set up by the Petone Borough Council to draw up an agreement with tho tramway syndicate which intends to lay down a trarnwuy service in the district. The committeo met representatives of tho syndicate this week, and good progress was mado. After a discussion extending over aA hour and a-half, sri adjournment w mada until next Wednesday evening. (retteral Gc-dley recently informed a deputation from the New Zealand RiAe Club's lOxecutive that rifles wore on order from Home for the rife clubs, suid were expf-cted to arrive by the end of the year. To ena.ble the members to have rifle practice this season, it was decidod to ask the Commandant to procure front Australia on loan or purchase ouO Martini - Lee • Enfkld rifles. Uenora.l Godley has replied, however, that he has been able to make arrangements to allow tho clubs to purchase rifles from the stores. At the annual meeting of the Wad<«» town Municipal Meclois' Association last night, the following officers were elected : — President, Mr. E. Wylie; vice-presidents, Messrs. W. R. Morria and I*\ Brookes ; hon. secretary, Mr. 11. G. Bavnett; treasurer, Mr. E. Wiffin; committee, Messrs. T. Kaywood, G. C. Cooke, C. ]S. FsAvthovpe, A. Neely. and J. Hanratty; auditors, Messrs. G. Taylor and J. W. Goyder. The chairman appealed to those prcserit to do their best on Arbor Day in improving some of tho vacant spaces. Tho report of the National Provident Fund, presented to Parliament yesterday, shows that the revenue for the year ended olst December amounted to £1862 13s 4d. The expeneeß of management totalled £828 8« 8d (55 per cent, of tho contributed income). The report says: — "To those who are aware of the inherent slowness of people in coming forward voluntarily to make .provision of this kind for their future, a fact established in all countries, aud which has led to the wrecking of previous schemes embracing deferred annuities both in Now Zealand a»id elsewhere, it must bo considered very gratifying that so many joined the fund quite spontaneously. It augurs well lor its future, ond shows that the special features of this scheme have tho power of attracting contributor*." "We agree that there is a lock-out in Reeftow, and consider that the, Labour Department should have taken a case, If only to test the legal position and in order to facilitate a settlement afterwards," ,is the opening sentence in the Trades and Labour Council's reply vo the appeal of Mr. Fagan, on behalf of the Reefton miners. " But. seeing that your union has completely handed ovor its control of your dispute to the executive of the New Zealand Federation of Labour," the reply goes on, "and that that Federation is antagonistic and opposed to the pinnciplcs of the. United Labour Party, which party this council is resolved to join, we cannot recommend our affiliated unions to give direct approval of the policy aad principles of the New Zealand federation under the guise ana in the form of monetary assistance to your union." Local interest in the political situation cannot be said' to be very keen in Christchurch (telegraphs the correspondent of Tho Post). Indeed, in view ot the fact that Christchiu'ch has three' Ministaiis at stake the city is strangely apathetic. Ttoo man in tho sLreet appears to regard the Governor's Speech and the approaching want of confidence motion as incidents in a family quarrel ' that ha« been prolonged beyond a reasonable period. Several business men who .were asked to express opinions regarding the Speech replied that they would rather wait until the position of the Ministry was made secure and legh- ■ lation became a probability of the near future, "'All I can aa-y," said one man, ' ' is that business people do not want a. dissolution ; in fact, we don't want legislation. I would like to see an arrangement mado for continuing the pweent Parliajnent along quiet paths." Trouble has arisen in local boxing circles, due to an intimation from the New Zealand Boxing Council to the Wellington Boxing Association, that, instead of the coming New Zealand championships being supervised in the usual way, viz., by a referee and two judgps, six referees are to be appointed, tha nominations being a« follow :— Messrs. Burke (Auckland). Sampson (Wellington), Sh'arplin (Christchurch), Shaw (Dunedin), Cook (Timaru), and Bush (Nelson). The Wellington Boxing A«sociation is greatly perturbed at the idea of the proposed innovation, and has written to tho council, stating it is opposed to such & course being taken. It is _ pointed out that the standard of criticism will never bo consistent with so many referees, and hence will be unsatisfactory both to (^ectatore and competitors. The championships are fixed for the 16th and 17th July in Wellington, and there is a feeling that they may have to be abandoned if the council persists iv appointing tha cix referees. Extensive additions are to be made to the Wellington Woollen Company's mills at iPetohe. A railway siding ia already in course' of construction front tho main line to the boiler house, coal depot, and new wool store. The latter building ie to be iv eteel and concrete, and of three floors, with flat roof, provision being made for adding further floors. The floors each measure 63ft Sin by 77ft 6in, and together will givo, roughly, 15,000 ft of floor space. An elevator will servo each floor. Another addition to the works will be & now hosiery factory, of two floors, s each 62t't by 103 ft, giving 13,000 ft of floor ejuico. The lower floor is to be lighted from all sides and the top by a. "saw-tooth" roof in nmo ba,vs. This building will also be in etoel and et>uerot«. Liberal accommodation will be provided for thft hands in tho matter of lavatories and other coiivenieuees. The additional buildings a.re rendered necefosary by reason of the expansion of business. Moro hands will have to be employed an soon aa the new machinery in Iho hosiery factory is icetalled. The directors nu-t yesterday, and approved tho ptons, ordering tenders to bo called for tli» work forthwith. Tho aichitccU ju© Mcesrq Hoggavd and Prou.se. Travellers by train or boat can avoid all discomfort by checking their baggage through the New Zealand Exnrtfse Company. Tels 92, 2410, 1333. 30(18.— Advt. Let us ««,y a word in explanation of llm seemingly reckless eaorifice in the piieo., of tbo season's stock*. This is the ono uml only sale th*t C. Smith, Ltd., hold during the winter season, wul we have the reputation that gives force to this salo by o\\v fixed policy that it is bHt o r to reduce prices and sell Benson's stocks fclm'i carry them through stocktaking. If you «io anxious to economise, and to got tlm benefit of thoao low prices, conio noxt Saturday morning, 29th June, «.t 9 o'clock, *o O. Smith's, LU!., gi^afc tumual \\in!<*i siCa5 i Ca . " i^ l>o flll^l 1f W ndvftrtisnwent m ]'n day* Poet. If oof,u f , of town, Write at, oiuo for prico-liet to (J. Smith, Ltd., CulM-st., .Wellrogftoa,— Ad.xt,

The Commission of Enquiry into the Cost of Living arrives in Wellington on Monday afternoon from Auckland, and sits here on Tuesday morning. A considerable number of witnesses are to be Examined. It is expected that the Wellington sitting will occupy about a week. The new railway time-table in the Wellington district comes into foree /on Monday next. The Boys' • Institute will receive about £60 as the net proceeds of the lecture given by the Hon. T. Mackenzie in the Town Hall laet Tuesday. There is still a certain amount of dissatisfaction among train users at Petone in regard to the suburban train service. The grievances will be ventilated shortly at a public meeting which the Mayor has, upon request, agreed to call. It has been decided by the Marine Department that it ie not necessary to hold a Magisterial enquiry; into the circumstances connected with the collision between the steamers Kamona, and Opouri in Wellington Harbour a fortnight ago to-day. At a meeting of the Wellington Painters' Umon last evening, it was Teaolved to endorse the resolution of the Trades and Labour Council in forming itself into a. district council of the United Labour Party. It was also decided by tbe union to take steps, through 4h« Federation of Painters' Unions, to affiliate with that party. Battalion orders issued by LieutenantColonel C. Harcourt Turner, sth Regiment, state that Lieutenant H. Cimino will be orderly officer next week. The' class of instruction for non-commis-sioned otßcore will commence at the Garrison Hall nest Wednesday evening. A paper with a set of questions will be issued weekly, and tbe non-commission-ed officers are expected to write out the xnevreis jnd hand them in the following week. An examination will be held at tha tad of the class. ' ' Estimates for the current year were considered by the Petone Fire Board yesterday. The following expenditure was approved : — Salaries, £225; interest on building loans, £100; annual payment to Petone Borough Council, £62. 4b 6d ; material and maintenance charges, £176; gas supply, £30; insurance £20; sundries, £38; balance to complete new fire station bunding," £468 (js; electrical alarm service and new, plant, £104. Total, £1247 7s 6d. The receipts will be as follow : — Government contribubution, £50; contribution from insurance companies, £573 13s 9d; contribution from Borough Council, £573 13s 9d. Total, £1197 7s 6d. There is due here, at 10 aan. to-mor-row, the fifth vessel of the New Zealand Whaling Company's fleet, the Rstkiura, 6000 tons. She will leave at 4 p.m. for Russell, Bay of Islands. Mr. A. H. Newton, Norwegian Consul, has been advised that the Rakiura will berth *t No. 3, Glasgow Wharf. The snip > will be thrown open for inspection free, so that the public 'will have an opportunity of seeing how ■whale carcases are treated in the modern Norwegian way. . Tie Rakiura is ju*fc out from Norway, via Suez and .Fremantle. She arrived ! at Westport) this week to load coal for har own consumption. The vessel is a floating factory, dealing with the whale beef, bone, and blubber, and then.' byproducts, so that not a particle of the whale is wasted.