LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 68, 21 March 1921, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The House of Representatives put the Noxious Weeds Amendment Bill through its final stages on Saturday afternoon.. The Bill gives local bodies power to declare hawthorn a noxious weed, and makes it an offence to plant hawthorn hereafter, the object being to aid in checking the spread of fire-blight, of which hawthorn is a oarrier.

Replying to a question by Mr. "J. P. Luke (Wellington North) in the House of Representatives, the Postmaster-Gen, eral has promised to have inquiries made a* to the suitability of the post office site at Kelburn for this purpose. He would also inquire whether the work should not be made an urgent one when the time was suitable for the erection oi buildings of this kind.

A grant of £100 towards the funds of the Wellington Free Kindergarten Association has been approved by the City Councfl.

The City Engineer (Mr. W. H. Morton) is visiting Arapuni, in the Waikato, with Mr. F. W. Furkert, Chief Government Engineer, to examine the site of the dam for the proposed hydro-elec-tric power works, «nd test the soundness of the foundation.

Two chai'ges of theft under rather unusual circumstances were made againsS, a young girl in the Juvenile Court on Saturday. Mr. C. A. L. Treadwell, who appaared on behalf of the parents, stated that • the girl, while making purchases in a shop, had seen a man engaged >in picking the pockets of a customer. She had thought the process jather simple, and followed the man's example. The Magistrate (Mr. F. K. Hunt) agreed to dismiss the charge on the condition that the father took the girl in hand.

A case in which the Wellington Plumbers' Union made a claim against certain employers for retrospective pay over a period of about four months, was settled by Mr. H. W. Bundle, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court on Saturday. The Magistrate decided that claims made more than three months from the date of the commencement of the award could not be considered. On that ground, therefore, the present case could not'be considered. Mr. D. M. Finlay appeared for the union, and Messrs. G. G. Watson and N. S. Johnston for the employers.

The City Council has decided on the recommendation of the Finance and Property Committee, not to accede to the request of the Municipal Employees' Union for'an agreement to be entered into regarding working conditions and wages. The Mayor, in Teply to a question at last meeting, explained the refusal as being due to the fact that the council was already a party to agreements with othei unions in the city, and work of its employees was governed by those agreements. The council could not deal with two unions at once over the same work. ■ Moreover, the Municipal Employees' Union was not properly registered and had no standing under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act.

The band contest at Nelson concluded on Saturday afternoon with a quickstep competition at Trafalgar Park, in the presence of one of the biggest crowds seen locally. Nelson's claim to being tho "city of sunshine" was fully maintained until tho afternoon, wheii a few showers fell. The four test selections were jlayed in the open air in the evening under ideal weather conditions- AH the functions were largely, attended. Nineteen bands competed. Mr. Sweney, supervisor, says this was the biggest contest'held in the Dominion with the exception of the Christchurch Exhibition contest, and that it was tho happiest he ever attended. The final demonstration took place in the evening, and the prizes won were presented by Dr. iThacker, president of the South Island Brass Band Association. The Boosey trophy for tho highest aggregate, marks in the A grade contest was won. by tho Woolston Band, and the Boosey trophy for lugh-est marks in tho B grade was won by the Ashburtou Band (Bth South CwiIwbury Mounted JUAc«.

That portion of Sutherland-road formerly known as "Park-street," extending from Daniel-street in a southerly direction to the top of the hill, is to be renamed "Manchester-street."

That small country towns should have the advantage of seeing an exhibit ,of war trophies such as that shown recently in the Wellington Carnival was suggested by Mr. T. E. Y. Seddon (Westland) in the House of Representatives. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, Minister of Defence, said that he had a proposal in. mind by which Mie country towns might have a travelling exhibit even better than that shown in AVellington. Ifca small charge •were made for the benefit of the war museum it was probable that the expenses of taking the exhibit round would be more than covered.

Two boys, who were concerned in the theft of a watch and a knife from a whare, appeared before Mr, F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Juvenile Court on Saturday. It was explained in regard to one boy, apparently the ringleader, that he had been a very bright pupil at school, but since going to work had adopted "go-slow" tactics as far as education was concerned. The Magistrate agreed to adjourn the case for three years, during which time the boy was to attend the Technical School. The other boy was dismissed.

As several of the street names in Miramar are similar to others in ths city, renaming, is necessary. ..The City Council lat week received a letter from Mr. A. D. Crawford, suggesting that he should be allowed-to select some of the new names on account of the association of his family with the district. He suggested that the reserve at the northern end of Miramar should be named "Old Dairy Park,"* because .it adjoined the site of a group of buildings which dated from the " 'forties," and which was known as " the old dairy." The letter was referred to the Bylaws Committee.

A question concerning the parking of motor-cars was discussed at a meeting of the committee of the Wellington Automobile Club. A member of the committee reported that the Traffic Inspector had intimated to him that he was breaking the bylaw by parking his car on certified parking places with the engine facing the pavement. It was pointed out that in large, towns in America and Great Britain it is usual to park cars diagonally with the engine near the kerb. It was decided to write to the City Council asking that this bylaw be amended, and stating that there were various advantages in parking a car in such a way, furthermore, it would not have the effect of the hood of the car and possible spare tires jutting over the pavement.

"The Newton Memorial seats having arrived, that much-favoured locality, Oriental Bay, is to receive sixty, while sundry other spots are being given ten each, leaving twenty seats to be allocated," writes "Victoria" to The Post, "Not a mention is made of that popular walk for tourists, Mt. Victoria, receiving even one seat! Now, sir, if a seat is required anywhere in the city, it is surely here, where, after toiling either along the ridge, or up Majoribanks-street, the weary sightseer has no other place to rest but on Mother Eearfch—very often on Mother Earth in a role of 'biddybids.' In addition to its present popularity as a vantage ground, I should suggest that in view of the possibility of the forthcotning cenotaph being erected on the summit, Mt. Victoria should certainly come in for a share of the Newton seats. But first let the Ciy Council erect an electric light at the foot of the hill on the Majoribanks-street side."

Regarding theatrical entertainments Mr. A. Stanley Warwick writes as follows:—"1 must take exception to.the remarks of the correspondent 'Citizen' regarding bookings in the case of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream.' The picture theatre managements are well able to take care of themselves, so of course I do not speak for them. If 'Citizen' can read, as I presume he can, as he is able to write, he would have seen that I most distinctly warned the public that, owing to the great demand for seats, it was necessary to secure same by booking at the Bristol. It,may be newn to 'Citizen' that the great fight at present is to do away with the queue system and force theatrical managements to reserve *dl seats, including the cheapest, i.e., the gallery. For six consecutive days this warning of mine appeared in the newspapers, botb by advertisement and also by courtesy of the proprietors in the shape of paragraphs. I fulfilled my obligation to the general public, and can only regret that all those who wished to do so were unable to witness a performance, which had for its primary objective the question, of educational advantage to the scholars of Wellington, and which, was apparently appreciated by the educational establishments. 1 also beg to differ re the question of 'pTa«tically the whole of the house being reserved for scholastic establishments.' This again is where 'Citizen' makes a wild statement, which facts do not substantiate. Anyway the performances fulfilled th e object for which they were given, and although I cannot repeat the same at present, being committed to a definite plan of work, perhaps at a later date 'Citizen' may have an opportunity of witnessing-a reproduction, if he so wishes."

Last Tuesday the Kelburn Observatory was again crowded. In order to cope with the large number present, another telescope was set up near the observe tory. Excellent views of the planets Saturn and Jupiter were obtained by the King telescope, while with the other telescope the moon, the Jewel Cluster in Concis (Kappa Concis), and the double star Alpha. (Centauri) were shown'; the remarks of those who saw these objects for the finst time through a. laxge telecope were varied and enthusiastic. With only two telescopes available, it necessarily took sometime to show every one of the large crowd the various objects, and the need of a suitable room for the public to rest in is very apparent. The Astronomical Society has had plans prepared for a suitable observatory to provide for a large lecture-room and lanterns where those waiting for their turn at the telescope could be entertained by being shown series of interesting lantern slides of astronomical subjects. Some of these slides are from the largest telescopes in the world. The City Council has already granted a site for the new observatory, but the lack of funds has held up the building pi'ogramme. It is hoped that some friends of astronomy may make the building possible. Tho New Zealand Institute- holds between Ji4WJO and £5000 of the "Carter Bequest for astronomy. Perhaps somt of these funds could be vised for the new building. The subject is one worthy of the support of the public and Progress League.

Th« Minister of Public Works has notified the Wellington Automobile Club that the Main Roads Bill is at present in the hands of the Crown Law Drafting Office, and as soon as it is possible to circulate the same he would be only too pleased to forward a copy for*consideration of the committee.

The names of members of the Hamilton Law Society who fell in the war ar« inscribed on a memorial tablet which was unveiled recently at Hamilton by Mr. Justice Hosking. The tablet contains- the names of Herman L. Baddeley, Edwin P. Greatbatch, Colin Hally. George C. Jackson, Frank Jones, James Robertson, and William G. M«nzies.

It is considered in some quarters that the finances of the Petone Borough Council must have benefited greatly as the result of the fines imposed upon "speeding" motorists. At the last meeting of the Wellington Automobile Club the secretary reported that he regretted to notice that at the sitting of the Petone Magistrate's Court this week no fewer than 54 convictions were recorded against motorists for exceeding the speed limit in the Petone borough on the recent race days. This was very regretable considering the trouble the committee had gone to in advertising the speed limits allowed on the various sections of the road to Trentham. It was decided to ask the Minister of Justice if he would supply the amount that the P«tone Borough Council had collected for the last two years from motorists summonsed for breaking bylaws.

Major Sir William Orpen's book, "An Onlooker in France," just published in London (says a press cable message), reproduces a portrait of Mr. W. M. Hughes, Commonwealth Premier, of whom he says : "Mr. Hughes made a big mark at the Conference. He is as deaf as a post, but has a cutting wit. M. Clemenceau and he used to have great jokes, and I have often seen them rocking with laughter together. M. Clemen'ceau's grey-gloved hands on Mr. Hughes's shoulders, leaning over him and shouting into Mr. Hughes's enormous deaf ears. He visited me one day, bringing a copy of The Times, and said, 'Good morning.' I asked him to sit in the chair. He sat and read the paper for about half an hour, and after murmuring something I was unable to catch, rose and left. Next day he 'phoned me to ask if I wished another sitting, and I said, 'No sir.' This was my only personal meeting with Mr.' Hughes, but I gathered that he is extremely 'cute and cunning, which is quite possible from the general make-up of his head." The portrait by Major Orpen shows Mr. Hughes in a side-face, position, sitting, reScling the newspaper.

While working at a boot factoTy on. Saturday a boy named Stephen Hartshorn, residing at Karori, had one of his hands caught in a presaer, and a portion of the thumb was taken off. He was removed to the Hospital for treatment.