LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 106, 1 November 1923, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A big city property sale has just been effected.^ The Commercial Travellers' Association has completed the purchase of the property of Mr. H. M. Heywood, known as the Colonial Carrying Company, Customhouse quay, opposite the Bank of New Zealand. The property is 60 feet frontage by 100 feet deep. The Commercial Travellers' Club is .at the rear, in 'Victoria street. The price is close to £30,C00. .. The Customs dues collected afc Auckland in October constitute a record, being £259,658, compared with £222,----216 in September of 1920. The number of Customs entries was also a record. In the course of an address at Invercargill, the Hon. Mr. Nosworthy said that Mr. Massey had gone Home determined to help the Imperial authorities to formulate an immigration policy .consistent with the sound development of j\rew Zealand, and always remembering, of course, that the needs of the Empire were the first consideration of the Government. "I would sooner go to the Army than to gaol, ' decided a middle-aged defendant named Alexander Thompson, alias I bonbon, alias Sophir, when charged before Mr. E. Page, S.M., at the Magistrate a Court to-day with soliciting alms in Taraiiaki street. The Magistrate glanced at the accused's list of previous convictions, and imposed a sentence of four months' imprisonment., Drivers of motor and horse vehicles will bie wise to approach the Kurori tunnel with some caution while the tram track duplication is being carried out. In order that the double line may be run through the tunnel the old line must first be moved over somewhat to one side of the roadways and the nature of the work has made necessary such a cutting up of the road bed that two vehicles cannot pass in the tunnel. The work is I being pushed ahead as rapidly as pos- I sible, and what inconvenience there is at present will be shortly overcome. A prediction that a bad accident will occur at the corner of Vivian street and Cambridge terrace unless the speed of tramcars coming down the grade towards Cambridge terrace is reduced, was made by several members at the annual meeting of the Wellington Automobile Club last night. It was suggested that a stopping place for east-bound tramcars should be provided at the corner of the two streets instead of on the loop. Cars coming from Newtowri could stop on the loop as at present. The meeting resolved' that the incoming committee should be asked to deal with the matter, and bring it before the municipal authorities. Definite crossing places in the main city thoroughfares to prevent meandering pedestrians from meeting with untimely deaths by being run down by motor vehicles are desired by the Wellington Automobile Club. The subject was brought forward at last night's annual meeting of the club by the president, Mr. C. M. Banks, who moved that the club persist in its agitation to have the crossing places marked off. It was stated that at Npresent it was a nightmare for motorists to travel through the main thoroughfares, particularly at night time, when shadows across the windscreens, especially in wet weather, made it difficult to see people walking across the road. The motion was carried.

Motorists apparently are satisfied at the decision of the City Council to commence work oh the Hult road in December. Tlie current discussion on the subject was briefly touched upon at last night's annual ■ meeting of the Wellington Automobile Club. Mr. C. M. Banks, the president, stated that he had intende 1 moving a resolution on the subject, but in view of the article in last night's "Post," he did not think it' worth <while to proceed with it. He did think that the City Council had given rather short time in calling tenders, but motorists wanted good roads; and as fthe work was to be started in December, he thought that would suit motorists. The meeting was in agreement with Mi 1. Banks in not expressing any opinion on the discussion now in progress.

Protest against motorists probably having to pay double taxation for the upkeep of roads was made at the annual meeting of tne Wellington Automobile Club last night. The president, Mr. C. M. Banks, said he had suggested to the Minister of Public Works that the tax on motors for road maintenance should be collected by the Government, and a proportion allocated to the local bodies. He quite agreed that the local authorities were entitled to a share of the taxation, but they should not be able to levy on motorists as well as.the Government. Motorists were paying a lire tax now, and when the Motor Vehicles Bill was passed, each can would be taxed to the amount of £2 10s. On the motion of Mr. A. N. Field, it was decided to urge that there should be only one tax levied on motor vehicles for road improvementpurposes.

A suggestion that the hours for public business at the Courtenay place and Te Aro Post Offices should be extended was recently referred to the Secretary of the Post Office by the Council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. A reply was read at yesterday's meeting of the chamber, to the effect that the request had been considered, but it was regretted it could not be complied with. The attendance at Courtenay Place Post Office had always been from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the same hours had been observed at Te Aro Post Office sihee November, 1921. In view of the proximity of the Wellington Post Office the facilities already provided were considered satisfactory. If the request was agreed to it would be necessary to increase the staffs. A member" of the chamber remarked that the present system did not/appear to he a very progressive one. The chairman said the matter might be furtMer pressed at a later date.

Stromr exception" to the number of prosecutions levelled against motorists for allegedly exceeding the speed, limit on the Hutt road on race days was expressed by members at the annual meeting of the Wellington Automobile Club last night, Mr. C. M. Banks, the president, moved: "That the large number of prosecutions after every race meeting (130 last week), and the many indignant protests received by the club from members, indicate that speed limits nf 12, 15. and 20 miles are unreasonably low. and exceeded every day by all motorists. The club, therefore, considers that the limits should be raised to allow of speeds which- careful and considerate motorists usually travel at." Mr. K. Leslie Jones protested at the methods .which were adopted in "trapping" .motorists. Why should the special measures taken to catch motorists be resorted to on race days only and not on overy day in the year? Mr. A. N. Field thought it would be better if motorists who were believed to be exceeding the speed limit were stopped right away instead of being served with n piece of bine paper a fortnight later. That would give a. man a chance to get some evidence. An amendment, moved by Mr. S. G. Nathan, that 'the matter lio referred to the incoming committee, was adopted. . Mr. Nathan said there were various things to consider in connection With the subject, and the club should not proceed too hastily. "I'm sure I 'don't go at 20 miles "an houi through Kaiwarra." remarked one member, "my cur can't go at that speed "' (Laughter.)

Messrs.. A. E. Allen (Welsbach Co.), J. G. Duncan" (Levin and Co., Ltd.), J. X. Hunter (Henry Hughes, Ltd.), and Gordon Snoad (Perbyshires, Ltd.) were elected members of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce yesterday.-

The Hutt road is certainly the most discussed road in the Wellington district for the moment, but the Day's Bay road must follow on a fairly good seconcl, for what it lacks in importance as an arterial road it makes up in the depth and number of its potholes. Shortly, however, it will be taken in hand by the Hutt County Council, which has nonmade arrangements for the regradine and repairing of the road throughout its entire length.

A special committee meeting of the Karon Swimming Club was held last night.to discuss the advisability of closing down the Karori baths. Want of interest on the part of the local residents was mentioned as the chief cause of the ailure of the baths, an dit was stated that it was almost useless to carry on as conditions were at present. After considerable discussion it was decided that the present committee should carry on till the beginninc Of January, when, if the same lack of interest and' enthusiasm continues, the committee will be reluctantly compelled to close down the baths. The committee, however feels sure that the residents of Karori will recognise the necessity of keeping the baths open; if only for the children's sake, and will show by their support that they appreciate the work that has been done for their benefit ■