LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13744, 8 May 1908, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

At last night's meeting of the City Council the question of. permitting .standing passengers on tr'niiicar's evoked some remarks from.Messrs. 'Knight r and Tudehope. The application of the Tramways Company for ear .licenses was before the Council, and Mr, Knight remarked that if an accident- occurred on any of the ears through overcrowding, the Council would be responsible, morally, if not legally. ■ Mr.'. Tudebope said lie "was of the same opinion as Mr. Knight, and ' had always voted against the practice. The Council was doing/wrong in allowing standing passengers. The,application was granted, the. two genlleinen mentioned recording their votes against it. Mr. Knight also complained that some of the bells ill the cars for passengers to press when they wished to alight would not register, and he asked that the electrical engineer be requested to see that they bo kept in order.

Local oyster saloonkeepers and fishmongers continue to complain of the inade-, quuey of the supplies coming forward aft* der the new system 'of '.'Stele control. Yesterday's supply, it « stated, was; not anything like equal to the demand. The price at which the bivalves are obtainable at the Government depot is 12fe-6d i«»r sack, the "good" sacks containing about 75 dozen, and hawkers on the streets ', yesterday were charging 6d for small bottles, containing from a dozen to a dozen and ahalf small oysters, whilst 4d per down was the price rating for the unopened class. ' In the shops tin average price for bottles containing about six or seven dozen was Is 6dThere, is an impression that had the Government put on more than the 25 pickets at the commencement of the season, supplies would not only have been larger, but the retail price would have been smaller. Apparently one reason for Hot employing more men was the wish to avoid having to put them off again a little later on when the demand begins to decrease, There is, however, no doubt that more pickers ought to be engaged now.

The Mayor brought under the- notice of the Finance Committee at last night's meeting of the City Council the fart that Mr. Wyllic, city electrical engineer, had received front Sydney proposals to engage his services, and that it was extremely undesirable to lose his services just now. The .committee recommended that Mr. Wyllies salary be increased from £500 to the rate of £600 per annum. 'the .Mayor slated Hint Sydney had offered Mr. WylUc a position a* second engineer at £600 per annum, and he had received other communications urging hir to accept. the appointment. Sydney was most anxious to obtain his services. During the short time Mr. Wyllic had been in the employ of the Auckland City Council he had given ample proof of his ability, and the committee had unanimously come to the conclusion that if lie was worth £600 per annum to the Sydney Corporation, he was certainly worth that amount to Auckland, which was just embarking on an important electrical undertaking. Auckland was always prepared to pay for a good man. Several other councillors spoke in eulogistic terms of Mr. WyiHe's ability, and the recommendation was adopted.

A ballot in connection with the disposal of several areas of Jand ir the Auckland district will take place at the Crown Lands Office at. 11 o'clock this morning. There are seven sections of second and third-class land in the Hahei, Te Puna, Maketu. Harataonga" and Apata districts, comprising a total area of 596 acres, and 73 sections of second-class lands, containing in all 15,816 acres. The applicants for the various sections were examined by the Crown Lands Board at a meeting of that body yesterday.

The s.s. Morayshire, which arrived from West Coast of * England ports yesterday morning, brought 75 immigrants for the Dominion, the majority of them corning from the North of England and Scotland. The bookings were as follows: —Auckland . 24, Wellington 23, Lyttelton 18, Port Chalmers 10. Mrs. Burness, a passenger, who, with her husband, was proceeding to Canterbury, died from natural causes the day before the steamer reached Capetown. ,

The chairman of the Auckland Railways league (Mr. G. L. Peacocke) has forward-, ed a letter to the Minister for Railways, drawing attention to ail instance in which a settler was charged an extra 15s per truck, for conveying cattle on the three or four miles between Wayby and Tanlioa stations, and urging this as a reason for . expediting the' handing . over of this section 16 the railway authorities' by the Public Works Department. He reminds the Minister that when a deputation waited upon him in reference to this matter in March last,, lie (the Minister) made a promise that the transfer would take place within a month, but that us yet nothing has been done, although it is in the month of May. "This means,"' says Mr. Peacocke, " thai' the mail who spoke to me to-day had to pay on 16 trucks from Wayby about. £12 more than he would have had to pay if the section were open for ordinary traffic. I realise that, there have probably been reasons which prevented the handing over of the section'as early as you "hoped for, but I would, submit that some arrangement might be come to between the two Departments by which this heavy extra charge on the carriage of cattle from the North, might be avoided, even before this part of the line is formally handed over to the Railway Department." !

Mr. R. R. Hunt, secretary of the Stone Company, drew the attention of the City Council last night to the fact that in the specifications of -the Towr Hall tenders Malmsbury Milestone, from Melbourne, was stipulated for, while his company, he claimed, had a much superior stone, viz.', Mtoehau granite, which they offered at the same rate. Since the iawring of the specifications a clause had been added regarding local bluestone and Oamaru stone, but this did not cancel the stipulation that Malmsbury stone was to be used in certain parts. The company asked that local industry be given a chance. : The city engineer reported that he was gathering all the information possible on the subject, to lay before the architect when he arrived. The matter was referred to the Town Hall Committee.

A strong effort is being made by the Auckland branch of the Civil Service Association to get all the local Government employees to join that organisation, and the secretary, Mr.' Frascr MacKenzie, has personally "visited the offices for that end. The association aims at being recognised as the mouthpiece of. the public service, and to attain this position it is felt that even' member of the service should be enrolled as a member. It is not the aim of the organisation to be antagonistic to the Government or the regulations, but it desires to stand as an official avenue whereby any grievances, suggestions, etc., relating to the welfare of the public service generally may be made in a proper and constitutional way to the Government.

Inspector Gillies, in the course of an interview at Christchurch, said he was astounded at the growth of the North Island. Eight or nine years ago, he said, when he • was in charge of the Wanganui district, Taihape was a settlement with one or two houses in it. "Now it was a thriving town, and there were many such places in the North Island. The island was waking up to its possibilities, and it would carry the whole of the Dominion's population now with ease. The future before such land as was being opened tip was wonderful to contemplate, and he was confident that the North Island would become a laud of plenty. ' . _ ■ ■ ' This.autumn has been one of- the most congenial ever experienced in the Waikato (writes our Hamilton correspondent), which will go very far towards compensating farmers for -the long drought experienced early in the year. The growth of grass liar, been phenomenal, and turnips are growing splendidly. • On account of the large' amount of advertising matter, and also to ensure correct classification, advertisers ■ for Saturday's issue of the Hkiuld are requested to send ■in their advertisements as early as possible to-day.

. The annual conference of delegatus *nm f ', < ] the various hospital and chttritabb *j| I ', boards in the Dominion has been filed t» ' lake place in Wellington ir* the ,*eca*i week in .Tune. The Auckland Board has eelectetT'thc chairman (Mr. 0. Knight) *nd , Mr. h. J. Bagnall to represent it. The , secretary (Mr. H. N. Garland; will probably also attend. The conference will, " :,, amongst other matters', consider: and disco** s|«i§ the new Hospital Bill. At ■» meeting a? the Wnihi Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, on Wednesday evening .(telegraph* ■ ~'' our correspondent), Messrs. M. *-'•■ Tower ;f| and J. Seariton were appointed delegate* ■".;•'£ to represent the board at the conferenc*. Mr. Power, in commenting on the Bill, pointed,out-That if it was placed on the statute!", Waihi would become « sub- -> '■ district under the immediate control of * ; central board sitting, at the Thame*, and ? j having jurisdiction over the Thame*, | Ohinemuri, and Coromandel districts, and v ; all boroughs therein. The Board would " ; consist of one or more members for «ach ,'i" sub-district, which would mean that th* ; existing districts would lose their individuality, and that in Gift case of Waihi the ?' : borough would rind the money but practic-j t; ally have no power or say in the control of, : % the hospital in their immediate district, | * nor could they make a by-law or tot * | contract. '■ ' ■% .-' Dairying is rapidly becoming » staple; I industry along the Main Trunk line. Al- | though the present - season has been wilier. J a bad one, the indications are that butter- ; producing is going to grow by leaps and bounds when the railway is through, though sawmilliitg now bulks large in the district from Mangaweka. northward. Th* Taihapc Dairy Company has had « large • increase in its milk supply, which will be-, augmented as the bin-h comes down, and-f the factory there is expected to become the largest in the North Island; An interesting fact in connection with this factory is that home separated cream, detested by experts, is taken iu, and so far the butterhas turned out first grade. With Ihe ad> vent of the railway, the Kaetihi dairy it now able to fend its butter by rail to Wellington. Formerly it had to be cart- ,) ©d to Pipiriki, taken from there down the "..';■.;,'. river to Wanganui, by boat, and thence by ;* . rail to the grading stores at Paka. The saving in cost of working is therefore tery great. Alter being installed as Mayor ot Birkenhead for a further term on Wednes- - day evening Mr. A. Keyes referred to, the steady progress being made in the dis- ■>)->,.. Irict. Although the electric cars in Auck- ! . land, he said, had retarded the district*: ,': for a time, the tide had turned, and he * '<, believed when the works in progress Rt'.\. - j the wharf were completed, the district would forge ahead. He hoped that during , ;.. the year the Council would make a busi- ~ , ness-like arrangement, whereby the resi- . dents would have an ample water supply : t : for the district. 1 Over 400 residents of the northern por- :\ tion of Ponsonby petitioned the City Coun- > I cil at last night's meeting to take steps to arrange for the continuance of Harbour- < street to Beaumont-street, affording a di- . |' reel road, available for vehicles as well a* v foot passengers. In connection with Cm ~';■'.:•; same matter a strong deputation waited on >{■ , the Council urging this improvement. The !* Mayor pointed out that the land required • did' not belong to the Council. There ■> wore several ways in- which the difficulty might be overcome. The residents might obtain access through the Gas Company's property if they were prepared to enter : . into a bond to take the liability for all - risks of accident. He felt sure that if .. the company was (satisfied in that direction •l; a temporary roadway could be arranged for, ,', to meet the case until something was done .' for oil lime. The matter was referred to .' the Works Committee. ;,J

The plans of the new Wellington 'Post:,'' . Office are how completed, and «re being - copied (telegraphs our correspondent). Ibe Government architect (Mr. J. Campbell) | hopes that by the time the site is cleaved of the old buildings,' which are now in | process of removal, the, Public Works D«~ partment will be ready to invite tender* , for the construction of the building. There * has never been a building erected in New * Zealand, Mr. Campbell 'states, for which ; ' so many drawings were required .in connection with the plans. The drawings covet no less than.2l sheets of extraordinarily t» large size, and eight sheets are taken rip v,'with drawings ot the steel work requirements. The unusually large number of drawings needed is explained by several , : causes. The present building must be re- . constructed almost completely internally to suit the scheme of the additions, and th« / back wall will also have to be rebuilt to . make it a divisional instead of an external wall. The large amount of steel work to ; be used in construction and the somewhat' intricate requirements of the Postal Department on six floors are other factors that ' • entail heavy architectural work. A public meeting "was held in Norfolk', .; Island a fortnight ago. to consider the ad- ' || visibility of the island being plated under ■;., the Commonwealth. After considerable dtecusHion, Mr. 0. M. Quintal moved, and * Mr. Joseph' Quintal, .sen., seconded:— ,/» " That a petition be signed by a committee • i appointed by this meeting, and forwarded j to His Majesty the King, that it is not. • advantageous to the true interests of Nor- 1 folk Island that we .should be connect &l \ || by transfer or annexation in any manner j y or shape with the Commonwealth of Aw- i || tralia, on account of (1) the very high tariff j :* in shape of protection, (2) racial policy, (5) | || unsalable market for our produce, ('!){ '•',*, other reasons." The motion was carried by J4B (22 women) to 11. An amendment proposed oy the Rev. R. Nobbs," seconded by Mr. C. C. R. Nobbs: " That this meet- ; ing be adjourned until a copy of the draft-' Bill arrives," was negatived by 51 (includ- ./ ing 21 women) to 14 voles. #f The speck' correspondent of the Dunedin Star telegraphed that there was a little * mild excitement in Invert-argil! recently, caused through Mr. Tom Leydoii, an old University footballer, finding near the heads a large piece of what was supposed to be ambergris. It weighed 441.b, and the '• '■ value was estimated at £3000- 'the stuff, "*: however, turned out to be nothing better than a lump of paraffin jettisoned from =. some passing ship, and worth about half a -j sovereign. 'Die tinder carried hi** prize 1C -"j miles, so that instead of being rewarded \ at the rate of £300 pet mile for his labour, ' U he gets only Is a mile. \i Speaking at the Mayoral installation at ■ Dtinedin the* retiring Mayor expressed the opinion that the law com-':"';;: pelling the whole' of the,''councillors to ; ; vacate office at on<e. was totally wrong. Councillors really occupied the position of . a board of directors, and it seemed (to- ~.'■■■■ A gether unreasonable that there should not be a certain continuity of office, He would . like to see councillors elected for three years, and a percentage ■retire each year. f He was also of opinion that the municipal accountancy had not advanced in propor- -;l | ion to the trading undertakings by ditfcren't corporations throughout the Do- | minion, anil considerable improvement ■. i might be effected. He felt "certain if Parlitunent were approached legislation covining both points he had raised could he - easily obtained. An English mail, via Suez, will be due V at Auckland from Sydney by the- Moana en , , Sunday next, :■'■■■••:■ . • .:, '% " .'■■: ,'.": '.' L ' .:• / , ,-; 1 ' ~: /: "-''' : '''''' l ':' '"'■'■ '^'Jjjli ■r.>'iV ■'. ■:'-'■ ''V 'y^'y : .'\y4yQjy:' : 'ir. ■■'-'■. :'■■;-i^3^^

■ ' The Finance Committee of the City Coun-. - .t roconimcinh'd last night that the salaries ■- cl t jj o municipal' staff bo adjusted as fob? '. ? -.„■— C'itv treasurer, maximum £500, to ■ '•' " , te4icht , d °. v five annual increments ofgs l chief clerk and cashier, maximum £300, I- ■. *! lie reached by four annual increments \ '°f i'2o and one of £14; clerk, maximum *""' : "£2O& to be reached by one annual, incre- . en t, ; ,if £10; meter clerk, maximum £180, « S itt be reached by one annual increment of. ■'■■.. AjQ; junior clerk and cashier, maximum ■■•■-"■" £150. to* he reached by four annual increments of £10 and one of-£ls; junior clerk, maximum £150", to be, reached by one annual increment of £10 and one of £5. The jroinmciidation was adopted. - • Attention was drawn by the districthealth orficcr at the meeting of the City IV,' Cctmcil; last night 1 to complaints which arc made-from time to time as to the cost of "'disinfectants' to householders. Recently, [ '■ in a case of sep'ticseinia, the proprietor of I a c ity hotel had to pay no less than 15s. In most modern cities, it- was pointed out, no charge was made to householders for clls- • ? infection, .'and. .Dr.- I'urdy strongly urged ;C upon the Council the adyisableness of doing ' this work gratis. The practice had been ■ ,- a '.three -year* ago by they Lynn. : The matter was referred to th. Works : Committee. l'% A trial run over, the Mount Eden Road :: section of ■,!lie tramways' was hel£ yesterday morning,'when a. car was taken along (he lull length of the line, from Svmonds- .: street to the terminus, and back. Amongst 'those present were Mr. J. J. Wilkin | ■ general manager of the Tramways Com- j pany), Mr. Lysaght (traffic manager), Mr. j 0. Nicholson (Mayor of Mount Eden), a ; number of borough councillors. Messrs. Edwards (representing Messrs. McLean and .:"'•' Sons, contractors). Stewart (engineer), and Greagh (assistant engineer). The run was in every way .satisfactory, and as- soon as the .necessary authority is given by thd^ j' Public Works Department the service will j . be Inaugurated. • : - ' Some monthr ago,; the request of the Unehunpa Borough Council and the Man- : ure Road Board, extensive boring operations and an examination of the Mangere 1 bridge and site were carried out by the chief Ungitieer, Mr. Wilson. '. As the result, Mi. "'-: Wilson has drawn up complete plans and Opacifications for the construction of a new | bridge, favouring hardwood. These plans I : and specifications will come before the l Boad Board and the Council in the ordinary course, after which a. conference of both bodies will be arranged to discuss the posi%lj. J lion. '■■ ■■'..'■.'■ - "■ , A poll was taken in the Remuera district - yesterday for the election of two represenl tatives to the Road Board. There were f. - five candidates, viz., Messrs. C. A. Cawkwll and J. Dempsey (t he retiring members), Messrs F. H. Lenard and A. G. Pilking- \ ton (advocates of." the continuation of the I: 'bus service down Victoria Avenue), and '*' Mr. T. Wright. Keen interest was manifested 'in the election, which resulted in the return of Messrs. Dempsey and Cawkwell, ■ who secured 259 and 258 votes, respectively H* Mr Pilkington wax the next highest, with 229 votes in his favour; Mr. next -- -with 147. and Mi. Wright last with only • fe ■'•'; 10 A poll was also taken yesterday for ' tic election of two representatives to the J . trondute Road Board, and resulted in the I return of Messrs. J. Patter and S. J. Best. -The third candidate, Mr. T. ; H. Sparge, ~' received 74 votes, or nine less than Mr. ||) Best.

The barque Criffel, bound from New- " . m tie 'to the vest' coast of South America, with ; a cargo or cwli ™ spoken in the Tasman Sea on Monday la**. i' -m ""'"--'Some anxiety regarding-the, vessel vi- occasioned by one of the lifeboat* having been picked up on April 29 by the . steomei Barrabool, bound to Newcastle r from Brisbane- The boat had probably • . been lost overboard, as very rough weather p prevailed .on the V Australian coast ..shortly. alter the Criflel's departure. The allowance to the Mayor of Auckland was fixed at £300 for the ensuing term, at ■ last night's meeting of the City Conned. At a wedding in Woodville the other ' day the officiating minister nut the, usual i question to the prospective bride, out she answered, •'! will-not promise to obey The minister had. perforce to alter the ceremony to meet the wishes of the bride. During last month 14,940 units were ~-" generated at the City d~tnc plant, of which 10,998 were sold (7009 be- ' ing for power). For the fortnight end«: May 4 three new customers for "S* 1 - were obtained, making a total of 63. All the steam power used was from the destru;I ton except on two days... ' ' 'The brewery business of Stiachan and I Co.", Dunedin, one of the oldest in the | colony, has changed hands. The purchas- > "ere are prominent shareholders in the busi- . ' ness oTSpeight and Co. It is understood * ' that other (parties were negotiating with a 1 ' view to purchase, and that the Speight folk thereupon promptly closed at the veni! dor./ figure-something over £10,000. Speaking at- the last meeting of the Wellington City Council regarding the closing hours of billiard saloons,: the Mayor said i it was ridiculous to condemn a pastime just :.' . because it was sometimes used for gambling purposes. If such a view were adoptv eel a great.many things, including even . election!,— (laughter)— would have to he i -stopped. Billiards could be made the in-, I stniment of betting, and the reports indij■ ■ '■■ued that betting was going on in some of j the saloons without the knowledge of the i ■ licensee. The by-laws provided for that, I ' . and could be made more stringent if required. He did not , see what evils could • arise in places that were open to the police I and the public, and where only soft drinks | were sold. ■ A game of billiards was far |. wore restful to a man .'whose brain was | weary with working out difficult problems f tliaa resting in bed.