LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15168, 6 December 1912, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

With reference., to the dispute in the baking trade, it is stated by the masterBakers that they have no desire to continue the night shift. Provided the men, following the example of the Arbitration Court, granted them sufficient time to adapt their businesses to the new conditions, the employers would be only too pleased .to fall in with the daylight start. They also point out that the increase in wages does not amount to 2s 6d per week, as alleged by Mr. Veale, the union secretary, but to 7s 6d. The union, however, shows no inclination to meet the views of the masters, and has notified them that in the event of its demands not being complied with the men will--cease work on Saturday.

The new Public Trust Office is to be handed over completed to-day. Last evening the new building was inspected by the Minister for Justice (Hon. A, L. Herdman).

In order to transfer the staff of the Pacific Cable Board, now at" Norfolk Island, to Auckland, the cable steamer Iris will in all probability leave Auckland for Norfolk Island on December 21. Fifteen operators and supervisors will be brought from Norfolk arriving here on the 29th or 30th inst.

The increase in the price of leather was discussed at a conference between representatives of the Auckland Tanners' Union and the Auckland Boot Manufacturers' Association. Mr. W. H. Murray (president of the latter body) presided. The opinion was expressed by the majority of those/present that the increased price was due to the scarcity of hides on the New Zealand market, owing to the activity of overseas buyers. With regard to the conference in January next with the Minister for Customs to consider th© question of the tariff on boots and shoes, it was resolved: "That this meeting agrees to support the. boot manufacturers at the coining conference with the Minister for Customs in the direction of securing a more adequate tariff on boots and shoes." '

The Kaipara Steamship Company, which, owing to the unsatisfactory conditions prevailing, ceased operations some months ago, has been purchased as a going concern by Mr. Geo. Niccol. Mr. H. R. J. Short,, of the firm of L. D. Nathan and Company, Limited, was appointed liquidator, and has been engaged for some time past in making arrangements for the disposal of the steamers and plant of the company. Final arrangements were completed last week, and the affairs of the company were taken over by Mr. Niccol on Monday last. It is understood that £10,000 was paid for the business.

The Commonwealth cable between Thursday Island jind Australia broke last, week in Torres Strait. Repairs have not yet been completed owing to no steamer being available. As the cable ship- Iris, now in Auckland Harbour may have to carry out the work, she now lies in readiness to leave at any time for Torres Strait.

The reduction of grades and curves on the Mam Trunk line is still providing employment, for many workmen. The work at Tuakau and Buckland has been completed, and the 'new line is now in use Gangs are now working at Pukekohe, where the grade has been so reduced that the new line is 16ft below the level of the present permanent way. The new station la .needy finished, and the'traffic will be diverted to the improved line early next montu. Other work is proceeding south tut **

An improved suburban train service hj# been the subject of agitation by the Ellfirg*: lie Town Board and the Otahuhu Borough, Council for •''some months past. ;• Tk£ organisers of the movement applied to the Minister for Railways (Hon. VV." H. berries) for a suburban train from Otahuhu reaching Auckland about 8.20 a.m. for the convenience of those who start worfer'at 8.30 a.m., and who, under the present conditions, can only reach Auckland either at 7.45 or 8.45 a.m. A reply to the representations made has been received from the Minister to the effect that the extra train cannot be run without entailing anothcr«r- : vice, which cannot be given at present, and therefore he is unable to accede to therequest. It is pointed out by some of those concerned in the agitation that on two pre. vious occasions two extra trains had been put on for three months, and had been, particularly wejl patronised, and it is. considered that if the new train were put on it would be patronised iust as well. 'It is intended to interview the Minister ononis next visit to Auckland, and to lay the case very fully before him.

Strong remarks regarding sanitary'con. ditions at the construction camps were made at an inquest the other day on the death of a child at Maungaturoto, on the North Auckland Trunk line, it beine alleged that the conditions were most'insanitary. These allegations, according to later reports, seem to have been considerably exaggerated. An inspector from the Public Health Department made a,itour of the district last week, and lug report of the conditions is by no means severe. One or two matters, however, that have come under his notice since have been attended to. Most of the men, who number about 80, have their own private tents' and do not use the Government housing at all. : ': *

The frequent application made in he','''' Magistrate's Court for adjournment in judgment summons cases evoked some caustic criticisms from Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M., yesterday. He suggested that'frequently judgment summonses were issued upon the sworn affidavit of some person as to the debtor's ability to pay, withoai first making any real inquiries as to their financial position. Then, adjournment after adjournment was asked for uv.thu , ! hopes that something in the meantime ' > might be got out of the debtor by tin ! 5 threat of bringing the case to a climax. v ':P The law, said Mr. Kettle, wasi: not in- '-'M tended for that. If people only knew the > M law they would come to the Ckrartfar *V oftener than they do at present, and be examined as to their means. No-order' would be made against those who showed |£ that they were not in a financial position •; to pay. On the solicitor's side it was ''II contended that many people, though perfectly well able to do so, will not pay their debts until forced to do so by the '' law. * fi

The big cable steamer Silvertown. haj : . every appearance of an old-time British frigate, as she now lies at anchor in the \, Auckland harbour. She has naturally at- < ■'■:':'' tracted large numbers of people to tin": waterfront during the .past few days, 'The 5 Silvertown has not always been actable steamer. She was launched at Newcastle y in 1873. Considerably over 20 years ago ; she was known under the name of Hooper, s and was employed in the carriage; &f live' • stock from New York to London, in the ?-\ days when refrigerating machinery was in'§lf its infancy. The vessel used' to leave-New ;' '! York regularly with about 1200 cattle on .vJ board. She was engaged in that calling :: for some considerable time, 'and - subset?' quently passed into the hands of the', . India Rubber Gutta Percha and Telegraph, Works Company, Ltd., for thejworh of " laying ocean cables, for which she *' well - suited. : The Silvertown. is a\ttj|6^,<^'<,'M' ! 4935 gross and, 3724 nett tons, has {«» ■ decks, and & fitted with wirelesji telfr | ' graphy. ~ | The criticism that Ministers neglect their 7, duties in Wellington to travel about th ! • Dominion cannot be levelled against the " ' Minister for Justice. Mr. Herdman en-

tered upon his Ministerial duties, early in July, and since then he has devoted \ himself to them with such application he has not been away from the capital' ■ city until his present visit to Auckland •' TT 1 1 . ' ' ' He has now entered upon an importwli; ' j tour of the prisons, with a- view -ia ac- ; quainting himself with their internal ad*" ministration, and the programme which to." has in view will entail much arduous worl , j that will leave little time for pleasure. ' " With the Public Service Commiesioi.: appointments, the Waihi trouble, Depart-, ' j' mental and professional work following ; immediately upon the session," he said to "i a Herald reporter last evening, "I have had my hands full lately, and I am rathe? glad to be able to escape for a day or ,; two.'' '■■■-■'■"■\ ■ 'V,, \

The raising of dost in the city by tb»'£-,[. <\ Tramway Company's sprinkler is, in th*,i opinion of Mr. W. E. Bush (city engineer)/' inevitable. In a report to the Newmarket... . Borough Council, Mr. Bush says: "As», general rule, on most of the streets ill : Auckland there is so much dust mow? ■, lating at or near the side channels as M. •■'. make watering by any mechanical sprinkle':; liable to raise the dust., The real remedy" ;• lies in vigorous action, such as thail taken . ,; by yourselves in connection with the pro* '! ■ per construction of roads." . ' '~ I The erection of new engine-sheds a* New | market will not be commenced for some ..J months. A site for the new building M J being excavated. Plans for the -new rail- :i| way yards on the reclamations Mechanics ■ J Bay are in preparation, and until the I 0V u A mation of the new goods yards' i* ■ ad " J vanced, other parts of the scheme for the ;:■ improvement of the railway arrangements will be deferred. ■'■:■' Vi'?l2''•' V.vv-l Immigrants find the difficulties of clear- s . ing heavily-wooded land, v , of tracking , ;l through acres of sand in some parte bad . v; enough, but these hardships (says, our . ,> Sydney correspondent), are as : nothing ' , compared with the task of grappling with ■ ' the nomenclature in certain agricultural-;j,j districts. The West Australian Govern- Mi ment, for instance, started off by giving; jjj| to new districts such native names as?|l Wyalcathem, Cowergabbie, WidgemoolthajM Popanyinning, Noggojerring. These were || capped recently by Benjabberirig,'-Gobble- < I gutting, and liikiepinkie. In New,-,1 South Wales there are scores of extra- ; j ordinary names, such as Cuppacumbalong. j and Jerrabomderra, near Qiieanbeyao, • j Timbriebungic, Wattamondarra, gudgerry, Barranganyatti, and the familiar| , Woolloomooloo. Who, after these, would J say that Maori names are ugly? :;•■■'" ••".'%

A party of members of the Waikat* .; Farmers' Club, Cambridge, accompanied., by several ladies, visited the Ruakura farm-, of instruction yesterday (telegraphs ouj •■; Hamilton correspondent). They .inspected,-, the various works and experiments being , carried out. Considerable interest iwj|g taken in the general work of thejarm, but especially in the excellent results being o>, g taineel in the direction of seed selection. | The success which has resulted from;&§|| labours of Mr.' Green (horticulturist) ||| connection with the production tl ft*|9h|Sß resisting oat are particularly From- a single head selected in 1908 ||gj are now five acres of crop at. the to lo ' ; which are perfectly free from * any; '$J%|jl of rust, although growing alongside: : varieties which are affected. ,' ** 1 this year, to place the pat in ; '.'W*?|§jj!||P