LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15610, 15 May 1914, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Tm: Government steamer Tutanckai arrived in port from Wellington, at two o'clock yesterday afternoon, and preparations for the voyage to Rarotonga were immediately. commenced. The Tutanekai will sail early to-morrow morning in company with H.M.S. Philomel, and it is expected that the vessel will arrive at Rarotonga on May 25. His Excellency the Governor and the Countess of Liverpool will travel in the Tutanekai from island to island during their official visit to the Cook Islands.

The statement made in the Police Court on Wednesday, by a defendant in the cases connected with the overcrowding of theatres, to the effect that overcrowding was permitted in the Town Hall, was referred to at the meeting of the City Council last evening.. Some of the councillors referred to the fact that large numbers of people were standing at the recent, meetings addressed by the Prime Minister and Sir Joseph Ward, and the opinion was expressed that the council, as the makers of the by-law, should not bo the breakers of it, but that steps should bo taken to prevent overcrowding in future. The acting-Mayor (Mr. A. J. Entrican) said the matter was now under consideration and it would come before the next meeting.

Several thefts from unattended motorcars have been reported to the police lately, rugs and other articles being missed by the owners of the cars when they return after. a temporary absence. An arrest was made yesterday by Detective Scott of a man who is alleged to have stolen a valuable rug from a motor-car which had been left unattended for a few minutes. The accused will be charged in the Police Court this morning.

The letter from the Minister for Public Works stating that the Auckland trams were being run reasonably toll came before the City Council last night. The Acting-Mayor (Mr. A. J. Entrican) remarked that the position seemed to him most unsatisfactory. He added that the present state of affairs provided further evidence that the- City Council should have control of the tramcars. 'With the control in Wellington no satisfaction could be obtained. The letter was referred to the Electric and Water Committee for a report.

The authorities of Epsom are evidently determined to put a stop to high-speed motoring within the district. Some little time ago a number of motorists appeared at the Polico Court for exceeding the 16mile speed limit on the Manukau Road, fines being imposed in each case. Yesterday six more drivers—Arthur Mainland, H P. Bevis, Charles Osborne, Michael McCarthy, A. R. Williams, and E. McCoy—were charged with the same offence, the speeds taken by an inspector and a constable all being in the vicinity of 30 miles per hour. The excuse offered by the defendants was that the day on which the offences took place was Good Friday, and the stoppage of the tramcars had greatly lessened the street traffic. A fine of £1 and costs 10s was inflicted in each case, Mr. Frazer remarking that had the streets not been fairly clear on the day of the-"speeding-up," the amount would have been greater.

As previously reported, an arrangement was made with the City Council by the Exhibition Amusements Company, a few weeks ago for the re-opening of "Wonderland" for' six months next summer from November 6. It was agreed that the company, in return for the concession, should pay the council a sum of £1000 plus 10 per cent, of the excess of the gross takings abovo an estimated amount. The fixed sum of £1000 was afterwards reduced to £900. and it was agreed that a deposit of £500"-should be paid by the company. At a meeting of the Finance Committee of the City Council on Monday last it was decided that unless the company pays the deposit and executes the agreement within ten days the council will charge a rental of £5 a week as long as the structures remain on the Domain. The action of the committee was confirmed by the council last night.

| A discussion in regard to the use of the j oily map at the City Council'? offices took | place at last night's meeting of the counj cil. The city engineer recommended that j in view of the fact that the allocation for the map for the current year had been reduced, a charge of Is should be made for permission to inspect or copy any portion of the map. Mr. R. Tudehope said that the ratepayers had already paid for the map, and they should be allowed to consult it without payment. If it was desired to make a tracing a charge might be made. Mr. P. M. Mackay agreed with Mr. Tudehope. The city engineer stated that the map was used very largely by architects and land agents, who also frequently made tracings, for which no doubt they made a charge to their clients. The free use of the map prevented people from buying the copies of the map, which the council had been to the expense of having printed. The proposed charge would really be a protection to the ratepayers, many thousands of whom never consulted the map. Mr. P. J. Nerheny opposed the making of a charge for consulting the map, although he was not averse to a charge being made for permission to take tracings. After a few further remarks the matter was referred to the Works Committee.

The delegates to the conference of the Farmers' Union in Auckland on May 20, 21, and 22, will, represent 81 branches, with a total membership of over 3000. The membership has about doubled during the year, over 20 new branches having been formed. On the second day of the conference a smoke concert will be held, at which Ministers and members of Parliament have been invited to be present. This gathering has been substituted for the dinner usually held.

A suggestion that a shelter for people waiting for tramcars should be erected in the vicinity of St. Paul's Church, Symonds Street, was made by Mr. J. M. Meinie at last evening's meeting of the City Cjonctl. He pointed out that many people caugh' the trams at this point, and, during the winter, were much inconvenienced by the wet weather. He asked that the Electric Committee should look into the matter.

A long discussion on the question of establishing freezing works in the Waikato, and the amalgamation effected between the Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company and .the proposed Waikato company took place, at the Waikato Graziers' Association meeting at Hamilton yesterday, says our correspondent. The opinion was expressed thit the proposed arrangement would provo the most satisfactory under tho circumstances, as it would b6 disastrous to ha*'e two farmers' companies working against one another in the same district. With the added capital promised by the Waikato farmers and the increase in the number of directors it was held that before long tho farmers should have control of the business instead of "Having it controlled in Auckland as at present and would be able to stork it 'in their own interests. . '.;

< The statement that game snoolin 1 been absolutely prohibited in Skm bourhoodofSt.John'sL^^^ mqumes to be made/as to whether. t S' dutoct » really included a '*£ shooting sanctuaries" mentioned! M Government circular. When the atW ' of Mr. W. H. Hazard (president Auckland Acclimatisation Society) < drawn to the matter yesterday, somelm certainty was expressed by him' as 7 whether St. John's Lake is at' pr i & protected area. It was staled that '■? such was not the case it ought to be J looted, and it necessary steps , in J"J direction would probably be taken » t i meeting of tho society to be held shortly In any case tho mallard duck on St John's Lake were included in the proU" ing order. : "It is the first time I have ever been before the 'beak,'" was the unusual « mark of a defendant at the Police Court yesterday, when he was offering a number of reasons why he should not be .fined heavily for exceeding the speed limit, "I did not catch your remark," Ea Mr Frazer, with a suspicion of a smile "T said it was the first time I have ever'been before tho Bench," replied the defendant with perfect composure. »

Two oversea vessel?, a Government steamer, and a large number of coastal boats arrived in port yesterday, and one overseas steamer, one Government steamer one large cargo vessel, and a large number of coastal boats departed. The New Zealand Shipping Company's steamer Tongariro arrived from London and brought a very large consignment of general merchandise for Auckland. The vessel's cargo j for this port totals 8200 tons (including a number of motor-rare) and this is said to be one of the largest cargoes landed here. The Tongariro also brought a small quantity of South African and Australian mail matter. Tho Glasgow steamer Borderer arrived from Banbury (West Australia) with 2,500,000 ft of jarrah timber, 532,000 ft of which is for Auckland. The departures included fiie New Zealand Shipping Company's steamer Opawa, which left for Waitara and Wellington to complete Homeward loading, the cargo steamer Poherua and the Government steamer Hinemoa, which left for the East Coast lighthouses.

A letter from the Under-Secretary for, Internal Affairs has been received by the Auckland Suburban Local Bodies' Association in reference to its request to the Prime Minister for an amendment to the • Fire Brigades Act of 1908. The communication states that the Government proposes to introduce an amendment enailing districts to combine for the economical provision of fire brigades. As the law now stands a poll must bo taken before the creation of a fire district, a bare • majority of votes in favour being all that is necessary.

Recent arrivals at Sydney from British naval ports to join the local service, say that Australia, so far as the Royal Navy is concerned, is being well. advertised by means of Australian 'fauna. Whale Island, the principal gunnery school, has a miniature zoo, which promises soon either to succumb by its own prosperity as being an intrusion, or to develop into a respectable show ground by the same token. The latest addition to, the collection are a number of wallabies from Australia. Already there were a pair of kangaroos, but one has since died. "The kangaroos and wallabies," said one of the returned visitors, "are all right in their way; they are typical Australians, but they do not appeal to the average sailor so much as do the cockatoos and galahs."

..Including boys ( born in 1900 who at« due to register their names for service this year, there are at present 180,993 senior cadets liable for training in the six military districts of the Commonwealth. Of the latest quota 32,886 have already sent in their names, although they will not bo drafted into the lines until Jnly. The. number of lads liable for duty with the area- units at the end of the third quarter of the financial year was 88,729, of whom 86,577 had responded to the call to arms, there being only 487 " shirkers" in Victoria out of a total enrolment ot 27,997. ' % .'J

More than once since the inception of thd Commonwealth immigration polity have thero been suggestions that a spinsters' union should be formed. On on* occasion it was enthusiastically discussed in New South Wales, because a cable, message from London appeared in the: press stating that a shipload of widows was being despatched to Sydney. Some of the young men of that city were interested enough to write to the immigration authorities for' detailed information and photographs of the widows, much to, the indignation of local matchmakers and eligible misses. The widows duly .'arrived, and, as far as can be ascertained, were happily married. This.week (according to the Age) there will.be three more prospective brides landed in Melbourne from the steamer Belt-ana. These young ladies have been nominated .by their intended husbands for passages at reduced fares and are to "trip" to the altar as soon as they land.

Victoria is at present devoting a deal of attention on tho teaching of domestic economy in all its branches, in the girls colleges and schools. Mr. Frank Tate, Director of Education in Victoria, stated last week that in addition to the College of Domestic Economy, there was a hostel where 30 girls could be accommodated as, residents for a two years' course. They were granted each a Government allowance on which they were required to conduct the place, just as they would conduct a home on a salary. The allowance was, with tho practice of economy, sufficient, and to spare. A special feature 0. college training in domestic economy was what was known as the "engagementring." This was a separate class, comprised solely of girls who were contemplating early marriage; hence its titleAn engagement ring was a qualification for entry into this select little circle. The idea had become very popular, and somo good work was being done. Girls were taught not only how to become good housewives in the matter of every work, and the art of making the most out of every penny spent, but, under medical supervision, they were instructed in the principles of hygiene as affected the person and the home.

A method of treating timber by elec- -• ': tricity was explained by Frederick Arthur ■>-. j Alcock, managing director of Alcock Pro- ■• ; prietary, Ltd., in giving evidence before -y; : _ the Commonwealth Powellising Commis- , • ■ sion last week. He said that his firm ~. had tested the powellising process on ».:•' V parcel of timber, but had not been satis- --.. fied. Some of the timber split. Better :■. • results had been secured by an electrical ~ process. The firm's method was to pass -.. an electrical current through the timber. - The sap conducted the current, which . opened the cells, thus permitting qm<* evaporation. Timber 12ft in length w&m lft in width was given eight hours seasoning. After the electrical process naa «| been applied the timber was left a «*S stack for at least six months. The result, , ■...,, had been satisfactory, and in the case °KWM blackwood magnificent. Only «««!Sffl was a board thus treated found to M" . been warped, i.' • ».." 'y^p