LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17329, 28 November 1919, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The pressure upon the Main Trunk express service this week has been extreme. Last evening's train, comprising the usual ten passenger cars, besides postal and other vans, was crowded from end to end, carrying about 325 passengers, and a large number of would-be travellers were left behind at the Auckland station, to say nothing of those who might wish to board the train at way stations. The expressions of disappointment on the countenances of knots of people who found themselves stopped at the barriers because, though possessed of tickets, they had not booked reserved seats, betokened w'desgread ignorance on the part of the public as to present-time conditions of traffic. No person can be guaranteed a passage on the express trains nowadays unless he has booked a seat in advance.

The subject of the improvement of the roads between Auckland and Hamilton and Auckland and Helensville is to be d'sCTissed at a conference of local bodies' representatives in the Chamber of Commerce this morning. The conference, which sat on a previous occasion, was convened by the Manukau County Council. The Auckland Chamber of Commerce yesterday appointed delegates to represent the chamber at the conference.

Concessions on the tramways continue to be sought by various organisations and individuals, in spite of the fact that the City Council has laid down the policy of granting none pending an investigation of the financial position at the end of the first six months of its ownership of the undertaking. At last evening's meeting of the council a request was received from the Dominion Boy Scouts for permission for boys in scouts' uniform to travel on tho tramcars at half the ordinary rates when on church parade on Sundays, and when on duty on Saturdays. The application was referred to the Public Services Committee.

An inspection of the 2000 acres of Rancitaiki' Swamp property offered for sale by Mr. Thomas Seccombe, was carried out recently by the Land Purchase Board, with a view to acquiring th e land for settling returned soldiers. The property is about twelve miles from Whakatane by the Ma tat a main road, and reaches to within half a mile of the East CoiLst railway.. A portion of the land will probably have to be drained by the Department before it is opened. The report of the Land Purchase Board will be submitted to the . Commissioner of Crown Lands, Mr. H. M. Skeet, as soon as it has been completed.

The residents of Onehunga have been requested to be economical in the use of the water owing to a mishap to one of the 60-horse-power suction gas engines at the pumping station. On Wednesday evening a flaw was discovered in the " boss" of the flywheel of this engine, and it had to be put out of action at once, leaving only- one engine to pump water into the reservoir. Repairs are expected to be completed to-day. The new auxiliary gas engine installed some months ago is still partially dismantled owing to a broken cog in the wheel.

For the purpose of founding a home for dogs, the inspector of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Mr. H. Alder, applied to the City Council in a communication received last evening, for the lease of a piece of land in Stanley Street. The application was declined on the motion of the Deputv-Mayor. Mr. A. J. Entrican, who said that such an institution would be a nuisance in the city area. An amendment by Mr. P. M. Mackay that the matter go to the Reserves Committee was defeated.

Resentment was expressed at the general meeting of the Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association last evening at the action of the recent conference of commanding officers in deciding that part of the Expeditionary Force band instruments should go to territorials and the balance sold. The position is that the Auckland Association had applied for some of the instruments, so that an association band could be formed. It stated that most of the instruments had been provided by patriotic associations, or by the soldiers themselves, and it was contended that a few colonels had no more right to decide how the instruments should be disposed of than a few privates. It was decided to take action with a view to securing sufficient instruments to equip an association band.

The question of the lines of communication between Melbourne and New Zealand was referred to in a letter received yesterday by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce Council from the Victorian chamber. The letter stated that the chamber's special committee had been abie to perform much useful work. The results were shown in the fact that the Union Steam Ship Company had placed a special steamer, the Tahiti, on the run, the Commonwealth Government line had arranged for the Australford to make a special trip, the Westralia had made three separate trips, and a special trip had been made by the Malaita, carrying phosphates. The Melbourne Chamber of Commerce asked that kindred bodies in the Dominion brim.' pressure to bear on the New Zealand Government to support its activities.

The proposed tennis lawns in Stanley Street were the subject of a communication received last evening by the City Council from the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association. The writers asked that the arrangements made in February, 1915, regarding the formation of these lawns be now ratified, but that the rentals be made easier. They suggested that, in view of the cost of construction, about £1200, the council allow the first year rent free, and charge for the next two years £10 per annum, any further term to be net more than £25 per annum. It was pointed out that the scheme would help several hundred young people to obtain recreation close to the city, and that the front portion of the Domain would be beautified at no expense to the city. The lawns would be kept in a creditable manner, at a cost of from £200 to £300 per annum to the association. The matter was referred to the Reserves Committee. *

We have gone through tribulation at the front and at home, said Mr. R. Aldrick, secretary to the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association, in an address to the Auckland Association last evening, but the cause of our worst troubles since our return is profiteering. Unless we can compel whatever Government goes into power to deal with this question we should go out of business. At the front we did not enjoy the work of digging a comfortable ducr-out for an officer, and w e don't like dointr very much the same tlvng now that we are home. Loud applause greeted these remarks.

The complaint of returned soldiers owning taxi-cabs that they had been debarred from using the telephones on certain of the stands in the city was recently considered by the City Council. On the recommendation of the Finance and Legal Committee, it was decided that the council should take over all the telephones on the stands and charge all licensed drivers for their use. The city solicitor, however, reported that if the proposed taking over of the telephones were carried out there would be difficulty in enforcing compliance with any conditions it might make unless a caretaker were installed at each telephone. After consideration of the point and further representations from interested parties, the council was advised by the committee last eve-ling not to alter the existing conditions on the stands. 'Ibis course was adopted.

A definite schem e for the drainage o* the area under the jurisdiction of the Takapuna Borough Council has been drawn up by the engineer, Mr. Lockie Gannon. Th e matter is to b e discussed at a meeting of the council proposed to be held shortly. Mr. Gannon will then submit further particulars, including estimates of the cost of the work.

A dozen shelters for consumptive patients are being erected on the Domain in the vicinity of the military hospital. Special culinary arrangements will be made for th e patients. These huts, which will be made as comfortable is possible, are. being erected in accordance with the policy of the Department to allow certain cases to live as near to their friends as possible.