TOPICS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4305, 14 March 1901, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY

THE BUILDING TRADE. The relations between the sawmillers and the ■ builders are not quite satisfactory on one or two points just now, The builders say that when the recent increase in the price of timber was decided upton, they tlid not get sufficient notice of the step, and this they regard as a distinct grievance, especially in jobbing work, where figures had been quoted- based < n th e p rices form cr] y ru I - ing.' For tlieir part, the snwinillers reply to this that it was impossible for them to give any notice, seeing. ..that they gob/none’themselves. The country millers, they say, raised the price without notice, and this left the town millers no option; in the matter. - -“What is the reason for the increase' in: price?” a Wellington sawmiller was asked by n representative of the “ New Zealand Times ’’ yesterday. “ Simply this—that the country millers have to meet increased expense now that they have to go back further into the bush,’’ was the reply. “Timber is getting scarce, and the cost of procuring it is consequently going up.” When the reporter pointed out another factor lie hail previously heard mentioned as increasing the oost -/■namely,-, that the country millers cannot get labour, owing to the departure of so many men for the war—his informant tgroed that no doubt that also had something to do with it. Another wish of the builders is. that they should be allowed a, discount of about 10 per cent. This question was discussed yesterday. amongst other matters, at a conference, between representatives of tlie Sarwmillerst Assooiatvin, ■ and the builders, hud it was decided that- the as. sooiation should communicate with the millers in other places on this subject, and, give their decision at a later date. ...

TRAVELLERS’ GRIEVANCES, j A gentleman who has just returned , from a visit to Wanganui complains of the accommodation' provided for travellers on the Palmerston-Wanganui section of railways. He went. Infra Wellington on a recent Monday, ami on alighting from the Wellington. ami Manawatu Company’s ■ train discovered that all tho available room in the carriages of the Government mail train were taken up, except iu ii “smoker,” which the ladies of the party were not prepared to share. Under pressure' the officials eventually put on another car. riage, but ; the accommodation was very • indifferent in comparison with that of the ■comfortable carriages in the train which the party had just left. Coming back the experience was similar. From Wanganui: to Aramoh.o the accommodation was of the best, but when the party arrived at the junction the mail train ; was again crowded. Once more it was : necessary '.to point out the fact to tho ' officials, who thereupon shunted on a j ramshackle carriage-—which liad evi- ’ dently been left in the yards for repairs, as it rattled l as it ran so muck that vyheu-the guard made an hcroic. cn. deavpiir Jto.shut the door, ho found himself unequal' to, the task.’ It was too much out of‘gear! It is not generally known that some time back the Wellington and Manawatu Company offered to start its morning train an hour Inter than at present if the Government Department would wait ten minutes longer at Palmerston North, and make up that time; between Palmerston and Wanganui. Tho offer was refused, the Government Department being evidently afraid that the accelerated service—though a great public convenience—-would ,divert traffic onto the Manawatu line. AN HISTORICAL DOCUMENT. Wanganui Museum is about to be enriched by the addition of a document of historical; value' which constitutes a rare memento of the early settlers. This is the original of a petition addressed to the. Superintendent of Wellington Province, praying him to take steps to have the name of the town altered from “Petre” to its original appellation of Wanganui., We reproduce the, petition and signatures —“ Wanganui, May 3rd, 1844.—Sir, —We have the honour to submit to you that the name given to our town—‘Petre’'—is so universally disliked that we believe there is not one in the entire community who uses or acknowledges the designation. But this arises from no factious motive, nor from any undue feeling of personality to the noble lord whose name it bears—though we can make out no private, public; local or general claim that entitles him to the distinction—but simply because the name is not appropriate either in sound or sense, and because, by its nonadoption by people generally, it is likely to be productive of confusion and mistake. W© have, therefore, to sob'eit, your Honor, that you will be pleased to represent to his Excellency the Governor the anxious -desire of the inhabitants to have reinstated the former and now well-known name, Wanganui; or, if his Excellency should prefer some

English appellation, that the patronymic he of someone entitled by public beneficial acts to such commemoration. We have the honour to subscribe ourselves, your Honor’s most obedient, hum bio servants—I 1 . Wilson, J.P., Hi chard Taylor, M.A., M. Campbell, J.P., John Nixon, J.P., George Pees, James Alexander, J. Duncanson, William Paterson, Andrew Duncan, J. Deighton, John Garner. Richard Ball, J. H. Jacobs, Sam. King, J.P., J. A. Gilfdlari. St. George Lowther, Ham no) Parkcs, W. D. Tilling, William Watt. William. Greenacre, Alvah .Smith, William John Holder, William G. Bell, Thos Tliwaites Ball, William Spring, William A. Smith, John McGregor, Alex. Alexander, John Handlev. John Colvill, B. Gordon, K. Davy, Thomas Crosbie, J. M. '-Bollards, Joseph Jones, it. ('burton. ’’ The document, which is well preserved, has official en-. dorserncnls, the first showing it to have been received on lofli May, 1814; a day .later it is docketed “ Inform, petitioners I hat their request shall be forwarded by Ibo earliest opportunity for bis Excellency’s consideration” ; and, finally, under date 17th August, 1844, is the note,

*• The Governors decision coinmunieatod to S. King, Ks(|., J.P,” This interesting record of an incident in the early his. tory of Wanganui has just been forwarded by Mr J. A. Plinnnor. of Wellington, to Mr A. D. Willis, M.H.R.. for Wanganui, with a view to its being preserved in the local museum. KELBCRNE PARK. ‘4 cannot, understand,’' writes ‘'Athlete'’ to flic editor, “all this pother about ‘Kelbimio Parkas a sports ground.’ A more impossible place lor aiblelie exercises; mm could not imagine, it is. at present a shelterless, cold, bleak spot, exposed fo every wind that blows. T.oo small as it is for cricket or football, it would cost thousands to make it suitable for any such exorcises, and oven tbeji, would nob bo' .suitable, for the reasons I have stated. Bet the City Council hand it over to the Victoria, College authorities by all means. Lot it, bo done gracefully, and at once, out nmko those authorities keep the surrounding hillsides in good order 1 , plant them, and convert them from a wilderness of gorse into pleasant, healthy promenades. Though unsuitable a.s a sports ground, Xelburne Park would make a splendid site for a largo college, and would bo convenient and accessible besides. oven if the new Kelburno tramway were not a nearly accomplished fact. Let us not, as sportsmen, act dog in tlio manger. Wo don’t want the ground. The College authorities (to. f.el (.hem have it.”

AN OIISIutVANT WELLING TONIAN.

Mi- Ilerhort Rnwson, of tills city, who lias commenced a tom- of the world, is evidently making .the best nso of his powers of observation. Writing to a, friend' in Wellington from Ceylon, Mr Rawson gives .some information which is distinctly of comparative value to-tho

people of Wellington. He says, inter alia:—“Perth strikes a stranger iis being one of the prettiest towns in'Australia, and still further teaches a Wel-lingtom-.vn what a lot we have to learn. The tram system of nearly all the Australian towns is far ahead of any in New Zealand. They would think nothing of having an electric tram to Karori. Island Bay, Eaiwarra and Miramar. Tho trams are mostly run in penny sections, and the number of people who travel is wonderful. An electric tram

would run to Miramar easily in half an

hour, stopping only at street-crossings. Another thing that strikes a Weliingtonian, at once is how far superior the Australian architecture is to ours. . . .

The tree-planting in Australia i.|, far superior to ours. Their gardens and street-planting are considered as necessary as any other City Council work, and are an. immense attraction to visi-

tors. In Wellington we seem far too fond of making money, and with our immense Town Belt do comparatively nothing to beautify it. In Australia all

the holt round! Mount Victoria would long before this have been heavily planted and made a. most beautiful reserve for the thousand's of people living in that direction. In Sydney yon see hundreds of children playing in. the gardens, and a more perfect plaoe for children it would be hard to. imagine. I t hink several thousands of pounds spent

by our city in tree-planting, with a. staff to thoroughly look after the trees.would ' bo one of the best investments tho city could make for the near future.”