LOCAL AND GENERAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 6048, 5 November 1906, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Speaking at the laying of the founda-tion-stono of the new Technical Co - lego at Christchurch on Friday last, tho Hon. George Fowlds, Minister lor Education, said'the marvellous progress uicdo sine'o the passing of the Manual and Technical Instruction Act of 1900 might ha gauged by looking at tho amount paid by tile general Government towards technical education. In 1900 it only amounted to £3OOO or £4OOO. while in 1905 the Government expended £34,775, and this year there was every indication that a larger amount' would he spent.

No plans have yot been submitted to the City Engineer for new buildings to take the place of those destroyed in tho recent fire. Ho has recommended a temporary permit foxsix months for. the wooden bar-room etc.,, being erected for the Commercial Hotel proprietors. After that the latter will be expected to proceed with rebuilding in trick, or at all events to be ready to do so. The work of removing debris from the fire area, io speedily "effecting a clearance, and proparations for the demolition of Messrs Whitcomhe and Torabs’s front wall are well in hand. ' Tho shortage of officers in the British mercantile marine was recently a

subject of. editorial comment in this paper. Apropos, the President of tho Board of Trade, Mr Lloyd-George, one of the most active members of the Home Government, was recently i (■- poited as saying;-—“There was an undoubted shortage of junior officers m our mercantile marine, and there was a clanger that unless some steps were taken, either by the Government or the shipping industry, or conjointly, to see that there was an adequate supply of officers, we might have to fall back upon foreign officers to man our great industry.”

The building of the now five-story temperance hotel at the corner of Chew’s Lane and Willis street is making good progress. The foundations are within about a day’s work cf completion, and tlio brick work has been started. The builders hdve been very lucky in the way of weather, hav-ing-lost almost no time through rain. The work is expected to last fifteen months. It is claimed that the new building will be as near an approacu —if not the nearest —to fire-proof construction as any other hotel in Wellington ; and that a fire cannot get from one floor into another, the dividing floors being concrete, nor from one tenement into another. By means of light areas, it is understood that external window's looking into adjacent premises will; bo avoided. Unprotected external windows are, as experience here and everywhere shows, fatal defects. Mr J. C. Maddison is architect, and Mr Campbell Colquhoun is clerk of works. The much-debated contract under which' Mr J. J. K. Powell undertook to quarry and deliver certain quantities of stone from Pencarrow quarry via. the harbour to the IVellingtonPetcne reclamation and railway improvement works has been, determined. The Hailway Department has all along attributed the delay of the work to the non-delivery of the stone in the quantities and at the times required. On the appearance of an advertisement calling for fresh tenders for transfer of the stone, a “Times” reporter called at tho Hallway Department and was informed that by mutual aivangement between Mr Powell and the department, it had been decided that instead of Mr Powell going on with his contract for quarrying and delivery, the department should take over the work; and in consequence of this arrangement the department is now advertising for tenders for the conveyance of the stone to the railway works from Pencarrow quarry, which will be worked by the department. As a result of an examination of the quarry, there ia no doubt that plenty of stone is available; and as soon as the contract for transport has been let, it is anticipated that there will to no difficulty in making regular deliveries at such a rate as will enable good progress to be made with the railway works.

Tc-day is “Guy Fawkes Day.” It comes opportunely to assist the cremation propaganda.

Throe cases of scarlet fever in the city were reported to the Health Department during last week. Banks throughout the colony will be closed on Friday next, King’s Birthday. The Warrimoo on Saturday had on board 175 rams from Dunedin, consigned to Sydney by the New Zealand and Australian Land Company to Pitt, Son, and Badgory, of Sydney. There were also twenty-five rams, shipped at Lyttelton, from Dalgcty and Co. for the same consignees.

Several detectives from New South Wales and other Australian States have been stationed at tho Christchurch Exhibition. These will be specially useful in following the movements of visitors from Australia inclined to disregard the rights of property. _ It is stated that ccveral well-known criminals have already arrived from across the Tasman Sea, Detectives are also being taken to Christchurch from Auckland and other parts cf the colony, but tho Wellington force is not being drawn on.

The Loyal Orange Institution of Wellington held its,annual church parades yesterday. In the morning about eighty members mustered at the Rccliabitc Hall, and, preceded by the Central Mission Band, marched in procession to the Sydney street Primitive Methodist Churcii. Deputy District Master Bro. Steptoo was master of ceremonies. A sermon suitable to tho occasion was preached by the Rev. R- I. Liddle. Tile brethren, in the evening, attended divine service at tho Central Mission, where the Rev. J. Ward preached. This evening the annual social of tho institution is to be held in the New Century Hall, Kent terrace. There is a very good attendance at the Petpnc Navals’ animal camp, Fort Kelburne, Ngaliauranga, under Captain Freeman. Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, and Major XYirk, of Cm 'Wellington Divisional Staff, hove inspected the camp, and instruction is being imparted by Master Gunner Richardson and nohcoms. of the Permanent Artillery. The camp is doing its own cooking, and is faring very well, except for a few cases of influenza. The firing practice will bo held from Tuesday to Friday inclusive, and on Saturday the cam)), which is being held under Challenge Shield conditions, will terminate. The Potouo Navals are the holders of the shield, and are keen to retain it against the other corps and all New Zealand.

The Garrison Band intends competing at tho intercolonial band contest to bo held in Christchurch next February. A first prize of £l5O, with special badge for conductor and medals lor members of tho winning band are offered. A prize of £SO is also to bo given for a quick-step competition, and a gold medal for the drum-major of the band gaining most military points. In all prizes worth £7OO are to be given. The Garrison Band, in order to raise funds to enable it to compete, is giving open-air performances. One was given yesterday at the Botanical Gardens, and was largely' attended by tho public. The programme presented consisted of the following selections: “Challenge,.” march (Calvert), “Intermezzo” from “Queen Elizabeth” (J. O. Hume), “Bohemian Girl,” overture (Balfe), “0 Dry Those Tears” (with cornet solo), “Don Quixote,” selection (H. Round), ‘ Sing’Mo to Sleep” (with cornet solo), and “Austria” march (Nowontny). Tho band has been strengthened of late, and the playing under Bandmaste ■ Lieutenant Herd was of a higli standard.

Domestic servants in Berlin are. profiting by an abnormal scarcity in the supply in order to exact much better terms all round. The London “Evening Standard’s” correspondent sends an amusing account of the system of engagement. A kind of public market is opened for tiro or thi-ee hours daily, at which the mistresses of households appear in person and bargain with the girls, who are using their advantage to exercise a very strict selection of employers. The system is very like that which prevails at the ordinary Scotch “feeing fairs.” Some of the German mistresses may have suffered the experience of the farmer who, at one of these fairs, bargained with a lad for his services. The hoy had no written character with him, but he promised to return in tho afternoon provided with one, and if it proved satisfactory the engagement was to be concluded. “Well, my man,” said the farmer, meeting him later in the day, “have ye gotten your character?” “No,” was the reply “but I’ve gotten yours, and I’m not coming!” At Victoria College on Saturday afternoon there was a large gathering of University people and other citizens. Tlie occasion was the opening of the College Tennis Club’s courts and the students’ common room on the top floor of the building. There are three tennis courts on tho college grounds to the south-east of the building. The students did a great deal of the work of excavating this site. Their work was begun with a ceremony at which the late Sir Soddon “turned tire first sod.” The courts, which are of asphalte, have a good service. _The slope from the outer hank is considerable, hut this is expected to diminish as the “made ground” settles. The cost of tho courts was over £250. Messrs Seaton and Sladden were the surveyors, and Messrs Guthrie and Sons the contractors. The opening ceremony was conducted by Professor T. H. Easterfield, president of the club. Dr Knight, of the College Council, also spoke. Mrs T. W. Hislop presented the medals for club championships won during the past fen' seasons. The common room was declared open by Mrs Hislop, w'ho thanked the ladies who had organised the bazaar by which funds had been provided for the tennis courts and the common room. Mr F. A. De la Mare (president of the Students’ Association) thanked the College Council and the citizens of Wellington for their kindness in helping to supply the needs of the students in the new building.