NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11655, 20 October 1923, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

In future all employees of the City Council retiring on superannuation aio to be given three months notice of the council’s intention to dispense with theiir services prior to the date on which they are to retire.

Somo amusement was caused at a meeting of the Newmarket Borough Council by the receipt of a letter complaining about stray dog? in the borough. One of the councillors suggested that a man be employed to “clean up” tho dogs. It was then suggested that, a dog inspector be appointed, and that he be paid at tho rate of ao much a. dozen for disposing of the homeless animals.

While a deputation- of traders was before the Canterbury Industrial Association, protesting against the City Council encroaching into business, several allegations of unfair methods on the part of the municipal concerns were made. Mr A. V. Just cited one case which appeared to impress the meeting. “A lady got a price from an electrical contractor,” lie said, “and then went to the municipal trading department for a loan, taking with her the specifications. She was asked at the municipal offiice if a quote could not be given by the citv electrical department after an employee had seen the price. Is that fair trading?” asked Mr Just. He added that that was only one case of many that could be proved. Asked if he could substantiate that by the chairman (Mr W. J. Jen-kin), Mr j ust replied that he could supply the evidence.

In connection with the discussion which arose at tho meeting of the Dunedin Manufacturers’ Association with regard to the Dunedin-West Coast cargo service, Mr S. K. Sleigh, manager of the Dunedin branch of Die Union Steam Ship Company, stated: “I will admit that the service between Dunedin and the West Coast has not been very frequent of late; but the whole question is governed by the falling off in the quantity of Wert Coast coal coming to Dunedin in consequence of the strike amongst the mineis at Westport. There is not sufficient coal shipped at Greymouth alone to justify the running of a regular service between that port and Dunedin. When the Westport miners resume working the opportunity for shipping goods will necessarily ho more frequent^*

1 A sharp frost was experienced in \ Masiortcm on 'Wednesday night.

j The Masterton Dairy Company yesj terday decided to pay out Is 7d for ' butter-fa-l supplied during October.

It hay been reported to the overseer of the Fca.tliorstmi County Council tliat one approach, of the Turanganui bndgo is >\a.slicd away.

The City Council yesterday appointed Mr Molnnis as senior caretaker at the public library in succession to the late Mr W. J. Beatty.

If the present rate of i:>rogress can be maintained it is expected that the Newman bridge will be open for traffic early in the New Year.

Tasmania lias an area of 26,215 square miles, and a population of 213,780, of whom 106.037 are females and 107,743 males.

The herdteflfcing Boheme inaugurated by the ‘Wairarapa branch of the Dairy Farmers' Union haa 1800 cows under test.

An unusual form of animal friendship is reported from Manaia, where a town cow grazes on the long paddock with a cat Ivina contentedly on her back.—“ Witness.

Of the 44,432 occupied private dwellings in Tasmania, 1786 are built of stene, 8051) of brick, 274 of concrete, 404 of iron, 32,639 of wood, and the remainder of nondescript material.

Cr. Monteith, speaking at the adjourned meeting of the City Council yesterday* “I have met more politicians here than ever 1 met in Parliament.”

There are 659 dwellings in Tasmania, each of which is occupied by one person, 5557 houses by two to four persons. 3430 by five to seven, and 1024 by eight persons and over.

Crs. Forsyth and Meadowcroft were yesterday authorised to sign a memorial in reference to a piece of land to be taken -it Ngahauranga for aibattoii purposes.

The Tramway Officials Union has asked the City Council for a new agreement, and has submitted fresh demands. Yesterday the council appointed Messrs Oa ! ble ? Paterson and MoGillivray as the co u nci 1’ s assessors.

Snow fell fairly heavily on the Tararuas during the cold snap, and they are again capped with a white coating. The winter snow had almost disappeared when the southerly snap intervened.

Replying to Cr. Meadowcroft yesterday, the Mayor said there was nut yet a report on tire request of the residents for further access to Wellington Terrace, but the city engineer would probably be able to report in the course of a. week.

r ! hat portion of the area, recently used by the Wellington Harbour Board as a weighbridge site, is to be included in the present lease of the munioi pal fish market, the rental to be £6 per an nix in for the inclusion of this additional area.

The City Council has decided that the waterworks overseer. Mr J. Dines, bo leave of absence on full pay from November Ist, until the day of his retirement, February I3th. He will then have been in the service of the council for 47 years. He is 70 years cf age.

Nineteen building permits, totalling £82,605, were issued by the One Tree Hill Road Board, Auckland, during September. These included permits for alterations to the Costlev Home, £17,000, and for a number of residences, the price of which ranged from £673 to £lß*so. A Mangawhata resident has dug up some curious specimens of a fossilised woed taken from the bore at tlic factory. The piece obtained at 160 ft is a lark brown, and those which came to tne surface from 500 ft below are black. A splendid supply of 60 gallons of water to the minute is now available at the factor}'.

“Do you think that you can finish this case to-dav?” asked Mr ‘Justice Hosking of counsel in the Full Court yesterday. “Yes, I think go, sir,” replied Mr C- P. -Skerrett, K.C., who said the fact that counsel had been eomewhat hurried into the matter, might assist in shortening the proceedings. (Daughter.)

Nine head of pedigree Shorthorn cattle were brought to New Zealand by the Karamea, which arrived at Auckland from Liverpool. The animals comprise one bull and eight heifers. They are reported to have been selected from the best stock in Great Britain, and were purchased by Mr J. A. Johnstone, of Bushy Park, Palmerston, Otago.

The muoh-di.scussed question of paypient for prisoners receiving treatment in hospital wae again before the Auckland Hospital Board on Tuesday. A letter was received from the department of Health stating' that Cabinet had finally decided to give 30s a week and no more. It waS decided that the matter bo left in abeyance till the return of the Prime Minister, when a deputation should wait on him on the matter.

Air W. H. Rosg, 182, Taranaki street, writes: “A red hen homing pigeon was caught on the Glasgow wharf, Wellington, probably one of the flight from Franklin, described in your journal a few days ago. It was very much exhausted when the writer found it. On one leg is a brass ring with numbers W.G., 61, on the other leg is a rubber band with the number 89, and what looks like the figure 7.”

At the City Council yesterday Cr. Monteith asked if there was any chance of getting a waiting shed at the Broadway, Miramar, for he was out there last blow and there was nowhere in Wellington where the wind swept through at a greater rate. The Alavor piomised that the matter should have attention. Regarding the water supply in Devonshire read, they had been waiting for better weather to make improvements in the service.

A Wellington motorist, who does a good deal of travelling in the country, sometimes staying anything from a day to three days in owe town, put up liis car at n garage in Taranaki for three nights. Going to pay the bill he was informed that it would be 6s, ae they charged 2s a night for casuals, but 5s for a week. “All right, I’ll take it for a week,” the motorist replied, and paid up on the spot. He had a similar experience at Auckland. Perhaps the tip may be useful to motorists.

A fairly general question on the cars coming into town these mornings is: “Howb* the garden?” Quite a number of people, especially at the bays, where onlv early stuff is any g**od in the sand, had! potatoes about a foot high and non* well advanced. The majority of those have boon blackened by the violent southerly which raged early in the week, and losses in this respect have been fairly heavy. The damn King effect of the gale was felt as far inland as Newtown, where pens in particular bad a very bad time.