LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 91, Issue 14237, 11 December 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The multitude is the most unstable Of all things, and the most senseless

A letter from Mr H. G. Ross regarding the hours for mixed baS m* t it -Municipal Baths, was referred to the Baths Committee for report by the Hamilton Borough Council last night. The trustees of the Felton Bequest have purchased one of the rarest Chas Meryon's etchings, "Rue des Mauvais Garcons," for the .Melbourne Art Gallery.

The next ordinary meeting of the Borough Council falling on Christmas Eve, the. Council decided last night to hold the last muffling of the year o» Monday, 22nd inst.

The dog tax for the Hamilton borougU for 1920 was fixed by the Council last night at lgs, with a rebate of 2s if pai-1 in January. The fee for drovers' dogs would be 2s 6d, as usual. The Hamilton .Borough Council de-

cided last night that a 10 per cent penalty he imposed on all rates remaining unpaid after January 6, 1920. Chief Detective Boddam, of Police Headquarters, has been selected to fill one of the two special appointments in the Samoan Constabulary, required under the new constitution.

The Waipa County Council is fast turning mechanical and modern in its methods of road construction and maintenance. Its latest move is the purchase of a motor truck for metal delivery, the cost of which is to run near £2,000. The vehicle will be in operation in the county early in th& New Year.

In connection with Mr Thos Donovan's application for an inquiry into his removal from the bandmastership of the Hamilton Municipal Band, the Borough Council decided last night that a committee consisting of Crs. Tristram, Lowry and Barton go into the matter.

"He seemed different from most law ' students; fte was sober, steady and. studious when.l knew him," declared a solicitor, giving- evidence at the Hamilton Supreme Court yesterday, in a case in which a former law student was .charged with obtaining credit by fraud. v A correspondent of the Waikato A. and P. Association, at its meeting this morning, complained that the name "Holstein"—a German appelation—was retained for the Friesian cattle at the recent Show. "If we did. our duty," he said, "we would have taken the board with the name Holstein down and hit someone on the head with it." The Waipa County Council at its meeting yesterday affirmed the principle, brought to notice by ttie Auckland Railways League, for the setting up of a Board of Public Works, wbicli. would be outside all political control. Members thought that consummation, along those lines would be much movesatisfactory than the present order of things in this' connection. The Hamilton Borough Council office staff suggested to the Council last night that the offices be closed from December 25 to January 3 (inclusive). The. request was agreed to. The towns clerk (Mr E. Davey) was granted annual leave as from December 22.

"I am sure that my request will be favourably considered by the councillors of what I consider the most progressive town in New Zealand," wrofo a ratepayer in making a request to the Hamilton Borough Council last nights "Soft soap," interjected a councillor. However, the Council was sympathetic. " "We're starving for metal," remarks ed Cr. Retter at the Waipa County meeting yesterday. The Council hopes for better things in the future in this respect. Tlie : metal shortage cry' Is perpetual with Waikato local bodies. However the fact that they are all iit the same boat is poor solace. Local, bodies can't be blamed; they are doing their best to maintain supply and are exploiting new grounds wherever and whenever they present themselves. The Borough Council went a little further last night in the long-delayed matter of the removal of refuse in the borough. Messrs Swarbrick and Swarbrick forwarded draft of proposed contract, and Cr McKinhon outlined negotiations which had taken place wirht the contractors. The latter were pared to proceed with the erection of an. incinerator at once, at a cost of abou6 £2OO, wbich would be sufficient for present needs. This was agreed to, councillors agreeing that the matter had been held up long enough. "He's adding to it," jocularly chorused. Waipa County members at yesterday's meeting, when a ratepayer wrote in and, after explaining he was in financial straits, supplied the information to the Council that he was about to be marrie'd. Deponent was a soldier settler who wished his rates remitted. However, after hearing the pro and con the Council did not consider the request was substantiated. The Salvation Army home for children under six years of age at Tawa street, Hamilton,' is now in operation, there being nine inmates (all four and under) in the institution, which is i.nder the charge of Adjutant Hughson.

When completely equipped there will be accommodation for about 15 but it is anticipated that enlargements will have to be seriously considered in the immediate future, in order to provide for the number of orphan and destitute babies which come under the Army's control. The home is not yet completely fitted up, but it is expected that it will be in the course of the next week or so, and that Commissioner llodder will pay a visit to the district :n crder to officially open it soon after th'j holiday season. A member of a County Council.when, engaged on business outside the county is entitled to travelling and out-of-pock-et expenses. From a discussion that was opened up at the Waipa Council yesterday it appeared thai "bashfulness" on the part of certain members of the Council caused them to give the "go-by" to putting in their claims, c.v.

Johnson said that there should lie n.> reason for that as every councillor so engaged was justly entitled to payment,and the machinery was there for him to secure il. Even so there were innumerable occasions on which members could never be adequately recompense i for their time and labour ifi Iho county's interests. The call to a member to attend county business might mean many pounds to him. It was .1 fact, however, that the public never recognised the matter in the light lhat such sacrifices were made in the interests of the county. Cr. Fullertou also made remark, in effect supporting Cr. Johnson's comment on the subjects

Mr Waller Williams, late Government Masseur, Rotorua/lias commenced practice in Hamilton, and may he consulted at Almadale, Victoria street.

We have just purchased a little lot". oi ladies' ready-to-wear hats. It is quite a small line—only about 50 altogether. The wholesale price for them ranged from 4s 6d to l?Ss; wo are clearing them out Irotn 3s lid to 17s (ill. There are some quite smart hats for about 7s (kl that are well worth inspecting. They would be just the thing for a knockabout hat for the coming holidays.—Hall's Drapery Stores.* It is better to take precautionary measures against, Influenza than try wait until yon have it in the system. The frequent daily use of "NAZOL" is the most effective preventive.—(4)

At the Poilcc Court Hamilton, to-day, before Messrs Mason and Haycock, J's.P„ Timothy Delaney, a second offender for drunkenness was fined £l, and a first offender was convicted and! discharged. j

A practical farmer from the Hawera district, in conversation with a Times representative yesterday, expressed the opinion that taking all things into consideration, Waikato land at ruling prices was a better proposition than Taranakl, by a margin of up to £2O per acre. The report from the Hauraki Plains that the Northern Co.'s steamer Gael had been burned wsfs exaggerated. A fire broke out in the hold among the flax, and things looked bad for a. time, but eight bait's were dumped overboard, and the flames overcome. The vessel escaped with slight damage. The supervisor submitted to the Hamilton Borough Council last night a plan and estimate of the proposed subway through what is known as the School Hill. He estimated that the work would cost £11,500. In view of the late hour and the comparatively " small attendance of councillors, Dr. Cowry suggested that the matter be held over until after the New Year. This course was adopted. A correspondent asks if there is no supervisien over the carting of meat, and points out that the supervision in regard to slaughtering is largely coun- j teracted by the methods adopted of getting the meat to the shops, it being ,handled in "'a very rough-and-ready fashion, open to the clouds of dust which in the present windy weather are very prevalent. . !

During his address at Monavale last night, Mr J. A. Young stated that it was reported at Te Awamutu and Ohaupo that the W. G. Park estate now being opened for soldier settlement, was to be reserved entirely for married men. Mr Young telegraphed Mr Massey for information on the point, and in reply was assured that no such instruction had been given, and that there were no distinctions as to who should apply. The excessive speed indulged in bv motorists in Hamilton was referred 'o by several councillors at the meeting of the Borough Council last night. Cr Tristram said he had seen a motorist crossing the traffic bridge at quite .30 miles an hour, narrowly avoiding" an accident; and Cr Burrow mentioned that three times lately he had to throw himself from his bicycle to prevent being run down. The opinion was expressed that the fines imposed on offenders by the magistrate should be heavier than £2 or £3; it was time'an example was made of them.

The riding events at the Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Association's recent Show are depicted In this week'? New Zealand Sporting and Dramatic Review. The New Zealand soldier-athletes who distinguished themselves so prominently at Home, form an interesting portion of the pictoral section. The Fcilding races. Forbury trotting meeting, Napier"sailing season, are represented in a series of snapshots, while New York, Paris and London events make a general appeal. "He might do it without being asked to," commented the chairman of the Waipa County Council yesterday, when that body was discussing the wisdom of employing a competent engineer to diive a motor truck. The inference was that this engineer might willingb undertake a little shovelling work instead of standing idly by while the truck was being loaded. Councillors smiled broadly in token of "ha'in' their doots" about humanity turning its attention to labour which did not strictly come within the terms of the contract;

When discussing dog-tax collecting yesterday Cr. Retter informed the 'waipa County Council that a declaration form had, to his experience, provided a lever by which dog owners who wished to wrongly describe their canine property and so get in at the lower fee were brought to heel. Although they were prepared to orally describe dogs something other, than what they were, it was invariably found that they would not place their signatures to wrongful descriptions. This information primed Cr. Livingstone to humorously remark that the sending round of a J.P., under the declaration scheme, would not be a bad idea for quick despatch when tax collecting season was on. The Theatre Royal Tea Rooms, Hamilton, have recently changed hands, having been take over by Mr CJ. Brett, ot % Wellington, who intends to run them on the most up-to-date lines, and to make them one of «the most popular places of resort in the province. The rooms, which will seat ICU have been re-modelled, and re-decorated,_ in an artistic tone of blue with effectivefloral touches. The tables are daintily set,) and the whole presents a very pleasing effect. ' A new piano has been installed. Morning and afternoon tea will be provided, as well as dainty light luncheons, hot meals and suppers, the latter being obtainable until 11 p.m. Private dinner parties will also be catered for. Mr Brett is installing machines for bread-cutting for appetising sandwiches, and contemplates making all his own small goods on the premises. In asking for the patronage of Waikato people, he state* that at present he is understaffed, but this will shortly be remedied, by the arrival of several assistants from Auckland. It is likely that the Theatre Royal Tea Rooms will be in great request by those r'-ouiring a dainty meal served m pleasant surroundings.