LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 472, 2 April 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities advise that the Wimmera, which left Sydney on March 31 for Auckland, has on board an English and Australian mail, which is duo here by the express train from Auckland on Monday afternoon next. Part of section 10, Obiro district, has been taken under the Public Works Act, 1908, for street purposes in the city of Wellington. Notice is given in this week's Gazette of alterations in the boundaries of the Borough of Karori and Makara. Now selections taken up in the Wellington Land District during the year ending March 31 totalled 311, covering 43,644 acres. They were taken up under .every variety of tenure. Tho following additional tenders have been accepted by the City Council: Cement, P. Hutson and Co. and Francis Holmes, (divided) ; explosives, to he divided between Briscoe and Co., and Bannatyne and Co. The ladies' portion of the To Aro Baths was the scene of the theft of a watch on March 10, and a girl 18 years of ago was arrested by Dotcctive Cass'ells yesterday afternoon on a chargo of having taken the watch. The Government messengers who were notified some weeks ago of their retirement under the Superannuation Act, and who petitioned the Prime Minister for special consideration, received notification on March 31 to bo on duty as usual the following day. Tho messengers are hoping that this means that their services will ■ not bo dispensed With. In connection with the alterations in the timetable of tho Christchureh-Invorcargill express trains, the Postal Department has been asked to attach mail vans to the two daily expresses for the convenience of the mercantile community, instead of having one on tho first express only, as at present, but it is understood that tho Department lias found it impossible to comply with the request. Fruit-hawkers to tho number of fifteen were yesterday morning granted licenses to ply their calling. There aro 22 stands in the city, so that no man drew a blank. Some members of tho fraternity who failed to produce their harrows, or substitutes for oarrows, wcro refused licenses until they brought along the required vehicles. Two men had their applications refused for other reasons. Tenders aro being called for tho supply of upholstered benches for the Parliamentary Buildings, _ similar to those which conduced to the sitting comfort of members before tho fire. It is considered that, when the temporary Legislative Council Building is completed, members will probably bo more comfortable than they wcro beforo tho destruction of the old premises. It is unlikely that permanent now buildings will be erected for some years to come. His Excellency the Governor is to lay tho foundation stone of tho new Wangamii College at 2 p.m. on Easter Saturday. There aro to bo great doings in connection with the college at Easter generally. Mr. Walter Empson, 8.A., is retiring from tho headmastership of tho college, and in his honour "old boys" from all parts of tho Dominion aro to assemble to pay a tribute of respect to one they stand indebted to. Mr. Empson, who was born in England in 1856, has been headmaster of tho Wanganui since ISBS. Upon application being made to tho Court of Appeal for appointments for two additional cases yesterday the President, Mr. Justice Denniston, mentioned that tho Court would close for tho Easter vacation next Wednesday. In reply counsel remarked that it had not been the invariable practice foi tho Court to rigidly observe the exact period for tho vacation. Mr. Justico Edwards: "I havo never known an instance of tho Court sitting during tho vacation." Mr. Justice Chapman: "We do sit during the vacation,but it is with closed doors." It - was the opinion of Mr. Justice Denniston that the members of the office staff should have a vacation at any rate. Consideration of the application was deferred until this morning. At last night's meeting of tho Wellington Trades and Labour Council, Mr. W. T. , Young moved: "That a further letter be sent to the Prime Minister asking whether tho Government will or will not "in all fu- ■ ture contracts insert a clause, providing ■ that a proper wage be paid to all employees, . and a further clause providing against any- , thing in the nature of an exertion wage." Tho mover said they had already sent two

1 letters to the Prime Minister, aiid received ■ only evasive replies. The Prime Minister . seemed more, concerned to preserve Britain I by presenting Dreadnoughts than to eonserve tho best interests of Labour in this ■ country. Ho thought the council, as rc- • presenting Labour in Wellington, was cn- , titled to a reply. Tho motion was carried. - Replying to tho toast of "Tho Army and , Navy" at tho Non-Commissioned Officers' . Club's inaugural social last evening, Lieut.- ' Colonel Campbell, commanding tho Weiling- •' ton Garrison Artillery Division, touched on r tho military aspect of national citizenship, j and commented on tho action of tlioso ablebodied men'who wore content to stand aside and allow tho few to shoulder tho burden of i defence. If it were possible, ho said, for a i section of tho community to so arrange its r affairs as to allow of a certain amount of time for military training, it should bo possible for all. He hoped that those v.'ho now stood 3 aloof would some day bo compelled to fall in l with tho others, and do their share. (A 3 voice: "Let it bo soon!") They .had heard " a goad deal,"of late, concerning Mr. 1-1 uldano's Army of Empire, and ho had no - doubt, in this connection, that certain do--1 velupments in the Now Zealand defence system would ho discussed shortly. Tim CiV.-f , of tho General Staff (Colonel Robin) could * probably give some hint in that direction t wore the time opportune. 1 Steady progress is being made with the conv struction of tho fcrro-concreto wharf at Clyde 0 Quay by tho contractors (Messrs. John r M'Lcan and Co.). One sido of tho wooden tendering has been completed, and about 130 ' piles have been driven, leaving about GO yet B to ljo made. Tho latter will be ready for li driving in threo months' time, A good deal £ of concrete work has to bo done at low tide only, and of this, a good proportion has been ' completed. Northerly weather interferes B greatly with tho operations, but, if the con- ; 1 ditions remain moderately good meantime, ■\ the job should bo finished by contract time— j. the end of this year. The actual decking of tho wharf will bo commenced in about two s months' timo, and, all being well, •Wellington - people should have the pleasure of seeing f ships berthing at the new wharf early nextyear. At present, the structure hardly resembles a wharf; il presents to the " view on array of almost submerged s piles, wooden superstructure. and o steel spires at _ varying heights, but c a transformation will tako place in tho course of a few months. When completed, tho wharf ,° will bo about W) feet in length, and fid feet l " in width, and the depth of water will averif age 30 feet. About thirty workmen aro omI) ployed on tho job at present. v Teas grown in different localities have different characteristics, ami even tho tea from any '" particular garden is net the same in two sucC cessive seasons. Climatic changes, differences s of soil, exorcise influences, and it. is in the art of the ten blender to bring together tho differy out leas anil by combination to produce a par1, ticuhir flavour. Crescent Blend Tea is a choice ._ combination of Ceylon and Indian Teas, and '' tfiu flavour uover varies. All storekeepers, lis. 'I per lb.

Small black grapes from Australia, were. being retailed in city shops at 3d. per lb. yesi-srday. The tender of Mt. J. Wright, Taumarunui, at £770, lias been accepted for the erection of a post office at Ohaltuiio. Correspondence with the firm of Melville, Glyu, and Co., Paris, is forbidden by a notice m this week's Gazette. "Your Honour" —"your AYorship," were the flattering titles with which a union secretary, with his mind on other procedure, last evening addressed the president of the ■Wellington Trades and Labour Council. The president boro his blushing honours with a duo humility. The successful tenderer for air receivers for the Point Elizabeth No. 2 Stato coal mine was the Dispatch Foundry Co., Grovmouth, at £100. Messrs. S. Luko and Co.'s tender was the next at £113 10s. Messrs. Robertson and Co., Wellington, also tendered at £129. The Minister for Marino has decided to add the following to the rules for the condwt of masters and mates in signalling:— "Candidates for examination for certificates of competency for all grades of foreigngoing and home-trade certificates will be required to be conversant with tbo Morse and semaphore alphabets, and with tho British Signal Manual." The conference of tho various New Zealand Chambers of Commerce, which is to be held at Wellington on April 13 and 14, promises to bo a representative one. The visitors will bo entertained at dinner during their stay. Arrangements regarding tho reception of any delegates to the Imperial Chambers of Commerce Conference (to bo held in Sydney in September), who may make the trip to New Zealand, will probably bo discussed. Apparently tho taking over of tho Manawatu Railway by tho Government, which pays no rates, will affect others than the

ratepayers of Horowhcnua. At last night's J meeting of tlio Miramar Borough Council it 1 was mentioned that tho council's contribu- * tion to the Charitable Aid Board would pro- c bably bo heavier this year than last, since tho rateable area of tho Horowhonua County 1 was much decreased. While the procastination of tho Govern- I nieiit in announcing general changes in tho i Civil Service has boon severely commented s upon, astonishment is expressed at the violent hasto displayed in some particular do- ] cisions. It is stated that one prominent ' officer of tho service, who has not yet reached ; the compulsory retiring limit, was surprised \ to receivo the first notice of his retirement 1 a few hours before it was intended to take place. Ho protested, and a short respito has, it is understood, been allowed him. In making a presentation to Mr. J. S. j Welch, yesterday afternoon, Mr. J. Mackenzie, Commissioner of Crown Lands, said that \ it was formerly a practice in tho Wellington office to set apart an hour or two in the day in which the cadets would receive a special coaching, and be able to take up any kind of practising, draughting, or computing, a knowledge of which would help tiiom to advance in the Department. He thought that the. practico was a good one, and should bo revived. Tho return of working of the North Island Maui Trunk lines and branches of railways for the period ended February 27 shows that 440,022 passengers were carried, as against 392,353 for the corresponding period iast year. Parcels, etc., totalled 42,057, as against 35,310 for last year, whilst tho cattle, etc., ""numbered 490,654, as against 473,334 last year. Merchandise, etc., carried totalled 121,552 tons, an advance* on tho previous year's figures, which were 112,055 tons. The revenue amounted to £132,323 12s. 10d., as against £111,275 Bs. lid. for tho same period last year. When the balance-sheet for the year ended March 31, 1909, was being considered by tho Miramar Borough Council last night, tho Mayor (Mr. C. J. Crawford) made mention of tho fact that in the past year every ponny of their rates had been collected. This was extremely satisfactory, and ho would be greatly surprised to hear that any other boroughs had been equally successful. He thought it said a good deal for the prosperity'' and' the '.flli'Aiicih'l': stability' of their district. He moved that a vote of congratulation bo accorded the treasurer. This was carried unanimously. Tho following letter has been forwarded by Mr. S. Carroll, secretary of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, to tho Prime Minister in reference to tho American tariff: "I have tho honour, by direction, to draw your attention to tho fact that it is highly desirable, in the interests of the Dominion, that earnest efforts should bo made at tho approaching Tariff Conference between the British Government ami that of tho United States of America, to secure better consideration and more favourable terms of admission into the United States, of New Zealand wool, hemp, and dairy produce, and to respectfully suggest that urgent representations bo mado to the British Government to that effect." In a recent interview, Colonel Knight, of tho Salvation Army, said it was not intended to go in for any big schemes in the immediate future. Commissioner M'Kio, tho head of the Salvation Army for Australasia, had received instructions to go to 'London for orders, and until somo ono was appointed in his place it was extremely improbable that anything on a largo scalo would be done. In connection with the commissioner's farewell in Melbourne, a very largo congress woukl.be bold, attended by officers from all parts of tho Commonwealth and New Zealand. It was moro than probable that at this congress special plans for the furtherance of the Army's work throughout tho antipodes would bo considered, and that the decisions arrived at would affect tho future of tho Army considerably. Good progress is' being made by the nion employed by tho_ Public Works Department in excavating the foundations for the Post Office. The greater part of tho general excavations is now done, but tho special delving for tho foundations themselves, which will go down at least an additional six fyet, will be a more protracted task! Before they arc finished, the men will bo working below the harbour level, and a good deal of trouble will probably bo experienced in keeping out the sea. "They will practically have to pump I the harbour out," said an authority. '"They 1 can't prevent the underground action of the water, and they will have to pump the harbour out faster than it can rush in." Sp->- ■ cial pumps will bo erected for this work, and will be busily employed while the concrete foundations arc being sunk. Tho ox--1 cavations for the foundations must bo made with a good deal of accuracy and caro, and " it is expected that three more months, at , least, will bo occupied in the task. The work is expected to cost about £0000. The ' men aro paid by the hour, so that/the Department loses nothing by wet weather, and ■ they can be dismissed at the shortest notice > if their efforts do not satisfy tlio overseer. | An employer's faith in tho unemployed was | temporarily' shattered yesterday afternoon ; under somewhat peculiar circumstances. ', It appears that two unemployed nien applied i in a certain quarter for work. The work was ; forthcoming, the orders being to proceed to a particular house, one of his unoccupied houses in Thorndon, and rcniovo the roof, as the house was to be rebuilt on top. "I don't know whether you want work," said tho new I employer, eyeing the workers suspiciously, : "but thcro is Is. 3d. an hour if yon take ' the job on." The toilers wore glad to got ' tlio work, and set out for the scone of opcra- [ tions. On arriving they found two unoccu- : pied houses, ami at once decided on the '' house which they were to operate on. With | some idea of impressing their employer and j so getting further work, they plied their intplcnionts with unusual vigour, and only def sistod when the. roof was off, and the windows out and a heavy rainstorm came on. Later J they put the finishing touches to their work", [ ami were proceeding to town to claim their ' remuneration when they met their em- " pkiyer. lie had in the meantime been up " to the house ho had sent the men to, mid had noticed that nothing had been done to - it. He upbraided the men witli considerable ■' force, and was met with an indignant denial - that the work had not been done. Further ? inquiries elicited the information that tlio two unoccupied houses had led to complications. It appears that the workers had j gone to tho wrong one of the two houses, I and had lifted the roof of tho house next door to tho ono in which tlio contractor was interested.