LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 560, 15 July 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

; It is. reported .that as a, result of the recent tram-accident' in;..Cuba'.Street,.'one of' the officials concerned willprobablybe dis>atcd. ■ It'ii stated that immediately after the accident >the brakes were all'found to,, bo in proper working order,; and. that the accident was not due to any mechanical failure., ..' With : regard .to the suggestion that .a considerable saving, could be .''.effected''- if the Government steamers Hihemoa and Tutanty kai were laid up and their' work done ;-\>i contract, the Hohi" J. A. Millar. (Minister. for- 1 Marine) states ..that .estimates! are ■ being obtained ,/with a view to ascertaining whether, tho work could, be .more, economically'feffected privately. ■;:'.' '' .'.V "!. : v.-". : -'--".. ; ". '■ : /V;*.*'■'!•">"-""'■."".' : '".'.--""• The report of the 'Timber Commission has' ,not yet been oohsidered-.by' a;full meeting of, Cabinet.. ;'. 'i';\-'1:,,;,.i-.^.Vj- : -...'.'-".'- ■■: ■ Mt. W. Flower, a flourmiller, of Bulls, has 1 donated to the Wellington Benevolent; Institution twenty ■-. "26"'s". of'. flbiir,- ■ f.o.b. Great-' ■ford.'..--;,. ■■' '/.-:"■;.'. ,: . -,:'':-; . .'-. • ';'.' -.'. -.. -'"• :'.v, : -;;',;' : "The : amount of land that has been settled during the' past few-.-months ;hasi been' a staggerer," remarked the;Acting-Min.ister for Lands 1 to a -eporter yesterday.,; Mr. Buddo added that he would take an early, opportunity of /drawing' public attention to the figures.-,-;.:--:'- ■ •';.> ■".'•)! '■■ ■'-;:■(■;■;■ :>■•..'•.;'■.■',':r.-' : : j The! police- yesterday received information from. Constable Satherloy 'at. Otaki to the effect that Mr. Edward.Bevah's: wool-shed at Manakau had been destroyed 'by 'fire,: to-' gather with the machinery it contained. Tho constable had just returned from the search, for the ; ydung man Hugh'Cockroll, so no •further ''particulars were '. ' . .'. ;';' Fifteen members of tho Labour. Department'are to be retrenched as ;from September. 3. ■'; They are' distributed 'as ; follows:— Wellington four, Auckland two, Ohristchurch two, Duriedin two, Wanganui two,, Now Plymouth one, Timaru' one, and Ihvercargill one. A proportion of cadets and typistes is included. : •'.'/ ;. ■■■ . '■:':":-; .'.;":.; - : . -~' '■': The dispute between local cab and'carriage drivers and their,employers has been before the Conciliation Counci 1, - and a settlement has been, arrived at. An* award, will; bo applied for, the conditions of which are almost identical with those of the previous one, except that an' alteration-in,; the .'number .of working hours' has, been' ''included. Regulations ,will .'also' be embodied- in. the 'award to idbaway with sub-leasing of. yehioles. , In pursuance of the, scheme for improving the street lighting,.,,the .city.electrical staff is at present fitting tho lamps in Hobson Street, Thomdon Quay, and the adjacent streets with Osramlamps of'so-candle power; inplace.of the old 20-candle power, lights; The idea is to.gradually cover; the /-whole of the city, and as soon as tho work in hand at. present is completed a start:is; to bo made at' Constable Street, Owen Street, and Daniel Street.. :: ■V .: ';,>,-.- -.'/. .A demonstration of the Neivboulds; Patents, Ltd., automatic cut-out for trolly-wires, will ■ bo given at the tramway-power-station yards at i p.m. to-day.' The demonstration will be conducted under the supervision of - Mr. Stuart Richardson, city electrical engineer. The object, of the invention -.is>.'tp instantaneously, cut off .the current when-a break occurs in a trolly-wire, and to .enable tho broken wire to be handled immediately with absolute ;safety..... •■■ Tho Native Appellate.Court will hear ..tomorrow an application for ,a re-trial of the whole proceedings in regard to the will of Wi Matua, deceased. Tho Court will:comprise Judges- Jones and Rawson, and Mr.' Hemi Eruoti (assessor). Tlie case has boon before the Native and other. Courts on several occasions, and involves something like £40,000. '"Mr. P.; E, Baldwin.and Mr. D. M. Fihdlav appear for the applicants, and Mr. G. P. Skerrett, K.C., with him Mr. A. L. D. Eraser, for the respondents. ~.,...; : Speaking on boy labour at Tuesday's meet, ing of the Wellington Industrial' Association, Mr.;■ S. : S. Williams .stated that perhaps some of those present were not.aware that employers could be sued for not teaching a boy his trade. "That is all Very Well j as far as;it goes," continued Mr/ Williams, "but 'there were some boys whom you could not teach a trade. Wo can't givo. them •brainsl"-.'"Why not?" said Mr..John Smith, smiling.. "Well, that's what tho Govornment .seem to- expect in. these times."; :;

At the mooting of tho Wellington Industrial Association on Tuesday evening,, the secretary (Mr. 11. F; Allen); in conning over tho 'assets", in ' thp". financial statement, said that "Mr. La Trobc, Director of the Tcchr nical School, had informed him that funds were pretty, low just then, and had asked that the rent for the association's room be allowed to stand over until August'!.' "That is right," said Mr. V : T. ■ Ballinger, "they haven't'-got'.' tho nioricy—tho G'ovcrmnoh't hasn't paid tlio capitatioit," 1 ',

We: have to adviso that wet havetaken: up rhe sole agency for New Zealand for tließurgon and Ball Sheep Shearing Machines. Write for tjuotatioiis:. for, , installations.,;. Andersons, Limited, 19 Bank Chambers. ,' Bias

I "Knglnwl must retain licr nuwomney with hor bi|j Heel, and thus remain tho 'tnystory' of tho sua," observed it competitor in ono of tho recent oratorical contests amidl considerable merriment.

With a viow of promoting jooiftl intercourse and an interchange of views amongst Sunday school.workers in tho Various school*) of tho city mid suburbs, tho local union has arranged for a xonversneiono to'be hold on July 23. In Addition .to musical itoms, addresses will b« given by Air. J, GaiiuMey, M,A,, and Mr. It, N. Holmes. The firstnamed will speak on "Tho Sunday School in tho Home,' and Mr, Holmes on "Dealing with boys at tho critical period."

A discussion on tho abattoirs loan was to have, boon a feature of last night's meetinii of Iho-. Accountant Students' Society, but tho item was crowded out. Wo aro'indebted to tho lion, secretary (Mr. J. L, Areus) for two'papers on tho subject, which were to havo been read by Air, W. , Harrington, F.1.A.N.Z., and Mr, H. W. Mackcsack, F.I.A.N.Z. Both writers: agree that the abattoirs loan transaction was irregular, but had resulted in a Baving to tho city in tho matter of interest, their estimate of tho saving being £GOO. ~ A labour-saving device, in tho form of an automatic coal convoycr which has been installed at tho electric light works, commenced work.'this.'week,. The conveyer is only a small one, and is similar to those in use at the Gas Company, the coal being shovelled into a screening pit, whence it is convoyed, to tho: furnaco by moans of revolving buckets, which work on somewhat tho sahio principle, as the buckets of tho Harbour Board's big dredge. Although the machino is only. a small one, it is stated to bo running satisfactorily.

H.M.S. Pioneer, which left Wellington for Sydney last week, is to bo rccommissioncd there, and probably; supplied with a new crow. Tho Psycho and Pyrumus are also being rccommissioncd and given now crews at' Sydney. Tho flagship Powerful was in dock last' week 'at Sydney, undergoing a thorough overhaul.' About July 28;sho will sail for Morton Bay, in connection with the jubilee festivities : at Brisbane, after which tho cruiser, with Vice-Adtniral Sir. Richard Poors on board, proceeds to the New Hebrides. ■•'•. :■'.:

Importing houses' in all sections concur (says the "Trade Review") in. describing tho condition 'of trade as extremely quiet. Tho weather, though very mild for the season, has been characterised by a good deal of rain, hindering out-door work, and, there is .'..'evidence of a serious dearth -of' employment for the labouring classes; In tho soft goods section trade is practically at a standstill between two.. seasons. ' The springsummer season opens next month.' Little improvement is: anticipated before' tho advent of .spring. .'■','.■■

Tho rating' of Roman Catholic property by municipal, bodies was brought up at last niglit's meeting of tho Hutt Borough Council by a letter from the Feilding Borough Council, suggesting that '.the Municipal Association should bo represented at a case at tho Appeal Court, in. connection with "a recent case' at Feilding. The' church authori; ties were appealing; and the Municipal Association 'wished to defend the case.• After discussion, it was decided .to support tho association, providing thototal costs did not oxceed £50.' : ; ' "['•';■■ - " "■':. ■■ :'. : .' :: . • ; . ■/;•;.■ It should greatly cheer ' the Hon,' D. Lloyd-George, the British Chancellor of tho Exchequer,. tin learn that nb fewer than ten citizens ; of -Wellington assembled, last oven-: ing in the office of: the Seamen's Union in response to advertisements calling.a "public, meeting of supporters of land-value, taxation" to.\endqrso 'the; British Budget posahs; l and cable their views,to England. Mr. P. J. "O'Rogan attributed the smallness, of the'attendance to tho short notice given, and on His suggestion the meeting decided' to form itself into: a working /committee to promote a largo meeting to be held on Monday nekt. '.. ■- .'-'.■.';.■;' '';> .-.-■,'; )..-/■. .■; "'" A,highly appreciative, lettor has been received ;by tliq jl'ublic .Trustee, from, the.Hon. : E.V. G. "• J; • Stevens, ; 'of' Chcistchurch; . tho; founder ,of the Public Trust :01Kce. The letter ...reads,,as .fp))o)y.s :-^.VP^r t . Afc ljpynton.r,Many. thanks for "tho old photograph. .1 ■ njust' tato? the opportunity: to congratulate you .on'the brilliant, success you.'madp of. ;tho'..'opening' gathering.,,''"l cannot; !ber: that,,anything: has■;ever' given''me so •much\ pleasure. , The. excellence of the arthe general'tone of cordiality rand:' enjoyment, appeared to me to'give the, assembly; a /quite , unique character,— Yours ■; sincerely, and gratefully, \ E. ; C. J., Stevens.'.:';. •''_:-. ://../ .'':..■■ ~.: . i': ;' V \j The Education Board- has, sanctioned a grant to the Clyde Quay, School Committee to': asphalt' \tho lower > (Clyde Quay) playground. ' There, is. a very rough and dangerous outcrop of: rock Yin this ground-, which, is a 'constant: risk to the- children playing: about,' andtho committee have been urging this step for some time past. Whilst, that is being done;:, it /would/bo/ a kindly consideration for the children if Ahp 'City .Council would asphalt the ; remaining half of the footpath at- Clyde Quayi During rain the' water lodges between> the outer strip of asphalt and tho fence, making a number of small lakes, which form a fine puddling ground /fori' wayward < children. There are over 600 children .attending, the school.'' :■ '•'': ■ :; - ; :.,''' '■'; .'■ ' .',--." '■■■'■