LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 630, 6 October 1909, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

n»l n ,ii^'l cr i tb i, t our . t rMders »ay not be peualised by the.existing boycott of The dominion as regards Government, advertising, wo publish m another column at mir own cost a notification by the Public Trustee: Important information regarding tho set of Jk','n? a ?i. cn "? n , t b , etw< *n New Zealand and the Chatham Mands-a matter of considerable interest in view of the missing 6teamer imco, relcrred to in another column—comes in a letter from the Chathams to the' Marino Department. Shortly beforo the .Alexander, left for Wellington (on Saturday last) a number of totara sleepers were washed ashore on various purts of tho group, chiefly ou Waitahgi and the north-east part of tho islands. It is surmised that the sleepers, which were quite fresh look- '"£•' have been carried by tho ocean currents ■S. 1,, tho caast of N<>w Zealand. The theory is that they formed, part of some vessel's deck cargo. It should bo mentioned that tho Duco had no sleepers'on board. ..' :

While a bailiff was performing his duties | at a house at Courtenay Place yesterday morning, a disturbance occurred, during which it is alleged that a resident assaulted the official, and inflicted-injuries to his head, i As a result,'tho resident will;bo called upon to answer aoharge of assault at the Magistrate's Court this morning. •'■■"■,'■■' • ..The honour of election to tho position of first honorary member ,of the New Zealand Club was conferred upon the Prime Minister yesterday. Referring to Sir Joseph, the chairman (Mr Myers) said tho club was glad to welcome hvra.back to New Zealand and as their guest, : for. thrco reasons, firstly, because of, the man, secondly because of tho high position that ho hold, and thirdly because of the special and omcial.positions which ho occupied in connection with his recent visit to the 01d ; Country.; it was, ho felt, particularly appropriate to the objects _of. the club that members should havo invited Sir Joseph as their guest upon tho occaswn or their first meeting after his return to New Zealand. That was tho ease boicanso ono pf .the objects of the club was'to loster patriotism in every possible way and nit 6„ c f dra ir r > L . u unit 6, nit 6 New Zealanders m all great, matters -which tended to the-welfare and progress of the Dominion as might bo desirable and expodient. Sir Joseph, ho added, was {£?>$ absent from New Zealand with sim! liar objecbiin,view. Acknowledging tho cornel™ * A h(KPrimo iMjnister sail he hoped to meS? K° n W .^J 8 ><*™ons ti help fndm»LHi, e etc" tc J fa ,'\i (listln ß'iished visitors and mako them feel ■ that tho club was an institution of, great, service in the communi&. ■Retrenchment has its undesirable, as well us tt r £ b!0 \ plmS(;9 ' ■«nd : -»lj«t is destribed as retrenchment run • is' recorded in con! the '■ now' suppUed uinstchurch and Dunedm (writes our Christ--l l I r n M ; ' :COrresl,oullont ) : ' 0a «I comparatively recently, passengers desirous of parlakiig of afternoon t,v. were provided with tea in a snioll teapot and-a selection'of cakes and biscuitsid fi™* ' y tho r was placed before.them in an appetising form, lUcr-pro-f n >,; c< > n , d ' 110n s-ho passenger is supplied with a cup of tea which is poured out fir him and ?„?li£. '.^soms'time-ago the proprietors of railway.refreshment rooms made representations to .tho Department that tho car was a veryserious competitor as far-as Supplying afternoon- tea f to passengers/was, .concerned;/ If the fe 1 ?f < •$L Dc P" r tniW. was ? to. mako '■ inclulging. in i aftethODri^tea-- l ift4he-car u'nattractive, it has certainly; succeeded. The number ot patronsi-has- decreased very considerably and unless an improvement is made the serving, of .afternoon, tea bn ■ the -train will probably cease nltogcthiv. t . ■- -.'* .- .. ,r ~A t. a meeting of,the Committeo: of the' Wellington Boxing Association, held last •evening it was to tenderan official reception to tho New ,Zealand.' representative boxing team, which returns from Sydney to-day. -. The reception will tako place at the Empire Hotel' at 5.10 p.m..■'.-,.' ;;.

_ A ifemale old age pensioner waited on' the .Registrar: of Old Ago Tensions at Christchurch V°?i> .? y . s ftg0 '. with the ' that ho should change ' her -. name." On making inquiries, tho Registrar ascertained that the old ! E, y>, wh ° >'»■' /eveuty-six yoars of age, hod a iitllo .time before married a man of eighty, ;ivho was also in receipt of tho old ago pension. One thought that. struck a good many .of thosa who witnessed the berthing of the Tainui on Monday was'the; largo number of thirdclass passengers who gave plenty of evidence that they wero liot birds of passage, but had £T-V°. se /"l cI V ?, f t a , new homl; - A typical thirder stated that he and others on board knew before they left the. Old Country that things wore not too good in Now Zealand, but bad a3 tiicy were they could not bo worso han they woro. at Home, whore trade was stagnant' and capital shy. .There was. room to. breathe and work to bo done here, and he was going into thOiStruggle. with plenty, of, heart. One second-class; .passenger was asked by a friend why ho diduot como out a littlo later. In roply ho stntod.thnt. ho ; was not allowed to transfer to a later boat, as all-the second-class accommodation on every; boat leaving for. New Zealand .was fully booked up till Christmas. .During, the period i« to November 5' the bluejackets on H.M.S.' Challenger will go into camp in detachments 'at'' Trentham riflo forthe-purpose of going through their annual class-firing; :'

Speaking before, members.of tho Now Zealand Club yesterday, the t Pnmo .Minister said that clubs which held their meetings during' the lunch hour werebecoming very numerous in Canada. These clubs had, die considered, an m ) 1 M , n rcal >sed, value. Tho clubs, b<!ei i wer ?, a J ,le to carry out the desirable, which they wero formed at a minimum of expensoand inconvenience to members. As a result .of their efforts a very fi „ fe hn ff , w , as . bc K ln ,? lll S to 'permeate among the difterent towns Whenever a man of note belonging to one town visited another centra ' R h ll^V m ¥ to W 9 his ido «*»some' n f \w f „ ,Wlde , pro;id lntcro J st Whilst he:was at. Vancouver.-he was made' the guest at uncheonof the kind and ho coula not help was^rfown^oFjS? t th i h0 enthusiasm whicg Sv !»*? f5, ! .?S 0 1 ly &««>• members, but also )l;]l y ™? Ab w xt° hod assembled in the galleries to witness the proceedings;- Without oszE'T h ° C ° U , ld ay «'«t roVard'to NeW. fi?„ '™ 3 T? 1 ? mor * intenso there than oh: fVnnS 10n ° f h,S «>"»«-visit.-atoo that the Canadians-were anxious to cultivate a closer acquaintance with the Dominion. ' f rt T iZ e J S » at P r «ant a. movement in. Auckland to secure tramway connection with St IWior's ■tsiviLl!1 taß "f.the promoters was Lid' Port of 1 , nm J?f rccolve . a ? d the'"f,L "^f^^'tteo-appointed some time back The sch^» h » = P r ? '- an T c , 6ns of V* Proposition ■~*l2?i ? e «. M orl ? l was that a syndicate & *MW: of a track from tho feno a Hol > 1^ d f ar l 0 l St i H<,liM,s ' a ? d also tb A,?oW,5 on ri 0 A 0 - Vcrh^ad^l?ar ' antl that the £»»til d •*w ctn l. Tramways ■■• Company be treated with for the supply of rolling stock •\ d BM TC-: «*« P an incidenbfof he arranged wt, h ? n T, ' a ! nw ?- v ,. C< ; ra P iln y shMld *■ arranged with to extend their nrosent line to boundary.. Mr. G. 11. Kissline If?t.i ii c , ol »sl ,tt<!e X report,-in which it was stated that, exhaustivo investigation by Mr.. Metcalfe, C.E., ho h„d como' to the conelusion that no serious construction difficulties' would bo. met with; As-a result thev recommended that tho Wost Tomnki Road Board .should undortakp to construct the track and overhead gear, etc., at nn estimated cost of about X 30.000. proposed to bo borrowed on debentures to. -secure payment on tho interest " f V"™ « special rato should bo-levied by •f w ,"-ltl n Board. 'Tho committee considered,that the scheme was a feasible one, and would meet with the general acquiescence of the ratepayers.' il,, f nc t,, a'> number of the larger ratepayers, had expressed their, unre-' served apijrovnj 0 f thc-schcmc. As for tlio power and rolling,slock, it was'recommended'

Ps before that arrangements be made for their supply by the Tramway Company. Mr. Kisslihg moved; "That tho roport presented by the siih-c6mmittc^ be adopted, and'that the Tomnkr . Wert. Road Board be requested'to'"take-the necessary stens to obtain the extension of the tramline to St. Holier'? Bay.": Tho resolution was carried unanimously. ~ Mice cells at the fentrnl station last night shotted more than the usual quota of alleged inebriates. Tea hod been arrested by 0 pV —live. ut these being women.. '

Negotiations between the City Counoil's Gas . Comniitteo and tho Wellington Gas Company in referenc'o to tho Melro6o gas main trouble wero resumed yesterday when a meeting of tho council's Gas Committeo was held to consider the matter. After tho committeo mooting Mr. Wiii. Ferguson, managing director of tho company, had an interview of over an hour's duration with his Worship tho Mayor. It is understood that matters are once-more shaping towards, a settlement of the trouble :■■:' A letter received from tho.Health .Department at yesterday's meeting of tho Hospital Trustees stated that the question of the removal of duty on serums would, it was believed, bo considered favourably.' -~'■ This interesting paragraph appears in- tho London "Times" of August 23:— The Govern-, mont of New Zealand havo. given tho Goldsmiths' and Silversmiths'. Company (Limited), of 112 Regent Street, London, instructions, to manufacture tho mace for the Parliament of that county. This Maco will bo on exact re-, production in silver of tho historic one installed in tho Houso of Commons during tho xeign of Charles tho Second." At tho weekly mooting of tho Board of Trustees pf the Wellington Benevolent Institution, held yesterday, there wereJPresent: Mr. D. Robertson (in tho chair), 1 Mis, and Messrs.,.T. Wakcbam, H. Cook, R. W. Short, and the Rev. W...A, Evans. Tho piaster of tho Ohiro Homo reported that tho total number of inmate) at present in tho' institution was 120—71 'male, and 32 femalo intiiates\in tho Main Home, and 17 "casuals" in the Intermediate Ward. , In celebration of tho winning of the G. T. White Cup by the' Artillery Hockey Club in tho Wednesday hockey competition, a- social and dancers held at tho Druids' Hall, Tara. nam btreet, la.it evening. Tho attendant was large, and a very pleasant \timo was spent. ■We have been requested to stata that neither tho. architect not tho ' buildor of the new Maori College at Otaki was responsible for tho construction of tho platform which collapsed during tho opening ceremony on Monday. ■■.■'■■ Tho Labour Departments bushfolling worj on > tho Rangitatau Block, which was < started early in tho-winter for the benefit of tho unemployed, is- now approaching- completion, lwenty-eight gangs, comprising usually four men each, have held- felling contracts from, the first to > last, and fourteen gangs hnvo finished their work and loft; It is expected, that the remainder will have finished by the end of this month. Tho Labour Deportment, stales , that air thoso : who were not disconraged during the first few days havo! stuck faithfully., to the job., It would appear that tho demand for bush workers is now greater than tho supply, as the Department lias had no applicants who oonld-bs sent to a bushfolling job up-country, whore Bs. a day of eight hours war offered to competent. men.. ~ -;'.'. ".' The treasurer of the Brooklyn Orplianag* acknowledges with thanks tho sum of 4(Js. irom Mrs. J. P.. Luke, being balance from tho Pea-; guin Stewardesses' Memorial Fund.

The third-class the s.s. Fife< sliito landed yesterday morning.' In addition, to [those who had already disembarked at, Auckland, thorn-were 31 for Wellington, -27for Lyttciton, 14 for.; Duncdin, and - a f on- for other, South Island porta; total 85. .'.Out..of this' number 45,; (comprising 32, ndulta • and 13 children) were assisted immigrants. Twclva adults" arid'six children had been nominated by •relatives in Now Zealand,, while 27 persons, including'?, children,,under 12, were approvedby, the High .'Commissioner.;, Those approved included 13, heads.of families or single, individuals, who brought in all .£1191...,-,' About 650 men are at present employed, by. tho Publio "Works'\Dopartmont oh the.con-., struction .of the .-. Gisbqrno railway, but th« : number is to be,reduced to about 500 during the summer, when it is expected that labour will be, largely required.by tho farmers.. Tenders will shortly, be, called'for the -erection of ft large steel viaduct at Otoko, thirty-two miles from Gisborhc, at the head of. nine miles, of earthworks now reaching completion. Tho survey of 'the route through the Bay of. Plenty has advanced from Woihi to* Tancatua, ire' land from Whakatano; and it is expected that this route will be adopted in preference to-the suggested .line.;,along the coast. Connection with Kotorua'could,then bo made by a'short" branch, line. .; '~''

-.Mr.-J. W. Kcid, tho local professional bilhardist, who ■ leaves for Australia on Friday next oil his-way to England, gave an-interest-ing exhibition last evening at tho Victoria Billiard Rooms, .conceding a locaV amateur 250 points in a game, of, 600. . Eeid ran up the required number of points iii 70 minutos, leaying his opponent standing at 404. "At the conclusion' of.-the game, Itcid, gave anM'nterestinff display of fanoy and <mnrao'strokes. ■'■■"■. ■•':'■'

r'An amusing .incident occurred at tho annual meeting!.'of the'.Opawa Bowling'Club'onUfon-, day evening!, (writes our ChristchuTch corres- : ' poudenQ-'.'riio committco desired to' dispose of.; a number-of < waist-belts of tho ordinary, design in the club's:colours, and mombcrs' , wera invited to,purchase them.; -. Several-. members responded; to the invitation, and handed-.over good tXs realm in exchange for tho waist-bolts. : Ono purchaser decided to wear his new acquisition at once, but to his surprise the ends would, not meet by quite some inches. .He called .the attention of other purchasers to the shortage,, and..there ensued a hasty trying-on of the waist,adornments.' The result was disastrous, tho average girth of tho bowlers being much beyond that allowed for by the belts. ' ; ;.,.,.' v '■ The Primo Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) and ; his colleagues in'tho Ministry have been busily Sreparing for the session during the past few ays. Another meeting of Cabinet was'held yesterday when,' it is understood, several policy matters were discussed;;- ::- ; "'-.''' .-'■• ".'' At an early hour, this morning the Piro'-'pii.--cade.received, a call to Tinokori Road, a fit* having broken out in a five-roomed house pRu. ■atod near the entrance to the' Botanical' Gnr> dens. The building was badly'damaged bef.ir* the outbreak was extinguished. ■■ . ; ' ;i It is,.expected that the new island railw».T 6iation at Paokakariki will bo ready for business some time next month. The building is now almost complotcd, but a large amount i'f nlling-in, has to bo done to the two new platforms, both of which will .possess a lengthy*.

and very fino promenade.. ■'.'.:■.. Tim favour with ''which the travollihgpubl.'o, views n fast passenger train, scrvico .is evidenced by an increasing patronage of tlio Wei-, lington-Auckland north express. At tho same time : (writes our: travelling correspondent). .' it' has been noted that. there nro tower peooia travelling by tho i p.m. Wcllington-Pnlmersfuir North and 7 a.m. Palmerston North-Welliiij-ton trains; with the result that tho nuthori;i.i3 have taken' off' the dining-cars in both j :>istances. This ohango was effected on October 1, : Cable advico has been received orivat'jly stating that Suulh Melbourno (3S) beat Carlton (36) in the final for tho 'football championship (Australian game), at Melbourno. >• - ■ : ! local carriers are considerably exercised over the less of business which will result: from ' the operation of, the'through system of checking luggage. One of 'tho expressmen plying for hire at Thorndon Station told a Dominion reporter yesterday that'the cartage of luggage from the station to. the whari represented about two-thirds of his business. Ho paid 10s. per annum for. the privilege of plyiug tor hire, and: now'-, the! Railway' Department, took the ground from under his feet bv taking charge of luggage at the rate of 2d. nor packet, hud' let tho whole of its carrying business to one company.."" Where do we'come in?" ho' asked. There was another grievance. l Last night, when'the New-Plymouth express arrived, the train-drew so far up. tho platform that tho luggage, van was carried .past-' the' carriers* part: of tho , platform, beyond their: vision. Business under these conditions was, of course,' impossible.. "We're going to kiok,"- ho concluded, "and if things don't mend there'll bo. a riot down there.".. ' . ,

With regard to Sir Joseph Ward's statement . that ho has' laid the basis for .obtaining, in London all tho>money required by Ideal bodies in New Zealand at tho rate of about SJ.pei oent., Mr. E. Browii, speaking to o represents- S: tive of a Mastcrton paper, said thai hi thought very few < places ontside the cititi could go in.for a loan of. XIC Ojfl. "I takt it," he said, "the real intcnj Lot the. Goveminent is • to stop lending'%,„local bodies ■'. They aro trying.to savo money!in all dirco tlons, and they have certoinly not boon savins money on the sums already lent .to .local bodies, as thoro is not enough margin." Sir Joseph, ho .held, had made this arrangement so that he could refer borrowers to.tho tondon market. Hitherto counties, small boroughs, and other bodies, could borrow from the Gov. .eminent for special purposes under the Loans to Local Bodies Act. The. Borough, of Masterton;, for instance, had borrowed money : from the Government at. 31 per cent.,, including-' principal' and ■ interest, yet the Government itself: oould not raise money at this rate. II would bo pretty evident, then, that they \vor« losing -, money. • Objections to the inclusion of the. names'of ratepayers in tl\e special toll for the. Wades-' town Tramway Loan will bo heard at,the, S.ll Court On Friday,:' October 15, by Dr. A. M'Arthur, S.M.. ' • ; -' : -.;. > . The now -: under which the dt structor has been, working since Friday las. bid 'fair to- kiiiß Iho . City, Council in a fair amount of revenue. Where 1 only ss. or G& per doy was.taken,under the old regulations. last-Friday yielded 3s. lid., Saturday produced Xl,iand Monday £\\&s. Gd.' Something • like twenty firms in the city have opened annual .accounts, and the ,prospect of n rrtm» of £iSX) or .2500 a yearis open to the city. ■•