LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 648, 27 October 1909, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Discipline and how it is'maintained in'tho Wellington Telephone,Exchange , is the subject of a departmental inquiry.-to be hold by Mr. Harrington; -inspector, , at ;an early The inquiry is bring held at the instance;of several of the girls employed at the exchange ; .-■

;: Under the heading "New. Zealand Borrow-, ing," the following.paragraph appears in:the editorial notes, oi tho London "Financial Times" :of September 13:—Our ■ Melbourne correspondent -states that the financial; condition of.Now Zealand .is attracting a Rood deal of attention ainOnßst -thoughtful publicists both in'tho Dominion and in .Australia. "New Zea-. land,"'he-adds,' "is palpably sntfering from .over-borrowing.- ■, Last. year, the . country borrowed four and a half millions, and, in the four,, years, 1906-9,- eleven' millibns altogether. This is dangerously too, much for so ■ small a territory practically uninhabited, for the population- only, amounts 'to 910,000, half of,,whom, are children. Moreover,, 130,000, or one-seventh' of: the population, are ditectly dependent on the State. This last assertion was made by a Minister in the Ward Cabinet.: , , .

"This man is malingering. ■ If you have a powerful battery it might be tried, on his Back." So wrote Dr. Fell 'to the Benevolent Trustees in a .report concerning, an inmate of tho Ohiro Home, who had experienced enormous difficulty'". in "finding', work—he saw lions in ..every- path, and finally.' snuggled down at the home, wrapf.in the fplds ot an imaginary illness. Mr. : II; W; Short had his'■; doubts concerning tho electric. battery.. "It would take a field battery to';shift some of thfeo

In connection with the erection-of-a memorial to • Captain■► Cook at Ship Cove,; ■ Oueon Charlotte , Sound, :it is interesting to learnthat' llr. liobert M'Nab; has communicated with, the secretary of the Cook Memorial Committee stating; that it,is a little known fact that in 1820 a Russian admiral famous in his own country, and in whoso-honour a monument was erected in St. Petersburg,'had visited the. Marlborough' Sounds and- stayed thoro' some time. OB<i beliovid rhat it would not bo diffi : cult to locate tho admiral's exact .rendezvous, and suggostod to the committee-that it should communicate with tho Russian.: Government, through tho.lligh'Coinmissipner in London, informing it about its' present object, and offering to supervise a marking : stono to commemorate the visit of the Russian 'navigator. Ho believed if the. offer was forwarded in the right terms tho. Russian authorities would appreciate tho compliment to their nation, and forward the. moans of still further enhancing the-his-torical'interest of the Sounds.- ~: •■-.-.•■.';

The damage caused by'the recent firo at Lovin railway station, (says our local correspondont) is- estimated at .£408.. ,'',-..■

Great inconvenience is suffered by residents between Paekakariki and llanakau' for want of an early morning train to Wellington which will allow them to' come 'into town, do their business comfortably, and return the Bame evening. There is a train at present. wmeh arrives in'-Wellington at. 12.30 p.m., and leaves again .at 4 p.m.,. but this does not provide a sufficient- interval.- Thero : is also a> train which leaves Paekakariki daily before,7 a.m., and sets into Wellington 'at 8.45, leaving again , for Otaki at 6.20 ]V.m,,.and later on Saturday nights.' What is wanted by tho residents north\ of'.PaokftkarikL ieVa train: which will leave Otaki about 7 a.m., on'lhrce days of. the week, returning at 6.20 p.m. 'ThoMinißter'for Railways has informed Mr. W.H. Field, n;ember for Otaki, that: the: Department",will.run the train if the residents are willing to guarantee tho cost,- At tho rate of"ss. a running mile, this is estimated at .CICOO a year. Tho train would bo credited with the additional, business it might do. Mr.-.-Field has offered to become a guarantor, nud he has advised local residents to sot up a committee to bonsider.tho. matter and report to a Mibscqutint public meet-; ing,, It is proposed that the early train should rnn on Mondays/Wednesdays, (ind : , Friday, City residents would benefit by tho .'opportunity' of enjoying a week-end at Otaki and heigh-: bquringV'seaside, rworle .without trespassing uuduly on,their business houre. ; ■ :. , ; \

'. Some surprise- has been expressed of late at the length:, of,tinie it is toking" tho. Audit Department to submit its report on the audit of the City. Council' balance.-slicot.; Although the, ' accounts were,: according to statute, ready lor audit in .April,, th?. largo district; which : the Department has to cover iinade it impossible to start the: work right away,' but tho examination "was taken up as soon as possible, andthe result of it is expected to (be ready,any time within the next lew days. .■ ■ '■■' ■■''■,'' A deputation from the Trades and Labour Council will wait on tho Minister for Railway* (the Hon.'J. A. Millar) at 8 o'clock this ovening to urge that provision should bo made, forthe; special labelling of New Zealand-made goods. "The worker. won't ■■ fight' unless . you kick Mm," said Mr. W. H. Warren, of Dunedin, at the Labour Conference, "lie's not vet been kicked sufficiently to make 1 him fight as >ho should: When he's fall he .forgets. , ? Mr. H. R. Rusbridgc, of. Christchurch, eaid •ho did not think a dclcgato should 6pcak about the workers in such terms. . .'■"■'■'■

With tho now issue of. stamps, roforred to in yesterday's issue of The Dominion, the ma- , jority of tho present not unpicturosquo stamps, -. which created a good deal of joy in tho heart ■■:■ of the philatelist, will disappear. The new stamps aro prosaic to a degree. Tho design— a-good (bust) portrait of the King in field mar-. , shal's. uniform—is the same on'the whole range' , of stamps. The oiuy difference is tho tint m! which they; are printed und the number show-,: ing the face value. The universal pink penny stamp (Britannia and globe design) remains in issue, but the half-penny (green) takes the . King design, and; being priuteijf\in what is '..■. known as-tho "surface proeos is/not / so clear. in detail or so good jn • as tho others, all of which are printed fronv the steel dio. The colours of the now stamps are:— ;■,. 3d., brown; 4d:, oracgo; 5d., sepiaj'Gd., carmine; Bd., blue; Is., brick red. The pick of V the present issue, howover, arc being retained, it is pleasurable to learn. These are the eu- ■-. perb 2\i. (Lake Wakatipu), the Od; (Pink Ter-. , races), 2s. (Milford Sound), and tho ss. (Mt. / Cook). ' These aro beautifully designed stamp*"; characteristic of tho country. ■; .' . ■■ . ; '*■■:■ Edgar. Joseph Merooir, a clerk at'the Levin| ! - Railway Station, was brought botore a; justice ■ of the peace yesterday'and'.charged with mis-.' .' appropriating moneys of the Railway ment amounting to JJ3B,lßs.'Bd, He was .'re- v manded to appear at Levin on Thursday, No- ':'■.. vember" 4. ■ V Bail was allowed,' buf.wae notforthcoming, and accused was therefore btought ■". to "Wellington by. Detective Lewis and lodged';,:': at' the gaol. ~ ,/• • ' '~'■.'< ,■■' \\' ■■■.!■'■■ - : \-.':'-' , Dr. M'Arthur will give judgment to-morrow :: : in the' Assessment Court case dealins with ob. '-.-. . jection's to the siwclal iroll in/connection', with'' ' ■, the Wadestown. tramway. ; : ■'. '. , ~•"/,■ The inhabitants of Lake Taupo district ate;•...-.■! busily, preparing for tho . approachiug fishing : season. During a visit last week, Mr. W..J.. ; Napier found, that there ie likely to be a laj-ge v number of visitors; from England and Scotland, •,. several Scotch landed proprietors having de- , ' cided to • establish • fixed ' summer, ' camps. '; Launches, boats, and Native attendants have , already been ordered for service between , 'De- ; .comber., and 'April.' Captain Ityan, managing'; director, of tho Lake Steamship. Company,-Bayers the lake is full/of trout, and thinks it will bo , u necessary , in the.near 'futuro for the Govern-.v-■ment to establish a trout-canning' factory. .;■: 4 : Interest'in aviation- will, receive; n,; consider-.'V ; able impetus in Sydney on November 18, when/ a Wilbur'/\Vright aeroplane will bo shown in;.:./ that city,for. tho first' time , in Australia."Tho'; -~ machine, which has been engaged tb. tour., th«' ; '■ Commonwealth by Messrs. , J. and N. Tait,' of, Y Melbourne, will be first introduced to tho'pnb- ! ;; lie in' Sydney, at the Town Hall, and'will sub-■ ,■ eequently make'its first Hight in all probability '; on the Victoria Park Eacocoursfe, Sydney;-which ; is regarded by , Mr. Colin Dofriesto be a most r suitable locality for sucli exhibitions. :Lator ■■: on, it /will appear'; in' - the different /Australian',. .' capitals, iind, Messrs. Tnit have '' every .'reason ; :: ;to believe, that it will excite a'trouiendons .' of curiosity and attention...Mr. , ,Colin :;■, Defries, an'expert aoroplnnisty /comes•but-epeci-::-.\.i ally to conduct tho.flights. .In-fact, Mr. ; D6-. ■-) fries ;was in Melbourne and Sydney-, throe 0r , ,,..'/ four months Back eelkting localities, etc;, and'..'*'., ;ho returned to France in July to secure early;. , .v, :do!ivory of tho machine. -While there, ho took ~ ,'part ■in :,the, JJhoims Carnival. / ' ', / ' ,' r .: .>',.:;/ //,,,

Miich ankioty has been caused ,to' Dean Lightheart by the ravages'wrcught by• thermal -t>\" tion on: the',church at Whakarewarewa, says ■; a Eotoriia message., Thcbuildingiwas erected , by Father Kreymbpurg, and the > excavabpns had formed"niun'crouß steam' vents : underneath the structu'rci;>ith' tbo"resnlf:/that as'-tinie,,' wont'by'the'timbers'were affected , to such an icxterit thatrthe; cliureh' ,a vf'as''-;ji flinßer ; ': lapsing. -Tortuhntely/pwing , to the'skiU' of ■•' tWei'.hos been, abated. Father.■ Wicntjcs/'.has r ,,constructed, ■■,■'.unattßeotu/.^he'v , church .a' number : "i9f/;,cbnc.rotajC6ndiii^.-one 7 .. extending almost the' length of thb' building./-. •These conduits tap the , 'principal, steaml vents ■( and conduct thesteam'to the roar of.the build-v, ing, where it escapes in a hugO'-yolume.- , Thev. work was of a difficult and tedious nature,.: Should the cohcretc stand tho test of thejtheN; , rnri' lactidh, the ; 6nfo(ty.' Of tho church" 1 is, as- , surcd. ■, .... ;'" '■' V-W , ;'''i-' :' u .? ;'.' -'..■':

. The wjierat hralth::ef|, the 'inmates •of • the . Boys' Training 'Farm otjWbroro'a—about 150— ■ Kits been 'good , during the year, 1 , states: the. Health' Officer's/report, ■" Attention is called,howover,' to the J unsatisfactory ' state of the water supply. . It.,is. rwepestod that the orcctioii of •■■«■" 6wimmirig,> bath-would' bo of ,grqatvalued not '■ only, frtm ' the; health standpoint,!, whinh'js'considerable, but'b'ecauso'.thefe is'.na, facility'; at ■ tho farm ,-f or. learning. swimming.' ;■',

i Three ■women will appear at the Police Court: 1 , this morning, to/answer, to- charges oFfortune-/ ■' .telling.■ - , '• ''■''' .' .. ■■''',{ '■'' ':?.*"

■ The'vote for To Aro bath improvements has been expended by.the City Council, and'the workuion who have been oraployed-al; tho baths for some, time past. hayo, been- withdrawn. Only a portioh' of the: work .has hcpii; com* pleted, and whilo. tlioi baths are .an immense improvement on what the public.wero able to 'enjoy'lost year, tho balanco of the work, which includes the building of the dressing boxos.and l the erection: of 'tho platform on' tho '< Oriental; Bay side of the' baths, will probably not be undertaken'until',next.year.' . •!..; .;<,■';'..';

. The; negotiations ; which ■ have been proceed- ■- , ing between; the Finance Committee of tho'-City j'" Council: and .Mr., John , Duthio in; reference to tho city .procuring/ , land in Willie Street :■. for the purpose of widening the street up to Mercer Strootywill be considered ;nt a,special f meeting' of the .City, Council. to. -ho hold, on, i' ■■Friday; afternoon.'. Another matter to, be con-;. sidcred ' will be the question of; purchasing ■. certain: land : at Thorndon Quay from the Wcl-; , lihgton and ManawatU ltailway Company for-tramway-purposes, /.-.■ >' -, ••■ '-.- :.■•;'. .;

'■''.'Plans.; of a proposed shelter,shed and: other, necessary buildings to be erected. at the ter-. minus of the LyelL Bay tramway, will, it ia understood, be.presented at next week's .meeting of- L the;City'-,Council. -. •'-..'•■''''•: ' At■' the: Mount' Cook Police Court'yestcrdayJ ■before' Dr. Ma'ckin.vJ.P., John Smith, charged with insobriety, was fined COS., in default ;7 'days! ■ imprisonment,: Others , similarly charged wore dealt with as follow:—John Whitmorei, fined 'sSi.or 24 hours'- 'imprisonment;.,- John Bakcr^ildsoVor 1 iß"hour's;-)£ugcnp, Mahoney. 20sj, ', or 7 days ;'■ Isabero Jacobus,. ss;, or. 21 hours;; and' Samuel/Austin, 205., or , 7 days. : ■■

: A meeting of the Manaßcment-.Comtnitteo of the Wellington Lawn. Tennis Association wai held-'last; night; and wae. attended by Messrs. Beere. (chairman),;.- Wilson, >, O'Lcary, Lewie. .Robertson, Brown, and Keari. If.was decided to hold' a' handicap, tournament at' Day's Bay : ott.Jamiary 1 and 3, to be finished, on' the following 'Saturday if found- necessary. Entries are to, be fcnt in by. December 17. Twentyeight entries-were received . for the inter-club competitions, six for the. shield, seven, for the cup, eight for. the 'pennant, and seven .for'the racquet. A subcommittee was. appointed .to ■draw, up the fixtures, nhd is-to submit them to a meeting; to;be held du Friday. ■'■.-■ .-\ ■ ■-.

The. Hon! J. Barr, M.L.C, told: the Labour Conference yesterday that ,tho Government was at present; assisting no immigrant* oxoept domestio servants.■■:■; The shipping were, however, ■ advertising to induce as manypeople as possible to come out. ■ They, would like to bring; them out and take them back again; ,, He-thought the conference should deal with that aspect of the: matter, -:v;.; :'■;■; Mr. T. Long, president -oCTJ' •■' Anokland Trades: Council, speaking at thdinbour Conference, yesterday,', mado complaints against"',the"'Government'• as an employer/of' labour at Kotorua. Ho quoted the , case';of a ■man who was doing disagreeable 'work at. ss. a'dayy . Another had received .-C2 ,13s. a week the Government assumed control, and when tlie change took place his. pay was , reduced to 7s. ;,Gd. aday,, andhe, had no, holi.; days. Mon -on street.works '■ for .tho Govern-, ment got' ?si a ■ day, ; miwis broken time, whereas the Auckland City Council did-'- not. pay loss: than Bs.. a. day for'road' work.' There was also a. deplorable system of tyranny ■': over 'tho'.- Goyerniui'ii t's labourers ■ at: Kotoruaj. and:■ he■ was iiad to"hear ;that' there , was Va nioveiiicnt. to ~ 'outnin the ■■ rctuov'aV jot -a ■•curiaini'oulber.-'thero;.".'./.; ': ' «'' ;; : '■■■"'•'■';-.''":

-' No fewer than SSO Rpplications have/been re. coivivl.(writes our Auckland'correspondent) for sections ui the Kanjjitoto anil: Korakonui Bcttlements' to btt : thrown- opeu . fo*.; selection under tho regulations . r roltttin^': to ;■'■' iniproVcd farm settlements. ! -'"''rho'V&pp}i(s(inta' are 'mostly■< re-' trenched' Civil S6rvahts 'and. worker's :, K:ho hav* ;been':dispc)hseA"with .;froln;..tho.:Main :.Trunk railway, 1 and; from'>6a4,xWrkeii-/.The , ballot