LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 680, 3 December 1909, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

'. Shareholders , are reminded" that ■ the half, yearly.'-'meeting of' the Bank of New Zealand will tako place. !>t 11 a.lii. to-day at tho head omc6'Of,:tho bank. .:, ; -■•' '■■■"'.'■■•. :: : , ;;' V

..'A ; .cap -manufacturer, oomplained in the Suprem'eiCourt-yesterday 'that, because of on allegedly, slanderous; statement ; made.-by another., manufacturer in the city, his business' had tecoived a. serious set-back. From, tho witness-boi, - he. told :tho- Court that ha had be«n able .to. get only • one-fourth of his,;previous orders. .■ .Cross-examining ..counsel sug. gested that the decreased output ~niight -be due to tho influence of the "hatltss brigade." "Only ■■ the other day/': the barrister wont on, "an American, referring to. the- hatless pto-ple.-nsked.inD, 'What is the uso'of putting a strong thatch;oyer-an empty. wharo?', ; ".. -...,' ,

:''". Accoriiing'to a letter'from the Town Clerk*," which ;.wns read at yostordny's. meeting o( tho Shopkeepers''Associntioh.iliq.widening of.,WiU Us --Street nt llr. Qooddll'e!, premises, will /bo .Ukei* iniliarid, at' the earliest possible date'. *'■■

;: The Prime-Minister has written to the Shopkeepers' Association in reply to the protest, made. against the alleged unfair competition which grocers nre • subjected to owing to the methods adopted at ■ the. Mount Cook Defence Stores,, stating that tho ■ representations of' the association had been noted and inquiriee would be made into the matter. Mr. H. H. Seaton stated that although military canteens were in vogue in Germany,: England,/ and other places, the conditions were entirely different in New Zealand, where the men received 7s. orßs. a day, and lived away from the barracks, ,In England, for instance, they received Is. Id. per day, and lived in barracks.. As he understood it, tho Defence Stores were in unfair competition with tho grocery trade at present,, and they had proof of the injury done ..in certain cases.; Further, Government, expresses and horses Were used for delivering the goods. It also appeared that if a .Permanent Artilleryman shifted, Government expro-ses removed his furniture. . If. this waa not unfair competition it-was certainly not part of the artillorynleu's military duty. ~'':' ■•-.., ■

"The magistrate eaidi that a sliopkeeper should not start in business until ho know the . Act," remarked tho secretary of -the; Shopkeepers' Association (Mr. H. P. Allen), at yosterany's meeting of the afsociation, referring to the recent prosecutions under the' Shops and Offices' Act for failing to close at the statutory hour. "If ■ a shopkeeper did know the : provisions of the Act/' added tho secretary, "ho would' probably never commence in businees." Before the Manawatu railway was acquired by the Government the. fares and freight charges on the Government lines in this part of tho Dominion were fixed on the basis of the shorter route. - The regulations to that effect are cancelled'as.from Monday next by notice in last night's Gazette. , ... ■ ';:.

" Within' a> year or two you will be asked to pay .£150,000 to conetruct a water-pipe line to the Hutt." This prediction,was made by, the Mayor at-last night's meeting of tho City Council. .His. Worship ; wont on to 6ay that he considered that water would become dearer as the years go on; and personally.: he thought outside boroughs .were being supplied with water at too cheap a rate. The City Council was not-a .charitable institution. At a later, stage of the meeting Councillor Devine ; said ! that some people appeared to regard tbo; City Council.as a; milch cow.. ■: ... . ' :. .v The ranges and targets allotted for ■ the (Various rifle matghes at Tfentham to-morrow afternoon are as'foUow:—Collins range, 200 and 500 yards—Dominion Scouts, 19-20; Heretaunga Mounted,Eifies, 21-22; Victoria College 0.T.C., 23-24; Engineers, 25; reserve targets,, 17-18. Sommerville Eangc, 500 and 600 yards—Post and Telegraph Rifles, 14; City Eifles, 5-6; Highland Rifles, 7-10; Kelburne Rifles, 11-12; PeN monent Torce,'l3-1J; Guards, 15-17; Zealandia Hiiies, .18-19;, reserve targets, 20-21. Seddon range, 800 and 000 yards—City Rifles, 1-2;' Engineers, 3; Karori Rifle Club; 4-8; Civil Service ' Rifles, 9-12; Hutt Valley' Rifles,: 13-15; reserve targets, IG-17. . ' ~ ~ ; ..,■■'; ■; : - '■•';-. The present condition of unemployment,;in Wellington is officially stated by, the Department ; of Labour'to be -'normal." ■,j.; rOwing to the fact that 'the date of the bffi. ; cors , teams rifle match—December 4—is not cohveriient to;the Auckland , officers, tho event has been postponed until 'December.., 18.■ The match, v as has already been explained, > is ah inter-centre contest by teams representative of Auckland, ,Wellington! Christchurch, .;■ and Dunedin. ■'.- : : ■:■-"■:■ :• : ■-:■;'' .■''.-- ':■'.:

Despite tho anxious' solicitations of various deputations, the railway time-table will come into operation oh Monday next, as origin: ally announced. ' The: extra Main : Trunk express, will also commence running, on that date. ■ The' city engineer, has been instructed to .report on the best: moans of improving the water, supply-to' Newtown'Park, .and to , providoran' estimfite as; to '.;.;.' :':' ■ : ; ;.',;..;■ The : request of. the -Wellington Industrial. Association that the City/.Council should: give. ■the Technical Education Board'a' lease petuity at a peppercorn; rental of! the land in '■ Mercer. Street at present leased, to ■ the : board• ifor , sixty' years as. o.'. site 'for . a> .technical school.', has ;l?een acceded • to. The "land, is to; be 1 an. endowment for : technical .education ,, purposes, in order ' that financial arrangenwrits might be made , .with the-Government for the building of ainewVsohool-on the John Street iuU.- , ;-v-.; .••' '"■:, :■ ■ •.■■■:;.';; .-■•'.. ■ "'■.■■■' ■;;•■■•;;■ : Interpretations of the Customs Act in relation' , to:soveral articles are gazetted./, .' , .•'.;.. ;.;:-.-.' ' Three, sanitary inspectors are to be appointed by. , ..the City,.Council;''after a/report on.'itne [.matl^r:' hasi been .receiyed-iironi^the.,Abattoirs, .;{j;ij,o[|b '•■>.< ■ t .-/.)fe:r,r;=v. ''::: : -i':,JS:<h -A compensation claim-a'gaitst the City Ooun-" oil land iti^VitUs , Street.' lasfelening that Mr.;.G.;H. Scales, had .been'appdinted i\sscs6or ; ■for.-the clajihants (Messrs..-Pike and' Bate), and it was; decided that. Mr.'-A.:.n.. Miles -should' bo asked to :act:.as .assessor for.; the .council' ■when the oase;came before the Court.' ■-■',';" I The; possibility of ; ,a serious, accident'occurring" at the cbrnor.'of Cuba nrid' Manners Streets was at tho City Council■meetingilasO ,riighti,' Councillor Fktcher asked for ihfprma-. tion regarding the negotiations in hand for the widening l of' the thoroughfares; 'The.-:May.br 'intimated.-::that he. was. endeavouring t6 push ahead negotiations .between' the 'lessee of: the corner property and the '■. owners. He was most anxious'.about tho matter^'and hoped to have something definite . to".,'announce, at .'the, next cbunoil; meeting.: -.::' ;:!;'■;■ : ' ■■,':'''-y\X :;'; . .During -thei.fortnight; ended .November,:: l 3o twenty-five applications: were .received by.the city building , inspector, for permission to.erect, ( alter,: or: 'extends: buildihgs,> and in. 29;, cases 'applications were examined and permits issued. The total value: of the work done was 5^69378, , . made up as : under:—City, JC2793; Melrose; JBG185; WadestownV#o.;. v. v : ;,'; - -'-«:.;-.•

An.'inquirer at' ;the: City Council last evehi; ing eouglit information regarding the expected adjustment', of -the■,special". rate dispute bahteen. ICarori,; Borough' and 'Northland: -The town: clerk.'said : that a commission had been applied:for,',and two letters had been, sent ask- , ing. how theimatter was progressing,'; , but/no. particulars ,had yet been. lurmshed,. :■ , i;"

■ vAVritirig of, Trafalgar Day in 'London;;;the headquarters , secretary:: of tne Navy .League ihiormed-Mr. C. AV. Palmer,, the secretary, of the Wellington.;branch,"that' the: wreath,embedded, in ice, which,.was sent by .members; of the leaguohere as a.cpntribution to the decoration" or .■' the'.'Nelson column, .was the',admired of all beholders in , Trafalgar Square. He had given instructions that tho painted badgb in the centre.'of. I ,the -Svreath -should bo retained-, and; sont out.tb Mri Palmer...' ■'■:'.'■, •■'/ .■•:. 1! :/:.";! : .';

Tho committ'ep of!'; tho, local branch of; the. Navy League inet last .night, Colonel. Hume' presiding...'Satisfactory reports'- as .to' the financial aspect of, the Tramlgar dinner and the annual entertainment were submitted. A, suggestion; from Auckland ; that an authenticated copy of the London. "Times;".'containing an account'.of Nelson's funeral , in -1805, should be -purchased by the; league for the sum;'6f .£lo,.'was 'declined.' A' discussion' took place as to the : "time expired"" tnen" .who recently.; obtained their : discharge' from :. H.M.S.' : Pioneer. It was decided to make inquiries , of tho navalauthorities .''.beforei nioviug.:- further .in 'the' ■■' 1 ."'-;.;"■.'; : "./;:■;■.;; ,'-Y : ';•;'■• .-■■-.■ ■'.■;■■:,'. .■'

The provision of a.bell for .calling'lagging city councillors who; have strayed from'.';-tho Council Chamber "was suggested at last night's meeting nf the j council, when the meeting thinned down a, bare jjuorum, and another councillor intimated his intention of leaving. Tho boll ivill probably make its appearance in due;course: ' ■-.; , •■■ : - , '~'.:■■• ■':;-.'.'.• ■'■■■ .■■'■•.■ ■An objection was raised.by Councillor. Devino, at the City Cbunoil meeting last night,-that nothing was done at committee meetings-that was not ': reported' immediately in the : papers. Committee proceedings, Councillor Dovine"considered; should be, strictly, private until information regarding them .reached;.tho council.; He frequently read.in the paper.of what had;been done; before receiying .the' report sent'ldr, all councillors/- Hβ ; yished to ask,councillors; ( if they ; considered the innovation desirable, jin, the interests , ' oKpublip; business,. Tho Mavor, said that ho information, regarding committee : t proceedings was . given to the. papers' with, his authority.. .The committee .matters, 1 of- which councillors wbro notified, should be treated as confidential until the council inet, and should liot .bo reported to" the papers. ■ "Loften" wake up and read in the inorninK.paper of things that have jiot come, before tho council!.' continued' thevJlayor... "I' trust .that in-future councillors will refrain, from communicating, these matters to the papers." A councillor: "Or any'.'.officer of the. council." ."I am'.quite', sure that no officer of the council, dares to. do such a thing,"',-replied-' the.- Mayor, warmly. "They, have: had too., njany warnings since I have been, ..,!•'.'. . '...,' L . . • ;.:;'V

Sovon of the powerful Jandns nro lamps of similar dosigp to tho one installed ', recontly at' tho corner' of Featherston Street and Lambton Quay, nroto ho: purchased by tho Cit.t, Council at a cost."of .£102.. Tho lamps.are to be erected at tho , following places :—Lambton station, Duke of Edinburgh corner, Royal Oak corner, Conrtenay l'laco waiting shod, Veitch ami. Allan's' corner, Taranaki Strnet, noniV new King's Thoatre, Stoward Dawsun's corner. :

" Sign, the pledgb, be of good behanour, aiid bo. kept uuder'tno' s eye of the City Council generally," were tho conditions.hedginn- round a permit; granted , to, a cab-drivor by tiio.City Council last; night.-' ■'■■':,■ "i.; •;'■.-'. ; ;'■.'•.■; .:.V';'a • Shampooing, Clipping, Hairdrcselng, , Manicnring,, Face Massage, Treatment, of • Falling Hair and Dandruff; Combings' made up, 'Natural g, a ;r-pad3. Mrs. Uolleston'(over. Carroll's) 11 WiUis Street' -'Phone 1599.--.■;■■":■:• ■,:'.,■ C 1517

. .Although the.City 'Council, has.' in' tlie.pael "'"*>:■ consistently- sot; its: face against flyingi streamerj A ;J ; on-, the., tram-cars'; it- was .proposed., .at ■ last;; '■■'<:'■ nighf s mcctingi that the Sh 1 . John '.•; Association and" the Tramway Band bo granted: : '■--■ permission to fly stroamers' on the. care tising " Ambulance Saturday " and the "Moon-, r< , light .Excursion" respectively.. .The. proposal.;. ;'• was, adopted, '■'.' ■'■;;■.;■•, ' ■"■/"■ ■ ■■■' :/ { -y X '■''. The 'old: cjuestion of rnnning the.tramß; on J;C, Christmas which is something:',in. the;;.;; ;, nature of /.'an' , annual discussion, was; revived , ;,:;.: at last' night's meeting of the City Council; :■;- when 'the Tramways' Committee"; proposed! rA!;-: "That an ordinary Sunday tramway servjcobe ,f: run on.- the principal routes on Chrietmas".vr. Day,: including morning cars to' meet boatf-.;;:';.' and , trains; double ordinary : fares., to ; charged!" Councillor Carmichael; moved'that '•■ this clauso should be deleted, but the: mot',; :, r tion did not ; draw a seconder, and,tho rccom- V^'- 1 mendation, was agreed to. ■ -..,■'.".'■.■■ •'.. ,' f i : .';: -Concession faros on tho city trams are,' to. b»V ■: granted to the Mount Cook school children .on,; ; ; the occasion of their school picnic at ''Wonderland.", Childron up to 14 years of age will be charged as though they, were under 12. . An offer, made by the Wellington Choral Society to give their services to'tho City, organist for ; a joint organ recital and carol concert on Christmas night in tho Town Hall, has beco accepted with, thanks by tho council./. ■'.' ■ "It appears to me that we send; dolegatoi to various.local bodies and instead of working for thiS council they cling tenaciously to the local body, and the council can go to the wall and be bled," said Councillor. Trevor, during a discussion at last night's meeting of,, the i City Council, when it was proposed' that the council should givo'over a certain proporty to the Technical Education Board as an" endowment' .■•' ' ';(;'.'■'■' " '•■■. ;'• ~' ■'.■.(';. ■Representatives bfc the Wellington Licdertafpl waited upon tho City Council'last evening in reference to tho charge of 15s. for the use of the extension to the stage of' tho Concert Chamber of the Town Hall.- This matter has been before tho council at, its last two meetings, and it had been decided, to reduce'tho charge-to 15si The Liedertafol urged that it could pay 10s., and tho deputation Mked. that the charge -should bo reduced to' this , sum,' failing which the society would probably have to seek quarters, elsewhere. • The Mayor promised that tho matter would receive attention. A- deputation representing the Miratnar Borough Council and residents of Kilbirnie wa» introduced to last night's meeting of the City Council by the Hon. T. W. Hislop, who stated that; the.,deputation wished \ to; express-; it» iviews on the proposed construction of. a- raili '■ way tb' Evans Bay, details of which' have been publish'ed'recently, Mr. Hislop explained that the-idea, which was by no means a new one, was to extend, the railway from To Aro to Kilbirnie. The deputation asked that the City :.Council and tho Harbour Board should: join in asking the Government, to extend the rail* way, and so supply a long-iolt'waht. ._ Mr. C. J> Crawford, Mayor of Mirnmar, explained tho schomo id detail/ suggesting a station nearvtlie . old Kilbirnio 'Baths, after taking/ the;;,lino ,through a.tunnel in tho hill. ,Tho. Miramnr ' Council had decided to co-oporavo with the Kilb'irnio Committee, which had tho matter in .hand, and the deputation asked that the-City Council should lend its assistance.- The. Mayoi said. the matter wouliT bo referred to a ■ committee, and the deputation would. receive a roply'later. ; ■■■.'.:'. :. ' ' .■■.''■ ', 'Theoffieiirs 'ofthe City Council haye;recontly been inquiring into tho charges'.* of admission and' tickets at, tho city baths, and a result a ; recommendation'Wai" put : forwnTdat last night's mooting of the City Council BUggesting that tlie tweho-dip transferable ticket costing 2s; bo repealed, and that .the adult monthlj ticket, costing 2s. 6d., be repealed, and.a',clip, ticket entitling tho bearer to thirty dips for 2s. ,Cd.,' transferable, be substituted, the other'tickets to remain as at present. An exceptionally bright meteor was seen from ' Wellington last night shortly after half-past eight. It travelled from south-east to north* nest, and broke as it fell. '