LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 833, 3 June 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities advise tliat the Maheno, which left Sydney for Auckland at noon on Wednesday, has on board an Australian and English mail for Wellington and the southern oflices, which should arrive here by Main Trunk train on Monday afternoon next. The newly-painted Linwood Post Office signboard is probably the first in the Dominion to display'the initials of the | .new Sovereign, "G.lt." replacing "8.R." ■ The following tenders were received by I the City Council for the erection of a . tram-shed at ThorndonAccepted, Mr. 1 A. A. Ifennell, J)39!o; declined, Messrs. Mace and Nicholson, .£3992; Muir and Rose, JMO9G; Trevor and Sons, .£4183 155.; J. W. M'Millan, .£4217; Howie and Matthews, «£43G4 10s.; W T . L. Thompson, .£1430; W. H. .ttennett, .£1559; W. Glendinning, «£4672; Donald M*Xean and Sons, J-1900; A. H. Ilarbottle, JJ4932; Meyer and Illingworth, .£4992; Isaac Clark and Son, i 15499. The* exemption of tramway men from jury service is an object which the City Council is desirous of securing. The Mayor stated at the meeting last evening that the tramway, service was considerably dislocated by the fact that every week motormen and conductors had to serve on juries. Raihvaymen and other servants of the Government were exempted from this service. At the "Wellington Garrison Officers' Club, last evening, Colonel A. W. Robin, C.8., Chief of the General Staff, delivered a most interesting address on tho subject of tho New Zealand Territorial Force, explaining its organisation, establishments, and tiie general features of tho new defence scheme. The lecture was followed with close attention by those present, and a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the speaker at the ciose. The desirability of an active crusade against rats was the burdeai of a communication which the City Council received from the Publio Health Department. The Mayor stated last night that the engineer had reported that the inspectors were doing good work, and all that was possible was being done. An amended s3*steni of rendering accounts by tho Post and Telegraph Department for bureau fees came into force on June 1. Accounts will be supplied, to any subscriber, who intimates a desire to receive them daily, on the understanding that payment must be made on the following clay. To ail other subscribers accounts will be rendered on the Ist, 15th, 22nd, and last day of each month. Only tlie number and value of the communiealions will be shown in. the accounts. The management of "Williamson's Grand Opera Company has made arrangements for the company to travel by special trains throughout its tour of New Zealand. The company is to leave for Masterton by special at 8.44 a.m. to-morrow, appearing in that town for one night in "Madam with Miss Amy Castles as Cho Cho San. A conference of the whole of the Bakers and Pastrycooks' Employees' Unions throughout the Dominion will begin in Auckland on June 14. The Wellington delegates arc Messrs. Andrew Collins and A. A. Godfrey. A conference of delegates of the various local bodies affiliated to the Municipal Association will be held in Wellington next month.

A more satisfactory system for the observance of public holidays is an object which the Nov.- Zealand Shopkeepers' Association hopes to do something to bring about during tho coming year. Speaking on this subject at the annual meeting yesterday the retiring president (Mr. H. 11. Sea ton) said that 111 many of the Australian States all holidays were observed 011 the nearest Monday. Two years ago tho association represented to the Government that tho most suitable day for observing public holidays would be the day allotted in each place for the statutory half-holiday. If that system could be followed it would savo a good deal of trouble and inconvenience to both shopkeepers and'the shopping public. If possible Sir Joseph Ward intends to fulfil a promise to visit Mount Cook before the opening of the next session.

People who go to see grand opera should not talk during the performance. On a recent evening, Mr. E. Stewart, the manager of Williamson's Opera Company, approached a group of three or four chatterers, and courteously requested them to desist from talking during the opera. They merely smiled, aiid went on talking, on noting which the manager again approached the interrupters of other people's pleasure, and said rather more severely: "Ladies and gentlemen, if you will not ceaso talking, please leave the theatre—your money will be returned at the doors!" They spoke no more. Signor Hazon does not givo Wellington audiences a high place as attentive listeners. "In Sydney and Melbourne," he says, "there is no sound after I raise my baton. They realise that the prelude is part of the opera—something beautiful that prepares the audience for what is to follow; when the curtain goes up. Here in Wellington they talk, talk, talk through the preludes. They do not know what they are missing—it is a pity!" Delicate referenco to the fate of a fel-low-lodger, . consigned to prison, caused a smile in the Supreme Court yesterday when a witness was undergoing examination. Inquiries were being made as to the value of the furniture in the house, a fire having occurred there, and the witness was describing the apartment of the absent one. Counsel remarked: "I think I know him. He was a reddish man, wasn't ,heP" "Yes," replied the witness, "and when he went they shifted all the blankets,- the bed, and the other furniture." Then, ho added, with an explanatory gesture: "He had to go.you know; he went up tho hill!" Wellington's total tramway revenue for the four weeks ended April 2S amounted to ,£10,958, an increase of ,£221. as compared with the corresponding period of fast year. The working expenses amounted to .£7125, or ,£197 more than Inst year. The engineer (Mr. Stuart Wiohardson) states in his report that, after providing for the proportion of the interest, sinking fund, and depreciation charges, the net result is a profit for tho four weeks ot .EJ2G, as compared with .£402 last year. Councillor Caimichael, commenting on the return at last night's council meeting, pointed out that a sum of JJB32 for 6alo of current had been included in the revenue. The Mayor thought a charge should be made in this respect, and the power-house acoonnta should be kept separate. A motion to this effoct was moved by Councillor Devine and carried. In connection with the prosecution of a man charged with oruelty to a horse by striking it with a bar of iron, it waa stated in our report of the proceedings that the man was an employee of the Wellington Gas Company. This was incorrect. The man was employed by an outside contractor, who does work for the Gas Company. It was the company's employees who complained of the treatment of the horse. According to an advertisement appearing in last night's Gazette, tenders for the installation of the wireless system of telegraphy in tho Dominion will close on December 15. Among tho stipulations is ono to the effect that tenderers must state the name of the country in wliich the apparatus would be manufactured. The Government does not bind itself to accept the lowest or any tender. A chimney firn in a house in Constable Street was the cause of the Fire Brigade being called out yesterday afternoon. Tho Labour Department is making inquiries throughout New Zealand as to tho possibilities of placing a trail ship mont of Home boys with farmers, and it the result is encouraging, it is proposed to send for fifty lads, who will be hero in September next. Shampooing, Clipping, IlairdreaHng, Manicuring, Face Massage, Treatment of Falling Hair, and Dandruff. Combings made up. Natural Hair-pads. Mrs. itollestou (over Carroll's), H Willis Street, 'l'lioao Is9D.—Adrt.

Dr. Arnold Tzard will preside at the opening of the Orphans' Club, which i* to take place at the Marine Engineers' Institute on Saturday evening. Amongst those who have intimated their intention of being present aro the Prime Minister and the Mayor. A strong musical programme has been' arrange! for tho evening. When arrangements were being made at tho Mount View Asylum at 3 p.m. yesterday for the removal of 50 patients to Lytteiton one of them evaded the vigilant/ of the ten attendants, and made his escape. The escapee was still at large last night. Ho is a man about 40 years of age, sft. 7in. high, with a red beard. Ho is wearing a black suit, grey tweed hat, and heavy bluchcr Iwots. The City Council authorised last night the payment of the annual .subsidy of <£300 to the Technical Education Board. Notice is given in this week's Gazette of intention to cancel the registration of the Hawke's Bay Cycle Merchants' Industrial Union of Employers. It may not be generally known that where the country settler lives beyond the reach of a school, an annual allowance of i) 6 per child of school age is made to the parent, provided the Education Board is satisfied that suitable instruction has been engaged. Thus the benefits of education are conveyed to the most remote parts of the country. In such cases, what is known as the "household school" is established, and Oil both parent and teacher there devolves a considerable responsibility in the matter of attendance and records of attendance of the children, on behalf of whom payment is made. At its meeting on Tuesday the Education Board had before it a case of a scholar at such a school who was absent from home for several months, and at the same time was actually attending a school in another education district, and was, nevertheless, enrolled and marked as being present at the household school conducted at the parent's house during the whole absence. This dual enrolment was fortunately discovered, but as the teacher at the household school was uncertificated, and has since left the district, and the school has been closed, the board has contented itself with requiring a refund of tho capita'tion allowance. Acknowledgment of the receipt of the sum of 155., forwarded to the Railway Department, Chrislchurch, by "X.Y.Z.," as conscience money, is made in the latest Gazette. A list of sharebrokers who are licensed under Section 4 of the Sharebrokers Act, 1908, to carry on business in the Dominion during the current year appeared in last nighfe Gazette. The tender of Messrs. Sutherland and Rankine, of AVellington, at «CG 14s. Bd. each, has been accepted for the supply of bicycles (exclusive of tyres) to the Post and Telegraph Department. Unsuccessful tenderers and amounts were:—Cycle and Motor Supplies, Ltd. (Wellington), «£() 17s. each; Magnus, Sanderson, and Co., Ltd. (Wellington), .£7 Is. Gd. each: and Barlow Cycle Co., Ltd (Gisborno), i Jul ss. apiece. has been received by the Prime I Minister that the Commonwealth authorities are considering New Zealand's desires in the matter of places for cadets in the projected military training college ior j officers. Sir Joseph says that in any , scheme of this kind full provision would bo made for the fair treatment of the sons of people who were not wealthy. "Whatever we do," he declared, "we must enable the sons of the poorer people to have the same opportunities as the sons of the rich." Mr, A. Atkinson and the Chief Librarian (Mr. H. Baillie) will represent the Libraries Committee of the City Council at a conference to be held between the chairman (Mr. D. M'Laren, M.P.) and the librarians of the College, ; Museum, Parliamentary, and Public Libraries, the object of which is to move in the direction of library co-operation, j The Bill submitted to Parliament last | year by the City Council to obtain legis--1 lative powers in connection with the milk I supply of the city will be- reintroduced I next session. Tho relations between the City Council and the press were dealt with in tho following recommendation, which was before the council last night:—"That in future the revenue and expenditure returns of the tramways and lighting departments be circulated among\all members of the council at the same time as they' are distributed to members of the committee, but that they be not published until after the meeting of the Tramways Committee at which they are to be considered." The Mayor (Mr. Wilford) 6aid that if this course were adopted there should be no feeling on the part of members on account of reports being given to the press before the councillors had received them. If other committees adopted the same course with regard to statistical returns, there should be. no more of the feeling to which he had referred.

A request for a tramway stop in Manners Street, near Herbert Street, was refused by the City Council last evening.

At a meeting of the newly-formed Detail Tobacconists' Association held in the offices of the secretary (Mr. H. I'. Allen) last evening, it was announced that the Minister for Labour (the Hon. J. A. Millar) had consented to receive a deputation of members at an early date, to be fixed by the Minister, with regard to amendments to the Shops ,and Offices Act- Messrs. J. B. Speoi, Holilsworth, and Axmit were appointed a sub-commit-tee to wait on those members of the trade in Wellington who are not members of the association, and invite them to join forces for the common good. It was decided to convene a conference of tobacconists from all parts of New Zealand, to be held in Wellington on July 6, to consider matters affecting the trade. Sir Joseph Ward, who is patron of the newly-formed Wellington Arts Club, will preside at the opening of the club's new rooms in Bowen Street to-morrow afternoon. With regard to the application of Brooklyn ratepayers for increased tramway accommodation, it was reported by the Tramways Committee of the City Council last evening that one extra car for tho Brooklyn route was now practically ready, and that two more cars would be available in about two months' time. Other matters brought forward by the recent Brooklyn deputation have been referral ' to the electrical engineer for a report. The City Council had on unusually heavy order paper last night, owing to the previous fortnightly meeting having been omitted. At 11.45 p.m. the business was not finished, and the council adjourned until 2 p.m. next Monday. Mattors relating to finance, tho Lyall Bay tramway, etc., will then bo dealt with. Several" notices of motion were postponed. With regard to the smoke nnisanco in the Lyttelton tunnel and the proposals to abate or abolish it, the Hon. J. A. Millar says that he does not see the utility of spending £4000 or -£5000 in providing means to keep tho tunnel free from smoke whilst there is any chance of an electrical wlieine being adopted. Ho intends waiting to see what Cabinet decides in connection with the Lake Coleridge hydro-eleotric scheme. Tho whole question of such schemes is at present under consideration. "You wonder what has been the trouble with American cities," said Dr. Henry in the course of an address to men in Christchurch on Wednesday. "They have been a disgrace, and characterised by misrule, more than any other cities, but you must remember that the average man outside the States knows nothing about it. It all arose out of this problem of aliens. In a recent London census it was shown that less than 2 per cent, of the population was foreign-born, but in the United States for the same year the thirty-three leading cities bad percentages ranging from 30 to 91 who were either foreignborn or the first children of foreign-born parents. Unscrupulous politicians used to meet them at the wharves and make them citizens before they had crossed the road, and then lino therA up to vote according to tho direction of these pothouse politicians. They knew nothing about liberty ami cared less. Wo got 75 per cent, of the ex-convicts of tho South of Ireland, and it was a question what to do with this heterogeneous mass. The wonder is not that the American cities have been corrupt, but that these aliens have not damned the whole community long ago." During the fortnight ended j\lav 31, 22 applications were received by tho City Council for permits to erect, rebuild, ot extend buildings. In 26 instances plans Here examined and approved, and permits issued, tho values being as follow:— Citv, X'3597j Melrose, JMSO2; Kortlxland, JCISO,; total, .£8859. -