LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 924, 17 September 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Amongst the subjects to engage ,-the attention of the conference of the New Zealand branch of the Australasian 'Federated Seamen's Union, which opens in Wellington on Tuesday morning, will be tho introduction of lascar crews to the intercolonial trade by'the P. and 0. Company. It is contemplated to place proposals beforo/the Government, with a view to Laving legislation introduced to overcome the trouble. Other matters likely to engage the attention of the conference are: Preference to unionists, the adoption of uniform rules, ..the. New Zealand Federation of Labour, accommodation of seamen on board ship, life-saving appliances, the adequate manning of ships, and a proposal to have the stokehold department manned in accordance_ with tlie_ grate area - of the furnace, instead of indicated horsepower. . > ■'

A matter relating to. the exchange of certain lands between the Crown and the. Masterton Trust Lands Trust came before the Hon. Dr. Findlay yesterday. It will be remembered, that last session an exchange was. authorised of land belonging to the Government on which a lock-up and sergeant's house are now situated, and land! belonging to the trust which is required for the purpose of ' enabling the erection of a new courthouse'on a more suitable site. The Government, it appears, have called for tenders for the erection of the new 'courthouse on the trust's land, but meanwhile are continuing in occupation of the section which it proposes to give in exchange. . Tho Minister .-was aslsed that the trust should not- be' compelled to wait until the new. courthouse was completed until it got possession of the old courthouse property, as it had an opportunity to lease the section' on very favourable terms. In reply, Dr. Findlay advised the trust to carry out the legal formalities -relating r to the transfer, and inform the Crown that they wanted the exchange carried out, ■ in. which case their legal. position would, lie thought, ho pretty strong.'

•.A Parliamentary tr.ip round- the harbour for members' and their, wives has been arranged for this afternoon. The Defence steamer Janie Seddon has been placed/at the disposal of the party, and she' will leave the wharf at 2.30 p.m.' :. V ' .. Recently the Mungaroa settlers, waited, oil the: Minister for Railways, and complained that they : were seriously by the absence of a railway service that would enable them to send .milk produced on their to a market in: .-Wellington. There is now a movement on foot to have"'a cheese factory established at Mungaroa. This would provide . farmers with an alternative method "of disposing, of their milt.

. A number of letters to the. Editor are in type, and will appear in Monday's issue. ~ . •

In connection with the Hutt Valley Horticultural ,Society's Mower . Show, the committee' has awarded a certificate 'of merit to Mr. T. Waugh'for his general exhibit,, and a special prize for his "White Queen" specimen daffodil. Mr. Waugh was judge at the show, and ignored his exhibits in his awards. Miss Cooper was associated with Mr. Waugh in, judging the decorative classes. ;

The City Council has accepted the • tender, of Millar's West . Australian .Hardwood Company to supply a quantity of hardwood street-paving blocks,' comprising 220,000 superficial feet of timber, for the sum of £2310. The'only iOther .tender received' was isent in by Messrs. C. 'A. Odlin and Company. -

The Wellington executive of the New' Zealand Federation ofthe .Retail .Tobacconists' 'Association is arranging vfdr a deputation to wait upon the Hon. J. A.. Miliar^to'discuss 4 suggestedi.alterar: . tion to' Claiise Sub7section'2s, of the Shops and Offices, Act. . The Tobacconi ists Association . desire to . have embodied in: the Act a clear definition of 1 the term-,'.'tobaccoriist," in bi;der .that a uniform v regulation of the trade may 'bo assureu. ' ''' ;•

A. mooting of' tie delegates of .'.the Nortli .Island Ilaihvay Leaguo was. held in the Chamber of Commerce, last evening. Captain Haydon,! president o£ the league, occupied the chair. 'The questions which are to •be brought before the Prime Minister by a' deputation today were discussed. . . The;. president and Mr. E. H. William .(Hastings), .and Mr. H.' C. Tewsley. (president of the: Wellington Chamber of Commerce) were; appointed spokesmen.

]' The.' Hutt Bowling and Tennis Club will liold their opening. day on Satur-: day,- October 1. The green is in a very forward condition, and the club extend a hearty, welcome to . visitors.'/ '. '.

• Mr,. M. H.' Laird; chief clerk in the office department of the; Auckland Hai> bour Board, has resigned . his position, owing to the fact that .the state of'his health would not permit of him cpntin.il-' .ing'office work. 1 In moving, the acceptance of .the resignation at Tuesday's meeting, the. chairman; Mr. A. J.. Eutricau, referred to Mr. Laird's long ahd\ faithful service of 27i vena's. It was decided to give . Mr. Laird a. bonus' equal to ( three .months' r.ialary...: The. following tender wa3' received/by the Harbour, Board for asphalting .the •floors' of ."J",;store:—The Neuchatel Aaphalte Co. , £2203 6s. 3d. The engineer's: estimate was £2400.. . r.: