LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 965, 4 November 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities adviso that the s.s. Maheno, which sailed from Sydney for Auckland on November 2, has on board an Australian mail, also on English mail, via Suez, and an English and American mail, via Vancouver. Tbo Wellington portion of tho mail should arrive by tfie Main Trunk express on Monday, November 7. There 13 some dissatisfaction in commercial circles over the manner in wjiich debit' notes are issued by telephone bureaux. The Wellington Chamber of Commerce has been approached by other Chambers for its co-operation in trying to secure either a return to the old system or to have it so arranged' that each debit note shall state the.date of th.e. message, ■ the number of telephones connected, and tho name of the exchange,

Tho retail tariff formulated by the Executive of the Wellington Tobacconists' Association was considered at a general meeting of that body on Tuesday evening, when nearly all the members nttended. Tho tariff, haying beon reviewed and discussed in detail, was approved, and placed in the hands of the executive, to bo issued when it thought Jit. The executive will confer at an parly date with the Warehousemen's Association, with a view to securing the co-operation of that organisation in maintaining tho tnriit when it is established. Chinese storekeepers who retail tobacco havo alrendy promised to fall into line, with , European tobacconists in this matter. Mr. J. Speed, who is president of tho Tobacconists' New Zealand Federation, as well as of the local association, told a Dominion reporter , yesterday Hint, in his opinion, the institution of the .tariff would not in itself provide the measure of trade regulation desired. This would be secured only when a license had been obtained. In this connection, application has already been , forwarded to tho Hon T. Mackenzie, Actihß-Ministev for Customs, asking him to receive a deputation from the Tobacconists, Federntipn to (lijicimx tho question »f toning a JjJUQMfI.

A formal motion authorising the striking of a rate of one-seventh of n penny in tho £, to cover interest and other charges on the J2100.000 water loan, was passed at a special meeting of the City Council last evening. The -Mayor explained that this action represented simply a pledge to the A.M.P. Society. The rate would not be levied. The 'Chinese passenger who was detained on board the Manuka on Wednesday to allow a further examination of his papers to be made will not be permitted to land in New Zealand. He returns to Sydney by the Moeraki to-day. A return was nsked for recently by Mr. Okey,- showing the number of officers of the Defence Force receiving house allowance. The return, which was supplied ye.storday, shows that LieutenantColonel Head is the only one, the amoucfl of the allowance being JESOI The tender of the .Dunedin Engineering and Stenl Company has been accepted for the supply of two eoal-pickin<: and distrib'ntiiV 'belts for tho Point Elizabeth State Colliery. The price is -£130-1. Thte week's Gazette announces that land tax (including the graduated land tax) must be paid to the Commissioner of Taxes, Wellington, by December 1 next. Letters and money orders are forbidden by Gazette notice to be forwarded to James Stellin, Box 430, Wellington, A Wanganui Press Association tele? gram states: "The large general merchandise business built up in this town by Mr. A. Eatrick, has been converted into a limited liability company, with a capital of .£IOO,OOO, all subscribed." The "Sydney Morning Herald" , thus refers to the" New South Wales Labour Government's release of Peter Bowling:—"No doubt there are still many people who think that Bowling was. the victim of the 'Coercion Act,' and others who think that his imprisonment had at least something to do with the Industrial Disputes Act. The facts, of course, are that Bowling was tried on a criminal chargo before an ordinary jury. The ordinary jury found him guilty, and the ordinary judge sentenced him to a short term of imprisonment, tempering justice with mercy. One of the favourite Labour charges for the past few months has been that about Mr. Wade's abolition of trial by jury. It is the jrpny of fate that Mr. M'Gowen's first administrative act has been to abolish trial by jury in the case of Bowling, - and to substitute 'pqljticaljustice for the law of the land." Advice is received that the s.s. Spithead, which arrived at Auckland at. 2 p.m. yesterday, brought an American mail via San Francisco. The Wellington portion will come through by, Main Trunk express to-day. ■ ■ The-City Engineer has been authorised to accept nn-offer to hare the suburban plans of the city brought up to dnte. An ai-rangement has breu made by which this work will in future bo carried out at a cost of .£lO per year. i A recent-deputation to the Finance' Committee of the City Council from tho Tramways, Jupp's, and Wellington Pipe Bands, objected to the allocation of th.e bands for Sunday performances, and asked that the Central Mission Band should be schoduled for its full share of Sunday performances. At its' meeting last evening, the council instructed the Town Clerk and a .sub-committee to draw up a new schedule, which will lie reported-to the next meeting of the-Finance Committee. ... ". : In future children up to U years of age will be allowed to travel at reduced rates on the "city tramways. Hitherto the age limit with respect to this concession lias boon 12 years. Six new tP.rs are tp be added to the city tramway department's rolling stock (luring the next financial year. Tenders for the construction of these will be called at an early date. '.'-''

'Application is to be made by the City Corporation to the G6vernor-in-Council for the exemption of, Bonlcott Street from the provisions of the Public Works Act, 1008, subject to the clause setting back the. building line 33 feet from the centre of the road. The Government is to be invited to reconsider the question of the-exemption of Wallace Street.

The music stands of the Municipal Orchestra will in future be available for use at concert's in the Town Hall at a fee of one guinea per concert.

following upon, representations from tho Chief Habbi (the Rev. H. Van Staveren), the City Council has authorised its engineer (Mr. W.,H. Morton) to make the necessary arrangements for the killing of "Kosher" meat at the municipal abattoir. ' ■■-.''

November ?, the anniversary of the birth of his late Majesty King Edward \'II, wilj this year be observed as a holiday by the Wellington City Corporation, in lieu of. the P.rinc.e of Wales' Birthday (June 23), which wns not held. • ' -

The tender of Messrs. Eiohardson, Blair, and M'C'abe has. been accepted by iiie City Council for the supply of econoniisers (Lighting -.' Department), and points and crossings (Tramway ; Department). ' ' • • '

At the recent Trinity College of Musio examinations, hold at Petone, the following pupils from the Sisters of Mission Convents at Hutt and Petone secured passes for piano playing;— Senior: Queenie Cameron (Petone), .74; Intermediate-: Phyllis. Connolly (Hutt), 83, honours pass : Gwennyth Baxter (Hutt), 69.' Junior: Lenore Cudby (Hutt), 74; Olive Ryder (Petone), 69; Ellen Golder (Petone), 62. Preparatory: Prank Hally (Hutt), 83, honours pass; Mary Bolton (Hutt), B'2, honours pass';. lenore Hodgins (Hutt), 74; Ayda Taylor (Hutt), 69; Irene Exton (Hiitt), 65. •

In tho House of Representatives en Wednesday Mr. Lawry gave notice of his intention to ask the Prime Minister whether." his attention has been directed to an alleged statement made hy ex-Stipendiary Magistrate Northcroft, relative to political influence the magistrates of this Dominion; if so, whaij course of action, jf any. dors the Government intend to take in conneotion with the matter indicated. \