LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1005, 21 December 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

■ : The undermentioned hours will be observed at the telegraph office oii Monday nnd Tuesday, December- 26 and 27, and Monday, January 2:—December 26 (for Christmas Day), 9.30 to 10 a.m., and 7 to 8 p.m. December 27 (for Boxing Day), 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 7 p.m. to midnight. Janunry 2 (for New Year's Day), 9 a.m. to -1 p.m., and 7 p:in. to midnight. Tho midnight cable service will be as usual, and the Telephone Exchange will be open continuously.

The offorts of Messrs. Fisher, Wright, and Hordman, M.P.'s, to induce tho.Minister for Railways to give the railway employees the right" to exercise their, rail-, way privileges,, on express, trains during tho -Christmas' and' New .'Year holidays have failed., As a last resort it was. suggested that the' men employed in , the Petone "Workshops,, at least,- should, be granted tile privilege, but the Minister replied by telegram ..as .follows:—"Regret cannot alter previous decision. Jf granted to Petone men would have to apply to all workshops both North and South Islands. If men want go Auckland can get through in two days." This riieans that the men would'have to,break the journey and stay overnight somowhere.

The travelling public are complaining loudly of the inadequacy of the accommodation for through passengers on the mail trains from Wanganui to AVellington. Our Wanganui correspondent states:— "Only one car is put on here for AVellington, and, as the -number who want to use it is far in excess of the accommodation' which it offers, tho rest havo to take-their,chance of finding seats in an already dvercrowdod train, when con-necting'-at Aranioho. It is felt that, for the holiday, season lit least, more through cars should be'put on at Wanganui. ■ A reunion of Highland Rifle corps is to bo held at Christchurch during . the week following Christinas. Shooting matches will be arranged, and a conference of officers will discuss the position of Highland corps under the new defence scheme. Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin will be represented. Wellington is to send -a contingent of 30 men, under tho command of Captain Willis.

The Moeraki, due from Sydney' this morning, will bring two- leopards and a puma, consigned to Mr- J. J. Boyd, of the Aramoho Zoological Gardens. This enterprising ' gentleman'- imported four lemur monkeys from Madagascar, and an ape from Africa last- week. Next week lie is expecting the arrival of a male tiger" from Singapore.

On tho 'recommendation of its medical superintendent, the Hospital Board decided yesterday to thoroughly fumigate the iron building of' the old fe,vor # \vard, and use it for a diphtheria wnrd, provided tho consent of the Health Department to this course can bo obtained. Certain alterations aro to bo effected to the verandah and balcony at t.ho Victoria Hospital, as recommended by ihe Inspector-General. Projected improvements include the glassing-in of tho west end of the balcony, tho partitioning-ofl of a small scction at the easl; end, and tho conversion of a window leading thereon, into a French door. Twelve patients were admitted to the Ot.nki Hospital during November, ten wero discharged, mid ono (the victim Qf a railway accident) died. In the Hospital on' November 30 thero were nine male patients and one female patient. During tho month four patients were admitted to the Sanatorium and two discharged. Thero remained on November 30 twelve ' our! .fVnrfoHn ffimjtln_T»fl.t.ienta-

The,new Infectious Diseases Hospital is' now in full working order, and patients have been removed from the old fever ward.

At the Supreme Court to-day, beginning at 10 a.m., the Chief Justicc (Sir Robert Stout) will liear the case of Limbrick v. Hensen and Grigs, an originating summons. His Honour will afterwards resumo the hearing of the case, of the Official Assignee v. Vinegard, a motion to set aside a transaction between. Jack Vinegard, bankrupt, and his brother, Abraham Vinegard. Jlr. Justice Cooper will resume the hearing of the will case of Hill v. lieere, at 10.30 a.m.

A. further area of over 5000 acres of land un the Hauraki Plains is to be .opened for selection on January 31. It is anticipated that before tho end _ of next year some 5000 acres, near Jlorrinsville, and 3000 acres near Waikaka will be available for settlement. If a lower tender for cutting a canal as an outlet for the liangitaiki River is not obtained, the Lands Department will undertake tho work. Mr. Kensington (Under-Secretary for Lands), who was recently in the district, has decided upon the route of a new channel for the Tarawcra River, which will result in the improvement of up to 15,000 acres.

According to Jlr. D. M'Laren, M.P., the privilege tickets will be practically useless if railway servants aro prevented fronv.using mail trains between December 1G and January' 3. He has written to the Hoii. J. A. llillar as' follows:—"Regret your reply on matter railway men's passes. Cannot at any time be more than a dozen men on any train. Think plea of public being crowded out strong exaggeration. Carriage and train accommodation has increased as well as number of employees. It will be impossible for men to reach Auckland at all under conditions fixed. Desire to again urge that passes and privilege tickets be made available for extra express trains as a measure of relief."

Delegates attending the Hotel and Restaurant Employees' Federation Conference, Waited yesterday as a deputation upon tho Secretary to the Labour Department and the Chief Inspector of Factories. The deputation urged that the provisions of the amended Shops and Offices Act should be given effect to. It was stated that the provision granting night-porters a holiday once a fortnight had not yet been observed in Wellington and other cities, save in a few isolated cases.. In replying, the officers of the Labour Department stated that strenuous efforts were being made to get out the necessary regulations; and that circular letters of instruction as to__the operation of the Act had been sent to' country inspectors. In regard to such matters as the regulations providing for wages and time-books, and other minor matters, it would be unfair,, tho officers stated, to insist on strict compliance with the Act until, each employer had been made aware of the conditions imposed on him. Tho Garrison Band will give a performance at Island Bay to-night.