LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1008, 24 December 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Post Office holiday arrangements:— On Monday, December 26, and Monday, January 2 (the days to bo observed as close holidays for Christmas, and Neiv Year's Days), the Postal Department will be closed in all its branches. On the above-named days mails dispatched by steamers will close at 6.30 a.m., also mails by trains' for tho , Wairurapa, Taranaki, Wanganui, Rangitikei, Manawatu, and Hawkc's Bay districts; also the Auckland district, per Main Trunk train, will close at 6.30 a.m. There will not be any clearances of the city receivers or deliveries by letter-carriers on tho above-named days, but on Saturdays, 'December 24 and 31, there will be full afternoon deliveries by the letter-bar-riers, closing at the Chief Post Office at 1.40 p.m. On the above-named Saturdays there will be deliveries by the letter-carriers at tho Drillshed from 8.30 to 9.30 p.m.; also deliveries over the public counter at tho Chief Post Office trom 5.30 to 9.30 p.m. of correspondence addressed to the Post Office only. On Tuesday, December 27 (the day observed as Boxing D.\v), the Postal Department will be open in all its branches (exccpt the Money-order and Savings Bank Department) from 9 to 10 a.m. Mails dispatched by steamers and mails for the Auckland district per Main Trunk traiii will close at 9.15. a.m.; mails by trains.for the Wairarapa,. Taranaki, Wanganui, Rangitikei, Manawatu, and Hawke's Bay districts will close at 6.30 a.m. The letter-carriers .will make ono full delivery, closing at the Chief Post Office at 7 a.m.

Tho Supreme Court offices will reopen after the holidays on January 4.

Mr. John Hodge, M.P., who bos been the guest of tho Wellington Trades Council during his stay here," left for Rot-orua yesterday. Mr. Hodge purposes staying in' R-otorua for at least three weeks with the object- of recruiting his health. After that time tho visiter has decided to place himself at the disposal of the Trades Councils cf tho four centres. Acting 011- behalf cf the Dominion Executive, the Wellington. Trades Council intends making an effort to . arrange a tour by Mr. Hodge in the interests of the New Zealand trades union movement. A programme has been drawn up in,which it is proposed, that the visitor should speak in Auckland during the second week in January, and thereafter in the other three centres and in Invercargill. He will leave the Bluff for Hobart at the beginning of February, a'.'.d has been asked by the Tasmanian Labour party to speak 011 its behalf in the principal Tasmanian towns. -

In its campaign, of Christmas cleaning, the municipality ha-s overlooked 0110 duty. The Concert Chamber in tho Town Hall has been a very popular placo for concerts, minor entertainments, and meetings during the past winter/ and the hard wear which it lias been subjected to has had its -effect on the plaster walls. ' Originally they wero white, but -a well-defined grubbiness has stained them an uneven grey up to a certain- height, the effect of which is anything but pleasing. The hall is in need of a renovation. This is obvious enough undcr-fche glow of electrio lights, but very much more so in daylight.

■ In response ttf circulars, issued by the Labour Department' asking' for recommendations for workers' representatives on the Arbitration Court, practically the whole ■ of. the unions' of the Dominion are now'dealing with ,tho matter. For tho main position the two principal candidates are-'Messrs.' J.. A. M'Culldugh, the sitting representative', ; Mid .Mr.. 11. .Slater. For the ' position o'f'' : deputyTrepresentativc7' l i® '!Wt Young, of: the Wellington Seamen's Union, and Mr. Rushbridgc," of' the Christchurch Carpenters' Union, are tiie candidates. - According' to a prominent member of the 1 Trade's Council indica-tions'-point to'the recommendations, of tho July annual Trades' Council. Conference in the main baing given effect to by tho majority of the unions, and Messrs. -M'Cullough and Young being re-elected.

Rail-grinding operations on tho Lambton Quay tram track are to be resumed after the New Year holidays. It was hoped that the original; grinding process, would finally rid the rails of their .corrugationSj but.this is.,,not, ;so, tho corrugations having begun to' reappear. However, the contract will'be a fairly simple one-in,-view of the short inroads made on the .rails to date. - Hot water is to be supplied by the municipality at Lyall Bay'during' the holidays—price, 2d. a kettle.

The new service between 'Auckland and Takapuna by steamer (to Neill's Point) and tram' commenced on Thursday morning. . ..

The riso in the price of timber is, according to Mr. D. Goldie, the wellknown Auckland sawmiller, due to the recent Conciliation Court award, which brings about an increase in working expenses. Tho fact that timbor is now somewhat scarco and beyond easy means of access has also contributed to tho rise. in price, while the demand from England for first-class kauri is at present greater than the available supply. The increase in price has not been welcomed by builders of the city, who contend that the riso will have an effect on the building trade. As an indication of how conditionsihave, altered in'recent years, one builder states that twenty years ago lie was able 'to build two cottages at Parnell for £450, but'to-day lie. could not build either of these cottages for loss than £500.

A man, arrested yesterday by Detectives Cameron and Bailey, will appear at tho Magistrate's Court this morning charged with the theft of a bag and money, valued at £4. ■ •,

Four officials of tho Wellington District Carpenters' Union, Messrs. F. Slater, A. L. Brand, C. 6. Auger, and C. Kensett are leaving'-Wellington next week, two of them. bound for South Africa and two far Londou. Prior to their departure tliey will bo entertained by their union, in recognition of services rendered. "Tho whole quartet," remarked a prominent trades unionist yesterday, referring to the above-named gentlemen, "believe that better prospects aro offering outside New Zealand in tho carpentering trade." ...

'Tlkv secretary of the Otago Trades Council, Mr. J. Breen, who has been visiting Wellington, states that the proposal to recogiviso the serviced to labour of Mr. E. I'regear is being fairly generally taken up by tho unions of tho Dominion. "So far a-sum of £50 lias_ been received from twenty unions. It is proposed to make a presentation to Mr. Tregear at tho Labour Conference at Christchurch next Easter.

A conference of delegates representing tho city and country branches of the General Labourers' Union will be held in Wellington nest week to deal with various matters which specially affect, members. A ballot which is now in progress for tho purpose of electing a secretary, a treasurer,- and a president of the union will close prior to tho conference, and the result will be mado known at tho gathering. For tho position of president the candidates aro Messrs. F. O'Kcofe and F. Stott-. For'the position of treasurer Mr. Campbell is being opposed by Mr. d. Furry; whilst for the secretaryship Mr. It. J, Reardon, who has hold the office sinco tho inception of the organisation throe years ago, is being opposed by Mr. G. Clifford.

In' accordance with the resolution passed at tlis recent Hotel Employees' Conference, stops are to be. taken by the Otago and Wellington Unions to secure a fresh award in the restaurant industry in these two cities 'immediately after the holidays. In addition, the Otago; Uiiion : will- move m- t^-direr.t-inii