LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1024, 13 January 1911, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities a~dvise that tho s.s. Maheno, which sailed on January 11 for Auckland, has on board an Australian mail, also tho English mail, via Suez. The Wellington portion should reach hero by Main Trunk express on Monday next, January 16.

Mails .which left Auckland on December 21 per s.s. ;Navua and connected 'at Suva with tho Vancouver mail per R.M.S. Makura . arrived in Vancouverat 0 p.m. on Tuesday,- January 10.

In its issue of November 23 London "Truth" has some'reference to the case of Captain Hamilton, formerly owner of the Mangatoro run, concerning whose claim for, redress' a committee of the House reported favourably Inst sossion. After setting forth the facts, tho paper adds that in, broad outlino the case boars a resemblance, to the treatment of Mr. Joshua Jones in connection with the Mokau estate. "For the credit of the Dominion," adds.Mr. Labouchero's paper, "it is to be ■ hoped that in both cases Parliament will rectify tho injustice that has been done, or otherwise a very bad impression will be created in "the minds of investors in this country with interests iii New Zealand."

Under tho provisions of the Post and Telegraph Act'/ 1908, an order was gazetted last evening forbidding tho issuo of money-orders in favour of Howard Irceman, 251 Elizabeth Street, Sydney, or the . postage to that address, from New Zealand of any postal packages. , ... .-,.'■■'

' An old wooden building on Lambton Quay (opposite Messrs. Kirkcaldio andStains), and now,occupied by Mr. L. '\Y. Ludwig, jeweller; and Messrs. Gallate Bros., is about to be demolished to make room for a handsome building of thrco 'stories, designed by Messrs. Pcnty and Lawrence. Tlie section has- d frontage of about' 36 feet. . The new structure is to bo steel-framed, -and will be erected in plain and red pressed brick and ferro-concrctc. .The treads of the ferro-concrctc staircase are to be of white mfirble, and mosaic tiles are to bo used Ito cover the landings. The ceilings will be' lined .with asbestos sheets, and the internal walls finished off with hydratcd lime.' By the end of July the prcmisis -should bo ready for occupation. The ground' floor is to be subdivided .into shops, Messrs. Pcnfcy and Lawrence, and probably a dental surgeon, will have tho use of the first. Boori and the top story will bo available for letting. Tho building is to be erected for a local syndicate..

N Business on the local wharves is very active at present. Great quantities of outgoing wool and produce are being handled, and general importations aVo flowing in rapidly. ! It is. anticipated that the. figures for. the quarter ended December 31,1910, which will bo available about a week hence, will in all probability show a considerable improvement over tho Hgures for the corresponding period of the' previous, year.

The question of the railway time-tablo through Wairarapa and the Forty Milo Bush, says the "Manawatu Standard," has teen a constant source of worry and agitation for several years. .'The last.to be heard of .the matter*is that the Minister proposes to revert to.t. ■ old time-table and cut South Wairarapa out of. the early morning train service. . Yesterday Mr.' R. B:.Ross, M.P: for Pahiatua," sent the: following telegram to the'Hon, J. A. Millar, Minister for Railways,' on this question:— "Seeing, by newspapers that you are considering rearrangement of the Wairarapa train service, I desire to .again impress upon you the absolutely inadequate, unsuitable; and wasteful nature of.the present arrangements' Nothing short-of the proposals, made by me in Parliament on October 18 will meet requirements. I understand ■ a strong deputation of farmers and business. men intend waiting on,you. shortly, urging the adoption of my proposed timer" v table, and, iif necessary, will guarantee., a fair margin of profit over interest and. working- expenses if 'a : suitable timetable ,is arranged. The present,'juncture seems,to me to be an opportune time to remind.you that my charges of loss, of revenue and excessive expenditure on. the Wairarapa and Manawatu lilies have never been answered."-

A special meeting of the By-Laws Committee of tho City Council is to be held this' afternoon, when some eleven by-laws, will bo considered. Tho bylaws include those covering electric wiring, lodging-houses, hairdressing saloons. •].-■

Referring to the history of the Public Service before a meeting of'contributors to tho fund, Mr. Geo. Allport, one of the elective members of,the Superannuation Board, declared that tho fund was a very good one, although lie regretted that attempts had been mado by the Govern-

monfc to reduce its benefits. It would bo time enough to make alterations when-the. actuarial investigation of the fund proved it to 'be necessary. At present there was a quarter of' a million in hand: Ho referred to the necessity for care in investigating the genuineness of cases for early retirement.. The elective member's had, lie said, been careful to-conserve' the fund, and had been successful in preventing impositions. ■ '. "