LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1025, 14 January 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Speaking 'at Port Chalmers tho other evening, Mr. Meiklo announced that after tho completion of his present tour of tho Dominion in support of his claims, ho Mould go to London to tell ".the British public, from the foot of tho Nelson Monument, where New Zealand was and what it was," and that lio would fro to America in regard to a legacy left \>y a relative. ;He further. intimated that ho would be back in New Zealand in time for the general election, when he would make re-election difficult for some members of parliament whose action in regard to his claims for compensation ho strongly condemned.

The following tenders have been received by ,tho Wellington Harbour Board for contract No. 162, AVaterloo Quay; culvert extension with solid concrete base, for which the engineer's estimate was £11,207 Mr. Charles F.' Pulley (accepted), £11,257 10s. | Messrs. ■Donald M'Lean and Company (declined), £12,162.

At the opening of yesterday's session of tho Primitive Methodist Conferenco, tho president read a letter 'from tho Newtown Bowling Club, offering the use of their bowling green to any of tho delegates who might desire to ' seek recreation after strenuous . hours of conferenco in a game of bowls. Loud applause greeted this offer, and it is understood that, should timo permit beforo the delegates depart, tho ministers will try conclusions, on tho' green, with tho laymen of the assembly.

The Wellington Trades and Labour Council has decided to take advantage of the visit of Jlr. "VV. M. Hughes, Federal Attorney-General, and has resolved to ask him to deliver an address under its auspices during his stay here. According to latest advice Mr. Hughes is expected to reach Wellington on February 1.

The Conciliation Council to deal with the dispute between the Cooks' and Waiters' Union and the employers in the private hotel, restaurant, oyster saloon, and tea and luncheon loom trades will sit on Tuesday next. The assessors for the union are: Messrs. E. J. Carey, A. Telfer, and C. Marshall. A meeting of employers was held yesterday to consider the case.

Mr. James MacKenzio (Commissioner of tho Wellington Land- District) and tho Land Board, are to make an" extensive tour of somo of tho remotest portions of tho Wellington Land - District. Tho country south of Tauniarunui, between the Wanganui River and tlio Main Trunk lino, is to bo visited. The travelling is bound to bo pretty severe, and somewhat slow. An investigation is to be made of soilie complaints of Crown tenants of bad roads, and high rents.

In accordance with tho decisions of tho General Labourers' Conference, tho Wellington City Council has been approached on tho subject of improved wages and shorter hours • for tho labourers. /

For tho best and most modern Hair and Complexion Treatment, Mrs. Rolleston, who has just returned from England and America, is recommended. Highest diploma for removing superfluous hair. 'Vibro-massage, . Hairdressing, Shampooing ami Clipping, i Willis Streot (oYor Carroll's,}, Tel, IBOa,—Advt,

Tho Karori Borough Council lias arranged to run a special free car for the labourers engaged on the construction of tlio new tram. During 1010 Jive new churches were erected in different parts of tlio Dominion by the Primitive Methodist body. The new buildings were put up at the following stations: —Waterview, Auckland; Andersons Bay, Duncdiu; Huiroa, Auckland; Westmerc, Wanganui; The Beach, Foxton. Tho church at tho last-named settlement was built by Mr. G. H. Stiles (Mayor of Foxton and vice-president of this year's conference) at his own expense. A new parsonage ■ has also been built at Hamilton.

In the event of its being necessary to postpone the provincial championship sports meeting at the Basin' Heservo to-day, a blue pennant will be flown from the Town Hall. The local centre appointed a Postponement Committee last evening, but tho meeting will be set aside only if tho weather proves extremely inclement.

In conucction with the resignation of Councillor Barlow, of the Lower Hutt Borougli Council, an election to fill the vacancy will bo held oil .Weduesday, February 1.

A sly hit at New Plymouth people is often made by the story that no visitor can be properly welcomed to Now Plymouth until he has been asked "What, do you think of our .Recreation Grounds." But there are some peoplo whose love ot the beautiful prompts them to givo the answer without being asked the question In talking with a "Taranaki Herald" reporter, M. Eugene Ossipoff, the Russian singer now in Now Plymouth, broke off to voluntarily express the keen delight he found in tho grounds. "They are glorious, magnificent," he cried enthusiastically,' and added that they were undoubtedly, the most beautiful of the many gardens lie has visited in his travels. M. Ossipoff was so delighted with the natural beauties of the. gardens that, although he knew he would be fatigued at the entertainment given in tho evening by the company of which he is a member, he spent three hours in photographing the grounds and developing his photos.

Farmers state that workmen are very scarce at the present time (says the Fedding "Star"'), and those men who have been engaged in harvesting operations have been unusually worried owing to the difficulty of obtaining and retaining men. Dairymen, too, are in many" cases being hampered by the scarcity of labourers, and this accounts partly for the fact that parents have been found guilty of . keeping their children from school. Road contractors anticipate troublo in carrying out their works owing to the same cause, and building contractors have for sometime been much concerned ribout the scarcity of tradesmen. As . showing how easily work may be obtained by those willing to take it, it may bo stated that two English immigrants recently arrived in Feilding, and set out in the morning to find work. Before noon was located in a permanent job, at his own respective occupation,~ one being a wheelwright and the other an engineer.

At the Mount Cook Police Court yesterday, before. Mr. V. Jensen, J.P., James Maddes, alias Devine, was convicted and discharged; for drunkenness. James Neville, on a similar charge, was fined 10s., with the alternative of 48 hours' imprisonment. John Wilson, also charged with drunkenness, was remanded for seven days for curative treatment.

Tho work of renovating Auckland 'Government House is now in full swing, says tho '!Herald. ! ' No structural alterations will-be made, but the house wijl l bo' rc-paintc'd i and re-papercd, and some renewal .work, is also necessary. Gardeners are also at work -in the grounds. It is expected that . Government House will be ready for occupation about the middle of March.

Attempts to fly will be made by two Aueklanders in the course of the next week or so. One Aucklander has just completed a machine on the lines of that of M. Bleriot, the Franch airman, while the other gentleman has only a little work to do to "finish his machine, which is a bi-plane. Two other aeroplanes are in course of construction, and good progress is reported in each case. ■