LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1045, 7 February 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Regulations required under the amended Workers' Dwellings Act and in connection with the registration of barmaids are still before Cabinet. It is anticipated that tliey will be issued in about a fortnight'? time. The registration of barmaids will then immediately be taken in hand by the Labour Department. Already a considerable number of applications have eome in from all parts of New Zealind. Careful inquiry will be made by the officers of the Department beforo anv license is issued.

A party representative of the Wellington City Council and tho Wellington Harbour Board paid a formal call on Commander Tiercelin, on the French frigate Iversaint yesterdav morning. The warship was "dressed" for the occasion, and tho visit was marked with the utmost cordiality. Commander Tiercelin and his officers wore the guests of tho Wellington Club at dinner last evening.

It will bo remembered that some time ago the Jlayor stated that as scon as t,he Public Works Department had settled upon the lino to which Charlotte Street is to be widened, the City Council would proceed to lay tho tramline up that thoroughfare to Molcsworth Street. Questioned last evening a 9 to whether any progress had been made in tho matter, Mr. Wilford stated that on telegraphing to tho minister for Public Works (tho Hon. R. Jl'lvenzie) he had received a reply that the latter would confer with him upon tlio subject of tho Charlotte Street widening as soon as'lie returned to Wellington. The Jlayor concluded with an assuraneo that the work would be carried out as soon as possible.

Under the amended Shops and Offices Act of last session, hotels will in futuro have to be registered in the same way as shops aro at present, and hotel-pro-prietors will ho required, just as shopkeepers are, to make out returns showing tho number of hands they employ, tho wages'paid, and so forth. It is not proposed to register hotels until April next, when tho register of shops will bo compiled in the ordinary course. In (ho easo of hotels a single registration will be accepted us sufficient, without renewal, unless r change of proprietorship occurs. The information was gleaned at. tho Laboui' Department yesterday, that no trouble lias arisen in Wellington over tho clauso in the latest amendment to tho Shops and Offices Act, which provides that a single individual shall bo registered as tho occupier of any shop, nud that any other persons employed therein,' with the exception of the wife or husband of the occupier, as the case may be, shall bo regarded as mi assistant, subject to the provisions of the Act governing working hours. It is the oflicial view that this regulation simply puts the owner of a largo shop, in which many hands arc employed, a par with proprietors of shops employing only one or two assistants, and crenles a uniform closing hour. Sunday's services at St. Peter's Anglican Church H'oro marked by an innovation. Tho lady members of tlio choir have hitherto occupied the front pew for tho full width of the church. Two extra seats have now been built in tho chancel to enable the ladies to sit with ihe rest of tlio choir. Furthermore the ladies now wear surplices, and straw h.its, simply trimmed with a band of dark jjreeb ribbon.

The new Solomon's Knob reservoir has not vet been tilled, and 110 definite date has been fixed for the operation. There arc some matters still to be arranged by the City Council and the contractors. No fuller information is obtainable from tho City Engineer.

Asked yesterday when the work of wood-blocking from Willis Street to the streets adjacent to tho Post Office would bo put in hand, the City Engineer said ho could give no more definite reply than "as soon as possible." Tho work of removing tho Queen's Statue to its new sito at the north end of Kent Terrace, Mr. Morton slated, would probably be let by contract.

A Now Zealand commodity that commands an extensive sale in South Africa is white pine, used in the manufacture of butler-boxes. Tho demand, according to Mr. S. O'Neill, who is now on a visit to Wellington, is likely to increase so long as tho supply holds out. Only the raw material is likely to be required from Ken* Zc-aland, however. Mr. O'Neill, who represents a Johannesburg firm that handles .1 largo number of butter-boxes states that he expects to procure supplies. of boxes made in Victoria from imported New Zealand timfier at a cheaper rate than they can te bought in. New Zealand.

Referring to the balance-sheets issued in connection with the State coal mines in New Zealand (says the "Sydney Morning "Herald"), Mr. Wade said that tho opinion amongst commercial men and accountants was that, though the bal-ance-sheets were correct in form, they omitted certain items of expense which would certainly havo been debited in any properly conducted private concern, and which, if debited, would have turned tho profit into a loss. "Thero is, however, this remarkablo feature," concluded Mr. Wade. "Newcastle coal can be landed and sold in. the chief centres at the present time cheaper than the coal from the Dominion's State mines/ 1

Commenting 011 the number of cases of cyclists riding after sunset without lights, Dr. M'Artinir, S.M.. at thfc Lower Hutt Court yesterday said that if the practice continued in its present extent lie would have to increase the amount of fines.

"Wounding witli intent," the charge to bo preferred against Henry Joseph Clements, and tho last charge on the criminal calendar at the Supreme Court, will be heard this morning. The. civil sittings will begin on Monday next,