LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1084, 24 March 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Sarmtia remarks {ell from Councillor Hindnursh Inst evening, when the City Council had before it a recommendation from tlio Libraries' Committee that, it be a remit to the Libraries' Conference that the Parliamentary' Library be open to the public throughout the year. Councillor .ilindmursh had heard of a famous King throwing his library open, and asking the public to enter, and use it. Lord Morlev had also said he liked to see young students walking miles to Oxford to read books. It would be boiler if there was a little more of the democratic spirit here. He could not understand why there should ho the restrictions there were against the use of the library. It could bo done without, any interference with the privileges of the "curled darlings" who represented Ihe country for a few months each year. The clause was carried. A special meeting of the Harbour Board will bo held on Wednesday afternoon nest to confirm the lists of (a) the payers of harbour dues on shins, (b) Ihe payers of harbour dues other than dues on shins. This is purely formal business in view of the election to take place on April 26. Reserved judgment will be given in the Supreme Court this morning by Mr. Justice Coon?r in. the case. James Flowers v. the Wellington Wharf Labourers' Union, an action for <£175 damages, mandamus and injunction. The case of Moiliani and others v. the Attorney-General, a motion to vary an order in rcfyence to certain Wesleyan Church interests, made in January, 1905,'wi1l be heard this morning by Mr. Justice Cooper, This case will be followed by a petition to chango tho name of a certain company. One of the works detailed as necessary for the coming year hv tho Wellington Harbour Engineer is the provision of an electric-lighting plant to enable the board to supply its own lighting on the wharves and premises. There are 83 craft permanently in the Wellington Harbour, composed of motor launches, yachts, and small boats of all descriptions. Books belonging to the City Library were found recently on Thorndon Esplanade in a mutilated condition. The Libraries Committee is awaiting a report from the Police Department on tho matter, . , Auckland mariners are (says our special correspondent) dissatisfied with the conditions prevailing, and claim that the hours of duty are much too long, and that the pay is inadequate, whilst, no payment is made for overtime. Many ship officers in Auckland, it is stated, have sometimes to work from twelve to eighteen hours a day, and it is considered that an award is necessary to bring about better conditions. ■ At tho meeting on Wednesday evening, at which the New Zealand Musical, Literary, and Oratorical Competitions Society was formed it was mentioned that Messrs, Bogg and Co. would probably renew an offer (made to the defunct society in Wellington) of a thirty-five-gninea shield for competition. The opinion was expressed that most of the business people would be only too glad to donate trophies to this movement. An offer was received from Mrs. Montague (a pianist who has figured as accompanist in several competitions] olTeriug her services free of charge fot the first year. The letter was received. Councillor M'Laren wanted an assuranci last evening at the City Council moetinj that a certain undertaking on the pari of a ratepayer to do certain alteration: to a house six months' hence would bi carried out. "You and I may not be here than," said Councillor Tpevor t( Councillor M'Laren. "No; that is why ] ask," returned Councillor M'Laren. "Bui tliero are other men who will be here,' retorted Councillor Trevor, "and snrelj they can be trusted to see that it will b; done!" "Hear, hear," said some coun cillors. Thn annual general meeting of tlia Wei lington Railway Mutual Improyemen Club Fas held in the Lambton Readin; Room last evening, when a review wa; given of the work done during tho pasi year. Besides tho success of the syllabus and acfluifitifjji) (jf ia piano, tho ,clnl ' had'its'"efforts Crooned 'by tho Depart ment supplying a large hail for tho iiex' session. After electing a new committee it was decided to increase the scopo n] the syllabus in ways . that would tnak< the noxt term most interesting and sue cessful. Good Friday (April 14), and the following Saturday and Easter Monday will b< observed as holidays in tho Goyermnen officcs. Messrs. Sanders Bros., Wellington,- an the successful tenderers for tho erectioi of a post offico at Kilbirnie South. Tin , others are listed as follows in a Gazetti notice-.—John Wood, Wellington, .£140! 10s.; G. L. Wakelin, Wellington, .£156! Lis. Id.; G. C. Smart, Wellington, <£1618 •Murdoch and Wallis, Wellington, £1620 i M. Frain, Wellington, .4167.1; A. Scamer i Wellington, .C 1690; Watts, Bros., Welling . ton, JCITIV; J. W. M'Millafi, Wellington .£1737; M'Lean and Gray, Wellington ,£1750; Howie and Matthews, Wellington ' .£1781; Jones and Cameron, Wellington .£1991; and Cooper and Sou, Wellington , .£2030. Under regulations for deer-shooting ii ; Hawke's Bay, as gazetted last night, m ' deer (stags only) may be taken or killec . within tho Hawke's Bay Acclimatisatioi , District from April 1 to May 13, 1911, botl ' days inclusive. Licenses may be issued b; • the Chief Postmaster at Napier, on paj : ■ ment of a fee of ,£i, not more than om i such license to ba issued to the same per 5 son. ■ The Officer Commanding tho Welling ton Military District (Colonel E. W. C Chaytor) visited Palmerston North, tin new headquarters of the district staff yesterday, and inspected various premise; in his scarch for suitable Departments offices. Nothing, so far, has been rlefin , itely decided upon with regard to tin ■ site of tho offices. j Thanks were tendered by -the City Coun i I cil last evening to Mr. B. A. Wright M.P., for arranging the gift of two os 1 triches for the "Zoo" collection. Th< 31 council further expressed regret that oni - of the birds died soon after arrival, an< . invited Mr. Wright to arrange for tligift of another bird. Pelorus Jack was seen very distinctl; } by these on board tho Pateena when 6h< l was en route from Nelson to Picton yes terday. He is reported to be as frisky a > crer he was. i The By-Laws Committee of the Cit< 1 Council is considering tho Plumbers' Reg' J istration Bill introduced during the las l session of Parliament, in order to sci . what effect the proposal will have oi 3 municipal corporations. t Tenders are to be'called by tho Cit; ■f Council for the right to remove the ela; . bank at, the Brooklyn tramway, opposit* Nairn Street, in order to make room foi " tho construction of a road to Brooklyi " alongside -the tramway track, in accord , anc6 with conditions to bo settled by tin y City Engineer. The Railway Department is to be re s quested by the City Council to complete e tho fencing of tho Tliorndon Esplanadi j at tho earliest possiblo dato, and to entei into arrangements .with the council to en " ablo tho snperintendut of reserves to un - dcrtako the work of re-arranging tho plan 1 tation, to be executed at the expense o o tho Railway Department. r Consideration of tho request of the ICil I, birnie Ratepayers' Association thnt tin f bathing-shed at present at North Ivilbir nic be devoted to the use of ladies, an< that another shed be erected opposite Mr 0 Fa ire hi Id's property, together with an ad O dilional shed for South Kilbirnie, is boini i- held over by the City Council until nex f year's estimates are under rOview. O The City' Council intends inviting tin c Libraries' Association _of New Zealand t( l_ hold its 1913 conference in Wellington. I- Tho feasibility of hosing the street J from Ycilch and Allan's corner dowi „ Cuba Street: and Manners Street, am along Lambton Quay was raised last even ing at the Cily Council by Couucillo! y Barber. It had been suggesled thn n some appliance similar to that in usi in London might ho procured, said tin councillor. It would be' an excellcn thing for Ihe cily if this cleansing couh ic Iw done every nighl. Tnc City Kngin l- c-er reported thai Ihe. cost would not. b I- light. From three lo five men would bi r- required, and overlime would have lo bi o paid for nighl work. Even then tin il daily clean.-ings could not be dispenser ir witli. At the present time the street; '6 were swept nightly, and often in tin !• -mornings accumulations of shop sweeping . were discovered ia the gutter*.