LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1138, 27 May 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Yesterday, May 26, was tho birthday anniversary of her Majesty Queen Mary. Ihe occasion was duly honoured in Welluigton with a royal salute of 21 guns, lircd from tho saluting battery at Pipitea Point, by a detachment of the Royal New Zealand Artillery.

A number of letters to the editor are unavoidably crowded out of this issue.

Dr. Hardwick-Smitb .declares himself more than satisfied with the new fever ward of the Wellington Hospital. The new ward was only opened at the latter end of last year, the doctor remarked yesterday, and it was too early as yet to formulate a detailed statement of the benefits .that had accrued. Already, however, it' was evident that the patients were'being treated in tho new ward under vastly better conditions than in its predecessor. No deaths have as yet occurred in tlte new ward, and none of the nurses on its staff have become infested with fever by transmission from patients. The 'effectual provision for isolation made in the now ward greatly assists tho attainment of good results. Very few patients are now re-infected by others during their period of recovery, and convalescents make rapid and unbroken progress towards restored health.

The director of the Wellington Technical School (Mr. \\. S. La Trobe) is to confer with tlio director of the Dimediii Technical School with a view to arriving at a common scheme for the Callender Technical Scholarships. The Callendcr bequest, under the conditions of tho will, has, under the administration of tbo Public Trustee, lain dormant for the last five years (ended in March last), with tho'result that.for eacli of the schools thero is now available a sum of £75 for scholarship purposes. Tho matter was discussed briefly at tho meeting of tho Technical School Board last evening, when it was suggested that the amounts for each school might be pooled, in order to provide for a scholarship of a more extensive kind, but it was pointed out that tho terms of the will were so explicit that this suggestion could not bo entertained. The director (Jlr. W. S. La Trobe) was in favour of splitting up the amount arailablo into several small scholarships.

Tho Trades and Labour Council, at its meeting on Thursday evening, was recommended by its Management Committee to forward a strong letter of protest to the' City Council against tho proposal to reduce tbo air-space requirement in the suburbs under an amended by-law. Tho recommendation was unanimously adopted by the council.

A motor-bus service is to be established in the Hutt district. A motor char-a-banc bus was lauded from England yesterday, to seat 20 people, and it will commence running, probably, on Monday,., ■The'bus lias been'ordered by a syndicate of local residents interested in the progress of tho valley.

Mr. F. M. B..Fisher, M.P., will address the electors of Wellington at St. Peter's Schoolroom, Willis Street, on Wednesday evening next.

Tho following return, presented yesterday to tho Outlying Districts' Committee of the City Council, shows tho number of houses m the suburbs named: Brooklyn, 731; Happy Valley, 1G; Vogeltown, 83; Mornington, 19; taitrille and Mitchelltown, 155; Kelburne. 258Island Bay, 510; Roseneath, 208; Hataitai, 185; Kilbirnie, 628; Maranui, 212; Antico Street, 29; Wadcstown 23r; Northland, 473.

A special meeting of the Petoiie Borough Council , will be held elt Monday evening next, at which three member's will bo elected to represent the council upon the Petono Firo Board. Consideration mil also bo given to the Rugby Union proposal to lease the Recreation Ground, and the town clerk will report upon tho decision of the council's employees in regard to a borough superannuation scheme.

Tho monthly meeting of the Wellington lechnical School Board was held last evening, there being present: The chairman (Air. D. Robertson), and Messrs. W. H. Field, M.P., J. P. Luke, M.P...G. Frost, J. E. Fitzgerald, William Allan, and D. M'Laren, M.P. The statement of finances disclosed a debit balance of £030 ss. Gel. Tho'Plumbers' Board of Control intimated that Mr. J. Bassett had been appointed to the board, vico Mr. Johnson.

A smoke concert, at which the 'shooting trophies won by the members of tht) Wellington Navals during tho season were presented, was held at the boat station last night. There were present: Captain Morton, in the chair. Lieutenants Meredith, M'Kellar, and Oram, and Major Courtney and Lieutenant Dennistou (donors of trophies), and a fair number of the company and their friends. An attractive musical programme was rendered, songs being contributed by: Gunner Boon, Lieutenant Oram, Ex-Gunner- Casey, Lieutenant Meredith, Mr. Ontram, Captain Morton, Lieutenant M'Kellar, ami Sir. Marshall. Amidst applause the trophies won during the year were presented. The list lias already been published. Gunner V. Croxton won tho championship belt and gold medal, and Gunner H. Boon (runner-up) won Colonel Duncan's trophy. After the presentation of trophies. Captain Morton handed to Lieutenant M'Kellar, who is leaving tho company, a sovereign caso as a token of the regard of the officers and men. Captain Morton eulogised bis servioes, and Lieutenant M'Kellar suitably replied. Hearty cheers were then givon for the chairman.

At the last meeting of the Wellington Technical School Board, members deferred for future consideration a letter from the C'hristchiireh' Technical College, asking tho co-operation of the board hi approaching the Government with a view to tho establishment of scholarships to enable pupils from day technical schools to continue their education 'at higher technical institutions, such as tho Canterbury College School of Engineering. Tho Christchurch Board also asked for tho cooperation of the board in impressing upon the Government tho desirability, in tho coming session of Parliament, • of so modifying tho Conciliation and Arbitration Aet that it might be within the power of the court to make such awards as would regulate, tho technical education of apprentices. The matter camo up again at tho board's meeting last evening, but was further deferred. It was suggested by ono of tho speakers that, with regard to tho scholarship question, the university ms the proper authority to bo approached in the matter. As to the suggestion regarding apprentices, there was a genoral feeling expressed th.it Parliament, rather than the courts, should deal with such questions.

Visitors to tho Exhibition will find (ho "Bradshaw" a very useful little pocket guide, as it contains all the time-tables and full information as to the best places to go for an enjoyable day's outing. This handy little book is procurable from Xewsnsouts for ouo penny. .