LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1202, 10 August 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A special meeting of the Tramways Commitleo of the City Council was held yesterday afternoon Jo consider the demands of the Electrical Workers' Union for increased wages, shorter hours, and butter status. Tho result of the committee's deliberations may bo presented to tho council at its meeting this evening; in any case, a report will be submitted at an early date. In reply to Mr. Hordman, it is stated by the Minister for Railways that "the plans for the new Wellington railway station aro under consideration. There are, however, a great many diflieulties to be contended with, and, in view of the importance of pro riding accommodation that will be equal a tho requirements of tho traffic which may ho expected to expand enormously in the future, it is essential that the practical work should not he proceeded with until those responsible aro satisfied that the arrangements proposed will Ik sufficient to meet all the requirements for at least twentyfive years." Duriug the past financial year there were ISO prosecutions for sly grog : solling, resulting in 117 convictions, compared with 235 prosecutions nnd 151 convictions during the preceding year. Tho direct cost of securing these convictions was .£BOO, hut the fines impesed amounted to .£1862, compared with .£2358 in 1909-10. In his annual report, tho Commissioner of Police again comments on tho failure of the public to afford the police onv assistanco in detecting illicit sales of liquor, and for that reason it is found necessary (o resort lo methods which are distasteful both to the public and to the police. Lord Kitchener had a remarkable "x-FM-ienee while, riding in the Coronation procession. The (star oi Jnina, \wuui nc was wearing on his breast, becamo detached and fell into one of his Wellington boots. He was quite unconscious of what had happened at the time, but towards the end of the ceremony he felt something hurting his leg. Ho discovered the Star'of India wedged between his leg and tho top of his boot. On Tuesday evening a very successful concert and dance was held on board the Manuka, whilst the vessel was en route from Syduoy (o Wellington. The sum of .£5 was collected, and is to be handed over to the Shipwrecked Mariners' Relief Society. When the Arawa was two days out from Teneriffe a third-class passenger named If. Hepplo, who was booked for New Plymouth, died from pneumonia. Included in the cargo brought by the Manuka' from 'Sydney yesterday were 182-1 cases of fruit, mostly oranges" ami mandarines. In reply to a suggestion by Mr. Wilford that the Government Khcnld communicato with the Admiralty with a viow to arranging for eipert opinion on tho suitability of Queen Charlotte Sound as a naval base, the Hon. G. Fowlds states: "The Admiralty has already settled the question cf the location for a naval base in New Zealand wafers." Replying to a question by Mr. Buchanan, the Hon. D. Bnrldo stated yesterday that particulars of the Hautotara Estate, near Mortinborough, have been submitted to his Department, and that an inspection is being arranged with a view to its purchase, should it be found suitable.

In Parliament last evening Mr. Me.lcolm, tho member for Clntha, sharply' rebuked Ministers of the Crown for "impertinence" in flaunting before the people an assumption that they (the people) wore indebted to I lie Government for the expenditure of public money. "I stand lierp, not only as a member of the House," said Mr.'Malcolm, "but as a citizen, to resent tho imputation that the people aro indebted to the Government for their own money. It is a piece of sheer and downright impertinence for the members of any Government to speak in that way."

A donation of fivo tons of coal for (ho poor of tho city has been mudo by tho Westport Coal Company to tho Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. At tho meeting of the Charitable Aid Committoo yesterday a vote'of thanks for tho gift was passed unanimously.

There was a. large attendauco of mombers at tho monthly meeting of the Wellington Accountant Students' Society, held in the Chamber of Commerce last evening. Mr. W. B. Hudson occupied tho chair. An instructive and useful paper on "Principal and Agent," written by Mr. T. J. Thurman, was read by Mr. Day. It dealt at length in an interesting manner with general, limited, special, and unlimited powers of discretion held by agents, and indicated clearly under tho four heads mentioned their duty to principals. ' The reading of the paper was followed by a discussion, contributed to by half a- dozen of those present. A vote of thanks was accorded to Messrs. Thurman and Day, and an intimation, was mado in tho nnmo of tho first-named gonilomnii that he would bo willing to answer any questions which members may wish to ask respecting matters dealt with in the paper.

Tho conditions meted out by the Government to its casual labourers gave rise to a brief discussion 'in Parliament yesterday. Mr. Arnold asked that, in view ~of\ tho intermittent nature of the work, the increased cost d£ living, etc., the Government should guarantee, its casual labourers a wage of not less than nine shillings per day. The Acting-Premier observed (hat tho rule observed was to pay the men the rate of wages ruling in tho district in which they were employed. During the afternoon Messrs. Laurenson, Ell, Fisher,, and M'Laren successively urged the Government to amend the lot of its casual labourers.

Following upon the representations made by .1 deputation of plumbers which waited recently upon tho Hon. D. Buddo, substantial amendment's arc to bo made to tho Plumbers' Kegisfratian Bill, introduced last week. Questioned yesterday the Minister stated that ho was not in a position lo stale tho precise effect of the alterations until the amended Bill had been prepared. Probably, however, tho Bill in its new form will provide for a definite- standard of competency in plumb, hers registered under its provisions.

Referring to tho construction of tho Stratford-Ougarue railway from the Ongaruo end, the Minister for Public Works stated yesterday morning that the location survey is being proceeded with and as soon as a few miles of tho routo have been surveyed, the formation of the permanent way will be commenced.

The lender of Sanders Bros., Wellington, of JU-15G for tho now defence store at Wellington has been nceep.Vd. The following tenders were declined:—Trevor Bros., £\m; G. C. Smart, .£1500; J. l?ussell, .CISM; A. YVilkening, .£1500; A. Seamor, .CISOS; .T. Wood, .£1578; M. Browman, ,£157!!; D. M'Lean, J.'lG27; Cooper and Son, ,£1771).

The basin of the dock that was to bo i? now almost denuded of the network of piles which were driven in connection wjlh the attempt to form a concrete dry dock. Mr. C. V. Pulley states that the piles are as good as when they were driven and should sdl readily. He excels to have his contract completed at the em of this mouth.

Asked yesterday by Mr. 11. A. Wright, M.P., whether he intended lo abolish tho dulv 011 imported butler, tho ActingMinisler for Customs stated that the Government was considering the matter with a view lo deciding whether it should bo brought under tho Monopolv Prevention Act or be included in the schedule to the Commercial Trusts Act, ;

The Hon. 1). Huddn stated yesterday, in reply to .Mr. Herdmnn, that the Government does not intend to establish a public art gallery in connection with the Dominion Museum. An opportunity will be given, however, to hang pictures of ■ local or uallou.nl interest.

I PERSONAL ITEMS. 6 A Press Association message from Gisborne slales that Mr. A. i". Kennedy, manager for Messrs. Williams ami Kettle, died there yesterday morning. Mr. Kennedy was probably the best-known resident in Poverty liny, a jionular townsman, and ono who was known to every sheep-farmer from tlio East Coast to AYairoa. lie had a fine genial personality, and was in former years a capital amateur actor. . Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy recently paid a visit to Wellington to attend the marring of Miss Kennedy (daughter of Mr. \V. A. Kennedy, of Wellington, cousin to the deceased), after which they left on a trip to Australia, during which time Mr. Kennedy became gradually worse. On arriving back «t Uisborne he had to take to bed, and from that time gradually, sank. Passengers from Sydney by the Manuka yesterday included Mr. 'G. D. AY earn, of (he firm of Gardner, Woarn, and Co., Melbourne, Consul for Sweden at Melbourne; Mr. Joseph Mandel, of this city; Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Moore, of Duncdin; Mr. C. E. Finch, of Wellington; Mr. W. Tonks, cf Tonks, Norton and Co., Christchurch; and Captain Rixon, of the Salvation Army, Dunediu. Mr. P. Sclig, manager of the Christchurch' 'Press," and Mrs. Selig, who have been on a trip to Australia, arrived back by tlio Manuka yestevday. Mr. C. ,1. Cooper, and Mr. P. I. Cowlishaw, of Christchurch, aro also through passengers by (he same stoomor. Reference to the death of the late Mr. F. H. Eraser, ex-M.L.C, was made in the Legislative Council yesterday afternoon. Tho Hon. J. M'Gowau moved: "That this Council records its high sense of the scvviccs rendered to New Zealand by" the Into Mr.'F.H. Eraser, formerly a member of the Council, and of the House of Representatives, and tenders to his family its rincere sympathy in their bereavement." The Hon. Geo. Jones, in seconding the motion, said he admired the lato Mr. Eraser for his sturdy Liberal qualities. The Hons. Captain i Baillie and W. Beehan also spoke of the many excellent qualities possessed by tho deceased. Tho current number of tho Journal of the Royal Society of Arts contains the information that Mr. T. S. Lambert, architect, of Wellington, has been elected a Follow of tho Royal Society for' the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce. His Majesty tho King is patron of the society, and the council includes tho Lord Chief Justice of England, the Earl of Rosebery, tho Duke ci Connaught, Lord Curzon, and many other notables. Miss Beatrice Day, the /well-known actress, is a visitor to Wellington. She leaves for Australia on Friday week to join tho Plimmer-Donnislon Company. "Our uncrov.T.ed, unriiitred bishop" was tho .tribute of the Rev. D. Hird, M.A. (Palmerston Nurlh), to Rev. J. Reed Classen, of Wellington, at the Congregational Union yesterday. Mr. Nigel Hrock, advance manager for Sousn's Band, arrived' hero from the south yesterday morning to complcto tho arrangements for tho baud's appearance in this city.