LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1238, 21 September 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

"A serious aspect of the effect of tho continued restrictions imposed by, tho Labour legislation of the Dominion is shown in the unwillingness of tho investing public to provide money for concerns which depend largely on the employment of a largo amount of labour. It is unt "i'i 0 .that though money may bo forthcoming for investment in other ways it is a matter of great difficulty to persuade capitalists to financo labour employing concerns." This passage occurs in tho report presented at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Employers' Federation yesterday.

. Answering a question by Mr. Jennings, in the House of Representatives yesterday, the Minister for Marino stated that the weather report form, as revised, is on geographical lines, and gives full information for shipping and the public. Representative stations only aro chosen, and, at the request of mariners, Capo Egmont has recently been substituted for New Plymouth as being more useful than either New Plymouth or Waitara. Additions to the list of reporting stations will be difficult and cause delay in publication and transmission, especially when most needed at time of storm and stress. Tho daily weather report is exhibited at New Plymouth. This, of course, shows tho weather at other stations.

Tho Government does not at present consider it necessary to appoint a Roval Commission to inquire into tho co-opera-tivo system of constructing public works. Doubtless, the Minister for Public "Works stated yesterday, in replying to a question by Mr. Gkey, complaints will be made irom time to time, by interested parties, of waste and extravagance on tho one hand, and on the other hand that the men on such works are insufficiently paid, no matter whether the system be co-operative, day-labour, or contract.

A strange anomaly in tho legislation providing for tho responsibility of employers for accidents to their apprentices was disclosed in a case which camo before the Court in Canterbury recently. An apprentice had been playing football, and, as not infrequently happens, ho received injuries incapacitating liim from work. The Court held that tho employer was liable to pay the boy's wages while he was incapacitated. If, however, the boy had been killed at football, the employer would not have been liable, as the accident would not have been one arising out of the boy's employment. Tho case was discussed by the Employers' Federation yesterday, and they decided by the following. resolution to take steps to protect themselves against such occurrences in future-.—"That the Advisory Board bo asked to confer' with the executive of the Underwriters' Association in Wellington, or tako such other means as they cleem necessary, with a view to arranging for a suitable insurance policy covering apprentices for the whole of the 21 hours, such policy to cover employers against all risks under the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act, Common Law, Indentures, and the Court's Apprentice Clause."

Owing to the fact that the Union Steam Ship Company intend putting s.s. Aorangi in the stream to-morrow (Friday) some hours before 'she sails for San Francisco, via Rarotonga and Tahiti, it has been found necessary to closo the outward mail by her at 3 p.m.

A suggestion by Mr. T. E. Y. Seddon, M.P., that an extra duty of lid. per gallon should be levied on petrol for motor-cars and the revenue applied to the improvement of roads, etc., lias been rejected by the Government on the ground that petrol is used for industrial purposes as well as for motor-car consumption. Nothing, it was added, could be done without an amendment of the Customs Duties Act.

Inquiries are being made by the Government as to the approximate cost and probable return from the irrigation scheme at Lake Heron.

Answering a question by Mr. T. E. Y. Scddon, M.l\, the Minister for Mines stated in Parliament yesterday that a bonus of .€2OOO for appliances to successfully save gold from black-sands had been offered for a period of over two yoars—namely, from November, 1901, to January 1, 1901— but no response had been received. Tho Minister does not think that any better result would follow if the samo bonus were offered again. As a matter of fact, ho adds, the return that would accrue from successful working of the blacksands would probably be so great as to constitute, in itself, tho best, bonus.

At the monthly meeting of tho committee of the Clyde Quay School a letter was received from the town clerk (-Mr. ,T. li. Palmer) intimating that the council had decided to grant tho committee's request for the >150 of children's library, the final arrangements to bo mado with tho chief librarian. Tho chairman reported that great interest was being taken bv the scholars in tho competitive (lower show to be held in December. Arrangements were made, in accordance with a request, from tho Education Hoard to celebrate Dominion Day, when suitable addresses will bo given by tho chairman and headmaster. Tho headmaster reported Mr. D. Robertson had generously offered a prize for tho beat essay on "Dominion Day: Its Aims and how Best to Promote Them."

Tho matter of subsidising sums raised ill country districts to provide ambulances is to bs inquired into by the Government.

Sir Joseph Ward, Bart., lias accepted Hio office of patron of the Orphans' Club. As a result of the concert given by a party of "Orphans" at Pnlmerston Nortli rcconlly, tho children's ward will rcaliso something like J:;!flfl.

The secretary of Pearson's Fresh Air Fund, in acknowledging tho receipt of Iho subscriptions collected through The Dominion-, writes:—'"lt is very gratifying to everyone connected with the fund to rcceivc amounts which have been collected for the poor children of this country from so far away as New Zealand."

Water diviners are not always infallible. One of theni pointed out (says an ox. change) to a Bunnytliorpo settlor the exact location where water could be found 011 his properly. Operations were forthwith started, and a pipe has been driven a great distance down, at an expenditure approaching something like .£3OO, but up to the present 110 indications of water have been met with.

Soon after tho Tyser liner Tomonna, which arrived last week at Melbourne, had left St. Vincent, in tho North Atlantic Ocean, and while sue was yet within about three miles of the island an exciting incident occured on board. One or the islanders—a coloured man—who had stowed away, was found by the chiei steward and brought before Captain S. W. Hayter. Being unable to speak English, the islander could, of course, give no reason for stowing away, and Captain Hayter was about to "slow down" ana send the man ashore in a boat, when the latter suddenly jumped overboard and disappeared. It was just growing dark a tho time, and as the Tomoana was steaa, lug at lull speed, all efforts to pick up traces of the man proved futile. Tho natives of St.Yincent are said to be great swimmers, aud Captain Hayter behoved that it was with the full intention of swimming ashore that the intrepid stowaway leapt into the sea. Ho was a young man, apparently about twenty-six years of age.

't he Hon. J. A. Millar has declined to fall in with a suggestion bv Mr. Arnold that tramwaymen on leave "should be allowed to travel 011 the railways at holiday excursion feres.

It is hoped by tho Government that 17,000 acres of Crown land on the Waitotara liiver, known as tho Whakaihuiwalta Block, will be offered for"selection on tho optional system early in December.

Tho monthly meeting of the Victoria College Council was held last evening, thero being present: The chairman (Mr. Charles Wilson) and Messrs. H. H. Ostler, R. M'Callum, J. G. W. Aitken, H. F. von Ilaast, A. It. Meek, and C. AVatson. Tho Finance Committee having reported that Professor Laby had intimated his intention of purchasing from the Wellington Philosophical Society a number of volumes o£ the Philosophical Magazine with the -X'6o subsidy granted on the amount of the gift of physics apparatus, and recommended this for the approval of the council. The council resolved accordingly. The deliberations of the council 011 tlie questions of college finance and university reform arc reported under separate headings.

Of tho 38 white owls which arrived in Hastings i'or release on their mission of destruction amongst small birds, one has since died. Three or four have escaped from their cages before t'heir acclimatisation period expired, and they sce'm to have found their wings very quickly, as they were soon after perched on the top of a pi no tree. Sparrows have been introduced into their cages, and short work was made of them, while a minah put up a very little better fight against theso feathered ferocities. "It is not denied (says a Hastings paper) that i'lie owls will probably levy a toll on the native hints, but on the other hand it* is contended that the industries and prosperity of an ontiro district cannot be allowed to suffer for mere sentiment."

the object of protecting tho wine-growing industry, viticulturists in Auckland district, are forming an association. A president and a provisional committee of five members have already been appointed to carry out tho preliminaries in connection with the inauguration of association, and when there is a sufficient membership permanent officers will be elected. A draft statement of tho requirements of viticulturists in the matter of legislation has been drawn up, and will lie considered at a future meeting. One clause in the statement draws attention to the fact that winegrowers desire freedom from what they regard as harassing legislation, which at present restricts their operations in the disposal of the manufactured produce, and tentative proposals are outlined. It is suggested that fines ranging from .ElO to .£SO should be inflicted on offenders mixing any injurious ingredient with ivino. Another clause urges that the grower or manufacturer should bo free to sell pure wine in any part of t.hc Dominion whether in a prohibition area or not. It is also urged that tho right to supply wine to boardinghouses to, be consumed on tho premises should be granted. Objection is also taken to the importation of grapes into the Dominion.

Tho new Technical College Building in Auckland, which has been under construction since May, 1909, is now within measurable distance of completion, 1 and it is expected that it will be out of tho builders' hands by the end of the year. Tho building is 170ft'. long, GBft. deep, and 90ft. high. As originally planned, tho college was to have consisted of fivo storeys, but owing to the lack of funds only three can bo built at tho present time. Although tho contract is for only three floors, tho concrete used amounts to about 51,000 ft. This is strengthened by over 200 miles of steel wire, weighing 26 tons, and 15 miles of steel bars weighing 78 tons. In the Ms> piles-driven are 1128 running feet, tho girders would extend more than -1000 running feet, and the joists up to 10,000 feet.