LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1287, 16 November 1911, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

9 ,— Two questions were recently submitted to a plebiscite of the membors of the Merchant Service Guild. The first was whether tho organisation should cancel its registration under the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and the second as to tho acceptance or rejection of offers mado by tho union Steam Ship Company to officers in its employ. Voting concluded yesterday, but the result was not made, available for Both the mntters mentioned will be raised at a meeting of tho guild which is to bo held a few days hciice. Sir Joseph Ward is duo to leave Invercargill to-day for Palmerston Soutn, where he is to speak in the evening. He is expected to reach Christehurch on Monday r»?xt, when he is to lay the foundation stone of tho Christehurch Government Departmental Buildings. These buildings, which are to cost JC70.000, will take theplace of the uld Provincial Buildings which are now quite unsuitable for public offices, and do not in any case furnish the accommodation required. Sir Joseph Ward will also on Monday next open tho new Post Office at Sydenham, Christehurch.

The Christmas holiday fares on tho New Zealand railways (single fare for return journey) will come into force on Docoiuber 16.

Tho following are the probable dates of meetings of the Wellington Harbour Board for 1912: —January 24 (special meeting to confirm rolls of payers of harbour dues and monthly), February 28, March IS (annual meeting at noon for production of accounts), March 27, April 24, May 1 (annual meeting at noon for election of chairman), May 29, Juno 2G, July 24, August 28, September 25, October 23, November 27, and December 18.

An interesting and instructive lecturo on "Composition" (illustrated by lantern slides) was given by Mr. J. A. Heginbotbnin at tho last meeting of the Wellington Amateur Photographic Society. Donations of apparatus have been received from the Australian Kodak ami Sliarland and Company. On Saturday tho monthly outing will take place beyond Lyall Day, towards the Heads.

The velocity of the northerly gale- was so great on Tuesday afternoon that Messrs. J. and A. Wilson, contractors for tho now Post Office, decided that it w«a dangerous for the men to work the one big crane still in position on a level with the roof, ami all work on the top of tho building was stopped.

Mr. Evan Parry, Government hydroolectrical expert, is to report shortly upon the proposed electrification of a branch railway from Kactihi to the Main Trunk line. Afterwards he will proceed to Whangaroi, to investigate anil report on the Wairau Falls scheme, and later on will submit a report to the Government on the supply 6* .. ."cal power that can be obtained from the outlet of Lake Waikaromoana. It is contended by some engineers that sufficient power con be generated at Lako AVaikaremoana to meet the electrical requirements of tho whole of tho North Island.

Tho agreement arrived at between the Wellington Pullers' Union and the employers (Gear Meat Co. and Wellington Meat Export Co.) has been filed wiiJi the Clerk of Award* (Mr. E. Steelier). The agreement provides for payment at picw work rates—not less than Od. per dozen skins on ordinary days, and not less than lOd. per dozen on Sundays and holidays. Special wages and conditions are provided for learners. Waiting time shall bo paid after the first quarter of an hour at the rate of 2s. per hour. Mr. P. Hally, Conciliation Commissioner, presided during the discussions to arrive at the agreement. Tho union assessors wore;— Messrs. John Bairstow, II W. Bowler, and Geo. Wright; and the employers' assessors-.— Messrs. S. V. Burridgc, Arthur Jarmau, and E. W. Dixon.

On Monday Mr. J. 11. Ward, of Onchunga, was pushed bodily through a plate-glass window in his shop. An employee was backing a horse and cart into tho gutter, when tho horfe, getting 100 much way on, put tho cart over the kei-bing on to the footpath immediately in front of the window. Fearing I lie* vehicle would go through the window, Mr. Ward rushed behind the cart, and endeavoured to stop it. When he found ho could not do so he was unable to extricate himself, and was forced through the window. Ho was picked up in un unconscious condition, but quickly recovered when taken out of doors. The v.jntiow. wua seimulototy demolished.

At n inu'lim; df Mic (ii-hoine limiieli of (he If4iv.il New Zealand Avm-i,,lrr, /.f ]\U Majesty's Vcl-rans held (.11 Saturday, Hi:' Idllittviiii; ni-;iil>ilioiis were pm-u- ---- -"That, in I In- opinion nf Hi.. <iis- !«»■».- lir.-iiieh „f Hi.. Itevnl New Zealand As-ocinlion ( ,f His Aiaji-.lv's Veteran*, the .Military PciiHii.ii Act insert dm-iiii; tin' H's-iion of l!lll, placiiiK I hem miller the Mime eoiiililiini lis I lie olil a[;e pension i.- not. 11 just n-co-irilmn el their mililiir.v M-rvicc* tii (he Dominion dtirini! tho Maori war, Ifflll-IHTI ; that. Hie ,\cw '//:«• land war medallist, thiousihoiil the Dominion unite in pclilmninu I'nrlinmr'il; 111 repeal I In- Miiil.-n-y Pension.-! Acl, |!»11. iiii'l pass 11 spicial Aiil awardinf,' .'unletmilitary romlilinns) lo men from . r is lo IK years 11)' ,\',<", ,l;i!li per annum, and over 05, lo moli as may apply lor Mich rxlililion, n. further sum ol .I'M, in lull of olil n[; ( . pensions; that, the rpiwlinn should 1m; put lo any candidate, whether (lovcrnment. or Opposition, as to whether tin will assist in liirllicriiiK llio claims of veterans for n ppccinl military |nnision."

Mr. Dc.vereiix, I'M!.M.S., of Waihi, ro |x>rl.s as follows:—"We now appear to lie approaching a meteorological cycle, when two or tin-to years of diniinis'hini; rainfall may lie expected over most of the districts of Auckland province, particularly W.-iiknto. Such .1 cycle ließnii in the year IS?!) and culminated in Ilia years 1M?-t to IS.SC. conditions wcro particularly prevalent in ISSS. 'J'he pnvsc.nf cycle should culminate in the years J!H!M9I3. The pre.sr.nt lypo of weather will most likely extend, and in Jiiiiivvy n provalonoo of "desiccating winds from westerly points, altcninUnij with showery spells; in fact, unseasonable Christmas weather may be anticipated."

A child was saved from serious injury in Pnnsnnby Bead, Auckland, on Tuesday by the prompt action of .1 molorman. Car No. Kill, driven by Molorman It. Itae, was travelling towards l'onsonby at a fairly fast late along the section of the line skirting Western Park when a little girl of about four years of age, who was apparently one. of a group in ehargo of ,1 girl of not more than six years, ran into tho roadway More slio coukl be prevented. Sho was seen bv tho passengers to bo right in tho track of the car. There was barely time for tho motorman to avert an accident, but with comniciulablo promptitude line put on tho emergency brake and brought the car to a standstill within two or threo yards. As showing how narrow an escape t.ho child experienced tho car touched her and pushed her aside, but inflicted no injury.

"8.G." writes as follows to a nui paper:—"A paragraph is being diligently reprinted everywhere stating that 'to his everlasting credit' Major Macdonahl (who commands tho State School Junior Cadets) has nipped a threatened presentation from thorn in the bud. It may aid the. admiring public to know that tho regulations do not permit a military officer to receive public presentations, anil that Major Macdonald has no 'say' or credit in tho matter."