LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1371, 23 February 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities advise Hint the s.s. Maheno, which sailed from Sydney at noon on February 21, has on board an Australian and an English mail. The Wellington portion 'is due to arrive here by Main Trunk on Monday next, February 26. Only a few weeks ago the Wellington Harbour Board announced its,decision (n reduce the inward wharfage on general cargo from 2s. Sd. to 2s. Gd., and the harbour improvement rate from Gd. to •Id. pet- ton. The following motion is now to be moved by the chairman at next Wednesday's meeting of tho board:— "That the resolution of November 22, 1911. in so far as it relates to the reduction of harbour improvoment rate from 6d. to 4d. per ton, and to the reduction of inward wharfage on general goods from 2s. Sd. to 2s. 6d. per ton, be rescinded, and that the various by-laws affected be amended in accordance with this revocation." Complaints were heard yesterday about the city supply of water, which was (dinted both iu taste and smell. The City Engineer' states that he had hoard that something; was amiss with the water. He did not know tho cause, but surmised that it was because the city was now receiving water from the new Morton Dam, which had been slightly tainted by vegetation decaying beneath the surface. This was not an unusual occurrence in the ease of new dams. Mr. MoTton added that, though a reservoir area be burnt off and cleaned up as thoroughly as possible, there was always some vegetable matter which perished nnd decoyed under water and. this water does not begin to run 01? until a dry season ensues. The City Council last night accepted the tenders of Turnbull and Jones for a supplvof insulated wire, and of G. A. Chapman for offal from the abattoirs. Two very important motions affecting the tramways management were on the order-paper of the City Council last night, and it was expected that they would ho discussed at some length. Holore the questions had been broached Ihe ciiiineii went into cnmmitieo, but nflor half an hour it was decided tn po.-lpoiie consideration of them, and (o ■•nil :■ special Hireling "f Hie council for Alnndiiv evening l<> deal finally with ilip«e and'other matter* rC'latin-: lo (Mmways management. Tho i.'itr Covn r <l •'» '" V! i'-" "nptiai visit lo the .Wuiuui tvakiiioiis to-tlaj.

Some .£!0 worth of damago was done liv fire to a house, No 59 Thunidon tinny, vstcnlav. The building- is owned by -Mr. Patrick Shivnau, ami rented by Mr. Frank U'ehstev. ]t was occupied by three single men, who were absent at Ills- time ,::!' the outbreak. The. building was covered bv insurance in (ho i',({Ujtable Office for '.C2BO. The Secretary to the Treasury announces Ihe receipt of the sum of JM'forwarded to the "Colonial Treasurer, Mew Zealand," as conscience-money. The Government Gazette announces the acceptance of Urn following tpnclprs:— Ohakimo Courthouse, T. Aldridgo, .WiGi Bs. (id.; formation of south approach to the Jlig Wanganui lioad Bridge, lladdock aiul iloye, Itoss, .WW!); erection ol Marina liiver Ifridgc, S. and 11. Atkinson, Westport, .WOOI Ks. Oil-; formal urn contract (Xo. :i), T.awrencc-lioxbuigh railway, (i. W. Jivmi, Waitahumi, ,£lllß ISs. ■lib; eNti.asidi) of public buildings, llokitikn, .John Drake, (ireynioulh, .t'SHlfi }f.ld.; supply of bridge material for lyaihu Vallev railway, Andersons, Ltd., Chnstchui'ch, .£177:1 4s. The plans prepared by the oily engineer for the. proposed tramway waiting-shed, opposite the General Post 01 ice, have been approved, and tenders will now Do called for the work of erecting it. The Gazette, announces Hint the Court of Appeal will commence its sitlrngs I Ills year on the. following dates:-.Mareli -J, July 1, mid September 30. A matter which has been raised in Wellington from time to time cropped up at' Tuesday night's meeting oi t)><? Christchurch Drainage Board, when n deputation' from flic Canterbury liowlni n Association wailed on the board with regard to the remission of rates on liowling greens. It was stated that, owing to the henvv rates on unimproved values, many of the clubs were in a bad financial position. Howling greens formed brcaUiuigplaces in congested areas, and it won to. be a pity if all the clubs were compelled Id move into the suburbs. The clubs brought maiiv visitors to the city. Moreover, most bowlers were already ratepayers. Surprise was expressed that the Labour members of (lie City Council had voted against the remission of rates on bowling greens, as bowling was a most democratic game. A remission of one-halt of the rates was asked for. The matter is to be discussed at llic next meeting of tho board. The matter of tramway extensions to Halaitai. via Hawker Street, ami to Knrori, via the cable ear terminus and I'pland Ttoad, brought before the Trainwavs Committee, of tho City Council by interested deputations last Monday, were the subject; of report by the committee nt the meeting of the City Council last evening. The Halaitai extension proposal has been referred to the City Engineer for report, but the short-cut line to ICarori is to be further considered by the Tramways Connnittoe at its next meeting. An oft-repeated suggestion that the Newtown, ears should run right up to the ,parlc gates was disposed of by the City 'Council last evening, when it was agreed that, in view of the cost of tho work (,129:20), and as no additional revenue will he obtained thereby, no action will be taken to extend the tram tines to the gates. . The weelclv meeting of Pioneer Lodge, No. 11, I.'o. G.T., was held in the Kechabitos' 'Bull, iranners Street, Bro. Atkinson, C.T., presiding. Three new momICTS were proposed, and one member reinitiated. A "dutch auction" was held in aid of the Harmony Committee funds, tho result being a substantial amount. Tho Union Company announces (hat TL.W.S. Tahiti will leave Wellington for Son Francisco, via fiarotongn and Papeete, on Friday, March 8. She will bo followed by It.M.S. Manuka mi March 2!l. The dispatch of these two steamers will afford intending passengers an opportunity of travelling direct from Wellington to San Francisco. The vessels are equipped in modern style, and possess every convenience in the way of up to-dnle passenger accommodation. Notices are to be erected at the Wadestown tramway terminus, mid along tho route to Wilton's Bush, directing the way to the scenic reserve. The reconstruction of Mec's Steps, Wellington. Terrace, nt an estimated cost of A'looo—necessitated by the laying of tho new main from Wamui to the Nairn Street Keserve—is to be proceeded willi immediately by the City Engineer's Department. , The cab stand at Lambton Quay is lo be shifted to Johnston Street, and permission has been granted for two cabs (ono at Johnston Street and one at Brandon Street) to stand at Lambloii Quay, next (lie kerb. 'J'he taxi-cab stand at StoutStreet, opposite the Hotel Arcadia, is to be removed to the other side of the street, outside the Public Trust Office. Street lamps have been authorised to be erected at Beach Street, Island Bav CM 10s.); Island Bay, opposite Cliff House (£\ 10s.); Upton Terrace C£s 10s.); Salamanca Koad and Talavera Terrace W3). The thanks of tho City Council have been extended to the Wellington Zoological Society for their efforts in obtaining animals and birds for the Zoo. With, among other things, the object of doing away with tho "early . doors" practice, a draft by-law governing all future public hall licenses has been adopted by the City Council as follows :—"Where any performance or entertainment is to be given in any theatre or place of public, amusement, tho doors of such .theatre leading to every part thereof shall be opened to the public in sufficient lime to provont obstruction of the public streets or footway, and immediately on the request of any constable or city inspector, and kept open until tho hall is filled, or the commencement of the performance." Eixon Grove, off Austin Street, will bo put in order by tho City Council if tho owners therein pay ,£IOO of the estimated cost, viz., ,-£145, and if one of the owners agree to throw into the street a small triangular piece of land at the entranco to the Grove, to improve the entrance. The question of the power to make bylaws regulating and controlling hoardings is to be referred to the Municipal Association for discussion at tho next annual conference. Tho demolition of the present old Theatre lloyal in Johnston Street, to give place to a now and up-to-dato theatre, will be commenced in about nine months' lime. Tho following gifts to the Newtown Museum are acknowledged, with thanks, by the City Council:—M. Farquhar: Map of early Wellington, portion of nioa egg shells, impressions of forest ferns, mineral specimens; Mr. Benton: Ono largo boar's head; Mr. B. Gwilliam, gold specimens, Auckland; Mr. T. Ward, extensive and valuable collection of sea birds' eggs; Mrs. J. B. Hash, collection of birds'eggs; Mr. C. Duncan, hedgehog; Master Douglas Mackay, young dogfish shell. New j Zealand insects; Jfrs. F. A. Stewart, photograph of Wellington, ISO 3.