LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1376, 29 February 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Wellington Leaseholders' Association is seeking a decision from the Supreme- Court under the Declaratory Judgments' Act with a view to ascertaining tho correct legal interpretation of the clauses in the Glasgow leases dealing with the assessment of rental for the renewal periods granted by the lease, and the method of arriving nt such rentals. A ease has been stilted, and Mr. C. P. Skerrett, K.C., has been instructed by the Wellington Leaseholders' Association to appear. The matter concerns not only holders of city leaseholds in Wellington,, but nil local bodies and harbour boards throughout New Zealand granting Glasgow leases. Mr. James lugraiu, ail old resident of Foxtoii, died there on Monday last, aged 73 year?. The opening of the Upper Hutt Town Board's new offices has been postponed until .'1 p.m. on Monday next. The Hon. R. -M'Kenzie will perform the opening ceremony.

"That the Board of Management of the Tramways be instructed to prepare a re- s port concerning tho linking-up of the a Constable Street and Kilbirnie tram lines, ,'■ as promised by (he Mayor on March 9, c 1911, as soon as possible." Notice of v motion given by Councillor Cameron, to : be considered at (he next meeting of the i City Council. t Nominations for the Licensing Committees throughout Now Zealand close on .Saturday next. Tho Wellington Com- 1 niittee consists of Messrs. G. Petherick, « \\\ .T. Helyor, Geo. Tiller, John Smith « (Acting-Mayor), and 0. 1(. Wilton, who s lyere nominated by the temperance party, 1 which has decided to put them forward s for election once more. The "trade" in t Wellington has decided not to nominate r any candidates. The election (if any) is t to take place on Tuesday; March 12,' and 1 will be conducted on the same lines «s ) a Parliamentary election. Section 39 of c tho Licensing Act provides:—"Every day i on which the licensing poll is taken iii any district shall be, and be deemed to be, a public holiday after mid-day within such district . . . and, further, between tho hours of. twelve o'clock noon and seven o'clock in the evening it shall be unlawful to sell intoxicating liquors in any licensed premises within such district." Among the more important matters dealt with at the Medical Conference in Timaru last week was that of the Australasian Medical Congress, which will be held in Auckland in 1!)14. Dr. Pur- ( chas, the Auckland delegate, informed an ; Auckland "Herald" reporter that tlio pro- ( liminary arrangements were discussed, ( and provision made for the congress. i The annual picnic of the Newtown State J School wns held in Newtuwu Park yesterday. The weather was all that could ' be desired, and the Park, with the added • attraction of the "Zoo," was ideal for ' an outing of this kind. Thev? were camel ' and donkey rides for the little ones, and J the big brown bear appeared to know ' what was expected of him, and climbed a ' tree in great style to the delight cf the youngsters. There were sports for the athletically-inclined on the cricket area throughout the day, capitally managed by the school's teaching stall". A feature of llie day was the luncheon, which was served out to the 000 children predentin ! separate paper bags—a system which proved most successful. Among those present were Mr. Parkinson (headmaster), Mr. Castle (chairman of the School Com- . inittee), and members of the committee. Those who are going into camp at Nga- j hauranga will be pleased to hear that i the Sports and Amusement Committee has arranged for a piano, billiard-table, ■ boxing gloves, etc., to be. sent out. Ke- i creation such as it is intended to provide should help to make camp life an interesting holiday. Arrangements are ; being made for a sports gathering at i Pclone during the camp, and with this . end in view the committee have applied for tho use of the Keeroalion Ground. Last evenin? the chairman of the Harbour Board (Mr. ]!. I'letcher) entertained the members, the principal executive olticers, and the heads of departments, at dinner. He announced at the outset, when he gave the loyal toast, that it was to be the only toast of the evening, and that there wero to be no speeches. This rule was broken through only once, and the guests gave themselves up entirely to enjoyment of tho excellent entertainment which had been arranged, Mr. J. G. Darkness proposed the health of the chairman. Mr. Fletcher, ho. said, had held office for nearly two years, and in that time the board had come through some busy and trying times. Strenuous in the conduct of the affairs of the board, lie had always been so impartial as to win the respect of nil the members, and had kept the wheels running smoothly. He had also dono goad service to the board and to Ihe oountry in connection with the new Harbours Act. Mr. Fletcher replied briefly. He disclaimed all special credit for tiie work done by the board, giving it rather to tho members as a whole anil to tiie executive ollicers. He was proud to belong to the Wellinglon Harbour Board, which he thought one of the be-,1 and most efficient local bodies in the Dominion. Mr. D. Kenny was directorgeneral of tho musical programme, and he had collected round him a little following of adepts in song and story. Items were provided by: Messrs. Turner, Gardiner, Xewton, V. Cohen, Dykes, I'letcher, Nicholl?, Trovjr, Parsons, Weslon, mid Kenny. The Harbour Board decided yesterday tii institute a friendly test case with tlui Union Steam Ship Conipnny to settle the question as to tho limits of exemption under the Harbours Act with regard to steamers under contract with the Government in respect of (he San Friineiseo mail serviie. The chairman explained that the <(iicstion had cropped up concerning the Tahiti. This steamer had arrived here with cargo which she hail discharged prior to taking up her running under the San Francisco mail contract:, The board mnintninixl that she did not become a mail contract boat, and was therefore not entitled to exemption until after she had discharged her cargo. This attitude the executive officers had token up after referring the (|ueslion tn the board's solicitor, and n? the Union Company tool; n difioreut view, he w«i\Ul recommend that the board institute a test case on the point. )lt«r<. llahlwiu and Kayward have bi'i'ii ri'lnined a< patent on Ijclimll iiftlie Ilinldnr!. Parker Company and llui New Zealand Government, in (ln> net ion lironghl iinainsl them liv the Marconi Wireless Tcl.'srnph Cumpany. Ltd.