LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1387, 13 March 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities advise that American and Knglish mails via Vancouver wiil arrive in Wellington by Main Trunk to-day. Xo definite date has ye( been sot down for the commencement of the proceedings which are being instituted by the. Government again-! the Colonial Sugar Relining Company, the Merchants' Association of New Zealand, and certain mercantile companies, members of (liat association, for alleged breaches of the Commercial Trusts Act, 19111, in respect of preferential discounts on the sale of sugar. It is anticipated (hat a considerable period will be taken up ill preliminaries to the main action. Loud, loii|r, and rather acrimonious talk arose a( (Up Charitable Aid Board meeting yesterday over a proposal to increase the maximum salaries to be paid to certain members of the luir-ing "stall' of the hospital. The beard went into commiftee to deal with this business, but it is understood (hat (here were members who were decidedly onposed to going on with it in camera', lucre was no dilliciilty over any of the suggested increases- except one, but some members opposed this increase strenuously, and stated very plainly their rea c ons" for doing so. Finally tlie matter was referred to a special investigation committee, which is understood to comprise tho following members: —'the Rev. If. Van Staveren and Messrs. K. C. Kirk, Ti. Fletcher, A. H. Hindmarsh, ,T. K. Fitzgerald, U. London, and J. Trevor. Preparations arc being rapidly made for the transference of the various Departments to tho new Chief Post Ofiico in Auckland. The construction of tho bigbuilding is almost completed, though the interior work has been delayed by the lack of plasterers. A beginning has been made with the equipment of the office, and it will shortly be ready for the final cleaning and overhauling, preparatory to the formal opening. The PostmasterGoiiernl (Sir Joseph Ward) stated on Monday evening that connection will be established between the Central Post Oflice mid the various branch post and ■telegraph oflices by means of underground tubes. The necessary apparatus lias been ordered for both the Auckland and Wellington offices, and in (lie case of Auckland will be available for use shortly alter tho new ofiiec is opened. The pneumatic tube delivery has an effective radius of up to four miles, and it. is proposed to provide by this system an expeditious and economical means of exchanging postal and telegraphic matter between the central office and its subsidiary stations. He said that arrangements would be made to connect the telegraph oflice with the offices of the two daily newspapers by means of private tubes. Inconvenience was caused to tho public and the Post Office and Harbour Hoard officials last evening on account of no word having come through as to the time of the Pateena's departure from Pioton for Wellington. In the ordinary course of events, the run across the strait occupies about four hours, and a good idea can be obtained as to tho vessel's probable time of arrival here. Tho Telegraph Office at Picton closes at 8 p.m., and, if tlio Pateenn sails after that hour, her expected sailing time is sent to Wellington, and this gives all concerned an idea of tlio time of her arrival in port. Last evening no word w.as sent through, and, to the numerous inquiries at the tolls office concerning the vessel, the officials had no answer to give. Th linking up of the Constable Street and Kilbirnie tram lines is shortly to bo considered by the City Council. On the order paper, at a special meeting of tiio council last night, was a motion in tho name of Councillor Cameron us follows:~ "That tho Hoard of Management of the Tramways be instructed to prepare tho report concerning tho linking up of Constablo Street aad Kilbirnie tramlines (as promised by the Mayor on March 9, 1311) as soon as possible." Several councillors objected that as this was a question of policy, it should bo referred • tp tho Tramways Committee, but Councillor Cameron said ho did . not particularly want a report from the Tramways Committee. It was urged, however, that the board had many matters of detail in hand, and they could not find time to go into this <|iicsiiou. In the end, Councillor Cameroa, did not press his motion, allowing an alternative one to lie, carried: "That the Tramway' Committee be instructed to furnish a report concerning the linking up of tho Constable Street and Kilbirnie lines." A settlement of the differences which have existed between Petone and the city concerning the approaches to the Hutt Pipe Bridge was arrived at yesterday between Mr. E. C. Kirk, solicitor for the Borough of Petone, and the City Council officers. All that is required now is tho authorising warrant from- the Governor-in-Council, and as soon as this is issued the City Council will bo ready to proceed with their share of the work. It may be impossible for the Petone Council to proceed with their approaches to the bridge without getting an extension of Jackson Street, and in order to do this some private land must be acquired. For this a special loan will probably bo necessary, and this will entail an appeal - to the ratepayers. The weekly session of the Pioneer Lodge, 1.0. G.T., was held in the Kechabito Chambers, Manners Street, Pro. Atkinson, C.T., presiding. There was a good attendance of .members -and several visitors were present. Two new members were initiated and one proposed for membership. One member was congratulated on attaining her i)"th year of membership. The item of the evening was a geographical competition—the prize being awarded to Sis. Robinson. During tho evening a recitation was given by Sis. Webb and a song by Bro. Lambert'. A girl named Esther Mary Evcleigh, 1G years of age, displayed resource and pluck during an incident at Bulga, near Singleton (K.S.W.), a few days ago. Her brother, Cecil, 10 years of age, was gathering figs, when he felt something under his foot. Before he was ablo to realiso what it was-ho was bitten by a snake, which escaped in the grass. Tho boy called for help at once, and his sister ran to him. She picked up a table knife, and cut out the flesh where the fangs of the snake had penetrated. The girl then sucked tho blood, endangering her own life to*savo her brother. After sucking tho wound she rubbed in common table salt. The boy was then driven a long distance to a doctor, who stated that but for tho girl's plucky action the boy must have died. Mr. W: Rutherford, of Minto Station, Dibbenluko (X.S.W.), was ploughing with a team of bullocks recently when one' of them turned his yoke. .Mr. Rutherford tried to adjust the yoke when tho bullock charged him, bearing its victim aloft on its horns, and carrying him for n distance of 50 yards before the unfortunate man could be released. He received a severe shaking mid injuries to his side, which will render him unable to work for some time to come. The Auckland Commercial Travellers' and Warehousemen's Club has completed the purchase of a three-story brick'building in Durham Street, now in use as offices and as the premises of Taltersall's Club. Tho Commercial Travellers' Club will take possession of the new premises in about twelve months' time, as the lease of (ho present site in the Arcade does not run out until that time, and tho Durham Street building is also let for about tho same period. The total cost of the departure to the club will be between .£IO.OOO and..£ll,ooo, including alterations to the interior. It is proposed lo make the new club up to dalo in every respect, and it is expected that there- will be accommodation for another hundred or couple of hundred members. The membership is now about 000, and tho committee has been compelled to close the list of club members (apart from bona fide travellers and warehousemen), because of lack of accommodation. Among other extensions of the present club equipment will be the addition of at least one more billiard table, and the provision of more diningroom accommodation. The Chvistchuroh City Council propose shortly to enter upon an ambitious and costly' scheme of road improvement and construction, and as the Wellington City Lngiuocr (Mr. W. 11. Morton) has earned a reputation as a. road builder, the southem City Council were desirous of obtaining a report from him on the scheme. Mr. 'Morton, however, could not go without siibii:il(inu' tho request tn (lu, \\"ollingtou City Council, which he did at a special meeting la-t night. The Wellington City Council decided that Mr. Morton had eneusli work to do lierr, and declined U> "lenil 'him out" to tho C'hnstcuurcb City Council'