LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1436, 10 May 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

An unemployment difficulty during the coming winter is not at present anticipated. Labour Department officials state that, there is ample work in the city for skilled tradesmen and able-bodied lnbcturers, while, at least a hundred capable pick and shovel men could bo placed on railway co-operative, works. There is, of course, about the usual number of men who are really unfitted for anything but clerical work out of employment.

The latest arrival at tho Newtown Zoo is a baby marmoset, which was born on Monday last, and gives every promise of attaining a healthy maturity. This is the fifth marmoset which has licen born at the Zoo. Its predecessor* were all successfully reared.. Two of the number were sent to Sydney, where they were doing well when last heard of. Nominations close at noon to-day in connection with the election which is to bo held, next week to till tho vacancy on the City Council. The supplementary roll will be cut of the printer's hands to-day or to-morrow. The only candidate nominated so far is Mr. A. H. I'ullford, of Brooklyn. His nominators are Messrs. A. B. Pitched, P. W. Corby, F. Bird, and B. H. Gardiner. Speaking on "The Doom of the Liquor Traffic,'' at the annual meeting of the New South Wales Alliance on May i, the Rev. John Dawson, of Wellington (general secretary, New Zealand Alliance), said the Alliance was not seeking tho doom of the liquor maker, the liquor seller, or ihe liquor consumer. The temperance movement did not blame any of those. It blamed the people who voted to give the liquor dealers expanded opportunities to continue in tho business. Tho highest welfare of ali associated with the hquor traffic was aimed at. The complaint about the liquor traffic was the same sort of complaint as against the mosquitoes— it was tho way they got their living that was objected to. The doom of the liquor traffic was coming, or the trade would not be prepared to share their profits after having kept them so long. New Zealand was a comparatively sober country; yet last year thcro were no fewer than 11,000 convictions for drunkenness—GooU for the first time. Last polling-day the trade spent money like water. There were motor-cars in abundance. But twelve out of seventy-six electorates voted licensed bars out of their, midst. Every one of those electorates was living under a blessed regime, and had conferred giadre«s in Hie hearts of vcrv many. It had been slated that there was more, drinking in prohibition than licensed districts. "That's an untruth. If it were true, the brewers and publicans would join the Alliance. The women of New Zealand hnvo helped the No-License party. The women have resolved not to be associated as n class with the dying, degrading traffic in strong drink. (Applause.) flcliailthe day in New Zealand when every electorate in New Zealand will vole for NoLicense, and we shall see no moro of this accursed thing." (Applause.) Wiriii" from Crookwell, New South Wales, on Mav 2, Mr. Clement Wragge savs-.—"The disturbance named 'Conrov is "still off Capo Lceuwin, and is phickily endeavouring to make easting. Ho wn probably caiise intervening rain that wnt temporarily relieve the situation and provide enough water for washing clothes. I am sorrv I cannot yet give better hopes. Shipping 'should note that there will be nasty gales over the higher latitudes of th» 'Southern Ocean within eight days. Pastoralists and farmers may prepare for a hard, cold winter." The Government offers a bonus of fourponce per pound on tho first 100,000 pounds weight of quicksilver produced in the 1 Dominion. One-third of the quantity must bo produced before MaTch 31, 1914, and tho remaining two-thirds before March 31, 1915. The Postmaster-General notifies in the Gazette that postal matter addressed to "David Ross," or "Ross and Bradshaw." Post'Offico box 101, Wellington, will not bo either registered, forwarded, or delivered. Tho Masterton County Council has declared foxglove to be a noxious weed within the meaning of the Noxious Weeds Act. The opening meeting of tho Tory Street Mission Band of Hope was held last evening in the Mission Hall, about 20 children being present. Mr. J. Griffin presided. Musical items were contributed by Misses D. Andrews, M'Miilan, and Cummins, and recitations by Misses Sisnnionds and Dobson.

A Bench warrant is to be issued for the arrest of George Ellis Allen, who did not answer when his name was.called in connection with a charge of forgery in the Supreme Court early this week. Jlr. Justice Chapman issued the warrant 'on tho application of Mr. 11. H. Ostler, Crown Prosecutor, who yesterday informed his Honour that Allen's surety desired that such a course should bo adopted.

The article on the cost of living in New Zealand, which was published in the April number of tho "Journal of the Department of Labour," is now obtainable as a separate pamphlet. Tho titles pa«e gives the information that the author is .Air. J. W. Collins, editor of the "Journal." and a preface is contributed bv Sir. J. Lomas, Secretary for Labour, tir. Lomas clnims that the results of tho inquiry conducted by Sir. Collins will be of considerable value to all who are interested in economics. He admits that the data supplied have come almost exclusively from workers who are thrifty ami careful, but this, he thinks, makes the results of special interest, because "the community generally is mainly concerned with the .struggle for existence on tho part of those who practise- economy in household and general expenditure. W'-th more genera.! support the Department would be willing to nndertaKe a similar inquiry covering, not only tho chief towns, but tho whole country.

According to the medical opinion offored the inquiry at Auckland Hospital yesterday morning, the hidden dangers of tetanus 'are considerable. Five per cent, of adult persons walk about with tho tetanus germ in their intestines, ami tin's accounted for tho lact that people sometimes die from this terrible disease without their bodies showing even a "microscopic scratch." One doctor (tho Press -Association message states) declared that tho volcanic soil round Auckland teemed with tetanus bacilli, and thero was always a risk in gardening with ',i cut or scratched finger.

Tho Fnstern Harbour Association resolved vestordny that tho Hutt County Cor-ncif bo urged to commence tho construction of tho bridge across the \\aiweht Stream at once, as it is uniicrstood that tho completion of this bridge is necessary beforo calling upon tho landowners undor the contract to construct tho roads needed to connect the Hutt bridge with tho Lowry Bay Road. A subcommittee was appointed to investigate the extraordinary delay in the construction of the approaches to the new Hutt bridge. It was decided to draw the attend of tho nutt Council to the daneerouTstate of the Eastbourne-Lowry Bay Road, because of its corners, and the narrowness of the track.

Only half a dozen of the workers' dwellings which liave been under erection in Dec Street are still in the nandi or ft.iitrm-tor-. and these should be .-oiiipleled well ttithiii eoiitniil time. I lie l.alunir Ueimrtuieiit 'hat all the huuses will shortly I* occupied.

With reference to the King's birthday parade a rehearsal will ho held at Newtown Park on Saturday, June 1. This latter parade will count Inwards qualifying service under the Defence Act as a half-day parade, and that on the King's birthday'as a whole-day parade. Amendments of the regulations relating to the Civil Service Junior Examination arc contained in the current Gazette. The erection of the building in Sydney Street for the Stamps Department and Native Lands Department has boor, delaved through the successful tenderers, .Messrs. M'Miilan and Co., electing not to proceed with the contract. A number of fi-"-'ii tenders are now before the (invcriiinciit. .Messrs. M'Miilan and Co.'s tender was .Cl!l,oUO.\