LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1446, 22 May 1912, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

An inquiry into the recent mishap io the steamer Jfaupiri is to bo held at the Magistrate's Court, Wellington, on Wednesday, May 2D, Ilia proceedings will bo commenced at 10.30 a.m.

"I'eoplo who declare that business is stagnant in the city may have sonio reason for their-statements," remarked Mi'. A. L. Herdnian, M.I 1 ,, in opening tho Adelphi Theatre last evening, "but consider whatjias happened in the last tan years of this city's history. A marvellous transformation hns- taken placo in that time. A new Town Hall has been built, a complete tramway system has been installed, new railway offices havo been built, and four new banks. A great part of tho town has been rebuilt, and tho placo has undergone a veritable transformation. Tho only building in Wellington that has not been improved," Mr. Hordman added jestingly, "is the gaol. We can all bo proud of the progress tho capital city of tho Dominion has made during tho last ten years," lie continued; "I am ono of those who believe that cities and countries go through tneir periods of exhilaration and their periods of depression, and I am not at all certain that an occasional period of depression is not good for a country or a F, il < v \ J'" c "uses people to sit down and think.

Tho delegates to tho Local Government Conference now meeting in Wellington wilt be the guests o£ tho Cabiiiet at lunchcon to-day.

The number 9f books issued from tho local Public Library during the year which ended in March last showed a largo increase <ts compared with any previously recorded figures. The Central Library now Ims approximately 1700 subsenbers, and tho Newtown branch about 900. Issues during last year from the main and branch institutions aggregated something lileo 156,000. Of tho total number of issues about 100.000 wero inado troni tho Central Library, which now has some fifteen thousand volumes en tho shelves of its circulating department.

The first meeting of the Historical Sub-committee of tho Early Settlers' Association was held last night, when a largo amount of business was get through. Amongst other things, it Was deeided to nt once tako stops to have compiled a register of tho settlers who arrived and settled in and around Wellington. prior to tho year 1542, tho register to be extended to a later date as soon as this first compilation is completed. ' It was also agreed that a vigorous canvass for the photographs and biographical particulars of our early pioneers be undertaken.

Cabinet at a meeting yesterday approved the pureliaso of 100 acres, to bo added to tho Seacliff Asylum grounds; decided to pay a £1 for .£1 subsidy up to JG2OOO on the Oliver bequest to Otago University; approved the construction of a pneumatic tube between tho old and new post offico buildings at Auckland; and authorised the following expenditures' out of moneys voted by Parliament'.—Waihou and Ohinoniuri improvement scheme. .£1000; Catlins-Waimahnka railway, .£3750; Lawrence-Iloxburgh railway, .£1500: Midland railway, 43000, South Island Main Trunk railway, J3000; North Auckland railway, .£4000; Gis-boreie-Mctu railway, £2500; railway material, Jill,ooo.

The arrangements which are being made for the Terra Nova to carry out survey work on tiie New Zealand const before she returns to the Antarctic aro s» far advanced that the Minister for Marine expects tho work will bo commenced within a very few days. The sce-ic of operations will iie between Jackson's Head and the French Pass. Tho Postmaster-General (Hon. H. G, Ell) informs this journal that, it may be some time before tho King Gcorgo issue of postago stamps is ready. A proof cf an approved design was sent to London to be engraved, but the work of the engrive1 * *s considered to be so unsatisfactory "that it has been rejected, and it may now bo necessary to enter into negotiations with another firm. Iho Postmaster-General intimates that he is determined that the now issue of stamps shall bo in ail respects a credit to tho Dominion, and it is his intention to spare no pains to attain, tms rosult.

The weather ha? so far been very )\\- dul»ent to tho Territorials ill training at U'rentham this week, and all ranks nrs enioying themselves, thoroughly satisfied with their lot. last evening a concert, arranged by the officers and men ns give" in tho big mess-shed, •in'l' «e*oral' budding vocalists made, a successful debut. All the items were we I revived. Anions? tho contributors wen Privates Maun and Armstrong, and Pnvulo Klli?. a boxer of 110 small reputaii'p locally, gave an exhibition of Snudow sparring and skipping. Shffinc of schools was briefly touched upon when a deputation of Mucatiou Rrnrd delegates waited upon tho Minister vesterdnv. Mr. Hanan said that evident,y tho provisioiis-of tho recent amending Act had not been understood, llicro was no reduction in tho stalling of scliools-lil ume instances the staffing had been mc eased, as in tho following cases:-420 to Svf ono assistant; 480 to 500, 0110 assistant t ' mio pupil teacher; 3'JO to 400, one as--Uhmt less one pupil teacher; 500 to 510, „ -islnnt Members of the deputation d"c' awl themsclvcs satisfied and hoped "lint tho. Minister s statement would be inudo public.

A,» auspicious beginning was mado last evening 'with tho monthly services for wnim'ii which tho vicar of St. Marks mm Uev C. F. Askew) intends to hold M " on the last Tuesday bi.it. ono !„ each month. There was a. Mirpris.ng y j.'iTO attendance, between 500 and SCO women being present The seryico was ■i.,"lnr to the SDfCinl services for men. There war. a short liturgy, a number ot well-known hvmns were sung, end an address was delivered by the vicar. Miss AVutkiiw sang "Tuo Christ Legend.

In commemoration of the visit to WeiHiig'on of their Chiei Scout (General Sir Ii s Baden-Powell), the kelbume Boy Scout Troop ha? just imblished a . special "11 p " souvenir number, full ol brigm; and interesting matter, freely illustrated, and containing some biographical notes on the "Chief?; 'lho magazine is edited bv Messrs. K. Lawsou and 1!. M. (irant, the scoutmasters, anil it is hoped that, the proceeds from the. sales will make a substantial contribution to the fund for a eiui) room.

Another supposed ship's deserter was arrested in WeilinL'lon yesterday by Detective .Mason. This man is alleged to have deserted tho oef-aii-going steamer Kin Uru, anil to have taken employment on one of file Nov.- Zealand coasters, on which vessel the rate of'pay is higher than tho rate on liners,

As Kir Joseph Ward returns to Wellington by the Maungnnui nest week, tho comniiltee of arrangements in connection with >tlie presentation of address has fixed May 30 for the, function at the Town llnil, when Lady AVnrd will also be tho ii>cipieilt of a sonvenir. Music and nddrcssos will till in tlio evening. Tho large hall will be open to the, public, only u portion of the sealing being reserved for the committor) and subscribers.

Our local correspondent states that tlio tender of a (Jhrislchureh linn, at somelliing over JXOOO, has been accepted for the erection of the new Anglican Church in Masterton.

1) Battery—Wellington's Mounted Artillery—was paraded for inspection by the, Director of Ordnance (Licut.-Gjlonel Johnston), at tlm Garrison Hall last ©vonlng. The director expressed himself as being very vroll satisfied with their appearance on parade, and tlio progress of the battery generally. Jls pointed out that tlio work of the mountain artillery was of the highest importance, and hoped that they would acquit themselves with credit. Tlio director concluded by promising them some shooting in two or three weeks' time.

Now Zenlnnders who liavo visited Europe arc awaro that in Italy and scino other countries, time-tables net only give the ltonrs from 0110 to twelve, as is done in Knglish-spcnking countries, but continue iiuSTSlieriiig up to twenty-tour. This plan is now to bo adopted cn the French railways, and following on the Ministerial decree, issued nearly a year ago, ordering the clocks to bo put hack eleven minutes to agree willi Lin-don time, it is causing sonio little excitement amongst the French people, who, in such matters, arc quite as conservative as the English. In order 'to accustom the public to the chiiugo, sums of the railway companies aro superimposing the new numbering oh the old, to that thirteen is superimposed on ono, foui-, teen 011 two, and so forth.

At half-past 11 this morning an inquest is to be held concerning the death of Airs. Marv Ann Jones, who died at her residence, No. 5 Hamilton Koad, ICilbimie, yesterday. Mrs. Jones was 61 years of age, and it is supposed that she died through heart failure. .

Tho sitting of tho Assessment Court which was to have opened in Wellington to-day, has been postponed till Juno H, owing to the illness of tho Government Valuer, Mr. V. N. Martin.

Tho next sitting of tho Bankruptcy Court in Wellington will be held in tho Supremo Court building on Monday, May 27. The business is the disposing of an application by Robert Yarrow, who desires to obtain a discharge.

Judgment by tho Court of Appeal in the action Levin v. tho Commissioner ol Taxes will be delivered at 11 o'clock this morning.

Replying yesterday to the deputation ot Education Hoard delegates which waited upon him to ask tliat tho education clauses should be,expungc-d from the Local Government Bill, tho .Minister for Kdncation (tho Hon. J. A. Ilanan) • remarked that the worth of t.lio educational system in New Zealand was greatly enhanced by the feature of local administration. This feature was capable of being simplified and improved, but the living interest of tho people in the schools was an clement on no account to be sacrificed. On tho other hand, a national system should not be hampered by parochial restrictions.

Tho hearing of the merchants' assistants' dispute, before tho Conciliation Council, will be continued at the Employers' Association's rooms in Woodward Street at 10.30 a.m. to-morrow.

Tho Special Committee set up by tho City Council fo make mi inquiry into tho conduct and control of the city reserves, will hold another meeting this evening. So far eleven witnesses hnvo been examined, and tho committee still has a great deal of work a'head of it. Members of tho Lighting Committee of the City Council made a tour of inspection last, evening, with a view to determining, from personal observation, how far complaints which have been mado about tho bad lighting of certain streets arc justified. 'l'lio main corridors of the Town .Hjll are at present undergoing a process of renovation. Plasterers are at work filling up cracks in tho walls and ceilings, and subsequently these spaces will be distempered. White will remain as at present tho prevailing tint, but tho wainBcottings will probably bo painted in some darker shade, which will not show signs of wear and tear so readily as a white ground.

Fears are entertained kit Lower Hutt that if a proposal to establish an allegedly noxious industry at the mouth cf the Hutt River is permitted to materialise residents of Lower Hutt will suffer even more, as a consequence, than those of Pctoiie. A petition in the following terms is being circulated at Lower Iluth—'"la view ol ! the nuisance caused by tho smell of the manure works now in operation at tho mouth of the Hutt River, wo . . .

do emphatically protest against the proposal to grant a licenso to a new company whereby a similar nuisance is likely to bo created, and we beg you, our council, to use your influence with tho I'etono Borough Council to refuse the license." It is considered probable that the petition will be largely signed. A special meeting of tho Lower Hnit Borough Council will be held on Friday evening to consider what action it is desirable to take.