LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1516, 12 August 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Union Company's steamer Maheno arrived at Auckland from Sydney at B.HO a.m. yesterday. She brought an English mail (via Suez) and an Australian mail. The southern portion of the mail will arrive in Wellington by tho Main Trunk express this afternoon. In the last issuo of the "Spectator," a weekly paper published in Christchurch by Mr. G. W. Russell, M.P., appeal's a. paragraph which states 'that Sir Joseph Ward looks like being leader of bis Majesty's Opposition." A railway engine drawing- two trucks jumped the points at tho Bunny Street crossing on Saturday morning. No damage was done to the rolling stock, and the driver and fireman escaped injury. Tho engine was subsequently placed back The Minister for Marino (tho Hon. F. SI. B. Fisher) has received a letter from Hie secretary of the Wellington Seamen's Union (Mr. W. T. Young), making complaint about the location of tho men's quarters on the s.s. Maori. They are situated in tho bows of tho vessel, in such a position that it is claimed they would bo a death-trap in the event of a collision. Mr. Young asked tho Minister to inspect the quarters personally, and Mr. Fisher has made an appointment to inspect the vessel at 11.30 a.m. on Saturday morning. Airmen number at least one New ZeaInnder, who is quite in the "first flight." This is Mr. W. Moorhouse, formerly well known among motor-cyclists in Wellington. Recently he made the cross-Chan-nel passage from France to England, in an aeroplane, Mrs. Moorhouse accompanying him. Pleasing reference was made to tho achievement ot the annual smoko concert of the New Zealand Motor-Cyclo Club on Saturday evening. Are they safe? That is tho question which the City Coroner is now trying lo find an answer to with respect to certain types of tram-ear. It will be remembered that the inquest concerning tho death of Conductor Ambrose M'Kay was adjourned on Monday last in order that Dr. M'Arthur might inspect the cars under discussion. This inspection wns carried out on Saturday morning, Dr. M'Arthur being accompanied by the City Solicitor (Mr. O'Shea), Mr. ','able. Mr. Leah, and'a representative nominated by Mr. A. W. Blair. It is probable the finding will be given in tho course of a few days. The City Council is to consider the report of the Reserves Inquiry Committee ut a special meeting to bo held to-mor-row evening. A special meeting of tho City Council will be held to-morrow (Tuesday) evening to discuss Councillor Hindmarsh's motion to rescind the resolution of tho council adopting tho report of the Tramways Board respecting tho rearrangement of sections and fares. It is anticipated (says our local correspondent) that Hastings will have its high pressure water supply and also its municipal electricity scheme in working order in five weeks' time. Regarding a paragraph which appeared in the issue of The Dominion on August 1, in which it was stated that the steamer Opawa toolc two days to unload and load again at Picton, instead of six hours, a correspondent writes as fol.ows:—"Tni Opawa started work of discharging at 8.15 a.m. on Tuesday morning, July 30, and the captain declined do work (after consulting the owner), after 11.45 a.m. His reason for stopping at 11.45 a.m. was to give his men time to put on tho hatches before noon. Her first day's discharging amounted to 31 hours. Owing to the eight-hours system which is in force at the present time, his men bad finished at noon. If ho had worked after that hour he would Lave had to pay his men overtime. This he would not do, therefore Piction is to blame! On the morning of July 31 he again started discharging at 8 a.m. with bis own men only, not a shore man being employed. He fiuislied the discharging", filled up his ship, and could have put to sea at 3.30 p.m. The total number of working hours being nine and a half. This, you will see, is very good time to unload and load up. When you quote six hours you must bear in mind that this vessel wns worked with shore labour, not by the steamer's men." Our correspondent goes on to five facts and figures concerning sovcral vessels that have visited the port of Picton subsequent to the Onawa. His figures go to prove that the port of Picton can handle ships' cargoes expeditiously. Cabinet has authorised an expenditure of JC9OO to hiatal a telephone exchange at Papatoetoe, in the Auckland district. The, work will be commenced without delay.' Cabinet was in session all day on Saturday, transacting business mainly of a routine character. None of tho Ministers loft Wellington during the week end. Tho sum of .£3O was realised as tho result of the benefit performance at tho Star Theatre, Newtown, on Friday evening, given in aid of the fund that is being raised for tho widows of flie two tramway conductors recently killed whilst on duty. At a deputation which is to wait upon the Prime Minister from tho Trades Council shortly, Mr. T. W. Young (secretary of the Seamen's Union) will bring under the notice of the Government the position of those people who were dependent on the crew of the missing dredge Manchester. Mr. Young states that as the dredge had been bought in Sydney', and the vessel was lost between New Zealand and that port, the dependents in question have been placed outside the scopo of the workers' compensation legis-lations-of both New Zealand and New South Wales. Tho New South Wales authorities, who owned the ship, have signified their intention to afford relief as an act of gTaee, but do not recognise any legal responsibility. The dependents have received some money, but as far as Mr. Young could ascertain, it only amounts to a sum equal to what would have been due to the members of tho crew if the vessel' had made a normal trip to Sydney. He could not say if that was tho final payment. If so, it was not by any means adequate.