LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1698, 14 March 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

, M new developments occurred yesterday in the dispute between tho Wellington Uoollen Company and their mill hands concerning tin? employment of three women warpers from Yorkshire. It is understood that the union had some thought of paying the women's fares back to England and shipping them Home, but tin's idea has been dropped since the threfi women went to their work at the mill. It is also suggested that if the levy-of ,Is. per week per member which was struck had been insisted upon it would have caused a disruption in the union, for it is alleged that many of tho workers, especially the girls, make their payments unwillingly and somewhat irregularly.

Employees of the Auckland Harboui Board who are subject to military training are not to have tho time so spent deducted from their annual holiday.

"These lads," said the chairman (Mr. J. H. Gunson) at Tuesday's meeting of the boahl, "are responding to the call of their country, ami it would not be fair to penalise them by shortening their holidays."

No fciver than 238 applications were received by the Auckland Harbour Board on Tuesday for the position of caretaker of the waterside workers' waitingroom on the Queen Street Wharf. There were also applicants for. the .position of boatman and_ watchman, but only seven for the vacancies on the cadet storekeeper's staff. The applications were referred to a special committee for reduction.

The new Civil Service regulations which have been framed by the l'ublio .Service Commissioners have-been circulated to tho heads of the various Stato Departments, with a request that these officials should meet in conference, review the regulations, and if necessary suggest amendments. Tho heads of Departments (net yesterday, and decided to refer the regulations to a subcommittee. It is understood that a number of amendments will be suggested.

The Hon. G. E. Foster, a member of the Canadian Ministry and of the Imperial Trade Commission, will probably deliver a publio address at the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall on Wednesday evening next. Yesterday Mr. C. W. Palmer, secretary of the Wellington branch of tho Nary League, telegraphed to' Mr. Foster (at Auckland) as follows:—"Navy Lcaguo desirous organising' public gathering hear your views on Imperial naval policy. Any, prospect?" Mr.-Foster replied: "Possibly Wednesday next; subject 'The Empire.'*' Mr. Palmer has accordingly booked the Concert Chamber for Wednesday evening riext, and will make further arrangements with Mr. Foster by telegraph. Mr. Foster enjoys the reputation of being the best platform speaker in the Canadian Ministry, and the speeches which he delivered during a recent visit to London were highly praised by the 'London "Times" and other English papers.

Mh A. Herries, who attended tho I'rimS .Minister's Christchurch meeting oil 'j'licsdiiy higliti informed it Dominion reporter yesterday (hat ho regarded the meeting as a triumph for tho Reform party. Mr, Hetties estimates that tliero were about two hundred "rowdies" at tho meeting, and that these people Were responsible for whatever hostile noises wero made.

A baby of two months has recently mado the sea journey of over 13,000 Ne\v Zealand to BUi'nley (England), Unaccompanied by parents or relatives, but til the earo of a young woman traveller. Tho mother dded in Hew Zealand, and it was licr wish that tho child should he sent to relatives at Burnley. ■ ' At the present time sea fisheries in New Zealand aro tinder the control of tho Marine Department, and so also are most tivet fisheries. Trout fis'hing in the lakes is tinder the control of the Tourist Depart* meut. The Government is now considering a proposal which will mean, if it is adopted, that all fresh-water fisheries will bo placed under a single'control, that of the Department of Internal Affairs, which at present controls the . Acclimatisation Societies. ■ A remarkable instance of the cannibalistic tendencies of rainbow trout was related by Mr. AV. H, Hazard (president of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society) at the meeting of the society on Tuesday! Mr. Hazard rocently visited the game farm and fish; hatchery at Tapapa, and chanced to capture a small trout,, about ljin. long, wWch had tho tail of anothor of its species protruding from its mouth. The capture was such an interesting 0110 that Mr. Hazard has lmd the cannibal fish and its victim preserved in spirits.

The dispute between the Auckland Tramways Union and the Auckland Electric Tramways Company is to be tho subject of another conference at tho end of this week, or early next week. There have already been two conferences between tho parties on the jew demonds put forward by the men, but both proved practically abortive. Last 'week the company asked the union to appoint dolegates who would have the power of signing an agreement. This the union--has done. If this conference fails, 1 -a spccial meeting of the union is to.be held immediately to decide what course of' action tho members will take with a view to enforcing their demands.

After lons delays the difficulties in the way of extending the Wanganui tramway system to the northern part of Aramolio have been overcome, and the Borough Council has decided to ask the authority of the ratepayers to raise a loan of .£12,000 for the purpose. ' Instead of crossing the railway lino at the level crossing at, the railway bridge the cars will cross underneath by means of a subway towards the cost of which tho Rail-, way Department has agreed to contribute .£SOO.

A characteristic) and amusing letter was read at the Patea County Council- meeting on Tuesday from the Maoris of Pariroa pa. The clerk (Mr. Horner} and tho council's solicitor (Mr. Hamerton) have been endeavouring to get rates out of the Natives, and'the following was the latter's reply:—"To Mr. Hamerton. lawyer, Patea. This is our'statement to you as lawyer of the Patea Council, who sent us bills requesting us to pay our rates.' Listen: Both you and Mr. Horner and tho Council. We paid rates on the land in the first years—that is for lands in tho division of Pariroa, but in those rears we. asked that our road from the Main Read should bo formed, but it has hot been done to this day. Therefore, wo think what .is tho good of paying rates to that council at Patea when the council will do nothing to our road, and wo aro not disposed to pay any ' further money to the Patea Council." "That is the straight tip," was the comment of the chairman of the council (Mr. G. V. Pearce, M:P.) when the letter was read. Tho council,decided to make another effort to persuade the Maoris to pay up and instructed the solicitor to try again.

Athletic sports, appai®ently, .do not play a very important partjin the life of the Chinese. TJie secretary of tho Chinese Association;! replying to an inquiry from the Citizens' Carnival Committee as (Jo whether tho Chinese colild render assistance to the Easter carnival by providing one or two events on the Saturday or Monday, said:—"The Chinese residents in Wellington are not acquainted with. Chinese dancing, nor are tliey accustomed to racing or any other kind of sport, ana they much regret that they are unabte to render the Sports Committee any assistance ill this, respect." The letter w:as received.

Amended scholarship' regulations relating to six scholarships offered annually for competition by students attending Schools of Mines within the Dominion — one for Otago, two for the West Coast of tho Middle Island, and three for the North Island—are printed in the current Gazette.

regulations printed in the current Gazette empower city and borough councils to reimburse out of their district funds actual travelling expenses incurred by a councillor in travelling a distance in excess of three _ miles to attend to any business of the council. No expenses are to bo reimbursed .which are incurred by a councillor in travelling to attend a meeting of the council or a committee, and,no expense is to be reimbursed to tho mayor .of a borough who is ill reccipt of an annual allowance.

A very handy little booklet has been issued by the lUiilway Department, giving details of the special train arrangements for Easter holidays in the Wellington district.. After setting out tho special events and the rules governing the issue of excursion tickets, the Department gives particulars of tho extra trains w'liich run daily throughout the holiday period to meet the anticipated extra traffic. After these the numerous additions and alterations to local trains are set fortji in date order, conveniently arranged for reference. Special effort lias apparently been mado to show the arrangements as chirly as-pos-sible, and, in addition, to all the matter being in chronological sequence, an- index is provided.

Quito a gala air was given to the city ■at odd intervals last evening by the passage through the main street's of a gailyilluminated traiUcari designed for the express purpose of advertising the Citizens' Carnival. The front, sides, and rear of tho car 'were picked out prettily in red, white, and blue electric lights, threaded through festoons 1 of greenery, and on either sido of the top-deck was a streamer announcing tho coming of the carnival in bold letters** 1

Herniations under the Local Authorities Superannuation Act, 1908, are published in the current "Gazette," together with specimens of the various forms which are to bo used in connection with the •administration of a superannuation fund. A proclamation in tho' "Gazette" formally confirms the resolutions passed by the Wellington Harbour Board in determining to establish a superannuatiofi fund for its perniaui'iit employees. A meeting of the provisional directors of'tho .proposed Kelburne-Karori Motor Bus Company Was held yesterday afternoon. A considerable amount of routine business was transacted. Satisfaction whs expressed at tho way in which tlm sharo list had been filled. A meeting of shareholders will I*s called as early as possiblo for tho purpose of electing permanent directors.

It is anticipated that about 3500 men will go into the brigade camp for tho Wellington Infantry Brigade to be held at Oringi from tho 14th to* tho lGth of next month. Colonel U. W. Tate will bo in command, and associated with him, as brigade-major, will bo' Captain G. C. Hamilton, of the District- Headquarters Staff. The. following units will be in camp:—7th Wellington Wo r st Coast liegimenl, Lieulomint-Colonel Hughes, V.D.'; First Battalion 9th Wellington East Coast Uegiinent, Lieutonant-Coionel J. Hislop; Second' Battalion Otlv Wellington Bast Const liegiment, Lieutenant-Colonel A. B. Charters; lltli Regiment Taranalti Rifles, Lieutenant-Colonel W. G.' Malono; Wellington Infantry Signalling Company, Major C. B.Hnrtoii; No. 4 Field Company New Zealand Engineers, Captain D. G. Gibbs; No. 4 Field Ambulance, Major V. li. Cook.

The'conditions undor which applications for licenses to use water Mr water-power purposes will be considered by the Government aro 'set forth in tho Gazette issued Inst evening. A passenger by tho Warrimoo, from Sydney, named -J. Ringrose, slipped on the deck of the vessel whilst at sea and fractured ono of his legs. When tho vessel arrived in port yesterday the injured man was removed to tho public hospital. By the Warrimoo, which arrived from Sydney yefterday, another addition to Wellington's. Zoo arrived. The addition is nn AuMralion wallaby, which, notwithstanding the rough" trip, arrived in excellent healttu