LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1719, 9 April 1913, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

— c Tho postal authorities lulviso that tho Moeruki, which sailed from Sydney on Apt-il !>, lias on board ail Australian mail. Shu is duo lo arrive in Wellington today. Tho secretary of tho General l'cst Office is advised that the Warrimoo will not connect with tho outgoing Loudon mail at Sydney. Her mails will bo taken oil by tile Cranio, next week. A Gazette Extraordinary lias been issued proroguing Parliament uutil Jlay 8 next. Kupid progress is being made with tho preparations for the election of two members to represent the general Civil Service on tile Public Service Appeal 13ourd. Nominations only closed on Saturday last, but as early as yesterday morning the returning officer, Mr. J. C. Williamson, Chief Clerk to tile General l'ost Oflice, mado a start upon the work of sending out ballot-papers, and already u considerable number li'ave been . dispatched. The more distant parts Df the' electorate are being first supplied. For instance, a small parcel of voting papers was sent off yesterday to tlie Chatham Islands. The roll, wliicli includes all officers possessing the necessary qualifications, who were in tho Servico up lo March 31 last, bears between five and six thousand names. Mr. Willinmson expects to have all the ba'Uot-papers out by the cud of the week.' About three thousand officers are concerned in Uio election of a representative of tho postal branch of the Post, and Telegraph Department on the Appeal' Board. The returning officer for this section of' tho election is Mr. P. K, Do Castro, Chief Clerk of tho Education. Department. The report by Mr. G. Allport, Secretary for Marine, upon the Departmental inquiry into charges of cxMssivo corporal punishment aboard the' Government training-ship Amokura, is in the hands of the Eon, H. D. Bell (Acting-Minister for Marine), but the Minister has not yetmade any statement on the subject. As to the demand which lias been raised in some quarters for a public inquiry, Mr. Bfll stated yesterday that it had not yet been considered by the Government. One of the discomforts tiat many have to endure these cold days is the wait *nt the unsheltered corner lor the tram that never seems to arrive. It is a supremo test of patience, and in this connection a would-be passenger who had stolidly withstood the blustering southerly at nn Island Biiy stopping-place for some time last evening was sorely tried. And how the southerly docs excel ill its boisterous playings us it sweeps across Island Bay he found out as lie impatiently stamped his feet at the Mersey Street corner. A recording clock stationed there gave him the idea that tlio place \vas a compulsory, stop and when n ear at last came along lie dashed out to board it. The motorman saw liiln not, and he was left behind. Another ear came along from tho city and the performance was repeated. His signal to stop was unheeded, and the travellers citywards waiting in the tram-rest on the other sido then heard added to the ragings of the tempest a storm of invective oil tho ways of trams and tramwaym-en. by a very much enraged seaside resident. At a meeting of the Hutt County Council, held yestcnWy, the inspector of works reported that some of the roadworks' iti tho district were lihld up owing to a strike for higher wages among the nien. Tho matter, however, was of so little import that ho did not consider it .was worth wlillo considering. Tlio report was adopted. , ' Speaking to a Dominion representative yesterday, a Civil Servant voiced what ho said was the subject of very general complaint throughout tho service. That was tho matter of a levy being struck on salaries throughout tho Civil Service to make good any sum of money lost to tho State through the dtfaVcntion' of. an officer. No doubt it might bp a check to a certain extent on such.happenings, but the officer who was determined to make away with moneys not his own, and in a position to do so, was not going to do it in such a way that it would be immediately detected by his fellow-officers. "Why should I," lie argued, "have 10s. deducted from my month's salary ,becauso somoono in another Department, aud probably in another town, gets away with somo money? Making the honest pay for tliq notions of tha dishonest does not seem to bo right in principle.. I would suggest that tho Government insure agninst defalcation in tlieii' own office, and pay tlis premiums out of tho Consolidated Fund. That would bo more equitable' than, making ns pay . the piper." A telegram from Peilding published iu yesterday's issue, referring to tho settlement of tho Stagpoole case, stated that an endeavour had been made to use a technical defect in the judgment of tho Teachers' Appeal Court. Wo are informed that this was not tho case. No attempt had been made to usu a technical defect to escape liability,, hut .certain of tho items in the costs allowed by the Court were objected to, and tho. institute refused to pay tho expenses of tho inquiry to long. as the board, refused to waive the items to which exception was taken, irlic institute lias now paid tho 'costs, less the items objected to. Tho engine of tho 4.5 p.m. train from JVowcr Hutt on Monday evening broke down at tho Hutt station. There jvas very littlo delay, as another engine was requisitioned from tho Pctono Workshops. Messrs. Campbell and Bourke, contractors, have already made a start with tho trenching work in connection with tho laying of the foundations for- the new picture theatre in Manners Street for a private company. Tho theatre will have its main entrance in- Manners Street (next the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel), and an exit on the Willis Street ; frontage, where an extensive three-story brick addition to the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel is being provided. The architects for the structure aro Messrs. Hoggard 'and Prouse. ■ ■ ' ■ A motion in favour of an open season for the shooting of native and imported gamo was carried at the annual meeting of the Whaugaroi Acclimatisation Society on Saturday. The president, Mr. A. Bain, painlcd out that the society had arranged to purchase .CKIO worth of pheasants from tho Auckland gamo farm, and on t hat account tho exccutivo had recommended to the Minister that tho approaching season should be closed. He said that tho executive would not support the resolution that hbd been carried, aud if tile members insisted upon all' onen season they would have to approach the Minister themselves. A number- of the member* intimated that they, would bo prepared lo take that step. CAH ECONOMY AND THE BAYARD. A keen demand has arisen in Idle years for a light, moderately-priced, economical small car. Such a car fills tho requirements of tho commercial traveller, or of the motorist who, owning a big pleasure car, requires a small, reliable, cheaprunning car as a town runabout. The 8-12 h.p. Clement Bayard is the ear that tills the bill. Its price is inelnsivo of hood, wind shield, and live lamps. It seats three persons. Its weight is llcwt., and its nominal h.p. 12, practically a hundredweight to the horse-power. Its petrol consumption is one gallon to -II) miles; lubricating oil. one gallon lo Wit) miles. Tyres to last 10,0(10, cost- .£l7 2s. for four covers. Speed, -ill miles per hour on the Hat. Ilill-cliinhing ability: car can climb the I'aekakariki Hill on the second gear at IS miles an hour. It is built by A. Clement, Pari*, the celebrated French automobile engineer, aud its running ex-peu-\s, including pllnwnuce lor depreciation, do not exceed'.£s2 per annum. .11 can be had tlni-hed in oil her green, dark blue, or l-'ronch grey, and we can give delivery ill five iniiiutis. Adams Limited. Agents for I'leineni liayaid cars, Gaioge, Tuani Street, Cliristcliureh. Depots at Wanganni and l'nlmcrstou North. Agents, Tourist Motor Co., Hastings,—Advt.

Concerning tho increased expenditure upon the Government railways- during tho past year, which has been the subject of a certain 1 amount of criticism lately, tho Hon. W. H. Horries (Minister for Hallways) mentioned yesterday that increasing tho minimum wage in the Second Division lo 9s. a day had accounted in itself for an increased expenditure of Jill,ooo. This 1 particular increase was instituted under tho Ward Government, but carried into effect by the present Minister for Railways. Further increases in wages and salaries in both the First and Second Divisions came into force oil April 1. Pull particulars regarding increased railway expenditure during the past year aro not yet available. At a recent meeting of tho Standing Committee of the Anglican Diocese of Auckland it was announced that under the will of the late Mr. W. Merrick, ot Cambridge, St. Andrew's Church. Cambridge, would receive the sum of ,£4OO, and the Diocesan Maori Mission a similar sum. The Ilobson Acclimatisation Society has decided to import a fresh pheasant strain, and to that end has ordered 260 birds ■roni Auckland, and some settings of Mongolian pheasant eggs. The executive is also obtaining some Califorilian 1 quail, a large numlier of trout fry, and 500 perch rom Ilawern. II: is intended to liberate the Mongolian pheasants on tho Koliuroa Estate, and to completely stock tho ivaihu Stream with trout. Last yfcar the society spent a considerable sum'in plaei»S trout in the various streams (says the 'Herald's" Northern Wairoa correspondent), paid away JCIOO to rangers durlugtho shooting season, and made per capita payment for no fewer than 1000 hawks' heads. A resident of Bercscourt had an unpleasant experience on Friday (says tho Hamilton correspondent of the Auckland Herald"). During tho wholo of that day she aiid her family were afraid to venture outside the lionse, owing to a hail of bullets, which cither whizzed past closo to the _ house or dropped in the .immediate vicinity. One fell within a few feet of a child, and it proved to be of the ordinary _ .303 variety. Some 50 missiles in all flitted along. No sound of riflehriiig could bo heard, so it is evident that the bullets had travelled a good distance. J hey apparently came from the east side of tho river. An'attempt to elucidate, the mystery is being made. Woodville Borough Council has been circularising various borough councils, to the effect that motor-cars and motorcycles be taxed, and that tho proceeds ot tho tax be allocated, by a special board to tbo,various districts, who shall, with the amount thus allocated, exoend it upon repairing roads. After considering this circular, the Hutt County, Counr.il approved of the suggestion, but thought that the word "moderate" before "tax" be deleted, and that the special board be composed of representatives' from tho boroughs. The Jx'urori Borough Council last night also approved of the idea,/and decided to notify the Woodville Council of their co-operation before tho Minister. Tho head office of the Government Pensions Department has been removed from tho old General Post Ollioo building to tho' Customhouse. Tho' local office of tlio sanio Department will remain on Lambton Quay (as at present) for . tho time being. The international lessons for Sunday Schools for this quarter are largely concerned with tho lives of Jacob and Joseph. Tlio Sunday School Union is making an appeal to the teachers to interest their scholars especially in Josppli, whoso life hns been aptly described as the biography of a hero. Tho annual examination of the union will be held on July' 12. tho examiners being: Mesdames T. H. Gill and A. E. Atkinson, Misses Helver and O. E. Kirk, and Mr. T. H. Gill, M.A., LL.B. Councillor Atkinson has given notice that ho will move at the next meeting of the City Council-.—"That the following resolution passed at the meeting of the Wellington City Council, held'on April" 3, be rescinded, viz.: 'That resolutions (1) and (2), passed by the council on tho 6th March, 1913. be altered in such "manner as to provide that besides the granting of a lease to the Kclburne Bowling Club acroi ifrom Section 48 therein' referred to, a similar area of Section 4S be granted to tho residents of tho district of Keiburne for a public bowling green and croquet lawn, the said land to bo administered by the Bcssrves Committee of tho Wellington' City Council.'" . . At tho ICarol'i Borough Council last, night the -engineer reported that building permits for tho year have bren issued for twelve building*, nine additions to buildings,' one cowshed, six out-houses, and one glass-house of a total value of •X'GSG7, and the amount of the, fees was ,£3(i. Last year the amounts .wcro Ji11,589 and .£SB 15s. respectively. A London cablegram, printed locally on Monday, gave some extracts from a letter in which Captain Watson, secretary of the Wellington branch <j( the Merchant Service Guild, forwarded to the Liverpool branch some particulars of tho disaster which overtook Captain Scott and his party in the Antarctic. Questioned yesterday Captain Watson said ibat be had nothing to ndd to the cabled extracts from his letter. His letter to Liverpool, ho added, was based upon what had been told him by. some I.yttelton shipmasters. It was ; not a case of first-hand information. . ■ ! Hearty support of the Wcodvillo Council's, suggestion for the taxing of motor cars and motor cycles was accorded by the Manukau County Council on Monday, but, whereas the Woodville schoino provided for tlio proceeds being expended by local bodies on roads affected, by motor traffic, tho Manukau Council suggested that tho proceeds be handed to tho hospital and charitable aid funds. A'further suggestion was embodied in the council's resolution'that the proceeds of all licenses (such as auctioneers' and hoteikecpcrs') should be handed to the same fiind. A meeting of tho lvarori Borough Council was held last evening, and, with tlio exception of Councillor Horn, who had leave of absence, there was a full council. Mr. C. Cathie, the Mayor, presided. The existing rules and regulations for the guidance of postal officers, together with the amendments and additions issued from timo to time, have been consolidated and published in a new and complcto edition. The consolidated regulations appear in a Supplementary Gazette, dated April 3. With their appendices, the. regulations fill no fewer than 188 pages of the Gazette, and they seem to form a very comprehensive guide to officers engaged in all departments of postal and telegraphic work. Every imaginable detail is touched upon. The proper method of .tying up i mailbag, for instance, in fully described and illustrated with diagrams. The "Under-Secretary of Public. Works has notified tho Hutt County Council that tho Minister had under consideration the question of hardwood limbers from Australia for the use of local bodies. Dennis would be established at Auckland, Wellington, Christchm'ch, and Duucdin, from which the local bodies would obtain, tlio timber required for I heir respective districts. They would have to pay the freight :.nd carriage from tlio depots to thc-dcstinalion. The cost of the timber would bo a little above flic actual charge made to I ho Government by the suppliers. Yesterday the council agreed to approve of tho principle, and instructed their in'.speclor lo supply to, the Government the sizes which, they required. The sanio matter came before the Karori Borough Council last evening, and that, council decided to adopt tile suggestion. The 'Public Trust Commission has drawn up its report. The document is now Wing typed, and will, be presented to tho Governor shortly. The wine "connoisseur has bis own particular expressions. He dispenses with "bouquet," and "perfume," and it was rather amusing to hear the comments of tho professional tasters in (lie wine kiosk at the ltoval Agricultural Show (says tho "Sydney Morning Herald" of March 28), where the prize-winning bottles were sampled. Quoth ono expert, as he applied his nostrils to the liquid in his goblet: "It has got a nice noso." Another shook' his bead as be took in the aroma, but smacked his lips with satisfaction after tasting, then remarked: "Not bad on tho palate, but 1 would throw it out on iis nose." There was evidently tho flavour of tlio keg in one sample, which drew from one taster the observation: "There is a bit of the bug in it—the wood." The phraseology of a fourth expert was redolent'of the prizo ring: "If," lie said, advisedly to his vis-a-vis, "you can score on the nose, it is a big help, although your wine may not lie as good." "A very old wine this," said another sampler sagely, yet sorrowfully, "it lias lost its character."