LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1726, 18 April 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

"Tho City Council one night awoke with a start, and discovered that this was the ago of petrol," observed Mr. W. Perry at his meeting at Brooklyn last evening. "So," he continued, "it decided to buy some motor-cars—second-hand. These are still, second-hand—very much so. They won't work. Then the motor towerwagon for overhead work on the city tramways broke down, badly, and will bo out of work for sumo time. Apparently there is no spare one. The whole thing was done haphazard, when the expenditure of a few hundred pounds in the first place would have ensured much greater satisfaction." Tho constables detailed for traffic control duty aro not well pleased with the new arrangement. They find tho work more vexatious than tho ordinary street duty of a constable, and no allowance in extra pay or shorter hours is made to them on that account. Further than this, they say that the traffic will never be properly controlled whilo the men are moved about from one stand to another. A con-

stablo may warn an offender for speeding round a corner, and the next day another constable may warn him at the samo corner, and so it may happen that a habitual breaker of the by-laws may receive half a dozen warnings, and perhaps never bo punished in tho end. Tho criminal, sessions of the Supremo Court were to have opened on Mny 5j but they have now been jwstponed for a week. The Court of Appeal business will probably occupy the attention of the judges right up until May 1.2. ■ "That a motor-car bo obtained, for the use of the Tramway Traffic "Department, as recommended by tho Tramways Board of Management."—This was one of the recommendations of tho Tramways Committee at last night's meeting of the Citv Council. Councillor Fitzgerald elicited the information that it was proposed to expend tho sum of ,£2so'in the purchase. This sum, lie declared, was absurdly inadequate to secure a decent car. Ho considered that if the council could not afford a good ono they should leave tho purchase alone altogether. Councillor duller advised tho calling of tenders, and eventually, on his motion, the clause was amended as follows:—"That a motor-car bo obtained by tender for the use of tho Tramway Traffic Department."

! Mr. C: M. Banks, secretary of tho Welj lington- Automobile Club, has found that his business duties take up too much of I his time to allow of .him continuing to I oct as secretary. E.e has addressed tho following circular to members of the association"Dp till recently tliero have not been many matters of importance to which a club required to give attention, but in viev, - of the actions of some local bodies in regard to motor traffic, and to proposed new legislation, some members and other , motorists are of the opinion that the timo has arrived for a,strong*nnd active motor club in Wellington; and. I convened a special general meeting to consider the matte. I think tlio first stop necessary to bring this about is to appoint a suitable paid secretary, aa I am unable to devote ilie timo to the manymatters necessary to make tho club of any real service to notorists. I convened a meeting for tho purposo some months ago, but there was not a quorum present, but I trust there will be a good attendance at the coming meeting."

A decision arrived at by the City Council last night places the Forester's Department under tho supervision of tho City Engineer's Department.

lho annual meeting of the Wellington Building Trades' Labourers' Union was held on Wednesday night. The election of officers for contested positions resulted as follows:—President, Mr. A. Agnew; committee, Messrs, Burnett, .Falloon, Barnett, Hepworth, and Whiterod; delegates ,to District Labour Council, Mesfrs. Kennedy, Agnew, and Burnett. The secretary's report, adopted at/ the meeting, showed that during tho past sis months 211 new members had joined tho union. In the four years past a total of 1213 members had been admitted, but tho majority bad again drawn clearances to follow other work, mainly becausfi of the fluctuating nature of building trades employment. Tho present membership of the union now totals 31G. At the end of the term reported on the cash assets amounted .to ■£125. As indicative of the work dono by the union in the direction of finding employment for its members, the secretary reported that 31G engagements had been made in the six months through tho union office. In response to . a request from the district council, a sum of JCS os. was voted by the meeting towards the council's elections fund.

A profit oj c £lo Gs. Id. was realised for the Citizens' Carnival Fund by tho Brougham Hill Tennis Club's recent electric light tournament,

Bear-Admiral P. C. T. Tudor, writing from tho Admiralty (Whitehall) to the local hon. secretary of the Navy League, says:—"lt was kind of you to think of sending me a copy of your annual report. The Navy League in New Zealand was always a thriving plant, ami seemed to mo to bo more universally supported than tho corresponding league over hero. You will have tho New Zealand with you before you get this, and I hope your people will lie impressed with their present to the Empire. I have very pleasant memories ofin y stay in your waters, and should muchlike to revisit New Zealand; but now that! have reached the PlagList there is little or any chance of my ever doing so again, J fear." When iii command of the Challenger some eight years ago Admiral Ti|dor was of great service to 'the league at different ports visited b.v him. After leaving these waters Captain Tudor was placed in charge of the Gunnery School at Portsmouth. Very recently he has been raised to the rank of Rear-Admiral.

The ballot of the waterside workers on the following.question was concluded last evening: Windier the men working on the wharves- would' refuse to accept engagements after 10 a.m. and after 15 p.m. The ballot resulted us follows:—For, vflGj against, 53; informal, 7; majority for, COS. A ballot was also taken on the question of whether the waterside workers agree to a basis of unity. The ballot resulted as follows:—For, Hi; against, 77: informal, 27; majority for, 0117.

High steps arc not for ever to remain on tho ciiy tramcars. At last night's meeting ol' tho City Council tho Tramways C'oimnilteo reported with reference to Councillor Ciodber'.s question asked at tho Inst mottling of the council, as to the cars with high steps, "Hint such ears arc being gradually converted into cars with low slops, aml that the work is being curried nut by 'the Department ns speedily ;is possible."

Mr. llornco Hunt, llio taleii'tcd young Wellington musician, who leaves New Zealand for lOngland on May 18 next, is to be tendered n complimentary farewell concert in Wellington on May 13, a fewdays before ho leaves. At: a meeting yesterday of his professional confreres and others connected with local musical endeavour, preliminary arrangements wcro made in connection with (ho proposed concert. Mr. Ifobert Parker presided, and in introducing tho business of the nicotine, remarked that Mr. Hunt, being a young man, had wisely decided to seek fresh fields ami pastures new. Ho referred appreciatively to Mr. limit's work in Wellington as a valuable contribution to (he upliftment of music. A general committee, consisting of "tlioso present, and a ladies' committee, "constituted, as the chairman remarked, (o create enthusiasm and sell tickets," were stft up, with power to add to their number. It was decided to hold the concert in die largo Town Hall, as the Concert Chamber was not available. Mr. W. D. Gorlunn was appointed honorary secretary for Hie concert, and Miss Richmond and' Messrs E. Parker, ]?. R. Johnstone, D. J. Kenny, and F. S. Papo were appointed to act as the,programme committee. The City Council last night approved the appointment of the city valuer, Mr. James Ames, as tho council's valuer for the purposs of the revaluation of the Wellington Working Men's Club and Literary Institute's lease of Lot 5, Blocklit, lo Aro reclamation. An offer by tho* Parsons Turbine Company to supply a duplicate Parsons turbine alternator set for tho city ligliting station for the sum of £8990 was last night accepted by tho City Council.

A recommendation was submitted to the City Council Inst nieht by. tho Finance Committee that a donation of £»0 bo grained to tho Now Zealand Competitions oocicty in view of their of In < EMI a iul Concert Chamber for lno Mayor explained iu justification of tha proposed grant that tho competitions brought a revenue of some X2OO for rent of tho hall. The proposal met with some opposition, and an amendment !>y Councillor Fletcher to refer tho question back to the committee, and to leave tho new council to deal with it after the election was carried unanimously. One of the pictures screened at tho King's Theatre last evening had for its subject scenes at tho sports meeting in Newtown Park on Wednesday, when tho sailors of the Nerr Zealand were entertained. The film was n'ljout 250 feet'in length, and was extremely well produced. The work of preparation was carried out fairly rapidly, considering the stato "of the weather, which made it difficult to dry tho film . Even more expeditious work of this kind has been, done in the past by the management of the King's Theatre, however, for pictures have been taken at 10 a.m. and screened at 7 p.m. on the same day. In Australia pictures aro sometimes taken at 5 p.m. and screened at 8 o'clbck in the same evening; .