LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 1760, 27 May 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Prime Minister informed a Dominion reporter last evening that ho expected that the Government would bo in a position to call for tenders this week for the erection of tho new Parliamentary Buildings.

The second number of the "Journal of the Early Settlers and Historical Association of Wellington" is a most intei'estin" publication to those who are in tho least interested in early Wellington. It contains, amongst other interesting matter an extract from tho journal of Charles H. Kettle, who surveyed tho valleys of the Ilutt, Wairarapa, and Mnnawntu, which work wns_ commenced by entering the Mannwatu River at I'oxton. The memornblo survey was made in Mav 181-2. The story is to bof continued in 'tlio next issue. A page or two is fiven to the origin of place and street names in and about Wellington. "Wlio was the Earliest Wellington Settlor?' is tho titlo of one article. Tins gives that honour to one Robinson, who was found living with tho Naiiivei in a village at tho mouth of tho Hutt. River when the New Zealand Company's pioneer survey ship, tho Tory, arrived on September 20, 1830. "But." says (lie article, "our first <rpntiino settler tit this port was the late Mr. J. C. Crawford, who arrived hero from Svdnev via Ivapiti, Mana, and tho old Porirua-Koro-JCorb (rail in 1831), just after the Tory had loft to proceed north, nnd prior to the arrival of the first lot of immigrants. He found hero both Robinson and a man named Smith, whom Colonel Wakefield had located lioto to look after the company's interests.' Evidently Robinson was not considered a "genuine" settler, bieauso he was living with tho Maoris. The Journal contains a full report of the old settlers' gatherin" held in the Town Ilall on January 23? 1012, and a number of biographicil notes on old settlers who have recenlly crossed the border. Tho illustrations include two views of primitive Wellington, fine half-tone portraits of Mr. .T. J. Tnine, the late Mr. James Coutts Crawford, several groups of old settlers, _ and other interesting views and pnrtrarts. Tho lato-comer at tho thentro was in evidence' at last evening's performance by tlio Dandies, the enjoyment of many being marred during the first twenty minutes by a number of people who had had the foresight to book their seats, but failed to occupy them until tho perforajuicq to a vy*ll

The Minister for Railways (tho lion. W. 11. I Ferries) received a deputation yesterday from tho Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants. Tho proceedings were private.

Tho sneak-thief lias again l/ccn at work in the Public Library. Within tho post few day* both tho English and American editions of "Tho World's Work"— widely-read magazines—have boon stolen. Citizens who frequent llio library should recognise the fact that they themselves are tho losers by these mean thefts, and that if any person is detected in tho act of mutilating or secreting a book or magazine belonging to tiie library tho librarian should bo immediately notified.

In, connection with tho recent "fishy" taint which was noted in tho Wainui water, due to tho presence of algae, tho sumo trouble lias been experienced at ILampstcad and other places in tho Ixmdon suburbs. Investigations wcro carried out concerning the peculiarities, including a lishy taste, that had been.' noticed for some time in the water supply of tho western area of tho metropolis, with tho result that the impurity has been found to be quite harmless. Tho special couimitteo appointed to select four names from tho eighty-four candidates for tho post of city organist for Wellington (a position which carries with it a salary of J3210 per aunum), liavo practically concluded their work. The Tesult of their deliberations will in all probability be placed before tlio City Council at Thursday's meeting, when it is expected that the final choice will bo made known. Fivo building firms, all of Masterton, tendered for the.erection of a new police station in that town. Tho successful tenderers were Messrs. Taylor and Hodges, and tlio contract price is J82678. Following wero tho unaccepted tenders: —Rose and Mason, ,£2800; Conadino and Whitakor, JC2BSG; P. Bacon, J23083; F. King and Son, ,£3548. Recently the Hon. E. H. Rhodes, Minister in charge of Hospitals, was interviewed by a deputation, from tho Palmerston North Hospital district, which asked that a decision to Teduce tho number of representatives on tho District Hospital Board should bo revoked. The Minister at tho time said that he would endeavour to meet the request, and ho has now dccided to do so. Tho board will bo restored to its former strength. A drag, well loaded with loose coal, was tho cause of a temporary stop in tho tramway service this afternoon. Proceeding in a leisurely fashion towards Now;, town, it turned tho corner of Kent Terrace, and, when in the middle of tho narrow road on the eastern 6ide of the Basin Reserve, the axle collapsed, and the load of coal was distributed over tho tramway track. Somo ten trams wcro blocked pro tern. A special meeting of tho City Council will be held at 7.50 p.m. ■ on Thursday evening to pass a special order to increase the width of the following 6treets: —Main Road, Wadestown, Queen's Terrace, Grant Eoad, Tinakori Eoad, Molesworth Street, and Park Street, by including in them certain pieces of land taken for tramway purposes. In the course of a recent statement the English Navy League offers no oomment on Mr. Churchill's suggestion of a "holiday" in naval construction, beyond tho expression of its view that tho suggestion is purely Utopian, no matter how kindly meant, and that without a universal concensus of agreement on the part not merely of European Powers, but every Power in the world building Dreadnought ships, the realisation of such a proposal is impossible. Coat-robbing took place at Sharpe'a ground, Hutt, on Saturday. Tho objective" in this caso was tho clotlics of Mr. Keys, who was refereeing a thirdclass match, leaving his vatch and whistle (the latter valued as a keep-sake) in his coat, ho went off to lake charge of his iratcli, and on returning was annoyed to find that a "clean sweep" had won made.

A peculiar position has arisen in connection with the proposed erection of the new public hospital in New Plymouth, says Hie "Taranaki Herald." With other local bodies the Taranaki County Council received a demand from the Hospital Board for its share of tho cost of tho new building, and forthwith applied to the State Guaranteed Advances Office for the money. Tho superintendent of that Department lias noiv replied that the office is not empowered, according to Sections G and 7 of the State Guaranteed Advances Act of 1912, to advance moneys for such a purpose, and consequently the application for the loan must bo refused. Under the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act (adds the "Herald") local bodies were allowed to borrow _ for new hospitals and similar undertaking's, but last year's legislation distinctly oont.radiets" tliis. It .is a peculiar position, in which oil tho other contributing bodies of the district will find themselves placed.

The Hon. R. H. Rhodes told a reporter yesterday that ho had a very interesting trip in tho battle-cruiser New Zealand from Lyttelton to Akaroa. At the latter placo s'omo of tho gun-crews were exercised in firing practice at targets tbWed tho Pvramus. . Two of tho turret-guns, fitted with practice-tubes, were brought into play, and afterwards some of the four-inch guns with one-inch tubes, were used. A moderate sea was running, bnt the shootring was very good. On the following day the warship engaged in torpedo' practice.

When the Farmers' Union Conference at Auckland was discussing the question of noxious weeds on Friday, one of the delegates detailed a case in which a man, summoned for allowing noxious weeds to grow on his land, found tho precincts of the Court at which lie had to appmr overgrown with brambles and other noxious weeds, the brambles even climbing up the posts of the doorway. The conference camo to tho conclusion that tho law on tho subject, as at present administered, was futile, and _ that something definite should bo done in the matter.

Considerable difficulty is being experienced in securing telegraph messengera in New South miles, and an effort is being nmdo to attract boys from Victoria. Tho commencing salary (with the special nllowaueo of ;El2 a year) amounts to .£52 per annum. It is found that boys from country towns in Victoria are able to accept appointments in tho metropolis and other largo contros. For this reason, it is considered that they could fill positions in other States.

Speaking at tho meeting of tlio New South Wales Institute of , Bankers last week, Sir Charles Mackellar said lie condulereil that the ijeople who were responsible for the bringing about of the reduction to 25 per cent, of the gold reservo of 'tlio Commonwealth Bank had committed a grave mistake, "I think tho 25 per cent, is quite sufficient, so long as the 25 per cent, is not wanted," continued Sir Charles, "but if the 25 per cent, is ever wanted, and as suro as God mado little apples it will be wanted, it will look very foolish. However, thono is ono reason why wo need not fear this Commonwealth noto issue, and that is because of our cheque habit. I have not found a country in tho world wliero such h number of cheques ano issued fls arc to be found in Australia."

Electricity is to play an important part in th» development and life of the Australian Federal capital, and oven at this early staffs arrangements have been mado for erecting the permanent power-house. The foundations aro in position, and portions of the plant nro on the ground ready to be installed. Eventually there will bo two generation units each of 500 kilowatts, and 0110 sparo generator for emergency purposes. Ouly 0110 unit is to bo fitted up nt present, however.