LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1761, 28 May 1913, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities advise that the s.s. Maunga.nui, which sailed from Sydney at noon on May 24, has on board an Australian mail. She is due in Wellington to-day.

Entries for the Public Service entranco examination and the Public Service senior examination for 1913 close respectively on ■September 8 and October 15. It is especially pointed out that no late entries will bo received—the previous provision in this latter regard having been abolished.

The Roseneath School Committee having decided to carry out a scheme of tree-planting immediately behind tho school, arrangements are beinij made for a working bee, tho intention being to have holes for tho reception of tho trees dug prior to Arbor Day, when the actual planting will 1)3 done by tiro, children

Captain Rainey (agent for the Tvser Line) and Captain Plnnkott (agent "for Lloyd's), who have been "-upeivising Hie arrangements in connection with the effort to salvo tho stranded liner Imlrabnrah, ashore on the Rangitikei beach, returned to Wellington by the New Plymouth express last evening. The position of affairs at tho scene of the salving operations is practically unchanged. "Wo are working quietly along the lines of a carefully-arranged plan of action, which we hope will be .successful," he snid. Captain Watchelin, of the tug Terawhiti, who arrived back in Wellington from the scene of tho Indrabarah salving, operations Inst evening, is confident that the vessel will be refloated, and hopes that on his next trip to Wellington he have her in tow. The tug returned to take aboard two 5-ton mushroom anchors and a quantity of cable. The Indrabarah is lying securely and is perfectly steady.

The Hod. R. If. Rhodes has obtained a special report of the evidence given at tlie recent trial in Dunedin of a number of Territorials who were convicted of having assaulted a reporter at Sutton camp, and is instituting a thorough inquiry into the wholo affair.

Hockey players arc asking the Karori Borough Council to arrange for an extra tranicar to be dispatched from.Courtenay l'lace at 2.10 p.m. on Saturdays, labelled "Hockey Players Only." Tlio request was read at last night's meeting oil the Karori Council, but tho Mayor expressed (lie opinion that there were enough ears running already, except on very big field days. The clerk stated that he communicated with the Tramway Department, and 'was told that it was doubtful if (lie request to placard the conveyance "Hockey Players Only" could be acceded to. The opinion was expressed that a car was already leaving at the time mentioned. It is the opinion of Ihe Mayor (Mr. C'. ,T. Parr) Hint a new railway station is required at Auckland. The erection of tho new post office had quite spoiled the access io the present station; not only was the site too smalt to allow of expansion to meet future requirements, but the entrances from Queen Street were also narrow, inadequate, and incapable of being widened. Mr. I'arr thinks that to adopt a new site just to the eastward of the present crossing would provide a very convenient station, two or threo minutes' wall; from Queen Street. Tho trams would pass it in Customs Street; and it would be close to the route of cars on tho proposed now Jonnyn Stroot city outlot,

Tlio Prime Minister elates that numerous inquiries havo been received from settlors desirous of taking up the small gum-land sections which lire being offered I'm' -selecti3u in the Auckland province. It is expected that before long considerably areas of theso lands will be in occupation. All the applications so far are trnm persons desirous of Unking up fruitfarmiii!,'.

Rate:! owing respecting the site of the wireless station on the Tinakori Uillv worn tile subject of consideration by the Karori Borough Council last night, it was decided in refer tho matter to the Borough Solicitor. The position was dial tho town clerk had requested the Postal Department to pay iJI2 os. fld., as special rates for 11)12-13, based on an unimproved gallic of ,£I9OO. The Department claimed that tin's was the value of. the whole site, whereas on April 1, 1912, when the rate was struck tiie Crown was enrolled

as owner of only a little over 11 acres, and that the owner of tlio other portion was the Ikaroa Maori Land Hoard. For the eleven acres only .t(i7s was paid, and the .Department therefore requested tho council to render an amended claim on

n .£O7O basis. To this letter the borough clerk replied that when tho I'ost and Telegraph Department, took over the property they also took over the liabilities in tho shape of rates owing. The clerk repeated the request for tho payment of Xl 2 fls. 9d.

The residents of Waikawa (says tho "Southland Times") have it that Sir Robert Stout, who owns a largo block of land in that locality, intends to erect: a palatial residence on the part overlooking tho hay. It may be, adds our contemporary, that the Chief Justice finds the duties of his exalted position weighing heavily upon him. and that ho intends to take up liis abodo there. It is considered that slot telephones would be a great convenience at Karori, and the council of tho borough decided last night to ask the Postal Department to insUl one machine near Karori Park and one near tho cemetery. Councillor W. Skcgg, who moved to that effect, remarked that theso machines would be of great service at times of sickness, and would save ]>eoplc the unpleasantness of having to knock up at night residents who have telephones.

Tenders for automatic telephone installations in Auckland, Wellington. Hamilton, Blenheim, Masterton, and Oalnant are still under consideration by a special committee of tho Government Tenders Board, consisting of Messrs. ,T. Orchiston (Chief Telegraph Engineer) and T. Buckley (Chief Electrician). It is expccted that the successful. tenderer or tenderers will be announced shortly. Following ltijon. a resolution adopted at the annual meeting of householders in the Johnsonvillo school district,, the Education Board decided yesterday to obtain a reiwrt from its inspectors with regard to the establishment of a school at Neivlands. Some time ago tho board applied to the Government for a grant in aid of tho proposed school, but the application was declined. It is jiow proposed to renew file application, backed up by its inspector's report.

On tho suggestion of the Wellington Society for tho Protection of Women and Children, tho Education Board decided yesterday to make arrangements for a conference with representatives of • tho society and other interested institutions, in tho subject of instruction in tho theory and practice of domestic science. The hoard will bo represented at tho conference by the chairman (Mr. Robert Lee), and the chief inspector (Mr. T. 11. Fleming). The date of tho conference has yet to be fixed.

The secretary of the General Post Office states that the coin-in-the-slot telephone box, iu the recess on the south side of the Feathers'on Street entrance to the General Post Oflico is now in working order, and may bo made use of by the public from to-day. It is expected that the coin-in-the-slot telephone at,the northern sido will be available shortly.

A breach of promise case, M'Donald v. Coles, is set down for hearing in the Supremo Court this morning. His Honour, Mr. Justice Sim, will preside, and a jury of four will bo empanelled. Mr. A. 11. Hindmarsh is to appear for the plaintiff, and Mr. T. M. AYilford is counsel for the defendant.

The Finance Committee of tho City Council sat from 3.30 p.m. until 5.15 p.m. yesterday. "I wonder what, makes us such fools as to waste our time like this for nothing," remarked one councillor, as he left tho committee-room. "Because there are a lot of other fools who want to do the same thing!" was the rejoinder of another.

Members of the Btnff of the Tramway have waited on the Mayor (Sir. J. P. Luke) and informed him that they intend to form a Municipal Officers' Association, 011 the linos of similar associations in existence in the Okl Country. The nion asTted that they should he allowed the use of a room in tho Town Ilall for their meetings. They also propose to form a social club and a Momstuba sliootiiiß club, and asked that provision he mado for those recreations. Tho Mayor stated that in such matters the whole of tho City Council's staff would haw to be considered, and any requests mado would have to ba submitted to tho council as a whole. Mr. Luke aske<l for fuller details of tho proposal, which are to bo submitted in duo course.

.Prior to tho ordinary meeting of the City Council to-morrow evening a special meeting will l«j hold to pass a special order increasing the width of the following streets, viz., Main Road, Wadestown; Queen's Terrace, Grant Road, Tinakori Road, Molesworth Street, and* Park Street, by including therein certain pieces of land taken for tramway purposes.

It is reported (says our local correspondent) that the Wellington monopiano now at Pigeon Bush is all rendy for another trial, and that, all being well, an attempt at a (light will be made to-day.

At the Farmers' Union Conferenco at Masterton yesterday a resjlution that tho union join hands with tho Employers' Federation to combat Socialism was, :iccording to a Press Association telegram, referred to tho Dominion fonfcrencc.