LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1777, 16 June 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tho steamer Mahcno, with English (via Suez) and Australian, mails aboard, was expected to reach Auckland at about 2 o'clock this morning, p Tiro Wellington portion of tho mails will arrivo hero oil Tuesday afternoon. Although no doiinito official announoomont on tho subject has yet boon made, it is now generally believed in wellinformed circles that Departmental messengers who have readied tho ago of Mxtv-fivo years are to be retired by the Public Service Commissioner in Septem- , ber next. Many of tho older messengers have had breaks in their (period of service which would reduce their superannuation allowance, under ordinary circumBtaM'Cos, to a very small amount. t Cases are quoted of men who would rooeivo only seven or eight shillings a week if they were retired on tho ordinary superannuation scale. It is understood, however, that the Public Servico Commissioner will recommend that minimum pensions shall be granted to the messengers. who •are to be retired. Tho Commissioner cannot himself frrant these pensions, for the power of making appropriations from the public funds rests solely with Parliament. The pensions will range in | amount, it is stated, from 20s. o. week i ill the case of single men. to SOs. a week for married men. These amounts would ho parable to nil messengers compulsorily Tetired on tlie present occasion, whose ordinary superannuation allowance would fall short of tho amount of the special pension. So far as can bo ascertained, no proposal has yet been made to r°tiTO messengers on the Parliamentary Buildings staff who have passed the age of G5 vears. These men are not under the control of the Public Service Commissioner. the Legislative Departments be ng excluded from the operation of the Public Service Act. Most of the Parliamentary messengers bto employed during the session only, but a minority are kept on during the remaining part of the year to act as watchmen and caretakers. A rnimboT of Departments liavo •already been notified that messengers, in com,mon with other officers who have passed the ape of G5 years, will bo retired m September next.

ThoTo are forces moving at present which aro working for the betterment of the city's Technical School in the vexed matter of accommodation. The parties immediately concerned have in view the purchase of a highly-desirablo property 111 the immediate of a city recreation ground, but are unable to proceed with negotiations for that pnrcliaso without being assured of their finance. Tho intention of the Technical Education Bonrd is to como to some arrangement with the City Council to take 'vo"the Mercer Street property (workshops). With tho money they would get for That property, together with a. subsidy fiom the Government, it is hoped to be able to negotiate for the acquisition of the property in. question, and ala> to build a section of the new school. A. deputation from the board is to wait upon, tho City Council with respect to the matter on Thursday evening next.

A marvellous recovery from serious injury was told to a Dunedin "Star" reporter last week by an elderly man now resident in Timaru, and formerly of Dunedin. He fell from the top of one of the poles,2sft. high while working for electrical engineers in Timaru in February, last. The injuries sustained jn this fall were: Pelvis broken in threo parts, five ribs broken, -one bone gone clean through one of his kidneys, breastbone broken, left arm smashed in three places, and skull fractured badly through striking tho edgo cf the kerbing. The pationt y.-as\for five days lying unconscious in the Timaru Hospital, and was then told that he would be unable to leave the institution for six months, if ho could possibly live. Four local doctors attended him, and very littlo hope was held out for his recovery. Ho remained 11 weeks in the hospital, and was then able to walk, although all that was practically dono was to bandage him all over. He was 12st. 9lb. when ho was taken into the hospital, and his weight went down to 9st. when ho left. In two months he has regained over 2st. weight. TJndoubtedly the case is one of the most remarkable of its kind, and the subject has. no wonder, somewlmt baffled his medical attendants and' 'friends.

It was reported the other day that the Mayor of Gisborne had discovered a now method of "raising the wind" by inviting the public to deposit their savings with the council. Mr. C. M. Gray, ex-Mayor of Christchurch, who was -visiting Auckland last week, stated to a "Herald" reporter that in 1900 ho' got a clause giving this power to boroughs embodied in tho Municipal Corporations Act, and that acting on that authority the Christchurch City Council has practically wiped out its overdraft. The council accepts money on deposit, and considerable sums are deposited with the council at low interest while the money is awaiting permanent investment. By this means tfie council secures money at about half the rote of interest charged by banks on overdrafts, and as tho money is available for the depositors practically at call, the system has worked excellently, to tho mutual advantage of the oouncil and the depositors.

The work of organising the retailers of Christchurch into one association _in place of the numerous trade organisations is progressing favourably. The underlying idea of the association (states the '"Press") is to bring all retailers into line,'so that matters affecting all can bo dealt with by the on? body, and so that any action decided upon shall have behind it tho full force of the association. In connection with the new order of things necessitated by the adoption of the Saturday half-holiday, the association, has had printed and distributed attractive window cards, emphasising, tho fact that the retailers are remaining open late on I'riday nights, and closing at 1 p.m. ou Saturdays.

An impression has been current in Auckland (states the "Herald") that the I'. and 0. Company intended to reduce its service of steamers from Auckland during the coming summer months. This has been due to the fact that, so {at, only four vessels have been announced to leave tho port in tho summer, as compared with six last season. On inquiries King made from tho local agents, Messrs. Russell and Somors, oil the matter, it was stated ithat the present arrangements were not final. It was quite likely that more vessels would be put on. Tho tinietablo might be subject to alterations, and it was too far ahead to say whait the March or April Steamers would be. The four sailing dutes already mentioned wero the only information they had. It did not follow that tho time-table was complete.

.£13,000,000 WORTH OF AUTOMOBILES. During this present year of graoe, 1913, the Studebaker Corporation of Detroit, U.S.A., plans to build Studebaker motorcars to the value of .£13,000,000. Not only will it build these cars, but it will sell every last one of must be a tremendous donnnd?" you say. And ivhon you see tho 1913 models of the Studebaker car you will see tho reason for tho demand. The 35 h.p. Studebaker is a powerful, yet light, enr, ideally suited to New Zealand conditions. It has feats for four, with two additional collapsible seats. It is a beauty in appearance, finished in French grey and dark blue, .with bright, parts nickel-plated. It embodies in every line and every detail the very latest and best practice of English and Continental automobile engineers. Under the bonnet you find a bin, simple, cleanly-designed engine, a foolproof engine. A Warner electrio se fptartor attends to the starting of the engine. A Bosch magneto banishes ignition troubles. The "My" hood, with its handsome sido curtains, converts the car into a winii-prcof, eloped car. literally "in a'jifiV." The rear axle is full, floating. There is nothing chenp, uothing skimped. i::? 95 brings this car complete with electric lamps, hood, spare rim nnd tyre, speedometer—in fact, all "extra.s. Mr. P. W. Sampson, our representative, e.o. Empire Hotel, will bo pleased to give demonstrations on the hills around Wellington during the next day or so. At the Pnlinejston Winter Show we will show tlie 35 h.p. Studok'iker. and also the 25 h.p. model, a miuiaturo edition of the 35 h.p. car, and so!<l at «£295. Adams, Ltd., sole New Zealand agents for Studci>altor Cars (Grove Motor Co., Ghusnco Street, Wellington, agents).—Advt.