LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1779, 18 June 1913, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A picture theatre and skating rink Is to be erected 1 shortly on the vacant section on the corner of Sydney and Charlotte Streets, opposite Parliament Buildings. The skating rink floor is to be formed of especially prepared material, which, it is stated, will practically make it noise-proof, and which', it is said, will bo the only one of its class in. New Zealand. The picture theatre, which is to be erected above tho skating rink, will according to plans which have, been prepared by Mr. James Bonnie be one of tho most convenient and comfortable in the city. The building will cost about £12,000. and as nothing of the kind exists at the Thorndon end of the city, it is expected to be a great convenience to tilepeople of Wellington North. Tenders for tho erection of the new building will be called for in about a fortnight, and an endeavour will bo made to complete the building by tho end of tho yeav.

So far tho only wood-blocking done this fall in "Wellington lias been those streets surrounding the new General Post Oihce, which work was done by tho City Corporation, under arrangement with tho government. A start has now been mad© to catch up the areas of work in that direction. by commencing tho wood-block-ing of Lower Cuba Street HP Winder's Corner down to tno Central Fire Brigado Station. If the estimates go through as scheduled at tho next meeting of tho City Council, it is proposed to wood-block right down that thoroughfare and junction with the woodpaving in Jcrvois Quay, as well as to ' cover that portion of tho street between the bandstand and tho front of the l'ire Brigado Station. This work is part oi the City Engineer's scheme of woodblocking all those streets which lead up to Manners Street and Courtenay Place from what is generally referred to as tho reclaimed land, and so in a very measure check tho dust nuisance which largely arises in that quarter ot the city. _ An interesting pieco of ship surgery lias been carried out to tho Aberdeen liner Miltiados, which arrived in Sydney last week from London. During her stay on tho Clyde, the Miltiades, like her sister ship tho Marathon, was lengthened 50ft. She was cut In twain, tho two parts drawn apart, and a now section ndded. Not tho least notable result of this lengthening process is that, although tliero has been no alteration in tlio propelling machinm, tho vessel has an increased speed, and, further, now draws slightly less water than she did in her original form.

Four prisoners, wlio have pleaded guilty to offences in tlio Lower Court, will conio up for sentence in the Supreme Court nt 10 a.m. to-morrow, when tho Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) will be on the Bench. The prisoners ara: Francis lidwawl Paget and James Leonard Lomax, breaking and entering and theft! Charles Allan, forgery and'uttering; and Daviu Caullield, breaking and entering and theft,

Speaking at a meeting of the Teilding Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Cobbe, a draper, said that tho pilfering of goods ex Homo boats was assuming great proportions, and tho local importers had been heavy losers. The evil was a prowing one, und action of soino kind should be taken. Tho pillaging had become a matter to cause alarm to ull importers, and was becoming systematic. Sir. Spence. another draper, confirmed tho prevalence of the evil. Mr. Cobbo considered that, imprisonment without tlio option of a fine would assist to lessen tlio evil.

Notice of his intention to move the following motion at tho noxt meeting 01 tlio Miramar Borough Council has been given by Councillor Telford:—"That the residents' concession tickot bo mntlo traiißter* able on and after July, it 1013.'-

The condition of tlio trout in Lake Taupo is causing sonio concern to tho residents of the district, and a petition is being largely signed asking that tlio control of the lake should bo taken from the Government and ouco more handed over to an acclimatisation society. Kegarding tlio interview with Mr. Frank Dix, tlio English play-producer, on theatro building, which appeared ill Holiday 8 Dominion, Mr. Albert Liddy, representative in Wellington for the lton. \V. X J itt, designer of tlio Grand Opera Tiouse, writes:—"l met both Messrs. Dix and Whitfield, and explained to them tho requirements of the city building regulations as' regards reinforced concreto work for stage ll&ors and fly galleries, with which they wero naturally disgusted. But 1 pointed out to them that the City I'jiigineer had consented to a, considerable reduction ill concreto as regards the stage floor, for which the various companies will be thankful, also that my intention is to cover that irortion with wood. As regards tho iiy galleries, 1 am compelled to construct them according to regulations, being unable to gain my object. It is an unfortunate position for me, as this is, tho iirst time that I have been compelled to construct a theatre in this manner, and that any of tho stage arnuigemonts havo been questioned out of a total of 27 theatres in Australia and New Zealand. Unfortunately a lot of tho trpubla arises from tho fact that a. theatre recently built in your city was designed and constructed according to tho regulations without demur being made, lo strengthen my contention, I may stato that tho new Opera House in Gisborno has been constructed according to tho city s building regulations, and that tho present pantomime company havo to occupy tho old theatro on account of theso loolish and annoying clauses in tho building regulations." Tho grounds upon which, a juror wus excused from service at tho Central Criminal Court in Sydney last week are probably uniquo in tho records of such excuses. A full panel of jurors had been summoned. Several had failed to put in an apfwarauce, and fines wero recorded against them. Then a juror stepped up to the) witness-box and said: "I wish to bo excused, your Honour, ljecauso it is against my religious convictions to servo on a jury." "But why?" was tho surprised reply from Mr. Justice lying. "Becauso X consider wo have no right to try our fellow-mon," c&mo the confident assertion of the juror, who continued, "there should bo no trials. Judgment is given in tho next world, and should be reserved for the next world." I lien you think," retorted Ills Honour, "that every criminal should bo allowed to continue a war against society i" "Nobody should be tried in this world," roiteratod tho applicant for excusal. "l'hey get tneir trial in tho next world." Apparently tired of the urguincnt, his Honour dismissed it with- "You are cxcused. I don t think you are a fit and proper person to servo on a jury if you liold sucn convictions as those.' . At the request of tho Society for the Protection 01! "Women and Children, the Education Board intends to hold a meeting in the uoard room, Mercer Stroot, at 2 p.m., on Wednesday, Juno 25, to a proposal emanating from tho society that the trustees of tlio Macarffly Fund bo requested to set asido-n sum sufficient to establish a Chair of Domestic Sciouco at Victoria Collego; and, in addition, to discuss tho best means of establishing o thorough system of instruction in domestic science, and of attaining a higher ral competency in. tho management ot the homo. The nominations for tho annual clcctior of ono representative of tho three wards of the Wellington Education Board will close on Monday, July 7, at 5 p.m. lhe retiring members are:—Holiert Lee, Wellington City Ward; Alexander Wilson Hogg, Wairarapa Ward; Wm. Hughes Field, Hutt-Horowheuua AYard. Theso big eligiblo for re-election.