LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1784, 24 June 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Prime Minister told a reporter la.si evening that a number of the -older messengers on the Parliamentary Buildings stuff were being given an opportunity ol retiring on pension, and that several had signified their intention -of accepting the offer. Growl—legitimate growl—is not altogether despicable, and when it is seasoned with a saving souse of humour it is even admirable. Policemen, engaged on points duty at the crossings, do not liavo an altogether gaudy time of if, in tho current cold weathrr. "Look what I've got to stand in.!'' said one of the stalwart guardians of law anil dccorum, addressing a reporter at a crossing yesterday. Tho reporter looked and managed to see a, few islets bravely holding their own in -a lairly wet street. "Now," continued tho

constable, ".you just hustle along to the desk you write 011 and tell the City Council that if it wauls us to control the traffic it should lix up the roads ami provide us with some dry laud to stand on." The alteration of the main entrance to tho General Post Office from Customhouse Quay to Featlrerston Street is-changing the character of the latter thoroughfare— ellington's Wall Street. Hitherto it lias been sacred to lawyers, accountants, insurance men, apd sharebrokers, but tho stream of traffic which has been, diverted to Featherston Street has been responsible for tho establishment of several retail shops in the block opposite, where formerly only offices existed. Tho Mayor (3lr. J- P. Luke), who lias noted the change, believes that it will not stop whore it is— that it will go on until Featherston Street will becomo a live thoroughfare for the retailer. Tho developments of tho past threo months would appear to indicate a trend that way. Tho report of tho Forestry Commission is at present in tho hands of tho Government Printer, and the Prim© Minister informed a reporter last evening that ho was not quite certain when it would bo available. Possibly it will maie its first public appearance on tho table of the House of Representatives. The report of the Hutt Road Commis-

eioner (Mr. AV. S. Short) is still before i Cabinet. The Hon. W. H. Herries (Minister for' Railways) told a reporter yesterday that the Commissioner had made a number of suggestions regarding the report, which were under consideration. As soon as possible, 1 tho report would be laid on the table of tho House of Representatives. Mr. T. C. Dawson, a member of tho council of tho Wellington Chamber of Commerce, lias returned to Wellington after a visit to tha Cook Group. As to the rumours of unrest in tho group, ho did not care to say much, but lio could say that the now Administration was giving every satisfaction, and that tho Resident Commissioner (Mr. H. W. Northcroft) was certainly tho right man in the right place. He had heard nothing of a disturbance among tho police, and as to tho charge of excessive drinking, ho could only say that during the whole time ho. was in the Islands he nover saw a single case of drunkenness. The roads wero in good order and the settlements allowed every sign of prosperity. At present the Commissioner was interesting himself in tlio establishment of an experimental fruit farm, with tho object of seeing if it wore not possible to cultivate certain fruits native to the group to ripen at other seasons than the recognised one, so that the supply should not bo restrioted to one brief season of the year.

At tho meeting of tho Tramways and Electric Light Committee of t'ho City Council to-day, a report will bo presented by the clectncal engineer in reference to tire requests made recently for reductions in charges for current by tho proprietors of theatres. The Mayor stated yesterday that ho anticipated that the report, when it came from the committee, would contain matter of interest not only to peoplo controlling places of amusement, but also to the general consumers of electric current. The Firo Brigades Committee of the City Council have still under consideration tho intimation from Mr. E. J. Carey that tho members of the City Fire Brigade have formed themselves into a union. Tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) informed a Dominion reporter yesterday that ho was not prepared to say whether tho eommittoo wero ready to make a recommendation to the council on the subject or not. Ho did not think tlw committee's report | would be available for this, week's meeting of the council. Besides tho letter from Mr. Carey, the committee has in hand a letter 'from Councillor Tregenr, setting forth certain disabilities which, in lia's opinion, monitor's of tho firo bngade are under. , This letter will. no doubt receive consideration along with, tho notificntion from Mr. CaToy. Some people collect stamps, others collect other things t there is a man in Wellington whoso hobby is the collecting of copper-boilers. This industrious person was arrested by tho police yesterday for alleged -pursuit of his hobby contrary to tho law.

Mr. A. W. Hogg, of Masterton, spoke at the Trades Hall last night, under the auspices of the United Labour Tarty. Mr. D. M'Laren presided. Tho audience was small, this fact being accounted for by the inclement weather. Mr. Hogg spoke for close on two hours, touching on many of the political questions of the day. Ho made special reference to the land question. On the motion of Mr. M'Laren the speaker wa9 accorded a hearty vote of thanks. Tho "New Zealand Herald" states that a somewhat strange situation exists in connection with the membership of the Auckland Harbour Board, in that the Government has no representative thereon. It is now over three months since Sir. J. ICneen, the previous nominee of tho Government, resigned, yot no fresh appointment has been made to fill tho vacancy, although several names have been freely mentioned for tlio position. The fact is creating some comment, and it is looked upon as curious that the Government should continue thus to (lis. franchise itself on so important a body.

There has been an epidemic of claims to "millions" in Now Zealand lately, but it appears (hat one of the claimants, a Cliristchurch resident, is by 110 moans in pursuit of an olusivo fortune. Tho gentleman concerned- is Mr. Joseph Waiter, of Marshlands, and tho Amount is X 1,500,000. Tho case had been mentioned in tho papers before. Tho story is that Richard John Walter, an army veteran, of Point Chevalier, told a witness that ho was supposed to be heir to a largo fortune, which ho had never bothered to claim for years. No relativo was discovered until lately, when it was found that a brother of tho army veteran had been living in Chrislchurch for years. Mr. Walter is moving to Kavo his claim investigated in ChancQry, and his son Olr. J. Walter), who is well known in athletic circles in Cliristchurch, is now on his way to tho Old Country wi|A proofs of identity. The information came to Mr. Walter not through (my of the agencies that make a business of luring: people on with visions of unclaimed fortunes, but from the Public Trustee, who is strongly of opinion that tho heir lias boon discovered. Tlw opinion is said to have been strengthened by tho best legal'advico.