LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1799, 11 July 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Yesterday was the first anniversary of Mink(^ mP TI° n ?® Ce by , the Referm cWi-, lras celobrate<l at a short held by tho Government part} m the Whips room, during tho supper adjournment of tlie House of Bepresentatjves last evening. The toast ?' v & i inistl wa , 3 - P ro P°s«i b}- Mr. C. E. Statham (Dunedin Central), and °iv r th< ? P^'" e Minister (the I 1!' W.F. Masseyj. Tho health of tho Whips (Messrs. Guthrie and Nosworthv) was also honoured. The speechos which characte SSarily bri ° f ' WCr ° of a felioitous

A reference to tied houses was made by Mr. Campbell (Hawke's Bay) in the House of Kepresentatives last evening. In many cases," he said, "publicans are not only compelled to buy their beer and spirits at a certain place, but they are also compelled to buy their coal and their groceries, and in some instances ovcu their linen at specified places-in fact, I know one case in which the only things that the publican is free to obtain where he chooses are milk and eggs." A member'ls that in Napier?" Mr. Campbell-, "I won't say where it is, but it is a very good place." He also referred to the need of a system of inspection of liquor. Much' of tho stuff that was now* so]<l, hp said was simply poison. They had inspectors of rabbits and noxious weeds, etc., and they should also liavo an inspector of liquor, to see that it was not adulterated. Mr. Isitt: "You will have to take tho alcohol out of it, then."

The City Solicitor has been instructed by the council to draw up a by-law providing for a special regulation being made for bnildings on the Harbour Board reclamation lying to the eastward of Waterloo Quay, as follows: "Steel frame buildings to be constructed on proper concrete foundations, but that for the present they bo oovered with painted galvanised iron, the buildings at a later period to be converted into brick or concreto buildings. All column stanchions, etc., shall be so proportioned in strength and so arranged as will enable the construction of suitable outer covers of brick or concrete to be carried on the frame at a later date." This suggested regulation is the ontcome of the "Wellington Harbour Board Engineer's request, and is recommended by tlie City Engineor.

In connection ivith the formation of the Wellington Amateur Operatic i Society, which lias selected "The Geisha" as its first attempt, it is understood that Miss Helen Gardner, who played 0 Mimosa San in the opera, recently at Dun■edin, has offered her services to the society. Mr. Tom Pollard, who staged the opera for the Dunedin society, states that next to Miss Florence Perry (who was imported from London), Miss Gardner is the best exponent of the role in 'his experience.

In furtheranae of their echomo for the provision of a clock for the Town Hall tower, the Orphans' Club applied to last evening's meeting of the City Council for permission to place calico signs on the woodwork in the clock spaces of tho tower and on double-deck tramcars. There was some opposition to the proposal to placo signs on the tower, but permission was grauted. In regard to the entrance examination for shorthand-writers and typists, to bo conducted shortly by the Public Service Commissioner in Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, and Dunedin, some misunderstanding seems to lmve arisen from the wording of the advertisement. Tho impression formed that .£IOB per annum is the maximum to which the new entrants can rise is incorrect, as it is merely the maximum for the grade to which they are first appointed. Typists of sufficient- j ly high qualifications mav w6rk up to J2141 per annum, this being the maximum of the first grade. Applications are receivable by the Secretary hi tho Commissioner in Wellington up to July 14. Removal of the debris from the scene of the Lambton Quay lire 011 Tuesday was commenccd yesterday. A good deal of the shop fittings in the Lambton pastrycook premisos havo been taken away, and yesterday the employees of Hood Bros., drapers, wero busy removing stock. Tho scene of the lire now presents a sorry sight—as most, fire scenes do « day or two later —but nevertheless a largo number of people found interest, in watching tho ; work of sorting oul and shifting things. Tenders were accepted bv tho Citv Council last nijrht as follow:—lnsulators. Ttirnbull and Jones; removal of old Hutt pipe bridges, W", Wilson; trolley wire, .it. \v. Cameron,

The season's workings of the Wellington Municipal Orchestra, resulted in a loss. It was decided at last night's mooting of tho City Council that the amount required to cover tho loss be called up from tho guarantors.

It has been decided by tho Education Department that each school in tho Dominion should bo allowed to register its own badge and colour.-), and regulations for that purpose are included in this week's Gazette. All public, private, and secondary schools will be allowed to re-ister their colours, uniforms, badges, or monograms. The Inspector-General of Schools is the registration officer. Every application for registration must contain an exact description or drawing of the subject of tho application, and must bo accompanied by a feo of JSX. Any disputes between schools will bo settled by a board consisting of tho Inspector-General and representatives of tho contending schools. Lists of the registered colours and badges will appeal- in the Gazette from timo to time.

The 'foundation-stone of the new Parliament Buildings came into prominence for a minute or two in the Houso of Representatives yesterday afternoon. Tho Hon. W. 11. Ilerries remarked chaffingly that tho foundation-stone did not bear the najnes of the Mackenzie Ministry, although they were practically in office when tho stono was laid. It might fall to tho lot of the Massoy Ministry, ho said, to have the names of tho Mackenzie Ministry placed upon the back of the stone. "We don't want our names on it" said Mr. G. W. Russell, M.I». "Put on tho names of the men who open tho building." "Wo don't want our names on cold stones," said Mr. Herries, "wo hope to perpetuate our names in tho hearts of tho people."-

Tho City Council decided last night to forward a letter to the Superintendent of Police, requesting him to instruct his officers to give special attention to tlie question of preserving order at the Feathorston Street taxi stand. The Post and Telegraph Department is to be informed, m reply to their complaints on the subject, that that council are endeavouring to distribute tho taxi-cars more equally round the stands of tho oity, so as to prevent the congregation of drivers at the Featherston Street stand.

As a result of the assistanco lent to tho oommitteo of the Roseneath- school at the recent working bees, 6omo' 300 holes arc ready for the tree-planting on Arbor Day, His Worship the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) will plant tho first tree, and the oommitteo are anxious to have a largo and representative gathering, apart from tho sentimental value of the day.

Wandßring cattle received some" attention at the City Council meeting last night. The Outlying Districts Committee reported that tney had received complaints with respect to the wandering cattle nuisance in the outlying districts, and particularly with regard to Kelburne. _ committee were of opinion that this nuisance was largely duo to the light penalties inflicted npon the offenders by tho magistrate, and they desired to bring the matter under the immediate notice of the council, in ordlcr that eomo remedy might be effected at once. The Kelbume acre was again before tho City Council last night, when tho Reserves Committee Tccommended: "That the draft lease'to tho Kelbujne Bowling Club and Kelbume Croquet Club, as drawn by this city solioitor, be approved. The rental is fixed at Jj2o per annum per club, payable half-yearly in advance, as recommended by the city valuer, and the tenancy is for 21 years." The lease as submitted did not meet with the entire approval of the council, but eventually tho recommendation was agreed to when a clauso had been inserted in tho leaso providing for resumption by the council on giving six months' notice, and on paying to tho tenant the cost of improvements.

The City Council decided Inst evening to thank the Wellington Zoological Society for presenting to tho Nowtown Park Zoo a flamingo, European cranes, a rail, two Australian wood swallows, a grey bell magpie, and three golden pheasants. A dairyman was recently reported to tho City Council for not complying with tho general conditions of his license. lie appeared before the council a fortnight ago, and pleaded that his license should lie granted again on the understanding that his dairy would be conducted in a manner satisfactory to the inspector. On that occasion the matter was referred back to tin? By-law Committee, with fho result that the council was recommended to grant tho dairyman a monthly permit under strict supervision, tho council's officers to inspect the premises at least once a week. Councillor Atkinson objected, and, on account of information he had received, ho moved as an amendment: "That a license be Tefused to the dairyman recently reported to tho council for not having complied with the council's requirements. It was subsequently explained that since tho By-laws Committee had formed its recommendation a further report had been placed before the council, and, as this was unfavourable, Councillor Atkinson's amendment was carried unanimously. The ICilbirnie Ratepayers' Association has written to tho City Council complaining that youths are in the habit of playing football and other games on tho Kitbirnie Recreation Ground on Sundays. The city by-laws forbid this practice ,and tho council has therefore notified the Superintendent of Police of the praotico. "That the request of Messrs. Penty and Lawrence, on behalf of a client, for the suspension of the by-law which limits tho height of buildings abutting on certain streets to 40 feet, so as to permit a building CO feet liigh, bo not agreed to." —This clause in the report .of the ByLaws Committee gave rise to a considerable discussion at last night's meeting of the City Council. Councillor M'Kenzie moved, and Councillor Fitzgerald seconded, a motion to refer it back to the committee. During the time the question was being argued, it was gleaned that tho City Engineer and the Superintendent of, the Fire Brigade were of opinion that the* requirements of tho by-law should not bo dispensed with. The amendment to refer it back was defeated, and the recommendation was then agreed to.

The Wellington City Council dccided last, evening to co-operate with tho To Awamutu Chamber of Commera?, which has raised the question, in culling the attention of the Government to the great number of accidents happening at level railway crossings.