LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1822, 7 August 1913, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

» The Government, tho Prime Minister slatnl in 1112 House of Representatives yostcnhiy, is willing to co-opernto with the pcaplii of tlio electorate of Grey in erecting a memorial to tho late Sir Arthur Guinness. It is a common fallacy, the Minister for Education stated in the House of Representatives yesterday, to suppose that school teachers' salaries aro directly dependent iiiion variations in the average attendance. In fact, he added, it has not been the ease for several years. A fall in the average attendance as a general rulo does not under the regulations affect the grade of a school for two or three years, and the teacher's salary by the Act is maintained ufc the sauio rate for two years after tho year in which the school falls in grade, so that four or fivo years must intervene in general before a fall in (he averago attendance eon affect a teacher. Special provisions respecting the effect of epidemics on tho average attendance were made by Order-in-Council of February 13, 1911 j quarters in which epidemics occur are not reckoned at all in commuting the average. As an index of the size of school?, the Minister slated, he had not heard of any substitute for the average attendance, as defined by tho regulations, that is comparable with it in steadiness and fairness. The Law Courts were unusually busy yesterday, a judge and jury trying criminal casus in ono court, a judge ond two assessors dealing with Arbitration Court business' in a second, a judge trying a civil case ill the judges' library, three judges holding a brief sitting of the Appeal Court in tho Arbitration Court, and several serious cases being dealt with by Mr. Riddell, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court, those including charges of attempted murder, bigamy, forging and uttering cheques, larceny, and presenting dishonoured cheques. Tho Government does not intend this session to introduce legislation to prevent marriage of the unfit. Words was received by the Marine Department yesterday that the Tutanekai had successfully laid a new cable between East Capo Island and tho mainland. For some tirno communication between tho lighthouse and tho outside world ha9been interrupted. An attempt had been made to repair tho old cable, but tho work had to be abandoned on account of tho heavy tido rip. A proposal that a system of cheap night telegrams (fifty words for sixpence) should be instituted was Teiected by tho Postmaster-General in tho House of Representatives yesterday, on the ground that the cost of sending messages at nigbt was greater than it was diiiring the day. Two rather important happenings, as far as the port of Wellington is concerned, occurred yesterday when tho ShawSavill steamer Waimana berthed at tho King's Wharf. Tho vessel is the deepest ship employed in. tho London-Wellington service which has entered the port for many years. Her dradslrt aft 27ft. sin. and 23ft. 3in. forward. Tho Waimana is also credited with having taken tho largest • cargo which has ever left tho port of London on ono bottom. She has 5000 tons of cargo to discharge n ( t Wellington, in addition to other cargo, for Lyttelton, Dunedin, and Beauty Point.

Ten men have been discharged recently from tho maintenance workshops at Kaiwarra as a result of their services not being required at tho present time, the Minister for Railways stated yesterday. Seven of tho men wore painters, while the other threo wore labourers working in tho maintenance yard. There was no urgent work in hand on which, the services of these men could bo utilised, as in the meantime there was no necessity for carrying on painting. Tho advisability of combining tho Napier and New Plymouth express trains between Wellington and l'alroerston North, tho Minister for Railways stated yesterday in the House of Representatives, has received very careful consideration sinco the Manawatu line was .acquired by tho Government. It liad, however, been found that in practico ono train could not deal with tho business, and for this reason two trains had boon kept on the road', Tho Minister i for Railways stated yesterday in tho 'House of Representatives that all members of the Seoond Division who are legally entitled to any advance in pav as from April 1 last will receive tho sa'mo after the classification list has been completed and laid before Parliament. Tho usefulness of the Now _ Zealand Tourist Department's agency in Sydney is strongly questioned 'by tho 'Mayor of Auckland (Mr. C. J. Parr), who lias just returned from Australia. In speaking to a reporter yesterday Mr. Parr said:— "This ■ agency is costing the Dominion nearly .£'2ooo a year, but I do not think that it is worth the money. It occupies one of the best sites in George Street, and it is time that tho Government considered whether such an expensive office should be continued. It would be far better to pay say ,£2OO or a year to Cooks or the Union Company to set apart a portion of their premises in which Now Zealand literature, statistics, and year books could be kept, with a clerkin charge to givo the neoessary information to those seeking particulars regarding the Dominion. Tourists, intending settlers and others at present invariably go to Cooks or the Union Company for their information. The new office seems to be largely a resort of dead-beats, who go there to read the newspapers. The work could bo moro effectively done, I think, under the system that I propose." The proposal contained in tlio Government's Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill for flection of Mayors by the councils is opposed by tho Mayor of Auckland (Mr. C. J. Parr). In reply to a question by a reporter on his return from Sydney yesterday, Ml'. Parr said: — "I think that tho experience of Australia affords a valuable argument against the change. The aldermen thero oloct the Mayors, and my observations have not convinced mo that their system is any better.or even as good'as ours. If the Mayors' are chosen by the councillors the whole thing is too apt to be cut and dried, and there is a great encouragement to the growth of internal dissensions and tho formation of cliques in tho councils." Mr. Parr added: "I think that the Mavor ought to face the electors, as I think that they are less likely than tho councils to malco mistakes. At the same time I think that the Mayors should bo elected for two ycaTs instead of for only ono year." At Tuiwday night's meeting of the Mount Cook School Committee tho following motion met with the unanimous approval of members:—"The Mount Cook School Committee records its sympathy with tho teachers of State schools in their efforts to obtain from the Government increased salaries and better conditions, and hopes that the Minister for Education may see his way to deol with the question this session." A TOURING CAR DE LUXE AT CHRISTCHURCII. The ideal touring car for the New Zealand motorist should be light, yet roomy and powerful, artistic as to body design without being freakish, silent in its running, comfortable in its equipment, and lacking none of the little details which add to the and convenience of the driver and passengers. Such n car is rare. The latest example of the Silent Knight Minerva to arrive in this city, however, fills the bill to the last particular. Its Charlesworth body is in perfect stream-lino form, tapering without joir.t or seam from radiator to extreme rear. Finished in cream with luxuriant upholstering, the car is handsome, and distinctive in appearance. Thero is comfortable seating accommodation for fivo persons. Tho 18 h..p. Silent Knight engine hns cylinders 90 x 130 mm., and dcvelopes 40 h.p. at top speed, giving a speed of un to sixty miles per hour when required'. Tho front wind-screon has.side flaps and the rear seat is also protected by a windshield. The hood is designed to turn tho car into practically a limousine in cold or inclement weather, and like a limousine tho interior of tho closed car is illuminated bv electric light. A "C.A.V." electric lighting set of the latest pattern attends to all tho lamps. Tho car is one which will appeal especially to experienced motorists, who will bo able to appreciate the practical value of tho hundred little details in which this car excels others. The English, price of the chassis is .£1:10. of the Charlesworth body and extras 13s„ electric lighting -CI4 Is. Id. To these are added merely tho cost of importation, nil honest method of prico assessment which will commend itself to everyone. Motorists are invited to write for photographs of this magnificent touring car. Adams, Ltd., Agents for Minerva Cars. Garage, Tuam Street, C'hristchureh, Fal-' merston North, and Wanganui, and Tourist- .Motor Co.. Hastings.—Advt.

The Minister for Education (the Hon. Jame% Allen) staled in the House of Representatives* yesterday that he was not m favour of adopting the system of uniform -school books. The system ol" general frw class-book,-', the Minister added, did not work satisfactorily, for Hie great majority of parents .supplied tlicir children with books, and those provided by tho State were not used. A modified scheme has now been adopted, and greater encouragement is given to the formation of selionl and o.lnvs libraries. Boards ore given a capitation grant to provide free continuous readers and to supply free books in necessitous eases and in caves where newly enteral pupils have already purchase! different books elsewhere. Subsidies are given on voluntary contributions raised locally for establishing, maintaining. or increasing tho efficiency of school libraries. Tho intention of the Government with regard to an amendment of the Licensing Act will bo made known to the House of Representatives later in the session. Inquiries' aro being niado by the Government with a view to tho preparation of the revised measure bringing the Wages Protection and Contractors' Liens Act up tp date. Replying in the llousa of Representatives yesterday to a question by Mr. A. 11. Ilindniarsh on the subject of slot tolonhone.s fcr Island Bay and Brooklyn, tho Postmaster-General said that lie had promised on March 14 that a slot machine would be installed at Island Bay, on the Department's site, near tho corner of Mersey Street and the Parade. Later, Mr. Hinclinnrsh mas informed that provision would be made for the installation of a similar macliine at Brooklyn. Unfortunately, however, owing to a faulty aerial cable between the Wellington Exchange and Wellington South in ono ease and the Exchange and Brooklyn in the other, communication •would be so unsatisfactory as to make it undesirable to install the macliines in the meantime. It was expected that it would be several months before the underground cable would be laid to Newtown, after which no time would be lost in installing a slot telephone at Island Bay. In tho ease of Brooklyn also the matter would receive immediate attention when tho proposed now cab'e was available. Asked yesterday whether ho would arrange that in futuiro police constables and their wives wlien on transfer should be provided with saloon tickets on steamers, instead of steerage tickets as at present, the Minister for Justieo said that tho matter of providing police constables on transfer with saloon passages for themsalvcs and. wives had been very carefully considered. It was regretted that, owing to the largo number of transfers of constaWra and their families that were effected annually, the expenditure, which tho granting of the concession would amount to. was more than tho Government could atlpvasent see its way to recommend. On Tuesday night a meeting at Berliampora resolved to form a body to be known as tho Berhamporc Municipal Electors' Association. The following officers wcro elected President, Mr. P. C. Watt; vice-presidents, Messrs. A. Whitelaw and J. P. Shand, and Rev. Mr. Walton; secretary, Ma-. MTntnsh; treasurer, Mr. Ilowell; committee, Messrs. Watt, Whitelaw, Shand, Walton, M'tntosh, Howell, Mellor, Miller, Glading, and Mathcson. It was decided to draw up a list of improvements considered necessary and to present tho list for discussion at a meeting of tho oommitteo to be held next week. It was mentioned in two criminal cases brought before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., at tho Magistrate's Court, yesterday, that the accused had only reoentlv arrived in the Dominion, ono beiing a native of "Ould Oircland" and the other hailing from Edinburgh, though not bearing any resemblance to tho typical "cannie Scot." A seven-roomed house on the main read between Upper Hutt and Trentham, owned by Mr. Shaw, of Messrs. Forsyth and Shaw, contractors, was completely destroved by fire whilst tho tenants were absent at-church. The building was insured for .£BOO. Heavy weather struck tho Shaw-Savill steamer Waim<ina when she was "running tho Easting down" on her way out from London to Wellington. All the, way across from ; Cape "Town-ito Hobort sho was "in tho thick of it." On July 15 a heavy sea came tumbling on boara, carrying away the starboard railing. It also burst two port-holes, and the third-class passenger accommodation was flooded. Oil July 161 a similar sea swept tho vessel. On this occasion the companion-way leading to tho third-class quarters carried away. The shelter deck was full of water and until tho hatches are removed it could not be ascertained whether tho cargo has suffered. After July 16 fairly good weather was experienced as far as Uobart. Mir. J. W. Chapman-Taylor writes stating that in the report of tho recent assault caso at Silverstream in which ho was the defendant, the evidence given on his behalf wos .not reported. Mr. Taylor had remonstrated with tho informant, who, armed with authority from the County Council, was cutting down scrub on the roadside. Ho denied having committed an assault as described, but stated that the informant caught him by tho waist, and tliey both fell. It was admitted that the parties had shaken hands before they parted. Several witnesses were called, ami the. Magistrate dismissed tho information on the grounds of triviality, the defendant paying .£1 10s. costs. It was mentioned that as an outconio of the incident the Council inspector had prohibited tho destruction of tho shrubs which, with several beautiful clusters of birch, adorn Cliatsworth Road. Mr. Taylor, in his letter, says: "The point I wish to mako is this, and it is a significant one; that before a Magistrate of the Court of New Zealand a man (to wit, myself) has in effect been fined for'preventing tho destruction of native trees and 6hrubs, making ono of the most beautiful pieces of roadside scenery near Wellington. I mav add that every resident and ratepayer of the said locality has signed a request to the Hutt County Council that. said native trees and shrubs bo preserved."