LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1868, 30 September 1913, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The mails which left Wellington on August 22 per s.s. Manuka, and connected with the Brind.isi dispatch per E.M.S. Macedonia, arrived in London on September 2G.

When the Athenic arrived at Wellington from London last evening the police arrested a man on a chargo of having broached cargo at Hobart. The case would have been heard at the Tasmanian port had it not been for the fact that one of tlio officers would have had to remain behind to give evidence. Under the circumstances, the man was brought to Wellington.

Holiday-making in the witness-bos was tlio lot of a tramway motorman who looked in at yesterday's tramway inquiry. "I call' Motorman said tlio City Solicitor. "I'm on holidav," cried Motorman from the auditorium. "Nover mind what you're on, oome along here," said the Magistrate severely. And so, apparently against his will, Motorman spent part of the afternoon assisting the Court to answer the questions set it.

About fifteen of the fifty Sedgwjck boys, who were assisted to New Zealand by tho Government about four years ago, have passed out of tho hands of tho Labour Department, and there will be othors reaching tho age of twenty-one before tho present year closes. One lad, who reaches his majority in the course of a few days, is possessed of £86, which the Department has Hanked for him out of his wcokly wages. Tho practice is for tho Department to place tho boys on farms, where'they will not require much pocket money, and then to insist on everything boiug banked, with tho exception of 2s. Gd. per week. Should money then be required by any of tho boys for extraordinary expenditure, or for an annual holiday, it may bo obtained on application. Officors of tho Labour Department say that up to tho present tho sctfemo has proved an unqualified success.

A telephone office is now open at Maharaliyra West, Napier. The hours of attendance are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The office is closed on and holidays, also tho bureau. The telephone office at Punaromia has boon reopened.

Several men who had been employed on drainage works at Petono have, according to a statement made by Councillor Anderson at last night's meeting of tho Potone Borough Council, been thrown into idleness through the- work being temporarily suspended. It was explained that the cause of tho suspension was tho failure of certain material to come to hand. The material is expected on October 4, and in tho meantime the men who are awaiting work are to bo employed on the extension of the sea-wall.

The New Zealand Employers' Federation is to hold its annual conference in Wellington on October 29 and 30. Tho conference of the New Zealand Industrial Corporation is to bo held in Wellington on October 31. The Master Bu7lders'' Federation is to hold itß annual conference in Wanganui during tho first week in November.

Men and women undressing on Petono beach is an occasional practice to which a Petono borough councillor objected last night. It was decided by the council to open the bathing season on October 1. .This will unlock tho bathing sheds, so that bathers will bo able to undress under cover from next week,

The wish of the Sisters of the Institute do Notro Damo do Missions to havo their property at Petono oxomptod from rating has resulted in. tho ValuerGeneral sending tho following lettor to tlio l'etono Borough Council: —"In consideration of recent decisions of the Supremo Court I am of opinion that the claim should bo allowed, and havo noted the valuation roll entries accordingly. I desiro to point out, howover, that m.v dcoision in tho matter is not final. _ It is quito possible a local authority might dissent from my ruling as to ratoability or lion-ratoability of property. Tho duty of interpreting tho Rating Act devolves on council authorities. After tho letter was read it was remarked that it meant that tho Valuation Department would place tho property on the non-rateable list next year.

A largely-attended meeting of tho working jewellers was held at tho Trades Hall last evening, Mr. Kennedy, prosiding. It was decided to invito workers of all branches of the trade to attend a further meeting, which is to be hold on Monday evening next to consider tho advisability of forming a union. Advico has beon received from London by Mr. W. A. Kellow, managing director of tho Now Zealand Automatic Bakeries, Ltd., to tho effect that the oven ordered by tho company has been shipped for. Wellington by the Ruahine, and that the remainder of tho plant will follow shortly. Tho company anticipates that tho factory, which is being constructed in Taranaki Street, will bo opened early in tho Now Year.

Cocksliying at "dead" bottles is said to bo a dangerous pastimo followed by youthful patrons of Petono beach. There aro other ways in which tho beach and property thereabouts is being abused (according to Pctoue borough councillors), and tho councillors havo decided to request some of tho corporation employees to keep an ©ye lifted to detect offenders, and report them to the council.

It is the usual custom for passengers who arrive by oversea vessels at Wellington to bo asked by the Customs officers whether they have any dutiable goods in their possession. In addition to this the officials have the right to search passengers' luggage. When the Athenic arrived from London last evening a passenger was asked the usual question. He replied in the negative. The Customs official thereupon . examined three trunks, and found nothing dutiable. A fourth trunk remained, and again the usual question was asked regarding it, with the same result. The official was not satisfied, however, and opened the remaining trunk. Underneath some new clothes a quantity of jewellery and silverware was found, all of which was subject to duty. The Customs officials took charge of the trunk and contents, and it is understood that proceedings against the passenger will bo taken.

The Wairarapa Natives have decided to erect a largo totara obelisk as a monument to their recently-deceased chief. A party of Maoris are now engaged at Taumarunui removing a fine specimen of th'is. timber from Moore liros.' bush. A shapely branchless bolo 50ft. long, containing 3000 superficial feet of timber, has been cut, and removed to the railway for consignment to the AVairarapa. When this block of timber is suitably carved and erectod, it should mako a most imposing monument.

■ It has never yet been stated how serious was the damage done to the Solomon's Knob dam by the tug flood in May last. Oil that occasion something like fifteen inches of rain is said to have fallen within twenty-four hours. A correct record could not be obtained for the reason that tlio rain-guago filled and overflowed before the twenty-four hours had elapsed. So great was thoi inflow of water from the surrounding hills that the runaway was too small to cope with the quantity of water that wished to reservoir, and the lbvel of tlio water rose and flowed over the full length of the dam. This groat and entirely unexpected rush of water had a rather disastrous effect. The weight of the water which poured over the runaway broke up the concrete floor immediately at its foot, aiid the watei which flowed over the dam made serious inroads into the earth round the foundations of the dam. So serious was tlu> position that it was found necessary to empty tho dam to prevent any possiote trouble, and the caretaker and his family removed to other and safer quarters. The work of consolidating tho earthen packing rouiid the foundations of tho dam, and re-concreting the foot of tho runaway has occupied the whole of tho intervening period, which, fortunately for the city, has been the winter months, when rains wero fairly dependable. The reservoir is now' being filled once moro.